Nice story in today’s New York Times about the Maine Winter Sports Center and the upcoming Olympic Games in Vancouver. If you’re a skier, snowshoer, or snowmobiler, you should put Aroostook on your Bucket List. Maine’s northernermost county has prime snowmobiling trails, excellent groomed and tacked cross-country trails, and bountiful back-country wilderness for skiing and snowshoeing. Without crowds. Without fees. Yes, you read that right, free.
Biathlon in The County
February 7, 2010 by Hilary NangleDamariscotta River Grille’s Chef Rick Hisch named Chef of the Year
February 6, 2010 by Hilary NangleThe Maine Restaurant Association has named Rick Hirsch, chef of the the Damariscotta River Grill, in Damariscotta, and The Anchor Inn, in Round Pond, as its 2010 Chef of the Year. Hirsch owns and operates both water-front or -view restaurants on mid-coast Maine’s Pemaquid peninsula with his wife, Jean Kerrigan. The duo opened the harborfront Anchor Inn in the mid 1980 sand opened the downtown Damariscotta River Grill in 2004.
Anchor Inn
We became fans of the Anchor Inn back in the early ’90s, while living in what passes as downtown Round Pond, an aptly named Bristol village on the east side of the Pemaquid Peninsula. Round Pond is one of those coastal gems you hope to stumble upon when noodling about Maine’s back roads, a postcard-perfect town with artisan’s studios, two lobster-in-the-rough shacks, and a store selling ice cream, penny candy, doodads, and whatchamacallits.
Smack dab on the waterfront, overlooking the round-shaped, boat-filled harbor protected by Loud’s Island, is the seasonal Anchor Inn. Neither fussy, nor fancy, the inn serves damn good food, especially seafood, with a bit of creative flair and a sense of humor (especially when Bobby Whear is tending bar).
Damariscotta River Grill
When Hirsch and Kerrigan opened the Damariscotta River Grill, locals rejoiced; finally a place to get Rick’s fab food year round. I’ve made many a meal off the appetizers alone (the artichoke fondue is alone worth a visit). The Grill is less rustic in decor than the Anchor. The menu focuses on fresh and local (okay, really, this is Maine, what restaurant doesn’t these days?), and it’s wine list has won an award from Wine Spectator.
Bottom line
Many restaurants achieve longevity with mediocrity, not so for these two coastal Maine restaurant gems. Although The Anchor Inn is closed for the winter, this time of year at the Grill, you’ll find such enticing entrees as duck confit risotto, Thai fish stew, and lobster cakes on the menu. Don’t miss the Pemaquid oysters as a starter. And by the way, the Grill is also open for lunch and Sunday brunch.
Online auction offers some unique Maine items
February 4, 2010 by Hilary NangleFew places are such a hotbed of creativity as the Blue Hill Peninsula, which is also blessed with nice inns and excellent restaurants. If you’re hankering for a lovely handmade craft (to give or keep) or are planning a visit this summer, check out the online auction for Brooklin’s Friend Memorial Library.
Yarn to kimonos, concert tickets to boat cruises, restaurant gift certificates to lodging, it’s all there, with nearly 80 items available.
Some of the more unusual items include:
• A private family tour of the former E.B. White and Katharine White farm, the farm that inspired Charlotte’s Web. See the barn where all the animals lived, where Wilbur’s manure pile was, the barn swing, and E.B. White’s simple writing studio by the ocean. The farm is a private home and is not open to the public. Mary and Robert Gallant have graciously offered a private tour to the winning family. This will be an experience to treasure for any lover of Charlotte’s Web or fan of E.B. White.
• A catered party with wine and appetizers for you and 20 of your favorite friends at High Head, a lovely, historic summer cottage overlooking Eggemoggin Reach. Brooklin’s own Diane Bianco, author of the forthcoming cookbook, Let’s Party in Maine, will offer you a menu of appetizers which she will prepare for your guests. A mixed case of wines from Blue Hill Wine Shop will be served by staff of Bars-by-the-Bay, with service aided by members of the Friend Memorial Library board of trustees. Live background music will add to the conviviality of the occasion. You may choose from a range of dates at the end of June: Wednesday through Sunday, June 23-27. The successful bidder will confer with Diane Bianco by May 1st to confirm the selected date and select appetizers, and may provide other beverages.
