What an amazing place. I've come here twice for the international open mics hosted by Jenny Van…read moreWest and the Portland Culture Exchange, both of whom do amazing things in the Portland community. Portland is already a tiny, tiny place, but the people here make it feel even tinier. If there was ever any truer testament to inclusion and the celebration of diversity, this place is it. It's completely unpretentious and unassuming and the work they do with the local artists and people is just astounding. In just one moment you can be taken from the cold abyss into an embracing place where everyone truly comes together. I've learned so much by just being a part of this space for a few hours and it's really changed my perspective on alot of things. I would recommend anyone who is interested in the interwoven to check out their events. It's all amazing.

Mayo Street Arts is another one of those examples why Portland really is such an amazing community…read more Similar to other arts venues in town, it's a repurposed historic church that's now being used for a host of cool things: craft fairs, music series, puppet shows,(my personal favorite) The Dark Follies (Portland's vaudeville style variety show), and as a community space. (Although, I think Mayo Street Arts [the actual brick and mortar of it] secretly would like to host things like bean supper's and BINGO nights... I'm sure that Portland could bring the cool factor back for both and make them vibrant and welcoming social gatherings like they were 'lo those many, many moons ago, and not exorbitantly priced. Resurgam, guys! Let's do this!). My lone complaint with Mayo Street Arts is the claustrophobia factor I sometimes feel when I'm here. It just always seems like there's a million people at every event I attend here. And bumping into and tripping over people just makes me feel extremely anxious. I think my favorite thing about Mayo Street Arts is the book drop/exchange area outside - it looks like a large mailbox (in my head, I irrationally associate it with the Blue's Clues mailbox... though it looks nothing at all like that [maybe it's just because there's always something wonderful inside it?]), or maybe a breadbox; anyway, when you open it, there are a number of books for you to take. No gimmicks. It's like the "need a penny, take a penny" bowls. If you need a book... take a book. If you'd like to leave a book... well, then, leave a book. This is an actual, thing, by the way. My family - for as long as I can remember - have been leaving our read books all over the world (in Starbucks, in laundromats, on planes, etc). There were some serious gems in the Mayo Street Arts book box the last time I was there, too: a Stephen King, the entire Hunger Games series, the first two Harry Potters, a Kurt Vonnegut, and The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou. If you're a reader, please consider passing along your unwanted books through this method!

I love Avant. I started their Zumba classes years ago and go nowhere else. They have great fun and…read moreenthusiastic instructors. They also do fundraising Zumba nights and theme nights where people are encouraged to dress up. (Love those-rep to protect now) Avant and their dance groups love to help out nonprofits and be at events of all sorts. They love to give back. I was a part of the Dance Mile this year that they played a big roll in through Portland! Can't say enough. They do Salsa, Ballroom, Hip Hop, Burlesque etc. so much. Try it ;) you'll love it!

Avant Dance and Event Center is a large, well-equipped event venue. The space is beautiful. Not…read moreonly is it a dance studio, but it has a glamorous ballroom, two sprung plenty of comfortable seating, room to mingle, a café for snacking. There is always plenty of parking, and wifi available. They offer a full spectrum of dance, from beginner to advanced, social to competitive ballroom dancing and zumba. Along with all the studio classes, they host dance parties with live music, guest DJ's and theme parties to make your dance life fun and free. Contact Avant Dance and Event Center. 865 Spring Street, Westbrook, Maine. (207)899-4211 or email: kristin@avantmaine.com

The OPF. Where people come by the tens of thousands to buy local art, drink, listen to music, ride…read morerides, eat a corn dog or funnel cake... you know the typical festival happenings. For some reason, although it's no one's fault, the OPF seems to have the rainiest or hottest weather of the summer. I think the June in Maine is always a toss up. The highlight of this event is vast amount of local artisans and craftsman who sell their homemade items. I also like the kickoff event of the Shoestring Theater Puppet show at 11 am. Going early may be the best time to grab some freebies and some handcut fries... You beat the heat and the intense crowds. This year I took a LYFT ride down... ProTip. For me, this festival is OK. The prices are high, the streets are packed, parking is a s**t show, and by the end there are many highly intoxicated twenty-somethings. Maybe this would have been my jam back in the day, but unless I'm working downtown, I'm probably not going to go.

