Portland in a Snap

Bubbly & Ballet party offers sneak peek of Giselle

Angie Muhs — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:14:29 GMT

This evening, the chic and art-filled new Pierce Atwood law office overlooking Portland Harbor was complemented by the graceful dancers of Portland Ballet. Called Bubbly & Ballet, the party featured sparkling wine, Yosaku sushi and 150 guests. Here Sasha Yapparov, Portland Ballet's CORPS director, addresses the party guests and encourages us to financially support the creative arts community and the work of Portland Ballet.

To the delight of the crowd, four of the company's dancers treated us to a short series of excerpts from the upcoming performance of Giselle. Here Debs Grammatic, Ashton Plummer and Caroline Shelton finish a piece of choreography, while associate artistic director Nell Shipman controls the music in the background.

Megan Buckley is one of two dancers who will dance the lead role of Giselle. Her grace and athleticism were clearly visible tonight.

The classic romantic ballet delivers a fairy tale plot and dreamy costumes along with crowd-pleasing choreography. Performances take place March 17 and March 24 at the Westbrook Performing Arts Center. You can buy tickets through PortTix. On March 31, the production will travel to the Imperial Theater in St. John, New Brunswick for a final performance.

I'll have more photos and details from the party in the Feb. 12 edition of the Maine Sunday Telegram.

Until then, I hope to see you out and about.

145 wines sampled at Toast on the Coast

Angie Muhs — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:06:52 GMT

A sold-out crowd of more than 300 people turned out for tonight's first-ever Toast on the Coast fundraiser to benefit Easter Seals Maine. Held at The Landing at Pine Point, party-goers had a chance to sample up to 145 different wines offered by distributor Pine State Beverage Co. Anyone who wanted to purchase wine tasted tonight could do so at a 10% discount. In the snapshot above, Alicia Pascarelli talks with party guests about the Don Sebastiani & Sons wines.

With so many wines to sample it's smart to have a little nosh. To that end the party offered tasty bites from Vignola, Amato's, Zapoteca, Kitchen Chicks Catering and East End Cupcakes. Pictured in the snapshot above, Bo Byrne, the chef de cuisine at David's 388, prepares a tasting plate.

I'll have more photos and additional details from the party in the Feb. 5 edition of the Maine Sunday Telegram. Until then, I hope to see you out and about.

Portland mayor attends meet & greet with arts leaders

Angie Muhs — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 01:14:46 GMT

Mayor Michael Brennen spoke to members of Portland's arts community tonight during the Meet the Mayor mixer held at SPACE Gallery. Organized by the Portland Arts & Cultural Alliance and Creative Portland, the gathering started what will surely be an ongoing conversation about the relationship between city government and the thriving arts scene.

Only two weeks after the newly elected mayor underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor, he didn't duck out of the event. Instead he showed up, and even cracked jokes about his weight loss. Judging by Jennifer Hutchins' smile in the photo above, the mayor was entertaining the crowd with something funny when I snapped this image. Behind Jennifer you can catch a glimpse of curator Bruce Brown.

I'll have more photos and the full scoop on who was there and what was said at the party in the Jan. 15 edition of the Maine Sunday Telegram. Don't forget to pick up a copy so you can see all of the photos.

Until then, I hope to see you out and about.

Maine Photographers turn Eyes on Asia at Addison Woolley

Angie Muhs — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:02:31 GMT

Addison Woolley Gallery in Portland's East End was packed tonight for the opening reception of "Maine Photographers: Eyes on Asia." A steady stream of art enthusiasts flowed through the gallery all evening, admiring the work and stopping to chat and enjoy the refreshments.

Guest curated by the venerable Bruce Brown, the exhibit brings together photographers Brendan Bullock, Corliss Chastain, Jon Edwards, Barbara Goodbody, James Marshall, Matthew Smollinsky, Praire Stuart-Wolff and Brown, who all live in Maine. Together they present a diverse body of work shot in China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.

