love the view from here - celeste cota

Tell the tale – part 1: What’s the point?

2013-11-17T20:06:00.000-05:00

What’s it all about? Why am I doing this? What is the end goal? Is there an end?

I’m not questioning my existence. My existence is firmly established. I’m old enough to have gone past the questions of youth that prompt starry eyed angst.

What I’m questioning is the existence of this blog. Clearly I haven’t been giving it the attention it needs. Given the last post having been written in June, it’s not getting the love it deserves. I know I have some useful information here. I can see that people DO read it.

To find these answers, I’ve had to go back to why I started it in the first place. It was back in 2010. I had a gallery site for my photography but no blogs. I had just returned from a vacation and was sitting at my desk at my office job thinking about how I’d like to travel more. But how?

What can I do to earn more money so that we could experience more of the world?
What are the skills I have that could contribute to this?

Photography
Writing
Creative design
Marketing
Small business management
Bookkeeping experience
Desire to travel

What do I WANT to do? What gets me fired up? What do I have enough passion about that I’d be willing to give up some of my spare time to get it going?

Photography
Writing

How could each of those talents translate to the end goal of more travel?

Travel photography
Travel writing

How do you get started?

DO IT

I researched and found that one of the best ways to get started in either travel photography or travel writing, or both, was to start in your own backyard. I live in Maine. I’ve got a backyard that’s desirable to a lot of people. Maine has a thriving tourism industry, an industry that would support the need for Maine travel writing and photography.

All of that is great as far as determining something I could work towards. But, what does that mean on a day to day basis? At that point, it meant:

Building a portfolio of work that was marketable – How?

see what’s already out there that’s being created for this
take more travel related photos – find a way to showcase them
write more about travel – develop a voice – develop a following –
DO IT

In the coming weeks, I will further explore these concepts and plot a course for success.

I'd love to hear your advice as you've managed the evolution of your blogs.

Backyard Tourist: Things to this summer in Maine

2013-05-30T00:26:00.000-04:00

For the past few years, I’ve been a backyard tourist. We usually take a vacation at some point in the summer and go somewhere outside of Maine, but that leaves quite a few weekends to fill with summertime activities and here in Maine, there are plenty.

In fact, I bet I could come up with some thing to do in Maine this summer that would fill every day between Memorial Day and Labor Day. That’s 98 days.

Many publications put out their “things to do in Maine this summer” lists. I know that mine will have some of the same ideas. In fact, I’ve compiled suggestions from many of them as inspiration for this post. They all try to be a good assortment, pleasing all. This is not one of those lists. I’m not out to find something for everyone. I’m out to find things for people like me.

I just celebrated my birthday and that always brings a bit of retrospection into my life and into my to do lists. So, because of my mood and because I am unique but not so unique that no one out there will share my interests, I will put forth a list of things to do this summer in Maine that interest me. It’s not a list of suggestions that everyone will like. It’s a list of things to do that I’ve done and want to do again and a list of things I have never done but want to try. This list is for all the other 48 year old women with a teenage daughter, a husband, a couple of cats and a busy life who enjoy the sun, great views, a well planned picnic, a good book, lots of time behind the camera, funny names, humorous juxtapositions, roller coasters, deep fried things, clever gadgets and a comfy pair of flip flops.

Here we go . . .

FESTIVALS:

Wild blueberry festival & Union Fair – Union – Agricultural fair and celebration of the state’s favorite berry. www.unionfair.org
Old Port Festival – June 9^th Been there. Had a blast. It’s been a few years and time to go back. www.portlandmaine.com
Whoopie Pie Festival – June 22^nd – Haven’t been there but am dying to go. I love whoopie pies and this festival grows every year. Held in Dover Foxcroft, this year’s festival will encompass more of the downtown and have more to offer. Again, for me – a previous engagement will keep me away from the festival. Have a whoopie pie for me if you go. www.mainewhoopiepiefestival.com
Windjammer Days – June 25^th – I haven’t been to this annual event yet. Now in it’s 51^st year, the festival takes place in Boothbay Harbor and includes lots of nautical history, fireworks, concerts and food. www.boothbayharbor.com.
La Kermesse Franco American Festival – June 20^th – 23^rd – held in Biddeford, this is a fond favorite of mine. Experience Franco American history, food, music, and just plain enjoy some summertime festival fun. www.lakermessefestival.com
South Berwick Strawberry Festival – June 29^th I’ve been to this one quite a few years ago and really enjoyed the whole thing, the atmosphere, the strawberry shortcake, the arts, the strawberry shortcake . . . www.strawberryfestival.com
Moxie Festival – July 12^th – In Lisbon Falls, this festival has been on my list for years. Moxie’s iconic presence in the state makes it one of the most unique events around. Fireworks, music, carnival, and a Chug-n-Challenge are included in this free event. www.moxiefestival.com
Yarmouth Clam Festival – July 19^th – it’s been a while since I’ve been to this one. The arts and crafts and the food, of course, were spectacular. www.clamfestival.com
Maine Lobster Festival – July 31^st – Aug 4^th – hard to believe I’ve never been to this one. It’s always seemed like so much fun, but something else always conflicts and this year it’s a family vacation. The Lobster Festival is held in Rockland and has lobster related events for the whole five days. www.mainelobsterfestival.com
York Days Festival – July 28^th Christmas in July will illuminate the Nubble Light house. www.parksandrec.yorkmaine.org
Bangor Sidewalk Arts Festival – downtown Bangor – painters, sculptures, photographers, glass artists, jewelry makers, display and sell their work. www.wlbz2.com/life/community/events/art_festival
Kahbang Music and Arts Festival – Aug 8^th – 11^th – held in Bangor, this festival gets better every year. Music, Art, Film, Go. www.kahbang.com
Great Falls Balloon Festival – Aug 16^th – 18^th -This one I’ve been to and really enjoyed. Not only are the hot air balloons spectacular, the setting in the Lewiston-Auburn area by the river is beautiful. Another cool thing about this event is that the concession vendors are all local and fundraising for something. There are crafters and demonstrations and of course, you can watch the balloons light up the evening sky and take off. Rides are available too! www.greatfallsballoonfestival.org
Cumberland Arts & Crafts Festival - Cumberland – a favorite of artists throughout the state. www.unitedmainecraftsmen.com
Machias Wild Blueberry Festival – Aug 16^th – 18^th (see what I mean about conflicting events – so much going on here) This downeast celebration of the state’s star berry has grown to include pie eating contests, cooking contests, the Blackfly Ball, parades and music.www.machiasblueberry.com
American Folk Festival – Aug 23^rd – 25^th – in Bangor. This is one I have attended for quite a few years, in rain and in extreme heat. The Folk Festival draws thousands to the Bangor waterfront to listen and dance to music from all over the world, Cajun, Calypso, Irish, Fiddle, you really get a world tour of music at this event. It’s not only the music here. The craft tent, food vendors, and storytelling sessions make this one of my favorite festivals of the year. www.americanfolkfestival.com
Open Farm Day – all over the state – July 21 - Farms around the state open their barns, lay out samples of their products and welcome guests. www.getrealmaine.com
Bangor State Fair – Bangor – this 10 day fair is the largest state fair in Maine. Rides, shows, animals, food, the midway, a photo contest. www.bangorfair.com
International Seaplane Fly in - Greenville – this event has grown substantially and now includes an average of planes, street festival fun, food, and an amazing view of Moosehead Lake. www.seaplanefly-in.org
Bangor Beer Festival – June 22^nd - – Bangor waterfront – 16 breweries join forces with the Greater Bangor Convention & Visitor’s Bureau for this first time event. www.visitbangormaine.com for more info and to purchase tickets.

ONGOING ALL SUMMER

Waterfront Concert Series – Bangor’s Darling’s Waterfront Pavillion will host an impressive roster of musicians this summer including Sting, Miranda Lambert, and Kenny Chesney. Improvements to the location of the stage and layout of the grounds will allow for better sound quality. www.waterfrontconcerts.com
Birding – Noted as “the warbler capital of the world” more than one hundred species of birds flock to Mount Desert Island each year. www.mainebirdingtrail.com
Portland Observatory – on Congress St in Portland, this Portland landmark is open daily 10:00 to 4:00 and on Thursdays offers sunset tours. I’ve never been but this in on my list for this summer. The view has got to be fabulous! www.portlandlandmarks.org
Sabbath Day Lake Shaker Village – New Gloucester – I recall going to the historic village as a child but haven’t returned since. Really would like to go this summer. www.maineshakers.com
Stephen King tour – Bangor – “Tommyknockers and More Bus Tour” the author is a Bangor resident and was inspired by the area for many of his tale’s locales. Four times per summer. See dates and get more info at http://www.visitbangormaine.com/index.php?id=2&sub_id=409
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens – Boothbay Harbor – kitchen garden, a children’s garden, paths, a wonderful experience. www.mainegardens.org
Cadillac Mountain – you can drive, bike or hike to the top. It’s the first place on the east coast to see the sunrise. You’ll never catch me up there at that time of day unless I’ve had some kind of breakdown (mechanical or mental) but I hear it’s beautiful. www.acadianationalpark.com/mountains/cadillac_mountain
Acadia National Park’s Carriage Trails – the best place to bike ever. www.nps.gov/acad/planyourvisit/bicycling
Fort Knox & Penobscot Narrows Observatory – Verona Island – very cool to check out. The fort is amazing, historical, and reportedly haunted. The observatory provides views that stretch hundreds of miles. www.fortknox.maineguide.com
Roosevelt Campobello – This international park is shared by the US & Canada and once served as the summer resting spot for FDR. Afternoon Tea With Eleanor is a popular event and reservations are suggested. www.fdr.net
Downtown Bangor Cool Sounds – Bangor – live music and open crafters markets every Thursday night during the summertime. Check the website for the schedule www.downtownbangor.com
Camden Hills State Park – Mt Battie tower & Mt. Megunticook. The view from the tower is really cool, with Camden Harbor spread out below. The view from up on the high points of the trail is even more spectacular, Owl’s head, Blue Hill, all the way to Acadia. The best part is that it’s not very strenuous or extremely long. http://www.camdenmainevacation.com/camden-hills-state-park.php
Littlefield Gardens – University of Maine Orono – gorgeous horticultural gardens. Often a spot for weddings (like mine) you can wander amongst the flowers and trees, to the pond, and through the orchard. www.umaine.edu/littlefieldgarden
Moosehead Lake – Greenville - huge subject, huge lake. They claim that moose outnumber people 3 – 1. Go in May and June to see the Mamas and the babies, then in the fall for the large racks on the males. Remember that moose lose their antlers every year and regrow them through the summer. They’re also very tall and colliding into one on the road will likely crush your car. Oh and the lake is beautiful too. www.mooseheadlake.org
Camden harbor – eat, shop, wander. Take a lot of photos. That’s what I do there anyway. Very cool little toy store downtown called
Belfast – shop, eat and wander around downtown Belfast and the waterfront. www.belfastmaine.org
Maine Lumber Jack Show – Trenton - “Timber Tina” Sheer and her crew are amazingly talented with axes and saws. www.mainelumberjack.com.

SHOPPING

Searsport Flea Markets – Searsport – fun to make your way through the stalls. You really never know what you might find. Route 1.
Big Chicken Barn – I’ve always loved the name. The place is darn cool too. Used books, music, antiques, various memorabilia. www.bigchickenbarn.com
Maine Cottage Furniture – I haven’t been in here yet, but drool over their furniture in magazines. I love the bright colors and spend hours fantasizing about how I’d decorate my dream cottage. Not really, but I do need a new coffee table and something in a plum would be perfect. www.mainecottage.com
Marden’s – any of them, really. I understand the store in Waterville is the original, but the one here in Brewer is pretty darn good, too. Go when you have time to poke around. www.mardens.com
Perry’s Nut House – Belfast – I remember this place when I was a kid and still love it when we stop in now. Just fun stuff, and they actually do sell nuts. www.perrysnuthouse.com.
Hussey’s General Store – the sign says it all – Windsor – www.husseysgeneralstore.com
Stonewall Kitchen – York – years ago, my sister worked next door to their original shop and started giving Stonewall Kitchen’s fabulous concoctions to us as gifts. The list of my favorites is too long. Just go to the website and develop your own. www.stonewallkitchen.com
Kiwanis Auction – Orono – usually falls mid July. Like a giant yard sale and auction for a good cause. So much stuff. The best part – they sell these awesome sausage and pepper sandwiches. Bring a pocket full of cash and go have some fun. www.oronooldtownkiwanis.org
Portland Architectural Salvage – I’ve been wanting to go for so long now. Got to make it there this summer. www.portlandsalvage.com
L.L. Bean – I know that every book you read about Maine is going to mention L.L. Bean, but if you’re anywhere near Freeport, just go. Notice that there are no locks on the doors since they’re open 24/7 every day of the year. As a seasonal employee, I can tell you they have customer service down better than anyone. It’s actually spoiled me for shopping at other stores. I’m appalled if there are limits on returns or satisfaction. I know the prices are higher than at other places but I swear you’ll have the darn pair of shorts for the rest of your life. www.llbean.com
That reminds me: Goodwill – I have no proof of this but the last time I was in the Goodwill store in South Portland, the shear quantity of L.L. Bean sweaters and other clothing they had there got me a thinkin’ that it may be a donation center for the outfitter.
Goodwill in Brewer is rumored to be one of the best in the state because of “all the rich summer people going to Bar Harbor” and dropping off their “gently used” clothes there. www.goodwillnne.org
Mexicali Blues – Bangor, Freeport, Portland, - channel your inner deadhead. Sandals, skirts, peasant blouses, sundresses (my favorite part) patchouli and incense, fun jewelry and scarves, too. www.mexicaliblues.com
Metropolitan Soul – two locations Bangor and Orono – fun, funky, really great place for gifts for your sister or friend. Stuff guys don’t understand, like inspirational wall hangings and pretty bags. www.metsoul.com

