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.

Books

Bedside Table: ‘Lady Clementine: A Novel,’ by Marie Benedict

June 28, 2020July 6, 2020

Sue Accardi of Raymond is reading the tale of Winston Churchill’s wife.

Arts & Entertainment

Deep Water: Untitled poem by LaLa Drew

June 28, 2020June 24, 2020

This week’s Maine poem is introduced by Samaa Abdurraqib.

Do This, Maine Street

Match the Maine landmark to the county it’s found in

by Leslie Bridgers June 24, 2020June 24, 2020

See how well you know your state.

Arts & Entertainment, Do This

Indie Film: Author biopic ‘Shirley’ is pretty serious, and so are Moss’ Oscar chances

by Dennis Perkins June 22, 2020June 19, 2020

PMA Films is renting the movie about the life of Shirley Jackson.

Do This, Food

Bar Guide: Get in the spirit with no-fuss infusions

by Angie Bryan June 22, 2020June 18, 2020

Making your own flavored alcohol is surprisingly easy.

Arts & Entertainment

‘Blue’ is the opera on police violence that America needs to see, but can’t

by Michael Andor Brodeur The Washington Post June 21, 2020June 17, 2020

The good news is that the Music Critics Association of North America announced Wednesday that composer Jeanine Tesori and librettist Tazewell Thompson are the recipients of its 2020 award for best new opera for their two-act tragedy and breakout Glimmerglass Festival hit, “Blue.” That accolade is well deserved; “Blue” is a triumph. The bad news […]

Arts & Entertainment

In one of summer’s best new shows, Perry Mason gets what he’s always lacked – a personality

by Hank Stuever The Washington Post June 21, 2020June 18, 2020

Perry Mason, the defense attorney hero of Erle Stanley Gardner’s legal thrillers (which have sold some 300 million copies since first debuting in 1933), has been ripe for a remake for a long time. After some movie adaptations and a long-running radio serial, it was the TV version, which premiered in 1957 and starred Raymond […]