A Summary of What Was Maine

A May 2004 trip to Maine by ext212

Quote: For the 2004 Memorial Day weekend, we drove from Burlington VT to Maine where we did our own lighthouse tour and dined in one of Portland's raw bars.

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A Summary of What Was Maine

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Overview

Quote:

For the 2004 Memorial Day long weekend, we drove from Burlington to Maine when the sky was bright blue, the trees were screaming green, and the sun so bright we couldn't help but leave our car windows open and sing along to White Stripes and The Strokes. We prepared ourselves for some heavy traffic, but we got lucky because the visiting Maine crowd was already in town when we started our drive on Saturday afternoon. We cruised through I-95 and then to US Route 1 to get a glimpse of the Maine coast. We drove past no-vacancy bed and breakfasts, a gazillion antiques stores and of course, lobster shacks on the side of the road. Some highlights of this trip: our own lighthouse tour where we vis...Read More

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Street & Co.

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Restaurant | "Street & Co."

A Summary of What Was Maine Photo - Street & Co., Portland, Maine

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Street & Co. was recommended to us by friends because we wanted to try different kinds of seafood while in Maine. We wanted a lounge-y type of place with a decent wine list and Street & Co.'s raw bar was the answer to our desires. We sat by the bar and started off with a couple of white beers while we looked over the menu and listened to the specials of the night. We saw the size of the main dishes from the orders of the people next to us at the bar and we already decided that we did not want to get full too quickly so we stayed with the small appetizers. Our dining mantra is to keep the portions small so we can taste as many of the restaurant's offerings as possible. For...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on June 9, 2004

Street & Co.
33 Wharf St.
Portland, Maine
(207) 775-0887

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Cafe Uffa!

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Restaurant | "Uffa!"

A Summary of What Was Maine Photo - Cafe Uffa!, Portland, Maine

Quote:

The streets of Portland were curiously empty during the holiday weekend. We assumed most of the locals were away for the weekend, which explains why Uffa! did not have a line outside for brunch. We were told by friends to try to get a table at Uffa! for brunch before noon to minimize our wait, but when we walked in, there were only two other groups of diners. We grabbed the empty table by the window and people-watched along State Street. The Uffa! space is like the comfortable New England house you want to own (in some days when New York City gets a little too much). The high ceilings open up the entire restaurant and the glass windows let the natural light seep through. They ha...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on June 9, 2004

Cafe Uffa!
190 State St.
Portland, Maine 04101
(207) 775-3380

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Gritty McDuff's

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Restaurant | "Gritty McDuff’s"

A Summary of What Was Maine Photo - Gritty McDuff's, Portland, Maine

Quote:

Gritty McDuff's Portland Brew pub became the Maine's first brew pub since the Prohibition when it opened in 1988. It's a tourist spot but a worthwhile one. They still brew their beers on site and you still get the pub feeling inside especially if you sit on the stools by the copper-topped bar or the long hall-style benches.

We had the Pale Ale Portland Lighthouse brew and it was the perfect break from all the walking we have been doing since eating at Uffa!

They have an array of food you can order with your beers like clam chowder, chicken wings, calamari, mussels, nacho platter, and onion rings. My mouth is watering just writing about them right now!

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on June 9, 2004

Gritty McDuff's
396 Fore St.
Portland, Maine 04101
(207) 772-2739

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Lobster Shack

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Restaurant

A Summary of What Was Maine Photo - Lobster Shack, Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Quote:

The Lobster Shack is probably one of the most popular lobster restaurants in Maine. When we mentioned to friends that we were planning on going to Maine, most of them mentioned it. Apparently, we were not the only ones who planned on hitting this tourist spot. There was a line from the inside counter, down the steps and all the way to the outdoor seating; all of us waiting for lobster dinners, crabmeat rolls and fried onion rings. We waited for almost 30 minutes, but the wait was worth it! Our number was called and we put on our lobster bibs and we dove in our lobsters, crabmeat roll boats (served with coleslaw and French fries) and clam chowder. The clam chowder was a little runnier tha...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on June 9, 2004

Lobster Shack
225 Two Lights Road
Cape Elizabeth, Maine 04107
(207) 799-1677

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Portland Public Market

Attraction

Quote:

The Portland Public Market is one of the nicest indoor markets I have ever visited. The ceilings are high and when you're inside, you feel like it's a huge shopping mall but with excellent and deliciously tempting products for sale. Among our purchases were a few bottles of blueberry wine, Maine's specialty wine, from Miranda's Vineyard. We also bought a strawberry and rhubarb pie from Valley View Orchard Pies and iced coffees from Breaking New Grounds. They have several stands with different kinds of spices from all over the world and I was able to buy a jar of preserved lemons from a shelf filled with products from Morocco and the Middle East. We also too...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on June 9, 2004

