What's happening in Portland, Maine:

WMPG 10th Annual Bluegrass Spectacular

WMPG celebrates Bluegrass like no one else! Join The Grassholes, Tricky Britches and The Jerks of Grass for an amazing night of bluegrass. The evening's special guests will be the young musicians of 317 Main Street Community Music Center. Proceeds benefit WMPG Community.

($12, 6:30pm)

Marie Antoinette: The Color of Flesh

Marie Antoinette: The Color of Flesh
by Joel Gross

May 1 - May 20, 2012

In a dramatic love triangle set amidst the splendor of 18th century Paris, a beautiful, social-climbing portrait painter uses her affair with an idealistic Count to get a commission to paint the naïve young Queen Marie Antoinette. Both learn to love the woman they are exploiting even as their actions encourage the Revolution that will shatter all three of their lives. Illustration by Jamie Hogan.

Portland 101

Question. Discover. Improve.

Portland 101 is a 10-week exploration that takes you into the inner workings of the city and helps you learn how YOU as a citizen can work with local government to improve Portland. Visit: maine.theleague.com/p101 for more info.

Always wondered how you could help make Portland better?

When: Every Wednesday- 5:30 to 7pm, March 14th to May 16th

Where: All over our great city

Who: Curious folks with a desire to pitch in, grow in leadership, and utilize and change our local government

Cost – Only $30 for the entire 10 week course! (Scholarships are available upon request and easily maintained)

SIGN UP! – email Whitley whitley.newman@gmail.com or Alexie alexiejruss@gmail.com to obtain more info and an application. Apps due March 12th .

Portland Farmers Market

The Portland Farmers' Market is a year-round market featuring fresh, delicious, locally grown foods including vegetables, fruits, herbs, beef, pork, chicken, duck, goat, lamb, milk, cider, cheese, yogurt, eggs, kefir, honey, grains, jams, and fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, and tempeh. You'll also find beautiful plants, flowers, and fiber, and so much more! We offer farm products exclusively and you can trust that EVERYTHING at our market was grown and produced in the great state of Maine! Our market has been in existence since 1768 and we are proud to continue to offer the Portland Community a place to come together and enjoy the bounty of Maine's harvest!

 You can enjoy the market and support local farmers year-round at the Portland Farmers' Market!

Storytelling with Deena Weinstein

Storytelling at Dobra Tea every 4th Wednesday of the month!

Come with a story, or just to listen. 

Marie Antoinette: The Color of Flesh

Marie Antoinette: The Color of Flesh
by Joel Gross

May 1 - May 20, 2012

In a dramatic love triangle set amidst the splendor of 18th century Paris, a beautiful, social-climbing portrait painter uses her affair with an idealistic Count to get a commission to paint the naïve young Queen Marie Antoinette. Both learn to love the woman they are exploiting even as their actions encourage the Revolution that will shatter all three of their lives. Illustration by Jamie Hogan.

Noonday Concert Series at First Parish Church

Noonday Concert at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church

Marie Antoinette: The Color of Flesh

Marie Antoinette: The Color of Flesh
by Joel Gross

May 1 - May 20, 2012

In a dramatic love triangle set amidst the splendor of 18th century Paris, a beautiful, social-climbing portrait painter uses her affair with an idealistic Count to get a commission to paint the naïve young Queen Marie Antoinette. Both learn to love the woman they are exploiting even as their actions encourage the Revolution that will shatter all three of their lives. Illustration by Jamie Hogan.

Jeffrey Foucault at One Longfellow Square

Longtime disciple of the rich and strange music that sings behind the American veil, Jeffrey Foucault has spent the last decade mining the darker seams of country and blues, producing a string of spare and elemental albums of rare power while garnering accolades across the United States and overseas for a tersely elegant brand of songwriting set apart by its haunting imagery and weather-beaten cool.

Foucault started in music in his teens playing his father's acoustic guitar, and doing John Prine songs. A stolen copy of Live and Obscure by Townes Van Zandt led Foucault to immerse himself in Lone Star singer-songwriters like Van Zandt and Guy Clark, as well as the distinctive Midwesterner Greg Brown. By 19, he tried his hand at writing his own songs, and by the time he graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in history, he was performing regularly in coffeehouses. He released his self-distributed debut album in 2001, and followed that up in 2004 with Stripping Cane, which did have national distribution. He has been touring extensively, and with Kris Delmhorst and Peter Mulvey also was part of a trio of Bay State singer-songwriters called Red Bird, which released a pleasing recording of acoustic covers of other people's music.

Sea Dogs Home Game

Lunch and Learn – Knitting Series

Learn to Knit! We welcome knitters of all levels and ages to join us at our shop for knitting and good company. Our teacher Hannah McChesney is a talented knitter and has been teaching the craft for over 15 years.

Whether you have no experience, are just starting out and want to get better, or have a project that you need a little help with, Hannah can help!

Bring your lunch! We have plenty of space for you to spread out and eat while you knit. We'll be serving tea and coffee for you to enjoy.

Figure Drawing with a Live Model

Figure Drawing with a Live Model

$10 fee

Join us for this open, drop in studio session of figure drawing with a live model. This session provides the opportunity to work in a studio environment and interact with other artists as you draw from a live model in your preferred medium. The workshop is open to adults of all skill levels from complete beginners to experienced artists. Bring your own supplies. Light refreshments served.

