Fashion shows, horse races, First Friday – there’s a lot going down in Portland this weekend.
Thursday, April 30
Not able to score front row seats to New York Fashion Week? Goodwill Industries has you covered with the Fourth Annual Little Black Dress Event at Ocean Gateway. Come watch local catwalkers strut their stuff while modeling LBDs (that’s Little Black Dress for you non-glitterati), shoes, and accessories that have been donated to Goodwill. The entire evening is a fundraiser to support Goodwill in their mission to help veterans and their families. There will also be a live auction, silent auction (in case you’re shy), hors d’oeuvres by Black Tie Catering, and a cash bar. Here’s a sneak peek at some of the auction items you can bid on. We’ll be bidding on ‘A year of good eats: One meal out every month in Portland.’ Central Provisions, Grace, Caiola’s, and more? Yes please! Tickets are $50 and the event starts at 6 p.m.
Friday, May 1
First Friday falls on May Day this month and hopefully will bring us some much longed-for warm weather. It’s a fun event year round, but really gets rocking as we get into late spring and summer when the sidewalks are packed with street performers (dancers, musicians, magicians, and random people dressed up in steampunk fashion doing…something). There will be a fashion show at MECA (in case you didn’t get your fill at Ocean Gateway last night), and at 7:45 p.m. in Congress Square, Hinge/Works will present SEEP/TELL – an immersive, open-air installation of dance, music, and film works that explore the ebb and flow of memory, forgetting, and story. First Friday runs from 5-8 p.m. throughout Portland, with a large concentration of galleries and events along Congress Street.
First Friday Art Walk | photo by Corey Templeton
Saturday, May 2
It’s time to break out your biggest, baddest bonnet and pretend to be an expert on horse racing for one day. Our pick to win it all is American Pharoah. Will he? Who knows, but what we do know is there will be plenty of options for taking in the festivities while enjoying traditional Derby drinks like the mint julep. If you want to go fancy, sign up to join Sommelier Erica Archer and spirits guru Jacquelin Eftink’s Kentucky Derby Day Bourbon Walk for a guided tasting and walking tour of Portland’s vibrant restaurant scene as you explore some delicious and unique examples of bourbon at four area restaurants. Or head on over to TIQA for the Kentucky Derby Party hosted by the Junior League of Portland. The Bourbon Walk costs $55 and runs 2:45-5 p.m., and TIQA’s party is $10, starts at 4:30 p.m,, and includes a complimentary mint julep. For a more casual ambiance, head over to Rivalries or Binga’s Stadium – also excellent spots for watching horses while downing drinks.
Sunday, May 3
If you need new digs or just like scoping out downtown real estate, be sure to check out Maine Open House Weekend. On May 1 in the Portland Press Herald and in the Maine Sunday Telegram on May 3, there will be a special section featuring all of the open houses taking place in Maine over the weekend. Who knows, you may find that dream Old Port condo you’ve been longing for….