Stonington Shorefront by Scott Moore, oil, 24” x 48”
JUNE 3 - 20 JUNE 24 - JULY 11
JULY 15 - AUGUST 1 AUGUST 5 - 22
Providing quality cabinetry and countertops to homeowners and contractors throughout Southern Maine since 1977.
Whether building a new home or remodeling your current kitchen, Indisco guides you through every step of the kitchen design process to create a beautiful kitchen that you’ll love sharing with friends and family.
You snooze, you lose: Emily Muir, Fish Wharf (top center), oil on canvas. Barridoff Galleries, March 29, $4,250. Sold!
Refresh
15 FROM THE EDITOR
“SEPTEMBER GLOW”
By Colin W. Sargent
17 LETTERS
19 CHOWDER
A tasty blend of the Fabulous, the Eyebrow-Raising, and the Just Plain Wrong.
Culture
25 “THE ART OF COLLECTING” Gawking, made respectable. By Audrey Esteves
On the Cover Op Art makes a splash in Portland Harbor! Nola refers to New Orleans, where Quack n’ Cruise runs a sister operation. See Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem Evangeline, where Acadians from the Canadian Maritimes flee south to the Big Easy to become the Cajuns.
53 “GOING GREEN”
Invasive green crabs: on your menu? By Judson Vail
71 MAINE LIVE
111 FICTION
“APOLOGY ACCEPTED” By Bill Stauffer
Confidential
91 FINE LIVING
“MARY JANE MERCH”
It’s not just PBS with the tote bags. By Alayna Blier
63 CORNER TABLE “STAGE TO TABLE” Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club By Colin W. Sargent
67 SELECT AREA RESTAURANTS
Shelter
95 TALKING WALLS
“CAN’T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU” For sale: Music executive Dan Crewe’s house in Cumberland Foreside. By Colin W. Sargent
102 NEW ENGLAND HOMES AND LIVING
Crushes
20 MADE IN MAINE
58 VISIT THE KENNEBUNKS
102 Baxter Blvd, Portland, ME 04101
coliN w. SargeNt
Founding Editor & Publisher
ART & PRODUCTION
Art Director NaNcy SargeNt
Associate Publisher JeSSe SteNbak
Graphic Design MeaghaN Maurice Design MercedeS VilleNeuVe
Associates alayNa blier
audrey eSteVeS
ADVERTISING
Advertising Executive aNdie ewiNg
Publisher's Assistant & New Media liz Naber
EDITORIAL
Contributing Editor clif traVerS
Special Features & Archives coliN S. SargeNt
Special Projects JaSoN hJort
Distribution Nick o'Malley
ACCOUNTING
Controller JeNNifer lord
SubScriptioNS
Subscribe online at www.portlandmagazine.com.
Portland Magazine, aka Portland Monthly Magazine, is published by Sargent Publishing, Inc. Repeat Internet rights are understood to be purchased with all stories and artwork. For questions regarding advertising, invoicing, and payments, call Jennifer Lord at 775-0101.
September 2025, Volume 40, No. 6 (ISSN: 1073-1857). Letters to the editor are welcome and will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes and as subject to Portland Magazine’s unrestricted right to edit and comment editorially. Responsible only for that portion of any advertisement which is printed incorrectly. Advertisers are responsible for copyrights of materials they submit. Nothing in this issue may be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from the publishers. Submissions welcome, but we take no responsibility for unsolicited materials. All photography has been enhanced for your enjoyment.
Portland Magazine is proudly printed in the USA by Cummings Printing.
September Glow
Used to be, Maine rolled up its sidewalks after Labor Day.
Now, September is the new June. This year, marinas and a host of coastal attractions will enjoy high activity into November. Remember Blade Runner? “I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion...”
Well, for me, taking a boat below Perkins Cove Bridge competes with those images, especially when the trees are igniting. So does star-gazing off Gooch’s Beach in a boat. Because the sun sets earlier in September, the constellations rise earlier, the perfect backdrop for meteor shower light shows. “There! There! Did you see that?”
Portland does a movie-star turn on Baxter Boulevard with its bracelets of light. Ditto for Whitehead Passage, in so many H. B. Brown paintings.
Kayak on Highland Lake (where Westbrook touches Falmouth and Windham) and you'll experience silent travel, interrupted only by the honking of geese as they fly south in V-formations.
One September, I took my 13-foot Boston Whaler out to lonely Boon Island, fragrant with seaweed and salty sea. Tied up among the shelving waves. Snuck into the 133-foot tower and climbed the spiral to the top. On various landings, I had to step around creepy, dead songbirds. There’s a world too far out for graffiti—other than the gulls’ canvas of splattered guano. Were they trying to tell me something?
Dare to sample the crazy beauty of September.
CHASING CASSANDRA
I’ve been a fan of Portland Magazine for a very long time—and a fan of the restaurants that have been at 1 Spring Point Drive in SoPo. Appreciate the heads up on North43Bistro, and it’s on the calendar.
I’m writing because the last paragraph in your restaurant review [“Found at Sea,” July/August] truly got my attention. I happily read about Cassandra and am in total envy. I grew up with Scotties, and when I married later in life my husband and I were soooo fortunate to have two Westies from two different rescues.
I have spent the better part of a year trying to find either breed in rescues from as far away as Austin (a total scam but no $ changed hands happily), Ohio, and Connecticut. Nothing ever on Petfinder. Do you mind if I ask you if you got Sandy from a breeder or from a rescue?
Susan Foote, South Berwick
Sandy came to us from a family who lives near Nancy’s sister in Florida.—Ed.
I WAS THERE
Re: “When We Was Fab” [December 2024]
Love it!
Dr. John Murrell, Amarillo, Texas
SHORT STORY SHORT
That illustration is the nicest thing [“Big Kisses,” July/August 2025]. It seemed to soften the entire story just right.
Thank you for publishing it. Proud to be in your magazine. Dan Domench, Union
T HE ELL SWORT H
Mad, Mad World
Talk about Maine as a MacGuffin. In Riff Raff, everybody’s heading toward a violent denouement in Yarmouth. The movie cast of intruders includes Bill Murray, Jennifer Coolidge, Pete
Shades of “Ozymandias” by Percy Bysshe Shelley. According to the Maine BMV, which would only respond to us in writing about this sensitive subject, “There are 51 cybertrucks in Maine.” Will there be the same number next year? Is this a good thing? Discuss.
$2.2M
Summer Knowledge Cowboys
the Times Sign of the Times��
Yes, we did get permission from the parental units to take this photo.
Georgia O’Keeffe’s Sun Water Maine, painted on York Beach in 1922, sold for $2.2M at Christie’s New York in 2012. See our October 2015 story about O’Keeffe’s visits to Maine from 1920 to 1928.
The strangest things get unearthed across time. A John Singer Sargent painting is a dead ringer for Jane Morgan’s dress on our April 2024 cover, which illustrates Gwen Thompson’s coverage of a New York fashion show celebrating Morgan’s performance gowns. Bonnie Bien with La Presse says, “While [assembling] the Jane Morgan–In My Style Collection….the curator found a photo of [Sargent’s] portrait of Elizabeth Winthrop Chanler and noticed a resemblance to the Donald Brooks creation worn by Jane Morgan. She realized it was an exact replica.”
We were sad to note the passing of Jane Morgan, 101, on August 4.
Made in Maine
MAPLE PEPPER
37th laudholm nature crafts festival
September 6-7, 2025 · 10am-4pm
150+ artisans · local food & drinks · live music find tickets & details at wellsreserve.org/crafts
wellsreserve at laudholm
The Art
of Collecting Maine Artists at Auction 2025
Katz, Wyeth, O’Keeffe… Bradford, Peterson, and Wittenberg. This year’s selection of extraordinary auction results is a fresh mix of household names with contemporary artists whose hammer value is also on the rise. Significantly, collectors are identifying and purchasing works produced by women artists. Here’s a taste of what Maine has to offer the art auction world from the usual and some unusual suspects. What can you learn from results like these? You can learn where you could’ve been on January 21 and snapped up a William Zorach bronze sculpture for $70. [This is not a misprint.]
Alex Katz (1927-, Lincolnville)
Good Afternoon [Detail], 72" x 96", oil on linen. Sold: Sotheby’s New York, May 16, $2,368,000.
COMPILED BY AUDREY ESTEVES
Sally Michel Avery (1902-2003, Pemaquid Point)
Pam and Sumi, 17.75" x 24", oil on board. Sold: Bonhams Skinner Marlborough, June 24, $24,320.
Milton Avery (1885-1965, Pemaquid Point)
Window on the Bay, 48" x 32", oil on canvas. Sold: Christie’s New York, April 17, $289,800.
George Bellows (1882-1925, Monhegan Island) Dempsey and Firpo, 18" x 22", lithograph on Basingwerk Parchment paper. Sold: Christie’s New York, April 16, $81,900.
Rockwell Kent (1882-1971, Monhegan Island) Alaskan Inlet, 28" x 34", oil on canvas. Sold: Christie’s New York, April 17, $201,600.
Milton Avery, his wife Sally, and their daughter March summered at Pemaquid Point in Bristol in 1948. During this time, Milton painted over 30 mixed-media artworks in a bound sketchbook now owned by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Several of Milton’s paintings have sold in the past decade that were inspired by or painted during his time Midcoast. Woman on the Rocks and Bridge and Float both sold at Christie’s for $100,000 and $125,000, respectively.
Rockwell Kent
Oarsmen, 5.4" x 7", wood engraving. Sold: Swann Auction Galleries, April 15, $6,500.
Frank W. Benson (1862-1951, North Haven) Monadnock, 20" x 16", oil on canvas. Sold: Christie’s New York, January 23, $30,240.
Sascha Braunig (1983-, Portland) Blue Loomer, 32.25" x 24", oil on canvas over panel. Sold: Phillips New York, February 28, $12,700.
Katherine Bradford Yellow Stacks, Night, 18" x 23.75", monotype with watercolor on woven paper. Sold: Bonhams New York, April 1, $640.
Connie Hayes (1952-, Rockland) Leaning Blue Boy, 20" x 20", oil on canvas. Sold: Barridoff Galleries, March 29, $1,800.
Modern and Contemporary Women Artists at Auction
Katherine Bradford (1942-, Brunswick) Adult Swim, Superman, 64" x 56", acrylic on canvas. Sold: Christie’s New York, May 15, $126,000.
