Get Outside
Ritual & Remedy
Winter adventuring, whether it’s your jam or not
We’re now looking at the snowy season in Maine—the time of year that ushers in a whole new lens to see endless places to explore like a big snow globe. If you are one of those who prefers to hunker down during these next few months, I hope to inspire you a little to take a chance on getting outside this year.
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.
Central Maine’s Cosmic Treatment
Worth the Drive
With noctourism on the rise, Maine is poised for a nocturnal renaissance
Out-of-state visitors have a new reason to add Maine to their travel bucket lists, but it requires ditching the famous coastline, heading inland, and abandoning any fear of the dark.
Cooper Flagg: Maine’s Leading Man
The basketball player’s journey from Newport to national spotlight.
Surely, by now, you’ve heard the story: a small town kid from Maine takes the basketball world by storm. But what might feel like the climax of a Hollywood script is, in reality, just the beginning chapters of Cooper Flagg’s incredible journey.
From Snowed In to Night Out
Fashion Statement
Baking Spirits Bright
Feast & Toast
Chef Tara’s guide for cookie-tin delight
Our Favorite Things
2025 Holiday Gift Guide
The Art of theSoft Christmas
Make Yourself at Home
Forget red and green—think candlelight, velvet ribbons, and a table that glows like a winter’s dream
After decades of blindingly bright, Crayola green-and-red Christmas décor, I have finally retired from grandma’s colorama explosion. Now, the vibe has shifted from “Santa’s workshop on a sugar rush” to “elegant winter retreat with hot cocoa and a Pinterest board.”
Winter Festivals & Gatherings
Worth the Drive
Creating Luxury in Everyday Life: The Maine Gift Edition
Mrs. West Approved
Admittedly, I start thinking about Christmas in September. The crisp chill in the air, the woodsy smell of fall leaves, pumpkin carving, and hot apple cider are all just foreplay for the main event of the year—and for me, that’s Christmas.
In Cherries We Trust
How a self-taught farmer created a blossoming agritourism destination in Midcoast Maine
I didn’t set out to become a cherry farmer.
Like many good stories, mine unfolded gradually—rooted in curiosity and shaped by a deep longing to create something beautiful, meaningful, and enduring. It began with a lakeside estate in Midcoast Maine that felt like a time capsule waiting to be opened.
When I first came upon the property that would become Blenheim Park Maine, I was captivated not only by its potential, but also by its past. The grounds, established in 1924, carried the spirit of another time. I could almost hear the rustle of silk dresses and the clink of cocktail glasses from the Jazz Age echoing through the trees. There was something cinematic—almost poetic—about breathing new life into a place with such history … and doing it with cherries, no less.
We Are Water
“In 2020, we heard from the Portland Public Schools that they wanted to teach Wabanaki curriculum in partnership with us,” recalls Aimée Petrin, Executive and Artistic Director of Portland Ovations.
She knew exactly who she could talk to: Chris Newell, a citizen of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township and former director of the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor, which preserves and celebrates the heritage of the four Native communities in Maine.
From that call, Wabanaki Stories was born.
Hearts of Pine
Mainers Embrace Soccer (and Really Love Those Fabulous Jerseys)
The Portland Hearts of Pine have taken the city, and the state, by storm.
In just a few months, the new professional soccer club has tapped into something Mainers already knew about themselves: They care deeply about their community, and sports are a big part of that.