Finding just the right food to serve my children’s friends when they were young and visiting for lunch was like breaking the code to the Enigma machine. After trying hamburgers, meatloaf sandwiches, baked beans, tuna sandwiches, macaroni and cheese and bologna sandwiches, and sliced bananas and oranges – not all on the same day – […]

Caravan of Thieves is motoring toward Portland, but there’s no need to call the police or double-latch the doors. Caravan of Thieves is a musical ensemble that specializes in gypsy jazz and other old-time acoustic genres. The band released a new CD last year and a new one is currently in process. You can hear […]

Greater Portland Books, Authors Wednesday 4/20 Maureen Heffernan, director of the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden, and author of “Native Plants For Your Maine Garden,” 6:30-8 p.m., free, open to public, Freeport Community Library, Library Dr., Freeport, freeportlibrary.com. Sarah Braunstein, author of “The Sweet Relief of Missing Children,” Author Brown Bag Lecture Series, noon, free, open […]

Musical theater takes a pair of tasty turns this weekend in Portland. The biggest and flashiest event takes place Sunday, when a national touring production of “The Mikado,” a melodically delicious and visually scrumptious English operetta, plays Merrill Auditorium as part of Portland Ovations’ 2010-2011 season. A few blocks downhill and down in the basement, […]

Greater Portland Books, Authors Wednesday 4/13 “Celebrate Writers 2011,” reading by poet Jennifer Moxley author of “Clampdown,” 7 p.m., free and open to public, Lee Auditorium, Wishcamper Center, 34 Bedford St., USM Portland, 228-8393. Edward V. Thompson, author of “Printed Maps of the District and State of Maine 1793-1860: An Illustrated and Comparative Study,” lecture, […]

There’ll be a whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on this weekend as the Portland Symphony Orchestra morphs into Pops mode with one of America’s best Elvis Presley impersonators as special guest artist. With the orchestra behind him, Elvis Wade will gyrate at the front of the stage and toss scarves to adoring women in the audience. […]

Greater Portland Auditions, Calls for Art Freeport Players, supplemental auditions for “Pirates of Penzance,” 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, Freeport Middle School, Kendall Lane, Freeport, performance dates, July 14-31; list of available roles, script and score at fcponline.org/auditions. National Anthem Auditions, and God Bless America performers, for the 2011 season of Portland Sea Dogs, 8 […]

Music fills southern Maine’s air as we savor the first full week of spring: Anastasia Antonacos, a Portland pianist and professor at the University of Southern Maine School of Music, will give a Spotlight Series recital on Friday in Gorham. The Mid-Coast-based DaPonte String Quartet, one of Maine’s busiest classical ensembles, will give three concerts […]

We are just entering the in-between season as far as outdoor activities are concerned. Area trails are transitioning from snow to mud, and are best left for the drier days of late April. Biking and kayaking seasons are just around the corner. So for a spectacular hike where you can keep your boots dry and […]