Silly's Restaurant wins WMPG's Cajun Cookin' Challenge

If you came out to the WMPG Fat Tuesday festivities, thanks for joining us, and if you didn't, we hope you listened in on the radio. We are pleased to announce the Cajun Cookin' Challenge winners are:

3rd place: Bintliff's American Cafe

2nd place: Bayou Kitchen (2007 and 2008 winner!)

And this year's Cajun Cookin' Champs are first-time participants - Silly's Restaurant!

Johnny's Bistro & Bar opens in Falmouth

A new dining concept for new times.

Johnny Robinson, formerly of Finch's Restaurant in Falmouth, is delighted to announce the launch of his new restaurant, Johnny's Bistro & Bar, at 204 Route 1, Falmouth.

Open seven nights a week, Johnny's features a bright new décor and an expansive 10-seat granite bar allowing for an altogether more casual and comforting dining experience. The new menu, while staying true to the fresh, wholesome, and home-cooked meals that Johnny Robinson is known for, offers new pricing options reflecting a shift from the previous four-course prix fixe menu to one designed to suit a variety of appetites and moods.

To this end, the menu offers smaller plates such as Chevre and Caramelized Onion Tart ($12) and Johnny's Lamb Burger with olive tapenade ($10); but still maintains classic appetizer options including Maine Mussels in an herb garlic broth ($10) and a Tuscan Bean Salad (6). Entrees include a choice of Braised Lamb Shank ($19), Marinated Hangar Steak ($19), Crispy Salmon in a honey vermouth pan sauce ($18) and Baked Haddock in a Dijon mustard cream sauce ($18).

Eat & Drink with the Derby Girls

Maine Roller Derby and G&R DiMillo's restaurant are teaming up on Saturday, March 7th from 5-8 pm to help send the Port Authorities all-star team to the Women's Flat Track Derby Association Regional Championship Tournament in the fall of 2009. Ten percent of all sales at G&R Dimillo's during those hours will be donated to Maine Roller Derby. Help the cause and join MRD members, friends and family by dining or drinking at G&R DiMillo's on March 7.

Maine-made BBQ sauces and rubs from DennyMike's 'Cue Stuff scoop up 5 awards at national competition

Dennis M. ("DennyMike") Sherman, talented barbecue chef and lifelong Mainer, has taken the world of authentic Texas barbecue by storm. At the 18th Annual National Barbecue Association's (NBBQA) Conference & Expo, held February 17-21 in Austin, TX, five barbecue products from Sherman's growing business, "DennyMike's 'Cue Stuff" (www.dennymikes.com), earned winning "Award of Excellence" medals:

1st Place/Gold Medal went to DennyMike's "Pixie Dust" rub (category: "Barbecue Dry Rub/Seasonings: Southwest").
1st Place/Gold Medal went to DennyMike's "Chick Magnet" rub (category: "Barbecue Dry Rub/Seasonings: All-Purpose").
In the "Best Overall Label of 2009" category, DennyMike's earned the 2nd Place/Silver Medal for the unique design of its colorful "Cow Bell Hell" rub packaging, designed by T.Doc Creative in Westbrook, ME.
In the "Barbecue Sauce: Tomato Mild" category, DennyMike's "Sweet 'N Spicy" barbecue sauce earned the 4th Place award.
In the "Barbecue Sauce: Vinegar Spicy" category, DennyMike's received another 4th Place award.
This year's NBBQA competition, considered one of the foremost events in the barbecue world, drew hundreds of entries from throughout the United States and Canada. Winners were selected by 65 judges via blind tastings.

The winning medals spell promising news for the expanding Maine company, whose new line of authentic, Texas-style barbecue rubs just hit the market.

"I have so much respect for the barbecue pros I was competing against at the NBBQA event," said Sherman. "These folks are genuinely considered craftsmen in barbecue circles around the country. Barbecue has been my passion for decades now, so you can't imagine how great it was for me to be included in their company on the medals stand."

The strong showing from Maine made waves at the NBBQA championship in Austin. "A highlight of this year's competition was the strong showing from Maine," noted Becky Streuter, member of NBBQA's Board of Directors. "Here you have this dyed-in-the-wool Mainer who came down here to compete in the heart of Texas barbecue country # and walks away with so many top awards!

"When we were announcing winners at this year's competition, we just kept calling 'DennyMike's' over and over again," Streuter added. "People are really starting to pay attention to the very appealing products this Maine barbecue company is offering, and with good reason. It makes for a standout story."

All of DennyMike's 'Cue Stuff's five rubs (3 oz.) and four barbecue sauces (9 oz.) are Maine-made and hand-crafted in small batches. The all-natural, gluten-free products are made from premium ingredients, including natural sea salt, clover honey and Barbados molasses. Tremendous attention to detail goes into every batch.