Marie Antoinette: The Color of Flesh

Marie Antoinette: The Color of Flesh
by Joel Gross

May 1 - May 20, 2012

In a dramatic love triangle set amidst the splendor of 18th century Paris, a beautiful, social-climbing portrait painter uses her affair with an idealistic Count to get a commission to paint the naïve young Queen Marie Antoinette. Both learn to love the woman they are exploiting even as their actions encourage the Revolution that will shatter all three of their lives. Illustration by Jamie Hogan.

Sea Dogs Home Game

TEDxDirigo Engage

Join us for TEDxDirigo Engage, which will feature a dynamic range of innovators from across Maine sharing live TEDx Talks about how their engagement in ideas is making an impact here and across the globe. Apply to attend at www.tedxdirigo.com. Entry by invitation.

Great Strides Walk to benefit Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Portland’s Great Strides will feature food, a live band and children’s entertainment including Crusher, mascot for the Maine Red Claws NBA D-League basketball team. At last year’s Portland walk five hundred walkers raised almost two hundred thousand dollars to fund research to help find a cure!

Marie Antoinette: The Color of Flesh

Marie Antoinette: The Color of Flesh
by Joel Gross

May 1 - May 20, 2012

In a dramatic love triangle set amidst the splendor of 18th century Paris, a beautiful, social-climbing portrait painter uses her affair with an idealistic Count to get a commission to paint the naïve young Queen Marie Antoinette. Both learn to love the woman they are exploiting even as their actions encourage the Revolution that will shatter all three of their lives. Illustration by Jamie Hogan.

Sea Dogs Home Game

Car Wash

Help Miss Maine U.S. International get to Nationals in Florida!

Donate towards the sponsorship of Miss Maine US International, and get your car washed! :)

There will also be a bottle drive taking place on Saturday 5/19/2012, if you have any bottles please let me know so I can arrange pickup, or they can be brought to the Car Wash on Sunday

If anyone is interesting in directly sponsoring, with a benefit of your brand being represented by the titleholder, please contact via phone or e-mail provided

For inquiries about appearances by Miss Maine U.S. International please use the contact info provided

Maine Comics Arts Festival

The Maine Comics Arts Festival will feature over 100 comic writers and artists. Featured guests this year include Kate Beaton (Hark! A Vagrant!) and Kazu Kibuishi (Amulet). In its 4th year, this event has become a showcase for comic creators and a place where fans can see the many types of comics being produced. The festival is open to everyone. Admission is only $5.00, kids 12 and under free. Presented by Casablanca Comics.

Pet Rock in the Park

7th Annual Victorian Doll Tea

Victoria Mansion presents the 7th Annual Victorian Doll Tea on May 20, 2012 at 1pm at the Maine Irish Heritage Center/Victoria Mansion

This whimsical and extravagant event is back and better than ever! Children and adults will enjoy a traditional tea service by Nellie’s Teas while learning about Victorian customs and etiquette. There will be delicious gourmet cupcakes and live music by Brian Callaghan. Ballerinas from Portland Ballet will be on hand to give lessons and display costumes. Adults and children are eligible for a variety of door and raffle prizes including stunning centerpieces by designer Sandy Riley, a Victorian birthday party, custom-made doll clothing by Sandra Gilley, two new American Girl Dolls, and a furnished dollhouse! Each child will receive an activity book and have the chance to be crowned one of our Tea Royalty. Afterwards, children are invited to tour the Victoria Mansion and see custom dolls created by doll-maker Marion Bunton. Guests of the Doll Tea are encouraged to bring their own dolls to the event!

Tickets
$40 for one adult + one child / $30 for Victoria Mansion or ME Irish Heritage Center members.

Additional adults are $25/20 each and additional children are $15/10 each.

For more information and to purchase your tickets, please call 772-4841 ext *810

Marie Antoinette: The Color of Flesh

Marie Antoinette: The Color of Flesh
by Joel Gross

May 1 - May 20, 2012

In a dramatic love triangle set amidst the splendor of 18th century Paris, a beautiful, social-climbing portrait painter uses her affair with an idealistic Count to get a commission to paint the naïve young Queen Marie Antoinette. Both learn to love the woman they are exploiting even as their actions encourage the Revolution that will shatter all three of their lives. Illustration by Jamie Hogan.

Rhythmic Cypher

Avant garde poetry with a beat open mic with musical accompaniment featuring local, regional and national performance poets. EVERY SUNDAY at Slainte!!

An Evening With Chris Smither

“Back in the old days,” muses resilient troubadour Chris Smither, “writing new songs and making new albums were just chores. My priority was, and still is, performing live. I guess I still write the songs and make the records so that I can go out and play – except that now I actually look forward to it. I’ve learned how to do it, and I’m very eager to get stuff recorded once I’ve written it.”

CHRIS SMITHER - NEW ALBUM!

If you’ve seen Chris in concert over the last few months you’ve probably gotten a taste of his upcoming record. He’s been playing all the new songs he wrote over the past year. Well, June 19, 2012 marks the release of Hundred Dollar Valentine (Signature Sounds) – and this, his twelfth studio record, will not disappoint. In fact, it is the first record that has all Smither originals. Back again working with his longtime producer, David “Goody” Goodrich, they’re joined by some veterans of the Boston rock/pop scene. The Hundred Dollar Valentine album package was designed by Chris-fave Meghan Dewar (with interior photos by Devin Dobbins-McCarthy).