Whether you’re all about getting fit or getting lit in the new year, the Old Port is giving you a weekend full of opportunities to reach your goal.
The Weekend Guide for Jan 4th – 7th
There’s nothing more brutal than the first week back at work after the holidays, and nothing sweeter than spending the following weekend in the Old Port to kick off another great year!
The Weekend Guide July 28-30, 2017
Another weekend in the Old Port is fast approaching. Check out everything that is going on this weekend in Portland!
FRIDAY:
The Thirsty Pig hosts a collaborative tap takeover with beers from Orono Brewing Company and Medusa Brewing Company on the eve of the Maine Brewers Guild Summer Session. The takeover begins at 7 and the beers flow until 9. In addition to all the amazing beer, The Thirsty Pig is partnering with Beeler’s Pork to make a special sausage for this event. [Read more…]
The Weekend Guide July 14-16, 2017
FRIDAY
Kick off your weekend at Dogfish where Rexy and the Bones will be performing live. This unique set delivers funky music, including covers of Blackstreet, Glass Animal, TLC, and of course some of their originals. There is no cover, just a suggested donation of $10 will get you through the doors. Don’t miss out!
The Weekend Guide July 7-9, 2017
I hope you have had a couple of days to rest up and prepare for this weekend after your long holiday weekend last week. This weekend is filled with charitable opportunities, races, lobster, Ninja Turtles, beer and of course a ton of fun!
The Weekend Guide April 28th-30th, 2017
Friday April 28th– The weather has been unpredictable. Monday my iPhone weather app told me it was going to rain for the next eight days, Tuesday there was predicted sunshine for Friday and Sunday but now it looks like we may just have some clouds over our heads.
Regardless of weather, we all know Portland is always prepared for a good time and Friday evening is filled with events made to give someone a good night out. Rising Tide Brewing Company is hosting it’s event Beer & Oysters from 4-7pm. Whether you are into beer, into oysters or just want to bring your friends somewhere you know that you can have a good time, show up here and meet some new people, they are always hosting events just for us! [Read more…]
The Weekend Guide March 31st-April 2nd 2017
Friday March 31st– According to scientists raw oysters really are aphrodisiacs (and now is the time to eat them). This means good news for Mainers and Portland Old Porters alike. Kick off the start of spring with O’ Oysters for fresh and delicious hand-shucked oysters and cold, hand-crafted beer. Rising Tide Brewing Co. will be hosting the event from 4-7p.m. at their 103 Fox Street location. Spring is the time of year the shellfish have their greatest aphrodisiac quality. Grab your lover, friend, or significant other and head to Rising Tide for Beer & Oysters! [Read more…]
Harvest on the Harbor Harvest Dinner on the Stage
October 22 marked day two of the five-day culinary extravaganza, Harvest on the Harbor, with The Stage Dinner at Merrill Auditorium. Guests sipped on Ménage a Trois Prosecco in the lobby before taking their seats on stage in the shadow of the world-renowned Kotzschmar Organ.
Approximately 100 guests were treated to music from the Thornton Academy Jazz Band while they dined on six courses prepared by chefs from Lolita, Isa Bistro, Café Miranda, Union at The Press Hotel, Zapoteca and Azure Café. [Read more…]
6 Places in Portland to Celebrate St. Paddy’s Day
It’s almost that time of year again when we raise a glass to celebrate St. Patrick driving the snakes out of Ireland and, by extension, Ireland and Irish culture worldwide! Whether you’re looking to drink green beer and dance all day, enjoy authentic Irish food in a cozy pub, or celebrate Irish culture with music and song, Portland’s Old Port has what you’re looking for. Here’s a roundup of some of this year’s biggest events.
1. St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Sponsored by the Irish American Club of Maine, this annual event features Irish dancers, multiple pipe bands, and the Portland Hurling Club, as well as a number of local community organizations. This year the party kicks off at the Fish Pier on Commercial Street at noon.
2. Bull Feeney’s: Kegs, Eggs, and Boiled Dinner
This famed Irish pub and restaurant is ringing in St. Patty’s with all-day food specials and music starting with a traditional Irish breakfast and bagpipe music at 6:00 a.m. continuing all day until 1 a.m. on Wednesday. Other highlights include the Maine Public Safety Pipe & Drum Band at 12:00 p.m. and 90s rock cover band Hello Newman at 10:00 p.m.
3. Ri Ra: Portland Plunge, Boghat, and Bagpipes
Start your day off right with Irish and American breakfast specials and live music. The pub opens early at 6 a.m. to welcome the brave souls coming back from the Portland Plunge that takes place on the East End Beach at 5:30 a.m. For the rest of us, local Irish traditional band Boghat kicks off at 8:00 a.m., followed by the Maine Public Safety Pipe & Drum Corps at 10:00 a.m. (This is also a perfect place from which to watch the parade!)
4. Oasis: Green Beer
This Wharf St. institution comes alive on St. Patty’s Day with green beer all day and DJ Roy spinning the latest hits starting at 9:00 p.m. Come and get your dance on!
5. Rosie’s: All-Day St. Patty’s Day Celebration
Although not technically an Irish pub, Rosie’s cozy atmosphere will instantly evoke the feeling of lunching in an Irish country pub. Enjoy $4 Guinness, $7 Car Bombs, $0.99 Miller High Life, and an all-day St. Patty’s Day menu.
6. Brian Boru’s Public House: All-Day Music and Food
Things kick off early with Rum Riot’s traditional Irish music at 7:30 a.m. (doors open at 6 a.m.) and all-day food and drink specials. Later in the day, jam out to Irish punk group the Pubcrawlers (1-4 p.m.) and the Jason Spooner Band (5-8:30).
Old Port Welcomes Two New Art Spots!
Looking to buy local jewelry, furniture, or beautiful prints? Maybe you want to have something in your house you made yourself. As1 Gallery and Muse Paintbar, new additions to the Old Port art scene, can do each of these things.
As 1, upstairs on 24 Exchange Street, brings you great works from a variety of local artists. You can find cards for $5, or furniture for over $500. Owned and run by Andrea Helm, the gallery was born from the owner’s desire to see her stepmothers art fully represented. She decided to start a gallery dedicated to art from her community; one saturated with talented artists. The gallery opened in early June after a series of obstacles.
Originally slated to open on Forest Ave, complications with codes made it impossible for Helm to open a gallery there. In her search for a new space, Helm found upstairs Exchange street to be the place for her. The next two months were spent fixing up the building, molding it in the spirit of “rustic elegance,” with exposed beams and beautifully unique chandeliers. The gallery was set to open on First Friday in June. That Tuesday even more complications arose with the ceiling, and the As1 team worked three days cleaning and hanging until 9 pm on Friday. The gallery opened for an hour that night, selling two works. We hope this luck will continue for Helm’s and her gallery family as they bring spectacular local art to our corner of town.
If you want to make art instead of buying it, but aren’t very comfortable throwing paint around, look no further than 245 Commercial Street. Muse Paintbar has a recently opened location in Portland, in addition to their bars in Providence, West Hartford and Manchester.
The philosophy behind Muse is that anyone can paint, and the space is there to make that possible. Visitors sign up to paint a painting online, and the night of are provided canvas and paint as they are walked through the creation of a painting. Deviations from the “master copy” are encouraged, ranging from changing the orientation to developing a completely different color scheme. Patrons discover their creativity with a brush in one hand and a glass of wine in the other, leaving with their very own painting.
Whatever way you want to get your art, the Old Port has it!
Sail, not tie at anchor 
Sail, not drift. 
~Franklin D. Roosevelt…