"Every one of our rubs and sauces goes through countless rounds of taste-testing," Sherman said. "It's important to us to take the feedback we receive to heart. We really rely on it when finalizing our recipes, and we're convinced that makes a marked difference in the quality of our final product."

DennyMike's products currently are featured at hundreds of specialty stores and major market locations in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Texas. Additionally, Cabela's locations in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin and Triadelphia, West Virginia recently picked up the product. Additional major market locations featuring DennyMike's 'Cue Stuff rubs and sauces include Whole Foods throughout Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. (Suggested retail price: $5.95)

In addition to the NBBQA wins, the rubs and sauces, named an Editors' Pick by My Gourmet Connection earlier this month, have been earning more attention and awards. In late 2008, a brisket entry from chefs Ron Shouse and Kurt LeBarge, featuring DennyMike's "Cow Bell Hell" rub, took top honors at the River Plantation Owners annual barbecue championship in Conroe, TX.

In January of this year, packaging and labels, designed by T.Doc Creative, won top honors for DennyMike's barbecue sauces at the American Package Design Awards presented by Graphic Design USA. And in May 2009, "America's Best BBQ" by Ardie A. Davis and Chef Paul Kirk (aka "The Baron of Barbecue") will be released, to feature among its Top 100 American barbecue recipes Sherman's winning "Seafood Stuffed Smoked Lobster" # made with DennyMike's "Fintastic" rub for seafood.

Sherman announced that additional new products from DennyMike's 'Cue Stuff already are in sampling rounds and scheduled for release this summer and fall, including a new Key West Key Lime Hot Sauce, Key West Shrimp Dust Rub, and Spicy Barbecue Pickles.


About DennyMike's 'Cue Stuff:
DennyMike's 'Cue Stuff is a Maine-based company with Texas barbecue authenticity. Each of DennyMike's award-winning barbecue sauces and rubs is hand-crafted in Maine in small batches, using only the finest ingredients, including natural sea salt, clover honey and Barbados molasses. As ideal for indoor cooking as for outdoor smoking and grilling, DennyMike's rubs and sauces have quickly become a popular fixture in the American barbecue arena, with plans for additional expansion underway.

For descriptions of sauces and rubs, barbecue recipes, and order placements, visit www.dennymikes.com.

Indigo Girls return to Portland at the Merrill Auditorium April 19th

Tickets on sale Friday, Feb 27th at Noon

Great Northeast Productions, Inc. is proud to present Indigo Girls at
Merrill Auditorium, located at 20 Myrtle Street, Portland, Maine on Sunday,
April 19th at 7:30pm.

Reserved seats are $35 (plus $2 theater restoration
fee and $.50 donation to local homeless services agency Preble Street), and
will go on sale Friday, February 27th at Noon. Contact the box office for
further information.

In addition, tickets may be purchased in person (Mon. -
Sat. Noon - 6PM) or by phone by calling (207) 842-0800. Tickets may also be
purchased online at www.porttix.com.

It's been two decades since the Indigo Girls launched their career with
their independently released debut album, 1987's Strange Fire. Now, after
entertaining millions of fans with their 10 major-label studio albums (nine
on Epic Records and one, 2006's Despite Our Differences, on Hollywood
Records), Emily Saliers and Amy Ray have come full circle with the
independent release of their new album, Poseidon And The Bitter Bug (to be
released March 24th, 2009) on their new label IG Recordings/Vanguard
Records.

With a Grammy, six Grammy nominations and a legacy of releases and tours
behind them, the Indigo Girls have outlasted many of their peers and forged
their own way in the music business. They've always thought independently,
and have always balanced their commitment to music and performing with an
unwavering commitment to social, political and environmental issues

The new album reunites the Grammy-winning duo with veteran producer,
arranger and keyboardist Mitchell Froom (Elvis Costello, Paul McCartney, Los
Lobos and others), who worked on the Indigo Girls' acclaimed 2006 release,
Despite Our Differences. Poseidon And The Bitter Bug is the work of career
artists at the top of their artistic game, invigorated to be doing what they
love best - writing and performing music. Poseidon is a release that affirms
their position not only as musical icons but as artists who continue to live
up to the high standards they've set for themselves. Now with their own
imprint, the Girls have come full circle; they've weathered the ups and
downs of the music industry and come out with their musical vision and
enthusiasm intact.

Know a great local poet? Go ahead, nominate 'em

From now through May 1, all Portland-area readers and writers of poetry are encouraged to nominate an influential local poet to be honored with a two-year term as the official Poet Laureate of Portland.