MUSEUMS

Portland Museum of Art – When I lived in Portland I went to this museum quite often but haven’t been for years. It’s one I hope to get to this summer. It is home to some of the great Wyeth paintings and a must for art lovers visiting Portland. www.portlandmuseum.org
Ogunquit Museum of American Art – it’s hard to believe this museum will be celebrating it’s sixtieth year and I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve never been. Maybe this year’s Andy Warhol exhibit, featuring 50 photographs by the artist, will be the catalyst. www.ogunquitmuseum.org
Hudson Museum – University of Maine at Orono – Closed Sundays and Holidays FMI on hours, exhibits, events and collections: http://www.umaine.edu/hudsonmuseum/index.html
Maine Discovery Museum – Bangor – three floors of fun for kids right downtown. Critters, crafts, sciency stuff . . body parts, constellations, shipping and receiving, world culture, waterworks. Seriously, I could go on. This place holds good memories for me and my daughter. www.mainediscovery.org
Patten Lumberjack Museum – Patten – with the rich, multi generational lumber history in this part of Maine, it seems that everyone has some kind of connection to the industry’s past. http://www.lumbermensmuseum.org/
Leonards Mills – Bradley – also in the lumbering tradition, Leonard’s Mills is a working lumber and living history museum. Special events in their seasonal calendar include Children’s Days and the Blacksmith’s Roundup. http://www.leonardsmills.com/
University of Maine Museum of Art – Bangor – located right downtown, this museum’s admission is free and exhibits rotate regularly. www.umma.umaine.edu

GET WET

Bunganut Lake State Park – Lyman/Alfred – nice playground, sandy bottom swimming for kids.
Mousam Lake – Acton – There is a small public beach with swimming area but this lake is also a great place to rent a cottage for a week and relax. Boaters and anglers are welcomed.
Beth Pancoe Pool – Bangor – open to the public for residents and non residents. An inexpensive break in the middle of the city with water slides, a zero entry area, all kinds of things that splash and spill and dump on top of you. Grassy lawn to spread out your blanket and chairs. They have changing rooms and vending machines. It’s also a regular stop for the ice cream truck.
University of Maine Campus Recreation Center – Orono – Open all year but do check the hours on the website as they change according to the school schedule. This facility is worth a stop for the pool alone. A daily entry fee of $7 for non members gives you access to the hot tub, sauna, vortex pool (yes, continually whirling water), lap lanes, shallow splash/play area for kids, and use of the lockers, showers, etc. http://umaine.edu/campusrecreation/facilities/recreationcenter/
Mother’s Beach - Kennebunk – a sandy beach, plenty of tidal pools, and a playground all in the same place? It’s no wonder that Kennebunk Beach is affectionately known as “Mother’s Beach”. Parking is right at the beach but does get crowded on hot days. Get there early if you can.
Fortune’s Rocks Beach – Biddeford – a gorgeous beach decorated with smooth beach rocks tucked into the sand. http://www.fortunesrocks.org/
Biddeford Pool – Biddeford – ahh … a beach from my teen years when you slathered with baby oil and baked in the sun. last summer we spent an afternoon here and it was deliciously spacious, clean, a sundrenched spot I hate to disclose. Get a parking pass at city hall or you could get shut out http://www.visitmaine.com/attractions/outdoor_recreation_sports_adventure/beaches/beaches_by_region/maine_beaches/biddeford_pool/
Sand Beach – Acadia National Park – beautiful little beach. Gets crowded in high season and requires entry to the park to access but if you can get there early, do it. http://www.acadiamagic.com/SandBeach.html

TAKE A WALK

Rachel Carson Wildlife Reserve – Wells – Birds and wildlife, a good accessible pathway, and some wonderful views of the inlets. http://www.fws.gov/refuge/rachel_carson/
Mt Hope Cemetery – Bangor – might sound strange to suggest a walk in a cemetery but this is a beautiful one, with hills, views, a pond with ducks, many people run and walk here. http://www.mthopebgr.com/
Orono Bogwalk - beginning in Bangor’s City Forest, the peat bog crosses over into land owned and maintained by the University of Maine. The Bog boardwalk is a one mile loop where you can see birds, wildlife, and plants native to the area. Benches and informational signage along the way can help you determine what you saw.
Eastern Trail – Part of the East Coast Greenway - enters Kittery, Maine from the west at the New Hampshire border, meanders through southern Maine, 65 miles winds up at Casco Bay. Well marked with ET signs, bridges over busy roadways, rest stops along the way, it’s kind of a hop on hop off hiking trail where you can go long distances or shorter ones, depending on your tolerance, schedule, and how badly someone needs to pee. http://www.easterntrail.org/
Appalachian Trail – the 100 mile wilderness runs from Monson to the top of Mt Katahdin and is reportedly the most demanding and unforgiving portion of the trail which begins in Georgia. I’d like to wander on the trail someday, like for an afternoon, although Bill Bryson’s book “A Walk In The Woods” taught me of the history and culture surrounding the trail and is a great read for anyone with a pair of hiking boots and a sense of humor. http://www.appalachiantrail.org/about-the-trail/terrain-by-state/maine
Macworth Island – Falmouth – just off of Route 1, on an island accessible by causeway, Macworth Island is home to the Baxter School For the Deaf and is a state park, with a hiking trail that loops around the island, places to sit along the way, and the best part (if you have kids or are a kid) is the fairy garden. Gather natural items along the way and use them to create your own little fairy mansion. http://www.visitmaine.com/attractions/state_national_parks/public_land/mackworth_island/
Downeast Sunrise Trail – Brewer to Calais – this portion of the Eastern Trail is being developed. The portion from Brewer to Ellsworth is a railroad bed. I haven’t done this yet, but will this summer. http://www.sunrisetrail.org/
The Heath – Saco – This living peat bog has trails and a boardwalk to get out and enjoy the wildlife and birds. http://www.sacobaytrails.org/sacoheath.shtml
Baxter State Park – Millinocket & beyond – This is a big one. Baxter State Park is crested by Mt. Katahdin, the northern end of the Appalachian Trail and a grueling ½ day hike up, then back down. Several ways to the top, all demanding an early start. http://www.baxterstateparkauthority.com/index.htm
Acadia National Park – the quiet side – over on the Schoodic Peninisula has trails, coastline drives, and turnouts for scenic stops. http://www.acadiamagic.com/schoodic-peninsula.htm

EAT & DRINK

Jordan’s – Ellsworth/ - playground outside, just like the outdoor seafood stops of my youth. Gets me all misty.
Spring Creek BBQ – Monson – when the meat’s gone, they close. Bring your own drinks.
Ruth & Wimpy’s – Get your photo taken with the giant lobster out front. I think it’s the law.
Mainely Bar-b-que – two locations that I know of, one on Mt. Desert Island sharing space with Atlantic Brewing. The other on Rte 3 (?) and cozies up with an ice cream parlor for a match made in the heaven of my mind.
Wasses Hot Dogs – Rte 1 & 3 Belfast – in the Reny’s parking lot. Grilled dogs with fried onions. Get two.
Rapid Ray’s – Saco – growing up in the Biddeford Saco area, I recall when this was truly just a food truck, and not even one of the fancy ones like are all the rage these days. Get in line and order yourself a big one with cheese and everything, a cheese dog, fries and a choc. Rapids is a tradition, an institution, and so simple good and cheap. www.rapidrays.biz.
Dysarts – Bangor – truck stop, bakery, breakfast spot, featured on Food Network and loved by millions. Awesome pot roast and pies. www.dysarts.com
Gelato Fiasco – in the Old Port in Portland – last summer I had something that sounded disgusting but was incredibly delicious – Sweet Sorghum something. Don’t fear. Try it. www.gelatofiasco.com
Bucks Naked Barbeque – I’ve been dying to get naked and eat barbeque (just kidding about the naked part). Friends have raved about this place in Freeport, Windham, and Portland. www.bucksnaked-bbq.com
Garsides Ice Cream – Saco – ice cream of my childhood, great flavors, old time feeling. Sit outside on a summer night – Perfect. Ferry Rd.
Ken’s Place Seafood – Pine Point Rd. Scarborough – not really a secret but us locals love this place. My mother swears they have the best clam cakes. I am mighty fond of the shrimp dinner.
Mike’s Pool Street Market – Biddeford – everyone’s got a favorite place to get lobster rolls. Some make the big publications and get raves. This one seems to be a secret to locals. Mike’s makes huge lobster rolls and doesn’t charge huge prices. Get a few to go when you’re headed out to the beach.
Alex Pizza – Biddeford – maybe because it’s the pizza of my youth or maybe it’s the crust or the greased stained thick paper plates or the one size pizzas stacked in a paper bag that waits on the counter for you but this is one of my favorites. www.pizzabyalex.com
Loco Coco’s Tacos – Kittery – I realize Maine isn’t known for its Mexican connections but I hear this place is very cool, with a ton of sauces and a casual atmosphere. www.locococos.com
Pat’s Pizza – statewide – the original is in Orono. I didn’t get formally introduced to this until later in my life. Now the thin crusted, pepperoni and pickle calls out. In house bottled orange or grape or cream soda is perfect with it. www.patspizza.com
4 Points BBQ & Blues house - Winterport – Haven’t been yet but am going to get there soon. www.4pointsbbq.com
Maine Diner – Wells – I know, I know, many of you know about this already but it is a Maine landmark and the food is good. Made it to Diners, Drive Ins & Dives. www.mainediner.com
Farmer’s Markets – all over the state – we are an abundant and resourceful bunch. www.mainefarmersmarkets.org

OTHER STUFF TO DO OR SEE OR TASTE

Beach to Beacon Road Race – Aug 3^rd Cape Elizabeth to Portland Head lighthouse at Fort Williams Park. This 10K road race passes through some gorgeous coastal scenery and raises money for charities each year.
Zip lining – statewide – my first zip line ride was in Mexico and I’m excited to try some of the zip line rides here in Maine. www.ziplinerider.com/Maine_Ziplines
Blueberry picking – statewide – June & July – high bush, low bush and wild. Whatever you want. Bring pots for picking. www.pickyourown.org
Strawberry picking – statewide – June – www.pickyourown.org

Ok – so there’s something to do for every day this summer in Maine. Feel free to expound upon my list and send me your suggestions for this backyard tourist.

Hotel Room Review: Henley Park Hotel Washington DC

2013-05-02T18:37:00.002-04:00

Get tucked in at the Henley Park Hotel

I enjoyed the opportunity to spend a few days at the Henley Park Hotel in Washington D.C. I was in the city to participate in a travel show, the Travel & Adventure show, in March held at the Washington Convention Center. For most of these events, exhibitors are given information about hotels nearby which will discount rates for the show. I normally tend to stay at chain hotels when I go to these shows. I am usually traveling alone and feel a certain security in the familiar. Boutique or specialty hotels are generally out of my budget range, too.

For this Washington DC show, I was part of a foursome representing the Maine Office of Tourism. One of the other members happened across the Henley Park Hotel online, took a look at the rates and the location, and decided to book his room there. He emailed the rest of us and after very little hesitation, the others changed their reservations. I figured that with the others there, I felt some sense of safety. The rates were lower and saved us about $200 off the four night stay and it was a couple of blocks closer to the Washington Convention Center.

Welcome to the Henley Park Hotel

From my arrival at the hotel, I was both impressed and at ease. The staff opened doors, helped me with my bag, and checking in was fast and painless. Friendly too. The main lobby, though not the cavernous entries I've seen at other properties, was beautiful. Marble tile floors, immense floral arrangements, dark colonial style furnishings, it was stunning.

I've written more about the hotel property itself, the restaurant, lounge and parlor on my photography blog. This post will review the room itself.

The Henley Park Hotel was built in 1918 as an apartment building named the Tudor Hall, "a grand residence favored by senators, congressmen and other notables of Washington society."

Like many older hotels, the room I was given was pretty small. I was on a budget, went for the least expensive room available at the time, and wasn't expecting an expansive suite nor a view of the city. My room overlooked the glass topped dining room. Again, this was fine with me, just a head's up for those of you who travel with different expectations. My only other complaint about the room was that it was a bit dark. Not too dark to hang out and watch TV and relax after a day of sightseeing, but a little dim for working. Besides that, everything else about the room was great.

Here's a little tour:

The bed, mini bar and window


Chair with lamp

The room had a closet with a safe, hangers, and a robe.

The ironing board, safe, extra coffee cups

Nice waffle cotton robe

Flat screen TV, door to bathroom

The bathroom

Work desk

Very comfy bed

The details:

The mini fridge was stocked every day. I don't drink so I took out the beers, wine, liquor bottles. About a block away is a CVS where I got bottled waters, seltzers, and fruit and yogurt. I did open and consume the tin of smokehouse almonds, which I love, despite the $8 mini bar outrageous price.

sodas, beer, juice, wine in the mini bar

a nice array of liquors - if you're into that sort of thing.

coffee, nuts, water and a bottle of wine.

The bathroom wasn't huge but it was bright and clean. I love the brand of toiletries they had, nice smelling from Bath and Body Works. Plenty of towels, nice fixtures and lots of hot water.

I ran a bath the first night I was there.
Maybe the second night, too.

Not a very comfortable bathtub, really, but soaking in hot water does something for the soul.

I ordered room service the first night and was thrilled at how fast it arrived, the friendliness of the gentleman who delivered it, and how tasty it was. A simple burger can be a wonderful thing.

The Henley Park Hotel was a very nice hotel for my time in Washington. I would recommend it to anyone who asks. The price I had for the room was very reasonable, although I did read somewhere that prices are normally much higher but that rates were adjusted to account for the construction across the street. I didn't hear a thing, but hotel offered earplugs to help with "city noise".

The room I was in, in the center of the hotel, didn't allow much for noise. Being March, it wasn't as if I was throwing open the windows. My experience was that it was quiet, and I slept well.

I found the staff very helpful and friendly. The hotel was gorgeous and the location allowed me to walk easily to the convention center and to Chinatown. The Metro is nearby as well.

Great hotel - Worth a try!

Blog Challenge Feature: New England Crafters

2013-04-29T08:44:00.000-04:00

Nice surprise for a Monday morning . . . I received a notice from Kris at New England Crafters via Etsy that one of the photos on they Etsy site has been included in their weekly blog challenge. The topic was Earth Day with a focus on green.

Here is a link to their blog: New England Crafters

Very cool.

This is the image link to my Etsy store: Feels Like Spring Lupine Leaves with raindrops

Thanks for the feature!!

Maine Travel Resources: Summer 2013 Vacation Planning

2013-03-31T14:24:00.000-04:00

Happy Spring Everyone!

After such a long, cold, snowy winter, it's nice to see some springtime signals arriving. Crocuses are coming up in some sheltered spots. I have heard some of the warmer weather bird songs in the mornings. The best sign is that I don't find it necessary to layer on so much protective gear before leaving the house.

At this time of year, many people have already begun planning their summer vacations, whether as a mood altering exercise of cabin fever, or because their experiences have taught them that it really does behoove them to plan and reserve ahead. Though I am a fan of the spontaneous departure (in theory anyway) working in the tourism industry has taught me a few things. So, whether you'd like to begin dreaming about your summer vacation in Maine or you're in the deep planning stages, you might find some of these resources helpful.

