Leslie Bridgers

Columnist

Leslie Bridgers is a columnist for the Portland Press Herald, writing about Maine culture, customs and the things we notice and wonder about in our everyday lives. Originally from Connecticut, Leslie came to Maine by way of Bowdoin College and never left. She joined the Portland Press Herald in 2011 as a reporter and spent seven years as the paper’s features editor, overseeing coverage of arts, entertainment and food.

Do This, Food

Run & Eat: Pick a bowl, then pick it up quick, from Crunchy Poke

by Leslie Bridgers April 5, 2021April 2, 2021

The Old Port poke shop has been a reliable takeout spot throughout the pandemic.

Arts & Entertainment, Do This

Indie Film: Bath filmmaker emerging from lockdown with three new movies

by Dennis Perkins April 5, 2021April 7, 2021

Cody Alexander Curtis returned to his home state in 2018 and has kept busy.

Do This, Food

Tap Lines: Belleflower’s opening in East Bayside marks start of better days

by Ben Lisle April 5, 2021April 2, 2021

The new brewery, owned by former employees of Boston’s Trillium, moved into the space occupied by now-closed Brewery Extrava.

Arts & Entertainment, Review

‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ is a clash of the titans – and mismatched storytelling styles

by Michael O'Sullivan The Washington Post April 4, 2021March 31, 2021

If “Godzilla vs. Kong” sounds like the billing in a prize fight, the movie – a creature-feature sequel to 2017’s witty, stylish “Kong: Skull Island” and 2019’s more flat-footed “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” – lives up to that rock-’em, sock-’em dynamic, in more ways than one. In a literal sense, it’s a multi-round matchup […]

Arts & Entertainment, Review

Idris Elba makes for a charismatic urban cowboy in this familiar but engaging family film

by Ann Hornaday The Washington Post April 4, 2021March 31, 2021

Anyone lucky enough to have seen the horseback riders of North Philadelphia in person knows firsthand the frisson that first glimpse produces: Is that really a horse? In the heart of Rust Belt Philly? At its best, the uneven but good-hearted family film “Concrete Cowboy” is animated by that same shock of disbelief and delight […]

Arts & Entertainment

Deep Water: ‘The Caterpillar,’ by Betsy Sholl

April 4, 2021March 31, 2021

Maine poems edited and introduced by Megan Grumbling.

Arts & Entertainment, Local & State

Society Notebook: Portland Ovations celebrates 90 years, livestreamed from Merrill

by Amy Paradysz April 4, 2021April 7, 2021

The arts presenter’s virtual fundraising event was held on March 25.

Arts & Entertainment

Get an edge in your Oscars pool with this guide to the 2021 Oscar shorts

by Michael O'Sullivan The Washington Post April 4, 2021March 31, 2021

I think we can all agree: It’s a weird year for the Oscars, and not just because Glenn Close and Olivia Colman are going head to head again, after Close lost the best actress race to Colman in 2019. It’s so weird that some have taken to calling them the Oddscars. Should Close even have […]