RestaurantWeekME Special Events Tickets Now on Sale

With restaurant registration officially closed, RestaurantWeekME now has over 60 restaurants signed up to participate in locations from Ogunquit to Camden to Augusta. In addition to being able to dine affordably from March 1-10, foodies and curious diners can now purchase tickets for all RestaurantWeekME companion events.

To celebrate the excitement of RestaurantWeekME, the event organizers have put together an exciting catalog of events to kick off people's dining experiences including local food and beverage pairings and tastings, educational opportunities, and meet-and-greet events. Attend one of these fun tasting events in the early evening before hitting the town to visit your favorite Restaurant Week location for dinner. The full list of events includes:
Monday, March 2 # Music, Mussels and Cold River Vodka
5:30-7:00 p.m., music starts 5:30 # Bull Feeney's, 375 Fore St., Portland
Kick off Restaurant Week right, by enjoying a private evening sampling Maine's famous midcoast mussels from Pemaquid Mussel Farms, paired with Cold River Vodka cocktails. Smokey McKeen and Carter Newell from Old Gray Goose will play traditional old-timey and Quebecois music from Maine, the Maritimes and Ireland # and yes, they're also the mussel purveyors, so they've even got some songs about shellfish. After the tasting, hit the town for Restaurant Week. Upstairs at Bull Feeney's, the perfect Portland Old Port location for some Music, Mussels and Vodka. Tickets are $26.00 per person.
Tuesday, March 3 # Mead Me @ Local 188
4:30-6:00 p.m. # Local 188, 685 Congress St., Portland
Experience Maine Mead Works hand-crafted wildflower honey mead at this exclusive Restaurant Week event. Taste and learn from MMW Founders, Eli Cayer and Ben Alexander. These long-time Portland residents are teaming up with Local 188 legend, Jay Villani. Jay will be working his magic, pairing flavors that accompany the mead to perfection. Eli and Ben are determined to open minds and palates about the need for mead. Don't miss out this mind and belly expanding opportunity. Tickets are $22.50 per person.
Wednesday, March 4 # The Widow Clicquot
5:00-6:30 p.m. # Camden Harbour Inn, 83 Bayview St., Camden
Sponsored by Veuve Clicquot/Moët Hennessy USA and featuring special guest Tilar Mazzeo, author of "The Widow Clicquot: The Story of a Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It" # enjoy varieties of Veuve Clicquot paired with delectable Maine cheeses and canapés, served by our host, Lawrence Klang, Chef at Natalie's. Learn as you sip some of the best bubbles in the world. An exclusive event in an extraordinary location, not to be missed. Tickets are $28.00 per person.
Thursday, March 5 # Fine Wines, Premium Cigars & Imperial Porter
5:00-7:00 p.m. # Portland Harbor Hotel, 468 Fore St., Portland
Preeminent cigar manufacturer Davidoff began making cigars in Cuba in 1946. Sample some of today's best while enjoying rich and robust reds from Ravenswood and the newest premium beer from Shipyard Brewing Co. # their Imperial Porter. Located at Eve's at the Garden at the Portland Harbor Hotel in their stunningly renovated hotel wing, and outside on the heated patio. Tickets are $32.50.
Monday, March 9 # Meet Your Maker # Your Beer Maker
5:00-6:30 p.m. # Brian Boru, 57 Center St., Portland
Restaurant Week is almost over by now, so before you hit the town to try a new restaurant # or visit a favorite staple # get your ticket for a beer and mussel fest upstairs at Brian Boru in Portland. You won't want to miss this sampling of Shipyard Brewing Co.'s assortment of beers alongside Casco Bay's eminent Bangs Island mussels and kelp noodles from Ocean Approved LLC.
Visit www.restaurantweekme.com for complete event descriptions and a link to purchase tickets. All tickets can be purchased through Brown Paper Tickets at the Restaurant Week site. Please note, all RestaurantWeekME events are 21+.

A food-lovers dream, RestaurantWeekME (Sunday, March 1 through Tuesday, March 10) was created to give diners an affordable, accessible reason to eat at Maine restaurants during what is traditionally one of the slowest restaurant weeks of the year. Participating restaurants are offering three-course meals priced at $20.09, $30.09 or $40.09 (per person and excludes beverage, tax and gratuity) depending on the restaurant. Details, including menus, restaurant locations and pricing can be found at restaurantweekme.com.

RestaurantWeekME™ is created, planned and promoted by gBritt PR of Portland. RestaurantWeekME sponsors include VineOne/Constellation Wines, Shipyard Brewing Co., Citadel Broadcasting, Maine Distilleries/Cold River Vodka, Native Maine Produce & Specialty Foods, Maine Restaurant Association and Portland Downtown District. For more information regarding RestaurantWeekME™ visit restaurantweekme.com.