Lois Dodd (1927-, Cushing) Moon + Treetop, 10" x 20", oil on masonite. Sold: Freeman’s Hindman Chicago, May 13, $2,200.
OCEAN VIEWS, CRISP AIR, AND A WARM SEAT WAITING FOR YOU.
ENJOY FALL DINING ON OUR HEATED PATIO.
OPEN 7 NIGHTS A WEEK THROUGH SEPTEMBER.
Lynne Mapp Drexler (1928-1999, Monhegan Island) Herbert’s Garden, 63.5" x 85.375", oil on canvas, Sold: Sotheby’s New York, May 15, $1,453,000.
Berenice Abbott (18981991, Blanchard) New York at Night, 22" x 18", gelatin silver print. Sold: Bertolami Fine Arts, April 11, $17,840.
Dahlov Ipcar (19172017, Brunswick) Silver Nyika, 16" x 19", lithograph. Sold: Barridoff Galleries, March 29, $1,000.
Childe Hassam (1859-1935, Isles of Shoals) View of Venice, 12.75" x 16", oil on canvas. Sold: Christie’s New York, January 23, $352,800.
Frances Kornbluth (1920-2014, Monhegan Island) Island Path No. 2, 17" x 13.6", watercolor and collage on paper. Sold: Barridoff Galleries, March 29, $600.
Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986, York) Leaves of a Plant, 40" x 39", oil on canvas. Sold: Sotheby’s New York, May 13, $12,972,500.
Nicole Wittenberg (1979-, Camden) Sweet William, 60" x 48", oil on canvas. Sold: Christie’s Hong Kong, March 29, $32,391.
Louise Nevelson (1900-1988, Rockland) Hudson River Series IV, 21.875" x 24.625" x 5", black painted wood in artist’s frame. Sold: Phillips New York, May 14, $120,650.
Yvonne Jacquette (1934-2023, Searsmont) Route One, Maine, 43" x 66", oil on canvas. Sold: Grogan & Company, May 10, $8,000.
Peggy Bacon (1895-1987, The Kennebunks) Moving to 8th Street, 6" x 7.75", etching on paper. Sold: Thomaston Place Auction Galleries, June 27, $1,200.
Rackstraw Downes (1939-, Morrill) Portland Water District Wastewater Treatment Plant, 10.25" x 44", oil on canvas. Sold: Shannon’s, May 8, $37,500.
Hunt Slonem (1951-, Kittery) Lost & Found, 30" x 40", oil on
Sold: Rago Arts & Auction Center, May 21, $27,940.
Kenneth Noland (1924-2010, Port Clyde) Purkinje Effect, 70" x 70", acrylic on canvas. Sold: Christie’s New York, May 15, $1,502,000.
David
Clyde Driskell (19312020, Falmouth) Icarus, 4.5" x 4.5", collage and mixed media on wove paper. Sold: Swann Auction Galleries, April 3, $2,000.
John Marin (1870-1953, Addison) Boat with Sun, Deer Isle, Maine, 17" x 13.5" watercolor and gouache on paper. Sold: Christie’s New York, April 17, $176,400.
Neil Welliver (1929-2005, Lincolnville) Study for From Hope to Megunticook, 26” x 26”, oil on canvas. Sold: Stair Galleries, May 15, $21,000.
Walt Kuhn (1877-1949, Ogunquit) The Grenadier, 30" x 25", oil on canvas. Sold: Christie’s New York, April 17, $119,700.
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Edward Hopper (1882-1967, Cape Elizabeth) Spurwink Church, 14" x 20", watercolor on paper. Sold: Sotheby’s New York, May 14, $1,016,000.
Zero Mostel (1915-1977, Monhegan Island) Portrait of a man in a bowler hat, 30" x 15", oil and tempera on board. Sold: Jackson’s, June 17, $938.
Archival framing since 1984.
Alex Katz (1927-, Lincolnville) Nevis (Study for Round Hill), 11.9" x 9", oil on board. Sold: Christie’s New York, February 27, $81,900.
Phil Barter (1939-2024, Boothbay) Fall Birches, 24.125” x 30”, oil on canvas. Sold: Barridoff Galleries, March 29, $3,000.
John Whorf (1903-1959, Rumford Falls) Bringing in the Catch, 30" x 40", oil on canvas. Sold: Shannon’s, May 8, $16,250.
Walter Griffin (1861-1935, Portland) Pouldu-Finistre, 13"x 16", oil on board. Sold: Doyle New York, February 26, $4,160.
John Calvin Stevens (1855-1940, Portland) The Headland, 17" x 21.25", oil on canvas. Sold: Barridoff Galleries, March 29, $3,500.
Ben Shahn (1898-1969, Skowhegan) The Chateau, 26" x 20", tempera on board. Sold: Doyle New York, April 16, $8,320.
Abbott F. Graves (1859-1936, Kennebunkport) Resting on the Porch, 30" x 24", oil on canvas. Sold: Shannon’s, May 8, $12,500.
Will Barnet (1911-2012, Midcoast) The Green Parrott, 26.25" x 20.25", oil on canvas. Sold: Bonhams Skinner Marlborough, June 24, $95,750.
Leon Kroll (1884-1974, Monhegan Island) Untitled, 18" x 25", oil on canvas board. Sold: Swann Auction Galleries, January 30, $1,900.
Fairfield Porter (1907-1975, Great Spruce Head Island) South Meadow, Afternoon, 24" x 28", oil on masonite. Sold: Christie’s New York, April 17, $189,000.
Seven Arctic explorers, one Snowy Owl— what could possibly go wrong?
Join Arcturus and his pals Lena, Captain Donald MacMillan, and a crew of friendly research sailors aboard the lovely schooner Bowdoin in 1934. The wounded snowy owl gets a lift from Portland, Maine, to his Arctic homeland. On the way, everyone learns something new in this children’s story inspired by a true adventure. $12.95
Suggested for ages 3 to 9.
NC Wyeth (1882-1945, Port Clyde) Who’s Afraid of His Guns?, 34.25" x 25", oil on canvas. Sold: Bonhams New York, April 30, $572,000.
Jamie Wyeth (1946-, Monhegan Island) Night Wind, 28.5" x 36.375", oil on canvas. Sold: Sotheby’s New York, February 27, $139,700.
Henriette Wyeth Hurd (1907-1997, Port Clyde) Portrait of Madelyn S. Boudreau, 40" x 36", oil on canvas. Sold: Heritage Auctions Dallas, April 4, $4,000.
Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009, Allen Island) Circus Day, 30" x 22", watercolor, gouache, and graphite on paper. Sold: Christie’s New York, May 15, $730,800.
Marsden Hartley (1877-1943, Lewiston) Camellias in a Vase, 27" x 19", oil on canvas. Sold: Bonhams New York, April 30, $267,200.
Alfred Thompson Bricher (1837-1908, Mount Desert Island) Baby is King, 17.5" x 35", oil on canvas. Sold: Christie’s New York, January 23, $60,480.
Acquired at Winter Associates Auctioneers last December for $475, this Louis Doyle Norton pastel landscape of the Kennebunk River Estuary is now listed on eBay for $1,500. Talk about a “flip.”
Now Available as an audiobook on Audible!
Aviator Charles Lindbergh’s aw-shucks schtick is a mask for a monster who destroys strangers and loved ones with equal indifference.
Hunter makes a fortune exposing fraudsters. When he stumbles across the corpse of his German teacher on his old reformatory grounds, he’s certain he is onto something evil and becomes drawn into the mystery.
Unsure who his own father is, Hunter is no angel himself. A former “black ops” military officer, he knows what he has to do to get the job done,no matter the cost.
Nightmares, hallucinations, and fragments of grisly memories knock on the door of his subconscious. Even the stage prop “Old Sparky” in his new lover’s lurid Grand Guignol connects a deadly circuit in Hunter.
Orisa cards warn of air disaster. Brainy Pia offers a path out of his disintegration. Traveling the globe—Paris, Berlin, Geneva, and London—Hunter can’t resist the magnetic scene south of New York where the Crime of the Century once played out.
Hunter is falling through the universe’s trap door. He’s headed for hell—unless he can redeem himself with one final flight.
Harrison Bird Brown (1831-1915, Portland) Landscape with Stone Mill, 29" x 36", oil on canvas. Sold: Casco Bay Auctions, March 8, $543.
Alfred Chadbourn (1928-1999, Yarmouth) Kennebunkport, Maine, 12" x 12", oil on canvas. Sold: Weiss Auctions, March 20, $500.
Be on the lookout...
Following his 2017 solo exhibition at Haynes Galleries in Thomaston, Maine, the whimsical folk art sculptures of Harvey Peterson have emerged in the art market. Inspired by “antique, raw, and outsider art,” Peterson brings figures to life using found objects and ephemera.
Harvey Peterson (c.1950-, Belfast) Penobscot Man, 12” x 7”, carved and painted wood. Sold: Thomaston Place Auction Galleries, August 28, 2022, $2,200.
Charles H. Woodbury (1864-1940, Ogunquit) Our Group, 22.5" x 43.5", oil on canvas. Sold: Barridoff Galleries, March 29, $22,000.
William Zorach (1889-1966, Bath) Two Hands Clasping, 8" x 3.5", bronze sculpture. Sold: Tom Hall Auctions, January 21, $70.
William Zorach Bay Point, Maine, 33" x 39", watercolor on paper. Sold: Stair Galleries, January 30, $4,750.
June 21, $300.
Charlie Hewitt (1946-, Brunswick) Red Swing, 38" x 45", mixed media. Sold: Joshua Kodner Galleries,
Jonathan Borofsky (1942-, Ogunquit)
Man with a Briefcase (A), 91.75" x 37.5", woodcut in colors on handmade paper. Sold: Los Angeles Modern Auctions, May 13, $10,795.
Robert Indiana (1928-2018, Vinalhaven) LOVE (Red Faces Blue Sides), 36" x 36" x 18", polychrome aluminum. Sold: Christie’s New York, May 15, $529,200.
Alan Magee (1947-, Cushing) Still Life, 16" x 22", acrylic and oil on panel. Sold: Ahlers & Ogletree Auction Gallery, June 26, $6,000.
Rufus Porter (1792-1884, Bridgton) Untitled, 2.75" x 3", watercolor and gouache on paper. Sold: Bonhams Skinner Marlborough, February 1, $3,584.
