Aimsel Ponti

Aimsel Ponti is a Content Producer at MaineToday.com and a music writer for MaineToday.com and the Portland Press Herald. She has been obsessed with - and inspired by - music since she listened to Monkees records borrowed from the town library when she was six years old. She bought her first Rolling Stones record at a flea market when she was in 7th grade and discovered David Bowie a year later. She's a HUGE fan of the local music scene and covers it along with national musical happenings in her "Face the Music" column and with artist interviews that appear in print in the Portland Press Herald and online at Mainetoday.com. You'll also find her out and about absorbing live music like a sponge and roaming around local record shops and flea markets. Aimsel is also the host of Music from 207 on 98.9 WCLZ and appears monthly on the News Center Maine TV show “207” to talk about...music of course.

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Posted: November 22, 2016

Santa Hustle, Cocktail Party, Festival of Trees: 11 Things to Do in Maine this weekend

Written by: Aimsel Ponti

Victorian Christmas Celebration
7 to 9 p.m. Thursday. Southard House Museum Gallery, 75 Main St., Richmond, free. southardhousemuseum.com
You'll hear carols sung by a the Dresden-Richmond United Methodist Church Choir, enjoy homemade holiday refreshments and delight in the sight of model trains, a mini Dickens village, antique dolls and carriages and a diorama. All of this is part of the Victorian Christmas Celebration at the historic shipbuilder's mansion set in the heart of Richmond.
Photo by Fred J. Field
Golden Chariot Ride & Cocktail Party
4:45 p.m. Friday and Dec. 9, Seashore Trolley Museum, 195 Log Cabin Road, Kennebunkport, $25, 21-plus. trolleymuseum.org
This will likely be one of the most unique experiences you'll have this holiday season and one of the funnest, too. For two Fridays in a row, the Seashore Trolley Museum is throwing cocktail parties that include a ride on its historic Golden Chariot. The Golden Chariot was a sight-seeing car that operated in Montreal from 1906 to 1963 and is one of the coolest things you'll ever see, let alone ride on. You'll travel through the woods in the open air, and the tickets include two signature cocktails, wine or beer and appetizers. And these aren't just any signature cocktails; this year's drinks are the Holy Grail of the Rails and Streetcar Named Desire. All aboard indeed!
Photo courtesy of Seashore Trolley Museum
2016 Copper Beech Tree Lighting
5 to 8 p.m. Friday. Portland Museum of Art, 7 Congress Square, free. portlandmuseum.org
If trees could talk, this one sure would have some stories to tell. The 100-year-old copper beech tree will be lit on Friday in an annual holiday tradition that is worth stopping by for as you're out and about during the First Friday Art Walk in downtown Portland.
Photo courtesy of the Portland Museum of Art
Kimmy's Psychedelic Odd Ball
8 p.m. Friday. Portland House of Music, 25 Temple St., Portland, $12 in advance, $15 at the door. portlandhouseofmusic.com
Music and Magic Maine provides musical instruments and creative opportunities to kids in Maine, and this is its biggest annual event. Kimmy's Psychedelic Oddball will have music from JGBBD, The Great North Band, Eddy Dyer, Singepole Mountain Band, Rijah Newell and other special guests. This year's ball has a psychedelic theme, so you're encouraged to unleash your inner hippie. Fun fact: The program's first ever instrument recipient is Kale Churchill, and he'll be performing with his band as part of the night's festivities, which will also include photos, prizes and raffles.
An Vino/Shutterstock.com
WFCP Home Time Radio Hour
7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 4 p.m. Sunday. Freeport Performing Arts Center, 30 Holbrook St., Freeport, $10 in advance, $15 at the door. fcponline.org
This year, find the holiday spirit by way of a '60s-themed WFCP Home Time Radio Hour presented by the Freeport Players. The show features live rock, soul, folk and country from Rob Banson and friends, comedy sketches and more, all in the style of an old-time radio show. This year's show is packed full of all-new sketches and the legendary Sound Effects Ladies. This is a family-friendly show, for sure, and it sure sounds like a fun one.
24Novembers/Shutterstock.com
Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers PRESENT 'THE Grinch'
6 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday. The Grand, 165 Main St., Ellsworth, $9, $6 for 12 and under. grandonline.org
Forget what you think you know about The Grinch because the Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers are putting quite a twist on it with Frogtown quirks and physical comedy. The troupe is based in Bar Harbor and is the sibling trio of Erik Torbeck, Brian Torbeck and Robin Erlandsen. They'll amaze you with their hand-made glove, mouth and rod puppets.
Photo courtesy of The Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers
Festival of Trees
1 to 5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. The Opera House at Boothbay Harbor, 86 Townsend Ave. boothbayoperahouse.com
The Boothbay Region Garden Club invites you to a three-day holiday celebration that includes an array of hand-crafted items, baked goods and holiday gifts that are surrounded by a magical display of Christmas trees decorated by local merchants. Love one? All of the trees are available to the highest bidder during the multi-day silent auction, and funds go right back into the garden club.
Degimages/Shutterstock.com
Stories on the Staircase
10 a.m. Saturday. Victoria Mansion, 109 Danforth St., Portland, free. victoriamansion.org
Calling all tiny tots between the ages of 3 and 5. This one's for you! The magical building that is Victoria Mansion is offering up a free story hour and tour this and every Saturday this holiday season. Eyes will be wide with wonder as kids take in the holiday-festooned mansion after hearing a story on its grand staircase.
Photo by Melanie Sochan, Staff Photographer
Mixers & Merriment
7 p.m. Saturday. Maine Maritime Museum, 243 Washington St., Bath, $40, $35 members, 21-plus. mainemaritimemuseum.org
Head to Bath to be showered with spirits during a celebration of Maine craft cocktails. You'll taste several from many of Maine's craft distilleries in the museum's Long Reach Hall, which will be transformed into a snowy winter wonderland, and then vote on the best one of the night. Savory snacks and sweets also will be on hand, while festive tunes play. Cheers!
Irina Burakova/Shutterstock.com
Santa Hustle New England 5K & Half Marathon
7 a.m. Sunday. The Maine Mall, 364 Maine Mall Road, South Portland, $52.50 for 5K, $72.50 for half- marathon. santahustle.com
You'll deck the streets of South Portland donning a Santa hat and beard on a course that is lined with candy, cookies and Christmas music. The Santa Hustle New England 5K & Half Marathon 2016 is a charity event to benefit Easter Seals. So not only will you feel good about that, you'll have a swell time breaking a sweat while you break out into spontaneous carols along the way. All participants get a Santa hat and beard, lightweight performance hoodie and finisher medal.
Photo by Ben McCanna/Staff Photographe
Merry TubaChristmas
3 p.m. Sunday. The Nonantum Resort, 95 Ocean Ave. Kenebunkport, feee. nonantumresort.com
That's right, friends, Merry TubaChristmas. You'll hear traditional Christmas carols performed by a tuba choir. Merry TubaChristmas was created by musician Harvey Phillips and dates back to New York City's Rockefeller Center in 1974. Since then, local tuba players have gathered together in more than 290 cities worldwide to blow their horns and spread some brassy holiday cheer. This year marks the first time such a show will be happening in Kennebunkport.
Digidreamgrafix/Shutterstock.com