First time I've heard about the New England Challenge was in 2017, the inaugural series was held in…read more2016. What an insane way to pick up states for the half marathon or marathon goal in a minimal amount of time. I've been around the block, but 6 days in a row seems pretty nuts. I've been around long enough to know virtually everyone in the club who's done at least one round of the 50 states marathons. I initially signed up for 5 marathons for the New England challenge, minus Maine, since I've already ran Mount Desert Island marathon in 2016. Race morning started at the Pine Tree marathon / half marathon in Portland, Maine. The New England Challenge attracts veteran marathoners and half marathoners who wish to run a half marathon or a marathon up to all 6 states in the series. You decide on what states you want to do or need for your own personal goal(s). With that said, we arrived at Back Cove Park here in Portland, Maine around 5:30am on a brisk Monday morning. It was interesting to be running a race on the weekday, even though I had ran a marathon in Rochester NY 2 days before. The New England Challenge / Pine Tree marathon & half marathon draws a small field, which is less than 100 individuals for both events. I ended up running the half marathon for Maine at this event, which was quite scenic overlooking Back Cove. The event was small and felt like a training run, even though it's a race with a race number on your t-shirt. The overall experience here at The Pine Tree marathon / half marathon in Portland, Maine was quite nice, quite excellent, and casual. The main thing about the entire series and not just this event is that there is no time limit. Many others do have a one, ranging from 6 hours to 8 hours, depending on the race. It's not festive like many races out there, but you can say that it has its purpose for goal oriented people - like myself. The course is basically multiple loops around Back Cove Trail, which was 3.62 miles once around. We had a shorter out and back loop of 2.24 miles to do initially before we started the larger loop around Back Cove. It was nice to see familiar faces each time I came across them. I did enjoy the scenery while I went around the Cove and it help me motivate myself to keep moving and keep on smiling - since it was just day one and already a bit tired from doing the same thing in NY 2 days before. The trail itself was nice and the only time it was uphill was the part where it went up to the interstate for maybe 1000 feet before sloping back down into Back Cove. Registration is conducted online, but they do have race day registration. Just need to get there early to fill out an entry form and pay the fee. There was an electronic timing station that was basically next to the main parking area at Back Cove Park. It recorded the time for every lap that we do, which is cool. The lone aid station was loaded with food and drinks - you probably could gain weight while doing a half marathon or marathon. The support staff was great, cheering us on lap after lap. It was inspiring to see friends out there to help me push forward, even though I had 5 more days of this - just different venues. It was a cozy race that was nice. Back Cove Park was the ideal location for this race. Upon finishing my half marathon, I announced that I was done and got my finisher medal. I hung out at the finish line area to wait up for a friend of mine to finish. Once everything was in order, we gingerly walked back to the rental car and headed to New Hampshire for day 2 in Nashua the next morning. The appeal for The New England Challenge and doing marathons or half marathons is the economic factor. Doing them all together brings travel costs down a lot, but you'd have to be physically and mentally prepared for such an adventure. For the most part though, I enjoyed my time here in Portland ME and at the Pine Tree marathon / half marathon. 5.0 stars for the overall experience. Consider this race or the series when you are running 50 states half marathon or marathons. Support local! Run More! A+

Always a fun time to watch the Seadogs at Haldock field. The staff is usually friendly and…read moreaccommodating too. Prices for food and merchandise are not too bad. We love supporting this establishment and our local team.

A haiku... Dear…read morePortland Sea Dogs It will always be Hadlock Love, your loyal fans (Because Yelp is telling me I need more characters. Taken from https://www.portlandmaine.gov/1173/Hadlock-Field: "Named after long time Portland High baseball coach Edson Hadlock Jr., Hadlock field is a 7,368 seat classic minor league baseball stadium that was renovated in 1993 and boasts great site lines and an intimate atmosphere that brings the fans right into the action. The stadium has been compared to Camden Yards in Baltimore for its brick façade and old-style feel... " A feeling I know many of us hope we don't lose.)

Ok, I love free stuff. I mean, if you don't, you're probably a bit of a weirdo…read more.. As I was running the shipard half the following morning, I only had a few beers at the festival but the tunes were great and the vendors were fun and full of knowledge! I'm pretty sure I walked away with five new coozies and a whole lot of coupons and stickers! I'll be back next year!