Portland Public Market
25 Preble St.
Portland, Maine

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Portland Museum of Art

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Attraction

A Summary of What Was Maine Photo - Portland Museum of Art, Portland, Maine

Quote:

We lucked out when we walked in The Portland Museum of Art because Diane Arbus' family portraits were on exhibit. My boyfriend is a big fan of her photographs and we were disappointed when we did not make the exhibit in San Francisco in 2003. The Diane Arbus collection was minimal, but it told us a lot of the photographer. Some of the portraits were familiar and some we have never seen before. My favorites were the contact sheets that came along with the final prints commissioned by certain families. They also had a collection of quilts on display from the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Their permanent collection is as impressive; Renoir and Degas are joined by Andrew Wyeth...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on June 9, 2004

Portland Museum of Art
7 Congress Square
Portland, Maine 04101
(207) 775-6148

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Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse

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Attraction

A Summary of What Was Maine Photo - Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse, Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Quote:

The Cape Elizabeth lighthouse was named after the daughter of King James I and Queen Anne of Denmark. A pair of lighthouses was built in 1827 to mark the entrance to Portland Harbor. They became markers for mariners entering the harbor in order to help them get their bearings. During World War II, one of the towers became an observation post and soon after, the west tower was extinguished for good and became privately owned—it was bought by Bette Davis' ex-husband in 1971 before it was passed on to two other buyers in the 1980s. Today, the Cape Elizabeth lighthouse is one of the most famous symbols of Maine. Edward Hopper immortalized it in his paintings in the 1920s, one...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on June 9, 2004

Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse

Cape Elizabeth, Maine

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Ram Island Ledge Light

Attraction

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Ram Island Ledge is a strip of rocks in Casco Bay. It became such a dangerous obstruction a lighthouse was built on the ledge to guide vessels cruising into the harbor. It appears shorter than the other lighthouses because the first floor is within the caisson. It is also unique because you can walk around it; most caisson lights are surrounded by water. It still marks the entrance into Portland Harbor.

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on June 9, 2004

Ram Island Ledge Light

Casco Bay, Maine

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Portland Head Lighthouse

Attraction | "Portland Headlight"

Quote:

One of the most photographed lighthouses in the world is the Portland Headlight. It is also the oldest operating lighthouse in America, built during George Washington's presidency. The former Keepers' Quarters is now a museum that displays lighthouse lenses. There is also a gift shop next to the museum that sells trinkets related to Maine and its lighthouses.

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on June 9, 2004

Portland Head Lighthouse
1000 Shore Road
Cape Elizabeth 04107
(207) 799-2661

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Fort Williams

Attraction | "Goddard Mansion at Fort Williams"

Quote:

We just wanted to take photos of the Portland Headlight on Fort Williams, but we saw the beautiful abandoned Goddard Mansion while walking through the picnic area of the park. From what we've read, a Colonel John Goddard lived in the mansion during the Civil War. In 1900, the federal government purchased the house as part of the expansion of the fort. The ruins are the result of a controlled fire set by the town in the 1980s to gut the heavily vandalized interior. Several organizations are trying to raise funds to keep the ruins from decaying. Maine's fierce winters have loosened the stone walls and pieces have been reported to fall, which is why some sections are fenced in. A n...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on June 9, 2004

Fort Williams

Cape Elizabeth, Maine

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Fort Williams

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Attraction

A Summary of What Was Maine Photo - Fort Williams, Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Quote:

Located on Cape Elizabeth, Fort Williams is open to the public without any admission fees. The 90-acre open space is the home of the oldest lighthouse in America, the Portland Headlight, and the ruins of the Goddard Mansion (see separate entries for both). Fort Williams became Cape Elizabeth's first military fortification during World War II, protecting the artillery provided by Maine. In the 1960s, the town of Cape Elizabeth purchased the fort to build a park and use the rest of the land for real estate. A long debate continued about the use of the land until the town finally designated the entire property to be a park. There are playing fields, tennis courts, ...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on June 9, 2004

Fort Williams

Cape Elizabeth, Maine

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Ram Island Ledge Light

Attraction | "Ram Island Light"

Quote:

Not to be confused with the Ram Island Ledge Light on Casco Bay [see separate entry], the Ram Island Light is on Boothbay Harbor. Unlike most lighthouses, the Ram Island Light is not made of cast-iron but bricks and granite. The light is still operational today and is fully automated.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on June 9, 2004

Ram Island Ledge Light

Casco Bay, Maine

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Factory Outlet Shopping

Attraction

A Summary of What Was Maine Photo - Freeport, Maine

Quote:

If you like factory outlet shopping, Freeport is the town for you! From Banana Republic to Brooks Brothers, J.Crew to Patagonia, you'll find some of the best bargains here! Take your plastic with you, as I am sure you will do as much damage as I did!

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on June 9, 2004