Welcome to the first issue of the new GO.

What you are holding in your hands (or reading on your computer screen) is the result of several months of discussions, meetings, designs, re-designs, planning and good old-fashioned hard work on the part of the Features staff and numerous others at The Portland Press Herald, all working toward a common goal: to produce the best entertainment magazine in Maine.

Inside this issue, readers will find all their old favorites, revamped and polished to a spiffy sheen — Got Tix, Eat & Run, Indie Films, movie reviews, local music Q&As, and so forth.

But we didn’t stop there. Not by a long shot. We’ve added more sections, more listings, more features, more color and more pages to give you all the information you need to stuff your week with as much fun as possible.

Here’s a brief rundown:

• Themed sections make it easier to browse for your entertainment needs. Want to listen to live music or plan a night on the town? Music & Nightlife is the place to look. Want to see a movie or rent a DVD? Check out The Movies section. Interested in seeing a play, visiting an art gallery or taking in a symphony? We have you covered in Art & Theater. Or perhaps you just want a quiet night of dining and cocktails. The new Dining & Drink section is for you.

There’s even a section devoted to people, places and things that make Maine such a unique place to live and visit: Et Cetera.

• Expanded listings offer a greater variety of events, including new listings for nightclubs, art galleries, professional sports and more.

• Movie listings contain screening times — no more searching online or calling the theater.

• A new calendar offers 10 days’ worth of events that can be pulled out for easy reference.

• New columns feature everything from Maine beer and breweries (“What Ales You”) to events that are so bizarre, they deserve special mention (“Off Beat”).

But as proud as we are of the new GO, we also recognize they’re always room for improvement. If there’s something you think should be added (or should fall by the wayside), let us know by calling or e-mailing me using the information at the end of this column.

After all, GO is for you. And we want to make it as good for you as we can.

 

Deputy Managing Editor Rod Harmon may be contacted at 791-6450 or at:

rharmon@pressherald.com