PORTLAND — After a $1.5 million renovation that included new seats, new plaster, new paint, new carpet, and new lights and sound equipment, the 81-year-old State Theatre is ready for its reopening on Friday with a sold out show by My Morning Jacket.

The theater, which has been closed since 2006, was opened for a press tour this morning to show off some of the renovations.

The ones most visible were the new seats in the lower section of the theater. The sloped section of the floor is covered with rows of permanent red padded theater seats with arms, while the theater’s previous operator had some of the sloped area left bare for standing room.

This time of year, mother nature presents us with piles of potential decorating elements – so why not get crafty with all that colorful bounty?

For most of us, fall in Maine means we “ooh” and “aah” over all the pretty colored leaves.

But this year, maybe it’s time to do some informed oohing and aahing. Maybe leaf peeping would be a whole new experience if you knew what you were peeping at.

For instance, instead of just driving aimlessly out into the countryside, you can head for a muddy, swampy area to see the bright-red foliage of red maple trees. Red maples love wet areas, don’t you know.