Portland207

After several weeks of sun (with the obligatory weekend rain) but less than ideal temperatures, the proper roof deck weather is finally upon us.  Spring is a torturous time of year.  After five or six months of cold, snow and sunsets at 4pm, Portlanders want little more than to escape the darkness and dankness of their favorite watering holes and to move their imbibing to the fresh air.  Plenty of off-shore breezes and cold fronts have ensured that the city’s roof decks have been slow to fill.  The exception of course is Boru’s, which maintains a healthy deckful of smokers year-round.  Now that temps have pushed past 60, it is time to lay claim to the good deck space and throw back some of those perennial summer brews that have already sprung up on the rows of taps.  Here is a quick and admittedly incomplete rundown:

Brian Boru’s (57 Center St.): This deck starts to fill in at 3pm and tends to remain that way until close.  They have a few picnic tables, but I have never seen anyone actually eat out there.  Probably difficult through the haze of cigarette smoke.  Still, if you stand upwind, this is a nice perch.  Some water views and a bit of late-day sun.  Plus, you get to look down upon Rivalries patrons milling about that pen-like patio that they have carved out of the parking lot.

Dogfish Bar & Grill (128 Free St.):  2 decks are better than one.  To find your way to the rear deck, just head straight out the back door, meander through the garbage collection area outside and climb the stairs.  A few tables are back there and the views are mostly of parking lots, but with glimpses of the harbor.  The sun tends to be out of reach by 6pm or so.  The front overlooks Free Street and the sun is in play a bit longer on this side.  The Matthew’s roof deck is easy sand wedge away.  Not sure what the deal is with that place, but I would like to find out.

Dogfish Café (953 Congress St.):  Down on the sketchy-side of Congress.  The other sketchy side.  Same great quesadillas as its sister establishment up the road.  Out back there is a small, but effective little deck.  There is a high fence but plenty of gaps through which one can enjoy views of both the Greyhound station parking lot and busy St. John Street.  Hard to beat pre or post Sea Dogs game.

Mim’s Brasserie (205 Commercial St.):  New chef, same crap food.  Still, they have a swank deck that is ideal for brunch or that morning cocktail.  The sun sets on Mim’s by early afternoon, so drinks are best enjoyed before 3.  They have a very nice little bar, a few tables and a labyrinth of umbrellas for the wait staff to navigate through while handing out mimosas and over-priced salads. 

Dry Dock Restaurant and Tavern (84 Commercial St.):  A tourist haven, but a treasure in the off-season.  One of the only true waterfront dining/drinking spots in town.  For a city with “port” right in the name, there is a dearth of true waterfront dining options.  Two decks, one up, one down.  Sunny up top, shady down below.

Shay’s (18 Monument Sq.):  While neither a roof, nor a deck, Shay’s does provide those in Monument Square with space to enjoy beers in the open air option.  Each day comes with its own food and drink special.  I can attest to the fact that, while made with well booze and often served in a mason jar, their martinis are far more affordable then David’s next door.  This stretch of Monument Square gets sun for about an hour a day, so get there between about 4pm and 5pm.  

A decent start, but there are many more to come to round out the roof deck/patio list.  The season has just begun.  Suggestions welcomed and encouraged.

Just strolled out of the office for the afternoon pick-me-up at Arabica and ran into the Rustic Overtones (they should really get a proper website) playing on a rooftop overlooking Monument Square.  As of 4pm, they are above the B of A, presumably on the deck outside of the WBLM offices.  Heard some Rooms by the Hour songs, but did not hear any of the new stuff before I had to retreat from the sun and return to my office.  Just a reminder that MENSK is hosting an event just up the street in Congress Square today.  Earth Day whatnot.  It runs until 6pm or so this evening.

All that Bushmills drinkin’ was for not.  Portland lost out to Louisville, Kentucky in the Bushmills Twin City Competition.  Besides the pride that goes along with winning a faux twin city competition, Portland missed out on pocketing $40K in prize money.  Considering the state of the city’s coffers, this money would have been a welcome windfall.  Perhaps Milwaukee (birthplace of PBR) is looking for an adopted twin.  That would seem like a more natural kinship for our fine city. 

The USM Law School is holding an auction this evening to raise green for public interest fellowships.  A variety of local restaurants have stepped up to provide free food and drink from 6:00 to 7:30.  Live jazz will accompany the silent auction during this time and the live auction kicks off at 7:45.  The event is being held at USM’s uber modern Abromson Center.  Here’s hoping they auction off the 20 foot high table and chair set.

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.