Home Loans for Maine
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(1836-1910, Prout’s Boy and Girl at a Well, 7.75" x 11.25", watercolor, gouache, and pencil : Christie’s New York, (1932-, Mount Desert Is, 43" x 74", oil on canvas. : Christie’s New York, February 27,
Eric Hopkins (1951-, North Haven) Intense Evening, 21.25" x 29.25", watercolor on paper. Sold: Barridoff Galleries, March 29, $3,500.
Stephen Morgan Etnier (1903-1984, Harpswell) Norfolk Harbor, 23.5" x 38.5", oil on panel. Sold: Barridoff Galleries, May 29, $2,200.
John Hultberg (1922-2005, Monhegan Island) Pine and Rocks, 32" x 23", oil on canvas. Sold: Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches, March 29, $1,300.
Maurice Prendergast (1858-1924, Brooksville) Central Park, 18" x 16.25", oil on canvas. Sold: Sotheby’s New York, April 30-May 14, $190,500.
Andrew Winter (1893-1958, Monhegan Island) Gull Rock, 24" x 12", watercolor on paper. Sold: Barridoff Galleries, March 29, $5,000.
William Thon (1906-2000, St. George) Turbulent Sea, 36" x 22", oil on masonite. Sold: Barridoff Galleries, March 29, $400.
James Edward Fitzgerald (18991971, Monhegan Island) Farmhouse with Chickens, 19.5" x 25", watercolor on paper. Sold: Barridoff Galleries, March 29, $6,500.
Carl Sprinchorn (1887-1971, Shin Pond) Winter Day, 20" x 16", oil on canvas board. Sold: Barridoff Galleries, March 29, $8,000.
George Lloyd (1945-, Portland) Untitled (Abstract Composition), 12" x 9", mixed media on paper. Sold: Andrew Jones Auctions, January 30, $350. n
Green Going
They
eat green crabs, don’t they? Yes! From Venice, Italy, to Portland, Maine.
BY JUDSON VAIL
“Is that a green crab?” a woman in the next tide pool asks when she sees me with my catch. I confirm that it is and explain we’re gathering a bunch of the invasive crustaceans to eat. She looks skeptical.
“There’s a whole movement to turn them into food!” I try to explain, as if I’m part of some environmental-culinary revolution. “To help with the problem!”
“Well,” she says, still unconvinced. “Bon appétit.”
It’s our third day on the Pemaquid Peninsula. The tide is out, exposing banded folds of gneiss covered in bladderwrack. In and among these rock crevices, beneath the clinging seaweed, the destructive green crab thrives.
Carcinus maenas first arrived in the Americas in the early
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Deadline: Feb 1st
Let Me Try That…
In Portland, Mr. Tuna’s owner Jordan Rubin dares to dream. “We took four to five green crabs, smashed them up, and cooked them with aromatics until the stock was really strong. Then we added silken tofu in little squares. On top of that, we put some Maine scallops, folded in some lemon zest and sea salt, dusted the dish with seaweed powder, and sprinkled it with shiso leaves. It was super refreshing; you can really taste the crab.
“Green crabs might have meat, but it’s not worth the time or effort to get it out. Most of the flavor comes from the body. Their size forces you to use the whole crab, so you can really extract the taste.”
In Biddeford, Fish & Whistle owner Jason Eckerson says, “It all starts with a green crab stock. We caramelize the meat, add aromatics, wine, garlic. For the poutine, we use the stock to make a gravy, which goes over crab meat, cheese curds, and fries.”
In Bar Harbor, Peekytoe Provisions embraces the unusual: “Our dish is local, Hollander and DeKoning mussels sautéed in a green crab cream sauce. It’s delicious!”
For more green crab delights, scuttle directly to Solo Italiano, The Honey Paw, and Chaval in Portland; ZaoZe Cafe & Market, Brunswick; Albatross, Camden; Maine Tasting Center, Wiscasset; and Mother’s Kitchen, Bar Harbor.
1800s from northern Europe, likely brought over in the ballast of ships. Highly prolific and adaptable, green crabs can now be found from South Carolina to Newfoundland, and in the Pacific from California up to Southern Alaska.
“They are known as one of the world’s worst invasive species,” says John Painter of Maine Green Crabs, a small commercial fishing outfit working the waters of the Weskeag River in Knox County. “They dig up the eelgrass...they are extremely effective at really decimating native soft shell clam populations, as well as mussel populations, and really any shellfish that’s at the right stage of development.”
ON THE PROWL
Out on the shoreline, my crabbing partner and I find the majority of them in cracks and crannies at low
tide, where the rocks come together and overhang one another. But finding them does not always mean catching them.
“The spoon! Pass me the spoon!” I call out as a big male scuttles back into a nook. We’ve discovered that a plastic utensil makes for a good extractor, and with a little pressure on top of the carapace, I coax the crab out from hiding and into my careful grasp.
We’re catching crabs the size of pennies to tea saucers. The carapace is fanshaped, with five spines on either side of the eyes, and three rostral bumps in between. They vary widely in color, from light to deep green, purple, red, and orange. Over a few afternoons, we bucket close to six dozen.
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Photo by: NJC Photography
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Open Late March to Late Fall
OUT THERE
UP CLOSE & PERSONAL
Along the East Coast, green crabs inflict $22.6M worth of damage per year on shellfisheries, according to a 2009 study by the Environmental Protection Agency. A former lobsterman himself, Painter has witnessed the impact of green crabs firsthand, and he is a huge proponent of popularizing green crabs as a commercial seafood product. “It’s gotten very homogenous,” he says, referring to seafood preferences, and one of his goals is to get us out of our comfort zone. “You go into a Hannaford and almost everything is a filleted out white fish of some sort.”
GREAT IN A PINCH
Back home with our catch, we expand our seafood horizons, preparing a green crab pozole with a side of fried green crab halves. For the pozole we make a stock with about two-dozen crabs of all sizes, celery, onion, and spices. Then we strain the liquid and add to it hominy, cabbage, radish and cilantro. The fried crabs require cutting silver-dollar-sized crabs in half, removing the carapace, apron, and gills, and battering and frying in oil. Both dishes turn out delicious,
“Please tell me they turn red when cooked.”
—Anonymous
the stew rich with spices and a mild but distinct seafood flavor, and the crab halves like a fried delicacy, crunchy with a buttery morsel of white meat inside. My hands are roughed up from the rocks, and the sink is full of crab shells. But we’ve just had a great meal and removed a handful of destructive invasives from the water, and Painter says that’s what it’s all about. “If you’re sitting down for a nice green crab bisque tonight, you are actively doing something to help the environment and get some health benefits too. How do you not go down that path?” n
Joshua L. Noddin, Host
Open Year Round!
The Lodge at Kennebunk is set on a quiet 8 acres of land, and has convenient highway access. It is also minutes away from shopping, dining, and beach options. Our facilities include a 40' outdoor heated pool, a conference room, a game room, a playground, picnic tables, and gas barbecue grills. Our amenities include extended cable television, air conditioning, phones, refrigerators, and microwaves in every room.
Stage to Table
Le Jazz Hot
Just over the Piscataqua River Bridge connecting Kittery to historic Portsmouth, Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club lights up the night.
BY COLIN W. SARGENT
Wow. This is so fun. As we step inside, the proportions of the romantic theater enchant us instantly: big show, medium venue, a thrilling getaway. We’re here to see the New York-based Alex Minasian Quintet. Led by a wizard pianist, they’re a hot band, with connections to Herbie Hancock and Little Anthony and the Imperials. The funny thing is, we were going to eat at Warren’s Lobster House before coming here, but after 80 years, Warren’s is closed and auctioned for $2.25M. No one answers the phone when we call. So, we’re delighted to learn that Jimmy’s has a full bar and modern French bistro–far beyond pub fare.
As the musicians tune up and introduce themselves, the three of us catch a cab: a bottle of Coppola’s Paso Robles cabernet ($48) that harmonizes perfectly with the Baked
Brie En Croute ($17) that lands on our table. The “pecan-stuffed baked brie, in puff pastry” arrives warm and rich on a platter with ramekins of hot strawberries, honey drizzle, and chutney with slices of grilled bread. It sharpens our hunger and expectations. As the stage darkens, the
Grilled Stonefruit Salad ($13) arrives, lovely, sweet, and tart, with “little leaf greens, grilled yellow peaches, sunflower seeds, endive, chevre, pickled red onions, and a pluot [a hybrid of plum and apricot] vinaigrette.” It’s
“I can still taste it in my mind.
singular—as I write this, I can still taste it in my mind, and it’s proof of the excitement that reaches our sphere by plate. Loving this place is a done deal when we share the Truffled Spinach & Leek Dip ($16): “sauteed leeks & spinach, black summer truffle parmesan and Muenster cheese” served on crackers.
The entrees themselves entertain deliciously. Their Sesame Seared Tuna ($32) is crusted with black sesame and wasabi, served in a fragrant bowl of miso broth. It’s an eye-opener, with “marinated couscous, bean
sprouts, and wonton crisp scallions.” The refreshing medley helps us hear the music. Closer to Earth is Jimmy’s Brandt Angus Burger ($20), highlighted by slab bacon, truffle aioli, and “cave-aged Grafton cheddar.” But the big star is the colorful “Paella” Risotto ($34), served in its own black skillet with “seared scallops, shrimp, mussels, saffron risotto, English peas, and grana Padano,” an aged Italian cheese. It earns a standing ovation.
When you’re ready to pay the bill here, just turn out your nightclub table light and the server appears seconds later. Fun fact: As you enter Jimmy’s at 135 Congress Street in Portsmouth, a very urban experience, you can barely catch sight of the landmark John Paul Jones House just doors away. We head out into the night to the free street parking after 7 p.m.
If we have any regrets at all, it’s not having come here before. n
H o s t
Y o u r
H o l i d a y
E v e n t w i t h
C e l e b r a t e t h e s e a s o n w i t h c o a s t a l c h a r m a t
B o o n e ’ s F i s h H o u s e & O y s t e r R o o m !
P o r t l a n d ’ s i c o n i c wa t e r f ro n t v e n u e i n t h e O l d P o r t .
B o o n e ’ s o f f e r s c o z y i n d o o r s p a c e s , p r i va t e a n d s e m ip r i va t e ro o m s , t w o l e v e l s o f d i n i n g , a n d c u s t o m i z a b l e
m e n u s - p e r f e c t f o r h o l i d a y c e l e b ra t i o n s .