My top 10 Maine vacation planning resources:

Visit Maine: www.visitmaine.com - this is the site of the Maine Office of Tourism, a state agency tasked with gathering and providing tourism related information for all eight tourism regions of the state. This is a great starting point to begin planning your Maine vacation. With lodging, events, maps, dining and things to do all in one place, you can see that we've got a lot going on here. From the site, you can delve much further and find exactly what's the best route for you and your family.

Maine Arts Commission: Live music, dance, galleries, lectures, classes, performing arts, and just about everything that can fall under the classification of an art form is here. This events calendar is a handy one to bookmark and return to.
Maine Agricultural Fairs: I love going to the fair. Fresh squeezed lemonade, fried dough, sizzling sausages, cotton candy - can you tell I like to go for the food? Oh yeah, and the animals and the 4H contests. Rides, shows, and the midway - no matter which fair you choose to check out, you'll surely find what you expect in a fair, but will also be surprised. The Bangor State Fair is the one I am most familiar with and one of the biggest in the state. It takes place in late July - early August each year. The Fryeburg Fair is another biggie in Maine, slated for a bit later in the season, it often showcases some of the agricultural freaks of the summer growing season like the state's largest pumpkin. Both always have live music, spectacular events and not to harp on the food, but THE FOOD.
The Maine Camping Guide at http://www.campmaine.com is the place to go to find out about camping in Maine. Whether you're the tenting type of folk or want to bring the RV this site can link you to all the campgrounds, RV resorts, and other camping resources.

Maine Camps & Cottages - a sister site to the Maine Camping Guide, this is the place to go if you're looking to rent a cottage or go "upta camp" in Maine. Lake front, beach front, or into the woods it's got info about all types of places you can start your family traditions.
The Maine Innkeepers Association is a fabulous resource for hotels, motels, bed & breakfasts, and inns throughout the state. Traveling on a budget or in high style, you may be surprised at the range of offerings here. Really a great site.

Part of the Maine Restaurant Association, Feast on Maine is the ultimate Maine dining guide. Last year they introduced the app you can use while in state and on the hunt for great food. Maine is earning quite a reputation as a foodie destination, with a strong farm to table movement and the state's allure to creative and industrious types of people, it's not a surprise to me that its getting more and more recognition.
Up for some sports? The Maine Sports Commission is a relatively new arrival on the tourism scene in Maine. Not only focused on traditional sports, this site will provide you all you need to know and where you can find out more about what's going on in sports in Maine this summer.
I'm a huge fan of North Woods Law, the Discovery Channel show that's on the lives and work of Maine Game Wardens. Just thought I'd throw that one in there as a plug for the really good guys who do their best out there. When you visit Maine, if you're coming for the fishing, hunting, and other outdoor wildlife, the website for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will provide you with the laws, seasons, and whatever else you need to know about enjoying Maine's abundant outdoor resources.
Last on this list, but only the beginning the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands will give you locations, hours, amenities, and various programs offered at Maine's State Parks.

So, if that's not enough to get you started, stay tuned. I will be posting more in the coming weeks as we approach the summer. If this is all too overwhelming and you don't know where to turn, simply email me at celesteATcelestecotaphotography.com. I would be happy to help you with some itinerary suggestions, personal recommendations, and additional resources to help you plan your vacation in Maine.

Maine Destinations: Romantic places

2013-02-14T09:25:00.000-05:00

Not to get all sappy and sweet on you here, but it’s Valentine’s Day and being the romantic I am . . . I thought I’d share some romantic places in Maine to visit with your favorite other in your life. Or your other and the kids . . . romance is all in how you spin it. I certainly love chocolates, a bouquet of flowers, a bubble bath, and the other stuff the merchandisers want you to think women want as gifts for Valentine’s Day, but I’m on a diet, flowers are ridiculously expensive, and our huge tub takes hours to fill.

Give them an experience.

Give them a memory.


A string of bleeding hearts

A weekend getaway in Maine? Great Idea. For me, just going somewhere new is an experience I truly enjoy. Making memories in that somewhere new just comes with the package. Going back to a familiar and memorable place is wonderful too. Shared memories bind us as couples and as families. Reinforce the bindings by continuously striving to create new memories and keeping the pleasurable memories of the past alive.

These places are not just for Valentine's Day. In fact, some are best visited at other times of the year. I consider them romantic because a.) they are places to go with your spouse, partner, other half, friend with benefits . . b.) they are places to go with your family, the result of the romantic interlude.


Cape Porpoise Harbor

Cape Porpoise – just north of Kennebunkport, Cape Porpoise is a working harbor. The seafood is unbelievably fresh. You can watch the boats come in with the catch of the morning. Have a picnic on the dock. Just stay out of the way of the lobstermen. Have lunch at Pier 77. For an authentic Maine experience, romantic and real, this is a great little village.


the beach at Biddeford Pool

Biddeford Pool – I’ll write more about this place when I’m ready to expose it to the world. This was the beach of my teen years, on a blanket with my friends, rubbing baby oil on our skin for the deepest tan possible. Ah the days before we learned about skin cancer or worried about wrinkles! Why it’s romantic: it’s kind of hard to find. You have to have a pass to get to the beach. There’s a bathhouse with an outdoor shower. It’s a huge, long, wide beautiful beach. Like beaches in summer, people are hardly dressed, indulging in such carnal pleasures as taking a nap under an umbrella, basking in the hot sun reading a book (my personal favorite), the air is salty and hot and smells of the mix of sunscreens and sandwiches, and you can walk far away from the crowd and just be the two of you, or as many as you want, and swim and frolic all day. Bring your own snacks and drinks, but the ice cream truck does come by every once in a while. Rentals can be found here: Maine Seaside Rentals


Old Orchard Beach's famous pier

Old Orchard Beach – in the shoulder seasons of spring and fall, the weather is mild, the sun shines brightly, and the summertime crowds are nonexistent. The beach here is seven miles long and so wide at low tide you’ve got plenty of space to stroll in the sand. Skip stones, jump the waves with your pants on (or off!), and breathe in that salty air. Do like the summertime high school teens and sneak under the pier to make out. Do like grownups do and get a room (great discounts in the low seasons!). visitor info can be found here: Old Orchard Beach Info


Biking on the carriage trails at Acadia National Park

Bar Harbor – a coastal town that’s arguably the most requested destination in the state. There’s a good reason. This little town’s got a lot to offer. From awesome shopping and dining downtown, to whale watches and schooner day trips out on the sea, to bike rentals and canoe and kayak outfitters to take you out of town, there’s really something for just about everyone. Folks go to walk around the town dock and see the boats and birds. Poke your head into some of the shops, have an ice cream cone, and a lobster roll. Get yourself over to Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor’s neighbor on the island, and enjoy Sand Beach, drive up Cadillac Mountain and drink in the view of the islands, or bike on the Carriage Trails. You can find yourselves alone for remarkably long periods of time. On your way off the island, stop at Mainely Meat BBQ for sticky, finger licking barbeque. Or cross over into Trenton and pull into Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound , one of the restaurants just off the road whose gigantic steaming pots are perfectly primed to cook you a lobster while you wait.

Visitor info can be found here: http://www.barharborinfo.com/


Portland's Old Port

Portland – with a foodie reputation that’s growing by the moment, Portland is a city to visit if you’re into trying anything. Gelato Fiasco on Fore Street. East End Cupcakes right across the street. TwoFat Cats bakery up on Munjoy hill. More restaurants per capita than any other city in the nation. Beyond the belly, you can check out the Old Port and Commercial Street, for shopping experiences you won’t find any where else. If your blood really gets pumping when you shop, you’ve got to go to Freeport, just north of Portland. Freeport is the home of L.L. Bean and loads of outlets, as well as quite a few uniquely Maine stores like Mexicali Blues.


Portland Head Light

As Maine’s largest city, Portland is chock full of culture, teaming with museums, live music, and theater. Nearby Cape Elizabeth is home to Portland Head Light, one of the most photographed lighthouses in the country and located on the grounds of Fort Williams Park. Info about the lighthouse and the park are here: Portland Head Light


baskets of cherry tomatoes

Farmer’s Markets – With a very strong farm to table movement in the state, Maine has a lot of farmer’s markets, both in summer and in winter. For a listing, click here: Maine Farmer’s Markets

Why it’s romantic: earth and seed and sun came together to produce gorgeous fruit and vegetables. The visual displays at Farmer’s Markets, as rustic as they can be, can’t help but stimulate you . . . somewhere. The passion of the people who live to grow and share their produce is palpable. If you and yours are shopping for items that result in a great dinner, well, all the better.

Here’s where you can find tons of info on getaways in Maine.

If you find that your getaway has led to further romantic entanglements and want to plan your wedding in Maine, Real Maine Weddings is loaded with ideas for receptions, food, and guest lodging.

Thinking about summer plans? Everything you need to get you started is here: Visit Maine

Come and fall in love in (and with) Maine.


Relax, you're in Maine.

Travel Tips: Things you might not think to pack

2013-01-20T20:16:00.000-05:00

In this case, my husband’s fears are justified. With airlines charging more and more for overweight checked baggage, my tendency to push it to the weight limit pushes him over the edge. I’ve never been able to travel light. My husband can leave the house for the weekend with a plastic shopping bag’s worth of his belongings and not think once about a change in the weather that would have him chilled and needing a sweater or a change in dinner plans that might require a tie. His theory is that if we’re not going to a place where he can stop into a store to buy what he needs, he doesn’t need it. If the dinner plans now require a tie, either change the plan or go buy a tie – but never take one with you “in case.”

Ah, it’s always the “in case” that gets me. Maybe being a mother does that to a person. Maybe its having experienced the exhausting search for a department store in a strange town just to find men’s socks because he only packed one pair for the whole weekend and they got soaked in the rain on the first day. Maybe it’s just my nature to be prepared.

I can tell you this: my “over packing” or “preparedness” as I like to refer to it has allowed me to save the day on some of our travels. Ok, perhaps the day wouldn’t have been ruined had I not thought to bring a length of rope and some clothespins so that our swimsuits could drip dry on the patio and be ready for an evening swim after dinner.

Here’s a list of some things I always pack for a trip away from home:

Small kid’s safety scissors – it just so happens that not so long ago I had a small kid and we have a few pairs of these hanging around. They’re the perfect size to fit into your toiletries bag and you’ll be happy to have them when you need to cut open that plastic encased set of earphones you had to buy because the ones your brought got left in the plane.
Clothespins and a 3 – 4 foot length of rope – I have a zip bag in my regular suitcase with a dozen small wooden clothespins and a thin but strong rope. It’s been tied to chairs on a patio to dry our damp clothes and to lamps and a bedpost to dry travel documents that wafted into a puddle.
Air freshener – it could be the air freshener/disinfectant combo to pull double duty but here I’m recommending anything to freshen a stale or musty hotel room and – more importantly – the smells that occur when people are traveling on vacation, staying in a small room, being thrown off their regular routines and diets, and well . . . perhaps you know where I’m going with this. Just get some – they come in travel size. If you’re concerned about your liquids for carryon, even a candle (don’t forget matches) will do.
Zip bags – ALWAYS have zip bags. I have a handful of heavy duty zip bags in different sizes that I use over and over again. A larger one is used for my case of vitamins and medicine. (Have you ever had one of these open up in your luggage? I have.) Another holds my contact lens stuff together and there’s one I use for things that have the potential of exploding in your suitcase, like lotions and hair care products. Smaller ones hold jewelry or pens or an impromptu sewing kit. I have a small drawer that I keep my travel things in and when I return from a trip and unpack my stuff, I put the bags in there as well as the travel sized products I return with. AND I always travel with a few to spare for situations that arise. I’ve used them to protect my camera, printed passes, travel documents when at theme parks on wet rides. They’ve protected dinner leftovers and keep all my tech thingamabobs from raveling everything together into one ball of cords and plugs. They’re great to use to collect seashells and also keep souvenirs and receipts dry and in one place. I can’t possibly list all their uses when traveling. Best thing ever invented.
Duct tape –Works to hold together a hair gel bottle that got crushed (and is now oozing) in transit. Works to identify your luggage on the airport carousel – just wrap the handle or stick it somewhere you’ll be able to see as it rounds the corner. It patches tears in clothing, shoes and bags, can be a child safety cover for the outlets in your hotel room, and can take the lint off of anything.
Wipes (baby or not) – my mother raised four kids and then helped raise dozens more running a daycare and loving her grandchildren. The woman was always ready with a wet facecloth in a plastic bag. From wiping our faces at a barbeque to cleaning off the trays on the kids highchairs in restaurants, they served an innumerable amount of purposes. Now I rarely leave the house without some sort of wipes within reach. Disinfectant wipes to clean, well, everything. Baby wipes for the faces and hands. In the car they can save upholstery from costly stains, clean the dusty console when you’re stopped at traffic lights, and wipe sticky fingerprints or paw prints from the windows. Lysol or other disinfecting wipes are a necessity in a hotel room, from the door knobs to the remote control (yuck!) to the bathroom counters and toilet seat. Whether you’re there for a week or a day, it’s most likely that someone was there before you. I’m not a germ freak at all, and maybe I should be given the number of things that can live on for days on the surfaces we touch, but some things need wiping.
Safety pins – as part of your travel sewing kit or not, safety pins are a multifunctional tool. Clasp the zippers of your day pack together to deter thieves; use in place of a missing button, zipper pull, or to mend other wardrobe malfunctions; tack kids' pant legs up when hiking through mucky terrain; even prevent static cling in a dress or skirt by slipping the safety pin into the seam of your slip (the metal has repelling properties). Bring a few to share. You could make someone’s day so much better by having one to offer a fellow traveler. Build up your travel karma bank.
Luggage scale – referring back to my husband’s fears of the overweight suitcase, I bought this travel luggage scale from L.L. Bean. It serves triple duty – it’s got a built in alarm clock and flashlight. I find it especially useful on the return flight when I’ve added items I’ve purchased into the suitcase and there might be some wet clothes in there to just add to the weight. For years, I weighed the bag at home (me on the scale holding bag, me on the scale not holding bag, do the math = weight of bag) and that was fine. I’d often cut it close (47 pounds when the limit is 50 is one I remember) and then sweat it out as we approach the baggage scale at the airport, crossing my fingers that our scales weren’t too far off each other. So now I bring this luggage scale along, use it before the first flight then before the flight home, and in between to wake me for whatever adventure is next.
Small soft sided cooler – we have a half dozen coolers: the big red plastic take-to-the-lake cooler, the huge soft side dual compartment cooler, several mid sized, just-enough-for-a-beach-day cooler, and a handful of take-it-to-work-for-lunch coolers. The one I usually pack for a trip – if flying – is a soft sided cooler without the molded plastic interior. I can fold it flat in the bottom of my suitcase and it acts as a cushion against bumps and jolts, then when we arrive and unpack, we have a cooler to use for our day trips. On the return trip it has held the damp and sandy swimsuits and flip flops and the muddy hiking boots so that they don’t ruin the rest of the bag’s contents.
As always- The Book of Joy – a flexibly bound binder that holds – in order of their necessity (and in plastic sleeves) the boarding passes, the rental car reservation information, maps or directions to the hotel or resort, hotel reservation info with check in times and any prepaid excursions, passes or tickets. Make extra copies of each to give to your traveling companion. Include a copy of your passport and driver’s license, in case they’re lost. Reverse the order of the paperwork for the return trip (hotel, rental car drop off info, flight home info). NOTE: Somewhere else on your person carry a sheet of contact numbers, account numbers, logins and passwords to your credit cards, bank accounts, and your travel miles or frequent flier info. You could put it into your phone, too, but have a backup copy printed somewhere that someone you can contact can reach in case you need to have it. Another idea on this: often, if booking online as I do most of the time, I get an email confirmation of the travel info. I forward that to one of the email accounts I have that will not be cleared off the server by your Outlook or other account. Gmail, Yahoo, etc work fine like this. That way if you lose some of your documents and your phone, you can usually access these accounts from any pc and you can then forward the info to wherever you are or print it directly from the business center at the hotel or write down the numbers you need.

