Life can be too serious sometimes, which is why I’m thankful for a place like Silly’s With a Twist.

The quaint new space is riffing off the original Silly’s, which has been a Portland institution for the past 23 years. Located right next door on Washington Avenue, it’s got a super-long bar with comfy cushioned bar stools and a few tables. Having opened the week before Christmas, the bar still smelled of fresh paint, and decorations are sparse with the exception of a leg lamp like the one in “A Christmas Story.”

Additional Photos

“Silly’s With a Twist” bar manager Shelley Kelley displays big-bottle specialty beers offered by the glass at the recently opened restaurant. John Ewing/Staff Photographer

Owner Colleen Kelley’s sister, Shelley, was overseeing operations on a recent Saturday night. The bar itself is made up of wine corks covered with a thick coat of polyurethane for a nice, smooth surface.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” I said to Shelley, who informed me that it’s the product of collecting corks for the past 12 years.

Posts along the bar and the overhead beam are covered in black chalkboard paint, allowing the wine and beer list to be scrawled in brightly colored chalk on the wall. The staff is working on developing a cocktail menu, but there’s still a full bar in addition to eight beers on tap, 12 varieties by the bottle and an extensive wine offering, with prices averaging $5 to $8 a drink.

One of their early creations, Shelley told me, is dubbed a Blushing Beauty. The idea of mixing Absolut Vodka with Izze Sparkling Grapefruit sounded delightful, so I ordered the drink. It is aptly named, because the sparkling fruit juice is the color of rosy cheeks — the same hue my face takes on when I drink. And the nice twist is that the drink is served with the whole bottle of Izze, so you can add more to the vodka or order more vodka to add to the juice. Can you guess which addition I chose?

Silly’s With a Twist is still in its growing stages. In addition to working on a cocktail menu, Colleen and Shelley Kelley said they’re still drumming up ideas for happy hours and other specials, including tasting events. A cuvenee system should be up and running soon, which will allow them to offer tastings of high-end wines typically only served by the bottle. They also hope to offer beer tastings.

The bar is conveniently located right next door to Silly’s, where cooking good eats is second nature. The extensive food menu overwhelmed me, to say the least, which is why I opted to go with one of the night’s specials instead.

I had never heard of a quesadilla with roast duck, but with all the other goodness included in the dish, the Mighty Duck Quesadilla was amazing. Between the cocktail and dinner, it was like a party in my mouth.

As they get into the swing of things, Silly’s With a Twist is also hoping for some interior decorating help. The walls of the original Silly’s are plastered with photos of customers holding the “Eat at Silly’s” bumper sticker in locales around the globe.

The Kelley sisters are hoping to continue that tradition at Silly’s With a Twist. So stop in, grab a drink, pick up a bumper sticker and help decorate the new space.

Emma Bouthillette is a freelance writer who lives in Biddeford.

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