LEAVING MAINE
Our last day in Maine we spent in Portland. We had a lovely time at Petit Jacqueline over lunch of quiches and crepes with my cousin and his wife, re-visited the local independent bookstores, walked around Munjoy Hill, and then had dinner at Drifters Wife.
Foodies, and others, will know that this restaurant made the Top Ten Hot New Restaurants list as put forth by Bon Appetit. Portland itself was named the food city of the year by the magazine. I made our reservation before the top 10 list was final and my choices were 5:15 pm or 9:30. Guess which one I picked? Seriously, this wine shop (it’s still in the front of their space but set back so that I really didn’t see it until we were leaving) morphed and became a wine shop plus a wine bar with a small food menu. 
We both tried some different wines and the food was inventive and fun. Beside their salami and very good sourdough bread with dulse butter, we sampled the corn and watermelon salad and the bacon, cabbage, and peach combo, followed by the half chicken served with greens. For dessert (we broke our own rules about skipping this course) we tried the malabi, a Persian soft custard with blueberries that was delectable. 
Given their new fame, the place was jumping; there were couples standing and waiting for an available table while the two owners were back and forth seating folks and checking glassware at the bar (he seemed to always have towel in hand). It’s all hard surfaces with nothing to muffle the sound, so it got louder the longer we were there. Knowing that, it’s still a place I’d go to
if you are open to a different dining experience.
HOME AGAIN
We arrived home on Saturday night about 7:00 to an empty larder. It being Labor Day weekend, we didn’t know if our favorite local restaurants would be crowded. We arrived at Tide Tables about two minutes after they closed and went on to our favorite standby, Cortez Kitchen. They were busy and THC, two guitarists with amplification, were playing and singing. A happening place. 
Our favorite waitress smiled at us, we ordered coconut shrimp and the spicy shrimp roll to go with our wine, and prepared to wait for the food. Initially, I was blasted by the sound of the music duo, but as I sipped the wine, I began to chill and get with the vibe. This place is what we call our “biker bar” as it attracts a range of ages, lots of locals and some snow birds, but definitely those who arrive on their big wheel bikes. In so many ways, it was the right place for re-entry into our Florida life. Like Drifters Wife it was loud, but, other than that, so very different!
ON THE BIG SCREEN
Crazy Rich Asians
This is a perfect end of summer film. A rom-com (romantic comedy for those not up to the latest slang), it’s fun, lovely, and has a happy ending. I’ve made several visits to Singapore over the years, and having experienced the island’s culture and beauty, probably predisposed me to like the film. Touting an all-Asian cast, it was the no.1 hit at the box office last week, out performing even Mission Impossible. See it to be entertained, ignore or put up with the “catty girl” scenes, and settle in for a tropical delight. Nothing too heavy, just enjoyable.
RECENT READING
#20 This Time Might Be Different by Elaine Ford
This book of short stories is by a Maine author. While I haven’t yet read all of them I’m counting this as book #20 and the last one in my personal summer reading challenge. With a subtitle of “Stories of Maine,” Ford matter-of-factly and succinctly presents the somewhat bleak lives of folks living in mostly rural poverty there. Events more often happen to these people than being planned. The stories perfectly capture that state’s physical landscape and are affecting to read.
Note: All photos ©JWFarrington (some rights reserved)
