Democratic US Senate candidate Tom Allen is hosting a meet and greet and drink at the Shipyard Brewery this evening.  Free pizza (Portland Pie usually caters these things) and free Shipyard.  A $25 donation is suggested.  Word is that Tom loves talking policy over a frosty Export.  The event is from 5pm to 7pm today (3/27) at the Shipyard Brewery.  86 Newbury Street in Portland.  RSVP to rsvp@tomallen.org.

 
 

Recounting a pilgrimage to The Little Lad’s Basket.  Manager Mike greeted me with a handshake and a tour of the recently re-opened space.  This consisted of pointing out the new buffet positioning and gesturing to their recently unveiled sandwich menu.  A quick glance at the board was all that was afforded to me, as my host had already selected my meal.  The first hand burger.  This is no typo.  Their vegan menu is awash in choices that are slightly tweaked to do away with any traces of meat and dairy.  Items such as pizza and grilled cheese on the sandwich board out front do not indicate the restaurant's vegan intentions to those passing by.  What also is not inherently clear from the exterior is the fact that The Basket is a vessel of the Seventh-Day Adventist church.  I had heard rumors of a Christian outpost on Congress Street promoting the vegan lifestyle, but assumed it was a Portland myth, like the supposed bowling alley in the basement of some apartment building on the peninsula.  The rumor turned out to be true.  Contemporary Christian rock provided ambiance and there was plenty of pious literature displayed prominently next to the cash register.  Back to the hand burger.  It consisted of a veggie patty, some sort of soy cheese, the usual veggies, a generous serving of mustard and a whole wheat bun.  The bun was fantastic.  As for what lay between the 2 halves, I was a bit under whelmed.  While my host Mike did provide me with a money back guarantee, I still felt the FHB was worth the $4 or so I shelled out.   It is worth noting that the Basket is more known as a very decent vegan bakery, rather than a true first class eatery.  They had plenty of bread, cookies, granola and other packaged offerings for guests to take with.  Then there is the famed hippie crack popcorn.  No denying that this stuff has some mystical properties bordering on the divine.  I would say that everyone should experience one trip to the Basket.  One is probably all you need.  Unless of course you enjoy your lunch served with a side of God.  In that case, The Basket is for you.  Besides the 482 Congress Street location, they also have a café in Manhattan and a bakery in Corinth, Maine.  The website is impressively robust.

 
 

St. Paddy’s is nearly here and the anticipation s palpable.  This town holds its Irish haunts in high regards.  Each is rolling out the green carpet in its own way.  Bull Feeny’s takes the award for the first pint slung of the day.  Kegs and Eggs kick off at 6:00am at Feeny’s.  Corn beef and cabbage will replace the eggs starting at noon.  Ri Ra and Brian Boru open their doors shortly after at 8:00am.  All will be serving traditional Irish fare and will have live music throughout the day and night to celebrate the great snake herder, Saint Patrick.  Even the non-Irish establishments are getting involved.  $3 Deweys is pouring Harp and Smithwicks for $2.75 and the mysterious White Heart is holding some sort of shrouded Irish celebration.  If you wish to escape the fiddles and Irish crooning, The Big Easy is holding its standard Monday night open mic hip-hop night.  Good luck out there.

 
 

Oxford Collapse will be in Portland, Maine this Tuesday (3/11).  They are playing Space.  These guys are the Vampire Weekend of 2 years ago.  From the mean streets of Brooklyn instead of the ivy clad walls of Columbia.  The trio’s sound is straightforward but unique, even in the crowded indie landscape.  Their last album, Remember the Night Parties was well received.  Even Pitchfork liked it.  Their pace is sometimes hard to settle into, but their songs are catchy and addictive.  Somewhere between punk and pop.  The show starts at 9:00pm and is only 8 bucks.  Go.

 
 

This Friday, several of Portland’s Irish watering holes are banning together in bout of true Celtic solidarity to support Portland’s bid to be crowned sister city to Bushmills, Ireland.  A well timed drunken parade, as St. Paddy’s Day is a mere 10 days out.  It starts at Bull Feeny’s from 5:30-7:00pm, moves on to Gritty’s from 7:00-8:30, RiRa from 8:30-10:00 and ends at Brian Boru from 10:00-11:30.  A bagpiper will lead the band of jubilant drinkers from bar to bar.  As noted in an earlier post, Portland is up against Beantown and Louisville in this Bushmills Irish Whiskey competition.  Vote for Portland here.