The show will be open again tomorrow during First Friday Art Walk from 5 to 8 p.m. and will remain on view through Jan. 29. On the closing day of the show at 3 p.m. the public is invited to a discussion with the artists titled "Our Asian Experiences." Addison Woolley is located at 132 Washington Avenue at the corner of Fox Street.

You can see more photos and find out what guests had to say about the show in the Jan. 8 edition of the Maine Sunday Telegram.

Until then, I hope to see you out and about.

Theater fans join together to keep Factory Stage afloat

Angie Muhs — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 02:42:07 GMT

Three lucky guests won free tickets to an upcoming show during tonight's kick-off mixer for the Friends of Freeport Factory Stage. In the photo above, Julia Langham is picking a winning name, while Julie George-Carlson holds the basket.

As a nonprofit, the Friends organization will be able to accept donations and host fundraisers in support of the theater company's professional work. Without such help, the theater won't be able to keep the lights on. My colleague Bob Keyes recently wrote about the theater's plans to close which were shelved after an outpouring of community support.

Now the task is to translate this enthusiasm into volunteers and financial backers, while continuing to fill the 99-seat theater.

Freeport Factory Stage offers an up-close-and-personal performance experience prized by theater buffs. Everyone I spoke with tonight praised the venue and the high caliber of the acting talent it attracts.

Julie, who founded the theater with her husband, Bud Carlson, is seen in the snapshot above revealing the show line-up between now and July. And there's lots to look forward to.

On New Year's Eve, the theater offers two performances of "Forbidden Broadway," a musical roast of Broadway hits. The new year brings "Glass Menagerie," "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)," "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill" and "A Little Night Music." The theater's hoping to stage "Our Town" during the 4th of July holiday.

If you want to read more about the party and see more snapshots, don't forget to pick up the Dec. 18 edition of the Maine Sunday Telegram.

Until then, I hope to see you out and about.

Hundreds of well-wishers celebrate Portland's new mayor

Angie Muhs — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 02:46:32 GMT

Pledging to focus on education and local, sustainable initiatives, Mayor Michael Brennan garnered repeated rounds of applause during the speech he gave at his inaugural reception held this evening at Ocean Gateway on Portland's waterfront. Mayor Brennan was sworn in as Portland's first popularly elected mayor in 88 years earlier in the day at City Hall. Among those applauding during the speech were his wife, Joan Martay, his son Tavis Brennan, his daughter-in-law, Daniella Swenton, and his son Ryan Brennan, seen in the snapshot above.

The party featured music from Chipped Enamel, featuring Phillip Hoose, who won the National Book Award in 2009. Ryan Brennan and Sadie Lloyd also performed for the crowd.

And boy was it a crowd! The huge function room that does double duty as a cruise ship terminal was jam packed with politicians and community leaders out to wish the new mayor well.

For all the details on the inauguration and Mayor Brennan's speech, check out Tom Bell's story in tomorrow's Portland Press Herald. Should you care to see my party snapshots or read what guests had to say about the new mayor, be sure to look for the Scene & Heard section in the Dec. 11 edition of the Maine Sunday Telegram.

Until then, I hope to see you out and about.

POP gallery opens on Commercial Street for one month only

Angie Muhs — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 02:15:19 GMT

Sales were brisk at the brand new POP gallery, which burst onto Portland's art scene tonight with a private opening party attended by at least 200 people. But don't expect the gallery to be open a month from now.

Located at 100 Commercial St., POP is a true pop-up gallery featuring fine art, furniture and crafts from more than 20 artists. It will be open Thursday through Sunday up to Christmas eve. Then it will be gone.

The space consists of a series of rooms both large and small filled with original, diverse and intriguing work priced with the gift-giving season in mind.

Even though the storefront has the polished and professional look of an established retailer, the idea for the gallery was only hatched five weeks ago. Hilary Robbins, Winky Lewis, Susana Measelle Hubbs and Annie Anderson came up with the concept and were supported by building owner Tim Soley, who rented the space at a discounted rate.

