it's nice to have a castle to go to now and then, to hang out in and to live out our epic "lords of the land" fantasy, if only for an hour. The Ice Castle at Loon Mountain in New Hampshire works for that. The structure is a marvel to look at, with its mounds of frozen water and dangling icicles.
Pet adoption bumper stickers, stretch pants, and sex (or lack thereof, as the case may be). The subject matter spans to gamut at the weekly Portland Comedy Showcase at Bull Feeney's. But the intention every week remains the same: Make people laugh for 90 minutes on a Wednesday.
Spring lures the green back to the trees and warmth back to the breeze. It also chases away the snow and, with it, the season’s snowboarders and skiers. It’s not easy to ski on melted winter. But then, that doesn’t stop some skiers from trying.
Beer has always had a place at the dinner table. That place was inside a glass (sometimes a bottle or can), preferably chilled, and conveniently within arms reach. Well stand by no more, dear beers. You lagers and stouts have found a new home on the dinner table: On the plate! At LeRoux Kitchen's recent Cooking with Beer class with staff member and resident chef Matt Burnham, beer wasn't just present, it was the centerpiece.
There's no shortage of adventure in Maine. Over the years I've learned that I'm a terrible skier, an excellent paddleboard jouster, and not trustworthy with a fly fishing rod. But I've learned some unexpected life lessons, too - sage words of adventurer's advice that come in handy long after the crampons come off.
Book fans can seek out fellow reading geeks in libraries, where the conversation might be halted by a shushing librarian, or in book stores, where shop owners will still politely request that you stop haranguing customers at the register. An easier option for the addicted page turner: Beer & Books Book Club.
Lighting things on fire is sometimes frowned upon. Especially if you're, say, sitting in your cube at the office, quietly igniting the paperwork in your file cabinet. but comes in handy if you're camping. And it makes a regular 'ol cocktail a whole lot livelier.
Maine Huts and Trails offers 80 miles of trail in Maine's western mountains, with four huts along the way for respite and warming up (or cooling down, if you overdo your layering and sweat most of the way there). The hut and trail system gives hikers access to the mountains, lakes, and woods - and the huts are models of sustainability. And the views along the way? Well, they won't bother you.
There weren't any hills covered in edible flowers at Wilbur's of Maine Chocolate Confections in Freeport. There were no Gobstoppers, there were no golden geese. And no one took a sweet-tasting nosedive into a river of chocolate. But that didn't stop me from diving into my own finally realized Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory fantasy on Saturday.
It's easy to express joy with your face. And it's no hard feat to furrow a brow or roll an eye, depending on your mood. But conveying an emotion with your hips? That's harder. A Theatrical Belly Dance class, taught by Selcouth of Dark Follies, can get your hips talking. I got a belly dancesampling during a recent free workshop.
High School rockers: Sign up for MAMM SLAM, rock the stage, and compete for an amazing prize package!
// About the Author
Shannon Bryan
mainetoday.com content producer Shannon Bryan has a fondness for Maine’s peculiar goings on. And helmet cams. There’s definitely a fondness for helmet cams.
Since she arrived in Maine from the Midwest seven years ago, it’s been her mission to experience it all firsthand – from the cardboard boat races to the paddleboard jousting tournaments. With any luck, she’ll persuade you to try it, too.
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