abOUT Maine Magazine Jan2015

A Conversation with

RICHARD BLANCO Special Wedding Issue!

Working on making full equality real for all LGBT Mainers! equalitymaine.org

TABLE OF CONTENTS features 4 8 10 12

A Conversation with Richard Blanco Winter In Maine Rangeley Lakes - Four Seasons Paradise Lobstering: Weird Wealth of Maine

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arts, entertainment & scenes 36 44

Lucerne Inn Calendar of Events

plates & fares 20

A Drink & A Dish - Vinland

business 16

12

LGBT Owned Business Directory

marryMAINE: weddings 24 28 38 42

Ice Sculpting Communicating With Your Photographer gayweddingsinmaine.com Grooms & Groomsmen Trends 2015

Save the Date: Magical History Tour with Maine Historical Society On Saturday, May 2, 2015 join Maine Historical Society for a tour of some fascinating historic sites in Portland that you have never seen—and maybe didn’t even know existed! We’ve gained access to some very special places that will delight and amaze both adults and kids. The mystery sites will be revealed at a cocktail party we’re hosting on Friday May 1—and the even the location of the party is part of the fun. Our event will be one of the first held in the new Press Hotel. Located in the former Portland Press Herald building, the new hotel embraces its history and celebrates the newspaper theme throughout. You’ll get a sneak peek of the new hotel just weeks before its grand opening! Stay tuned on our Facebook page or join our e-mail list from our website: www.MaineHistory.org.

Press Herald Building at 119 Exchange/ 175-179 Federal Street, Portland, 1924. Portland Tax Record, Collections of Maine Historical Society/ City of Portland/www.MaineMemory.net. abOUT MAINE 2015

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Richard

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Photo by Craig Dilger

abOUT MAINE 2015

Traveling the world comes naturally to poet Richard Blanco. His Cuban mother moved to Spain while he was in utero, emigrated to New York City soon thereafter, and eventually settled in Miami.

Today, when the 46-year-old isn’t on the road promoting a book or delivering a lecture, he lives on 15 rural acres in Bethel with Dr. Mark Neveu, his partner of 15 years, two cats, and a Basenji dog named Joey.

Truth be told, the popular writer has spent little time in Maine since his selection as the fifth inaugural poet of the United States. (He shared a podium with re-elected President Barack Obama in January 2013.) As the first Latino, immigrant, and gay writer to follow in the footsteps of luminaries such as Robert Frost and Maya Angelou, he has been in demand everywhere as both a speaker and a spokesman.

We caught up with Blanco while he was in Boston recently to promote his new book, a memoir about growing up in Miami called, The Prince of Los Cocuyos. He spoke at length about his art, how he feels about being a Maine resident, and why he has a love-hate relationship with TV’s Brady Bunch.

Q. You’ve been described as a poet, memoirist, professor, civil engineer, storyteller, public speaker, and author.

Which label feels most comfortable?

A. Author kind of covers everything.

Writing is writing, whether it’s poetry or memoir, non-fiction or teaching writing. It all comes from the author’s life. My writing even informs what I do as an engineer, believe it or not.

Q. In interviews right after your reading at President Obama’s 2013 inaugural, you said you weren’t sure why you were chosen for that role. Did you ever find out

why you were selected?

A. No. I never found out, and at this point, I don’t think I’m going to. It’s probably in some file somewhere. I imagine if the President were a poet, he’d be writing about similar things—cultural identity, what it means to be an American.

Q. You’ve been on a book tour and have appearances scheduled into forever. How do you keep fresh while doing so much traveling?

A. I’ve been sort of on a book tour since the day after the inaugural … the workshops, the lectures. It takes up about 80 percent of my time. But I love meeting people. That energizes me.

Q. Don’t you miss your partner?

A. Um. We have a very mature relationship. We’ve been together 15 years, so we understand that this is a special time right now. There has been some adjustment though. I was the one who kept the household managed, so we’ve reversed roles and that’s been frustrating and funny at the same time.

Q. What drew you to each other?

A. It’s hard to say. It’s as magical as anything else. I guess at the end of the day what we have in common is a core set of values, despite cultural or socio-economic differences.

Q. Is there a wedding in your future?

A. With all that’s been going on, we haven’t had an opportunity to [get married] yet, but it seems like it might happen sometime in 2015.

Q. Let’s talk about poetry for a minute.

Do you have any unusual writing rituals?

A. I usually have to write at night. I think it’s from all the years of working a day job and then writing at night after 10 p.m.

Q. What poems or poets can really move you?

A. I love to read Elizabeth Bishop.

BLANCO

By Christine Palmer

“I’m not exposing myself; I’m holding up a mirror for readers to look into their own lives and see what my life and my thoughts and my experiences can [evoke in them].”

Photo by Joyce Tenneson

She’s one of my biggest inspirations.

There are lots of poems that I like to read over and over. That’s the thing about poetry; it can always inspire you no matter how many times you read it. I sort of look to favorite poems more than reading just one author extensively.

Q. Your poetry is lovely. Would you describe yourself as a romantic?

A. Ah, well, there’s two definitions of romantic … There’s the actual romantics as in the romantic poets, and I do trace my lineage to that kind, but as far as romantic as in romantic novels, no!

Q. Your poems are also quite personal. Is it frightening to make yourself so vulnerable?

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A. No. As an artist, art requires what it requires. I’m not exposing myself; I’m holding up a mirror for readers to look into their own lives and see what my life and my thoughts and my experiences can [evoke in them]. Your story is really for everyone else to connect with their story.

Q. Tell us your thoughts about Maine.

Did you feel welcomed when you first moved here? Were there issues around being “from away,” or being Cuban-American?

A. I keep hearing that [about Mainers], but I never experienced it. It’s been quite the opposite. Everywhere I’ve gone, even before the inauguration, people

have been very friendly to me. I’ve heard that whole “from away” thing, but I think probably Maine has changed a little bit.

Q. So no issues with being Latino?

A. No, none at all. I don’t know what’s said behind closed doors, but in this small town where I live [Bethel] there’s a lot of [mutual] respect. At times, I almost wished there’d been a little more attention. It’s like, “But, I’m Cuban!” Nobody really “exoticized” me. I was just like everyone else in town.

Q. And no issues being gay and out?

A. No, but we always have to come out every day in some way or other.

Q. What message would you like to send to our gay readers?

abOUT MAINE 2015

Photo by Craig Dilger

Photo by Joyce Tenneson

A. What’s come on my radar are the gay youth here in Maine. Although we’re getting married and having commitment ceremonies and all that, we can’t forget that that doesn’t mean everything is OK. We have to remember that the youth still need our support and that coming out is still a rough thing. There’s still a lot of fear; it still takes courage to come out.

There are some wonderful youth coming-out stories, and there are some horrible, incredibly horrible stories.

Q. What about the downside of being famous?

A. My whole routine has been changed! I’m a very regimented person—the engineer side of me. I’ve really

abOUT MAINE 2015

Photo by Joyce Tenneson

had to let go of all that. Life is a lot more chaotic than I would care for.

Q. What’s the strangest question you’ve ever been asked?

A. [Laughs] It was at a question and answer event in a bookstore. Someone asked me if I grew up with drag queens, and if I liked dresses. The person had some sort of fascination with drag queens.

Q. Is there a question you wish someone would ask?

A. Nobody has asked me about this, but I’d like to see how my memoir could be adapted into a movie or a TV series.

Unlike poetry, writing a memoir makes you think cinematographically. I don’t

think television has ever gotten the Latino story right. I think we’re in a different era now; I think we’re starting to finally attack those stories that have always been part of the American heritage. I think there’s a new [Latino] Brady Bunch on the horizon.

Q. The Brady Bunch?

A. I’m a rerun junkie. A lot of how I connected with America was through television growing up in Miami. I can see something like the Cuban Wonder Years, but the Brady Bunch still continues to fascinate and terrify me. What is that family? I want to find out where they are. I want to build that Brady Bunch house someday.

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WINTER IN MAINE

A Sports Haven and Winter Wonderland

By Pat demos

According to Sinclair Lewis, ‘winter is not a season but an occupation’. Well, that was a time long ago when you prepared for six months worth of heat and food, and dealt with whatever blew in.

Fast track to now, where there is a wide range of wonderfully interesting options to enjoy winter as not only a vacation season packed full of winter sports and activities, but also a truly beautiful part of nature and the Maine experience.

With such a dynamic time of year, there seems to be two avenues for enjoying winter in Maine: those who embrace the outdoors with gusto, and, there are those who like to savor the winter from the comforts of the inside.

For those who like outdoor sports and welcome the challenges and rewards of cold and snow, the downhill and cross country skiing is top notch in Maine. In western Maine Sugarloaf (elev. 4,249 ft), Saddleback (elev. 4,121 ft) and Sunday River (elev. 3,150 ft) lead off as the big ski mountains. These all offer many options to stay active and busy.

Sugarloaf, in Carrabassett Valley, Maine is the largest ski resort east of the Rockies with 1400 acres of ski area, 95% snowmaking capabilities, 15 chairlifts, and 138 marked trails and glades.

The summit offers a 360-degree view of Maine’s western mountains and New Hampshire’s White Mountains. The Outdoor Center offers cross-country skiing on 100km of groomed trails, snowshoeing and ice skating. Sugarloaf has a Sports and Fitness Center, a 20,000 square foot facility with Maine’s largest indoor skate bowl, climbing wall, trampolines, a weight room, basket ball court and more.

Saddleback, near Rangeley, Maine, has 85% snowmaking, 5 chairlifts, and 66 trails with classic New England ski terrain that follows the contours of the mountain. Snow covered conifers over most of the mountain create a different feel for skiers. And for beginners, there are four miles of gentle terrain below the base lodge. The lodge is lovely post and beam with a huge fieldstone fireplace that provides a welcoming at-

abOUT MAINE 2015

mosphere to warm up and relax. Events are planned throughout the season, and a favorite is the Mountain Challenge, a free style ski up, ski down is scheduled for February 7, 2015.

Sunday River, in Newry, Maine spans 3 miles from White Cap to the Jordan Bowl, with 8 interconnected mountain peaks. They have 92% snowmaking, 16 lifts, and 135 trails. The annual White Out Weekend (WOW) in association with OutRyders, New England’s largest GLBTQ ski and snowboard club, on the first weekend in February has fireworks, festivals, a zip line parade and lots of après ski socials.

And there are the smaller mountains such as Ragged Mountain at the Camden Snow Bowl in Camden (elev. 1,300 ft) which gives the beautiful experience of skiing down and looking out over all the islands in Penobscot Bay…how unique is that! In addition to skiing and snowboarding, the winter sports available at the Snow Bowl include a snow tubing slope, ice skating on Hosmer pond and a thrilling 400' toboggan chute. The National Toboggan Championships are held here the first weekend of February.

There is also a cross-country ski and snowshoeing trail available.

For a really special treat, night skiing under the lights at Hermon Mountain (elev. 450 ft) just south of Bangor, as well as Shawnee Peak (elev. 1,900 ft) near Bridgton is offered.