POP officially opens this Friday for First Friday Art Walk from 5 to 8 p.m. After that, it will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Be sure to pick up the Dec. 4 edition of the Maine Sunday Telegram, where I'll have more photos and details about the gallery.

Until then, I hope to see you out and about.

Hot holiday looks hit runway at Fashionable Giving event

Angie Muhs — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 02:34:30 GMT

With the winter holidays right around the corner, a full house packed the Avant Dance & Event Center in Westbrook to check out the festive looks in the Fashion Without Limits - Empowering Disabled Maine show. Put on by the Fashionable Giving networking group, the benefit fashion show raised money for the Ms. Wheelchair Maine Leadership and Advocacy Organization, headed by Ms. Wheelchair Maine 2011, Monica Quimby. Monica is on the left in the group photo of the models above.

Here Stephanie Poulin models a flirty Santa suit from Maine-based online retailer Lingerie de Amor.

Harmony Tomorrow shows a velvet dress and coat from Restless Threads in Saco.

Kesley Erin models a black sequin top, black shawl and black pants from Restless Threads.

Monica shows off a red satin corset with candy cane stockings from Lingerie de Amor. The audience was packed with contestants participating in this weekend's Miss Maine and Miss Teen Maine pageants. If you look close, you can spot a number of them in the audience, including current Miss Teen Maine Alexis McIlwain.

Want to read more about the show and see photos of party guests? Then be sure to pick up the Nov. 27 edition of the Maine Sunday Telegram, where I'll have a full report in the Scene & Heard section.

Until then, I hope to see you out and about.

Community Bike Center attracts overflow crowd to auction

Angie Muhs — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 02:21:52 GMT

Close to 200 guests packed the function rooms at the Run of the Mill Pub & Brewery in Saco tonight for the second annual Community Bicycle Center "Building Bikes, Building Futures" silent auction. In fact, so many people showed up for the party, guests overflowed into the restaurant's lobby and waiting area, leaving little room for dining room patrons or wait staff.

The Community Bicycle Center is well loved in the community, so it's no surprise so many would come out on rainy night to support it. And they weren't disappointed.

Auction items included biking gear, jewelry and restaurant gift certificates, along with a striking collection of original art by local artists.

Twenty-five works of art framed in silver bike wheels were tonight's signature auction items. More than 20 artists donated their time and talent to the Bike Wheels project.

If you want to learn more about this youth development organization and see party snapshots of the people who support it, be sure to pick up the Nov. 20 edition of the Maine Sunday Telegram and check out the Scene & Heard section.

Until then, I hope to see you out and about.

Season of giving kicks-off with Inspiring Philanthropy party

Angie Muhs — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 02:39:45 GMT

More than 200 philanthropists, board members and nonprofit executives gathered at USM's Abromson Center tonight to hear author Thomas Tierney give this fall's Inspiring Philanthropy talk. Sponsored by the Maine Community Foundation, the event happens in the spring near Bangor and in the fall in Portland.

The author of "Give Smart: Philanthropy that Gets Results" with Joel Fleishman, Tierney spoke about how to improve the effectiveness of charitable donations. Tierney is also the chairman and co-founder of The Bridgespan Group, which advises nonprofits. In the photo above Maine Community Foundation President and CEO Meredith Jones hands a wrapped gift to Tierney as retired asset manager and active philanthropist Forrest Berkley applauds. Berkley, who has known Tierney for years, helped arrange for his visit tonight and asked him a few questions on stage following Tierney's speech.

A special treat tonight: a fabulous performance by the Pihcintu Multicultural Children's Chorus. Look for them on the Today Show on Dec. 12.

I'll have more photos and details from the party in Scene & Heard section of the Nov. 13 edition of the Maine Sunday Telegram. Be sure to pick up a copy.

Until then, I hope to see you out and about.