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

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!

Great Holiday Show by the POS, atmosphere and seating was perfect. The music was really nice, I…read morewould have wanted to hear more of the Classic Christmas tunes than what they chose but it was still enjoyable.

We have seen PSO shows at the Merrill. The Magic of Christmas and Star Wars a New Hope…read more Both shows were fantastic! The seats were comfortable and not too cramped. You can clearly see the stage and the instrument sounds filled the venue beautifully. The volunteers were so nice and definitely have a pep in their step. There many of them, there to greet and bring you to the general area of your seats. I say general area, because one actually brought us to the opposite end of the row were were seated. It's ok, we were there early and just walked back around. She apologized, when she saw us walking back the other way. As expected with older venues - there are a lot of stairs to traverse if you are in the balcony - this your warning. Drinks and restrooms are not available at every level, so make sure you plan accordingly. Parking is separate and it's not a bad walk - just wear comfortable shoes, so you don't twist your ankle. Security was friendly - expect the metal detectors, wanding, emptying of pockets and searching of bags. Typical for most venues. We look forward to our next show this year!

It has to be difficult to be the Portland Expo building. You're over a hundred years old, and maybe…read morearen't as cool as some of the other venues around town, or are rockin' the best amenities in the world, or get the chance to host the hippest events, or are even located in a trendy neighborhood, but you're there. Ever present. Doing the dirty work that makes our great city keep on keepin' on. So, hats off to you, Portland Expo. Thanks for being a really excellent polling place. And for being a great spot for our high schools to play and graduate. We appreciate the Red Claws and the Maine Roller Derby. Sometimes you get boxing or beer festivals, comic or mom and baby expos, home shows or car shows; that's pretty badass how you cater to just about every demographic. And Snoop Dogg? Remember that? Whoa. The point is, in the words of Billy Joel: don't go changing to try and please me; you never let me down before." Everything's changing these days, technology is making things speed up at an insane rate, and everyone's trying to top everyone else. But you do you. It's worked for over a century, and - while your parking can be annoying and your bathrooms not always the cleanest - we're always going to need a place like yours to do the normal things, the every day things, the nitty gritty things.

Clean, organized. Food is not badly priced. Most items are $5 or less. French fries, nachos,…read morepopcorn $3. Beer is $5 for domestic Budlight. $6 for Microbrews. Plenty of toilets. They also utilize the restrooms from the SeaDogs stadium when needed.

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!

Many pleasant memories remain of our Maplewood Ballroom dance Centre experiences…read more With a keen desire to participate and dance again at this wonderful venue, we often check for when it will once again be available to the Ballroom dance community. Hopefully there will be a reopening!

The venue was awesome! The owners - not so much. I'm not surprised this place closed. I felt like I…read morehad to walk on eggshells to not break rules such as not being allowed to bring my purse in with me (I guess they thought I would smuggle in contraband like WATER), not to chew gum (she said it could drop out of my mouth onto their precious floor lol), no water fountains so step right up and BUY water, etc. I was waiting for my friends to check in and I had to go to the bathroom and she said because I had not paid yet she would escort me to the bathroom and back WTF. I guess she didn't want me changing into a disguise in the bathroom and blending in to the non-existent crowd to get in free? I also had left my street shoes there when I left (you have to change into dance shoes) and a week later I realized and called and NOPE! She said she didn't have them! I also took a class there and I got dizzy and went to sit ringside at one of the tables and she chastised me not to interrupt the lesson and sitting wasn't allowed WTF. The parking lot was full of potholes as well. with a decrepit old sign out front. The owner John passed away a few years ago who also used to be the DJ. When his wife and daughter took over this place went downhill especially with the unwelcoming attitude. I would love to see this place taken over by customer-friendly owners.

Fabulous (as always)! We have really enjoyed attending the Magic of Christmas over the last few…read moreyears and this year was no exception. We really enjoyed all the music and it was a treat to hear Julia Gagnon perform with them this year. The conductor always does a wonderful job of interacting with the audience and creating a fun, welcoming atmosphere. The musicians are so talented and we enjoy the music each time we attend. I also feel as though the price for tickets are very reasonable, so I recommend checking out a concert if you're able!

The orchestra is a pretty good regional orchestra, but the hall is a dead blanket. Sound just drops…read moredead. The place needs electronic enhancement badly. The performances are functional, but always get standing ovations from the gray haired audience. Applause inflation. The performances, to me anyway, just never quite get off the ground and take flight. The notes are all there, but no pizzazz, no lilt, no life. The music is just routinely played. If you love the music, make up a good sound system at home and listen to the greats. That never gets old.

Lovely visit to the Portland Observatory…read more We had intended on a self-tour but were told that self tours would start at 4:30pm...and that before that time, you would have to take a toured guide up the tower. As there was a scheduled guide about to start soon...we opted to take the guided tour. At that time (mid-week in late August around 12pm) there were only four of us on that tour. Our tour guide, an older woman, was wonderful. As we ascended the tower during the 45-minute tour, we stopped off at each floor and she explained a bit about the tower and its history. Lots of interesting facts! We made it to the top to take in some amazing views of the area. Tours are $10 for adults, $5 for ages 6-16 and free for those 5 and under. The stairs (there are about 100) throughout the tower are spiral-ish...so be careful of your foot placement on the narrowed parts of each step while ascending and descending. Street parking signs can be a bit tricky in the area reading "...no parking on the 1st/2nd/3rd/4th ___day of the month..." Be sure to properly read those signs and park accordingly.

My plans only have me in town for two days, so I asked my local coworker one sight I had to see…read morewith a short time frame, and was sent here. Just a fun little local tip. The history itself is cool enough: this was a lookout for ships coming into the harbor before radio, and is the oldest currently standing in the USA. But I really appreciated the elevation for getting a good look of the downtown and harbor area, walking around the tower in the breeze and seeing the ocean peaking through the islands in the harbor. Worth the $10 to the top. (Note: the stairs are steep and there's no room inside for an elevator. We're talking large curving internal staircases. Maybe not for those with mobility issues.)