For those who like exploring the woods and lakes by snowmobile, the 13,000 mile groomed trail system in Maine is excellent and extensive. With snowmobile trails connecting throughout the State, many towns have snowmobile ride-ins, with events such as snowmobile acrobatics and racing tricked out sleds. The Pinetree Society Ride-In in Newport on the first weekend in February has a spectacular fireworks show with booming echoes bouncing on the surrounding hills and hundreds of sleds buzzing from all directions on the frozen lake. And in Oquossoc, the Bald Mountain Camps –Rangely World Record Snowmobile Ride-In is also on that first

February weekend.

Dog sled tours are always lots of fun and a great way to see the dogs working and enjoy the Maine woods at the same time. Just watching these highly trained dogs being prepared for a run is quite the experience! And dog sled racing is also a favorite, with the Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Races held on February 27 – March 3 in Fort Kent.

Of course, there are the extreme winter sports like ice climbing, and winter hiking in the back country for the truly brave souls…but favorites for everyone are the winter festivals held in towns throughout Maine (call local town offices or their Chamber of Commerce for dates), sleigh rides, winter birding trails, ice fishing, and skating on local ponds when conditions allow.

Yes, winter in Maine is special…there is much to do. Whatever you choose, it can be done in style and comfort, and by the days end, you will be reflecting on what a great day it was and enjoy a greater appreciation of winter in Maine.

Check these websites for more information: Skiing: www.Sugarloaf.com www.Saddlebackmaine.com www.SundayRiver.com www.CamdenSnowBowl.com www.SkiHermonMountain.com www.ShawneePeak.com Snowmobiling: www.MeSnow.com www.PineTreeSociety.org www.RangeleyMaine.com Dog Sledding: www.NewEnglandDogSledding.com www.Can-Am-Crown.net Hiking/Snowshoeing/Cross Country Skiing: www.MaineTrailFinder.com Ice Fishing: www.IceFishingDerby.com

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Rangeley Lakes Four Season Paradise If Maine is a year-round paradise, the state’s Rangeley Lakes Region is a paradise within a paradise. The popular vacation destination offers everything a visitor could want to eat, do, or see. As James Taylor once crooned, “Winter, spring, summer, or fall, all you gotta do is call.”

According to writer Victor Block, the region’s irresistible lure traces to its early settlers. “Abnaki Indians set up hunting and fishing camps alongside the area's 111 lakes and ponds,” Block wrote for the area’s Chamber of Commerce website. “They were followed by well-to-do ‘flatlanders’ (anyone from south of New Hampshire) who … were drawn to the region by the same outdoor activities that had attracted the Abnakis.”

Today, even if you’re not into fishing or trapping (and even if you are a flatlander), there’s much in the region to make it worth a look, as well as friendly residents to welcome the eager explorer.

The first thing you’ll notice on your journey to this four-season paradise is that the roads to take you to Rangeley are meant for meandering rather than racing; Interstate 95 will be in your rearview mirror shortly after you cross Maine’s southern-most border. (The center of the Rangeley region is approximately 230 miles from Boston.)

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The second thing you will note is the natural beauty of the entire area, which is framed by two large lakes, Rangeley and Mooselookmeguntic. (Doesn’t that name, pronounced mooselook-me-gun-tic, just make you want to see it?) Scattered between and around these are smaller lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams, hills, and mountains that erupt in color each fall. Some of the views in the area will make you think “picture postcard” or “breathtaking.”

The third thing that you might notice as you draw near the Rangeley Lakes Region is what isn’t here—no hustle, no bustle.

You won’t find huge shopping malls or big box stores. What you will find is peace, quiet, and an entire region devoted to feeding your soul in all ways, from what you do (healthy sports, relaxing walks) to what you eat (home-cooked Yankee meals) to where you sleep (under a tent or tucked in at a B&B).

To help get you started on your visit to the Rangeley area, we’ve put together a short guide to make your visit a bit easier.

(Check out www.rangeleymaine.com for more suggestions.) In the end, though, all you really have to do is pack your skis or your fishing pole and head for paradise. It’s worth the trip. abOUT MAINE 2015

SLEEP WELL The area offers a number of recommended accommodations from cozy B&Bs to open-air campgrounds.

Sleep indoors at: Highland Heath House—Just a mile from town, perched on a hillside with to-die-for views. Offering eco-friendly amenities. Check out the carved moose “with an attitude” that’s on site. Reaching It: 100 Kendall Farm Trail, Rangeley, 207-8642441, www.highlandheathhouse. com.

Pleasant Street Inn B&B— Lovely hosts, Rob and Jan Welch.

Very accommodating to those with allergies and/or dietary restrictions.

Breakfast your way, full country or quick bowl of cereal. Reaching It: 104 Pleasant Street, Rangeley, 207864-5916, www.pleasantstreetinnbb. com.

Town & Lake Motel & Cottages—Clean, quiet, and comfortable.

Roll out of bed into the lake, only 20 feet away. A bit rough but pet-friendly. Great for families. Reaching It: 2886 Main Street, Rangeley, 207864-3755, www.rangeleytownandlake.com.

Sleep outdoors at: Black Brook Cove Campground—Tucked in a cove at the southeast end of Aziscohos Lake with views galore. “Real Maine” camping, but, hey, there’s a general store and hot water! Reaching It: Lincoln Pond Road, Lincoln Plantation, 207-4863828, www.blackbrookcove.com.

Rangeley Lake State Park— Decent pricing, helpful park rangers and staff. Fifty campsites, boat ramp, swimming beach. Reaching It: Rangeley Plantation, Rangeley. Reservations at 800-332-1501 or 207864-3858 (in season), www.campwithme.com.

abOUT MAINE 2015

Please your palate at one of the following top recommendations from Trip Advisor and Yelp.

Forks in the Air Mountain Bistro, 2485 Main Street, Rangeley, 207-864-2883, www.forksintheair.com. Seasonal menu with exotic items such as wild mushroom quinoa and monkfish stew. Great service, whether you order a small plate ($8-$14) or an entrée ($14-$27).

Shed BBQ, 2647 Main Street, Rangeley, 207-864-2219, www.getshedfaced.com. Comfort food extraordinaire: sides such as mac ’n’ cheese, cornbread, baked beans, and sweet potato fries. Entrées oddly include taco salads, quesadillas, and enchilada pies.

Basic burger for $6, full rack of ribs for $24.

Red Onion, 2511 Main Street, Rangeley, 207-864-5022, www.rangeleyredonion.com. A local icon, serving such basic edibles as pizza, sandwiches, pasta, and salads. Dinners come with soup, salad, or coleslaw.

Sandwiches range from $7-$9.50, full meals from $13-$15.

You don’t have to be athletic to enjoy the Rangeley Lakes Region, but with all that winter skiing, summer swimming, and hiking available, why not get moving? If you would rather wear out your wallet instead of your joints, you can do that too. For a bunch more things to do, go to www.rangeley-maine.com.

Play at: Saddleback Mountain—The resort is located at 976 Saddleback Mountain Road.

More info at 207-864-5671. Ski 66 trails, snow board, snow shoe, or just sit by the fire.

Summer offerings range from golfing (two courses) and hiking (elevation 4,120 feet) to fishing (trout, landlocked salmon) and boating (rent a pontoon boat!).

Rangeley Friends of the Arts—Check the full-year calendar (www.rangeleyarts. org) for concerts, plays, and a wide variety of cultural events.

Museums—Lots to see at venues such as the Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum (a Yankee magazine “Best”); the Rangeley Lakes Region Logging Museum (extensive collection of logging artifacts); the Stanley

Museum (railroad memorabilia); and the Wilhelm Reich Museum (honoring the work of a local physician-scientist).

Moose Watching “Hot Spots”—Animal lovers should head for Routes 16 and 27.

Drive from Rangeley to Stratton, Oquossoc to Wilson’s Mills, or Rangeley to Rumford.

Ask about local sightings and for heaven’s sake, stay in your car.

Shop at: Alpine Shop of Rangeley, 2504 Main Street, Rangeley, 207-864-3741, www.alpineshoprangeley.com. Up country clothing and gifts. Books, jewelry, Maine-made items as well as name brand goods. Toys, T-shirts, and sweats. Hiking gear.

Powder Dreams Ski Shop, 522 Dallas Hill Road, Rangeley, 207-864-2100, www. maineskirentals.com. Twenty-five years’ experience outfitting skiers. Rentals and repairs for skis and snow boards as well as accessories.

Gallery at Stony Batter, 52 Carry Road (Route 4), Oquossoc, 207-864-3373. Fine collectibles, Maine relics. Museum and art gallery combined.

Also: Main Street, Rangeley. Walk in either direction to find books, clothing, antiques, local artists’ wares, personal care products, even groceries. Downtown exploring encouraged.

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LOBSTER WEIRD WEALTH OF MAINE Excerpts from The Islands of Maine by Bill Caldwell Lobsters, plentiful and cheap in colonial days, were fed twice a day to indentured workers. Weary of too much lobster, they complained so loudly that a new clause in their contracts stated indentured workers should not be fed lobster more than four times a week.

Even 100 years later, in the early 1800s, no boat and no traps were needed on the islands to catch lobster. Island children could go to the shore, turn over a rock and catch lobsters for supper with their bare hands. They were so plentiful that island farmers spread lobsters on their fields and vegetable gardens as fertilizer. Nobody thought of selling lobsters.

In the autumn of 1850 the first lobster carrier, a “wetsmack” from Gloucester, with four men aboard, sailed into Swan’s Island. They hired a few islanders to help them catch lobsters, paid cash and left, with their cargo hold swarming with live lobsters. The hold of a “wet-smack” has holes in it, allowing fresh sea water to run in and out, thus keeping live lobsters in prime condition for market. This is the way commercial lobstering began.

In the 1850s the dealers paid two, sometimes three cents

a lobster. Not per pound, but per lobster; and the lobsters were very big as well as plentiful. Stories can be heard on the islands today about lobsters weighing 20 and 25 pounds.

One giant creature of 43 pounds was caught at Friendship, Long Island.

The total Maine lobster catch in 1880 was 14 million pounds. Of this almost 9 million pounds went into cans. The canning business opened new jobs for island women and children.

Island lobster canning factories were on the wharf, open at the end so men could bring the catch straight off the boat, carrying loads of live lobsters on a stretcher and dumping them directly into huge copper cauldrons of boiling water.

When they were cooked, the lobsters were spread on long tables where the women cut them into various parts. One would punch out the chunky meat from the tail. Another, called a “cracker,” would cut off the claws with a cleaver, and still others would pick the meat. Other groups of women did the packing, filling each can with a selection of various parts. One girl weighed the packed cans, adding or subtracting lobster

Fancy Lobster Dinner, Augusta, ca. 1900. A formal lobster bake in Augusta, complete with lobster and steamed clams, drew a sophisticated crowd.

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abOUT MAINE 2015

RING Children and lobster traps, Eastport, 1937. This photograph was taken on behalf of the publication Atlantic Fisherman by photographer Fred W. Milliken.

meat till it weighed the specified one or two pounds.

Next girl on the assembly line forced the meat down with a special “stamper,” made for that job. The next put on a tin cover, banging it down with a hammer, made specifically for that job. A tray load of filled cans went next to the solderer, a man, who sealed them, leaving a tiny hole in the lid. The load then was lowered into a cauldron of boiling water until all the air was expelled from each tin. Then the solderer sealed the tiny hole in the lid and the tins were cooked again.

