Portland207

As we close the curtain on the Maine political scene for a bit (nice win by Obama) I choose not to dwell on the recent democratic match-up and instead delve into another hotly contested race.  The battle between 2 hip Congress Street eateries.  In full disclosure, this was not the initial intent of the yesterday’s dining excursions and both meals were at different times of the day.  Furthermore, I am not really sure if these two locations even draw same patrons.  That said, in a day of stumping and choosing sides, it seems fitting to pit them head to head.  First up: Local 188.  The meal was brunch; something that not many realize they serve.  At the prime brunch hour (11AM), there was no line at all, but the place was sill comfortably full.  2 of our party of 4 arrived 20 minutes early, but the waitress was still quick to seat us at a table fit for 6.  Good for us, bad for the family of 6 that arrived shortly after.  Our waiter in the fine man-apron kept us filled with coffee and one of the finest mimosas on the peninsula.  The lexi-bun (a warm cinnamon bun served in a bowl) was as a fantastic starter.  A few orders of well adorned scrambled eggs (mushrooms, onions, cheddar, etc.) were received with applause, but not a standing o.  Ditto for the huevos rancheros.  Net net; a solid brunch choice, but not somewhere you would want to go week after week.  Skipping over the middle meal and heading right into dinner at Downtown Lounge.  The atmosphere is quite different from the previous candidate.  Cramped and dingy.  Still, this is part of the allure.  The dining group was cut in half, as was the range of ordering.  The spinach, onion and goat cheese turnover with mushrooms and garlic cream sauce turned out to be the only thing necessary for a prompt judgment.  Downtown Lounge takes the food vote, even with their small and understaffed kitchen.  Wise Sunday diners were seated comfortably in one of the 5 or 6 booths.  Those of us left to spots at the bar were lucky enough to enjoy the company of sullen regulars sipping one too many cocktails for a Sunday night. Local 188 redux takes the atmosphere card hands down.  That leaves a tie.  Can you call a draw in a caucus?

I went in wanting to vote for Obama and I left wanting to vote for Bill Clinton.  A fine speech by Bill last night.  A bit heavy on policy and his past accomplishments, but he did wrap it up nicely with a minute or two of self deprecating humor and even a reference to the Harrison Ford movie Air Force 1.  Standing tall in his newly purchased Bean Boots, the former Pres. was a parody of himself.  The 1,500 or so audience members were treated to all the classic Clintonian mannerisms.  Some thumb pointing, a bit of lip biting and the double hand, fingers spread, palm down reach out to the crowd move.  It made everyone in attendance long for those glory days that were the 90’s.  Mr. Clinton was introduced by the ever so charismatic senate majority leader Libby Mitchell our Kucinich looking governor, who had a few prepubescent voice cracks along the way and at one point, in referring to the Italian naptime, used the word “siester.”  Topped off with a trip to Binga’s Wingas, it was the perfect primary season Thursday evening.

Kids Legal is holding a wine tasting fundraiser at the Saltwater Grill tonight from 6 to 8pm.  Kids Legal is a free legal service that fights to protect the rights of Maine children.  Get involved in a good cause and enjoy a bit of good wine while you are at it.  That box of Franzia in your fridge is not going anywhere.  Hosted by one of only 120 Master Sommeliers in the world.  Click here for the full invite.  Reservations are required, as is a minimum donation of $50. 

Portland’s politicos tell me that Willy is on his way.  He will be in town tomorrow (Thursday) at 7:30pm over at the Portland Expo.  No word on whether Hill might be accompanying the former President.  There is however word that Obama is bypassing Portland’s unofficial capital for a trip up to Bangah. 

Gyro and kabob lovers delight, this former food cart has wheeled itself into the Public Market House in Monument Square.  The latest edition to the ever expanding Public Market.  No word on whether the old food cart operation will remain parked down the street by 1 City Center.  Amidst the confusion of the ongoing renovation and second floor expansion, the Spartan Grill opened quite unceremoniously earlier this week.  Located between Big Sky Bread (recently promoted to the front of the store) and Maine Beer and Beverage (recently doubling in size at the back of the building), it should provide some relief for the brutal lunchtime lines at Big Sky.  The new location has allowed for a massive expansion of offerings.  The much beloved and hastily prepared gyros still grace the menu, but there are now souvlaki and salad options as well.  Bring cash, as the credit card machine is not yet up and running.  Just pretend you are back at the food cart.

