Tag: restaurants

Eight things I learned about bocce during lunch at 33 Elmwood in Westbrook.

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We’ve had amazing summer weather but this past week took a turn and things got cloudy and cooled off. No complaints. You appreciate the sunshine more when there are the occasional bad weather days. Plus, those cooler nights make for great sleeping weather.

We had a friend coming up for a visit and, while originally planning to relax lakeside, had to rethink our agenda when the weather changed. We headed to 33 Elmwood in Westbrook for lunch and bocce. 33 Elmwood is an expansive place with food, drink and games. We walked in and were immediately greeted by the receptionist standing behind the front desk where you can also pick up bocce balls or bowling shoes.

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Eight Can’t Miss Summer Activities in Maine

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Follow my blog with Bloglovin I know this is not my strongest opening sentence, but I’m working on a little admin with this post.

Summer is in full swing and it’s a beauty. We had a cold, rainy spring which makes these gorgeous sunny days all the more wonderful. With July 4th behind us, we’re hitting our summer stride. Below is a list of eight summer activities you don’t want to miss.

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Celebrating the Year of the Rooster with a stop into Empire Chinese Kitchen

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I love award shows. Until we cut the cable cord recently, I watched them all. As part of my ritual a family tradition was born where we always get Chinese take-out to enjoy during the show. This tradition became a favorite with my girls even if they didn’t always watch the show with me. But, one thing that we have struggled with even as the tradition has persisted is finding good Chinese food.

When we lived in Massachusetts, we lived close to a Chinese restaurant with excellent take-out so we had fairly high standards. While we’ve circled through a variety of local places we still haven’t found the right one yet. After reading great reviews for Empire Chinese Kitchen, I was hopeful we would finally find a restaurant that matched our standards.

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10 Maine Adventures on My Bucket List for 2017

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As inevitably happens at the start of a new year, resolutions are made and plans for how things will be different begin to form. There are the traditional resolutions such as lose weight, exercise more, save money, and get organized. While those are perpetually on my list, for my resolution this year, I went a different route. I put together a bucket list of Maine related activities that I want to check off my list. Some are small things, others will require more planning but they are all adventures I hope to have this year.

  1. Join a CSA | Community Supported Agriculture. This one has been tumbling around my head for a few years now. Usually, I miss the sign-up period as most CSAs need to be ordered in the winter, and my thoughts of fresh summer produce don’t kick in until spring, but this year I am going to use the wonder of technology and set a reminder on my calendar so that I can sign-up. The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association website has a search tool to locate various CSAs throughout the state so I have a great place to start.

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Having Lunch at Tomaso’s Canteen in Portland while Shopping Local

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One dollar jello shots and three dollar craft cans were on special to celebrate the first anniversary of Tomaso’s Canteen in Portland this past Saturday. But, it wasn’t the bargain pricing that I noticed, but rather the eclectic mix of beverages on the menu generating both a dive bar and more upscale neighborhood hangout feel all at the same time.

I was out shopping for Small Business Saturday, and only stopped in for a quick bite between local shopping destinations, so I didn’t get the full bar experience but was able to scope things out for future outings. It’s a cozy, narrow space with a long bar running the length of one side and a single row of table seating along the other.

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