Monday, May 21, 2012
For a couple more Thursdays you can still enjoy outdoor tunes at Monument Square as soon as you punch out on the time clock. Tonight's bands are Marion Grace and Jason Spooner and Alive at Five, of course, begins at 5 p.m.
Over at Borders near the Maine Mall tonight you can meet and greet a couple of BBQ legends. Ardie Davis and Paul Kirk will be in town promoting their new book, "The Kansas City Barbeque Society Cookbook," at 7 p.m. They might even provide some recipe tips for all the amateur BBQers in the crowd. Davis and Kirk are also in town because the Grillin' & Chillin' State BBQ Competition is happening this weekend at the Raiit Homestead in Eliot.
Finally for the worst part of your work week, Auburn has some summer music on tap tonight at the Hilton Garden Inn, Auburn Riverwatch as Don Campbell takes part in the free Music in the Parks series.
Doesn't it seem like First Friday comes around a lot more frequently than every four weeks? Well, it's here again in Portland and the natives will be art walking tonight from 5-8 p.m. If you're looking for galleries to visit check out the artist reception for Anna Low at Eli Phant (253 Congress St.) where clouds, trees, birds and science fiction are on tap (and on the walls). Or how about the Gallery at Harmon's & Barton's (584 Congress St.) where Nire Cook and Susan Wierzba present silk painting and traditional batik. Portland Museum of Art opens its doors for free tonight (7 Congress Square) so be sure to check out the monumental installation by Anna Hepler. And at June Fitzpatrick Gallery (112 High St.) you can't miss the longest drawing in Maine by Larry Hayden. It's at 100 feet but growing daily. For all the listings go to www.firstfridayartwalk.com.
If art doesn't float your boat tonight you can get a great dose of theater by checking out the Fenix Theatre Company's "Twelfth Night" at Deering Oaks park at 6:30. I can tell you from experience the show is terrific - well worth the donations they ask for.
If Freeport is more convenient, the Shakespeare Festival there is still going on at 7 p.m. tonight. Get to Discovery Park on the L.L. Bean campus and enjoy.
And finally tonight, if you have children in tow, take advantage of the $1 Friday deal at the Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine. Admission is just a buck from 5-8 p.m
Lets hope for another great weather Saturday this weekend. If the sun's shining it could be the perfect day to visit Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth. Bring a picnic or spend some time walking around the forts or grassy fields. The views will be well worth the effort.
It's also Fiber Arts Tour Weekend all across Maine and you can take advantage of free visits to several pretty cool places. For example, check out the Maine Fiberarts Gallery in Topsham, the Beadin' Path in Freeport, Village Handweavers in Portland or Acker's Acres Angoras in New Gloucester. For the entire list of participating venues check out www.mainefiberarts.org.
If you're looking for music options tonight, head back to Freeport for the free L.L. Bean concert with Mike Doughty at 7:30 p.m. Or check out The Big Easy's Singer/Songwriter Series which features Jon Zack tonight at 6:30. Both are free.
If you're a fan of John Deere Sunday could be a good day for you. The Southern Maine Garden Tractor Club is holding a benefit tractor pull starting at 9 a.m. on Boom Road in Saco. The day stretches to 6:30 p.m. with a BBQ, door prizes, a monster fire engine and more. It looks like admission is free but you are asked to bring a lawn chair. Call Ernie at 468-4489 for more info.
The Maine Lobster Festival continues to roll along in Rockland today. The fest has plenty of food, music, crafts and races to keep everyone entertained. And of course there's lobster. But while you won't pay admission to get into the festival, you will pay a bit for that yummy red-shelled delicacy.
Finally this weekend, how about grabbing a table near the rushing Saco River and listening to some funky reggae from 2-5 p.m. at Run of the Mill. Pony up a few bucks for some sweet potato fries while you're at it. They're wicked good.
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Karen Beaudoin is an online editor for Maine Today Media and contributes two blogs to the company's websites.
Poortland Picks offers things to do around greater Portland that are cheap or free (with a few additional options for the big spenders). Pedal On offers info, events and advice for people who love their bikes more than, well ... almost anything.
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