Category: Local Connections

Tasting our way through the Fork Food Lab grand opening.

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Hanging out at the Fork Food Lab grand opening was a festive experience. We were not alone in our excitement at checking out this new shared kitchen space. We arrived a little after six pm and the party was in full swing, along with a decent size line waiting to enter but fortunately things were moving quickly.

The perimeter of the parking area in front of Fork Food Labs was lined with tables where Fork Food Lab members were passing out samples of their tasty food creations. There were pockets of people huddled around the tables waiting for their turn to try the samples, as well as other sporadic lines. It was a little hard to know exactly where to go at times but it all worked out.

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Getting a Haircut at the Blind Pig Barber Company in Portland Maine

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My husband is utilitarian when it comes to getting his haircut. He’s had the same hairstyle since we met and goes faithfully to super cuts every two months for a trim. When I spotted a Groupon for a more upscale men’s barber shop in Portland, the Blind Pig Barber Company, I thought it might be a fun change of pace for him to try something new.

Being a good sport, he let me tag along so that I could take pictures and blog about the experience. We headed over on a Friday afternoon around 5:00 pm. My husband made a reservation, but we probably could have done a walk in appointment at that time as it was not too crowded. If you’re heading that way, I’d still opt for the reservation. You can even make one online. Always better to be prepared, and it was picking up a bit as we left.

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#atozchallenge | R is for a Review of “Got Here As Soon As I Could” by Sarah Smiley

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As my A to Z Challenge theme is focused on Maine, I thought it would be fun to do a book review on a book that has a connection to Maine. Fortunately for me, Sarah Smiley released her latest book, “Got Here As Soon As I Could; Discovering The Way Life Should Be” on April 1st. It’s almost like she knew I would need something for the letter R in my A to Z Challenge. Isn’t it just like a fellow Mainer to do something so nice!

I have not read any of her previous books, but one of my good friends absolutely loved her earlier book “Dinner with the Smileys” so I figured I was in good hands. This latest book is a compilation of articles from her Syndicated Column.  Sarah moved to Maine from Florida about six years ago and she immediately bonded with the state. That’s something I can appreciate. While I didn’t relocate here, I have a great passion for my home state and enjoy how she tells stories that really highlight some of the wonderful things about Maine.

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#atozchallenge | E is for Edgecomb Potters

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I’ve always loved the pottery at Edgecomb Potters. When we make our summer trip up to Boothbay Harbor, we stop at Edgecomb on the way. The finishes on the pottery are so distinctive and unique. They also have many creative shapes and designs for their serving pieces. And, I love their Maine roots.

I’ve given Edgecomb pottery as wedding gifts in the past, but I haven’t yet invested in any myself. I did however buy a recycled license plate lobster at their Portland Store. It’s not pottery, but it’s pretty darn cute. It really has nothing to do with this blog post, but I wanted to share.

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#atozchallenge | C is for Coopers Maple Products and Maine Maple Sunday

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I know this will be hard to imagine, but even after all these years of living in Maine, I have actually never gone to one of our many sugar shacks on Maine Maple Sunday. It has always been on my list, but every year something else seems to creep up and we just never make it to one of the area farms. This year was gearing up to be even less likely since Maine Maple Sunday fell on Easter, but it actually ended up working out perfectly since our family plans were later in the day.

Maine Maple Sunday is always held on the fourth Sunday in March. Sugarhouses throughout the state open up that day and host a variety of activities related to maple syrup production.  The Maine Maple Producers Association posted a map listing all the locations that were planning events for the day. The list was pretty long but that’s not surprising. Maine is the third largest producer of maple syrup in the United States according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service.

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