If you've wandered around Portland on Valentine's Day even once over the past 37 years you're well familiar with the Valentine Bandits. Or bandits, as it were.

The loveable culprits annually paper the city with red hearts on Feb. 14 in a tradition that began in 1976.

The hearts are almost always printed on letter-sized white paper, which means someone's color copy machine got quite a workout this week. But there's always some kind of larger surprise, like this giant cloth heart that greater drivers and pedestrians on Congress Street this morning from the top of the former Portland Press Herald building.

And there were plenty more places to feel the love on an early-morning trot around Portland. Check out some of my heart sightings in this slideshow.

About this Blog

Subscribe to the
In the City RSS

Karen Beaudoin is an online editor for Maine Today Media and contributes two blogs to the company's websites.

In the City tells readers what to know if they want to know Portland. Pedal On offers info, events and advice for people who love their bikes more than, well ... almost anything.

Get in touch at kbeaudoin@mainetoday.com

Subscribe to the
In the City RSS