What to Wear: Summer Braids

On a hot summer day, nothing says cool like summer braids!  They are versatile, pretty and always chic.  We've offered up a few styles to get you through even the steamiest August day.

Maggie

Julia

Allie

For our social butterfly, Maggie, we have a darling crown of thin braids to keep her hair neat and pretty for a summer wedding or a picnic in the park.

For the beach, surfer girl Julia sports two french braids.  This classic style can withstand the biggest waves Ogunquit Beach has to offer.

And sweet Allie likes to spend her days riding horseback or turning cartwheels and with one sleek french braid she is ready for anything.

L.L. Bean Summer in the Park

Freeport is going to be rocking this summer with L.L. Bean's Summer in the Park series.

Every week this summer their flagship store will offer exciting events. Concerts, food festivals, fireworks, and a community market, to name a few.

Click HERE to see the schedule of events.

Boon Island Ales

Over the weekend, we had an outstanding dining experience at a new brew pub in Wells,  Boon Island Ales.

Following a renovation, clearly with an eye to detail, the restaurant opened it's doors in May.

Upon entering, you will see these words etched in black on the wall,  "To the locals, for the locals and for those who want to be local". It stands as a proclamation and a promise to those who enter that a good time awaits.

And they kept their word.  From the engaging owners out front carefully watching the action, to the charming hostess, friendly waitstaff and hard-working bartender, they were getting it done and having fun doing it.  And it was contagious.

Boon Island Ales offers their own handcrafted beers, along with other microbrews, a selection of wine and a full bar.  The menu includes fresh seafood, chowder, Maine crab cakes, lightly fried calamari and pan-seared sea scallops with a chipotle maple drizzle.  An array of mouth-watering burgers, fresh innovative salads and gourmet pizzas. And this is just a sampling of their extensive menu.

The atmosphere is friendly, comfortable and fun.  We have found a new "favorite place".

Click HERE for more information about Boon Island Ales in Wells, Maine.

The Drowsy Chaperone

The Ogunquit Playhouse's production of  "The Drowsy Chaperone" opens tonight. The show has garnered quite a bit of media attention due to the famous faces that will grace the stage. 

Carson Kressley, best known from the hit show "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" will perform the role of Man in Chair.  And Georgia Engel, the legendary actress from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" will reprise her Broadway role of Mrs. Tottendale.

This production promises a lot of laughs and a feel good experience at the theater.  Also, the Portland Press Herald has weighed in with a great article about the show.

This is one show not to be missed!

Baseball Book Signing

Calling all baseball fans! 

Kennebooks and the Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport are hosting a baseball weekend with guest authors Tom and Ellen Zappala.  The Zappalas are promoting their new book, The T206 Collection: The Players and Their Stories.

Two events are scheduled beginning with a "Meet the Authors" cocktail party at the Nonantum Resort on Friday, June 11th from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

The second event is "Breakfast with the Authors" also at the Nonantum Resort on Saturday, June 12th from 7:30 AM to 10:00 AM followed with a presentaion by the authors, book signing and vintage baseball clinic.

We say "Play Ball"!

Surfing in Maine

Check out this awesome Flickr slideshow titled "Surfing in Maine" courtesy of the web site Maine Things To Do.

Historic New England

We are surrounded with so much natural beauty in Maine it could be easy to overlook that we also live in one the most historic places in the country.

On Saturday, June 5th, Historic New England will showcase all of their 36 New England properties by opening the doors of these magnificent homes to the public from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Six of these architectural gems are located in the Maine towns of York Harbor, South Berwick, Standish and Wiscasset.

Click HERE to learn more about Historic New England and this outstanding event.

Farmer's Markets

Two more farmers' markets are going to be up and running this week.

The Wells Farmers' Market is held every Wednesdays from 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM and will run through mid-October.  The market in York opens this Saturday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and will run through October 9th.

It is a great way to meet local farmers' and artisans.

Click HERE for a list of Wells vendors and HERE for York vendors.

Art Exhibits in Kennebunk

There are two local art exhibits happening this week that we definitely plan on checking out.

The Brick Store Museum in Kennebunk is hosting For Pastels Only now through June 12th. Fifty-nine original works, featuring artists from the United States and Canada, are on display.

Dedicated to Design and Function: Furniture, Sculpture and Art for Fine Living at River Tree Arts in Kennebunk. The opening reception is Wednesday, June 2nd  from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The show will run through June 26th in the Irvine Gallery.

Ogunquit Beach

Last week, Ogunquit Beach was voted "Best Beach" in New England by NECN viewers.

Click HERE to read all about it.

Weekend Wish List

SEA BREEZES
Have our first sea breeze cocktail for the season on the deck at the Arundel Wharf restaurant in Kennebunkport. What a great tradition.

SET SAIL
Free sailboat rides in Portland Harbor as SailMaine hosts its annual open house on Sunday from 10 AM to 3 PM.

GET LOST
The mind-bending phenomenal television show will come to it's final conclusion.  The Lost Series Finale event airs on ABC this Sunday at 7:00 PM ET.

Weekend Wish List

SWEET TREATS
Indulge in a hot fudge sundae at Village Scoop Ice Cream in York Village.

BETTING TIME
Watch the Preakness Stakes horse race. Will Super Saver follow his Kentucky Derby win with another in Baltimore?  The race airs this Saturday on NBC.  Post time is 6:05 PM ET.