So, if you’re wondering – I’ve never gone over the weight limit of my checked baggage either coming or going on a trip. I know that what I’ve stuffed into my carry on is at times, heavy and cumbersome, but the peace of mind I get knowing I’m prepared outweighs the pounds I’m carrying.

And once in a while . . . I get to be a hero. Need scissors? Oh sure, I've got that.

Maine Coon Cat Update: The Year of Puffs

2012-11-20T20:02:00.000-05:00

It was a year ago yesterday that we lost our awesome cat, Ocho. We believe he was a Maine Coon although having found him as a stray, we were never sure. He had all the typical traits of the Maine Coon: the fur coat with extra layers, the lion like ruff, his behavior more that of the family dog than expected of a cat, greeting us in the driveway when we returned home, his desire to hang with us, and his fondness for water; all reinforced the belief that we had found someone special to share our home.

That day last year two things happened. We had a pellet stove installed and my husband found our cat dead by the side of the road, after two days of looking for him. That day we experienced our first loss as a family. We sat together on the couch that night, feeling the heat blast from the new stove and unable to feel the glow. We all cried.

Over the weeks that followed, through the holidays, it was clear that something was missing in our home. Feline life was needed.

Knowing that I wanted another Maine Coon Cat, I began the research to find a breeder. My daughter and I went to meet a litter of seven kittens bred by Coldstream Cattery in Enfield, Maine. We went in search of a brown tabby male, like our Ocho. We found a gorgeous litter of kittens, six weeks old when we met them, and though we had gone for one kitten . . . we ended up getting two.

Apparently Bella thought her brother needed a bath.

After Christmas we brought them home.

The house was again alive with paws and fur and tails.

Bella and Buzzer are here.

Bella & Buzzer snooze

I wrote about our first few weeks in this blog post from last year. Today I felt an update was needed. The kittens just had their first birthday. Things we’ve learned about these two Maine Coon Cats:

1. 2 cats from the same litter can have 2 very distinct personalities.

2. 3 cats of the same breed can have 3 very distinct personalities.

3. 1 sweet little silver tabby girl cat can grow into a loudmouth, pushy, demanding, hyper focused, in your face kind of cat.

Bella "the Bell" is a silver tabby - here about 12 weeks old

4. That same sweet little silver tabby girl cat can also purr very loudly, be empathetic and attentive, and desperately need to be with her people.

5. 1 shy boy cat can grow into a shy adult male cat who is a bit skittish and hesitant, must be bribed to purr, and defaults to his sister when its time to eat.

Buzzer "Buzzy Boy" beginning to claim his place in the house.

6. That shy boy can also make regular routine of jumping on your shoulders and laying there when he’s feeling the love, curls himself into a bowl on top of the refrigerator to nap, and plays fetch with a rubber ball, returning it like a puppy.

Bella in the bowl; Buzz stretching out.

So we love our little kittens. We still miss Ocho and won’t forget him. I still sometimes look to see if he’s trotting into the driveway when I get home. Bella and Buzz are different from him and from each other. I guess it’s a study in nature vs. nurture of sorts.

Here are some photos of our year together:

My daughter with her new friends.

Bella's favorite toy is a sparkly puff ball and she loves to hide them and find them.

Like babies, sometimes the box is more fun.

A nice spot in the sunny bay window. It includes a great view of the birdfeeders.

One of Buzz's favorite spots is the top of the file cabinet in my office.

Bella prefers the window box for an afternoon nap.

I hope you've enjoyed the Coon Cat update. I'll post more photos now and then.

The Benefits of Travel for Teens

2012-10-28T00:23:00.001-04:00


a teen's view of the white house . . .

What is the best age for kids to travel? It could be argued that travel is good for a person at any age. The benefits of travel, whether within the U.S. or abroad, are wide ranging. The opportunity to see the world beyond your comfortable circumference opens your eyes and your mind. It increases tolerance and fosters understanding. It doesn’t have to be a far away land, world trekking adventure that makes a difference in your life. Travel and education are invariably intertwined. Even a trip across town can be educational if coupled with the right mindset.

You go. You learn. You come back home with a little more understanding of how the world works, how it got to be the way it is, and you lose a bit of the fear of the unknown, because after traveling to a place, its not so unknown.


viewing the canyons of southern California

Traveling as a family, whether the children are toddlers or teens, enriches us all. The time spent together, of course, is important, but the shared experiences are what make traveling with your family something that binds you. You create memories that serve to connect you as a family. It’s not necessarily the big things – visiting the monuments and historic sites – that make the journey a series of lessons.

on the ferry to the statue of liberty, with Manhattan in the background.

Just the process of a trip, from the planning to the unpacking, is an educational experience. In the planning stages, it may well be the adults that make the decisions about the where and the when, but as a parent, you know you don’t make those choices without taking your children into consideration, whether you ask for their opinions or not. Their age level, abilities and interests determine so much of the logistics of travel. Will they be able to handle being in an airport for a 3 hour layover without having a meltdown? Can they carry their own luggage? Would an additional day or two in a particular city allow you to visit the sites you know they’d love?

calling home from a pay phone in Mexico

My friend Tom is an eighth grade history teacher. When we asked him at what age he thought that a child would benefit most from visiting historical sites, he quickly answered that the years between seventh and tenth grades are best for educational travel. His answer comes from knowing that the curriculum in those grades revolves around the history of western civilization in broad terms. In school, kids learn about the wars and the cultures of the ages that have determined life as we know it. They don’t always see it that way, but a good teacher can make all the difference. A good teacher makes it fun to learn, striving to make a connection between the student and the point in history being taught. I’m sure that in today’s world, full of buzzing and bells, screen time and constant stimulation, a student’s ability to grasp onto a piece of what brought us to this point in history is diminished by the noise. The way to get through the din is to create a connection and one of the best ways to do that is by experiencing history on a more organic, tactical level, through travel.

the Gettysburg Address at the Lincoln Memorial

Though history is well documented, augmented and argued, it’s tough to make it stick without an association to it. It all seems so long ago and far away. That’s where travel can have a huge impact. Take the bits of the history that trickle through the chaos of middle and high schools, mix it with a hands on experience with the place where history happened and you have a bona fide connection that translates to learning, whether they realize it or not.

And it’s not just in the case of history. There’s poetry to be absorbed in Edgar Allen Poe’s city of Baltimore. There’s science, meteorology, archeology to be see at Mount St Helens. You can "feel the flutter" of the butterfly enclosure at the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum. There are Mayan ruins on the high cliffs above the Caribbean beaches of the Yucatan in Mexico.

Immigrant's luggage at Ellis Island

The grade levels that my friend Tom suggested are often a point in between the first exposure a kid has to a particular event and the more detailed study that happens in the later grades. When my daughter was in the fourth grade, her class did an extended project on Ellis Island. The students were first taught about the countries that were the homes of immigrants arriving there and had to select a character from them. My daughter chose a girl from the French countryside. They next had to research clothing from the time period so that they could portray their characters and tell their stories as applied to entering the U.S. at Ellis Island. On presentation day, families were invited to the classrooms of the fourth graders, where each class was a different station in the process of entry. Students, dressed in costume, told tales of their journeys and what they may have brought from their home countries, of hardships endured and of hope for the future.

entry ledger at Ellis Island

Fast forward nearly four years and to our visit this past summer to Ellis Island. My husband, daughter and I arrived at Ellis Island by ferry from Liberty State Park in New Jersey. Upon entering the building, we took advantage of the free audio tour available. First exhibit: a considerable stack of luggage; trunks, satchels, crates and baskets served to illustrate methods of containment for immigrant’s precious items brought to this new world that we would see later on in the tour. We stood in the entry hall, heard voices and sounds as they were so many years ago. Medical exams and educational assessment, white tiled rooms that divided families and generations, stories of so many lives that passed through there. We saw graffiti on the walls left by people who waited there to be notified of their acceptance. The building and the grounds were overwhelming with sounds and promise. Towards the end of the tour, exhibits of propaganda posters and governmental advocacy highlighted the turning of the public against free immigration, some calling out to stop the onslaught, to essentially build a wall. It taught us all that the struggles of Americans and of those who wish to be Americans look and sound must as they do now, only different ports of entry and different countries of origin.

Liberty has her flame; my daughter her phone

My daughter moved on ahead of us in the tour, anxious for the next chapter. It was hard to keep up with her. When eighth grade began this fall, she was excited to tell me that they will be studying Ellis Island in her social studies class and that she stopped by the teacher’s desk on her way out of class that first day to tell him that she had been there. Yesterday she told me how much she likes her social studies class this year, which thrilled me since it’s been a subject she’s struggled with in the past.

It is expected when visiting historic sites that some education seeps in. One would hope that would happen.

But there’s more to travel that educates on a whole different level.

The exposure to people, places, food, methods of transport, cultural expectations, and societal differences whether two states removed from home or half way around the world has an impact on the way a kid views life from there on in. If it removes even one layer of fear travel is worthwhile.

Learning patience at the airport - both parties here needed the education.

There are lessons along the way that as adults we might glaze over. Reading maps and road signs, maneuvering through an airport, checking into a hotel, riding a subway, hailing a cab, skyscrapers and projects, backyards of chickens and goats and donkeys that roam freely, landscapes that surprise in their variation, there are so many nuances of living on this planet that are a little less intimidating when you’ve experienced them yourself. You might be surprised at the things that kids notice on a journey. You might also learn something yourself.

a little fun with distortion . . Liberty perched high above.

In my travel experiences with my family, we’ve found that the memories and experience gained far outweigh any concerns about the costs. We all look at the Statue of Liberty a bit differently now that we’ve been there and stood at her feet as she gazes out over the harbor. We laugh about the outburst of a fellow passenger on the small ferry we took from Manhattan to New Jersey. The three of us reminisce about the awesome handmade tacos we had at the tiny restaurant in the jungle when we visited an attraction nearby. When we see the Hollywood sign on the hills above Los Angeles, we remember that twisty narrow road we took to get up as close to it as you can drive and the haze that hung over the city in the heat that day. We’ve often seen a location in a movie or on TV that we visited in the canyons of California where directors use the unusually shaped boulders as backdrop for scenes that range from the Flintstones to Armageddon.

Is it Bedrock or an alien planet? This canyon has been both.

at Madame Tusseau's she got to meet Will Smith . . sort of

Hollywood behind her, the future is bright

The point is that travel changes you for the better. It educates, illuminates, and connects us to one another. It diminishes fears and increases confidence and understanding. With such focus in the coming months on giving, it could be an opportunity to give an experience rather than a thing. No you can’t hold an adventure in your hands and squirrel it away for safe keeping. You can end up possessing much more and having a deeper understanding and connection to the world around us and to your family.

Civil rights lesson at the Smithsonian

Mr. Moose and Bunny Rabbit were certainly part of MY history.

Earlier entertainment

That’s a gift too big to wrap. Travel is the only thing we can buy that makes us richer.

On Ellis Island

Just a few of the things teens can learn from travelling:

Exchanging money – the US dollar vs the world’s currencies.
Overcoming or adapting to language barriers by necessity; i.e. having to ask where the bathroom is or ordering food in a restaurant.
Differences and similarities in foods, dress styles, architecture, and transportation.
That the landscapes and terrain may be worlds apart in a different part of the country or the world but a smile is universal.

holding up the Washington Monument

My daughter has been invited to participate in a student ambassador program next summer that will include her in a group of teens from the area traveling to the United Kingdom. The group will visit England, Scotland, Wales, and both Northern Ireland and Ireland. They will participate in educational activities, confidence and team building exercises, some community service, a home stay with a local family, and even get a tour of Parliament in London by a member of Parliament. The program is run through People to People. Students who participate are responsible to raise the funds needed. Therefore she and I have been exploring fundraising initiatives, such as bake sales. Follow her progress at www.follownolasjourney.blogspot.com.

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On the road: I love hotels

2012-10-01T16:12:00.000-04:00


Comfy bed at Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel

I love hotels. It may sound strange but I do. Maybe it’s all the hoteliness of it all. The beds made with fresh sheets and extra pillows. The shower and tub all sparkly clean with nice fluffy towels. All of the efficient, little shampoos and soaps. And the best – the very best part – is that I don’t have to clean up! The used towels disappear, the beds get made, and all is reset as if by elves.

Awesome bed at Boston Park Plaza hotel

Okay, I know that not all hotels are perfect and traveling on a budget as I do, I’ve had my share of crappy hotel stays. I read reviews and check out the star ratings of the places I stay and do my best to select locations that are safe, clean, and try hard, even if they’re not part of the chain hotels. I think that’s important. On vacation, we stayed at the Americana Hotel in Arlington VA. TripAdvisor.com reviewers said it was run down, yes, but inexpensive in an expensive market (Washington DC) and clean and friendly. For the most part, they were right. The front desk staff was attentive and very helpful, not acquiring the glazed over look of the frazzled, phone juggling, direction giving, name tag wearing, maintenance calling, folks I’ve met in some of the chains. The breakfast area in the lobby looked recently remodeled but a bit cramped, but you can tell they were trying . . . donuts, muffins, cereal and good hot coffee. We stayed there after having spent a week in a Wyndham Clubs resort in Williamsburg, VA, which was awesome, spacious, and generous, like a perfect little home away from home for us.