H o l i d a y P a r t i e s | F e s t i v e D i n n e r s | C o c k t a i l R e c e p t i o n s
C o r p o r a t e G a t h e r i n g s | Fa m i l y G a t h e r i n g s
2 0 7 - 7 7 4 - 5 7 2 5
e v e n t s @ b o o n e s f i s h h o u s e . c o m
b o o n e s f i s h h o u s e . c o m
8 6 C o m m e r i c a l S t o n
C u s t o m H o u s e W h a r f
PORTLAND, MAINE
Portland Lobster Company “Maine’s Best Lobster Roll,” lobster dinners, steamers, fried claims, chowder. Enjoy live music daily w/ ice-cold local beer or fine wine on our deck overlooking gorgeous Portland Harbor. 180 Commercial St., 775-2112, portlandlobstercompany.com. The Corner Room features bright, wideopen space with towering ceilings complemented by handcrafted woodwork. Patrons can expect a warm, comfortable atmosphere, marked by the arich aromas of house-made pastas, pizzas, antipasti and artisanal breads. Come and enjoy the taste of Venice in the heart of Portland, ME! 879-4747, 110 Exchange Street. Visit thecornerroomkitchenandbar.com for more information.
Boone’s A Portland landmark since 1898. Original home of Alexander Boone’s world-famous Baked Stuffed Lobster. Two waterfront decks, two full bars, two cozy dining rooms, fireside tables. Perfect setting to enjoy the finest seafood from Maine and the world. Steaks, chowder, lobster rolls, grilled dishes, daily features. Visit Boone’s for a romantic date, business luncheon, family gathering or large banquet. BoonesFishHouse.com
Bruno’s Portland’s Best Italian, Market Surveys of America. Silver medal, Best Italian, Best of 207. Seriously delicious Italian, American, seafood dishes with signature in-house pasta (Bruno’s Pasta Co. goodies entice in statewide culinary stores). Great sandwiches, pizza, calzones, soups, chowders, salads. Lunch/dinner in dining room or tavern—casual dining as an art form. 33 Allen Ave., 878-9511, restaurantji.com/me/ portland/brunos-restaurant-and-tavern-/ Docks Seafood We pride ourselves on our Maine roots. Our mission is to source our seafood locally and regionally. This is noticed by discerning diners who appreciate the value of their food being made fresh from scratch. Our bar features a rotating list of Maine craft beers and signature cocktails. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wed.-Sun.
Leonardo’s Pizza, is a beloved local spot for handcrafted pizzas on organic whole-wheat or white King Arthur flour crusts. Known for specialty pies like Fennel Sausage and vegan “Salvation,” it offers delivery and take-out. (207) 775-4444, 415 Forest Ave, Portland, leonardosonline.com. Maria’s Ristorante Portland’s original classic Italian restaurant. Greg & Tony Napolitano prepare classics: Zuppa di Pesce, Eggplant Parmigiana, Grilled Veal Sausag-
es, Veal Chop Milanese, homemade cavatelli pastas, Pistachio Gelato & Maine’s Best Meatballs. See our own sauce in local stores. $11.95-$22.95. Open at 5 Wed.Sat. Catering always avail. 1335 Congress Street 772-9232, mariasrestaurant.com.
DiMillo’s On the Water Now’s the time to enjoy everything DiMillo’s has to offer: fabulous dishes prepared by Head Chef, Melissa Bouchard, voted one of Maine’s Chefs of the Year, plus Certified Angus Beef, Italian and the best lobster around. Our outside dining is unparalleled. Open Monday thru Saturday at noon, Commercial St., Old Port 772-2216. Always FREE PARKING while aboard.
Flatbread Company Portland Situated on the working waterfront next to Casco Bay Cruise Lines in Portland’s Old Port. Family-friendly restaurant with signature woodfired, pizzas, fresh salads, local craft beer, spirits and local, organic fresh ingredients. Pet friendly, deck seating on the water during summer. 72 Commercial St., 7728777, flatbreadcompany.com.
Joseph’s by the Sea in Old Orchard Beach offers breathtaking views of Saco Bay. Enjoy indoor dining, outdoor seating, an upstairs lounge, and a rooftop deck. We specialize in locally sourced seafood and fresh Maine lobster. Closed for the season, we’ll reopen in March. Contact us at info@josephsbythesea.com or call 207934-5044 for more info.
Hurricane Restaurant We are celebrating our 35th year as a Restaurant serving New England Cuisine with an international twist. Lobster & blueberry pie! Local produce and seafood, fresh shucked oysters, full bar, award-winning wine list, and an in-house Pastry Chef. Sunday brunch. Dinner served seven days a week, lunch on Saturdays, and Brunch on Sundays starting at 11:30am. Bar menu is always available. Good restaurants come and go. Great restaurants get better and better. Reservations suggested. 29 Dock Square, Kennebunport. 967-9111, hurricanerestaurant.com
Discover Oun Lido’s, Portland’s newest culinary gem at 30 Market St. Chef Bounahcree “Bones” Kim blends Cambodian and Cantonese flavors in standout dishes like twice-fried lemon chicken, lemongrass beef skewers, and savory stir-fried noodles. Named one of Esquire’s Best New Restaurants of 2024, this cozy spot offers both takeout and indoor seating. Open Tuesday–Sunday, 11 AM–8 PM. Call 207-5543111 or visit ounlidos.com to order.
Biddeford’s first Brew
of Railroading over Crawford Notch!
Fall in Love with Windham, Maine
Crisp air, vibrant foliage, and the gentle pace of New England charm—there’s no better time to visit Windham, Maine than fall.
Sebago Lake and the Presumpscot River shine against the autumn colors. Paddle, fish, or simply stroll the trails while enjoying the quieter, reflective side of Maine’s outdoors.
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Outdoor Art Events
ARTtober Fall Sidewalk Art Festival, Harlow St., Downtown Bangor. Maine artists, live demos, performances, & family activities, Oct. 4. downtownbangor.com.
Camden Public Library, Harbor Park & Amphitheatre, 55 Main St. Harbor Fall Arts & Books Fair, Oct. 4–5. 236-3440.
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, 105 Botanical Gardens Dr., Boothbay. Fall Foliage in Blazing Color, Sept. 22; Pumpkins & Gourds in Graphite, Sept. 23; Pumpkins & Gourds in Color, Sept. 24; Dahlia Details in Graphite, Sept. 25; Dahlia Details in Color, Sept. 26; Finding Wonder: Nature Journaling & Field Sketching, Oct. 4; Architecture & Botanicals in the Fall Gardens, Oct. 6–8. 633-8000.
Freeport Fall Festival, L.L. Bean, 95 Main St. Over 225 of the best New England artists, makers, & local food producers, with live music, Oct. 3–5. freeportfallfestival.com.
Harvestfest & Kidsfest, Short Sands Beach, York Beach. Family friendly event including juried crafters & Old-Fashioned Market vendors from all over New England, local food vendors, kids activities, & live music, Oct. 18. 363-4422.
Island Arts Association, Main St., Southwest Harbor. 2025 Southwest Harbor Fall Craft Fair, Sept. 13–14. islandartsassociation.com/upcoming-fairs.
Maine Art Gallery, 15 Warren St., Wiscasset. Captur-
ing the Light: Layering Color Class, Oct. 6. 687-8143.
Rockland Sunday Stroll, Main St. Come for performances, activities, and enjoy the expanded space of downtown as Main Street is closed to motorized traffic and open to pedestrians, vendors, artists, performers, and more, Sept. 21 & Oct. 19. rocklandrolls.org.
York Art Association, Moulton Park, 394 York St., York Harbor. Art in the Park, Sept. 13. 363-4049.
Music
1932 Criterion Theatre, 35 Cottage St., Bar Harbor. Livingston Taylor, Sept. 13; Steve Earle, Oct. 11. 2280829.
Aura, 121 Center St. Between the Buried and Me & Hail the Sun, Sept. 20; Buena Vista Orchestra, Sept. 27; Kashmir, Oct. 3; Marianas Trench, Oct. 4; Jukebox the Ghost, Oct. 9; Hairball, Oct. 12; King’s X, Oct. 18. 772-8274.
Blue, 650A Congress St. Karaoke Party, Sept. 18; High Tea, Joanne The Band, & Milk St., Oct. 4. Open Mic, every Tues.; Jazz Sesh, every Wed. 774-4111.
Cadenza, 5 Depot St., Freeport. Pat Colwell & The Soul Sensations, Sept. 13; Bailey’s Mistake, Sept. 14; You, Me, & Harry, Sept. 19; Peter Gallway & The Real Band, Sept. 20; Darlin’ Corey, Sept. 26; The Blueliners, Sept. 27; It Takes Two, Oct. 3; Southside Blues, Oct. 4; Sarah McQuaid, Oct. 5; The Potboilers, Oct. 9; Gordon Thomas Ward, Oct. 10. 560-5300.
Camden Opera House, 29 Elm St. Chris Ross, Sept. 17; James Montgomery, Sept. 27; Sweet Baby James, Oct. 3. 236-7963.
Center Theatre, 20 E. Main St., Dover-Foxcroft. Joan
Kennedy, Sept. 20; Rock Hearts, Oct. 18. 564-8943.
Chocolate Church Arts Center, 804 Washington St., Bath. Chris Smither, Sept. 12; The Ultimate Doors, Sept. 18; Myrtle Street Klezmer, Sept. 19; Donna the Buffalo, Sept. 27; Crystal Vision, Oct. 4; Martha Spencer & Wonderland, Oct. 9; An Evening with Elton, Oct. 11; Nora Brown, Oct. 17; Schooner Fare, Oct. 19. 442-8455.
Collins Center for the Arts, 2 Flagstaff Rd., Orono. Diderot String Quartet, Sept. 21; Nick Finzer Quartet, Oct. 2; Laurel Canyon, Oct. 11; Rend Collective, Oct. 18; Symphonic Band & Jazz Ensemble, Oct. 19. 581-1755. Cross Insurance Arena, 1 Civic Center Sq. Lee Brice, Oct. 18. 791-2200.
Denmark Arts Center, 50 W. Main St. Davy Sturtevant, Sept. 12; Barry Me A Little, Sept. 19; The Radio Outlaws, Oct. 11. 452-2412.
Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ, Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St. Sound Waves, Sept. 20. 842-0800.
Hackmatack Playhouse, 538 School St., Berwick. Soggy Po’ Boys, Sept. 14; Sundays at the Farm: Dan Blakeslee & the Calabash Club (Sept. 14) & Old Hat String Band (Sept. 21). 698-1807.