Old Port Fest is a staple event in Portland come June. In reading a variety of other reviews,…read morepeople have reflected on how it can get incredibly busy and crowded, and it certainly can, however, I appreciate what the Old Port Festival offers Portland. The Old Port Festival includes a variety of local artists, food trucks, and entertainers, so the fact that the Old Port Festival is highlighting what locals have to offer, then I am okay with the mass amounts of people that are out and about on this day. Along with the various offerings and music at Old Port Festival, there are also some restaurants with drink deals, or bars that get busy, but again, it's highlighting what Portland has to offer. I typically spend my time during the Old Port Festival at the Porthole where they also highlight local talent to play music, and they have a great outdoor deck to enjoy the weather. Overall, I appreciate what the Old Port Festival offers Portland, and I will be a supporter every year.

I had a super time in Kennebunkport this past weekend! Wonderful music, beautiful weather and…read morefantastic food! What else could you ask for? If you're a Mainer, you know it's a must to take advantage of the few months of good weather we are blessed with out of the entire year! This festival is definitely one of those events you want to keep your eyes peeled for in June. It's about a week long and you can purchase individual tickets for separate days. I went to the brews and tunes event on Saturday and relaxed to amazing music on the lawn while eating vegetarian pierogi I bought from the food truck (picture attached)! Tickets may be pricey, but fine wines, acclaimed artists, top chefs, musical talent, and the oceanfront charm of Kennebunkport is quite irresistible for those seeking a getaway from it all!

If you love art, cocktail parties and fine dining and have ever considered coming to Maine this…read morefestival really is worth attending. A full week of the best music, food, and art set in the most stunning seaside town. For me the highlight are the dinners hosted by locals in their homes. They feature award winning chefs free of all restrictions to let loose with their best. Each one trying to outdo the others. Just over the top indulgence. The tickets are pricey but it a significant portion of proceeds go to feed hungry children.

Great time at Market on the Harbor. I got lucky and got a complimentary ticket to this event. So…read moremuch great food and awesome wine and beer, Black cherry soda from Eli's was so refreshing. Coffee by Design always great, wicked whoopies gave out a great little gift bag. Izzy was there from Izzy's cheesecake, the pumpkin one was my favorite. So much good food all set up in 2 huge tents, was well organized and had a good flow. Really clever revamp of the fortune cookie by Shuckie a cook that looks like a scallop shell with a message inside. I head the moose sliders were really tasty. So much fun.

This kind of event usually makes me really happy. The opportunity for the public to meet, greet,…read moretaste and connect with local chefs and makers is a wonderful thing. Last year, there was a looong line to get in leaving a whole bunch of people standing in the pouring rain, I was excited to return this year, figuring the entry process would have been tweaked and streamlined... This year, I was once again lucky enough to get a complimentary ticket to this event. It was a warm and sunny morning, no rain AND I got there early so there was little to no line. Curiously, there was also no sign or indication whatsoever that this event was taking place from the street. Anyway, as we waited, several event staffers came around checking ID's and placing wristbands. About 10 minutes before the 11am start, a woman came out to make an announcement. She whistled very loudly and let the crowd know that we needed to be in 2x2 lines for entry, otherwise we would be slowing everything down. She kind of "apologized" for her intense tone by saying she was just a "loud" person etc... It was actually kind of awful, it felt like the people waiting in line (most of whom had bought tickets), were a bunch of unruly teenagers pushing to get into the school dance for the free pizza. NOT a great way to welcome the paying public into an event. Once inside, it was easy to shake the entry experience and interact with the vendors. Some highlights: Sip of Europe-Delicious merengue/marshmallow cookies Black Tie Catering-A chicken cone and mini apple pie tacos! Linda Kate caterers-Excellent clam chowder and brownies Springdale Farm-Carrot cake cream cheese-bought a big one to take home! Leonardos-Smoked gouda pizza!!! Seacoast coffee-Thank you! The vendors were delightful and excited to share their offerings, and on that note, there was one other problem. The live music was WAY too loud! I am a person who is generally fine with loud music, but this was so loud that it was impossible to have a conversation with the vendors, which is the whole reason that people come to this event. I am a big supporter of local music and am in no way suggesting that this band was not talented or picking good songs. Often musicians on the stage can't tell how far their sound levels travel, if there is live music at all of the Harvest on the Harbor events, maybe hire a sound person? Your clients and performers will thank you! Bravo to all of the chefs and food innovators in this town! It is a gift to this city and state to have so much creative talent working to bring quality, local food to the people!

