By Hilary Nangle on March 31, 2009
Saturday night, a Bagburger. The Bag, at the base of Sugarloaf, has been perfecting the burger for 40 years, and it is a beeyootiful thing. I had one of the designer versions, this one with blue cheese. Yes, perfection; ditto for the curly fries that come with it. Last night, a burger at the Jolly [...]
Posted in Food, Western Lakes & Mountains | Tagged Bethel, Briar Lea, burgers, Carrabassett Valley, cheeseburgers, Dining, Jolly Drayman English Pub, Maine travel, Skiing/Riding, Sugarloaf, Sunday River, The Bag |
By Hilary Nangle on March 30, 2009
On the first Friday of every month, downtown Portland comes alive for the free First Friday Art Walk. This is an incredibly popular event that encourages participants to mosey along, visiting galleries, studios museums, and alternative spaces, as well as restaurants and lounges. En route, view new exhibits, hear live music, and often sip wine [...]
Posted in Events, Free Stuff, Greater Portland |
By Hilary Nangle on March 29, 2009
Karen and I are officially members of “The Mad Whittler’s” Bunny Club (which is a far cry from Heffner’s Bunny Club). Renowned woodcarver Rodney Richard carves teensy rabbits and hands them out to girls of all ages, along with his card. Karen and I were having a post-ski pot of tea at the Parkside & [...]
Posted in Maine Made, Western Lakes & Mountains | Tagged Bunny Club, Mad Whittler, Maine travel, Rangeley Maine, rodney Richard, woodcarvings |
By Hilary Nangle on March 29, 2009
Do yourself a favor next time you’re in Rangeley, and order a meal at Thai Blossom Express, smack downtown on Main Street. This li’l gem is owned by Sam Sriweawnetr, a gen-u-ine American hero. Way back in 1979, he was a chef at the American Embassy in Tehran. He was instrumental in helping lead five [...]
Posted in Food, Western Lakes & Mountains | Tagged Dining, Maine food, Maine travel, Rangeley Maine, Thai Blossom Express |
By Hilary Nangle on March 29, 2009
Who needs spring when you’ve got winter ski conditions in the mountains? Snow may be melting or gone south of northwestern Maine, but up here, well, winter continues. I skied Wednesday and Thursday at the ‘loaf, and if I’d skied there yesterday, I would have dipped into the Backside Snowfields. Instead, my friend Karen and [...]
Posted in Events, Skiing/Riding | Tagged kids box race at Saddleback, Maine skiing, Saddleback, spring skiing at saddleback, summit views form Saddleback Maine |
By Hilary Nangle on March 27, 2009
Well it’s not the Porter House*, but Chef Brian’s new venture, the Lonely Moose (at the old Mainley Yours), in Stratton, has breakfast nailed. It’s a homey place–pine paneling, moosey decor including some nice old photos and a huge mural in the back room, mix of booths and tables. We went for breakfast (lunch and [...]
Posted in Food, Moon guidebook updates, Western Lakes & Mountains | Tagged breakfast in Stratton, dining in Stratton, Lonely Moose restaurant, Maine travel, Porter House replacement, Stratton Maine |
By Hilary Nangle on March 26, 2009
Wow, Saddleback is on the move (remember that ole Maine slogan from the Angus King years?). This year, paid visits are up 22 percent, with season-pass sales up 23 percent, and real estate sales totalling $4 million. No wonder its bullish on the future. With an eye toward four-season operation, the resort has signed a [...]
Posted in Moon guidebook updates, Skiing/Riding, Western Lakes & Mountains | Tagged Maine skiing, Maine travel, new hotel at Saddleback, new lifts at Saddleback., Rangeley Maine, Saddleback announces expansion plans, Saddleback buys Oquossoc Cove Marina, Saddleback Maine skiing, Skiing/Riding |
By Hilary Nangle on March 25, 2009
Tired of wine dinners? Camden’s Hartstone Inn is serving a five-course spring food and beer pairing on Friday, April 10, for $55. Here’s the menu: • appetizer: maple-roasted quail with a spring herb quinoa (Andrew’s Northern Brown Ale) • soup: cream of asparagus soup with crisp pancetta and a Boursin custard (Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale [...]
Posted in Events, Food, Inns & B&Bs, Lodging, Penobscot Bay | Tagged Camden, fixed price dining, food and beer pairing, Hartstone Inn, lodging and dining packages, lodging deals in Camden Maine, Maine, Maine travel, Stimulus package |
By Hilary Nangle on March 24, 2009
Here’s something new: In June, September, and October, The Bass Cottage Inn is offering Bistro Weekends. The package, including two nights lodging, daily full breakfast (a treat!), and one night’s five-course dinner, ranges $540 to $810 per couple, plus taxes and alcohol, with rate varying by room selected and weekend. Here’s the menu for the [...]
Posted in Acadia, Food, Inns & B&Bs, Lodging | Tagged Bar Harbor, Bar Harbor accommodations, Bass Cottage Inn, Bistro weekends at the Bass Cottage Inn, Dining in Maine, downtown Bar Harbor B&Bs, lodging in Maine, lodging packages in Bar Harbor, Maine, Maine travel, Mt. Desert Island lodging |
By Hilary Nangle on March 23, 2009
Well here’s another feather in Fore Street’s toque. Today the Portland restaurant was named a finalist in the extremely competitive Outstanding Restaurant category of the James Beard Foundation awards . No Northeast limitation on this doozie: Fore Street is one of five national finalists for the honor. Chef/owner Sam Hayward has already won Best Chef [...]
Posted in Events, Food, Greater Portland | Tagged Arrows, Best chef in the Northeast, Clark Frasier and Mark Gaier, Fore Street, Fore Street nominated for Outstanding restaurant, Hugo's, Maine, Maine chefs, Maine chefs win top Beard honors, Maine dining, Maine finalists for James Beard Award, Maine travel, Ogunquit, Portland, Rob Evans, Sam Hayward, three Maine chefs among Beard 2009 finalists |