For some reason Amber and I have never managed to get ourselves to the huge Deering Oaks market on Saturdays. We’ve driven by a few times, and actually tried once but got there as things were closing up. Having one less than a mile down the road will give us less of an excuse. Of course, the Gorham market doesn’t run as long as Portland’s. Maybe we’ll find ourselves heading into town on Saturday mornings next year?

Check out Avery Yale Kamila’s piece for the full list of markets.

After checking out Elizabeth’s awesome collection of daily 5″ paintings, we headed across the street to Hilltop Coffee Shop for some of the least expensive, yet best, coffee available in Portland. Two small lattes and a bottled drink (our friend Jen was with us) for $6 is pretty rare these days. They had a few small nibbles laid out as well, and the girls gave these very positive reviews. The atmosphere was a cozy local coffee house. We would have stayed and hung out if there weren’t more walking to be done.

Wandering down Congress St., we stopped into a few shops and studios, and made our way into Home Grown Herbs and Tea, also on Congress Street. Unfortunately, we still had our Hilltop cups half full, so we did not order any of the array of herbal teas she had on offer. we did try some of the appetizers that were laid out. The grape leaves, stuffed with something we couldn’t quite figure out (I say there was some fennel in it, but that was definitely not all) were quite tasty. We’ll have to head back to this one next time we fancy some tea.

Finally, we turned down India St. on our way to Rabelais. First, however, we came upon Duckfat. Being a little peckish by then, we simply had to stop for some Belgian fries. Though I’ve read wonderful reviews of Duckfat’s potato delights, Amber and I had not yet found ourselves in that area at meal time. Sad, given that we’ve lived here nearly two years now. We remedied the situation with a large order of fries to go and a couple of dipping sauces for the side. The curry mayo was the favorite. We will, without a doubt, be going back to see what comes off the panini press at this delightful little sandwich and fry shop. And yes, the fries were worth every single calorie. I will gladly spin an extra few miles on my bike this weekend to burn them off. Jen assured us that their milkshakes are equally fabulous. More research is needed…and I’ll be the first to volunteer.

We’re already looking forward to June 5 for the next Art Walk. The Monument Square area is not without its own delightful eateries, and I’m sure I’ll have some more food notes to share the next day. I’m just sorry we waited so long to check out First Friday. Portland is a great little city, and if you’ve only ever explored the Old Port area, the Art Walk may be the perfect excuse for you to branch out a little and see what else she has to offer. You won’t be disappointed.

is to open the doors of Portland’s visual arts community by joining together and introducing a wider audience to the unique vitality of the artists and venues of Portland. Promoting interest with non-exclusivity and easy access, thereby strengthening the arts and community through diversity and celebration.

Sadly, though we’ve talked about doing it, we have yet to actually do a Walk. Provided the forecast thunderstorm holds off, I think we might change that tonight. Amber has an appointment downtown at 4:30, and I’m planning to head down with her for some Belgian bier at Novare Res. I figure that provides us with the perfect opportunity to stay downtown and see what’s around. We might even pick up a piece or two, as the house will need something on the walls. There’s a ridiculously long list of things to see tonight, so it should be fun.

So I surfed over to PortlandSeaDogs.com to check it out. There, in a nice big red and blue banner, was the count down to the opener. 35 days until Hadlock Field hosts a ball game. It may flirt with 50° this weekend, but it only just got up to the freezing point today. It seems rather wishful thinking that it’ll be baseball weather in five short weeks. I sort of doubt Amber and I will be taking in the opening day festivities, but for those who are undeterred by wearing a parka to the park, ticket packages are on sale now. Maybe we’ll see you there. Just not until May…

• Premium veal, ham and pork samplings
• Artisan cheeses and breads
• Fresh fish from Browne Trading Company
• Winter Point oysters, raw and roasted
• House-made ravioli filled with organic vegetables from Laughing Stock Farm
• Arugula pesto and mushroom soup “shots”
• Seasonal vegetables from Farm Fresh Connection

And, to quench your thirst:

• Handcrafted beers from Allagash Brewing Company
• Wines provided by Aurora Provisions, Mariner Beverage, & Wicked Wines
• French Press Coffee tasting by Starbucks Coffee

If you’ve not yet experienced Chef Lee Skawinski’s fare at Cinque Terre, this event offers a reasonably economical (tickets are $35 each) way to see what all the buzz is about, and it’s tax deductible. Oh, and it benefits a great cause, too! Check out ecoappetito.com for more information and to order your tickets.

Konbit Sante is different from many other organizations in that we do not send teams of doctors and nurses to provide hands-on care. Instead, our staff and volunteers work with Haitian colleagues to develop health care programs, to teach doctors and nurses, to make infrastructure improvements, and to collect and deliver much-needed equipment and supplies.

The most valuable asset you can give is your time. Not a doctor or nurse? They have many needs that can be filled by those without medical training, including infrastructure improvements, working with things like the computer and electrical systems, and collection and distribution of medical supplies and equipment. 

Konbit Sante is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation organized in the State of Maine. They can be contacted as P.O. Box 11281, Portland, ME  04104. You can call 207-347-6733 or email info@konbitsante.org for more information.

Portland Harbor Hotel on Fore Street welcomes the cold of winter with its Annual Ice Bar event Thursday, January 22 through Saturday, January 24. The Ice Bar runs from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. each night. Surrounded with white lights, outdoor firepits and gleaming ice sculptures, the Ice Bar is a unique and unusual way to take advantage of the cold winter months in Maine.  

Portland Harbor Hotel chef and ice carver Jeff Landry will shape more than 7,000 lbs. of ice into three working bars, complete with a martini luge. Located outside in the hotel’s courtyard garden, bundled patrons can sip on specialty martinis, wine and local beers. Complimentary light hors d’oeuvres will be served courtesy of Costa Vida and Burrito. 

The Portland Harbor Hotel will be charging a $10 cover charge to attend the Ice Bar with proceeds going to three different non-profits. On Thursday night, the cover charge will support the Southern Maine chapter of Share our Strength. On Friday night, the cover will go to the Keep ME Warm fund. On Saturday night, the cover will support the Center for Grieving Children.

It sounds like a fun way to spend a Happy Hour. Looking at weather.com, I think Thursday or Friday night might be a little warmer than Saturday. Too bad I already have plans Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (Amber is out of town, so I try to keep busy to ward off loneliness). If anyone does go, let me know how it is. I’d love to get a picture from someone…

Join us this coming Tuesday, September 9, for a special night at Vignola, when we host the complete six-course dinner and wine pairings we’ll present at New York’s James Beard Foundation on September 17.

The theme for the dinner is “From Maine to Veneto,” and the evening showcases many of the things we enjoy about living in Maine: farm-grown vegetables, fruits and herbs from Vignola’s Grand View Farm; lobster from Maine’s cold ocean waters; local lamb from nearby Stone Heart Farm; and locally made small-batch artisan cheeses.

The crew at Vignola has been working overtime – tweaking recipes, finding perfect wines to pair with each course – to make this event a standout success. We hope to see you Tuesday! To make your reservation, contact Vignola at (207) 772-1330.

Visit their Web site to see the menu >>

Details
Date: Tuesday, September 9
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Place: Vignola (10 Dana Street, Portland)
Cost: $80 per person; includes tax and gratuity
Space is limited and reservations are required: (207) 772-1330