Greater Portland Books/Authors Friday 6/12 “Unrequited: Women and Romantic Obsession,” discussion with local author Lisa A. Phillips, noon, free, Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Square, Portland, 871-1700, portlandlibrary.com. Saturday 6/20 “Lizzie Borden on Trial,” reading by local author Joseph Conforti, 2 p.m., free, Letterpress Books, Northgate Plaza, 91 Auburn St., Portland, 747-4232, letterpress-books.com. Film “In the […]

There’s been much rambling here recently on the do’s and dont’s of landing and/or keeping a restaurant job. Chiming in with their own suggestions, a few hospitality brothers and sisters made good points through email. Further brainstorming with my Restaurant Creative Consulting Team (which is always an excuse to drink wine), we dug deeper for […]

The summer solstice may be a couple of weeks away, but Maine’s 2015 season of straw-hat theater is already flowering. The 2015 season will include a number of traditional Broadway favorites plus a slew of recent shows. In Brunswick, Maine State Music Theatre just opened a wonderfully funny and poignant production of “The Full Monty,” […]

Greater Portland Books/Authors Wednesday 6/10 “The Mountaintop School for Dogs,” discussion with author Ellen Cooney, 6:30 p.m., free, Freeport Community Library, 10 Library Drive, Freeport, 865-3307, freeportlibrary.com. Friday 6/12 “Unrequited: Women and Romantic Obsession,” discussion with local author Lisa A. Phillips, noon, free, Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Square, Portland, 871-1700, portlandlibrary.com. Film “The Hundred-Year-Old Man […]

In one crucial week, the numerous front-of-house job postings on Craigslist have dwindled and most positions have been filled. There’s still a place in Old Orchard Beach looking for an “Attractive Jello-shot girl. No experience necessary,” but unless a recent new hire is a complete dolt, the window is almost shut. From what I’ve heard, […]

Greater Portland Auditions/Calls for Art Wescustago Youth Chorale, auditioning new singers in early June, by appointment, 846-0705, wescustago.wordpress.com. Books/Authors Sunday 5/31 “Death in Shorts: Rogue Wave,” panel discussion with crime-story authors, 2 p.m., free, Scarborough Public Library, 48 Gorham Road, Scarborough, 396-6279, scarboroughlibrary.org. Monday 6/1 “Unique Maine Farms,” discussion with author Mary Quinn Doyle, 6:30 […]

With Memorial Day Weekend fresh on our minds, so begins the shoulder season, bringing steadily increasing hospitality business to southern Maine. It’s a short period where business starts to pick up as folks From Away make day-trips with the windows down, and locals venture out in flip-flops. Patio furniture comes out of storage and al […]

Greater Portland Auditions/Calls for Art Choral Art Society, holding auditions for its Choral Art Camerata, Tuesday and Wednesday, May 26-27, 5-9 p.m., free, Allen Avenue Unitarian-Universalist Church, 524 Allen Ave., Portland, 828-0043, manager@choralart.org. Books/Authors Friday 5/22 “Life in Prison,” discussion with local author Robert Reilly, noon, free, Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Square, Portland, 871-1700, […]

Last weekend was a mixed bag for a specific demographic of diners and the restaurants that served them. Marked with celebratory pomp, and extenuating circumstances, college graduations bring on their own craziness, added to the special sauce of multi-generational occasions. A precursor to Memorial Day Weekend, when the floodgates open for folks From Away, graduation […]

Greater Portland Books/Authors Wednesday 5/13 “The Negotiator,” discussion with author and former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, sponsored by the Portland Regional Chamber, 5 p.m., $10, Hannaford Hall, University of Southern Maine, 88 Bedford St., Portland, portlandregion.com/events. Friday 5/15 “You Are Not Special … and Other Encouragements,” discussion with author David McCullough Jr., 6:30 p.m., free, […]