One Longfellow Square launches Food Film series in association with Rabelais Books

On Sunday March 8th One Longfellow Square will launch their Food Film series in association with Rabelais Books and the Maine Institute of Food and Drink. The series will begin with four examples of classic culinary cinema : "Big Night"; "Diner"; "Tampopo" and "Babette's Feast.

The launch of the series coincides with Maine Restaurant Week to highlight the diversity of the culinary scene in Portland.

On the first Sunday of each month starting after March, and running for four months, One Longfellow Square will offer up an evening of food and film. Doors will open at 6:00 PM and the first screening will begin at 6:30, after food has been served. A cash bar will be available. Following the feature there will be coffee and light desserts along with celebration and discussion of the film. Tickets are $30.09, available at the door or in advance through the One Longfellow Square website, there will be seats for 50.
"Big Night"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday March 8th, doors open at 6:00, food from Paciarino, 468 Fore Street
Two brothers (Stanley Tucci and Tony Shalhoub) try to save their Italian restaurant by gambling on one special meal. Directed by Stanley Tucci and Campbell Scott, this 1996 film also stars Isabella Rossellini, Minnie Driver, Ian Holm and Liev Schreiber.
"Diner"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday April 5th, doors open at 6:00, food from the Miss Portland Diner, 140 Marginal Way.

Set in 1959 Baltimore, the local diner is refuge for a group of five friends coming to terms with growing up. Directed by Barry Levinson in 1982. This classic film stars some very young familiar faces: Kevin Bacon; Mickey Rourke; Daniel Stern; Ellen Barkin; Tim Daly and Paul Reiser.

"Tampopo"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday May 3rd, doors open at 6:00, food from Food Factory Miyake, 129 Spring Street.

The original Japanese noodle Western from 1985! Tampopo, a widowed noodle cook, learns to become a first class chef with help from a truck driver and other characters who people his noodle shop.
"Babette's Feast"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday June 7th, doors open at 6:00, food from Evangeline, 190 State Street.

Based on an Isak Dinesen story, this 1987 film is the tale of a French woman taken in by two Danish spinster sisters and the amazing meal she cooks for them with her winnings from a lottery.

Portland Museum of Art premiers Movies at the Museum

The Portland Museum of Art will premiere Movies at the
Museum on Friday, February 20 at 6:30 p.m. with the movie A Hard Day's
Night.

This is the first film in the aptly named Rock & Reel series in
conjunction with the exhibition Backstage Pass: Rock & Roll Photography.
Tickets are $7 each and are sold 1/2 hour before the movie at the Museum's
admissions desk. An updated schedule will be available on the website
www.moviesatthemuseum.org beginning February 17.

A Hard Day's Night, Rated G: A re-release of the 1964 classic musical comedy
about four shaggy-haired lads from Liverpool, this is a playful
day-in-the-life look at the emerging rock stars: John, Paul, George, and
Ringo. Pursued by hordes of shrieking girls caught up in "Beatlemania," they
dash in and out of railways, through London streets, and into a TV recording
studio. With concert footage of The Beatles performing "She Loves You," this
movie has been called "The best rock-n-roll movie ever!" by Joel Siegel,
Good Morning America.

In January 2009, The Movies on Exchange Street moved its operation to the
Portland Museum of Art and was renamed Movies at the Museum. The Movies on
Exchange Street was owned and operated in Portland since 1980 by Stephen and
Judith Halpert. Steve and Judy Halpert are now film consultants to the
Museum and will continue to bring foreign, classical, and arts films to
Portland.

Maine Art Scene organizes showcase of contemporary Maine music performers

Maine Art Scene, LLC. (website) is organizing its first online showcase of contemporary Maine music performers. This showcase is designed to let professional artists promote their work, recordings and upcoming performances.

This statewide interactive showcase will be available online at www.maineartscene.com on April 1, 2009. Selected music work will become part of Maine Art Scene's permanent online art exhibit.

Music Performers: Professional musicians, singers and musical bands (all genres), regional singing groups, choirs, and orchestras.

Deadline for submissions: March 15, 2009.

Open to: All professional music performers who are part-time or full-time Maine residents.

Cost of submission: $20.00 per entry (total, not per file).

OR send a check (*)

Entry format:
- Professionally digitally recorded CD or MP3 files - no cassette tapes, no vinyl.
- If sending files electronically, please only submit three MP3 files.
- Recordings submitted must be less than 5 years old. However, Maine Art Scene reserves the right to make exceptions on a case by case basis.

