Crowds pack Monument Square for tree lighting

Last night's tree lighting ceremony in Monument Square was a festive and fun start to the holiday season, with what must have been thousands of people packed into the city's center. Here's one of the hosts, WBLM'S DJ Celeste, adding a little laughter to the evening. She and her fellow emcees introduced performers who included Mayor Jill Duson (who got the crowd singing), a pianist from the Portland Conservatory of Music,

dancers from the Maine State Ballet's Nutcracker and, finally,

a duet between Rick Charette and Santa.

As we - a crowd that had just as many 20-somethings as toddlers - sang about mud and reindeer, I realized one of the great gifts of the holiday season is how it brings together community and allows us all to act like kids. And those two things, at any time of year, make a priceless present.

Share your holiday finger foods

Do you have a go-to dish that is always a crowd pleaser at holiday cocktail parties? Is it something that can be consumed on a toothpick, in a napkin or from a glass, without the need for plates and silverware? Are you willing to share?

If you answered yes to all three questions, Switch Magazine would love to hear more.

Our Dec. 11 edition will feature the top recipes submitted by our readers. We're not looking for fancy schmancy recipes that require obscure kitchen tools, 27 ingredients and 10 hours of prep time. Instead we want realistic recipes that average folks with regular kitchens can reproduce. And, yes, you do get bonus points for originality and presentation.

Think you're up to the challenge?

Send your favorite holiday recipe (apps, desserts or drinks) to me at akamila@themaineswitch.com by Tuesday, Dec. 2. If your recipe is chosen for the feature, you'll be profiled in the magazine alongside your good eats.

A tree rises in Monument Square

Portland's holiday tree arrived in Monument Square today. The 45-foot blue spruce was donated by Joyce Smith of Gorham. Her children planted it three decades earlier, but its current size was a bit too big for her front yard.

The tree's arrival in Monument Square was scheduled for 10:30 am, which is when I arrived. But the tree was nowhere in sight. Which was fine, as it gave me time to shop at the farmers' market.

The farmers had plenty of late season vegetables, along with wonderful holiday decorations such as wreaths, swags and winter berries. Sadly, the market is almost done for the season, with this Saturday's and next Wednesday's markets the last for the year. Of course, die-hard locavores will be signing up for the winter farmers' market.

Once my shopping was done, the tree had arrived. Super, I thought, as my hands were already going numb and my toes were beginning to tingle. So I milled about for a while, snapping shots of the prostrate tree. Then my camera batteries died (likely sucked dead from the Arctic wind chill).

So I headed inside the Public Market House, where I scored new batteries and ordered a falafel sandwich. Then I planted myself at the tables near the window to keep an eye on the still stationary tree without freezing to death.

That's when I suddenly saw one of the cranes begin to move. So I dashed back outside and started snapping photos before I figured out they were only moving the United Way fundraising sign. Turns out, the main crane was having technical difficulties and another was on the way.

This is when I realized the only people crazy enough to be standing around in this weather watching the non-moving tree were either involved in the tree hoisting operation or a member of the media. Lacking the proper winter gear that Mike from WGME-13 was smart enough to wear, I went back inside the Public Market House. To wait. And wait some more.

Finally - around 12:15 - a new crane arrived and things started to happen.

For a few moments the tree swung through the air.

Then the city staff and the volunteers from Keely Crane Service and Maietta Construction planted the tree firmly in an open manhole and the drama was over as quickly as it started.

But the real fun takes place next Friday, Nov. 28 at 5:30 pm when a crowd will gather for the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. This year's festivities include performances by the Maine State Ballet, the Portland Conservatory of Music and Rick Charette and the Bubblegum Band. Let's hope the weather will be a lot warmer.