The Hill Arts, 76 Congress St. Denny Breau, Sept. 12; Mike Maurice, Sept. 13; The Kingston Trio, Sept. 27. 347-7177.
Jonathan’s Ogunquit, 92 Bourne Ln. Tristan McIntosh, Sept. 12; Tom Snow Quartet, Sept. 13; Patty Larkin & Lucy Kaplansky, Sept. 19; Kate Taylor, Sept. 20; Deep Blue C Orchestra, Sept. 21; Ellis Paul, Sept. 26; Ana Popovic, Sept. 27; Tom DiMenna, Sept. 28; Coco Montoya, Oct. 2; Judith Hill, Oct. 3; Johnny Cash Tribute Show, Oct. 10;
MAINE LIVE
Suede with Fred Boyle, Oct. 11. 646-4777. Kittery Art Association, 2 Walker St. The Seasmoke Trio, Oct. 11. 451-9384.
Maine Savings Amphitheater, 1 Railroad St., Bangor. Papa Roach & Rise Against, Sept. 20; Twenty One Pilots, Oct. 1. 358-9327.
Maine State Music Theater, Donald M. Gay Performing Arts Center, 77 Harris St., Auburn. Victor Trevino Jr., Sept. 20–21; Buddy Holly Rave On, Oct. 4–5. 725-8769.
Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St. Dead Set, Sept. 14; David Byrne, Oct. 8; Air Supply, Oct. 17. 842-0800.
One Longfellow Square, 181 State St. James Montgomery, Sept. 12; Wheatus, Sept. 13; Portland Jazz Orchestra, Sept. 18 & Oct. 16; Alana MacDonald, Sept. 19; Luke Bulla & Michael Daves, Sept. 27; Open Mic Night, Oct. 1; The Cactus Blossoms, Oct. 3; John Gorka, Oct. 9; Joe K. Walsh & Friends, Oct. 10; Feng E, Oct. 11; Ariel Posen & Wendlo, Oct. 12. 761-1757.
Opera House at Boothbay Harbor, 86 Townsend Ave. Novel Jazz Septet, Sept. 12; Crys Matthews, Sept. 20; Kathy Mattea, Sept. 27; Paul Sullivan, Oct. 10; Jay Nash, Oct. 18. 633-5159.
Portland Chamber Music Festival, SPACE Gallery,
538 Congress St. Ganavya with Miriam Adefris, Sept. 28. 320-0257.
Portland Conservatory of Music, 28 Neal St. Scott Amendola, Trevor Dunn, & Phillip Greenlief, Sept. 19; Resinosa Ensemble, Sept. 27; Jeremy Denk, Oct. 3; Duo Mundi: George & Guli, Oct. 10; Jamie Saft, Oct. 11.
775-3356.
Portland House of Music, 25 Temple St. Emily King,
Sept. 12; Improvement Movement, Sept. 13; Night Moves & Rachel Bobbitt, Sept. 16; Zinadelphia, Sept. 18; Mallrat, Sept. 22; Yaima, Sept. 27; The Casualties, Sept. 30; Ethan Regan, Oct. 3; Monophonics, Oct. 11; White Reaper, Oct. 14; End It. 805-0134.
Portland Symphony Orchestra, Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St. Tchaikovsky & Brahms with Randall Goosby, Oct. 15–17. 842-0800.
South Portland Auditorium, 637 Highland Ave. Classic Rock, Sept. 13. 842-0800.
State Theatre, 609 Congress St. Maddie & Tae, Sept. 13; Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Sept. 14; Big Wild, Sept. 15; The Wallflowers, Sept. 17; The Revivalist, Sept. 21; Stereolab, Sept. 27; The 502s, Sept. 28; Amy Grant, Oct. 3; The California Honeydrops, Oct. 4; Toad the Wet Sprocket, Oct. 6; Pink Martini, Oct. 7; Violent Femmes, Oct. 8; The Tallest Man on Earth, Oct. 10; Gary Numan, Oct. 12; My Morning Jacket, Oct. 14. 956-6000.
Stone Mountain Arts Center, 695 Dugway Rd., Brownfield. Alejandro Escovedo, Sept. 12; Le Vent du Nord, Sept. 13; Judith Owen & The Callers, Sept. 20; Brothers Comatose, Sept. 21; Shemekia Copeland, Sept. 26; Kathy Mattea, Sept. 28; Suzy Bogguss, Oct. 3; Darrell Scott, Oct. 4; Tannahill Weavers, Oct. 10; Blues Band GA-20, Oct. 17; Ruthie Foster, Oct. 11; Shawn Mullins, Oct. 12. 935-7292.
Stonington Opera House, 1 School St. Along For The Ride, Sept. 13. 367-2788.
Strand Theatre, 345 Main St., Rockland. Ruthie Foster,
Unitarian Universalist Church of Brunswick, 1 Middle St. Don Campbell Band, Sept. 20; Soggy Po Boys, Oct. 18. 729-8515.
University of Southern Maine, Crewe Center for the Arts, 111 Bedford St. Inaugural President’s Concert, Oct. 3; Ocean Breezes, Oct. 10; Laura Kargul & the Portland String Quartet, Oct. 17. 780-5555.
Vinegar Hill Music Theatre, 53 Old Post Rd., Arundel. Tom Rush, Sept. 12; YellowHouse Blues Band, Sept. 13; Jul’ia, Sept. 14; Rose Alley, Sept. 25; Live Bullet, Sept. 26–27; Imagine, Oct. 3; Sweet Baby James, Oct. 4; Coyote Island, Oct. 17; The Mammals, Oct. 18. 985-5552.
Waldo Theatre, 916 Main St., Waldoboro. The Kingston Trio, Sept. 26; Julian Lage, Oct. 19; Both Sides Now, Oct. 19. 975-6490.
Waterville Opera House, 1 Common St. Start Making Sense, Sept. 12; Shaun Cassidy, Sept. 17; Casey Abrams & Friends, Sept. 21; Shemekia Copeland, Sept. 27; Oteil & Friends, Oct. 1; The Robert Cray Band, Oct. 3; Voyage, Oct. 9. 873-7000.
WW&F Railway, 97 Cross Rd., Alna. Music on the Railway: Songwriters in the Round, Sept. 14. 882-4193.
Comedy
Collins Center for the Arts, 2 Flagstaff Rd., Orono.
Bob Marley, Oct. 4; Whose Live Anyway?, Oct. 6. 5811755.
The Hill Arts, 76 Congress St. TJ (Tanael Joachim), Oct. 4. 347-7177.
Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St. Kevin James, Sept. 26; Fortune Feimster, Oct. 10; Wanda Sykes, Oct. 11. 842-0800.
Portland Media Center, 516 Congress St. Yes&Co. Improv Comedy with Talia Turner, Sept. 13. 842-0800. State Theatre, 609 Congress St. Nurse Blake, Sept. 18; Chris Fleming, Oct. 9. 956-6000.
Stone Mountain Arts Center, 695 Dugway Rd., Brownfield. Bob Marley, Oct. 9. 935-7292.
Waterville Opera House, 1 Common St. Bob Marley, Oct. 11. 873-7000.
Theater
Belfast Maskers, 17 Court St. One Blue Tarp, Oct. 3–12. 619-3256.
Carousel Music Theater, 196 Townsend Ave., Boothbay Harbor. Murder… It’s No Day at the Beach, to Sept. 20. 633-5297.
Celebration Barn Theater, 190 Stock Farm Rd., South Paris. Broken Clock, Sept. 12. 743-8452.
Collins Center for the Arts, 2 Flagstaff Rd., Orono. NT Live: A Streetcar Named Desire, Sept. 13. 581-1755.
Denmark Arts Center, 50 W. Main St. Scintillating Shorts 2025, Oct. 4. 452-2412.
Good Theater, Stevens Square Theater, 631 Stevens Ave. It Shoulda Been You, Oct. 2–19. 835-0895.
Gracie Theatre, 1 College Cir., Bangor. Las Vegas: Sister Rolls the Dice, Sept. 27. 941-7888.
Grand Theater, 165 Main St., Ellsworth. Grease, Oct. 10–26. 667-9500.
Hackmatack Playhouse, 538 School St., Berwick. Once, to Sept. 20. 698-1807.
Lakewood Theater, 76 Theater Rd., Madison. Man or Mouse, Sept. 11–20. 474-7176.
Lyric Music Theater, 176 Sawyer St., South Portland. Next to Normal, to Sept. 21. 799-1421.
Mad Horse Theater, 24 Mosher St., South Portland. Really, to Sept. 28; The Squirrels, Oct. 30–Nov. 23. 747-4148.
Maine Film Center, 93 Main St., Waterville. National Theatre Live: Inter Alia, Sept. 27. 873-7000.
Ogunquit Playhouse, 10 Main St. When Elvis Met the Beatles, to Sept. 27; Titanic The Musical, Oct. 2–Nov. 2. 646-5511.
Penobscot Theatre Company, Bangor Opera House, 131 Main St. Steel Magnolias, to Sept. 28; The Turn of the Screw, Oct. 16–Nov. 2. 942-3333.
Public Theatre, 31 Maple St., Lewiston. The Irish… And
Gertrude Abercrombie:
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How They Got That Way, to Sept. 14. 782-3200.
Saco River Theatre, 29 Salmon Falls Rd., Buxton. The Originals present: The 39 Steps, Oct. 17–26. 929-6473.
Theater at Monmouth, Cumston Hall, 796 Main St. The Rewards of Being Frank, Sept. 18–28; Macbeth, Oct. 17–18. 933-9999.
University of Southern Maine, Crewe Center for the Arts, 111 Bedford St. Curtain Up!, Oct. 31–Nov. 2. 780-5555.
Waterville Opera House, 1 Common St. Wabanaki Stories, Sept. 19; School Show: Wizard of Oz, Oct. 14; School Show: Macbeth, Oct. 14. 873-7000.
Film
Camden Opera House, 29 Elm St. Camden Interna-
tional Film Festival, Sept. 11–14. 236-7963.
Center Theatre, 20 E. Main St., Dover-Foxcroft. Capote, Oct. 29. 564-8943.
The Hill Arts, 76 Congress St. Maine Jewish Film Festival: Sabbath Queen (Sept. 28) & Brother Versus Brother (Oct. 30). 347-7177.
Maine Film Center, 93 Main St., Waterville. Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, Sept. 12; Fireflies: Babe, Sept. 13–14. 873-7000.
Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St. The Princess Bride: An Inconceivable Evening with Cary Elwes, Sept. 12. 842-0800.
Portland Museum of Art, 7 Congress Sq. Summer of ‘75: Barry Lyndon (1975), Sept. 20; Sandblaster!: Tremors (1990), Sept. 23. 775-6148.
Stonington Opera House, 1 School St. Building
Hope: Ending Homelessness, Sept. 16; Manhattan Short Film Festival, Sept. 26; Sludge: A PFAS Uprising, Sept. 28. 367-2788.
Stone Mountain Arts Center, 695 Dugway Rd., Brownfield. Breaking Silence, Sept. 25. 935-7292. Waldo Theatre, 916 Main St., Waldoboro. Maine Outdoor Film Festival Selects Tour, Sept. 19; Maine Artist Film Series: Thirteen Ways, Sept. 25. 975-6490.
Literary
Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St. Maine Irish reads: A Thread of Violence by Mark O’Connell (Oct. 9). 780-0118.
Maine Jewish Museum, 267 Congress St. Lowry’s Lodge Reading Series with Marcia F. Brown, Sept. 14; MJM & Hadassah & Rimon Book Group, Sept. 28; Book Talk: My Holocaust Legacy: A Blessing Not a Burden, Oct. 19. 773-2339.
Maine Maritime Museum, 243 Washington St., Bath. Story Time with Splash & Mini-Mariners Cruise, Oct. 7. 443-1316.
Print: A Bookstore, 273 Congress St. Jason Brown (Character Witness), Sept. 12; Beth Norcross (Discovering the Spiritual Wisdom of Trees), Sept. 15; Mariah Rigg (Extinction Capital of the World), Sept. 17; Samantha Browning Shea (Marrow), Sept. 18; Nina B. Lichtenstein
Courtesy of Camden International Film Festval
MAINE LIVE
(Body: My Life in Parts), Sept. 25; Shannon Bowring (In a Distant Valley), Oct. 8. 536-4778.
Print: A Bookstore, Mechanics’ Hall, 519 Congress St. Lily King (Heart the Lover), Sept. 30. 536-4778.
Vinegar Hill Music Theatre, 53 Old Post Rd., Arundel. Adam Higginbotham, Oct. 9. 985-5552.
Dance
Belfast Flying Shoes, Arts in the Barn, 17 Hathorne Point Rd., Cushing. Barn Dance, Sept. 13. 338-0979.
Belfast Flying Shoes, First Church in Belfast UCC Fellowship Hall, 8 Court St., Belfast. First Friday Dance, Oct. 3. 338-0979.
Blue, 650A Congress St. Salsa Nite, Sept. 26 & Oct. 24. 774-4111.
Collins Center for the Arts, 2 Flagstaff Rd., Orono. Grand Kyiv Ballet: Swan Lake, Oct. 15. 581-1755.
Denmark Arts Center, 50 W. Main St. Red Hot & Ladylike Burlesque, Oct. 18. 452-2412.
Hackmatack Playhouse, 538 School St., Berwick. Sunday Contra Dance, Oct. 5. 698-1807.
The Hill Arts, 76 Congress St. Boston Dance Theater: Pinnacle Works, Sept. 19–20. 347-7177.
Maine State Ballet, Lopez Theater, 348 U.S. Route One, Falmouth. The Magic Toy Shop, Oct. 11–18. 781-3587.
Waterville Opera House, 1 Common St. A Taste of Ireland, Sept. 15; iLumiate, Oct. 2. 873-7000.
Art
Barn Gallery, 3 Hartwig Ln., Ogunquit. Fall Exhibitions, Sept. 10–Oct. 13; Gala Reception for Fall Exhibitions, Sept. 13; Gallery Talk with Charles Cramer & Roland Salazar Rose, Sept. 18; Art Hope: Origami Cranes Workshop, Oct. 5. 646-8400.
Bates College Museum of Art, 75 Russell St., Lewiston. Ralph Steadman: And Another Thing, to Oct. 11. 786-6158.
Blue, 650A Congress St. Portland Drawing Group, Sept. 15 & Oct. 20. 774-4111.
Bowdoin College Museum of Art, 245 Maine St., Brunswick. Rudy Burckhardt: Three Maine Films, to Nov. 9; John McKee: As Maine Goes, to Nov. 9; Gordon Parks: Herklas Brown and Maine, 1944, to Nov. 9. 725-3275.
Brick Store Museum, 117 Main St., Kennebunk. Art of BRICK: Lego Buildings Installation, to Nov. 9; Ocean World: Perspectives of the Sea, to Dec. 20; The Art of Brick: Lego Art by Colby Adolphsen, to Dec. 20. 9854802.
Caldbeck Gallery, 12 Elm St., Rockland. Wild Thing, to Oct. 18. 594-5935.
Castine Historical Society, 17 School St. A History of Castine in 40 Objects, to Oct. 13. 326-4118.
Colby College Museum of Art, 5600 Mayflower Hill Dr., Waterville. Love Your Langlais: A Community Curates, to Oct. 20. 859-5600.
Cove Street Arts, 71 Cove St. Interdimensional, to
Sept. 20; Vanish, to Oct. 11; Wishful Thinking, to Oct. 18; Airplane Mode, to Oct. 18. 808-8911.
Denmark Arts Center, 50 W. Main St. Sip N’ Clay Workshop Series, Oct. 7, 14, 21, & 28. 452-2412.
Farnsworth Art Museum, 16 Museum St., Rockland. Anne Buckwalter: Manors | Momentum 2025, to Sept. 21; Home Places: Andrew Wyeth in Chadds Ford, to Oct. 19; Finding Maine: The Wyeth Family of Artists, to Dec. 31. 596-6457.
Courtesy of Belfast Flying Shoes
MAINE LIVE
Greenhut Galleries, 146 Middle St. Joel Babb, to Sept. 27; Kathi Smith, Oct. 2–Nov. 1. 772-2693. Kittery Art Association, 2 Walker St. Au Naturel: Still Life & The Nude, Sept. 18–Oct. 19; More Than Words, Oct. 23–Nov. 16. 451-9384.
Maine Art Gallery, 15 Warren St., Wiscasset. Made in Maine: Annual Members Show, to Oct. 18. 687-8143.
Maine Historical Society, 489 Congress St. Notorious: Maine Crime in the Public Eye, 1690–1940, to Dec. 31; Lapsed Time: Portland in the 1980s, to Dec. 31;
Stitches: Quilt Handwork, to Dec. 31. 774-1822.
Maine Jewish Museum, 267 Congress St. Jeane Cohen: Mesmer’s Garden, Sept. 11–Oct. 30; Katy Helman: Off Island, Sept. 11–Oct. 30; We Share the Same Sky: Friendship During War, Sept. 11–Oct. 30. 773-2339.
Maine Maritime Museum, 243 Washington St., Bath. The Art of Science: Illustrating Fishes with Karen Talbot, Sept. 20; Upta Camp, to Oct. 19. 443-1316.
Maine Sculpture Trail, Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium. An outdoor exhibit of 34 sculptures over 200 miles Downeast. schoodicsculpture.org.
Meetinghouse Arts, 40 Main St., Freeport. Perceptions: Abstraction, Sept. 12–Oct. 18; From Waste to Wonder: Reclaimed Art & Design, Oct. 24–Nov. 1. 865-0040.
Ogunquit Museum of American Art, 543 Shore Rd. Henry Strater’s Ogunquit, to Nov. 16; Where the Real Lies, to Nov. 16; Gisela McDaniel, to Nov. 16. 646-4909.
Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum, 10 Polar Loop, Brunswick. Printed Textiles from Kinngait Studios, to Oct. 26; At Home In the North, to Jun. 1, 2026. 725-3416.
Portland Museum of Art, 7 Congress Sq. Grace Hartigan: The Gift of Attention, Oct. 10–Jan. 11, 2026. 775-6148.
Portsmouth Historical Society, 10 Middle St., Portsmouth, NH. Contemporary Currents, to Oct. 13; Cabot Lyford: Winds of Change, to Nov. 2. (603)436-8433.
Richard Boyd Art Gallery, 15 Epps St., Peaks Island. Explorations, to Sept. 29; Scenes of Maine, Oct. 1–31. 712-1097.
River Arts, 36 Elm St, Damariscotta. Abstract, to Sept. 27; Artist’s Choice, Oct. 4–Nov. 15. 563-6868.
Ticonic Gallery & Studios, 93 Main St., Waterville. Dark the Night and Bright the Stars, to Oct. 12. 873-7000.
University of New England Art Galleries, UNE Art Gallery, 716 Stevens Ave. Signs and Symbols, Sept. 25–Feb. 8, 2026. 602-3000.
University of New England Art Galleries, Jack S. Ketchum Library, 11 Hills Beach Rd., Biddeford. Piece of My Heart: A Laboratory, to Oct. 26. 602-3000.
Bites
Acadia’s Oktoberfest & Food Festival, 20 Main St., Southwest Harbor. Maine-based brewfest, locally sourced food, and crafts, Oct. 10–11. acadiaoktoberfest.com.
Belfast Flying Shoes, Searsmont Town Library, 37 Main St. Community Dance & Potluck, Sept. 27. 3380979.
Brick Store Museum, 117 Main St., Kennebunk. Evening at the Wedding Cake House, Sept. 21. 985-4802.
Denmark Arts Center, 50 W. Main St. FallFest Auction & Dinner, Sept. 27. 452-2412.
Maine Cheese Festival, Manson Park, Pittsfield. Great cheese, live music, food trucks, and the Annual Maine Cheese Awards, Sept. 14. 370-7176.
Maine Lakes Brew Fest, HAM Complex, 40 Brag Way, Bridgton. The area’s largest annual sampling event features Maine-made beers, micro-brews, & wine; with food, live music, & Artisans Craft Show, Sept. 27. gblrcc. org/brewfest.
Maine Lobster Week, statewide. The state’s first weeklong celebration of lobster. Lobster shacks,
Courtesy of Colby Adolphson/Brick Store Museum
diners, food trucks, & restaurants across the state will prepare Maine lobster in dishes ranging from classic lobster rolls to fine dining multi-course meals, Sept. 21–28. mainelobsterweek.com.
Maine Maritime Museum, 243 Washington St., Bath. Pints on the Pier, Sept. 13. 443-1316.