In room coffee at Seaport Boston Hotel

So in comparison, the Americana Hotel in Arlington had a few things that were starkly differentiating. Much smaller space (2 br condo vs. 1 room hotel with 3 people and perhaps you get the picture), no refrigerator or microwave (these are things I’m coming to require in a room-maybe I’m asking too much), really – I mean really – small bathroom with very little counter space or shelf space to put out our toiletries, a rattling and noisy air conditioner, and kind of a damp mustiness that I may have been imagining, but probably not. But in its defense, the room at the Americana Hotel, had a great flowing shower and that noisy air conditioner kept the steamy summer temps nice and cool. And with rates at just over half the cost of other hotels in the area, I can see why it is a regular traveler’s favorite in the area. I would recommend it if you can deal with the dated but squeaky clean yellow tile in the bathroom and the not flat screen TV. If you’re looking for a place to crash after a day of visiting the Smithsonian Museums and other capitol sites, this was fine. It was within walking distance to the Metro and a mall and plenty of restaurants.

Bed at Hampton Inn Chicopee MA

The hotel I’m staying in at the moment is the Hampton Inn in Chicopee, Massachusetts. I’m here because the tourism organization that I work for, The Maine Highlands, is exhibiting at The Big E, which I wrote about a couple of weeks ago, in anticipation of my pilgrimage. New in my position last year, I hadn’t booked rooms for my group as far in advance as is needed and found myself booking here in Chicopee which is a bit further from the fairgrounds than most exhibitors like to be, therefore rooms were available at the last minute. This year I booked a room closer to the fair for my volunteers, but having had a great experience here last year, booked myself at the Hampton Inn in Chicopee.

When I got here yesterday afternoon, I was really glad I did book here. Within the last year, the lobby has had a fabulous makeover. They moved the free breakfast zone from the main lobby area to a separate room off of the lobby. The free breakfast is one of the draws for me. Another is the free hot coffee available 24/7. At night, I get 2 cups robust coffee black to take to my room. I like to have coffee first thing in the morning, and am not into getting dressed to go downstairs for coffee. When my husband is with me, he does that (he’s one of those morning people) but on my own, I get the coffee, some creamers, and a cup of tea for that evening, then in the morning, I microwave the coffee (I know I know – not everyone likes microwave coffee and I’m usually one of those people but I’d rather have microwaved coffee than have to get dressed). The room, a regular room, not a suite or anything, is comfortable, feels clean, and has the stuff I love in a hotel room – fridge, microwave, large desk with free wifi – a huge plus – beds with four pillows on each bed, a fluffy white duvet, a cool lap desk so I can write in bed, big TV with Showtime, and nice complimentary toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and mouthwash. Plenty of towels, lots of light, a big comfy chair, huge closet, and rooms to spread out all my stuff. I travel with a lot of stuff. Breakfast this morning was a filling mix of scrambled eggs, turkey sausage, one of those pour-flip-sizzle waffles, mixed fresh fruit, and yep, more coffee. They also had a three tiered display case of pastries, muffins, bagels and breads and three kinds of cereal. I like to fill up at breakfast so that I can go for a while without having to stop to eat.

Oh and the showers . . . its so nice to take a shower without that pesky having-to-leave-hot-water-for-others thing.

The absolute best thing: I don’t have to do dishes.

Or slice or chop or negotiate and serve.


efficiency kitchen at Best Western Chocolate Lake Halifax NS

It’s a mini vacation. Ok, I haven’t been lounging by the pool or waiting in lines for a thrill ride or museum, but the little niceties of a good hotel room make it feel like that. At home, there’s always some nagging chore that needs attention, something I have to tend to, work to be done. In a hotel room that work might still need doing but unless you took it with you, you simply can’t do it. You MUST sink back into the pillows and mush your mind with Honey Boo-Boo. And in the morning, there’s no delay that comes from starting a load of laundry before work or getting the recycling out before the truck rolls around the corner.

So for you my dear readers, I will suffer through trade show season staying at a variety of hotels along the way and when I can pull myself out of the plush mountain of pillows, I will write about them.

I’d love to hear about what you love about hotels.


Big pile of pillows at Hampton Inn

Written at the smooth and spacious desk in room 216 Hampton Inn Chicopee Massachusetts.

What’s Happening in Maine this weekend: Sept 15th & 16th 2012

2012-09-14T10:12:00.000-04:00

There are so many times that I wish I actually was super woman, capable of being in many places at one time or able to handle some serious multitasking. Most of the time that crosses my mind it’s because I’m spinning too many plates and in danger of crashing.

This time it’s due to my desire to be able to attend more than one of the fun things going on in Maine this weekend. Our state is incredibly vast in size and offerings, so choose wisely!


Portland Head Light

One of the coolest things going on is happening all over Maine. It’s Maine Lighthouse Day, this Saturday September 15^th. This is the day that some of our famous and some of our little known lighthouses are open for the day and you can visit and tour them. The U.S. Coast Guard, the State of Maine and the American Lighthouse Foundation come together to sponsor and orchestrate this event each year. If you’re into lighthouses or visiting along the coast and want to check one out, here’s where you can find information.Maine Lighthouse Day


Mt Katahdin from Sandy Stream Pond

In one of my favorite parts of the state – the Katahdin area – is a fabulous festival that starts today. It’s the Trails End Festival. All trails lead to Millinocket this weekend. Mt Katahdin is the northern end of the US Appalachian Trail, or the AT. For those who’ve hiked any portion of this trail, you know how demanding it can be and certainly could see the desire for celebration upon completion. The Trails End Festival will offer live music, food, a parade, a chili cookoff, and also the opportunity to do some gold star earning work on the trail. Check out the whole schedule at their website www.trailsendfestival.org

Stephen King's house in Bangor

Stephen King Fans! This tour only takes place a few times each year and Sunday September 16^th is one of those times. Author Stephen King lives in Bangor and over the years has set many of his novels in Maine. This tour is a gotta-go for you if you’ve ever wondered “where in Maine is that?”

Get on the Tommyknockers and More Bus Tour and find out. Join your guide on an air conditioned motorcoach for a tour of Bangor as seen through the books and movies of Stephen King. You'll see where Ellie saw the "Skinny Santa". You'll see the "Sematary" where Stephen King presided over the funeral of Missy Dandridge. Do you dare stop in "the Barrens"?Tickets are $20 per person. Tour is on an air conditioned motorcoach bus. All reservations must be pre-paid prior to space being confirmed. www.VisitBangorMaine.com 207.947.5205

Bring on the pink! Sunday is the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Bangor

The Bangor Race for the Cure is the largest 5K run/walk in the State of

Maine, drawing about 5,000 participants and raising over $250,000 for

the Komen Maine Affiliate each year. Preregistration and t shirt pick up is at a new location this year: Broadway shopping center. Race day registration and the race itself is on the Bangor waterfront, Broad Street and Front Street in Bangor. Registration opens at 7:30 with the race warm up at 9:45am. Here are the complete details: Komen Race for the Cure Bangor


Maine Coon kittens

Another good feeling kind of happening this weekend is the Whisker Walk to raise money for the Human Society of Knox County. Saturday, September 15 in Harbor Park, Rockland from 9:30-2:00. Beyond the walk and the view there will be food, fun pet contests, raffles, an agility demo, kids crafts, a bounce house, and live music. More info here: www.hskcme.org

Yet another pet related event is taking place this weekend in Biddeford. Friday, September 14 to Sunday, September 16; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m at PetSmart in Biddeford. National Adoption Weekend will be held in Biddeford Sept. 14-16 (Fri, Sat & Sun). The Mobile Adoption Team will visit with adoptable dogs from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday. Adoptable cats will also be at the store. Adoption counselors will be available in the store on Thursday: 5-7 p.m., Friday: 9 a.m.-Noon, Saturday: Noon-5 p.m., and Sunday: Noon-5 p.m. For more information, call Animal Welfare Society at (207) 985-3244 or PetSmart at 283-6546. Website:animalwelfaresociety.org

Ok --- is that a ton of great stuff to do or what? Now Go!!

Remember Vanessa: A visit to the 9/11 Memorial in New York City

2012-09-10T19:09:00.000-04:00

She was just two years old. On the way to bring her to my mother's so I could go to work, I had a flat tire. Her father came to meet me and fix the tire, while I entertained a two year old by the side of a country road in Lyman Maine. The tire fixed, I got her buckled into her car seat. The radio came on when I started the car and its then that I heard it. I had been listening to Imus in the Morning. Don Imus was talking about how many people worked in the World Trade Center, how many could be affected, how many hurt. No one knew how far reaching this was going to become.

We all have our memories of that day. I wasn’t born when Kennedy was shot. I was too young when Armstrong stepped onto the moon’s surface. I have a vague memory of Nixon’s resignation, only because my father told me that I’d read about it in my history books.

My little daughter doesn’t remember that she was asleep on the couch when I sat with my parents in their living room and saw the south tower crumble. I can recall my father’s long low whistle, the one he uses when he sees something incredible, natural devastation or an unfathomable horror.

Here we are, so many years later, and watching the story unfold again as the anniversary nears reminds me not only of how fortunate I am to have been able to sit safely with my parents that day, with my little girl, my vibrant, sweet, healthy little girl, asleep within sight. I’ve been able to watch her grow up and have enjoyed the every day things with her. I have lived my life seemingly unaffected by the day.

But aren’t we all affected? Its not just the changes in airline regulations or the New York skyline, yet those are regular reminders. The mindset of the world is different. We as Americans came together to mourn and then set out for restitution.

In August, our family vacation was off to a wonderful start. A beautiful Saturday morning, we left Maine, heading for New York. We had plans to visit Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, and with enough time, the 9/11 Memorial site. We found out that although free to visit, you must make reservations to enter the grounds. We took to ferry from Liberty Island to Battery Park and walked the few blocks to the site. The line to enter the Memorial wound around and through several security checkpoints. Once cleared, the clamoring of the crowd in line was hushed in reverence. Entering the park like setting is unsettling in a way. How can one person possibly absorb everything this space means? The waterfalls that mark the footprints of the buildings seem to have been designed so that no matter how tall, a human cannot see the bottom of the falls. It just pours endlessly. I think that the sound of rushing water is an appropriate diversion from the sounds of the city around it. How else to create a silence of sorts? Piped in music would not have worked here. Who could decide what would play? What is right for one is not for another.

We walked around and read names. Someone had left flowers near one of the victims names. It made me wonder whether that was a regular occurrence, whether somewhere in a room at the Port Authority offices, there is a collection of items left in remembrance.

The names of all of the victims who were killed that day are there; the people in the buildings and those who went in to save them, those in the Pentagon and those killed in Pennsylvania. Some of the names sounded familiar; perhaps they had been singled out for their actions or their strength.

The names that made me stop and take a breath were trailed by “and her unborn child”, like this one. Many women died here. Many of them were mothers. None so clear to me as those women.

Maybe to me, it helps to find one story to focus on in this post. This is what I found out about one of the women who died “and her unborn child.”

Vanessa Lang Langer was 29 years old and from Yonkers, NY. (Born: Bronx, New York). Vanessa worked for Regus Plc on the 93rd floor in the South Tower of the World Trade Center.

On September 11, 2001, Vanessa, who was four months pregnant, escaped from the South Tower. However, her quest for survival had fallen short. She ran as the South Tower collapsed. She did not make it. Her body, and in it the small body of her unborn child, was pulled from the rubble of the fallen tower on September 24th, just ten feet from an alley between Towers IV and V.

Vanessa's husband, Tim, fell into a spiral of alcohol abuse after the death of his wife and unborn child. He died of liver failure in 2005. He was 34.

The phrase "and her unborn child" follows the names of the expectant mothers -- who also include Monica Rodriguez Smith, 35, of Seaford, who was working her last day before maternity leave when she was killed in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and that of Jennifer L. Howley, 34, of New Hyde Park, who was expecting her first child in January 2002 when she died in the towers.

Vanessa’s story is so sad in so many ways. Not only was she killed as she was so close to escaping, the story goes on to destroy her husband as well, years later. Vanessa’s mother has been a vocal advocate for the 9/11 commission and investigation of the disaster. How far does the web of pain thread in her family, amongst her friends? What might her child have gone on to do in his life? How would this world be different?

Today let’s honor Vanessa, her child and her husband for all that might have been.

What's Happening in Maine this weekend . . . Pirates, Wheels, Seaplanes, Dark Skies and Ducks

2012-09-07T09:29:00.000-04:00


Wheels on the Waterfront in Bangor this weekend!

Listen up people! This is a great weekend to be in Maine, especially in my neck of the woods (channeling Al Roker here).

So, let’s start here, in the Greater Bangor, Maine area:

1 Wheels on the Waterfront – the Greater Bangor Convention and Visitors Bureau is again hosting the Bangor Car Show. Having more than doubled last year’s entrants at this point, this show is gearing up to be a spectacular event. It’s not too late to get in on the action either. The weather’s looking good with plenty of blue sky and sunshine to showcase this collection of chrome and attitude. Visit the CVB’s website for details: Bangor Car Show

2 15^th Annual Bangor Rubber Duck Race - The Rubber Duck Race is an exciting family and community event. The rubber ducks will dive off the footbridge behind the Pickering Square Garage and float to the finish line at the Central St. Bridge. Sponsors of the winning ducks will win one of several great prizes and there will also be a special prize for the last duck to cross the finish line. Come join the fun and cheer on your duck! You can participate by sponsoring one or more ducks. The sponsors of the winning ducks do not need to be present to receive a prize. Sponsorship forms are available at Good Samaritan Agency, and several greater Bangor area locations, or by calling Duck Central at 942-7211, you can also get your tickets at the race on Saturday. Proceeds from the 15th Annual Bangor Rubber Duck Race will support Good Samaritan Agency’s services for single parents, our childcare center and adoption program. More info here: Bangor Runner Duck Race

3 39^th Annual International Seaplane Fly In – in Greenville on and around Moosehead Lake, the Seaplane Fly In brings thousands of flying enthusiasts and spectators to the region. Raising funds to sponsor aviation education, the event is also a feel good opportunity to help carry on the traditions. Bring your chairs, binoculars, cameras, good spirit and love of flying to this little town on the south shore of Moosehead Lake. You can find more info here: Seaplanefly-in.org


Tall ships

4 Argh! The Eastport Pirate Festival is also happening this weekend in Maine. Come in costume. Come ready to have fun. Just come. This three day weekend event begins today. Tall ships, Thieves Market with specials, parades, kids games, an Old Sow Pig Roast dinner, Cannon lessons, and Pirate and Wench parties all over town, this is a well organized good humored good time. Bonus is the visit to the Lubec and Eastport area!