• A mushroom walk with a mycologist. David Porter (retired University of Georgia mycology professor) will lead you on a foraging trip on your property to discover the diversity of these amazing organisms, a little known treasure of the Blue Hill peninsula area. He will help you identify what you have and hopefully collect enough edible mushrooms for a mycological feast.
And my personal favorite:
• A barbecue for 25, with music by the Brooklin Band. Celebrate! For that special birthday, anniversary or other memorable occasion, Frank Bianco, Jr. will prepare a barbecue for 25 guests and the Brooklin Band will perform a rousing concert. The barbecue will include grilled sausages, burgers and hot dogs, accompanied by garden and potato salads, corn on the cob, dessert, and soft drinks. The 20 plus members of the band will play an hour’s worth of marches, show tunes and old favorites. A summer afternoon to remember!
Restaurants announced for Maine Restaurant Week
February 3, 2010 by Hilary NangleI know you’ve been hungering for this, and finally, the list of participating restaurants has been posted for this delicious event. Nice to see that it’s been greatly expanded, with more restaurants far beyond Portland participating. Nearly 100 are participating, and most have posted menus (others will post soon).
Get those reservations in early, so as not to be disappointed.
Rockin’ in the mountains
February 3, 2010 by Hilary NangleThis Saturday, Feb. 6, Rusted Root will perform at Sugarloaf, part of the Bud Light concert series at the ‘loaf, and the following one, Saturday , Feb. 13, Jonathan Edwards will play at Saddleback (Don’t those two choices pretty clearly illustrate the differences between the two resorts?).
At Sugarloaf, the Portland based band “Gypsy Tailwind” will open for Rusted Root. Tickets are $25 in advance (purchase online or call) or $27.50 at the door;cConcert ski-and-stay packages are available beginning at $125 per person per night. Note: All Bud Light Concert Series shows are 21-plus and proper identification is required at the door. Doors open at 8:30pm.
At Saddleback, Mason Strunk, the grandson of Maine singer-songwriter Jud Strunk, will open for Edwards. Tickets are $30, available online or by phone, and the show begins at 8 p.m.
These concerts usually sell out, so take heed and book now.
VOTE now, vote often for Rockland! Named a “2010 Distinctive Destination,” make it THE destination
February 3, 2010 by Hilary Nangle
Planning a Maine vacation? Want to have an authentic experience? Want lobster, a seaport, great museums and shops? Craving a real town, not a tourist set?
Have I got the place for you.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has named Rockland, Maine, to its 2010 List of America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations. Rockland was selected for its authentic preservation of a rich history and its wide range of unique attractions, including a picturesque working waterfront that packs alluring cultural heritage with prized fresh seafood and world famous festivals.
For the first time in the program’s history, the public can vote online for its fan favorite throughout February. Any legal resident of the U.S., 18 years of age or older, can vote as often as they like for their favorite city or town on this year’s list. The winner of the popular vote will be announced on March 1, 2010. You’ll have to register, but it’s well worth the effort. Voters are automatically entered to win a complimentary two night stay at any Historic Hotel of America.
So why vote for Rockland? Well, besides it being home of Pies on Parade, the Lobster Festival, fun shops, and cool museums and galleries and, well, I could go on and on, but I’ll let the National Trust get a few words in:
“With great pride in its maritime past and present, Rockland blends tradition with an innovative spirit,” said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “Visitors will discover an authentic snapshot of coastal living.”
Lobster is king in Rockland – from the harbor where visitors can watch a lobsterman dock to the world-famous Maine Lobster Festival, which occurs in August every year. Locals and visitors can shop and enjoy a bounty of local cuisines in a setting one block from the harbor on Rockland’s historic Main Street. Home to art galleries and a number of major events, the town hosts visitors with the North American Blues Festival in July, which includes two days of Grammy Award-winning music on the harbor, and the Maine Boats Homes & Harbors Show in August.