If your CD/MP3 files are for sale, please indicate:
- Url of web site where your CD can be purchased.
- How to contact you or your agent (phone and e-mail).

In addition, please include:
- A short artist or group statement.
- A picture of your most recent album cover, group photo and/or individual artist portrait.
- A detailled list of upcoming 2009 performances.
- Quotes from critics (must have the right to publish).
- Contact information (mailing address, phone and e-mail)
- Web site address

Maine Art Scene retains the right to not publish work that could be deemed inappropriate or does not meet our basic requirements. This showcase is reserved to professional artists.

To submit your work, please e-mail: media@maineartscene.com. If your files are bigger than 10 MB, please consider using mailbigfile.com (free-up to 100MB).

If you have not received an e-mail acknowledgment for receipt of your submission within 48 hours, please call us at 207.470.7437

You may also send a CD to:
(*) Maine Art Scene, LLC. | 31 Congress Street | Belfast ME, 04915

Acorn Productions announces selections for '09 Maine Playwrights Festival

The ninth annual event will take place at the St. Lawrence Arts Center from Mar 27 to April 4

Acorn Productions announces the selection of nine plays for inclusion in the company's annual Maine Playwrights Festival, an event dedicated to providing Maine-based playwrights with a creative incubator for their work. This season the Westbrook-based company received a $7,500 award from the Artists in Maine Communities program of the Maine Arts Commission in order to allow for the inclusion of full-length plays in the event. This year's festival features 7 short plays, as well as two longer works. The scripts were selected by a reading committee comprised of Acorn's Producing Director Michael Levine, AddVerb Productions Artistic Director Cathy Plourde, and Davis Robinson, Associate Professor of Theater at Bowdoin College. Additionally, Acorn has scheduled three evenings of its Second Friday Series of dramatic readings with some of the runner-up scripts submitted for inclusion in the festival.

The Maine Playwrights Festival was previously called the Maine Short Play Festival and has changed its name in order to reflect the new nature of the event. Festival directors include Levine, local veteran actors and directors Harlan Baker and Christopher Price, and performer, director and educator Julie Goell. Funds from the Maine Arts Commission award will allow Acorn to create a complete set and expanded lighting design for the festival, while providing for more rehearsal time and greater technical support. The nine plays will be performed by professional actors in three evenings of rotating repertory between March 27 and April 5 at the St. Lawrence Arts Center in Portland. The exact schedule and ticket information will be released later this month. Please see information below for exact play titles, authors, descriptions, and listing information.

Acorn also selected 6 plays for including in the next three Second Friday series of new dramatic readings. Of these plays, 2 are full-length and 3 are short plays, and all were selected as finalists for this year's Maine Short Play Festival, but for various reasons were not included in the festival itself. The readings will be done by professional actors from Acorn's Shakespeare Ensemble and the Maine Short Play Festival cast. The playwrights will attend the event, and each evening will conclude with a "talkback" session to allow the playwrights to receive feedback on these works in progress. No admission will be charged, though donations will be accepted. Please see information below for descriptions and listing information.

Acorn Productions was founded in 1998 and currently makes its home in the Dana Warp Mill in Westbrook. The company's mission is to invigorate the community of performing artists in Southern Maine. Acorn seeks to nurture new performance pieces, develop artist collaborations, train new talent, and make the arts accessible to a wide spectrum of the general public. Acorn accomplishes these goals by mounting annual festivals that are open to a variety of artists as well as presenting professional performances by local actors in both traditional and non-traditional venues. Ticket prices for these performances are maintained at an affordable level in order to lower economic barriers for potential audience members. Acorn also offers educational programs, including acting classes and workshops, and offers fiscal sponsorships to grassroots organizations or individual artists seeking to become more active members of the performing arts community.

Calendar Info

WHAT: The Maine Playwrights Festival
WHEN: March 27 to April 4, 2009
WHO: Acorn Productions
WHERE: St. Lawrence Arts Center, Portland
HOW MUCH: $12 general admission, $10 students and seniors
FMI: www.acorn-productions.org or 854-0065

Featured Plays

PRIVATE
By Roger Bechtel
The prostitute and the politician meet in a piece examining the personal fallout of public shame # what happens before the press conference.

THE GODDESS TOUR
By Carolyn Gage
A good, old-fashioned murder mystery that packs a feminist punch.

Short Plays

ARE YOU GOING TO WEAR THAT SHIRT?
By John Manderino
Jill wants Jack to wear a different shirt # but we learn it's not the shirt itself that she has a problem with.

BETTER, TOMORROW
By Lara Lom
A couple has to handle an unexpected event in their lives, which eventually affects the ways in which they communicate.

HOT DISH
By Diana Sterne
A son tries to set boundaries with his overbearing mother.