The Portland Harbor Hotel opens up their annual Ice Bar this weekend.  What used to be a month-long installation in the courtyard of this downtown hotel has been condensed into one cold January weekend.  A rare chance to drink like the Swedes.  I can’t claim to have ever bundled up in deerskin gloves and ski gear to attend this rite of Winter, but I have heard from reliable sources that after the first few nights, the Ice Bar was scarcely attended in the past.  Perhaps this is due to the fact that it is poorly advertised and dragged out for a month.  I have the feeling that attaching your face to the vodka ice luge and pounding Shipyards to fight the cold looses its icy luster after a night or two.  It seems the operators of the Harbor Hotel have gotten wise to that fact and given the Ice Bar a life span of 48 hours.  The doors to the courtyard open at 4pm on Friday (1/25).  Free food (from Browne Trading and others), a bit of country music and a few fire pits, which serve at the yang to the Ice Bars yin, will add to the atmosphere.  An Ice carving competition is being held from 9am to noon on Saturday and then the bar opens back up at 4pm.  More info in the To Do section. 

Another Tuesday at the lanes has come and gone.  The normal queue at the bar was eased by the presence of 2 cheerful waitresses and a reprieve from the FunTown-style wristbands that distinguish the imbibers from those remaining in sobriety.  Happy Hands faced the Saucy Posse in one of the evening’s most fiercely battled matches.  Neither good luck handshakes nor congratulatory high fives were exchanged between teams (except for Saucy Posse member “Frank,” who actually seemed pleased when a Happy Hands bowler did well).   The Hands left nothing on the lanes, except for a few broken nails by captain Sasha Northfield and guest bowler Virg.  Team MVP was once again TJ with a near 200 game.  Possibly the most compelling story of the night was Bitty Meadow’s rise to glory after a struggle in week 1.  The final game brought 4 100 plus scores and slammed home a 9 – 6 win over the Posse.  Equally as impressive as the turn-out on the lanes, was the turn-out at $3 Dewey’s for the post-game celebration.  An unexpected rally on a Tuesday night.  The team disbursed with promises of bowling shoe purchases, nightly bowling meditations and even an Augusta practice session.  Well done.

Night one of the latest, and possibly youngest, bowling league in Portland.  Success can't begin to sum it up.  Shirts were distributed, shoes were velcroed, pitchers were poured and teams hit the lanes.  There were some legendary match ups: The Saucy Posse vs. 3 Livers, $3 Gutterballs vs. B.E.E.R, Spare Us vs. Dirty Half Dozen, The Pinups vs. Derelicte My Balls, Binga’s Wingas vs. Purple Haze, and of course, Happy Hands vs. Off Constantly.  In the end, Happy Hands did not beat Off Constantly, but they came as close as a bunch dreamy-eyed novice bowlers could.  Off Constantly brought their A game with a slew of spares and strikes and plenty of over-zealous fist pumping.  The White Russians they were pounding would turnout to be their demise, with Happy Hands winning 4 out of 5 points in the final game.  Fueled on Bud Light alone, Happy Hands brought a spirit and team-centric attitude that is seldom seen on those fine Yankee Lanes.  The shirts, avec Bowl Portland logo, marked all who dawned them as league members and therefore worthy of the respect of lane staff and casual bowler alike.  The team colors turned out to be some classic combos.  The white on black team (Happy Hands) and the black on white team (Off Constantly), the blue and yellow gas station attendant shirts of the Saucy Posse and 2 teams on the far end of the lanes that were both clad in maroon and yellow, making them look like McDonalds employees on a group outing.  With 7 more weeks remaining in the regular season, a couple of weeks of play-offs and the culminating Bowling Ball Gala, there is plenty of sweet bowling action to come.  Bowl on.  (pictures)

I am not sure why Portland loves the 80's so much (80's night at Bubba's, the Awesome, etc.) but you can't fight it.  I was fortunate enough to spend the last hours of the 2k7 and the first few hours of this cold new year clad in the finest pink tux jacket and piano key tie that I own.  It felt good to ring in the New Year in such style and to be surrounded by similarly dressed individuals.  Thanks to Binga's Winagas and the hosts.  Happy 2008.

Fantastic movie with unknown Canadian actress Ellen Page, Michael Cera [the kid from Superbad and Arrested Development (who is also from the nation to our North)], Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner, JK Simmons (Peter Parker's boss in the Spiderman movies), and Allison Janney.  The film somehow managed to make teen pregnancy hilarious.  Not an easy feat.  Picture Superbad meets Rushmore.  It certainly had the same type of plucky music that serves as the backdrop to Rushmore or most any of Wes Anderson's movies.  Juno's director, Jason Reitman, is a directorial fawn, but it does not show in this movie or his first feature, Thank You for Smoking.  His prowess could be the result of being born the son of Ivan Reitman, producer of Animal House and director of such fine films as Twins, Kindergarten Cop and Dave.  Seriously, those are all late 80s and early 90s classics.  My only complaint is that the writer, Diablo Cody, uses a pen name.  And calling yourself Devil?  She is already known as the stripper-blogger (or blogger-stripper).  Isn't that quirky enough?