5 The MaineStarlight Festival . It’s easy to take the dark skies for granted here in Maine. We tend to forget that in many places in the world, light pollution obscures the stars. There’s a small stillness that you feel when you see that huge expanse of deep dark night sky. This event is a coordinated effort all over the state and goes on from today, September 7^th until September 16^th. Check out the website for details, schedule and inspiration.

6 Harvest Hoot 2012 in Camden - A full day of fun for the whole family on the mountainside at the Camden Snow Bowl. Four live bands......Kelly Parker Band, Jerks of Grass, Three Button Deluxe, Everard Dodge...Grammy-nominated children's entertainer, Judy Pancoast and tons of children's activities. Local food vendors, chair lifts open all day. Barefoot on the grass, great music and food - a blast for adults and kids!


Garlic & Press

7 MDI Garlic Festival - More than 800 people attend the Mt. DesertIsland Garlic Festival. Held at the Smugglers Den Campground, in Southwest Harbor, the 14th annual event will feature local restaurants, musicians, brewers and garlic growers.

If you can’t find something to do in Maine this weekend . . . you’re clearly not looking hard enough! Late summer is clear, cool, and dry here and perfect time to visit. Check out a festival, try something new, explore this fabulous state, and keep coming back. If you live here, all the better! Get out and support your communities. Meet some new people. Encourage visitors! All boats rise with the tide so when we share our state with others, we all benefit. Come and spend the day, spend the weekend, enjoy Maine.

“Everything is so superb and breathtaking. I am creeping forward on my belly like they do in war movies.”
-Diane Arbus

Good Times Review: The Big E, West Springfield MA

2012-09-04T17:28:00.000-04:00

Agricultural art is only the start of what you'll find at the Big E.

The road that leads through the Big E

Here it comes, folks! Each year in West Springfield Massachusetts, the Eastern States Exposition, affectionately known as The Big E, consumes 17 days of life in that part of the state. Self dubbed “New England’s Grandest Fair” the Big E is a BIG DEAL. While open for business for those 17 days, the preparation for this fair goes on all year long. With full time staff and specialized buildings on the grounds, the actual fair days are the culmination of hard work done by so many people that you can almost sense a cumulative sigh of relief at the end of day 17.

This year’s Big E beings on September 14^th and ends September 30^th. Tradition rules here. Each of the six New England states has its own building on the Avenue of States. The buildings are bona fide brick and mortar replicas of each state’s original state building. Inside, the state’s finest products and places are celebrated. There are of course the things you would expect from each state, based on its history and lore, like maple products in the Vermont building and clam chowdah in the Massachusetts building. There are also many vendors whose products stretch your perception of their state. In the Connecticut building last year, I had some crunchy, cheesy, savory brick oven pizza. The guys set up behind the New Hampshire building had the best kettle corn on the avenue. I tasted lobster ravioli in Massachusetts and bought some really cool pottery in Vermont.


Vermont pottery

Each state’s building also has tourism information. That’s where I come in. I went to the Big E last year for my tourism work, spending the better part of two weeks there in the Maine building. I’m not sure that this is the case for all the states, but the Maine building is operated by our Department of Agriculture. This is a true agricultural fair, as I’ll show you later on. The Maine building’s vendors had products that included our traditional lobster rolls, whoopee pies, blueberry cobbler, and what I think is the biggest food hit of all, the baked Maine potato. My organization’s booth was set up across from the potatoes and the line to get one was out the side door the entire time. The line was so long, and the tradition of getting a Maine baked potato so entrenched, that the building operators have had to add a queuing area outside, complete with an awning for protection from rain and sun. you can get that potato covered with sour cream, bacon, cheese, chives, or loaded with all of them. Smoked salmon on a stick was also available. Fine art paintings and beautiful silver jewelry could be yours, too.

The Maine building on the Avenue of States


The buildings house specialties from each New England State, like lobster rolls in Maine.

The fair has special events and parades every day. Each state gets a day of its own, and then there are days that salute the local towns, Agawam, Westfield, Springfield and Chicopee. 4H day, Harvest New England Day, Salute to Girl Scouts are planned for this year.

As you would expect with an agricultural fair, there are the animals. The animals come with their people, the kids and teens who work all year to be able to show here. Cows, goats, sheep, pigs, horses, the whole barnyard is a-coming. I went into the Mallary Complex last year and was simply stunned at the number of goats in the building. Rows upon rows of pens with little goats and big goats, some shorn, others not, the sounds of their rustling and communication just deafening, each of them sporting some insignia or ribbon to announce their success. Apparently, that was when the goat competitions were scheduled. In the next days, the animals and the people changed over in a smooth transition.

looks cozy huh?

Room for the whole barnyard!

Another part of the agricultural aspect of this fair is the produce. This is where you can check out the giant pumpkins and blue ribbon winning berry pies. I’m not sure exactly what the competition is built around, but there are beautiful presentations of garden vegetables. Gorgeous fanned peppers balanced with purple skinned new potatoes and wedged in with bright carrots, the displays are art, or as I like to refer to it, food porn.

Here are a few of the photos I took at last year’s fair:

Chicks hatching with supervision

Piglets born at the fair

A big winner

More agricultural art:

Buildings on the grounds, such as the Better Living Center and the New England Center have demonstrations and crafts, gadgets and bargains. There’s a Super Circus, an Auto show, a petting zoo, and you can even check out a butter sculpture. There is so much to see and take in, you’ve got to plan at least a whole day.

And I haven’t even touched on the food . . yet. Let’s just go with this: Deep . . . Fried . . things I didn’t even think you would fry. Now of course I’ve seen or heard of or tried quite a few deep fried things in my life. There are things here that I need to study further, like deep fried – get this – kool aid. Deep fried – yep – BUTTER. How do they do that? Okay, so not in the mood for fried food? How about barbeque or dessert? The Big E has two historically significant desserts – the crème puff and the éclair. I’m not sure how they came to be such traditional treats here but the lines for them make it clear that they’re fabulous. Put them on my list for this year’s fair food.

The Big E also has a never ending midway, with games and rides, and each year brings in some big names for concerts at the Comcast Arena Stage. This year’s stars are Billy Currington, Jeff Dunham, and Alan Jackson.

I’ve used the word “tradition” a lot in this post. I’ve done that on purpose because tradition here goes way beyond the fair’s events and other draws. What I’ve found, from the years I lived in southern New England to the discussions I had with people at last years show, going to the Big E is a tradition in itself for many families. People take vacation days and plan family reunions around this fair. I heard lots of “oh I’ve got to get my baked potato” like the day wouldn’t be complete without it or without seeing the butter sculpture or getting a crème puff or visiting the Maine building just for a whiff of home (I did that!) or participating in the parades or working the parking lots or spending too much money and buying things you don’t need (I did that, too) but having a great time while you’re there.

SO GO! Spend the day at the Big E. Come to the Maine building and say hi when you’re in line for that baked potato, too! Make it a tradition for your family. Schedules, daily events, and lots of fun can be found at www.thebige.com

In Maine this weekend: Summer’s Last Hurrah

2012-08-31T17:23:00.000-04:00

It’s Friday afternoon and you’ve got the whole long holiday weekend ahead of you. Got any plans? It IS kind of the end of summer. Kids have or are soon going back to school. The weather forecast actually used the word “crisp” to describe the weather a couple of days earlier in the week. And there’s absolutely no chance of being able to shop for cargo shorts or air conditioners, even if it’s supposed to reach ninety degrees tomorrow. Nope. The “seasonal” aisle at the supermarket is chock full of Halloween candy. I know, I was there yesterday looking for a bag of freeze pops (not yet frozen) and had to traverse multiple aisles with a laden shopping cart, only to find one bag – ONE bag sitting alone on a sad low shelf near the juices and baby formula.

But I digress.

What I’m getting at it that with so many obvious signals, it’s clear that we’re at summer’s end. So what are you going to do about it? I say cling to the last vestiges of summer while you can!

Baseball games. Campfires. Watermelon. It’s your last chance to do it all!

So with this post – my first after a few weeks vacation that will lead to many, many more posts – I’m going to tell you about a few places to go if you’re in or near Maine and want to do what my daughter claims is the BEST of all summertime activities: SWIM!

For her it’s about the swimming – for hours – for me its about the leisure and relaxation of having my toes in the sand, a good book in my lap, some Coppertone sunscreen wafting through the air, and a cooler packed with a selection of goodies to last the whole day.

Here are some of my favorite spots for all of that:

1. I’ve told you about Old Orchard Beach in the past but want to remind you that the ocean water has finally warmed up and you can actually swim in it and despite its carnival atmosphere really is a beautiful beach. I recommend going to the left or east of the downtown area. The sand is powdery soft and the beach is wide. The crowds of the pier area are disbursed and you can find some space. Plus, when you need a walk, you can walk downtown and get you and your kids some idea cream or deep fried something.

East of the pier in Old Orchard Beach

2. Here’s a place that I’m really hesitating to expose to the world. I’m not sure how many Long Ponds there are in Maine. It seems to be a common descriptive name for a pond. The one I’m talking about is in Parsonsfield, which is in the western part of Maine, near the New Hampshire border. Find Route 5 that goes through Dayton, Waterboro, and heads into Cornish. Tell your GPS to search for “The Road between the Ponds” (really is the name) in Parsonsfield/North Parsonsfield. There’s West Pond and there’s Long Pond. I grew up going to Long Pond. Somewhere back in my family history there was a camp there, on the eastern shore, but that’s long gone. We had family reunions there and lots of great times. What you’re looking for is a section of the pine enshrouded road where there’s a stone wall, a blocked entryway, and lots of cars parked for no good reason. Go through the entryway and follow the path that leads to the water. Note the signs that tell you you’re on the property of the West End Camp. They’re cool with visitors.

It's about the water at Long Pond.

The beach there maxes out at about 5 feet at its widest. You’re not there for the beach. What you’re there for is the water. They say it’s a spring fed pond which would account for the clarity but the best part is that it’s so shallow and for a lonnngggg way out it remains so. You can plunk your chairs in the ankle deep water and watch the kids play ball or Frisbee in the knee deep water. You can wade out – out – out and still only be up to your waist. Being so shallow allows for it to warm up relatively fast in the summer sun. It’s like bathwater sometimes. So now that I’ve let you in on this one, do me one favor: don’t trash the place. Don’t make the property owners have to close access to the beach. Go and spend the day and make great memories with your family and enjoy it, but let’s keep it our little secret.

Clear, shallow water at Long Pond Parsonsfield, ME

3. Ok, one last one before I wrap it up for today. This is a new thing in Brewer. A while back, a place opened in Bangor called The Maine Jump, filled with bounce houses and other bouncy things for little kids to go and jump their little buns off. Seeing its success, Playland Adventures opened in Brewer on Wilson Street. It’s across from Dairy Queen (which comes in handy) and is housed in a former soda distributor’s warehouse space. This is a bounce and activity place that can handle the older kids and adults. If you’ve got tweens or teens just itchin to get out of the house and play rough, this is the place for you. The cost for the Bounce Zone is $15.00 for the day or whatever amount of hours you choose. Giant inflated boxing ring and boxing gloves so the kids and bop each other around, human bowling, some air filled knock each other over with a wrecking ball kind of thing, it’s great fun for everyone. They also have teen night. Ages 12 – 18 can go from 8 – midnight every Saturday night for $10.00. Why am I telling you this in a post about summer water fun?

In Brewer, Playland Adventure's Splash Zone

Because outside Playland Adventures they’ve set up other inflated things for kids to play on that are either spraying with water, plunk you in water, or slide you through water. It’s called the Splash Zone and is an extra $4.00 on the day pass and is a ton of fun on a hot day. Slide, slips, splashes. Here’s their website for more photos and details: Playland Adventures

So enough out of me for today. All this writing about summer fun, I’ve got to get outside! Enjoy your summer folks!

Flea Market Fun: Searsport Maine

2012-08-14T07:23:00.000-04:00

Traveling along Route 1, through the midcoast region of Maine, just north of Belfast (a very cool little coastal town worth a stop, but that’s another post . . ) there’s the town of Searsport. They have an island (Sears Island) and a funky little downtown with one of the Grasshopper Shop locations (a really great FUN store). Further on, you’ll find a peppering of antique shops and a craft consignment store. It’s a nice part of the drive.

The reason I’m writing about this today is that I was recently looking through my photo archive for some images from a couple of years ago. I came across some that I took one day that I went to Searsport’s flea markets. Fun, quirky, nostalgic – if you have time to look around you’ve got to check it out. Go with friends who like a good laugh or have an eye for value.

Here are some of the photos from one of the trips I took:

Not exactly sure what these are but I liked the light.

There’s some true creativity living here!

Enlarge these to read the detail. It's hilarious!

I had these as a child!! Brought back memories! I also remember a farm with barnyard animals and a barn door that mooed.

Ah the Fisher Price house . . . doorbell rang and everything!


I think we had this . . but didn't play with it much. Telling isn't it?

I’m not sure what it takes to collect all of these bottles (other than a permanent spot at the flea market!) but they did look pretty cool in the sunlight.

I loved the signs. I’ve got a thing for signs.

I liked "my cow or your cow" in the top sign.

Do you see these things on Antiques Roadhouse?

Other neat stuff . .

Thought you might enjoy this little trip to Searsport and the flea markets.

This weekend in Maine: What's Happening

2012-08-03T12:57:00.000-04:00

There are times of the year that it’s difficult to get any work done. The holidays are one of those times. Another time is now. Mid summer . . . July & August. The weather is beautiful, rarely a day that’s too hot. Days stretch out well into prime time. It’s hard to stay inside. You almost wish for a rainy day so you can have a few productive hours. But with so many people on vacation, I find that I’m leaving voice mails for people who won’t return for days and sending emails that are lobbed back as out of office replies. So what do you do?

Go out and have fun.

Whether you’ve been at work or on vacation this week, I bet you’re still looking for something to do this weekend. There’s plenty going on in Maine in the next few days. Find your way to one or more of these happenings.