Epic fest. Tons of sponsors. Good music. Nuff saidread more

A limerick... The…read moreSea Dogs are family friendly The tickets are worth every penny Slugger's Hall of Fame Expect a good game But two beers will set you back twenty *** I am currently of two minds regarding my beloved Sea Dogs. ONE The Portland Sea Dogs are the AA-affiliate for the Red Sox. They won their first - and, so far, only - championship in September 2006 after beating the Akron Aeros, today known as the RubberDucks. While the food is underwhelming, you're not coming here for that (so set your expectations accordingly: standard stadium popcorn, peanuts, fries, etc). You're coming for exceptional baseball (because this team has been REALLY good these past few years), for the incredible fan experience and different promotions (and they try and incorporate community in every way they can), for a nine inning vacation from your life (it's a slogan they use for a reason). The staff? My favorite people in Maine. Always kind, always friendly, it always feels like I'm visiting family when I walk through those gates. And, yes, Slugger is now an icon (well done to everyone involved in his creation and development). Sassy, smart, and devious at times; kind-hearted, enthusiastic, and patient all the time. It's not strange that I want to hug him after something goes wrong because I know he'd comfort me, pound beers with him after work because I think he'd drink me under the table (but not make me feel bad for it), and run around the stadium with him like I had all the boundless energy he did... is it? TWO Just a couple days before tickets became available for next season, I wrote in my review: "I hope they continue to keep their pricing structure low and fair so that families, and folks being thoughtful about their budgets in a city where nothing is affordable anymore, can continue visiting for another thirty decades." Unfortunately... and despite renaming their historic stadium to promote insurance and because, well, money... for next season, tickets have gone up for Reserved Seats by $2 to $7 PER PERSON depending on which game which day which month -- so, last year ALL Reserved Seating tickets were $12. Now, if you want to see them play on a Tuesday in April? $14 per person. Want to see a summer game? $17 per person. If you want to see any of the firework presentations? $19 per person. That means what what used to be around $50 for a family of four is now $80 for a family of four. Even moving out of Reserved Seating into General Admission, it used to be $9 per person for all games; now it's $12 per person, unless it's a special game (eg fireworks) then it's $14 per person. Louder for the people in the back: what once was under $40 for a family of four in GA is now almost $60). This makes me very concerned about how much beer and concession prices have gone up too, but I guess we won't know that until April... then again when it's a fireworks night, I guess? Correct me if I'm wrong, Sea Dogs, but wasn't the whole Delta Dental thing supposed to help the consumer? Not push us further away?

A fun baseball stadium! There is no shade in the seating area but the food area is shady. We sat in…read moresection 211 where the gentleman that works there has been there since the stadium opened. It was a ton of fun and we'd definitely go again.

I met some friends here for a surprise birthday party and had a blast…read more The upstairs game's were a bit disappointing, but downstairs changed everything. We played nba jam, 4 guys for a 7 game series and loved it. I had two tributaries and I think that they were 12.50 a piece. The staff was friendly.

We stopped in here to have a drink while waiting on a table for supper at nearby Empire. At the…read moredoor, we were carded and showed our bags. We ordered our cocktails at the bar then chose a booth. The drink prices were reasonable ($12 gin and tonic, $2.78 coke, $14 espresso martini). There is a self serve water station with paper cups. There are so many pinball machines and other fun games. We didn't play any but I think they operate on quarters. There is a downstairs with other carnival type games. They offer a pizza/snack menu. There is a private area that can be rented for special events. It is a fun option, a bit different than movies, bowling or a board game spot. This is a 21+ venue - an adult Chuckie Cheese!

Sometimes described as Portland's "art house theatre", The Nickelodeon is a cozy six screen cinema…read morelocated in the heart of the Old Port. One of Portland's treasures, the Nick has been operating in the Old Port for over 40 years, and screens mainstream indie films as well as current blockbusters. Surrounded by the best restaurants and cafés Portland has to offer, it's super easy to park and combine a dinner and a movie. The garage next door is a sure thing if you're not into street parking, just know it's closed on Sundays. I probably see a dozen or so films a year at The Nick--I like to see all of the Academy Award nominated films, and this is the place to catch all of the best picture nominees. In the past few weeks I've seen I'm Still Here, Nickel Boys, and The Brutalist at the Nick. A great experience every time--I've walked right up to buy tickets with only one party or two parties in line, at most. The selection concessions offered is reasonable, and includes vegan options. Seats are comfortable, however, they aren't the giant recliners offered at the big corporate cineplexes. Also, you can buy tickets in advance, but you are not able to reserve a particular seat. This is a old school sort of cinema, and yes, the bathrooms are upstairs. They are clean, and you can say hello to Audrey Hepburn on the large Breakfast at Tiffany's poster on your way down the stairs. People really seem to enjoy $6 ticket Tuesdays. Otherwise, tickets are $10 for a matinee and $13 for an evening ticket, less for children and seniors. The Nickelodeon is one of my favorite places in Portland, one of the few institutions that's managed to stand the test of time, and I hope it is able to stay around for another 40 plus years.

The building is very beautiful inside and parking is convenient since there's an attached garage…read more The staff is very friendly, too.