In the packing room the cans were cleaned with acid, painted to prevent rust, pasted with a bright label showing a scarlet lobster against a blue sea and bearing the words “Maine Lobster” and the town or island where packed.

In a canning factory, men were paid reasonably well. Solderers got $12 to $15 a week. Other men received $7 to $10 a week; but the women got only $2 to $3 a week. Even that wage was sought after, because at the time women schoolteachers on the islands were paid even less — only $1 a week. Boys from 10 to 14 years old earned 25 cents a day, the same wage paid to boys working in the island granite quarries. The lobster-canning season lasted from April to August. Island lobstermen sold their smallest lobsters, “shorts” by today’s standards, to the cannery and kept the big ones to sell live to the smack buyer, who came weekly in his wet-smack schooner.

Old Nep, Eastport, ca. 1925. “Old Nep” was a 30 ½ lb., 40” long lobster

once on display at the Acme Theatre in Eastport, ME. abOUT MAINE 2015

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Yarmouth Packing Co. lobster packing label, ca. 1890. Directions for cooking lobster are printed on the label in both English and French.

Lobsters, plentiful and cheap in colonial days, were fed twice a day to indentured workers. Weary of too much lobster, they complained so loudly that a new clause in their contracts stated indentured workers should not be fed lobster more than four times a week.

Even 100 years later, in the early 1800s, no boat and no traps were needed on the islands to catch lobster. Island children could go to the shore, turn over a rock and catch lobsters for supper with their bare hands. They were so plentiful that island farmers spread lobsters on their fields and vegetable gardens as fertilizer. Nobody thought of selling lobsters.

In the autumn of 1850 the first lobster carrier, a “wetsmack” from Gloucester, with four men aboard, sailed into

Fresh Bay Lobster label, Gorham Packing Co., ca. 1880. The Gorham Packing Co. was a subsidiary of the Portland Packing Co, which referred to itself as the largest canning factory in the world at the time.

Swan’s Island. They hired a few islanders to help them catch lobsters, paid cash and left, with their cargo hold swarming with live lobsters. The hold of a “wet-smack” has holes in it, allowing fresh sea water to run in and out, thus keeping live lobsters in prime condition for market. This is the way commercial lobstering began.

In the 1850s the dealers paid two, sometimes three cents a lobster. Not per pound, but per lobster; and the lobsters were very big as well as plentiful. Stories can be heard on the islands today about lobsters weighing 20 and 25 pounds.

One giant creature of 43 pounds was caught at Friendship, Long Island.

The total Maine lobster catch in 1880 was 14 million

Lobstermen on Orr's Island, ca. 1930. This photograph-turned-postcard depicts the bridge that connects Orr’s Island to the mainland.

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abOUT MAINE 2015

Plugging crusher claws, Portland, ca.

1930. Wooden plugs were commonly used to prevent a lobster from using its crusher claw. By the 1980s, thick rubber bands replaced the use of plugs.

pounds. Of this almost 9 million pounds went into cans.

The canning business opened new jobs for island women and children.

Island lobster canning factories were on the wharf, open at the end so men could bring the catch straight off the boat, carrying loads of live lobsters on a stretcher and dumping them directly into huge copper cauldrons of boiling water. When they were cooked, the lobsters were spread on long tables where the women cut them into various parts. One would punch out the chunky meat from the tail. Another, called a “cracker,” would cut off the claws with a cleaver, and still others would pick the meat. Other groups of women did the packing, filling each can with a selection of various parts. One girl weighed the packed cans, adding or subtracting lobster meat till it weighed the specified one or two pounds. Next girl on the assembly line forced the meat down with a special “stamper,” made for that job. The next put on a tin cover, banging it down

abOUT MAINE 2015

with a hammer, made specifically for that job. A tray load of filled cans went next to the solderer, a man, who sealed them, leaving a tiny hole in the lid. The load then was lowered into a cauldron of boiling water until all the air was expelled from each tin. Then the solderer sealed the tiny hole in the lid and the tins were cooked again.

In the packing room the cans were cleaned with acid, painted to prevent rust, pasted with a bright label showing a scarlet lobster against a blue sea and bearing the words “Maine Lobster” and the town or island where packed.

In a canning factory, men were paid reasonably well. Sol-

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LGBT Owned Business Directory ADVERTISING & MARKETING Proactive Resources Design 401 Cumberland Ave, #102, Portland Maine 04101, (207)-772-3599 www.proactiveresources.com

ARTISTS

FrankArt of Maine 6 Paddy Lane Franklin, ME 04634 (207)-565-0984 www.francine-frank.artistwebsites.com Gillyin Gatto Woodcuts Kennebec Workshop 9 Bobcat Path Machias, ME 04654, (207)-255-4515 www.rst-art.com/gattowoodcuts.htm Linda Griffith, Playwright & Fine Art Photographer P.O. Box 174 Blaine, ME 04734 (215)-287-4174, www.lindagriffith.com Women In Harmony, A Chorus of Women’s Voices PO Box 5136 Station A, Portland, ME 04101, (207) 688-4737 www.wihmaine.org Mark Nutt Fine Art Painter, Instructor & Scenic Artist 72 Ruth Ave. Hampden, ME 04444 (207)-862-2462, www.marknutt.com Constance Pelkey Designs 22 Drew St. Augusta, ME 04330 (207)-333-1145 www.constancepelkeydesigns.blogspot.com Chris Rutecki Musician/Singer-songwriter PO BOX 401, Sullivan, ME 04664 (207)-422-3325 Maine Hooked Rugs PO Box 30, 6 Naskeag Road Brooklin, ME 04616, 207-359-2822 www.penobscotbaypress.com/directory/ businesses/maine-hooked-rugs/

ANTIQUES

John Philbrick Antiques 72 Route 236, Kittery, ME (207).439.0349 www.johnphilbrick.com Portland Architectural Salvage 131 Preble St Portland Maine 04101 (207) 780-0634 www.portlandsalvage.com

BUILDING CONTRACTORS Heath Enterprises 68 Mudgett Road 16

Kenduskeag, Me 04450 (207)-745-4678

CATERING & CAKES

Carpe Diem Coffee 150 Wells St, North Berwick, ME 03906 (207) 676-2233 www.carpediemcoffee.com Destination Catering 35 Fletcher Street, Kennebunk, ME 04043 (207) 985-7333 www.destinationcatering.com Bread and Roses Bakery 28A Main Street, Ogunquit, ME (207).646.4227 www.breadandrosesbakery.com

CHURCHES

Cathedral Church of Saint Luke 143 State Street Portland, ME 04101 207-772-5434 www.cathedralofstluke.episcopalmaine.org Congregation Bet Ha’am 81 Westbrook Street South Portland, ME 04106 207.879.0028 www.bethaam.org Noyes Street Shul 76 Noyes Street Portland, Maine 04103 (207) 773-0693 www.mainesynagogue.org /wp/

CLOTHING

Shane Ruff Studio / BURLYSHIRTS.com 398 Harold L. Dow Highway, Unit #39 Eliot, Maine 03903 (207)-703-0135 www.burlyshirts.com

List provided by

CPA

Honeck O'Toole, CPA Peter J. Callnan, CPA 511 Congress Street, #900, Portland Maine 04101 (207)774-0882 www.honeckotoole.com

COMPUTER CONSULTING Cyan Dog Productions 20 Eider Way Lane Trenton, ME 04605 (207)-664-3570 aardvark340@hotmail.com

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS Jean Vermette, Licensed master electrician.

PO Box 2002 Bangor, ME 04402-2002 (207)862-2063

ENTERTAINMENT

Ogunquit Playhouse 10 Maine Street, Ogunquit, ME (207).646.5511 www.ogunquitplayhouse.org

FURNITURE REFINISHING

Downeast Refinishing 321 Bucksport Rd Ellsworth, ME 04605 (207)-667-0062 www.downeastrefinishing.com

FINANCIAL PLANNING & CPAS

Aurora Financial Group, Kim Volk 85 Exchange St., Portland, ME 04101 (207) 553-2343 www.aurorafinancial.info

CP Management, Training & Consulting Portland, Maine (207)370-4521 www.cp-consul.com

Morgan Stanley, Cynthia “Cindy” R. Smith, Financial Advisor 100 Middle St., 3rd Floor Portland, ME 04101 (207) 771-0849 www.morganstanleyfa.com/cynthia.r.smith/

COUNSELING & COACHING

FLORISTS

CONSULTING

Emerge Into YOU! Life Coaching South Portland, ME (207) 699-4244 www.emergeintoyou.com Steve Addario, LCSW Southern Maine (207)329-7843

Vitality Counseling Services 157 Park St, Suite 34 Bangor, ME 04401 (207)-992-9104 www.therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/ name/Charissa_Merrill-Maguire_LCSW_Bangor_Maine_59533

Harmon's & Barton's 584 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101 (207) 774-5946 www.harmonsbartons.com Dan Kennedy 145 Free Street, Portland, Maine 04101 (207) 772-4638 www.minotts.com

GLBT CLERGY

Rev. Al Boyce 257 Cushnoc Road Vassalboro, ME 04989 (207)-624-2295

abOUT MAINE 2015

Rev. Charles Grindle (Interfaith) 88 Gilman Street #406 Portland, ME 04012 (207)-321-1592

Peacelady Painting Southern Maine (207)775-2530 https://www.facebook.com/peacelady.painting

GIFTS & FAVORS

PET SERVICES

Emerald City 564 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101 (207) 774-8800 www.emeraldcityportland.com Lowell Hill Pottery 115 Front Ridge Rd., Penobscot, ME 04476 (207) 951-8229 www.lowellhillpottery.com Animal Instinct-Games, Gifts and Giggles!