Bangor State Fair – Having started July 27^th, this year’s Bangor State Fair is in full swing. Located on the grounds of the Bangor Auditorium and Bangor Raceway, this is one of the largest and longest running agricultural fairs in the nation. The midway and games, rides and concessions are pure carnival. Attendees come from everywhere and people watching (if you’re into that kind of thing) is part of the fun. One thing that makes this a true Maine show is the lobster roll eating contest, taking place August 3. Some of the live shows have come to Bangor before and some are new experiences for visitors. One repeat performer is the Disc-Connected K9s show. I’d go back and see this one again and again. The show team trains rescue dogs from all over the world to catch flying discs and jump on their shoulders and show off their agility. You can even get a mini disc “autographed” with bite marks by one of the dogs. More food than should be allowed, a great agricultural set up in the Bangor Raceway barns, a photo contest, all kinds of 4H contests, and a live BMX bike show. Admission is $12.00 for all ages and it allows access to all shows and unlimited amusement rides. More info here: www.bangorstatefair.com.

Maine Fairy House Festival – at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay is an event that I attended two years ago. Such a fun time for kids and grownups. Lose yourself in imagining a world where fairies giggle and hide in the woodlands and garden. Build Fairy Houses with your kids. The Botanical Gardens prepares areas for doing just that, and somehow there’s just enough decorating material to build a great house.

The gardens themselves are spectacular. I especially loved the Burpee kitchen garden full of fresh herbs and the Alfond children’s garden. The children’s garden has a vegetable garden and a keeper’s cottage. Live performances, crafts, the oh so fun bubble machine, and food make for a fun time. All I have to say on this one – if you’re in the area – GO – here’s more info and directions and some beautiful photos of the gardens http://www.mainegardens.org/calendar/maine-fairy-house-festival

Maine Lobster Festival – In Rockland, this festival’s claim as “the original lobster festival” can’t be disputed by many. A tradition for 65 years, it has grown into an event that its creators might not have imagined. It has gone well beyond the expected lobster related food and fun. Arts & crafts, maritime displays and demonstrations, and live entertainment. www.mainelobsterfestival.com

Maine Comedy Festival – being held at the Bethel Inn Resort, funny people and a golf tournament to boot. www.mainecomedyfest.com. They’ve got some big names and expect big laughs. If you’re visiting or live in western Maine, you might want to check this out.

WLBZ Sidewalk Art Festival – Between the Bangor Fair and this event, my little part of the state is really hopping this weekend. This art festival grows every year. It’s great to get out and get inspired by other artists and perhaps get your hands on something really cool. Check it out at www.wlbz2.com.

84th annual Kennebunk Antiques Show and Sale - Held on Saturday and Sunday, August 4 & 5, at the Kennebunk High School gymnasium. Sponsored by the Animal Welfare Society, Inc, this year's show will again have 30 exhibitors from several states selling antiques in every area of the antiques market. Known for its tremendous selection of fine antique glass, fine antique china and antique and estate jewelry, this year’s show will also include Period and country furniture, Folk Art, primitives, Americana, Silver, historical Staffordshire, hand-painted china, pottery, decoys, paintings, prints, Fine Art, linens, postcards & ephemera, and Oriental porcelains. Come early, have lunch & enjoy. For more info, directions and schedule www.goosefareantiques.com/

Okay so if none of this inspired you to get off your couch and go play, you’re really missing out on some great stuff.

Head’s up for next weekend (11^th & 12^th) – start making plans for

Downtown Bangor’s Artwalk – August 10^th

http://artwalkmaine.org/bangor/

Kahbang Music and Arts Festival begins

http://www.kahbang.com/

Real Maine: Reality Check; Part 1

2012-07-26T08:55:00.000-04:00

When I talk to people about Maine, it's usually about all the things you can do here. Shop, eat, hike, bike, relax, swim, boat, and we'll do our best to accommodate whatever else you can think of. But like everywhere in the world, there are truths and fallacies. I have compiled a listing of some common misconceptions about Maine and the realities that real Mainers know.

True: there are moose in Maine

False: moose are everywhere

No, moose are not running rampant throughout the state. We don’t all have them wandering into the backyard barbeque or holding up traffic downtown. Yes, there are moose here. In fact, in some places, like Moosehead Lake (hence the name) and in the Katahdin region and in the space between like the 100 mile wilderness, they say moose outnumber people. I live in the city, albeit a small city, but in my daily travels here I don’t encounter moose. When I was growing up in southern Maine, there was a family legend about a moose trotting up into the yard one morning, very early, and peeking in the windows. There was also a story about a moose on the golf course in Bangor during a tournament, but I’m not very clear on that one.

If seeing a moose is on your bucket list and one of the goals of your visit to Maine is to cross that one off, you will want to be certain that you will see a moose. I suggest that you contact one of the great outfits that offer moose safaris or moose photo tours. Here's a couple to get you started: Moose Photo Tours or Maine Moose Safari. Google "moose tours" or visit the websites for the Moosehead Lake Chamber of Commerce or the Katahdin Area Chamber of Commerce.

True: you can visit the beautiful beaches of York and Ogunquit and you can have a great lunch in Boothbay Harbor overlooking it all and you can go on a whale watch from Bar Harbor.

False: you can do that in one day

I read the reviews and forums on TripAdvisor.com and on Frommer’s to name a couple and I’m astounded at what people think they can accomplish in one 24 hour period in Maine. People seem to believe that they can just “hop” off the interstate and “pop” into Boothbay Harbor for a quick bite. That “hop” can take hours in the summer, with traffic backed up for miles and the “pop” can mean some time waiting for a table or finding a parking space. I’m not trying to discourage visitors – just trying to manage expectations. Maine may be a place you can get away from it all in spirit but many parts of the state are just as busy as urban areas around the country. Just be realistic about it and have a good, relaxed time. You can leave your uptight suit at home. Know we’ve got traffic and waiting for a table at a good restaurant just like you have at home. Also know that most people here will wave you into that traffic and that the restaurant you’re going to eat at has seafood that was caught this morning. The people are what makes the difference here.

True: you can eat lobster and blueberry pie every day of your Maine vacation

False: don’t bother coming if you’re not into lobster or blueberry pie

Maine is carefully crafting a culture of culinary excellence. Back in the late 90’s Bon Appetit magazine declared that Portland, Maine had more restaurants per capita than any other city in the US. Since then, the food scene here has just exploded in a great way. The farm to table movement is big here, as is the boat to table concept. Every season offers something fresh and delicious.

The Maine Restaurant Association's website can give you listings of where you can eat in the part of Maine you are visiting. They have a great new app that you can use while you're here to make decisions, make reservations, and make your trip mouthwateringly awesome.

True – you can drive 75 miles per hour in Maine

False – that starts at the border

There’s a show that I’ve attended in my role as marketing person for our tourism region. It’s called the Big E or the Eastern States Exhibition. It is held each year in West Springfield MA and goes on for 17 days. Each of the New England states has their own building on the Avenue of States. My organization, The Maine Highlands, was, of course, in the Maine building. I’m telling you this because it ties in with my true/false above. Dozens of people came up to the map we had displayed and asked “Where is it you can drive 75 miles per hour?” said with a dreamy, I’ve-got-to-do-that voice. When I explain that the 75 MPH area begins just north of Old Town and I point to where that is – about 3 ½ hours after you cross the border on 95 from NH, they get either a depressed droop of the shoulders or a determined I’m-gonna-go-there-someday look.

The speed limit was raised last September. The interstate is pretty darn straight and other than trees and the occasional deer or moose (see above) and the other drivers, there's a pretty clear path. Here's some info about it from the Bangor Daily News. The increased speed zone begins in Old Town and ends at the Canadian border in Houlton.

True – you can visit up and down the coast’s quaint little harbors & coves

False – you can just meander along the coast, weaving in and out of the villages, snapping iconic photos along the way

Maine has 3500 miles of coastline. Do you realize how many “meanders” that is? A LOT! And if something looks like it’s only this far on the map, take into consideration the things I mentioned above, like traffic, and then factor in getting stuck behind a tractor or someone else looking for quaint harbors and plan to see a few in a day. If you actually get out of your car you might enjoy the experience more. Many times has the traveler laden with luggage poked a camera covered eye out of the passenger side window, snapped a photo for their “Maine” scrapbook, and drove off in a spew of dust and rock, anxious to get to the next place. There is a better connection waiting for you if you get out and walk around a bit. Check out the lobster boats and the general store. We’re a friendly lot. You might find something more interesting to take a photo of beyond the typical boats-in-the-harbor (although this is a very popular image, I must admit) scene. Smell the harbor . . . BE the harbor . . ok, I’m kidding there, but really, if you want a Maine experience, get out of the damn car!

True – Mainers have an accent

False – ALL Mainers have an accent

Some do, of course, have that Maine accent that is noted on the bumper stickers about not getting there from here. There are some people who personify the “Mainer” you see in commercials and movies. What you’ll find more than the stereotype is that most of us are like most of you. We like to have fun. We love our kids. We enjoy good food. We want to find some larger role to play in the world. Some of us have French accents from the large influence of French Canadian heritage. Some speak more than one language and those other languages can be Spanish or Sudanese. Or Arabic or Swedish. Just like the rest of the country, we're a mixed bunch of people, some born here and some "from away" who have made the choice to live here.

The Maine accent is a real thing, but don't expect it from the first person you meet when you come to Maine. You're just as likely to meet someone whose path had led them there as you are to meet someone whose feet first hit the ground here. For a few years, I worked in an office at the University of Maine in Orono where out of twelve of us, there were only four of us that were born Mainers. That's only a third. Everyone else had come here for other reasons. One moved with her family from New Orleans when she was in middle school, the daughter of faculty. Another moved here from Rhode Island when her husband's parents were ailing. Someone else moved from Austin TX to Boston for his education then married a woman who became an economics professor. My point is that you just never know where we are from originally and what brought us here to Maine. But you can ask. And we'll tell you. And you might find that we have more in common than you originally thought.

Maine Tourism statistics show that 80% of the people who visit Maine the first time come back. My guess is that they find so much to do, they end up making a list of what to do on their next trip. Those choices are solidified by the great experiences they have with the people here.

So just come to Maine and see for yourself what we're all about. Visit anytime.

Some websites to help you out:

VisitMaine.com
The Maine Highlands
Visit Bangor Maine
The Maine Beaches
Maine Camping Guide

Send me your comments and your Maine "truisms". I'll make it part of my Part 2 of this series about the real Maine.

FREE STUFF!

2012-06-22T16:38:00.000-04:00

Who can resist free stuff? It seems foolish to pass it up, right? Who couldn’t use another rubber jar opener or keychain or tote bag?

Me.

A year ago you wouldn’t have heard me say that. I’ve always loved the little freebies. As this year has rolled on, I’ve done some work related traveling that took me to different consumer shows – travel shows, travel industry events, shows sponsored by magazines and newspapers – and at all of these, people flock to the tables with the free stuff. Everyone grabs something. I would stroll by them, glace at the table and the grinning salesperson (I assumed), and try to graciously snag whatever item was up for grabs. After one show, I can home with a large, heavy tote bag, loaded with brochures and catalogs of places I want to visit someday and . . . . wait for it . . . more tote bags!! Flash drives, bottle holders, lots and lots of pens, magnets, clips, small notepads, and water bottles.

The lure of free stuff extends beyond the giveaways at trade shows. That’s marketing. It’s meant for you to take and use and maybe remember the business when you need a limo to the airport.

But the free stuff isn’t really free. It comes with a cost. For that travel show where I got all the stuff, the cost was an aching back and shoulder from carrying it around, the loss of time and space trying to figure out where and how to store this “reference” material, and just another square foot of my home filled. Is this what I’m paying the mortgage for?

George Carlin used to say that our homes are just a place for our stuff. My stuff happens to fill up a two story Cape style home with a basement and garage. We pay the mortgage to house this stuff and what of it do we actually need?

These thoughts come to mind a lot lately. I’ve been reading books about minimalism and seriously considering what surrounds me and the associated costs. I’m not talking the monetary costs, although that is a part of it, but the costs to psyche from the added stress of maintaining the stuff, storing the stuff, and shopping for more stuff.

There are a whole bunch of people out there who write about the joys of less stuff. Who would have thought?

Some of the books I’ve read recently include:

Miss Minimalist – Inspiration to downsize, declutter, and simplify by Francine Jay

This is the one that started it. I was in my hotel room in New York with my Kindle and somehow searching for “simplify my life” brought me to her book. It inspired me in that she kept reminding me that less stuff means more travel, and I like travel. I did find her a bit extreme, though, and couldn’t imagine living in a space without art on the walls. Here’s her website: http://www.missminimalist.com/

Simplify – 7 guiding principles to help anyone decluttertheir home and life by Joshua Becker. Joshua and his wife were doing what many homeowners in suburbia do, clean out the garage, when it occurred to him that if he got rid of some of the stuff, he’d be able to spend more quality time with said wife and their children. He wasn’t as extreme, and I think my goal would be along these lines. Here is his website: www.becomingminimalist.com

Minimalism - Live a meaningful life by Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus. Two young guys, friends for years, plodding down the road into adulthood, doing what we’re all told to do, go out and get a job and be successful, but after a few years of “success” – making big money, buying lots of big stuff, carrying big debt – all the while feeling like something’s missing – big time. They shed their stuff, downsize, get rid of their crap, and now write and lecture about the minimalist lifestyle. Here’s their website: www.theminimalists.com. If you go to Amazon today and tomorrow (June 22^nd & 23^rd, 2012) you can download Millburn’s new book, After the Crash for free.

How to start a freedom business by Colin Wright I love his idea of traveling full time and living wherever the urge takes him. I’m not sure that I could do that but I’d be willing to try traveling for a while. I think it’s the idea of not having any roots whatsoever that throws me. Here’s his website: http://exilelifestyle.com/

And I liked this post on Julien Smith’s blog: http://inoveryourhead.net/the-short-16-step-guide-to-getting-rid-of-your-crap/

Especially # 6 . . . I have a spare room like that. It’s only a place for stuff. No one has lived in it.

So this ought to get you started down the road. Seems odd to suggest you buy more stuff to learn how to get rid of old stuff. My Kindle is bearing the weight of my purchases. At least I don’t have 4 (or more!) actual paper books to add to my already cluttered bookshelves.

Now I’ve got to start getting rid of my crap. And stop bringing in more crap. I read this earlier today – sorry but I’m not sure where to attribute it –

It went something like:

Step 1: Rent a dumpster.
Step 2: Put your stuff in it.

The more you let go, the easier it is to let go, and the freer you become.

Things to do in Maine this weekend

2012-06-15T12:17:00.002-04:00

Ripped sand at Hills Beach in Biddeford, Maine

It’s summer in Maine – my favorite time in my favorite place to be – and there’s always a lot to do. I’ve been looking at my calendar and it seems that there are not enough weekends to do everything I want to do.