LIVE FROM NEW YORK
Alec Baldwin hosts the season finale of Saturday Night Live with musical guest Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.  Betty White is going to be a hard act to follow.  SNL airs on NBC at 11:30 PM ET.

BEACH DAY
The weather looks good for Sunday.  Sunny and 70s.  Shake out the beach blanket, lay back and grab a seaside snooze.

Amore Breakfast

We have decided to start a new tradition, or continue an old tradition, Saturday morning breakfast.

The fresh brewed coffee, the eggs benedict, the crispy bacon, the french toast with real maple syrup.  We need our AM fix and we know exactly where to get it.

Amore Breakfast in Ogunquit is the place. Located on Shore Road, this cozy breakfast spot is run with impeccable charm by owner Leanne Cusimano.  She has perfected the art of serving a great breakfast.  The fresh ingredients, the savory combination of flavors, generous portions and a friendly staff make for an outstanding dining experience.

Amore Breakfast
309 Shore Road
Ogunquit, Maine
(207) 646-6661

Cape Pier Chowder House

Can it be possible we have not uttered the word "lobster" on this blog yet?  Well that is about to change.

In our great state, it seems everyone has an opinion on the subject "where to get the best lobster roll".  We figure it is our turn to weigh in on the debate.

Mainers are traditionalists when it comes to their lobster rolls.  We take a minimalist approach to preparing one and the star is always the lobster.  Only large, chilled chunks of the freshest meat combined with a small amount of mayonnaise will do.  Never dice the meat and easy on the mayo.  And the bun, yes the bun, must be top loading, buttered and grilled to a golden brown.  The lobster meat should be piled high and generously with perhaps a few delicate morsels spilling out onto the plate, maybe a squeeze of lemon and utter perfection.

Now that we have established what is best, we need to know where is best.  For us it is the Cape Pier Chowder House in Cape Porpoise.  We must admit we have been long time fans and derive much comfort from stepping up and placing our order, grabbing a cold beer and waiting outside on the deck overlooking Cape Porpoise Harbor, gazing over at the Goat Island Lighthouse.  It is simple, familiar and always outstanding.  And it is the simple pleasures, after all, that Mainers never take for granted.

Cape Pier Chowder House
79 Pier Road
Cape Porpoise Harbor, ME
(207) 967-0123

The Wedding Cake House

The Wedding Cake House
Kennebunk, Maine

Click HERE to learn more about this charming Maine landmark.

Ann Veronica Totes

Time to put the leather bags away for the season and find a sweet tote to inspire us for the warm carefree days of spring and summer.

We think we've found one in Ann Veronica's colorful and whimsical line of handcrafted bags.

Each 100% cotton canvas bag is hand-silkscreened and hand-sewn in Maine. Their eye-catching designs are vibrant with colors like raspberry sorbet, butternut, tangerine, scarlet, and blue ice.  So delicious!

If you are in Cape Elizabeth, you can visit their retail shop or click HERE to find these lovely totes near you.

Kennebunk Farmers' Market

The Kennebunk Farmers' Market opens for the season tomorrow, Saturday, May 1st.

This farmers' market is plentiful with fresh local fruits and vegetables, artistanal cheeses, natural and free-range meats, poultry and eggs, culinary herbs, fresh baked breads, pies and pastries, Maine maple syrup and even lobster.  Along with the edibles are handmade herbal soaps, fresh cut and dried flowers, alpaca yarn and hand knit hats, socks and scarves.

The outdoor market is held rain or shine on Saturdays from May 1st to mid- November from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Click HERE to learn more about the Kennebunk Farmers' Market, see the vendors list and get directions.

The Portland Phoenix "Best of 2010"

The Phoenix has published their "Best of Portland" list for 2010.  The annual reader's poll showcases the winners in four categories, Arts & Entertainment, City Life, Food & Drink and Shopping.

Here are a few we plan on checking out:

"Best Brunch" - The Front Room.  Located on Congress Street, they offer a dizzying array of delectables including, silver dollar pancakes with Maine blueberries, croque-monsieur, bisquits and gravy, three egg omelettes, french onion soup, fresh salads and house-made corned beef hash.  And the best part, they serve brunch everday!

"Best Bookstore (New)" - Longfellow Books.  We love independent bookstores.  They are fighting the good fight to bring their passion and knowledge about books to the people.

"Best Public Open Space" - Eastern Promenade.  Take a walk on the Eastern Prom trail or simply find a grassy spot and enjoy the spectacular views of Casco Bay.  This is why we live in Maine after all.

Varano's Italian Restaurant

We have always loved Varano's.  It is one of our favorite places to dine and celebrate special occasions.  And now we love them even more.

Over the weekend, we hosted a 40th birthday party for someone very special and Varano's catered the affair.  It was outstanding.

We chose two entrees from their extensive catering menu, Chicken Marsala and Shrimp Scampi, as well as garlic bread and their famous caesar salad.  The entrees were so delicious, brimming with fresh ingredients and aromatic sauces.  The garlic bread was crispy, but tender, and golden brown.  And their caesar salad is to die for, crisp romaine lettuce, romano cheese, seasoned croutons and Varano's homemade caesar dressing.

The portions were more than generous and as the hosts we got to keep the leftovers, lucky us.  The prices were very reasonable and the Varano's staff was awesome to work with.

Click HERE to learn more about Varano's Italian Restaurant in Wells, Maine.

Goat Island Lighthouse

Goat Island Light Station
Cape Porpoise, Maine

Click HERE to learn more.