PORTLAND – Portland has received another accolade from the national media.
In its November travel features section, GQ Magazine names Maine’s largest city one of the coolest small cities in America to visit.
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The magazine, which focuses on men’s fashion, style and culture topics, mentions 18 other small cities.
A logo on GQ’s website displays the words “Portland, Maine,” over a smiling lobster with raised claws. Next to the logo is a message: “You can walk anywhere in this town — even in December. Here are your marching orders.”
The magazine goes on to mention four destinations in Portland for visitors to check out: the Fore Street restaurant; J’s Oyster bar on the waterfront; Bresca, a six-table restaurant near the police station; and the Diamond Cove General Store on Great Diamond Island, where the magazine says you can order a lobster roll with a lobster that is steamed to order.
“We are always thrilled whenever the national press mentions us,” said Jan Beitzer, executive director of Portland’s Downtown District, which markets the city’s Old Port and arts district as tourist destinations.
“We are in such a connected world now. People don’t plan ahead for their vacation. They look for stuff like this (online) and plan their visits around it,” Beitzer said.
Beitzer said a New York Times travel article in August gave Portland another favorable review, which led to a significant “uptick” in visits to the Downtown District’s website.
Mayor Nicholas Mavodones Jr. said he was impressed that a nationally circulated, respected magazine like GQ would take notice of Portland. “It’s great for Portland because it will drive more people here,” he said.
Mavodones has another reason to be pleased. He is the operations manager for Casco Bay Lines, which runs ferries to Great Diamond Island. The Diamond Cove General Store, which closed on Labor Day, is about a 40-minute ferry ride from the mainland.
Staff Writer Dennis Hoey can be contacted at 791-6365 or at:
dhoey@pressherald.com
Send questions/comments to the editors.
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