232 Main Street, Ogunquit, ME (207).646.7728 www.animalinstinct.com Drop Anchor 20 Shore Road, Ogunquit, ME (207).646.1615 Spoiled Rotten 27 Beach Street, Ogunquit, ME (207).641.8477 www.spoiledrottenogt.com

HAIRSTYLING

Total Look Day Spa & Color Studio 98 North Main Street Brewer, ME 04412 (207)-989-7513 Jamie O'Sullivan Salon 142 High St, Ste 512 Portland, Maine 04101 207) 318-7895 Salon Paragon 486 Congress St. Portland Me 04101 207.775.5050 www.salonparagonportland.com Salon Burke 490 Congress Street,Portland, Me 04101 (207) 773-3100 www.salonburke.com Hair By Roger 166 Webster Ave Bangor, ME 04401 (207)-907-0224 People's Salon And Spa 18 Temple St Waterville, ME 04901 (207)-314-1487 www.peoplessalon.com

HOME REPAIR & IMPROVEMENT Heath Enterprises 68 Mudgett Road Kenduskeag, Me 04450 (207)-745-4678

Mida's Touch PO Box 127 Hulls Cove, ME 04644 (207)-288-9727 www.facebook.com/mida.ballard abOUT MAINE 2015

Pet & House Sitter 365 N Main St Brewer, Maine 04412 (207)-356-0289 PetsRUs 86 South Main St Rockland, ME 04841 (207)-594-1273 Natural Pet 144 Pleasant St Brunswick, ME 04011 (207)-725-0179 www.kathyforcouncil.weebly.com/about.html The Pet Sitta Southern Maine (207)233-9531 www.thepetsitta.com

HOTELS & ACCOMMODATIONS Maple Hill Farm Inn 11 Inn Rd. Hallowell, ME 04347 (207) 622-7777 www.maplebb.com

Moon Over Maine 22 Berwick Road, Ogunquit, ME 03907 (207).646.6666 www.moonovermaine.com Chadwick B&B 140 Chadwick St, Portland, ME, 04102 (207)-774-5141 www.thechadwick.com Williams Pond Lodge 327 Williams Pond Rd Bucksport, ME, 04416, USA (207)-460-6064 www.williamspondlodge.com Maples Inn 16 Roberts Ave., Bar Harbor, ME, 04609 (207)-288-3443 www.maplesinn.com SeaView Villa 3 Arata Dr, Bar Harbor, ME, 04609 (207)-288-0307 www.barharboracadiacottagerentals.com/ SeaView1.html Blue Hill Inn 40 Union St., Blue Hill, ME, 04614 (207)-374-2844 www.bluehillinn.com Topside Inn 60 McKown St, Boothbay Harbor, ME, 04538 (207)-633-5404 www.topsideinn.com Sur La Mer 18 Eames Rd, Boothbay Harbor, ME, 04538 (207)-633-7400 www.surlamerinn.com

Towne Motel 68 Elm St., Camden, ME, 04843 (207)-236-3377 www.camdenmotel.com Camden Harbour Inn 83 Bayview St, Camden, ME, 04843 (207)-236-4200 www.camdenharbourinn.com Red Shed Cottage 133 Pickett Hill Rd., Denmark, ME, 04022 (207)-452-2239 www.picketthillfarm.com Lambs Mill Inn 131 Lamb's Mill Rd., Naples, ME, 04055 (207)-693-6253 www.lambsmillinn.com Abalonia Inn 268 Main St, Ogunquit, ME, 03907 (207)-646-7001 www.abalonia.com 2 Village Square Inn Ogunquit 14 Village Square Lane, Ogunquit, ME, 03907 (207)-646-5779 www.2vsquare.com Beauport Inn 339 Clay Hill, Ogunquit, ME, 03907 (207)-361-2400 www.beauportinn.com Ogunquit Inn 17 Glen Ave., Ogunquit, ME, 03907 (207)-646-3633 www.theogunquitinn.com Dragonfly Guest House 254 Shore Rd, Ogunquit, ME, 03907 (207)-216-4848 www.dragonflyguesthouse.com Black Boar Inn 277 Main St, Ogunquit, ME, 03907 (207)-646-2112 www.theblackboarinn.weebly.com Gazebo Inn Ogunquit 572 Main St, Ogunquit, ME, 03907 (207)-646-3733 www.gazeboguesthouse.com Rockmere Lodge B&B 150 Stearns Rd, Ogunquit, ME, 03907 (207)-646-2985 www.rockmere.com Ogunquit Beach Inn 67 School St, Ogunquit, ME, 03907 (207)-646-1112 www.ogunquitbeachinn.com Riverhouse 1175 Castine Rd, Orland, ME, 04472 (207)-469-2533 w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / p a g e s / Th e - R i v e rhouse/428852900540870?sk=timeline Mercury Inn 273 State St., Portland, ME, 04101 (207)-956-6670 www.mercuryinn.com

17

LimeRock Inn 96 Limerock St., Rockland, ME, 04841 (207)-594-2257 www.limerockinn.com

Portland Maine 04103

WaterColor Cottage 595 Duck Cove Rd, Roque Bluffs, ME 04654 (828)-507-5770 www.watercolormaine.com

In Your Own Words 582 Quaker Ridge Rd., Greene, ME 04236 (207) 946-7777 www.inyourownwords.me

INVITATIONS & CUSTOM PRINTING

Lil House Cottage 23 North Ave., Saco, ME, 04072 (617)-512-6041 www.lilhousecottage.com

Seashore Design 192 Searsport Ave. Belfast, ME 04915 (207) 323-0241 www.seashoredesign.com

Harbour Cottage B&B Inn 9 Dirigo Road, Southwest Harbor, ME, 04679 (207)-244-5738 www.harbourcottageinn.com

Infinite Signs 40 School St Augusta, ME 04330 (207)-595-0750 www.infinitesigns.com

Le Vatout 218 Kalers Corner, Waldoboro, ME, 04572 (207)-832-5150 www.levatout.com

LEGAL SERVICES

Pleasant Street Inn 84 Pleasant St, Waterville, ME, 04901 (207)-680-2515 www.84pleasantstreet.com Holiday Guest House B&B 68 Post Rd, Wells, ME, 04090 (207)-646-5400 www.holidayguesthousebnb.com Ne’r Beach Motel 395 Post Rd., Wells, ME, 04090 (207)-646-2636 www.nerbeach.com Annabessacook Farm B&B 192 Annabessacook Rd, Winthrop, ME, 04364 (207)-377-3276 www.annabessacookfarm.com Magic Pond Artists' Retreat and Guest House P.O. Box 174 Blaine, ME 04734 (215)-287-4174 www.magicpondmaine.com The Elms B & B 102 Cumberland Street Westbrook, Me 04092 (207)854-4060 www.elmsmaine.com Inn at St. John 939 Congress St, Portland, Maine 04101 (207)773-6481 www.innatstjohn.com The Scotch Hill Inn 287 Main Street Ogunquit, ME 03907 207-646-2890 www.scotchhillinn.com

INSURANCE

Susan Farnsworth Attorney at Law 100 Second St., Hallowell, ME 04347 (207) 626-3312 www.susanfarnsworth.com Vogel & Dubois Matthew R. Dubois, Esq. 550 Forest Ave, Ste. 205 PO Box 3649 Portland, ME 04104-3649 (207)-761-7796 www.maine-elderlaw.com Portland Legal, LLC Zack Paakkonen PO Box 8585, Portland Maine 04104 (207)518-8663 www.portlandmainelegal.com

MEDICAL CARE

Mabel Wadsworth Women's Health Center Lindsey Piper Nurse Practitioner 700 Mount Hope Avenue, Suite 420 Bangor, ME 04401 (207) 947-5337 www.mabelwadsworth.org

MINISTERS, PASTORS & NOTARIES PUBLIC

Heather L. Thompson M.S. Ed. South Portland, ME (207) 229-1759 Peter Mauro, Jr. Notary Public 100 Gamage Ave., Auburn, ME 04210 (207) 576-2175 Rev. Karen St. Peter Westbrook, ME (207) 712-6213

MUSIC: BANDS & DJS DJ MelBee Freeport, ME (508) 277-5107 www.djmelbeemusic.com

Ronel J. Dubois Insurance Agency 860 Main Street Sanford ME 04073 (207)324-5600 www.RJDuboisInsurance.com

NOTARY SERVICES

INTERIOR DESIGN

NIGHTCLUBS

M Designs 671 Auburn Street 18

Robert A. Hickey P.O. Box 2 Bradford ME 04410 (207)-385-0351 Front Porch Piano Bar Ogunquit Square, Ogunquit, ME

(207).646.3976 www.thefrontporch.com Maine Street Entertainment Complex 195 Main Street Ogunquit, ME 09307 (207).646.5101 www.mainestreetogunquit.com Styxx 3 Spring Street Portland, Maine 04101 (207)-828-0822 www.StyxxPortland.com Blackstones 6 Pine Street, Portland, ME (207) 775-2885 www.blackstones.com Flask Lounge 117 Spring Street, Portland, ME (207)772-5101 www.flasklounge.com

PHOTOGRAPHERS & VIDEOGRAPHERS

BEL Portraits Winterport, ME (207) 223-4400 www.belportraits.com Gay Life Photography Portland, ME (207) 329-4489 www.gaylifephotography.com Photography by Steven Bridges Portland, ME (207) 329-0828 www.photographybystevenbridges.com Piper Jo Nevins Photography Serving Maine (978) 577-6084 www.piperjophoto.com Tricia Jamiol Photography Windham, ME (207) 281-2681 www.triciajamiolphotography.com Shutter Images 220 Gross Point Road Orland, ME 04472 (207)-469-7741 www.shutterimagesbydan.com

REAL ESTATE SERVICES

Keller Williams Realty - Coyne Piergrossi Trevor Coyne & Joe Piergrossi 50 Sewall St., Portland, ME 04102 (207) 553-1365 www.homesinportlandmaine.com Keller WIlliams Realty Connie Howe 50 Sewell Street, 2nd Fl, Portland ME 04102 (207)879-9800 www.conniehowe.com Ocean Gate Realty Marc Chadbourne 511 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101 (207) 465-5569 www.marcchadbourne.com Realty of Maine Greg Doucette 107 Main St Belfast, ME 04915 (207)-338-6800 Ext 14 www.realtyofmaine.com/realestate/viewagent/greg-doucette/ abOUT MAINE 2015

Epstein Commercial Real Estate Bev Uhlenhake PO Box 2444 Bangor, ME 04402 (207)-945-6222 www.epsteincommercial.com Lincolnville Real Estate Dwight Wass PO Box 5 Lincolnville Beach, ME 04849 (207)-763-4849 www.mariasart.com/lre/index.html Vitalius Real Estate Group Elise Loschiavo 306 Congress Street, #3, Portland Maine (207)358-9881 www.vitalius.com Keller Williams Realty McFarlane & Field Associates Nancy Field 50 Sewall St, 2nd FlrmPortland Maine 04102 (207) 553-2655 www.mcfarlanefield.com Keller Williams Realty The Hatcher Group John Hatcher 6 Deering St. Portland, ME 04101 (207) 775-2121 www.johnhatcher.us

RESTAURANTS

Front Porch Piano Bar Ogunquit Square, Ogunquit, ME (207).646.3976 www.thefrontporch.com Caiola's Restaurant 58 Pine Street Portland, ME (207)772-1110 www.caiolas.com

La Pizzeria Main Street, Ogunquit, ME (207).646.1143 www.lapizzeriaogt.com MC Perkins Cove Perkins Cove, Ogunquit, ME (207).646.6263 www.mcperkinscove.com Napoli Authentic Brick Oven Pizeria 667 Main Street, Ogunquit, ME (207).646.0303 www.pizzanapoliogunquit.com Village Food Market Village Square, Ogunquit, ME (207).646.2122 www.villagefoodmarket.com Flask Lounge 117 Spring Street, Portland, ME (207)772-5101www.flasklounge.com

SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES Frannie Peabody Center HIV & Aids Sevices 718 Main Street, Ogunquit, ME (207)-251-4930 www.peabodycenter.org

The DownEast Pride Alliance (DEPA) 401 Cumberland Ave, Suite 102 Portland Maine 04101, (207)772-3599 www.depabusiness.com Equality Maine (EQME) 550 Forest Avenue, Suite 101 Portland, ME 04101, (207) 761-3732 www.equalitymaine.org

Clewley Farm Restaurant 999 Main Rd Eddington, ME 04428 (207)-843-5584 www.ClewleyFarm.com

Portland Outright PO Box 5077, Portland, ME 04101 (207) 828-6560 or (888) 567-7600 https://www.facebook.com/PortlandOutright/ info?tab=page_info

The Roost Café & Bistro 262 Shore Rd., Ogunquit, ME 03907 (207) 646-9898 or (207) 363-0266 www.roostcafeandbistro.com

American Civil Liberties Union of Maine 121 Middle Street, Suite 301 Portland, ME 04101, 207.774.5444 www.aclumaine.org

Angelina's Ristorante 655 Main Street, Ogunquit, ME (207).646.0445 www.angelinasogunquit.com

Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) PO Box 8742 Portland, ME (207) 831-3015 www.pflag.org

Cafe Amore 309 Shore Road, Ogunquit, ME (207).646.6661 www.amorebreakfast.com

Dignity/Maine PO Box 8113. Portland, ME 04104.

