Arts & Antiques in Portland

Portland has a vast assortment of art and sculpture in and around neighboring towns. From pieces of the Berlin Wall, painted murals, and conversational sculptures, there's something for everyone here.

And with treasures untold, you could spend the whole weekend antiquing....just remember to bring the Uhaul :)

....my favorite, bottom right: The silk printed menu for one of the first vessels to arrive in the new country....truly incredible!!!! 

Eating your way through Portland

One of the many things I love to indulge in when traveling, is eating. And when traveling to Maine, I knew this would be a big part of the trip, but I wasn't prepared for what Maine had in store for me. Needless to say, it was all worth it. Here's some hot spots to put on your list:

PRIMO RESTURANT

My favorite place we ate was Primo, which is a great day trip up Route 1 accompanied with quick road stops to pick up some rare antiques. All farm to table, this restaurant is reinventing their menu on a daily basis. Chef Kelly has twice won the James Beard Best chef award, and I'm sure there will be more to follow. Come early to take a look around the farm and garden.

FORE STREET RESTUARANT

With a shot in the dark, this place was filled with reservations, but as soon as we arrived, we were able to sit at the bar. (No reservations....no worries. Try eating a an off-peak time, and you shouldn't have to wait more than 15min) Fore Street's food and presentation is all things decadent. With it's open concept kitchen in the middle of the dining room, your able to catch the magic of your food prep. The love and energy they put into your dish comes through with every flavor on point.

EVENTIDE

Looking for a great raw bar? Stop by Eventide for some oysters, Tuna Crudo, and the hot, buttered lobster roll. Mostly all small bites, this place is great for a mid-day pit stop.

THE HOLY DONUT

And there's the Holy Donut for Breakfast. We had the Chocolate Sea Salt, the Maple Bacon, and the Cannoli Stuffed.

THE RAMP

The Ramp is a great place to catch the sunset and grab some great eats and beer. Try the lobster roll, mussels, and crab cakes!

PORLAND LOBSTER COMPANY

Directly on the Waterfront, grab a quick (and surprisingly cheap) lunch here with a cute backyard bar and a great view of the pier in downtown Portland.

Stirling & Mull

In Freeport, this place just recently opened with amazing eats, live music, a gallery showcasing local artists, annnnnd A BEER WALL where you pay as you go and can taste multiple hops. Saving the wall for perhaps next time, I went all out with BBQ pulled brisket on a pretzel bun with homemade German Potato Salad.

Lilly Brook Farm

While in Maine, we decided to get some fresh farm air.....which could be loosely put when lodging next to animals:) But as my first experience with Airbnb, I have to say, I'm sold. With the comfort of home and splash of culture, I have to say I've never spent a weekend on a farm! (even though I am from the Midwest!) We stayed at Lilly Brook Farm in Hollis Center, which is a quick 30 from downtown Portland. Nina, who runs the farm uses this as therapeutic and mental health improvement, which is a great & informal way to give back to the community with your lodgings. The mornings were quite, in which I was able to catch up on some much needed reading, which is always my struggle, especially when in the city. With a cup of tea and my book, I spent the mornings watch the horses and sheep graze in the pastures:)

Graffiti on the Maine Waterfront

One great thing to do in Portland, Maine, while working off all the fabulous eats, is taking a walk on the waterfront in which you're accompanied by a working railroad track offering tours up & down the waterfront. At the end of your journey comes the amazing street art by Portland's finest. Here's a glimpse into the ever evolving wall paint.... 

Come on ride the Train!!!!!

I never realized the mass amounts of trains which Main encompassed. As most adventures went on this trip, it was a quick and sudden pull off the road when something caught our eye (which took a few times mastering considering driving isn't one of my daily practices.) This day we came across the Trolley museum with old and abandoned trains, buses, and locomotives.

When you can't get to Venice.....

Celebrating a beautiful day in Central Park at the Boat House, with an authentic gondola ride....The only gondola at the boat house, shipped from Venice, with Andreas' beautiful voice echoing across the pond.....and oh yeah, don't forget to kiss under the bridge to seal the deal! :) The amazing views and history from this location is enough in itself, and something a little rain couldn't even damper! Followed with an amazing dinner at the boat house, watching the sunset, drinking champagne....I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate:)

Urban Raid

My first race.....ever. 5K, Urban obstacles, completely terrified going into it, so accomplished crossing that finish line with a cartwheel! If you never ran a race, do it!!! The encouragement, teamwork, and persistence, leading up, and the actual going through the race is something irreplaceable and a measure you can carry-through in any day-to-day and on-the-job task :) I was lucky enough to run with this incredible crew, and I can't wait for the next one!