Spring in Maine

What Are You Doing St. Patty's Day?

I love Irish Music because it's so singable, if that's a word, and I love St. Patrick's Day, because normal people - people just like you and me - sing in bars. In public! Right in front of God & everyone.Possibly because they are drunk, but I rather think it's because singing is fun, and the drinking is just an excuse.

Some sing better than others, though, and if you want to her some of the best, come out to RiRa, 72 Commercial St in Portland,  on the 17th. The Keenans will be playing and singing Irish tunes fron 12-4. Full disclosure: Chris Keenan is my brother, so while I can really, truly and honestly enthuse about how much I enjoy this show every year, I'd say that even if I didn't. But I do! Come see for yourself. We'll sing along, badly, and no one will care. We'll forget the words, and pretend we know how to step dance, then laugh until the beer comes out our noses. Just come, you'll see.

Overheard in Augusta

Young woman to her friend: "In other news, my eyebrows are on point today."

Snow in Portland

There's a shock. Kind of pretty, though.

Foul Weather Friend

Each time it snows, cardinals appear at our feeder. Some years, there are several pair; this winter, just the two, male and female. We rarely see them, except in the aftermath of a storm.

I've been trying all winter to get a photo of this guy! He's wary - he has to be, because his coloration makes him so visible, an easy target. When he hears the door, he either takes off or hops back into the depths of the forsythia bush where you see him in this photo. The bush is only a few feet from the feeder, so it serves an important function in making the birds feel safe.

When I saw him this morning, I grabbed my camera dashed out into the snow in my bare feet, and then stood still long enough for him to cautiously emerge from the thicket of branches. You can see that he is keeping an eye on me.

His lady joined him a few minutes after that, but my feet had had enough, and the birds did not stick around long. They never do, after the sun is up.

Counting the blessings of snow: I might as well, since it is here, and more coming, whether I appreciate it or not! Top of the list: my beautiful visitors.

Never Too Many Portland Restaurants!

Dana Street, owner of the venerable Street & Co, and Fore Street restaurants in Portland, plans to open a new one on Portland's Maine Wharf.

Portland is fast becoming one the country''s foodiest cities ("Foodiest."Foodiest." Say it a bunch of times, it will start to sound funny.) The city already has more restaurants per capita than any other in the USA, but that isn't the part that matters; what matters is if they are good restaurants. If past history is any indicator, this will be.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Street confirmed that the deal was inked recently to lease the space at 68-72 Commercial St., which is physically located on Maine Wharf, in the city’s central waterfront district and adjacent to the Casco Bay Terminal.  The two-story building now under renovation will accommodate the restaurant’s approximately 7,000 square foot ground level space with offices above. The dramatic interior has towering ceilings flanked by large casement-style windows overlooking both sides of the wharf with easterly and westerly views. It will seat 144, making it one of the largest restaurants in the city.

Maine Wharf, before and then during renovations.

Street described his new venture as "a classic New England seafood house reminiscent of the way fish houses were in the early part of the 20^th century." Look for a grand opening sometime next summer.

Tide Pool and Cairn, Ogunquit, Maine

A gray November day, but not too cold; thought we'd get out before winter closes in.
This was taken on the Marginal way in Ogunquit, a lovely walk on classic stretch of Maine's rocky coast. The walk is about a mile and a quarter; you can download a .pdf map here.

If you're in Ogunquit, go see my friend Rick and Rick at On the Main! They sell pottery and other fine handmade items.