A Sanctuary of Sensory Delights
ROOT & BLOOM
How to create a home garden that awakens the senses
A fundamental principle of Terrapin Landscape’s designs is to showcase the juxtaposition of rugged Maine granite with both coarse and fine textured native plants for a timeless and elegant garden that blends seamlessly into the Maine landscape.
Family Stays
The magic of community in healing goes far beyond four walls.
Ezekiel’s arrival marked the beginning of a long neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay. Once Amber was discharged from the hospital, the reality set in quickly: the cost of hotels, the exhaustion of commuting from Waterville to Portland, and the constant worry about meals—all layered on top of the emotional toll of having a critically ill newborn. Then, just when they needed it most, they found Ronald McDonald House Charities of Maine.
Bringing Broadway Home
worth the drive
Mainers needn’t travel to NYC to experience the best in theatre.
For nearly a century, Portland Ovations has brought extraordinary artists to Maine. In the 1930s, our earliest seasons featured classical musicians who filled Portland’s halls with virtuosity and wonder. It was not until the 1990s that National Tours of Broadway musicals became part of our annual programming.
At the Wheel
A car made to go the distance
Built when endurance defined both machine and driver, the 1928 Packard Custom Speedster represents American motoring at its most purposeful. Long, lean, and unapologetically mechanical, it was engineered to cross vast distances with composure and grace.
“People Will Never Forget How You Made Them Feel”
adulting
How a second responder thinks about grief
I am one of 28 volunteers with the Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) of Greater Portland who works with traumatized and grieving survivors. My experience has taught me that everyone grieves differently.
Orange Bike Brewing
Feast & Toast
Where community pours back
There are places that serve beer, and there are places that serve people. Walk through the doors of Orange Bike Brewing in Portland’s East Bayside area, and it’s immediately clear which kind of place this is.
Winning the Spring Real Estate Market
Make Yourself at Home
The insider’s guide to understanding buyer psychology
We’re pleased to introduce Town & Shore Real Estate to the MyMaine community and to share insights from our partners, whose collective experience helps guide clients across Maine’s real estate market.
Now Serving: Hygge
Cafes and restaurants across the state are taking a page from the Scandinavian playbook
I felt this big winter energy that was actually quite quiet, but everyone was very held,” says Nielsen. “There was always something to do––a place to gather, food being made. There’s this quality of being held in the darkness that was very inspiring and comforting.
Pulled by Grit
worth the drive
How horses and skis built a winter community in Maine
Ski·jor·ing: the action of being pulled over snow or ice on skis by a horse or dog or a motor vehicle, as a sport or recreation activity.
Experience Maine
Worth the Drive
A thoughtful approach to wellness at the Longfellow Hotel
Tucked in the historic West End, the Longfellow Hotel offers a relaxed yet stylish retreat for exploring Portland in the springtime, a season marked by longer days, fresh energy, and renewal.
All Seasons, All Abilities
How Maine Adaptive is opening the outdoors to everyone
For more than four decades, Maine Adaptive has been opening the outdoors to people of all abilities and proving that these experiences are meant to be shared, in every season.
Spring Festivals & Gatherings
worth the drive
Spring Festivals & Gatherings
Dive in to explore happenings throughout our state this season.
The City that Wakes up to Love
Each Valentine’s Day, hearts appear on windows and brick walls, reminding Portland that love can be anonymous, generous, and deeply communal.
“We had a standoff. We wouldn’t unfurl the heart until the reporter and cameraman left, but they weren’t leaving until something happened.”
Ask a Matchmaker
adulting
Fewer swipes to more sparks—how to find love in Maine
We asked two professional matchmakers, Jill Hinckley of Hinckley Introductions and Lynda Adams of Cara Matchmaking, to share their thoughts on finding authentic love connections outside of the apps–especially during the long months of Maine’s winter and spring.
Galentine’s Brunch
Feast & Toast
How to host a memorable Galentine’s Day
Gathering the gals to toast friendship is a February tradition we cherish. Galentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to linger over coffee, clink glasses, and celebrate the women who make life sweeter.
Skating Dreams
The Journey of Ice Dance International
Ice Dance International (IDI) has emerged as a beacon of artistry and community engagement in the world of ice skating. For over a decade, this dynamic company has been captivating audiences with its unique blend of grace, creativity, and athleticism. At the heart of IDI is its founder, Douglas Webster, whose vision and passion have transformed a childhood dream into a thriving artistic enterprise.
When the Playground Becomes the Classroom
How WinterKids helps turn frozen fields into laboratories and libraries for Maine’s students
In most places, when the first snow falls, recess gets shorter,and outdoor education moves indoors. But here in Maine? That’s just when things start to get interesting.
Get Outside
Ritual & Remedy
Winter adventuring, whether it’s your jam or not
Hello again, Maine. I hope you all had a chance to get outside during the fall season and maybe even took my recommendations from the last issue on where to bike, hike, and raft.
Winter is for the Birds
Root & Bloom
Not all fly south—meet the species that brighten Maine’s coldest days
Winter is an exceptional time to get to know the birds that stay in Maine all year long. While many species migrate south, a remarkable number remain with us year-round, adapting with resilience and resourcefulness to the cold. We can assure you that winter birding offers some of the most rewarding encounters of the year. In this piece we’ll explore the species most commonly seen during Maine’s cold months and establish how to recognize them.
Out & About
Feast & Toast
Artisan cheesemaker Sarah Parsons Spring created a post-pandemic champion
While Shakespeare’s Juliet refers to sweet roses, her question about what’s in a name can also be asked about stinky cheeses. The name of a cheese encompasses many things: time and place, intrinsic ingredients and those pulled from thin air, longstanding technical tradition, and turns taken by today’s artisans.