(207) 646-2820 www.qrd.org/qrd/www/usa/maine/dignity. html

Caffe Prego 44 Shore Road, Ogunquit, ME (207).646.7734 www.caffepregoogt.com Five-O Shore Road 50 Shore Road, Ogunquit, ME (207).646.5001 www.five-oshoreroad.com

abOUT MAINE 2015

Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD) 30 Winter Street, Suite 800 Boston, MA (617) 426-1350, www.glad.org

www.glsen.org/chapters/southernme Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered Collection Jean Byers Sampson Center for Diversity in Maine, University of Southern Maine Libraries USM. Glickman Family Library 314 Forest Avenue, Room 321 Portland, ME 04101 (207) 780-5039 usm.maine.edu/library/specialcollections/ sampson-center The Religious Coalition Against Discrimination 515 Woodford St.Portland, ME 04103 207-221-2151 www.rcadmaine.org National Association of Social Workers Sexual Minorities Committee 73 Deering Street Portland, ME 04102 (207) 780-6068 Proud Rainbow Youth of Southern Maine (PRYSM), 343 Forest Avenue, Rear Entrance Portland, ME (207) 874-1030 Maine Safe Schools Coalition 54 Main Street Farmington, ME 04938 www.safeschoolscoalition.org Wilde Stein Alliance for Sexual Diversity Memorial Union, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469, (207) 587- 1439 www.wildestein.weebly.com Out As I Want To Be 328 Main St, Suite 305, Rockland ME 04841 outmidcoast@gmail.com,1.800.530.6997 www.outmaine.org

SPIRITUALITY, CREATIVITY, PERSONAL GROWTH

Healing and Expressive Arts Retreats (H.E.A.R.) PO Box 1604 Blue Hill, ME 04614-1604 (207) 667-2019 www.facebook.com/pages/Healing-and-Expressive-Arts-Retreats-ofMaine/185585298128429

TRANSPORTATION & LIMOS Good Times Shuttle Saco, ME (207) 400-4560 www.goodtimesshuttle.com York Trolley Company York, ME (207) 363-9600 www.yorktrolley.com

WEDDINGS

GayWeddingsInMaine.com 401 Cumberland Ave, #102, Portland Maine 04101, (207)772-3599 www.gayweddingsinmaine.com

Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network (GLSEN) of Southern Maine PO Box 10334 Portland, ME (207) 775-0173 19

Photo shoot by Brittany Rae Photography

The DISH:

Chicken with Crisp Skin Whole pasture raised chicken Yogurt Whey Condensed yogurt whey Sage Lovage Bone Broth Rosemary

Parsley Garlic Horseradish Ghee Shallot Herb Salt

7 Courses of Bliss to Be Exact!

We enjoyed 7-courses by Chef David Levi of VINLAND: Chicken with Crisp Skin (featured recipe below), Pork Capaccollo, Mussels with Garlic and Ginger, Monkfish with Shitake (not pictured), Raw Beef with Pickled Onion (not pictured), Hakurei Turnip Soup and Poached Lobster Tail.

All ingredients at VINLAND are sourced in Maine.

Preparing the chicken & bone broth: Take a whole chicken. Skin it, keeping the skin as intact as possible. Set skin aside. Debone bird (all but the wings, which aren't worth the effort). Remove all remnant cartilage along with all tendons. Make 3oz portions, total weight, with one piece each of white and dark meat. Wrap portions in damp paper towel. Poach skin in very reduced bone broth. The bone broth should simmer for two days before being strained and reduced. Broth should include all trimmings & bones, everything that is not the portioned meat and skin. Once the skin is lightly poached, trim off any remaining bits of meat and score any fatty areas.

Portion it into roughly 3 sq. in. pieces. Dust with herb salt, place pieces on a silicone sheet on a baking sheet and roast at 300 until golden and crisp. (Note that the pieces will not be fully crisp until they cool.)

To cook the meat, place a dollop of ghee in a hot pan and sear both sides.

Cook until just past pink in the center, which would be an internal temperature of about 147F. Salt lightly, if at all, as the bone broth reduction will be

quite salty, even with no salt added (chickens, like all animals, contain sodium, and this highly reduced elixir concentrates all flavor elements, including salt, significantly).

Preparing the gremolata: With a blender, blend a medium head worth of peeled garlic, quarter cup of fresh horseradish, half cup of condensed yogurt whey (yogurt whey cooked down to the point where it is solid at room temperature), pinch of salt, half cup of ghee, quarter cup of picked fresh rosemary, two cups of fresh parsley, one cup of fresh sage leaves, and one cup of fresh lovage.

Preparing the plate: Douse cooked pieces of chicken in warm bone broth reduction (which should be brown and very thick). Place chicken morsels on two teaspoon size dollops of gremolata, sitting in a warm bowl. Pour a little extra bone broth reduction around the base. Serve with a side dish of shredded steamed squash.

A Drink & A DISH:

By Sid Tripp

VINLAND: Forging Maine Cuisine with 100% Local Ingredients

The 40 or so small plates on the menu are unusual & delicious, as well as gluten free. A must-stop on any Portland gastronomic itinerary. – Saveur reviewer

F

ew dining experiences over my 30 years of living in Portland have left me speechless, but Chef David Levi (pronounced “Levy”) knows the culinary output of his open view kitchen at VINLAND has that effect on people.

Course after picturesque course, Levi’s 100% locally foraged dishes speak for themselves. Like many true artists, he humbly connects the dots of fresh Maine-sourced ingredients with refined technique to yield world-class cuisine.

From the Land

Levi literally trained with the world’s finest, including Michelin (two) star restaurant & “World’s Best Restaurant” Noma in Copenhagen, Demark. He’s also worked with internationally acclaimed Italian butcher, Dario Cecchini, and trained at Fäviken in Järpen, Sweden -- listed as one of the Top 10 best restaurants in the world by Zagat last year.

hakurei turnip soup, flowers & herbs

VINLAND offers 100% locally sourced dishes - even down to the salt - from purveyors from all over Maine. They are also a gluten free restaurant. Choose from a mult-course tasting menu based on Maine’s seasonal land and sea bounty.

From the Sea

We Sampled

We Sampled

Check out what delicious dishes we enjoyed while dining at VINLAND. We found a hidden gem in VINLAND with a sustainable concept very much ahead of its time and wold-class chef at the helm located right here in downtown Portland, Maine: 593 Congress St, Portland ME, (207)653-8617, vinland.me

lobster tail, wild black trumpet mushroom emulsion, nori, radish

The Drink: “After the Storm”

Build over ice in a sturdy tumbler or Collins glass: 2 oz. Maine Craft Distilling "Ration Expedition style Rum" 1/2 oz. Condensed Yogurt Whey 1/2 oz. Ginger Syrup Top with Urban Farm Fermentory "Ginger Root Kombucha" (about 3 oz.)

Stir & Garnish with maple candied Maine grown ginger

Bartender Alex Winthrop VINLAND

To make ginger syrup: slice ginger root into bite sized rounds, cover with water in a medium sized sauce pan (about half cup sliced ginger to 2 cups water). Bring to a boil and simmer on medium heat for 20 minutes, strain (reserving ginger for garnish) and incorporate maple sugar to taste. Keep refrigerated for up to two weeks.

To make candied ginger: toss reserved ginger slices in granulated maple sugar and spread on a silicone baking sheet. Dry in a dehydrator or oven set at lowest temperature. Store in an airtight container for up to one month.

To make condensed yogurt whey: strain yogurt through clean dish cloth to make a thicker Greek style product, reserve the watery byproduct called "whey". Heat the whey at medium-high heat until the liquid is reduced by half or until the sourness is comparable to citrus juice.

The York County Wheelmen, 1890. Contributed by McArthur Public Library.

Vintage Maine Images

Maine Memory Network

Bring a piece of history home

Maine’s Online Digital Museum

Purchase vintage image reproductions as archival prints and digital files.

40,000+ Historical Images 200 Online Exhibits The 1924 Portland Tax Records

Shop online at

www.VintageMaineImages.com

www.MaineMemory.net

VMI & MMN are projects of Maine Historical Society www.MaineHistory.org.

Publisher: Wendi Smith wendi@rfbads.com

Editor-at-Large: Sid Tripp info@proactiveresources.com

Copy Editor: Belinda Carter

Calendar Editor: Jenn Rich jrich@rfbads.com

Contributing Writers: Christine Palmer, Pat Demos, Bill Caldwell Account Executive: Lyn Tesseyman lynt@rfbads.com Account Executive: Pat Demos patdemos@gotravelmaine.com

Design & Production Manager: Katie Grant katie@kgrantdesign.com Account Executive: Jenn Rich jrich@rfbads.com

abOUT MAINE magazine is a production of: RFB Advertising LLC Cover photo by Michael Leonard

Comfort Inn Brunswick

199 Pleasant Street • Brunswick, Maine (207) 729-1129 • www.comfortinn.com/hotel/me025

abOUT MAINE magazine 266 Meadow St. Rockport, ME 04856 For subscription information see page 21 or call 207-230-0260 x6 To advertise in the next issue please contact: Wendi Smith: wendi@rfbads.com All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. This magazine is made possible by the participation of advertisers. We offer them our thanks and ask you to consider them first when patronizing businesses in Maine.

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936 Stillwater Avenue • Bangor, Maine (207) 941-0200 • www.countryinnatthemall.net Reservations 1-800-244-3961 22

This publication is provided ‘as is’ for information purposes only.

You assume all risk concerning suitability and accuracy of the information stated or implied within this publication. Although extensive reviews have attempted to ensure the accuracy of this publication, the copyright holder assumes no responsibility for and disclaims all liability for any such inaccuracies, errors or omissions in this publication.

abOUT MAINE 2015

g n i t p l u c S e Ic h

By C

r

e Pa istin

lmer

First let’s get the puns out of the way. Ice sculptures as art are hot, and ice sculpting as a talent is cool. Now that that’s done, let’s move on to the topic of how Maine’s best ice artisans have carved out (sorry) a niche for themselves while simultaneously keeping the state’s winter residents entertained.

Three ice sculpting chefs we consulted—Tim Pierce of the Samoset Resort, Rockport; Jesse Bouchard of Piper Shores, Scarborough; and Chris Merriam of the Marriott Sable Oaks, Portland—agreed that much of the popularity of their creations stems from their ability to stave off winter boredom.

Ice bars (fully functional outdoor “taverns,” complete with frozen chairs and tables), snow festivals inhabited by towering ice dragons or bears or Peanuts characters, and fully furnished ice palaces can draw out even the most sedentary couch potato in pursuit of entertainment.