Maine Tasting Center, 506 Old Bath Rd., Wiscasset. Indian Homestyle Cooking Journey, Sept. 18 & Oct. 2; Chinese Mooncakes with a Maine Twist, Sept. 21; From Grain to Plate: Mastering Handmade Pasta with Maine Ingredients, Sept. 21; Beyond the Buzz: Maine’s NA Beer Revolution, Sept. 24; Maine Needham Festival, Sept. 27; Dungeons & Drafts: A Second Round, Oct. 4; Sustainable Supper with Edible Insects, Oct. 11; Chinese Dumplings with a Maine Twist, Oct. 12; Deep Dive into Chinese Hot Pot, Oct. 12; All About Aronia Berries, Oct. 15. 558-5772.
Now You’re Cooking, 49 Front St., Bath. From Starter to Bagel Class, Sept. 14; Salsa, Soup, & Dessert Cooking Class, Sept. 21; Israeli Cooking Class, Oct. 1; Autumnfest Le Creuset Sale, Oct. 4; Wine Tasting with SoPo Wine Co., Oct. 9; Asian Vegetarian, Oct. 15; The Complete Oyster, Oct. 26; Halloween Wine Tasting with Marie from Devenish, Oct. 31. 443-1402.
Opera House at Boothbay Harbor, 86 Townsend Ave. Halloween Potluck & Scary Readings, Oct. 29. 633-5159.
Swine & Stein Brewfest, Water St., Gardiner. All-day sampling of Maine beers, wines, & spirits with great music,
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Common Ground Country Fair, 294 Crosby Brook Rd., Unity. Celebrate the organic and rural version of the good life and learn new things about farming. Agricultural demonstrations plus produce & crafts vendors, food, & music, Sept. 19–21. 568-4142.
Eliot Festival Day, Hammond Park & Eliot Elementary School, 1298 State Rd. Community event featuring a 5K road race, Donut & Pie Eatin’ Contests, live music, food, parade, colonial reenactment, & more, Sept. 27. eliotfestival.com.
Farmington Fair, 292 High St. Large midway, exhibit halls, livestock exhibits, animal pulling events, and harness racing, Sept. 14–20. 778-6083.
Fryeburg Fair, 1154 Main St. Features livestock, agriculture, & farming exhibits, live entertainment, skillet & anvil throw, Woodsmen’s Field day, midway, & food, Sept. 27–Oct. 5. 935-3268.
League of Maine Craft Show, Wells Junior High School, 1470 Post Rd. Featuring Maine & New England artists and craftsmen. With aisles filled with creativity including jewelry, pottery, soaps, clothing, woodcrafts, and much more, Oct. 11–12. 967-2251.
You turned my overgrown perennial “wetland” into a showplace, a beautiful, serene yard that I thoroughly enjoy. The stonework and beautifully placed gardens make my yards look like a gorgeous little park. Thank you for ever ything , Jack! — Cynthia Densmore Por tland
New England Craft Fairs, Augusta Armory, 179 Western Ave. 41st Annual Harvest Festival Arts & Craft Show, Oct. 25–26. 946-7079.
New Portland Lions Fair, 280 School St. Demolition derby, truck & tractor pulls, cornhole, & on-site camping, Sept. 11–14. 628-3171.
OgunquitFest, downtown Ogunquit. Join us for signature events including the Classic Car Show, a huge artisan craft fair with 60+ vendors, live music, Dogtoberfest costume parade, kids events, & more!, Oct. 24–26. ogunquit.org/ogunquitfest.
Old Orchard Beach Car Show, 11 First St. One of New England’s largest car shows highlighting cars in many different categories & classes. Friday Night Showcase & live music, Sept. 12–13. 934-2500.
Shop Maine Craft, Fort Andross Mill Complex, 14 Maine St., Brunswick. 9th Annual Guild Fine Craft Show: Brunswick, Oct. 25–26. 205-0791.
Don’t Miss
Aura, 121 Center St. WeTouchGrass: Anime Rave, Oct. 31. 772-8274.
Brick Store Museum, 117 Main St., Kennebunk. All Souls’ Walk, Oct. 25. 985-4802.
Castine Historical Society, 17 School St. Explore the Castine Town Cemetery, Oct. 18–19. 326-4118.
• Oom-Pah Band
• Local brewers
• Lederhosen and Dirndl contests
• Pretzels, brats, & food trucks!
Saturday September 27th 1-6 PM
Two beers & a custom stein included with your tickets! Get tickets: 2025
"Maine's Harvest Fair"
We are looking forward to having you join us for our 184th fair!
A traditional agricultural fair with dairy, beef, sheep, poultry exhibits, horse & ox pulling, harness racing, & a great exhibition hall with fancy work & grange exhibits. A midway with a variety of rides & games.
September 14th, through September 20th, 2025 207-778-6083 • {fb}
MAINE LIVE
Celebration Barn Theater, 190 Stock Farm Rd., South Paris. The Early Evening Show, Oct. 11. 743-8452. Center Theatre, 20 E. Main St., Dover-Foxcroft. Magic Wes Wonder, Oct. 4. 564-8943.
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, 105 Botanical Gardens Dr., Boothbay. Forest Therapy Walk & Tea: Late Summer, Sept. 20; Invasive Plants: Identification, Issues, & Ecology, Sept. 23; Plant Migration in a Changing Climate Conference, Oct. 3–4; Visible Mending: The Value of Repair, Oct. 5; Dahlias: Digging, Dividing, Storing, & Propagating, Oct. 11. 633-8000.
Denmark Arts Center, 50 W. Main St. Family Fun Days: Halloween, Oct. 31. 452-2412.
GAHS Golden Paw Awards, Royal Oak Room, 1 Bates St., Lewiston. Join us for awards, a silent auction, dinner, drinks, and more in this fun event benefiting the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society, Sept. 18. gahumane.org/goldenpawawards.
The Hill Arts, 76 Congress St. Smokus Pocus: A 420 Magic Show, Oct. 10–11. 347-7177.
Maine Audubon, Gilsland Farm, 20 Gilsland Farm Rd., Falmouth. Autumn Equinox at Maine Audubon 2025, Sept. 25; Bird Walk, every Thurs. 781-2330.
Maine Audubon, Hamilton Audubon Sanctuary, 681 Fosters Point Rd., West Bath. Maine Audubon Bumble Bee Blitz, Sept. 21. 781-2330.
Maine Audubon, Scarborough Marsh, 92 Pine Point Rd. Wednesday Bird Walks, Sept. 17 & 24. 781-2330.
Maine Maritime Museum, 243 Washington St., Bath. Full Moon Gathering with Maya Rook, Oct. 7; Boatshop Workshop: Building a Fireside Stool, Oct. 15–16. 443-1316.
Owls Head Transportation Museum, 117 Museum St. STEM Saturdays, Sept. 13, 27, & Oct. 11; Foreign Auto Rendezvous, Sept. 20–21. 594-4418.
Railway Village Museum, 586 Wiscasset Rd., Boothbay. Family Harvest Day, Sept. 27; Cars & Coffee, Sept. 28; Fall Foliage Festival, Oct. 11–12. 633-4727.
Spirits Alive, Eastern Cemetery, 224 Congress St. 2025 Walking Tours of Eastern Cemetery, to Oct. 16. spiritsalive.org.
Stonington Opera House, 1 School St. Trivia Night, Sept. 18. 367-2788.
To submit an event listing: portlandmonthly.com/portmag/submit-an-event/ Compiled by Bethany Palmer
Medicinal Plant Sciences -DE
Bachelor of Science Degree (B S ) Length: 34 months
Cannabis Sciences -DE
Associate of Applied Science Degree (A.A.S.) Length: 18/36 months
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Cannabis Business Operations -DE | Diploma Length: 10/20 months
‘Mary Jane’ Merch
Wear your weed your way.
BY ALAYNA BLIER
Maine has a cannabis joint for everyone, and a line of street fashions to match. Here are a few ways our state’s dispensaries and smoke shops are cultivating imagery so you can rep your favorites in style.
Portland’s Fire on Fore is awash in merch that manager Patrick Small says “is not what you’d call ‘heady;’ it doesn’t scream, ‘I smoke weed.’” The dispensary sells a variety of clothes and accessories designed with local talent. See Brass and Briar tattoo artist Olivia Clay’s lettering on the Fire on Fore: Portland, Maine, card deck. Bruski the bulldog is the Fire on Fore mascot. Small says, “Sometimes people come into the store just to see him. People loved our ‘Grass Pro Shop’ merch line—a play on the popular Bass Pro Shop hats, featuring Bruski. They sold out quick.”
According to their website, “Happy Trails & Joe’s Smoke Shop is a family-run head/smoke/gift shop fusion.” Joe’s Smoke Shop is the oldest in the state; they’ve inhabited their corner on Waterville’s Main Street since 1922. Naturally, as employee Alanna Hitchcock says, “The Joe’s Smoke Shop t-shirts have a classic look… They’re more popular with the guys.” Or you can rock some hippie swag from Happy Trail’s gift shop, the company that purchased Joe’s in 2006. “We import most of
our merchandise from India. Our tie-dye shirts are made by artists from all around: Maine, New York, even Europe,” Hitchcock says.
Dana Alexandra, the in-house designer and photographer at Beach Boys Cannabis Company, is thrilled to share a few words on her brainchild—the dispensary’s very own clothing and apparel company. Alexandra says, “Inspired by the counterculture of the cannabis industry, our collections feature art that celebrates feeling good and living life to the fullest.” In the works is a new location. Stayed tuned: “We have lots of new hats, towels, and bags with branded patches and floating key chains for our grand opening,” Alexandra says.
South Portland’s SeaWeed Co. sports a mermaid logo by local design agency Might & Main. “We also work with artists to develop original artwork for totes and other accessories,” industrial designer Kaspar Heinrici says. Perfect, a bag to carry your SeaWeed Co. “Not For Smoking” lighter. n
People loved our ‘Grass Pro Shop’ merch line.
Can’t Take My Eyes Off You
Dare to dream about a night at this museum.
BY COLIN W. SARGENT
It starts with hummingbirds and tiger swallowtails. They fill the windshield as we turn off Route 88 onto a hidden drive in Cumberland Foreside, Maine. The serpentine driveway winds upward through a cathedral of green—granite, birch, fern, creeping cedar—before cresting at a secluded plateau with a sudden, almost theatrical view of Broad Cove. The ocean sits still like something framed. From the outside, the house presents as quiet luxury. Three bed
three baths, 3,769 square feet. Listed at $1.975M. There’s a walk-in pantry. But that’s not why we’re here.