INVISIBLE MEN
By Lynne Cullen
One Saturday morning, Frank O'Connor persuades his friends to relive a childhood game of whiffle ball and the stakes turn out to be more than they realize.

PROTECT US
By Cathy Plourde
It takes the Dept. of Homo-land Security to bring one father to his senses.

PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER
By John Rizzo
A mentally challenged man wants to become a stand-up comedian.

REORIENT
By Michael Kimball
Sexual reorientation coach arranges a first date between a gay man and a lesbian woman.

Calendar Info

WHAT: Second Friday series
WHEN:
Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m. - "Sunday Sonata"
March 13 at 7:30 p.m. - "Transit of Venus"
April 10 at 7:30 p.m. - "Getting," "Nom de Guerre," "The Sheltering Heart."
WHO: Acorn Productions
WHERE: Acorn Studios, Dana Warp Mill, Westbrook
HOW MUCH: Free (suggested donation $5)
FMI: www.acorn-productions.org or 854-0065

Second Friday Series

SUNDAY SONATA (Feb. 13)
By Clare Melley Smith
Charles and Vivian, recently divorced college-friends, come together in mid-life in a seemingly perfect romance.

TRANSIT OF VENUS (March 13)
by Larry Crane
Marcella adopts the approach of the male of the species in seeking revenge on a convicted killer in jail after enduring the disappearance of her only child.

GETTING (April 10)
by Danie Connolly
Sometimes getting what you want isn't necessarily what you need.

NOM DE GUERRE (April 10)
by Dana Pearson
Five soldiers in a foxhole during the Battle of the Bulge help a new father come up with a name for his daughter.

THE SHELTERING HEART (April 10)
by Kathy Hooke
A young woman who works at an animal shelter is forced to decide for herself what having a sheltering heart really means.

Vivid Motion holding dance auditions for their upcoming spring show

Vivid Motion, Inc., Portland's "innovative and kinda quirky" dance company,
will be holding dance auditions for their upcoming spring show about the Tales of King Arthur on Sunday, March 5th, 2009, from 1-3 pm at Acorn Productions in the Dana Warp Mill, 90 Bridge St, Westbrook.

No formal preparation is needed: the audition will be conducted in class style format.
Many styles of dance will be included in this show, and dancers of all skill levels are welcome.

FMI please visit www.vividmotion.org

Portland Buy Local urges shoppers to "Be Passionate for Portland!"

Portland's local business are banding together in tough economic times, and in support of these efforts, Portland Buy Local has created the "Be Passionate for Portland: Buy Local" campaign for the month of February!

Those who shop at participating Buy Local member businesses will get a special "valentine"...a valuable packet of coupons for free products, discounts and more from close to thirty Portland Buy Local members!

Keep your eye out around town for the beautiful new poster created by member Amy Teh of local design firm "Pinecone & Chickadee". A list of participating businesses can be found at www.portlandbuylocal.org.

A recent survey of independent businesses in Portland found that "Buy Local" is on the minds of many shoppers and this additional support is proving critical as local businesses try to weather one of the country's worst economic contractions.

In a survey of 57 Portland Buy Local member businesses conducted in January, 79% reported that the campaign had a positive impact on their business and 68% said that they had gained new customers as a result of it. Those numbers are up from a similar survey two years ago in which 60% reported that their business had been positively impacted and 40% said they had gained new customers.

Since its start in 2006, Portland Buy Local's membership has grown to 240 local businesses and nonprofit organizations. The group's mission is to build awareness of why independent businesses are essential to the health of Portland's local economy and community. For more information about Portland Buy Local, including an online directory of member businesses and organizations, visit www.portlandbuylocal.org.

Portland PD will offers basic self defense for women

Beginning in March, the Portland Police Department will offer its first Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) Training class for 2009. R.A.D. provides women with the tools they need to both avoid dangerous situations and to escape them.

Susan Tedeschi in Portland - tickets on sale Friday the 13th

SUSAN TEDESCHI
Port City Music Hall
504 Congress St
Portland, ME
www.portcitymusichall.com
June 23 at 8:00pm

Tickets go on-sale Friday, February 13 at 9am.

General admission, standing-room only tickets are $30.00 in advance and $32.00 day of show and are available at Bull Moose Music Stores and online at www.brownpapertickets.com

Seated VIP tickets are $50.00 and are only available online at www.brownpapertickets.com

This is a 21+ event.

Who's your winner for 2009 Business Innovation & Entrepreneurial Awards

Know someone whose gone above and beyond when it comes to unique business plans and giving back to the community? Now's your chance to get them a little recognition.

