Southern Maine’s arts and entertainment calendar boasts a variety of interesting offerings this weekend. The most significant happens in Lewiston and Topsham this Saturday and Sunday, as the Midcoast Symphony Orchestra wraps up its 25th season with the world premiere of a specially commissioned concerto written by a prominent Maine composer. The DaPonte String Quartet […]

“Don’t spend money on flowers for Mother’s Day this year,” I told my college-age daughters, Number One and Carlykardashian. “Number One, you’re graduating from college next weekend, and CK, you’re schlepping home more clothes than Macy’s has on the rack. It just isn’t necessary.” There was a pause and three seconds of silence. “But seriously, […]

Greater Portland Books/Authors Friday 5/8 “The Night the Sky Turned Red,” discussion with local author Allan Levinsky, noon, free, Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Square, Portland, 871-1700, portlandlibrary.com. Saturday 5/9 “Azalea, Unschooled,” book signing with author Liza Kleinman, 3-5 p.m., free, GreenLight Studio, 49 Dartmouth St., Portland, 846-3344, islandportpress.com. Wednesday 5/13 “The Negotiator,” discussion with author […]

Mid-May marks the end of the 2014-2015 season for Portland Ovations, and the 84-year-old arts presenter will rock out in style with two performances of its finale: the national touring production of “Mamma Mia!” on May 13-14. Based on the music and stylings of ABBA and woven around a wonderful romantic story, “Mama Mia!” is […]

Not too long ago, I came upon a tipping practice that landed in the front of the already overstuffed “You Can’t Make This Stuff Up” file. Located in the Riverwalk area of downtown Pueblo, Colorado, the Rio Bistro restaurant is a lovely, independently owned and operated gem surrounded by charm and history. Designed by the […]

Greater Portland Books/Authors Thursday 4/30 “Age of Exploration,” readings by local poet Christopher Seid, 7 p.m., free, Yarmouth History Center, 118 East Elm St., Yarmouth, 846-6259, yarmouthmehistory.org. Poetry Slam, with nationally competing poets, presented by Port Veritas, 7 p.m., free, Portland Public Library 5 Monument Square, Portland, 871-1700, portlandlibrary.com. Friday 5/1 “The Blackthorn Chronicles,” discussion with local author […]

As the calendar inexorably marches toward the midpoint of spring, many of southern Maine’s arts and entertainment producers and presenters are wrapping up their fall-winter-spring seasons. The Portland Symphony Orchestra is bowing goodbye on its 90th anniversary season with a retrospective flourish. The finale comes on Saturday with a special non-subscription concert that will recall […]

Never has a topic garnered so much interest from all corners of this column’s readership. Everyone, it seems, has a horrifying or heart-warming story around the multi-faceted phenomena of children in restaurants. A few of you, citing examples at length, chastised parents and blamed technology for making dining out such a low-tech, thus undesirable, experience. […]

Greater Portland Books/Authors Wednesday 4/22 “Closer All the Time,” Brown Bag Lecture with author Jim Nichols, noon, free, Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Square, Portland, 871-1700. Tuesday 4/28 Two Poet Laureates: Marcia Brown & Natalie Murray, readings, 6:30 p.m., free, Prince Memorial Library, 266 Main St., Cumberland, 829-2215. Thursday 4/30 “Age of Exploration,” readings by local […]