DAN CREWE OPENS THE DOOR.
At ninety, he has the calm presence of a man who’s watched the world perform, break, and start over—repeatedly. He co-founded Gateway Studios, helped propel the voices of an era —Patti LaBelle, Frankie Valli. But now he lives here, on this quiet bluff in Maine, surrounded not by music, but by paintings. And not just any paintings.
I look around and see worldclass art hung everywhere in the house. “What’s it like living in an art gallery?”
He smiles. “Let’s see.”
We walk through the front hall, turn right—and then it happens. The house opens up. The ceiling lifts, the light shifts. We’re standing inside a two-story atrium so vast it seems to inhale you. It’s like the hush that precedes a concert’s first note.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE COLLECTION
Victor Thall commands the far wall.
According to his biography in The Annex Gallery, Victor Thall (1902-1983) was a New York native. By eleven he’d already brushed up with mentors John Sloan, George Bellows, Arthur B. Davies, and George Luks. By his early twenties, he’d crossed the Atlantic for the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris, and later, the Academie Julien. He shared drinks and doubts with de Kooning and Gorky. He painted under the WPA New Deal Art Project. He taught at the Art Students League. He walked away from Abstract Expressionism just as it was becoming a passport to fame.
Instead, he left New York in pursuit of something harder to define—a personal vernacular. He sought it in Mexico, the West Indies, Spain. In Torrevieja, in Palma de Mallorca. His brush danced with the spirits of folk art and ritual, casting long shadows through his canvases. He stopped painting in the late 1970s, turning instead to a novel that shadowed his life but never saw print. He died in 1983 in Riverside, California. Forgotten by the market, not by the Crewes.
A baby grand piano, nestled in the corner, appears suddenly miniature, just waiting to be deployed.
“Was this always one room?”
“There was a second-floor balcony,” Dan says. “We removed it to give the art more air.”
Dan nods to a square of glowing blue and green. “Victor Thall called this piece “Sorrento.”
Also jumping into view–daring work by Eric Hopkins of North Haven Island, several pushing the edge of what a viewer would expect.
“I used to be married to [composer and singer] Cidny Bullens,” Dan says, “so we both know Eric from our time on North Haven.”
Also on the walls, the singular shapes of Brett Bisby.
JERSEY BOYS
Bob Crewe (1930-2014)—Dan’s late brother—was a writer and producer behind some of pop’s most immortal hooks: “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” “Walk Like a Man,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry.” How about
The big red painting is by Francine Schrock. francineschrock.com/abstract/
Patti LaBelle’s “Lady Marmalade” and “Devil With A Blue Dress On” by Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels? That’s Bob Crewe, too. As a lifelong visual artist (even beyond his musical career), Bob knew and was influenced by Andy Warhol and painted across the decades with critically acclaimed shows from coast to coast. Bold, kinetic canvases.
Dan gestures to a set of four paintings set high up on the back wall. It’s a coherent grouping, edgy, nonrepresentational, adventurous in texture, and structurally musical. “My brother did these. It’s funny. Unlike most people—many of us gesticulate—he would sing as a way of describing things. His natural understanding of the world was to blend the visual and the oral. Some of Bob’s work is in storage,” a number of works wrapped and
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bound for MECAD. But it lives in the DNA here.
Audiences will recognize Bob Crewe as one of the key creatives in Jersey Boys, the Clint Eastwood movie and the hit Broadway show. There’s something uncanny about standing in a room with this much story—the music, the rebellion, the New York salons, the Maine silence. You feel not just history, but
Ambition & Destiny
March 21 & 22
Jinwook Park, Guest Conductor
Weber Overture Oberon
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4 (with Morgan Lee, Piano)
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4
May 16 Location: Donald M. Gay Performing Arts Center at Edward Little High School, Auburn Mahler
(with Zen Kuriyama, Choir Director, Roselin Osser, mezzo-soprano, and Jessica Kenlan, soprano)
TALKING
defiance. The Crewes and artists like Thall weren’t interested in playing the game the easy way. They built things—songs, movements, homes—and then walked away when the world wanted more.
“What’s it like to wake up in a house like this?”
Dan, like his brother, grew up in Belleville, New Jersey, near Newark. Dan graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1957, served as an Air Force officer, then joined Bob in the music business that guided the culture for decades.
THE CREWES’ GIFTS TO MAINE
This house is also a monument to the future of Portland’s cultural landscape, because planning for the University of Southern Maine’s Crewe Center for the Arts, a philanthropic effort of Dan and Bob Crewe, was launched here.
The ribbon-cutting for the glassy, modernist Crewe Center of the Arts is in “October, 2025, with a few events scheduled ahead of it in September,” Dan says.
Bob and Dan have also made staggering donations to Portland Museum of Art and the Maine College of Art and Design.
“What’s it like to wake up here?” He looks around. “You remember things differently. The art watches you back.”
And just like that, I hear it again. That haunting refrain from The Deer Hunter. The one that chases memory, time, and what we choose to leave behind.
But if you feel like I feel Please let me know that it’s real You’re just too good to be true Can’t take my eyes off of you.
I know what that’s like.
Taxes are $18,165 n
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2,400 sq. ft. commercial space in Wilton, ME, approved for a 50-seat restaurant. New plumbing, electrical, and foundation. Ideal for various businesses, with high foot tra ic, downtown location, and easy access to Farmington. MLS#1634154 • $225,000
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WOODBURY POND Classic lakefront with 4 acres and 300 feet of pristine water frontage on the last remaining open cove on Woodbury Pond in Litchfield. The waterfront lot is level and inviting to all and perfect for all ages with no slope at all. MLS #1604469 • $413,000
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1.1 acre commercial lot at the corner of Civic center drive and Bog Road. Public water and sewer is available on both streets and the tra ic count is tremendous. MLS#1624182 • $875,000
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100-acre parcel, prime hunting land; 18’ by 32’ camp with septic system with a dug well nearby. Generator for electricity, propane tanks for cook stove, refrigerator, and lights. Bingham area. Motivated sellers, potential to subdivide. MLS#1609628 • $325,000
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6384 square foot commercial building with automotive enterprises. Knowledgeable seller to assist in the transition. MLS#1625027 • $1,675,000
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Apology Accepted
It was before six in the morning. I was asleep in the room I shared with my brother.
“Your boat’s gone,” Dad said, getting his face right up into mine.
He shook my body under the thin cotton sheet. I propped my forearm over my eyes, crusty with sleep.
“Wake up! Your boat’s gone.” He searched my face for coherence. Only one day with the boat and it’s gone?
My boat. A fourteen-foot runabout with an ancient Evinrude outboard. Hours spent waxing the deck’s faded aqua blue fiberglass back to its original brightness. The dirt and mold scrubbed from the white vinyl bench seat—where I hoped Erin Streeter would agree to sit next to me and cruise up the bay. In 1981, eighth grade involved working three hours after school and eight hours on Saturday to save up enough money. I still don’t know how my mother agreed to it. Perhaps the same way I convinced my wife to let our daughter buy an aluminum skiff.
“How?” I asked.
“Probably untied from the bow
cleat. Told you to practice your knots more.”
It could have been anything: stolen, set free by a jealous middle-schooler, or Dad pulling one over on me.
“You’re joking.”
“Hurry up. Let’s go look for it. I told you to check your knots.”
The sun was still making its way up over Islesboro and the bay was, as my daughter likes to say, FAC, flat-ass calm. We rowed out to Dad’s boat, a 1960s-era wood hull Lyman with a Chrysler inboard and lever steering. It was prone to sinking, which is why Dad’s only rule for me buying a boat was that it had to be made of fiberglass.
I pretended to be unconcerned but could feel my despair tightening around my face. Dad seemed confident, but maybe he just looked forward to pointing out the result of my shitty knots. He choked the engine and pumped the throttle—not rushing but also not stopping to light up a cigarette.
“Which way do we go?” I asked.
I could tell he’d already thought this through. “Winds were light and
variable overnight, and the tide is just starting to come back in. We should start south, toward Lincolnville,” he said as if repeating the automated VHF weather voice he listened to all the time.
I pictured the boat floating past Matinicus Island on its way to Europe.
“Besides, if it went north, it would just wash up in Belfast or Searsport.”
It was still too early in the morning for the southerly chop, and we glided past Kelly’s Cove, then Temple Heights, and Ram Island off to port.
Just before we reached Lincolnville, I sat slumped in my seat, not caring that I hadn’t brushed my teeth. Dad pushed the throttle a little more, tempting the engine to backfire.
“There,” he said, not pointing, keeping one hand on the throttle, the other on the steering.
Stopped by a row of mussel nets, the boat sat calmly, as if she had no intention of going any further.
As we got closer, the bow looked dangerously low in the water.
“That’s odd,” my Dad said.
He pulled up beside her, careful not
STORY BY BILL STAUFFER
The Trailing Yew
FICTION
to get his propeller tangled in the nets, and killed his engine.
The painter’s bowline knot—my bowline knot—was still tied around the loop of the pendant line, which was still attached to the heavy mooring.
Dad dug through his wooden tackle box. He pulled out a rusty fillet knife, climbed onto the bow of my boat, and began sawing away at the line. It took me a few seconds to understand what Dad got right away, that the mooring chain wasn’t long enough for the tide. My boat’s first night on the mooring was spent lifting the mushroom anchor right off the bottom and floating south.
When the knife cut through, the line went quickly under, and the bow jumped out of the water, almost sending Dad into the bay.
Still straddling the bow, Dad tapped out a cigarette from a pack of Benson & Hedges.
He lit up, inhaled, and blew a column of smoke toward my knot. “Had nothing to do with your knot. That bowline was absolutely perfect.”
I looked at the white line around the cleat, no longer under the heavy tension of the mooring.
He took another drag, exhaled into a smile, “But the harbormaster sure needs a lesson on chain length and tides.
Each time I tell this story to my daughter, she’s kind enough to pretend it’s her first time hearing it, as if she’s already wise to my need to retell it. I wish I could remember Dad’s face, sitting on the bow of my boat, smoking that cigarette, offering his halfway apology. But the image that sticks in my heart is that of his mischievous and adventurous, unshaven and tan face, leaning over my bed, waking me out of an unknown dream, smelling like black coffee, somehow sweet, not bitter—it’s a memory, after all. n