Highlights from the Trust:
• Maine Lighthouse Museum educates the public on the history of American lighthouses and the role of the United States Coast Guard in maritime safety
• The historic Owl’s Head, Rockland Breakwater, and Marshall Point lighthouses still stand in the Rockland area and are open for tours.
• For 63 years the Maine Lobster Festival has celebrated Maine’s maritime tradition with over 1,000 community volunteers and 20,000 pounds of lobster
• Rockland Harbor provides great opportunities for sailing and kayaking just off the coast of Maine.
• The Strand Theatre offers film, live music, and stage performances and has been entertaining Rockland residents and visitors since 1923.
• Farnsworth Art Museum houses a nationally recognized collection of works from many of America’s greatest artists including the work of three generations of the Wyeth family as well as the Farnsworth Homestead and the Olson House (made famous by Andrew Wyeth’s iconic painting, Christina’s World), both listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
And they didn’t even mention the Puffin Center, the National Historic District, the easily walkable downtown, the great inns, the restaurants that are gaining national attention, and, well you know me, I could go on and on.
So, what are you waiting for? Vote now, vote often!
Yes, you CAN get he’ah from they’ah (soon!)
February 1, 2010 by Hilary NangleAmtrak to Brunswick? Yup, it’s coming, thanks to $35 million in federal stimulus money to extend the Downeaster train from Portland (and just for the record, I won’t publish any comments re the politics of all this).
From Portland, the Downeaster will stop in Freeport, before finishing its run in Brunswick (where there’s already a brand spanking new train station). From there, you can hop the Maine Eastern Railroad, which stops in Bath and Wiscasset, before docking in Rockland. Car free on the Maine coast? Gotta like that!
This might do more to relieve the congestion in Wiscasset than any of the other proposals that have been kicking around for what, 20 years give or take? If priced right, the locals would even use it–sure beats dealing with Route 1 in the summer.
This also will open up alternatives for travel along the coast, allowing passengers to choose Concord Coachlines bus service or the Downeaster as works best for their schedules and needs. Goal is for service to be operational some time in 2012.
A peek at the Limerock Inn
January 31, 2010 by Hilary Nangle
During Rockland’s Pies on Parade event earlier this month, I stayed at the Limerock Inn, a wonderful B&B (and member of the Historic Inns of Rockland) just a couple of blocks from Main Street. Now I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for this inn, as it was created by friends back in Rockland’s gray days, the era when it was better known as a rough-and-tumble fishing community, rather than the arts, dining, and shopping destination it is today.
The house is a standout, an 1890’s Queen Anne painted lady, complete with wrap-around porch, listed on the National Historic Register. The woodwork alone is exquisite. Each of the eight rooms has its own distinctive flavor, from the turret room with a lovely wedding canopy bed to the Cottage Room, a private oasis with its own door opening to the backyard gardens. Some have whirlpool tubs and/or a fireplace, and there’s Wifi throughout. Currently no inroom TVs (although flat-screens are in the future), but there’s one concealed with the living room armoire.
The furnishings are top of the line, reflecting two of the original four owners (two couples) business; they owned a furniture store. They bought quality, but made sure it was in keeping with the period and decor, and the emphasis is on comfort. Let me tell ya, those leather chairs with ottomans in the living room invite relaxation, perhaps with a selection from the library of good reads positioned within grasp.
Frank and PJ, the current owner/innkeepers, are naturals, and Frank is the creative cook who whips up more-than-filling breakfasts. If you’re really fortunate, there might be a serving of his Key Limerock pie available—trust me, he nailed it (and his granola crust seals the deal).The self-serve pantry assures that those who crave a midnight snack will find one.
These guys love Rockland, so they’re a wonderful source of info for first-timers to the region, and the inn provides enough privacy (including individual dining tables) that it’s a good choice for newbies to the B&B experience. One night here, and you’ll be booking again and again.