“These [events] are great things to do when there’s nothing else to do,” says Bouchard, who’s been carving ice since he was 18 and now owns his own ice sculpting business, Frozen in Time. Unlike some sculptors, the 35-year-old prefers doing his carving the old-fashioned way, with quiet, razor-sharp chisels. Most of his peers prefer quicker but noisier electric chain saws, grinders, and routers.

While outdoor winter gatherings do help keep Maine’s ice sculptors busy, their real bread and butter comes from the creations they carve all year long as centerpieces and decorations for buffet tables and reception halls. These can easily cost $250 or more.

larger.

Under the direction of chef and instructor Moira Rascati, the SMCC students are required to carve a piece each week for the weekly Friday buffet table. “They’ve done sports images, elephants, and pumpkins. It’s totally up to them what they want to attempt,” says Boardman. ”Some are more adventurous than others.

The best carvers have an ability to see in three dimensions. It’s best if you finish the piece all at once, so it doesn’t freeze and thaw, freeze and thaw,” he adds. Bigger pieces, such as the 60-block ice bar built one year for the Samoset Resort, are made by fusing together multiple blocks.

Chef Merriam, who loved making snow forts as a kid and who started carving ice more than 25 years ago, says it usually takes him from ninety minutes to three hours to complete work on an intricate piece. “Sometimes you have to work on a dock outside or in a cooler,” he adds. Other carvers have turned to refrigerated trucks as workshops when the weather was uncooperative.

Gloves are an essential part of the ice sculptor’s toolkit as is knowing how to deal with a meltdown. “I can carve out a wishing well in 20 minutes in an emergency, like if something breaks on the way to the buffet table,” says Pierce.

Although speed in ice carving may be important, temperature is critical.

“If the ice gets too cold, it will shatter,” explains Boardman. “If it gets too warm it will just melt away.” The ideal outside temperature for carving ice is 15-20 degrees, but Maine is a tricky place weather-wise.

“

The best carvers have an ability to see in three dimensions.

“

“Martini luges, swans, kissing doves, and holiday symbols are all popular requests,” says Merriam.

Other favorites are corporate logos, including the 8-foot LL Bean boot that Bouchard was asked to carve for an event hosted by Maine’s most famous retailer.

Like many ice carvers in Maine, Merriam and Bouchard were trained at the Culinary Arts Center of Southern Maine Community College in So. Portland. Pierce learned the craft “mostly by watching” other carvers and chefs. “I’ve done a 15-foot dragon and a replica of the Eiffel Tower,” he says. New Year’s Eve pieces, wishing wells, whole rooms full of ice sculptures—the Harpswell resident has seen it all.

Pierce agrees that just about anything can be carved out of ice, and he’s been proving it since 1992, but one request he declined years ago was for an ice igloo as part of a winter festival.

“They wanted kids to be able to go in and out of it,” he says, “but I wasn’t comfortable with that. What if something went wrong or the temperature warmed up? I don’t like people to be underneath the ice.”

Pierce says that a seasoned carver once remarked, “Ice doesn’t care if it breaks your leg.”

Just how heavy are those sculptures? “You start with a clear block that weighs between 300 and 400 pounds,” explains Geoffrey Boardman, chairman of SMCC’s culinary arts department. Most chunks measure 2-feet by 4-feet by about 10 inches although some sculptors are known to work with blocks much

“It can be 45 degrees in February,” says Bouchard.

If the piece calls for a neck that’s narrow or a bridge that’s thin, complexity also can be an issue.

Pierce, who says he has completed “1,300-1,400” ice sculptures, mentions a Cinderella carriage and a pair of life-size jousting knights as two of the more complex pieces he’s seen. His own über challenge was for a festival using an ice age theme. “It was a mammoth, and getting those curved tusks just right was hard,” he says, “but every piece has its challenges.”

Competitive carving adds an additional layer of challenge to the mix, and all of our sculptors have both competed and judged for competitions, including the prestigious National Ice Carving Association.

“I sort of dragged Jesse and Chris into it [judging],” says Pierce, whose own career began after entering a competition in North Conway, NH. “I didn’t win, but I made the front page of the local

newspaper,” he laughs. His entry for that contest was a snowman with a small boy adding a carrot to its face.

Among the criteria used in judging a competition is speed; NICA’s website notes that the competitor “must be able to perform under any weather condition and be a fast carver as well.” Other factors the judges consider are first impression, creativity, use of tools, proportion, symmetry, artistic impression, structural technique, and use of ice.

Given the rising popularity of Maine’s ice bars— dubbed “hip, high-profile events by the Portland Press Herald—one final criterion for great ice art might also be functionality, or as Pierce points out, “The booze luge is catching on quickly.”

(Editor’s Note: If you’re looking to have a drink at an ice bar, check out the Samoset in Rockport, the Portland Harbor Hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn in Freeport, the Inn at Brunswick Station, or the Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport, all favorite ice bar venues.)

Ice sculpting events January 22-24, 5-9 p.m., Portland Harbor Hotel, 468 Fore Street, Portland. Call 207-775-9090.

February 7, 5-8 p.m., Alfond Center, St. Joseph’s College Alumni Association, 278 Whites Bridge Road, Standish.

Call 207-SJC-ALUM (207-752-2586).

February 5-7, 5-8 p.m., Brunswick Hotel & Tavern, 4 Noble Street, Brunswick. Call 207-837-6565.

February 20, 5-8 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, 5 Park Street, Freeport.

Call 207-865-1433.

Southern Maine

Your Wedding Destination In all seasons, the perfect place for your special day.

Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 2289, Ogunquit, ME 03907 (207) 646-2939 ogunquit.org • visitogunquit.org

Photo by Ashleigh Full Photography abOUT MAINE 2015

One Stonewall Lane York, ME 03909 (207) 363-4422 gatewaytomaine.org

373 Main St, Springvale, ME 04083 207.438.0404 eventlightingconcepts.com info@eventlightingconcepts.com 27

Communicating With Y our Photographer

By Carol Miller

Photos by Carol Miller

As a photographer, I like to know as much about the wedding day as I can. Here are a few things to think about and discuss with your photographer.

• Walking down the aisle, the kiss, the receiving line, being announced when walking into the reception site, the toast, first dance, cake cutting, and bouquet toss. All couples, same sex and opposite sex have a choice on what they want to do and how they are going to do it. I’ve had couples both walk down the aisle with both parents or siblings or children or good friends or alone. It’s your choice. It is im-

Traditions:

portant to talk to your photographer about your decisions and what you are comfortable with.

Many couples do not do the garter, while the ones that do make it an entertaining show; it’s your choice and good for your photographer to know. Do not hire a photographer who tells you that you “have” to do anything.

• Really think about it. Group photos don’t have to be formal, just organized.

The trend seems to be not to get family photos and other “classic” group photos. I come from a large family that lives all over the country; our only family photographs over the years have

Group photos:

been at weddings. It’s a record of the day and your family. You have a professional photographer and your family at a special location, so use it!

• A great communication tool. It helps you think about people and events you want to be sure are photographed.

You can find a list in wedding magazines or websites. (Or you can email me!) Using a list helps with the timing of events such as communicating that your sister will be singing just before the cake cutting, etc.

• It’s helpful to let the photographer know what family members are there.

We have blended families in many ways these days: grandparents, parents, and children. Many couples have children prior to the wedding day.

• Have your photographer help you plan based on your list when and where to do the group photographs including the wedding portrait of just the two of you.

• I know most couples don’t want to see each other prior to the wedding, but if you do, you can be at your cocktail hour and hang out with all of these people you don’t see very often. When I photograph a couple before the wedding, I start with the couple alone, and then we add the attendants, and finally the family.

A list of photographs:

A fa mily tree.

Time for the photographs:

Before the wedding:

Photo by Carol Miller

30

abOUT MAINE 2015

All couples that have done this have loved it. When they walk down the aisle after the ceremony, they can go off by themselves for a bit and then join the cocktail hour. The photographer then can truly focus on the candid photos, family sub groups, friends, etc.

• If the photographer comes up to you and says the lighting is magnificent, we can do a few photos. It really will only take a few minutes, and you may have a masterpiece with a full moon, or sunset, etc. There really is a magical light that happens and your photographer is in tune with it, so trust the photographer. It may be a much needed break from the party.

• Most packages include the high resolution CD. Chances are you will not get around to making one up. Even if you only have twenty-four photos in a matted album, you, your kids, and your grandkids will look at the album 50 years later. People save their family, their animals, and their wedding albums in a fire. GET ONE! Your photographer may even offer a discount if you pre-buy the album when signing the initial contract.

Communicating with your photographer and being open to suggestions will help your day flow. You will look at these photographs over and over again. Help your photographer capture them for you. Congratulations!

Say “Y ES”:

Order an albu m:

Photo by Carol Miller

Photos courtesy of

Carol M. Miller Photography PO Box 1643 – Rockland, ME 04841 207-594-4464 • carolmillerphotos.com

abOUT MAINE 2015

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Stone Cove Catering • The 1812 Farm 1297 BRISTOL ROAD • BRISTOL, MAINE 04539 www.stonecovecatering.com • www.the1812farm.com (207) 563-6007

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abOUT MAINE 2015

abOUT MAINE 2015

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beautiful surroundings. elegant charm. amazing dining. guest rooms that pamper. history at its best.

th e w h ole p a cka g e

THE LUCERNE INN

Overlooking gentle mountains with Phillips Lake nestled below, The Lucerne Inn in Dedham, Maine is certainly one of the most beautiful locations in Maine. Located only 15 minutes from Bangor and 45 minutes from Bar Harbor, the fine dining here and beautifully appointed guest rooms with antiques create an especially graceful and welcoming country inn. The outdoor heated swimming pool, gazebos, and outdoor covered terrace and patio add to the overall feeling of comfort and beauty.

Innkeepers Steve and Rhonda Jones, with their love of New England hospitality, have set as their goal to bring a unique and unforgettable experience by creating an environment of pampered luxury in traditional New England style and to make The Lucerne Inn the best choice for lodging, dining, weddings and events to celebrate any special occasion.

Originally built in 1812 in an apple orchard and along

the stagecoach road as a half way house between Bangor and Ellsworth, historic Lucerne Inn has been a comfortable stay for travelers for 200 years. Today, with all the modern updates while maintaining its historic character, it continues to reward guests with the stunning views and 31 charming rooms and suites with all the amenities you could desire, such as four-poster beds, gas fireplaces, whirlpool baths, and heated towel bars. For that really special touch, flowers, champagne, gourmet fruit and cheese trays, and chocolate covered strawberries can be ordered for your room. Nice!

There is a cozy lounge where you can relax by the huge fireplace‌ or, when hungry, enjoy the dining room with spectacular views overlooking the mountains and the lake where you can savor a four course meal expertly prepared by the Chef. Choose from their exceptional wine list to create the perfect compliment to your meal for all occasions. In

fact, the Inn has won the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2013 and in 2014!

The Inn offers “Stay and Play” packages at the Lucerne-in-Maine Golf Course directly across from the Inn. On Sundays from 9am to 1pm is a tantalizing Brunch Buffet with heart-warming fare such as Belgian waffles, poached and smoked salmon, eggs benedict, baked beans, home fries, French toast, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, omelets made to order, carved meats, and more.