Bright Star World Dance is a dance studio in downtown Portland, just off of Monument Square. I've…read moretaken classes there and used it for rehearsal/performance space and I think that it is a gem. Yes, it is small and, no, it isn't wheelchair accessible, but it is a perfect location and size for intimate performances and smaller class sizes. The space is bright and sunny, has air conditioning for the one month out of the year that we need it, has ample mirrors, and Rosa is extremely flexible and fair. if you are looking for belly dance classes or a space to rehearse for your dance group, Bright Star World Dance is an excellent venue.

I was in Portland with 15 girls this weekend on a bachelorette party. Early in the week (so totally…read morelast minute) my sister and I decided to try and book a private Zumba class for our not-so-coordinated, but dance-loving bride-to-be. Communication was quick, courteous, and thorough, pricing was unbelievably fair, and the class was SO MUCH FUN. The space was also really nice, with exposed beams, etc. Andrea -- our teacher -- had a great sense of humor, was well-prepared, and the hour flew by. She made some great recommendations for where to grab a cocktail before and after, too -- we were in town to celebrate, after all! I highly recommend booking a private class with Andrea. She's LOVELY. It was such a fun change of pace in terms of the usual bachelorette party agenda, and we'll have some new moves to bust out at the wedding in a couple of weeks!

Down some stairs into the nearest bar ever. The bartender was hilarious and so quick it was crazy…read moreto watch but still made time to chat. The drinks were delicious and had options you wouldn't expect walking down those stairs. 10/10 must visit.

I've been wanting to go to Maps all summer because who doesn't want a slice of cake when they're…read moreout at a bar? It seems the owner's wife is responsible for the baking but be wary if you have allergies; the bartender wasn't able to tell us what nuts were in the weekly cake. Very fun speakeasy vibe and the Tuesday trivia nights are a blast! Cocktails are a bit small but delicious and the food portions are generous.

My friend and I went to see "Dance Nation" last Friday night. It was my first time seeing a show at…read moreMad Horse. I wasn't sure what to expect. First, it is in a residential neighborhood about 5 minutes away from the Mill Creek area. There is a parking lot and if it fills up, there is plenty of parking on the street. All tickets are "pay-what-you-decide", which means you reserve your tix online and pay after the show, whatever you decide to pay, either cash, card or Venmo. There is a "check in" desk to claim your reserved tix, and a small lobby where bottled/canned water, soft drinks, beer and wine are sold. The theater itself is very small...only 50 seats, 3-sided around the stage. Because of its very small size, masks are required in the theater, but not in the lobby. Dance Nation was a powerful show about girls becoming teenagers and the struggles of wanting to stay a kid and wanting to grow up and not wanting to grow up and not wanting to stay a kid, all at once. The casting, the acting, the staging, the writing was excellent. There was no set, limited props, and neither took anything away from the quality of the show. I teared up, laughed out and gasped out loud, and raised my eyebrows a lot throughout the show. It was refreshingly honest. A well done show.

Watched 'The last days of Judas Iscariot' here. Lovely quiet location, awesome play, awesome…read moreactors, awesome setup. The only thing I would take away from the place is that it is rather small and therefore gets REALLY hot. BUT, I'm not theater goer until only recently so perhaps it's the way of the rodeo. Cant wait to go back!