I have a family event this weekend but if I didn’t I’d be checking out some of these fun things!

Some of this weekend’s events include:

1. The Annual Lupine Festival, held in Deer Isle – celebrates these vibrant, summertime flowers that bloom in June and make me smile. More info here: www.deerisle.com

2. Legacy of the Arts Festival, June 17^th in Bar Harbor – Live music, art exhibits, demonstrations and historic tours at a variety of sites around town in celebration of the area’s rich history of art, music, Native American culture and more. More info here: www.legacyartsfestival.com

Native American handmade baskets

3. One of my favorites . . . The Downtown Bangor ARTWALK – it’s a gorgeous day in mid June, the days are long and you can stroll from studio to shop to museum and check out some great art, music, and awesome people. Look for some of my work available for sale at a few of the shops! Here’s where you can get more info - Art walk maps listing the participating venues and featured artists will be available at The University of Maine Museum of Art, Metropolitan Soul, and One Lupine Fiber Arts. Additional information can be found at www.downtownartscollaborative.org

4. In the Greenville area – join the fun at Moose Mainea, a month long celebration of the area's favorite resident - The Moose. The events include a town wide yard sale, craft fair, kids fun day and more. For info phone (207) 695-2702 or see our Facebook page.

5. In Wells - Beach Bike Ride for Charity was founded in 2010 by a pair of Wells resident families and a couple of young sports/technology enthusiasts looking to give something back to the community. The ride has been a huge success. In it's first year the ride attracted over fifty riders and raised over $8,000. The second year, the ridership doubled with over 100 riders and raised a whopping $11,000 for charity. More info here: www.beachbikeride.org

Bike at Casco Bay

I know I know, the screens need cleaning and the garden already needs to be weeded and you’ve got to figure out what to do with the patch in the front lawn that the grubs attacked. There are a million reasons not to go to one of these events, or any of the others that are happening all over the state. I am running the list through my head right now.

Obligations and to do’s so often get in the way of the things we’ll truly remember. Your kids won’t look back fondly at how great the bushes looked when they were young. They’ll remember the time you all danced under the tent at the American Folk Festival (www.americanfolkfestival.com) or how often you rode bikes to Jimmie’s Ice Cream (North Main St. Brewer) for a cone that melted faster than you could eat it.

So get up and get out there and have a fun weekend everyone!

Summer is here! A visit to Old Orchard Beach

2012-06-05T18:19:00.000-04:00

I love Old Orchard Beach, Maine. Always a signal of summer’s arrival, a few hours at Old Orchard just spins you right into summer mode. The vinegary pier fries, the fried dough dusted (very liberally) with powdered sugar and cinnamon, the classic Lisa’s Pizza, it all brings me back.

Growing up in southern Maine, Old Orchard Beach wasn’t as much a regular thing as you’d think, living only a few miles away. For my family, with four kids, the cost of the rides and the food made this a twice a summer – maybe – kind of thing. As I got older and could drive or had friends that could drive, it was where everyone went to “cruise” in the summer. For many of us, as teens, it was where we had summer jobs and summer friends. For me, it was the place I had my first record store job and because of that, the place I met my first husband.

Like everything else, things change. The town has had some rough times. But if this past Memorial Day weekend was any indication, this summer won’t be remembered as such. It will be a good year for Old Orchard Beach.

My daughter and I had a few hours to spare on Sunday of that weekend. The weather was beautiful – warm, sunny – kind of a surprise at the end of May. We decided to go “down the beach.” I wanted to get some photographs from the top of the ferris wheel and my daughter just wanted to ride it. One of the great things about the amusement park at Old Orchard Beach, called Palace Playland, is that you can buy just enough tickets to ride one ride, or in our case, three. You don’t have to pay the big money for the whole day. You don’t have to pay to get in. You don’t have to pay if you don’t ride. Easy. Good for parents with kids. If your kids are little and you’re not sure if they’re going to even want to ride, you get just enough tickets to find out. If your kids are old enough and can ride by themselves, but still need some supervision, you can go and not pay for the privilege of that experience.

So we rode the ferris wheel . . .

from the top of the ferris wheel

looking west towards Saco

looking east toward Scarborough

Old Orchard Beach's main drag: Old Orchard Ave.

And the “Superstar” – the scrambler ride you see at every fair. And the little roller coaster, the Galaxi – not sure why, since we’ve ridden the big ones at Busch Gardens, Six Flags, and Cedar Point – but it’s been a while since we’ve had a roller coaster ride, so why not? I’m not trying to compare Palace Playland to any of those parks. It’s a totally different thing. It just felt good to be flung and lifted and dipped and spun after a long winter.

We walked around a bit then up the street. Now I’ve seen the fried food options at some of the big fairs – fried twinkies, friend snickers bars, heck, I even saw fried butter and fried kool aid (don’t ask) last year. Interesting as they might be, I’m usually watching what I eat and don’t want to part with six bucks for a fried twinkie when that could buy me two boxes of them (not that I would).

But . . . we found fried oreos. And they were only $1.00 each. So we got three. Powdered them up and then took them to the beach to eat. They looked like squashed donut holes and when you bit into them, the cookie was warm and the creamy center, melted.

fried, well, everything

deep fried oreo cookies with powdered sugar

creamy and melted on the inside . . this could be a new tradition

Old Orchard is a nice little community. There are plenty of hotels, condos, shops and restaurants to support the large influx of tourists that come during the summer. Visitors come from Quebec and New England and from all over Maine.

Beyond the fried food, pizza, ice cream, and caramel corn . .beyond the lights and the rides and the games is . . The Beach.

Go for the beach!

At low tide, the beach is flat and wide, great for running or playing games. It’s clean and the sand is soft and powdery east of the pier. Music is playing from the beachfront bars. Seagulls and terns dip in and out of the tide. Kids play in the sand. Groups of teen girls lay on their towels. Families and couples set up for the day with coolers and umbrellas.

A short walk away is a carousel ride and a slushie drink. What could be better?

For travel information about Old Orchard Beach and the Maine Beaches check out these websites:

The Maine Beaches

Old Orchard Beach

Be Celeste

2012-05-28T17:30:00.000-04:00

In Gretchen Rubin’s bestselling book, The Happiness Project, the author’s research on the subject of “happiness” leads her to discover things in her life that with a few small changes, would not only make her happier, but influence those around her.

She sets about to focus on different aspects of her life each month and uses a list of her self devised commandments as guidelines. The very first is “Be Gretchen.”

I love this idea.

So how do I “Be Celeste”?

A question of this sort, whether you are Celeste or Jane or Liz or Gretchen, requires an examination of self. I have to know who “Celeste” is and sometimes that’s a difficult assignment. The study of self is as old as human consciousness. Since the dawn of self awareness the question has been raised. But I don’t need to concern myself with who found out what about themselves in the history of the world.

I have only one subject: me.

You have only one subject: you.

Celebrating a birthday is an annual milestone that always makes me take stock in what I’ve accomplished in the past year and what I hope to achieve in the coming year. Accomplishments and achievements are part of what makes me, me. My style of dress, my sense of humor, my dreams, my home, my tendency to procrastinate, and my desire to perfect the recipe for guacamole are all me. For Mother’s Day, my husband and daughter got me a Vera Bradley bag – Reality: I went and picked it out – limey green and aqua flowery swirly and I love it. When I showed it to a friend, she said “it’s Celeste”. I took it as a compliment. But was it?

But what is, and who is, and how do I – how does anyone – determine what is you?

I think Ms. Rubin’s point was that when it comes down to it, be true to you. Remember who you are and what makes you happy each day. Those points will change daily and look totally different for each person. Don't force yourself into a shape that doesn't fit you. Accept that you just don't like everything you think you should. Trying to be someone that you're not is a key ingredient in dissatisfaction.

There are things in my life that I really wish I enjoyed;

I wish I liked sports, so that I could have this common interest with my husband, but really, I don’t like sports. Forcing myself to sit and pay attention to some ongoing commentary about something that I don't care about goes against my nature. If I recognize that and not feel badly about it, I will be a happier person.

My daughter loves sushi. I’m an adventurous diner and have tried it on many occasions and I just don’t like it. I wish I did. I think the artistry and the culture of sushi is very cool and I would love to claim that as something I enjoy, but I don’t. Be Celeste.

Trying to be someone I’m not will lead me to resentment and frustration. That’s not a place I want to be. I have to be Celeste. Just because I truly don’t enjoy some things doesn’t make me less of a person. In fact, it leaves room for other interests that I do enjoy, like writing and photography, cooking and eating, collage, cool earrings, pink flamingoes, seltzer with lime, exploring new places, hot summer days, the smell of fresh basil, peppermint and coconut, cat’s paws, Jimmy Buffett music, sleeping late and reading a good book.

Maybe we’d all be happier if we recognized that as individuals living in this time, in this place, we have tastes and expectations that differ from other people’s and embrace the differences rather than try to change ourselves or fight about them.

If you like the idea of examining what makes you happy, I recommend reading Gretchen Rubin’s “The Happiness Project”.

More info can be found here: http://www.happinessprojecttoolbox.com/

. . . if you like that sort of thing.

Blog feature! Yay!

2012-05-12T10:31:00.001-04:00

Well, well! Happy to return home and find that one of my photos has been featured in someone's blog!

Check this out: Angel Leigh Designs

I love that people find my work and include it in theirs. Its it epitome of sharing.

Fun, Food, and the Fabulous in Fort Lauderdale

2012-04-21T22:57:00.000-04:00

Fort Lauderdale is known as “The Venice of America” because it has over three hundred miles of navigable canals that are part of the intracoastal waterway. Prior to our recent visit, I had read about the system and was curious about it. A local travel agent told me that we could take a water taxi and get a great tour of the area. So on our last full day in Fort Lauderdale, we hopped aboard. An adult unlimited pass is $22.00 and a child’s unlimited pass is $13.00. This allows you to get on and off as many times as you want in one day. Our plan was to ride from the marina near our hotel and get off at Las Olas Boulevard to have lunch and do a little shopping, the climb on again for the ride back.

Well, it was quite a tour! Each boat has a captain who drives and a narrator who speaks over the intercom system, telling stories and a history lesson along the way. Ours was quite entertaining and engaged the passengers, making it a really fun way to get from one point to another.

The homes along the intracoastal, are the homes of the wealthy. Some were the homes of celebrities and others belonged to business moguls, homes bought and sold for millions.

Here are just a few . . .

This sprawling estate goes on to include a dozen buildings, each aquired as they were sold by neighbors.

Kind of a White House on the water.

Note the sculpture on the lawn . . a fortune cookie. This is the property of the P.F Chang dynasty.

The million dollar mermaid fountain.

The oh so casual outdoor bar and hot tub.

The whimiscal dancing frogs at water's edge.

This little number belonged to Sonny & Cher when Chastity was born.
The story was told that the neighbor on one side was the inventor of Alka Selter and on the other side the Seagram's heirs, so everyone could have drinks and music and be medicated in the morning.

Along with the waterfront living comes the need for suitable transportation. I don’t imagine you could like in places like these and ride around in a pontoon boat. No . . .

You need a yacht.

This one belongs to the Yankee Candle folks. It's named "Parafin". How cute.

In some cases, a megayacht.

Supermodel Elle MacPherson's little boat.

The 78 million dollar yacht belonging to Judge Judy.

Steven Spielberg's 235 million dollar yacht.

We got off the water taxi at Las Olas Boulevard. I had read about the district famous for unique shopping. But we were hungry for lunch and were thrilled to see a restaurant that specialized in crepes. We love crepes! My French Canadian Memere made some awesome crepes, but they were simple, and we ate them with brown sugar and maple syrup. The crepes at La Bonne Crepe on Las Olas, were anything but simple. An incredible selection of stuffings and toppings was on the menu. My daughter ordered the banana split crepe and I went savory with the tomato and basil crepe. They were delicious and reasonably priced.

Banana Split crepe

Tomato, basil, crisp crepe . . delicious!

For dessert, as if a banana split crepe calls for dessert, we had gelato from the Italian bakery Pane’ Dolci. Smooth and creamy and cold, we stood outside in the sunshine to eat it.

My salted caramel gelato

Gelato like artwork in the cooler.

We stopped in a few shops but quickly found that Las Olas shopping was not meant for people on a budget. At one store I picked up a cute pink tee shirt, held it up to show my daughter and quickly put it back when I saw the price tag; $98.00. For . . . a . . . tee . . . shirt. Gulp.

Soon we found the way back to the water taxi stop and sat in the grass while we waited. Late afternoon sun streaked across the water as the yellow boat pulled up to the dock. Again we saw the yachts and homes and heard the stories about Sonny & Cher and the inventor of Alka Selter. Again we passed Spielburg’s yacht. Finally back to the dock near our hotel and I was exhausted from the walking and shooting and eating and from the feelings of frustration that arise from the thoughts of equity and social justice . . and living a life of limitation.

While I enjoyed, in a voyeuristic sense, this glimpse into the lives of the rich, famous, lucky, and ostentatious, it certainly brought to mind the huge gap in our society between these homeowners and the homeowners in my little middle class neighborhood in Maine, and even more when you consider how many people struggle to keep the roof they live under. It prompted questions about the curious connection between celebrity and wealth. Why does that job – acting in movies, for example, pay so much more than another job? What is our pay scale based on? It can’t be based on the value of the contribution to the general good, or the importance in a human sense of the job’s end result. Why in the world does Judge Judy make 45 million dollars a year, making her able to afford a yacht that costs 78 million dollars? Why is her job – a television judge – more valued than the job of a drug and alcohol counselor who helps people get clean and sober? Why does that counselor have to settle for the low pay when there is such unfathomable wealth in other sectors?

I haven’t involved myself in the 99% vs. 1% fight that’s going on out there in the country, but if there was any time I’ve felt fired up about the discrepancies in income it was after that water taxi ride and the exposure I had to that other side of the golden coin.

When I step back into my cozy little home with my family and take a moment to appreciate the wonderful life I have, I can’t see where a big house on the water could make this any better. I don’t see where a yacht fits into the picture.

Ok . . maybe a small one could be worked in right over . . . there.

Appreciate the simple things . . .

One of my photos is featured today . . .

2012-04-13T10:42:00.001-04:00

on this blog: http://the4inone.blogspot.com.ar/2012/04/bubbles.html

Bubbles # 50 blue & yellow

Pretty cool huh?

They found it at my Etsy store.

Many thanks to Mariana & Paula from the Etsy shop Branda