On the second Thursday of each month, a Wine Dinner at 6:30pm is hosted by a selected wine expert accompanied by a five course meal paired with the wine planned by the Chef.

As a premier wedding or event venue, The Lucerne Inn has both the experienced staff and the perfect setting for that special day. Wedding Wire has awarded the Inn the prestigious Bride’s Choice Award for three consecutive years running for being in the top 5% of wedding venues in the state of Maine for excellence in quality, service, responsiveness, and professionalism.. The Inn’s Wedding Coordinator and Event Planner can plan every aspect of your wedding or event from start to finish and assist in all your needs.

For gatherings and receptions, there are several wonderful choices for dining rooms as well as outdoor covered terraces and two gazebos on the southern lawns, all with that spectacular view! Event guests can stay in style and comfort as well and enjoy the inn for the whole event.

The capacity for 200 event guests, stunning scenery for photos, catering services, 31 exceptional guest rooms, and a range of services and options with a staff that has a sense of pride, consistent professionalism and a commitment to excellence with dedication to customers….all add up to the perfect choice for your wedding or event.

Come visit the Inn for a lovely evening dinner or their fabulous Sunday Brunch Buffet. Come for a stay and treat yourself to a memorable and relaxing visit and see why The Lucerne Inn is that very special place in Maine! www.LucerneInn.com info@LucerneInn.com 207-843-5123 1-800-325-5123

Roasted Grape Bruschetta with House Made Ricotta To make ricotta: Combine 1 gallon whole milk, 4 cups buttermilk, 2 cups heavy cream, and 2 TBLS salt. Stir well and put over low heat and slowly allow to come to a boil (approximately 40 minutes). Do not stir during the cooking process. Remove from heat and let cool for 30 minutes, undisturbed. Remove cheese from top and strain through cheese cloth or sieve and refrigerate until firm. Discard the whey and liquid.

To make roasted grapes: Wash and dry 3 cups of red grapes and add to bowl along with

3 to 4 TBLS olive oil and half teaspoon salt. Spread on a cookie sheet and roast @ 400 degrees for 8 minutes, remove from oven and stir in 1 teaspoon of thyme and continue to roast for 8 more minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.

To assemble: Slice your favorite artisan bread and toast lightly in oven @ 375 degrees, remove and cover with the ricotta, lemon zest (optional), roasted grapes and return to oven for 5 minutes. Remove from oven and display on your favorite appetizer platter and drizzle with a mixture of honey and olive oil

I

n true 21st Century fashion, Dave & Mark first met online in 2006 and fate brought them together that New Year’s Eve in Portland! When the time came to get married, it was not legal for them to do so in their North Carolina home. Surrounded by friends & family, they had a lovely seaside wedding at the

Black Point Inn in Scarborough in June 2014. While same-gender marriage is now legal in many parts of the south, if they had to do it over again, Dave & Mark said they would still have been married in Maine.

Photo by Brittany Rae Photography

Welcome to .COM

Mo re t ha n 2, 600 s a me - g e n d e r c o u p l e s h a ve been m ar r i ed i n M ai ne to date.

|

Ma i ne De pt . of Vi t a l S tatistics

100% GAY FRIENDLY

Who We Are

Search hundreds of 100% gay friendly wedding vendors from all over Maine on the state’s largest and most comprehensive FREE online wedding directory: GayWeddingsInMaine.com PAGE 40

KUDOS

Our Top 10 List Our list of the top 10 vendors from 2014 who collectively clocked in more than 30,000 online visitors.

PAGE 41

LOOKING AHEAD

Groomsmen Trends Our CEO’s hand picked trends for grooms and groomsmen for 2015 -- and it’s all about color and bold patterns and prints.

PAGE 42

Photo by Brittany Rae Photography

1.

2.

3.

4.

100% GAY FRIENDLY

5.

GayWeddingsInMaine.com GWM is a comprehensive, online LGBT wedding directory and resources guide. The website launched December 17, 2012 with a mission to unite, strengthen and promote LGBT & gay-friendly businesses from all over Maine who support gay marriage. With the passing of gay marriage legislation in Maine, we are proud to offer 450 wedding vendors for your LGBT wedding needs – from florists,

venues,

jewelers,

caterers,

event

planners

&

photographers – all of whom support your right to marry. We invite you to visit GayWeddingsInMaine.com to see for yourself what all the buzz is about!

Vendors featured 1. Joseph’s, 2. Michael Good Designer Jewelry, 3. Adorn Photography, 4. Black Horse Inn, 5. The Colonial Inn, 6. Wavelength, and 7. The Maine Wedding Barn & Event Center.

6.

7.

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abOUT MAINE 2015

Our “TOP 10” Most Viewed Vendors in 2014 GWM has compiled our list of the “Top 10” Most Viewed Vendors on our wedding directory for 2014! Analytics showed that these LGBT & gay friendly vendors collectively logged more than 30,000 website visitors last year. The diverse list of wedding related services & professionals below are helping GWM continually meet the unique needs of ALL engaged couples planning their perfect Maine wedding. Congrats!

<<

1 DJ-BrianC

Music: Bands & DJs Serving Maine & New Hampshire | (207)212-6560 info@djbrianc.us | djbrianc.us

Hilton Garden Inn Portland Jetport

4

Foster’s Downeast Clambake

7

5

Cakes & Catering

E Boothbay, Maine | (207)633-2372 info@maineweddings.com | maineweddings.com

Migis Hotels Diane York Weddings & Events, Inc.

9 10

Jewelry & Jewelry Designers Portland, Maine | (207)221-6807 info@chartmetalworks.com | chartmetalworks.com

Reception Venues S Casco, Scarborough & Lincolnville, Maine | (800)210-3085 weddings@migis.com | migisweddings.com

Wedding Planners & Consultants Portland, Maine | (207)773-7170 info@dianeyorkweddings.com | dianeyorkweddings.com

Reception Venues Norway, Maine | (207)747-1212 info@graniteridgeestate.com | graniteridgeestate.com

The Purpoodock Club

<<

>>

Wedding Planners & Consultants

Chart Metalworks

Granite Ridge Estate & Barn

Portland, Maine | (207)828-1117 PWMPA_GM@hilton.com | portlandhilton.com

York, Maine | (207)363-3255 kevin@fostersclambake.com | fostersclambake.com

A Maine Wedding <<

Hotels & Accommodations

Brittany Rae Photography

>>

Reception Venues Cape Elizabeth, Maine | (207)799-2273 info@purpoodock.com | purpoodock.com

Photographers & Videographers Old Orchard Beach, Maine | (207)671-5331 info@brittanyraephotography.com | brittanyraephotography.com

B row s e h u n d r e d s g a y - fr i e n d l y w edding v endo r s o n www.G ay W eddi ngsI nMai ne.co m

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Groom & Groomsmen Trends for 2015 Our CEO, Sid Tripp, hand picks the “Top 5” trends for grooms and groomsmen for 2015 -- and it’s all about color, bold patterns and prints. When it comes to your special day, every couple looks forward to having something as beautiful and unique as they are!

Wedding magazines & trends typically focus on women: wedding colors, bridesmaid dresses & popular silhouettes, and a day focused around the blushing Bride. Along comes same-gender couples, and suddenly everyone wants to be Queen For The Day!

ries for the groomsmen -- such as paisley pocketchiefs or plaid cummerbunds.

4. Art Deco & the 1920s

Thank you Leonardo DiCaprio! “The Great Gatsby” movie started a trend in 2013 that continues strong today. Flapper fringe, geometric shapes and metallic colors ruled the Red Carpet for the ladies, but the guys

Grooms - both gay & straight - are no longer playing it safe on their wedding day and increasingly want to put their own stamp on the celebration. With marriage equality steadily sweeping the nation, I believe we’ll see even more handsome grooms expressing their own unique styles and letting their personalities really but shine through!

took subtle yet dapper cues with “soft”

My “Top 5” trends for grooms & groomsmen in 2015:

One of the easiest ways to express person-

colored suits (putty, dove grey) and relaxed fit Oxford trousers, vests, variations of cuffs and collar shapes. Don’t forget the fun accessories like top hats, paperboy caps and vintage glasses.

5. Color

ality & style is with color, and certainly gay men are no stranger to experimenting with

1. Mismatched

a bold color palette! We have started to see

Mismatched dresses for bridesmaids have

all grooms utilize pops of color through

been popular for a few seasons now, but it

socks, braces, ties and pocketchiefs, but in

has finally caught on with groomsmen. For

2015, expect to see grooms getting even

the same reason this works well for the

braver and bolder with full colored suits -

ladies, it works for men too – making it

particularly in jewel tones of deep blues,

easier to plan for a destination wedding, or

emeralds, purples & burnt reds - as we head

with a tight budget, you can wear a favorite

well into the wedding season.

suit you already own or pay for a new suit

In Conclusion

that you can wear to another occasion.

Groomsmen are individuals, so let their outfits reflect their snazzier sides! By choosing different shades of the same color for the groom’s party, it will create a smart and cohesive look for a wedding ensemble.

2. Smart Casual

Vendors clockwise from top left: Gay Life Photography, Piper Jo Nevins Photography, Brittany Rae Photography, Pratt Abbott Cleaners, and David Wood Clothier.

Let’s face it, we are a casually dressed

the perfect alternative to traditional suits

society – so why make your wedding day

for casual or outdoor weddings.

the first time you attempt a tuxedo look?

The benefits of a less restrictive dress code means that brides & grooms can look & feel

3. English Heritage

Think “country gentleman” with tweeds,

like the best versions of themselves on

herringbones, paisleys & sophisticated

their Big Day. So if you don’t usually slick

plaids. This isn’t about exactly replicating

your hair down, why start now and be

an era, rather creating a casual look with

unrecognizable?

aren’t

hints of old world, timeless elegance. To

known for their fashion and have never

keep your ensemble from looking like a

worn a suit in their lives, why expect them

hunting party in Downton Abbey, keep

to start now? Grooms can look just as

this theme head-to-toe only for the

gorgeous in a smart casual outfit, and it is

grooms, and in small touches in accesso-

42

If

the

grooms

Your wedding fashion choices should reflect your lifestyle and both of your comfort levels. If alternative choices have always been your path of choice, why change now that you’re getting married? If you want pink, don’t disappoint with just a pink bowtie. Wear those pink pants, and look fabulous knowing that you did your wedding your way. Look back on your wedding, and hear Frank singing in your diamond-studded ear… “I Did It, My Way!” As the owner of GWM, my goal for this section is to present fun, romantic and artistic wedding inspirations by our vendors whose style is imaginative, intimate & authentic.

Each month, visit our Sid’s Picks page on GayWeddingsInMaine.com to see more great finds that I’ve collected just for you! ~ Sid Tripp

Vi s i t t h e R e s o u r ce s p a g e o f w w w . G a yW eddi ngsI nM ai ne.co m f o r lo c al & nat io nal w edding t r en ds !

Photo by Life Portraits by Angela

Creating brilliant memories for you to treasure.

Our LGBT friendly vendors make a lasting impression on your big day!

