5 Things: Starbucks Opens in Merrimack Today

It's the weekend! Check out five things you should know as you start your day.

1. Friday Night Lights. The Merrimack High School varsity football team is hosting a home game tonight against Winnacunnet High School, of Hampton, at 7 p.m. under Merrimack's lights. Come out and support your home team as the season winds down. And check out last week's play of the game produced by Group Effort Productions that is attached to the right.

2. Coffee, coffee, coffee. Are you a Starbucks addict? Starting today, you'll have to go no further than Merrimack for your fix. Today is the opening day of Starbucks on the Merrimack Premium Outlets property. The Seattle-based coffee chain is opening its newest cafe on the road up to the mall. Qdoba, a mexican fast-food chain will ope nnext door on Nov.19.

3. Family Fun Night. Join James Mastricola Upper Elementary School for an evening of fun and ice cream at the annual JMUES Family Fun Night, tonight, from 6-8 p.m. Students, parents and staff will enjoy volleyball, karaoke, pumpkin painting, board games, the fall book fair and more! Come and make your own sundaes, snack on apple cider and baked goods! For ice cream sundaes may be purchased at the door. Also, take your chance on themed raffle baskets, full of items donated by JMUES classrooms. Tickets will be sold for $.50 each or three for $1.00. For more information contact Coleen Landry at 429-3454.

4. Political lineup. With less than two weeks to the election, the candidates are returning to the state for another round of campaigning. On Saturday, President Barack Obama will visit Elm Street School in Nashua, accompanied by James Taylor, who will open for him. On Tuesday, though details haven't been released on his visit. Vice President Joe Biden will be in the state on Monday, though details have yet to be released and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, will visit Concord and parts of the Lakes Region and North Country today. Whew! Nov. 6 is coming fast.

5. Weekend weather. Today and tomorrow are looking to be the calm before the possible storm. As Hurricane Sandy's track continues to be questionable, it's pretty certain that we will have some rain tracking this way before the weekend is over. Before that, enjoy a couple of fabulous-looking fall days.

• Friday: Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 69.
• Friday night: Patchy fog between 2am and 5am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 48. 
• Saturday: Patchy fog between 8am and 11am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 66.
• Saturday night: A slight chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. N
• Sunday: A chance of rain, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60. 
• Sunday night: A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 44. C