Call for menupoems

April is National Poetry Month
Alimentum will once again publish a poetry broadside of menupoems for National Poetry Month.

The poems are distributed to participating restaurants for diners
to enjoy some poetry with their menu!

We need your poems! Only about a dozen poems will be selected.

Here are the guidelines:
Short menu- dining-food- related poems.
12-line length limit.
3-poem submission limit.
Deadline-March 4th, 2009. (March Forth!)
Email submission to menupoems@alimentumjournal.com

IMPORTANT- poems must be pasted into the body of the email, no attachments.

To see some menupoem examples check the archive on our Alimentum Online website page. See link below.

ATTENTION Restaurants (or do you have a favorite restaurant?):
Participate by giving your diners menupoems during National Poetry Month.
We'll ship you a stack, and post your name and address on our website throughout April.

Participation is free!
Write to let us know if you'd like to take part in the menupoem party!

email: menupoems@alimentumjournal.com
web: http://www.alimentumjournal.com/alimentumonline.html

Beach to Beacon registration opens March 15 at noon

Online registration will open on March 15, 2009 12:00 pm EST at www.beach2beacon.org

The 2009 TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race to be held on Saturday, August 1 will be accepting online registrations only. Paper applications will not be available.

We expect to reach our increased field size limit of 6,000 in the 10K race within the first 24 hours.

The Kids Fun Run has been moved to Friday evening at the high school. Details coming soon. Please register early.

www.beach2beacon.org

Both Ray Lamontagne shows sold out

RAY LAMONTAGNE Live at MERRILL AUDITORIUM with special guest THE LOW ANTHEM

Both the Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11 shows are SOLD OUT.

The April 11 show set a record at the PortTix Box Office for the second fastest sell-out in box office history next to the Jerry Seinfeld show in 2003. The April 11 show sold out within two hours of its noon on-sale time. A second show was added for Friday, April 10 and that show sold out by the end of the day on Friday.

The April 2009 Merrill Auditorium dates will mark LaMontagne's first Portland headlining performance since his sold out show at the State Theatre in August 2005.

www.raylamontagne.com

Show your artwork at the Meg Perry Center

The Meg Perry Center is currently accepting submissions for artshows for 2009. We like to feature art that encourages social, political, cultural and environmental dialogues and shows that feature people who don't show in normal galleries. The center especially likes group shows and is open to individual shows. There are currently several openings through the year.

To show your work at the Meg Perry Center contact Jonah Fertig, exhibition space coordinator at jonah.fertig@gmail.com or 615-9970.

Spring Break Wiffleball Tournament

Spring Training Fever has hit Gorham Recreation! Take a break from the snow and participate in our first ever Spring Break Wiffleball Tournament!

Saturday, March 14th at Shaw Gym in Gorham
8am-5pm (depending upon how many teams register)
$60 per team
Registration deadline Friday, March 6th
Registration limited to the first 12 teams
Guaranteed at least 2 games
Pool play followed by a single elimination tournament
Open to all ages
Teams are comprised of at least 3 players.
You may bat up to 7, but can only play 3 in the field.

Questions? Contact Alan at 222-1633

www.gorhamrec.com

Portland Dyke March Call for Artists

The Portland, Maine Dyke March seeks an artist with whom to collaborate on the development of a logo that reflects the mission of the Portland, Maine Dyke March (the mission statement appears below and is also available on the website www.mainedykemarch.com). The artwork will be for use in advertisement, all publications and promotional materials (including merchandise) and will be the sole property of the Portland, Maine Dyke March Committee.

Interested artists/designers should submit up to three initial concepts no later than February 28th. Designs can be full color, but must also be rendered for black and white copy. The selected artist will work with committee members to incorporate changes and finalize the design by April 15, 2009. Designs may be submitted to portlanddykemarch@gmail.com.

There is no cash prize or financial remuneration for the design work. The selected artist/designer will be recognized in the following ways: On the website www.mainedykemarch.com, on the Facebook and Myspace pages of the Portland Dyke March, and during announcements made during the June 19, 2009 event. Other methods of recognition may be considered as well (i.e. press releases, the artists own media, et cetera).

Portland, Maine Dyke March Mission Statement:
The mission of the Portland, Maine Dyke March is to create an empowering movement that fosters community and celebration for dykes and the people who love them. The Portland Dyke March seeks to be positive, feminist, diverse and community-driven in all of its endeavors. We welcome anyone with a past or present connection to the dyke community.

Coffee By Design wants you to pick prize winning coffee

Coffee By Design knows customers loved Girl Blend, the first coffee to win the staff blending competition. Now it's time for a new coffee.

Call-to-artists to design the new logo for the Green-Independent Party!

