Straw-hat theater and a modern dance showcase are the top picks of the tix this week. Tops is “The Drowsy Chaperone” at Maine State Music Theatre in Brunswick. It’s a new title for MSMT – its third new title this season. “Altar Boyz” is another interesting new title. In fact it’s a Maine premiere – something that […]

Greater Portland Auditions, Calls for Art Art Call for Assorted Tapestries, for The Long Island Dodwell Gallery fall exhibit, local artists can submit 1-3 pieces of hand made fabric arts, including wall hangings, furniture covers, home decor, small rugs, and clothing, contact Maggie Carle, 766-2940 or www.maggiecarle.com. by mid August.  Call for Art, for juried […]

Jay Villani and friends at Local 188 (685 Congress St. in Portland) are taking over the former O’Naturals space on Exchange Street and are working on remodeling the place. The new restaurant is reportedly going to be called Sonny’s. The O’Naturals on Route 1 in Falmouth is still open. Walter’s is leaving Exchange Street at […]

Earlier sunsets and fields aglow with goldenrods signal the beginning of the end of the summer arts and entertainment season. But there’s still plenty of A&E to come, with August highlighted by a pair of very similar annual chamber music festivals in Portland and Damariscotta. The senior of the two is the Portland Chamber Music […]

Step back a century, and explore a beautiful island in the far eastern reaches of Casco Bay. The Maine Coast Heritage Trust acquired 42-acre Malaga Island in 2001. Over the last few years they have created a one-mile loop trail around the spruce- and fir-forested island. Today the only obvious signs of man on the […]

Greater Portland Auditions, Calls for Art Art Call for Assorted Tapestries, for The Long Island Dodwell Gallery fall exhibit, local artists can submit 1-3 pieces of hand made fabric arts, including wall hangings, furniture covers, home decor, small rugs, and clothing, contact Maggie Carle, 766-2940 or www.maggiecarle.com. by mid August.  Call for Art, for juried […]

PORTLAND — Pedestrians walking along Congress Street in the East End can now find the musings of Maine’s poet laureate, Betsy Sholl, encased in Plexiglas outside the main entrance of the St. Lawrence Arts Center. “Love Song with Departure” is the inaugural poem in the Waterproof Poetry series launched by Deirdre Nice, artistic and executive director […]

Greater Portland Auditions, Calls for Art Call for Art, for juried craft show hosted by The Maine Crafts Guild held Sept. 19-20 at Portland East End School, apply at www.mainecraftsguild.com, or Joelle, portland.show@mainecraftsguild.com. Call for Rebel Blend Arts Proposals, supported by Coffee By Design’s 2009 Rebel Blend Fund, applications accepted from July 1 – Aug. […]

Throughout my working life, I’ve been proud to know that a portion of my state tax dollars helps subsidize programs designed to help people who can’t always help themselves. Admittedly, I never thought I’d be one of them. Life on the unemployment line today is far different than it was when I was laid off […]

As the middle of summer arrives in Maine, the state’s many seasonal arts and entertainment activities are in full flower. One of Maine’s biggest events happens July 30, when PortOpera celebrates its 15th anniversary with a grand concert of favorite arias. There’s a fine choice of musical theater: “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” is running in Brunswick, […]