Beth LaBossiere leads the team responsible for the Northern Lights holiday installation on the retailer’s Freeport campus, which includes 400 trees and 300,000 lights.
Ray Routhier
Staff Writer
Ray Routhier has written about pop culture, movies, TV, music and lifestyle trends for the Portland Press Herald since 1993. He is continually fascinated with stories that show the unique character of Maine’s people and places. He’s written about why so many businesses use the made-up word “Mainely” in their names, how you can trace Portland’s history through its various smells and why Mainers lament the loss of Portland-made B&M baked beans. He’s interviewed a wide variety of filmmakers, actors, musicians and authors, including Patrick Dempsey, Tony Shalhoub, Richard Russo, Tess Gerritsen, Tony Bennett, Anna Kendrick, and Stephen King. His passions, besides writing, include baseball history, old movies and “Jeopardy!” A native of Manchester, New Hampshire, he graduated with a degree in political science from the University of New Hampshire. He lives in South Portland with his wife and two children.
Posted inMaine
Fans and friends remember ‘The humble Farmer’ as the real Maine deal
Humorist Robert Skoglund of St. George died Saturday at the age of 88, after nearly 50 years of entertaining and impressing folks with his dry Maine musings.
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Posted inDo This
My Perfect Day: ‘Maine Christmas Song’ writer would visit Mount Katahdin and eat an Amato’s Italian
Con Fullam of Windham would also go to Reid State Park and the Portland Museum of Art.
Posted inDo This
These southern Maine spots get all decked out for the holidays
Restaurants, bars and a historic home are among the places where you can see over-the-top decorations.
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Books
A Bowdoin professor collects his thoughts on the Black American experience
Anthony Walton’s ‘The End of Respectability’ features a dozen essays, written over time, with his observations on race in this country.
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Do This, Music
Don Campbell’s favorite things about Christmas and its music
The Maine singer-songwriter answered questions about his love of both listening to and singing holiday music.
Posted inDo This, Food
At Cheese Louise, you can get your grilled cheese stuffed with Thanksgiving dinner
If you don’t have your own Thanksgiving leftovers for sandwiches, or just want seconds, try the Portland sandwich shop’s Gobble Gobbler.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
From burlesque to ballet, Maine has established many of its own holiday arts traditions
Several of Maine’s unique annual holiday shows, like ‘Magic of Christmas’ and ‘Victorian Nutcracker,’ have lasted 20 years or more.
Posted inDo This
My Perfect Day: WinterKids’ director would go to Bradbury Mountain, a bookstore and brunch
Courtney Holub of Portland would also run along Back Cove and meet friends at The Continental.
Posted inDo This
Monopoly with your martini? Find all sorts of games at these bars and restaurants
Bars, cafes, restaurants and breweries all over southern Maine are offering trivia, pinball, board games and other ways to break the ice.