Online marketing is playing an increasingly important role in today’s wedding planning

FACEBOOK

process. Couples have the option to use social media and E-vites for announcements, and

Facebook.com/GayWeddingsInMaine

Pinterest and Facebook to share photos and inspirations. We know how much VACATIONLAND has to offer, so make sure that your business gives a great visual “first impression” with a professional, attractive and affordable 12-month listing on our wedding directory website. Join the world of GayWeddingsInMaine.com and be a part of our growing online family! Contact us today for rates and more information:

PINTEREST Pinterest.com/MaineGayWedding

TWITTER @GayWeddingsInME

Locally owned & operated in Portland, Maine!

401 Cumberland Ave, #102, Portland Maine 04101 • (207)772-3599 or Toll Free (800)772-5969 Email: info@GayWeddingsInMaine.com • Website: www.GayWeddingsInMaine.com

CALENDAR OF EVENTS January 20 - February 15 Portland Our Man in Havana" by Clive Francis.

Portland Stage, 25A Forest Avenue portlandstage.org or info@portlandstage. org 207-774-0465. This lively, tonguein-cheek adaptation of the classic thriller conjures 1950s Cuba onstage, as four actors change accents and costumes to play over 30 eclectic characters.

Moscow. rocklandstrand.com January 25 Portland Brides Against Breast Cancer, Charity Wedding Gown Sale & Bridal Show. The Westin Portland Harborview Hotel, 157 High Street. 11am-1pm VIP Event, 1pm5pm General Admission. Tickets are Limited! bridesagainstbreastcancer.org January 27 South Portland The DownEast Pride Alliance "Business After Hours" Networking Event. 5:30pm7:30pm EASY DAY, 725 Broadway, South Portland. Cash bar, FREE snacks & bowling! FMI: depabusiness.com January 29 – February 15 Bangor Penobscot Theater Company - Guys on Ice: An Ice Fishing Musical Comedy. 131 Main St., Bangor. FMI: penobscottheatercompany.org or call (207) 942- 3333 January 30 – April 26 Portland Portland Museum of Art. The Coast & the Sea: Marine and Maritime Art in America.

FMI: portlandmuseum.org

Photo courtesy of DEPA. Photo by Craig Derek Angevine, Yeah Bud! Photography

January 24 Carrabassett Valley "Raising a mountain of money to find a cure." Join us for the Annual Sugarloaf Charity Summit ! With day and evening events both on and off the slopes, the Sugarloaf Charity Summit has raised nearly $1,500,000 for Maine Charities. All proceeds from Charity Summit events will benefit the Martha B. Webber Breast Care Center and the Maine Cancer Foundation January 25 Augusta 23rd Annual Augusta Wedding Show. 11 am-3 pm Augusta Armory, 179 Western Ave. January 25 Rockland Pies on Parade, Pie tasting at several inns and venues in the Rockland area. FMI: 877-762-4667 or historicinnsofrockland. com January 25 Rockland The Bolshoi Ballet’s SWAN LAKE. 1:00 p.m. Strand Theatre, 345 Main Street, Rockland, ME. Live HD broadcast from 44

January 31 – February 8 Camden Camden Winterfest. Downtown and Camden Snow Bowl. Enjoy ice carving, music, refreshments, and festivities at the amphitheatre. Downtown merchants hold special sales and restaurants serve wintertime drinks and dishes; snow sculptures on the village green; skiers and snowboarders compete in village rail jams. Feb. 6, Camden Snow Bowl hosts the first CamJam World Championships. 207-236-4404 camdenwinterfest.com

parade, and the weekend's headline event: a mid-mountain theme DJ party.

FMI: sundayriver.com February 7 Camden The Mallett Brothers in Concert! Come out and "get down" with The Mallett Brothers band at The Camden Opera House, 29 Elm St. Camden, ME. February 7-8 Thomaston Winter Fine Art & Antique Auction starting at 11am each day. Thomaston Place Auction Gallery, Rt. 1. This auction presents 1,000+ lots of fine art and antiques.

Live, absentee, telephone, and internet bids are accepted. FMI: thomastonauction.com February 7 Greenville Plum Creek 100 Mile Wilderness Sled Dog Race. Moosehead Lake is the place to be for this annual event. 30 and 100 mile mushers gather here for a day filled with events for all ages. There are also family activities planned for the day. FMI: 100milewildernessrace.org.

February 8 Rangeley Maine State Snowshoe ChampionshipRangeley Lakes Trails Center. Start Time: 9:00 AM. FMI: 207-864-4309 February 13 Ogunquit Bob Marley Comedy Show at Jonathan’s, 92 Bourne Ln, Ogunquit. FMI: jonathansogunquit.com

February 1 Wells Village By the Sea Bridal Showcase.

11:00am - 2:00pm. Village By the Sea, 1373 Post Road. Contact us at 207-6461100 or events@vbts.com.

February 6-8 Camden U.S. National Toboggan Championships.

Camden Snow Bowl. 400 teams, chili and chowder challenge, music, tailgate parties, costume contest, children’s activities. 207-236-3438 camdensnowbowl.com February 6-8 Newry White Out Weekend at Sunday River in association with Out Ryders, New England’s largest GLBTQ ski and snowboard club. This weekend is a cracker, full of special events and parties, including apres ski socials, fireworks, a zipline

Photo courtesy of DEPA. Photo by Brittany Rae Photography. abOUT MAINE 2015

na. rocklandstrand.com March 21 Ogunquit Karla Bonoff at Jonathan’s, 92 Bourne Ln, Ogunquit. Singer/Songwriter having written for everyone from Linda Ronstadt to Bonnie Raitt and Wynona Judd. FMI: jonathansogunquit.com March 25-29 Carrabassett Valley 2015 Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships at Sugarloaf. Watch the country's best skiers, including Bode Miller and Mikaela Shiffrin, compete for glory on Sugarloaf's fabled Narrow Gauge trail.

Numerous viewing areas for spectators, plus Opening Ceremonies celebrations and autograph sessions. sugarloaf.com

Photo courtesy of DEPA. Photo by Brittany Rae Photography.

February 14 Rangeley Valentine's Day Vow Renewals at Saddleback. 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. FMI: 866-918-2225. Remake your promises to your beloved this Valentine's Day or make a commitment to marriage at the Top of the World with Saddleback. Officiant JoAnne Taylor will be available to help you renew your vows or perform your wedding ceremony at the top of the Kennebago Quad.

February 28 - March 1 Ogunquit Annual Mardi Gras Weekend Celebration. Location: 36 Main Street, Ogunquit, ME. FMI: visitogunquit.org March 1 Auburn Auburn Wedding Show. 11 am - 3 pm.

Hilton Garden Inn Auburn Riverwatch, 14 Great Falls Plaza.

March 6 Ogunquit Kat Edmonson at Jonathan’s, 92 Bourne Ln, Ogunquit. A stunningly sweet singer with a uniquely expressive voice, Kat Edmonson’s music has a timeless sound.

FMI: jonathansogunquit.com March 7 Presque Isle Northern Maine Bridal Expo. 10:00am - 3:00pm. Northern Maine Community College, 33 Edgemont Dr. www.facebook.com/ northernmainebridal or northernmainebridal@yahoo.com March 8 Rockland The Bolshoi Ballet’s Romeo and Juliet at 1:00 p.m. Strand Theater, 345 Main St. Rockland, ME. Captured-Live from Moscow, this HD broadcast features stellar performances

by Alexander Volchkov and Anna NikuliabOUT MAINE 2015

March 28 Camden Spanish Tapas Cooking Class. 1:00 p.m.

- 3:00 p.m at Hartstone Inn, 41 Elm St, Camden, ME. Reservations required.

FMI: harstoneinn.com March 29 Freeport Freeport Wedding Show. 11 am - 3 pm.

Hilton Garden Inn Freeport, 5 Park St. April 6-12 Brunswick Discover the dining diversity of Brunswick by visiting any participating business throughout the week and enjoy special offerings, menus, and pricing.

Offerings will be available for breakfast, lunch, dinner as well as treats and snacks. Special pricing will range from $6.15 to $30.15. Keep your eye out for the Eat Brunswick spoon insignia, which will denote participating businesses.

April 9-12 Carrabassett Valley 27th Annual Bud Light Reggae Fest.

Hands down, the annual Bud Light Reggae Fest at Sugarloaf is the biggest springtime party in ski country. sugarloaf.com

land Art Gallery opens its doors on the first Friday of every month for an artist reception. Different Art Collector Maine artists are featured each month.

May 3 Ogunquit Southern Maine AIDS Walk. Location: 36 Main Street, Ogunquit, ME. Be at Ogunquit Beach for registration at 9:30am for the best main event! After lunch, awards, and a much deserved rest, join us at MaineStreet at 6pm for Rock The Walk, a benefit concert featuring Joslyn Fox, Connor Fischelis, and James Gilmore! visitogunquit.org May 8 Brunswick Rivers Arts Alliance offers Second Friday ArtWalks May 8 through October 9, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Each ArtWalk features artists exhibiting in multiple venues with opening receptions and new exhibits each month, along with more than 25 musicians and a variety of street entertainers.

May 21 - September 13 Portland Portland Museum of Art. Directors’ Cut: Selections from the Maine Art Museum Trail. Their collections feature works by the many artists associated with Maine, such as Marsden Hartley, Winslow Homer, Alex Katz, Rockwell Kent, John Marin, and Louise Nevelson. FMI: portlandmuseum.org May 30 Thomaston Spring Fine Art & Antique Auction 11:00 a.m. 51 Atlantic Hwy. Thomaston. Visit the Website to view items in advance and to check for changes and/or additional dates. 207-354-8141; thomastonauction.com

April 10 Ogunquit Pat Travers Band at Jonathan’s, 92 Bourne Ln, Ogunquit. FMI: jonathansogunquit.com April 11 Camden Pasta, Pasta, Pasta! 1-3pm at Hartstone Inn, 41 Elm St., Camden, ME. Learn how to make pasta in your own kitchen.

FMI: hartstoneinn.com April 18 Ogunquit Kathleen Madigan at Jonathan’s, 92 Bourne Ln, Ogunquit. Madigan has performed on nearly every standup television show ever made: Leno, Letterman, Conan, Ferguson and so on. FMI: jonathansogunquit.com May 1 Portland First Friday Art Walk. 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. 154 Middle St. Portland, ME. Port-

Photo courtesy of DEPA. Photo by Brittany Rae Photography.

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abOUT MAINE 2015

Create your perfect Bar Harbor Wedding The Bluenose Inn offers several venues perfect for a small to medium sized wedding: The Great Room in the Mezzentop building On the vast lawn of the Wonder View Seaside at the Turretts Mansion at College of the Atlantic On the deck of the Looking Glass Enjoy creating your wedding related events: Showers at our full service Eden Spa Showers and Reception dinners at the Looking Glass Restaurant or Rose Garden Banquet room Special room rates for family and friends Beautiful honeymoon suites Let your imagination meet with our unique facility to create the ultimate wedding for you to enjoy and remember for a lifetime.

90 Eden Street â&#x20AC;˘ Bar Harbor, Maine www.barharborhotel.com â&#x20AC;˘ (207) 288-3348

Stay with us in beautiful Bar Harbor

Sitting atop a granite hillside, minutes from Acadia National Park For Reservations Call: 1-800-445-4077 90 Eden Street Bar Harbor, ME www.barharborhotel.com Phone: (207) 288-3348 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence Recipients!