Rules of the Contest:

1. The logo must encapsulate, in some way, the Green Party's 10 Key Values
and of course it needs to be hip! See www.portlandgreens.blogspot.com

2. Artists must be residents of Portland (NOTE: This contest is
non-partisan and for all ages)

3. Deadline is April 6th

Submissions will be be voted on via Instant Run-Off Voting at the Portland
Green-Independent Party Meeting, SUNDAY, APRIL 19TH.

We will have a 1st Prize (obviously this will be our NEW logo), and 2
Runners-up who will all receive prizes.

Get out and vote if you want chicks in your backyard

You've certainly heard about the proposal to allow Portland residents to keep laying hens in their back yards, right? If you haven't, you can read up on it at So What's The Rest Of The Story? Then you can head out on Feb. 18 at 7 pm to make your vote count on the issue. The Portland City Council will be conducting a public hearing regarding the Chicken Ordinance that evening.

SPACE as THEATER: Auditions this week

Here's some good news: later this spring we'll transform SPACE for our first full theatrical production, directed by Sean Mewshaw. Historically, we've had a tricky time fitting theater around all the other activity we do here, so this will be a great experiment. Sean says:

I'm excited to announce auditions for this deeply ridiculous, unabashedly impolite, contemporary dark comedy "Speech & Debate." It's about a trio of messed up lonely kids who take their first shot at making a mark on the world at large, and fail fantastically. It's going to be great fun staging a full theatrical production for the first time in SPACE, and all we need now are some skilled, hilarious young actors to nail these characters and rip it up come curtain time. Our auditions run Thursday thru Saturday, Feb 5-7. Anyone and everyone is welcome. For the full details, check out www.speechatspace.blogspot.com

We're really excited by Sean's energy and are looking forward to the set design by Colin Sullivan-Stevens. Save the dates now: The play opens Sat. March 28, and we'll run it Sun. March 29, Sat. April 4 and Sun. April 5.

St. Lawrence wants your art

If you do art, St. Lawrence Arts Center can use your help. The center's planning a Just Silent Art Auction on Saturday, march 7 to benefit its daily operating expenses.

Bath's Solo Bistro receives "Innovative Culinary Hospitality" award from Santé magazine

Solo Bistro (www.solobistro.com), the European-style, midcoast Maine restaurant located in historic downtown Bath, has earned Santé magazine's "Innovative Culinary Hospitality Award." The only peer-judged restaurant and hospitality competition in North America, the Santé awards recognize the highest level of cuisine, wine, and service within the hospitality industry.

Solo Bistro Chef Esau Crosby accepted the Innovative Culinary Hospitality Award, one of only six awarded nationwide, during a gala dinner and awards ceremony held this past November at Napa Valley's Silverado Resort.

"I'm genuinely honored by this award for Solo Bistro," said Crosby. "We all really strive to provide our diners with satisfying, memorable meals everytime they visit our restaurant, so it's pretty rewarding to be singled out like this."

In achieving the award, Solo Bistro joins other Santé award winners such as Wolfgang Puck (Restaurateur of the Year), Evan Goldstein (Wine Professional of the Year), and Philadelphia's Ristorante Panorama (Wine Hospitality Restaurant of the Year).

"Solo Bistro's unique menu and commitment to using fresh, local ingredients, combined with Chef Esau Crosby's desire to constantly try new techniques and flavors, make Solo Bistro a perfect fit for this award," noted Mark Vaughn, Editor & Publisher of Santé magazine.

Owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Will and Pia Neilson, Solo Bistro is known for its tempting seasonal fare, welcoming service, and comfortable ambiance. By drawing on their own experiences living and working abroad, Will and Pia have created a European-inspired atmosphere that offers gracious hospitality to locals and visitors alike.

"This award from Santé is particularly gratifying to us," said Will Neilson. "It's great to know that the experience we're offering at our restaurant is being noticed. We're especially flattered that we've been recognized by peers in the industry; it's a nice compliment to our whole team."

Since opening its doors in 2005, Solo Bistro has caught the attention of a variety of outlets, including The New York Times, Yankee magazine, The Boston Globe, National Culinary Review, Maine Home + Design, and "Wine Me, Dine Me" Radio.

For further information, or to make reservations at Solo Bistro, phone (207) 443-3373.
To subscribe to Solo Bistro's Enewsletter, visit www.solobistro.com.

Maine Expansion Arts Fund awards $47,000 in grants

The Maine Expansion Arts Fund of the Maine Community Foundation recently awarded nearly $47,000 in grants to 12 organizations involved in indigenous, ethnic, or rural arts programs or projects, including Partners in Island Education. This Vinalhaven-based organization will use its grant to fund a three-month technical theater program for students and adults.