Cool Sounds Concert Series: Evergreen

By: Melinda Hart

Evergreen had listeners on their feet last Thursday at the Cool Sounds Concert Series and Outdoor Market with blues, bluegrass, and swing!

A four part band, Evergreen is comprised of Steve Chiasson, Chris Prickitt, Nel Kennedy and Joe Kennedy. Their performance spanned old time country music, bluegrass, blues and folk.

Star Power

By Melanie Brooks

A couple of weeks ago I had an idea. Wouldn't it be cool if we had a way to put local people on fake covers of Bangor Metro? Wouldn't it be cool if we had some sort of cover frame that we could take to events? I decided to pick my dad's brain about it. He's a carpenter by trade and can make just about anything you can imagine.

We talked over what I wanted and how he thought it would work and he whipped up a fake Bangor Metro cover frame in no time. We decided to debut it at last night's Business After Hours at The Charles Inn.


We had a ball with it! Pictured here on the left is David Whitehill and Jessica Bloch Whitehill. On the right is Jessica Sleeth and Katy England.

For more fun cover shots, check out our facebook page. We'll be bringing our life sized cover frame to the next Bangor Greendrinks, which will be held after work on Tuesday, July 13th at the Sea Dog on the Bangor waterfront. We hope to see you there!

What is a potato blossom anyway?

By Melanie Brooks

The Potato Blossom Festival kicks off in Fort Fairfield this weekend and I bet many of you have never even seen a potato blossom. I'm here to change that. Last year I went up to the Potato Blossom Festival to check them out for myself. It was my first real trip up to "the county" for work. The weather wasn't spectacular, but the views were amazing.

What's Happening This Weekend...

There's no excuse for boredom this weekend!

East Millinocket Summerfest
July 8-11
Opal Myrick Park
This year's theme is country and western, and the weekend will be packed with a parade, pony rides, concerts, good eats, fireworks, and more.
www.eastmillinocket.org

9th Annual Celebration at the Visitors Center
July 9
West Quoddy Head Light, Lubec
This is your chance to take a tour of the famous red-and-white-striped lighthouse tower. There will also be food, music, and a raffle. 11 am-2 pm.
www.westquoddy.com

United Maine Craftsmen's Arts & Crafts Show
July 9-11
Bangor Waterfront
Talented Maine artisans sell their unique crafts, specialty foods, and art.
www.unitedmainecraftsmen.com

16th Annual Strawberry Festival
July 10
Lincolnville Center
Don't miss this sweet event, which features a parade, desserts, children's activities, and music. Held on the campus of the United Christian Church.
763-3038

Summer at Leonard's Mills
July 10 & 11
Bradley
Experience days bone by with a reenactment of a 1790s colonial village with horse-drawn wagon rides, candle making, blacksmithing, and more. 10 am- 4 pm. Adults $8; children $4.
www.leonardsmills.com

North Atlantic Blues Festival
July 10 & 11
Harbor Park, Rockland
One of the most prestigious blues festivals in the country, this year's roster features over 15 blues artists from around the country and abroad.
www.northatlanticbluesfestival.com

15th Annual Arts in the Park
July 10 & 11
Belfast
Over 80 artists display their works on Belfast's waterfront. The festival offers continuous live music throughout the weekend, as well as a variety of foods. Don't miss the Maine Coast Carving & Art Competition at the Boathouse!
www.artsintheparkbelfast.org

Flamingo Festival
July 10-12
Southwest Harbor
A weekend-long celebration of the iconic plastic lawn ornaments. Enjoy a parade, children's carnival, a steel drum band, and more.
www.harborhousemdi.org

Maine Potato Blossom Festival
July 10-18
Fort Fairfield
Enjoy 9 days of farmer olympics, road races, arts and crafts, fireworks, river races, mashed potato wrestling, and more.
www.potatoblossom.org

Cool Sounds Concert Series: Blue Northern

By: Melinda Hart




Blue Northern brought bluegrass to Bangor for the fourth week of the Cool Sounds Concert Series, performing to families and their dogs under a rainbow in Pickering Square.

What's Happening this Weekend...

Celebrate the country's independence with an activity-packed weekend!
Happy 4th of July!

Houlton Fair
July 1-4
Houlton
This fair features livestock, crafts, a midway, and stage entertainment, ending with a fireworks show for the 4th of July. $10.
www.houltonfair.com

"Picnic"
July 1-11
Steamboat Landing Park, Belfast
When a handsome young man moves into a small town in Kansas, he ignites change and drama in the neighborhood. The Belfast Maskers presents Picnic, the first show performed on the new festival stage. 7-9:30 pm.
www.belfastmaskers.com

Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas
July 2
The Strand Theatre, Rockland
With big and small fiddles, Fraser and Haas reinvent Scottish music with their engaging Celtic performance during their second visit to The Strand.
www.rocklandstrand.com

Independence Day Celebration
July 2-4
Millinocket
Enjoy three days of fun including live entertainment, craft fair, parades, food vendors, and fireworks.
www.katahdinmaine.com

River City Cinema
July 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30
Pickering Square, Bangor
Grab your lawnchair and head downtown to catch a free show. Movies start at sundown, around 8:30 pm.
www.rivercitycinema.com

MDI YMCA's Annual Lobster Races
July 3
Bar Harbor
Ever seen a lobster race? Go to MDI town athletic field after the parade and check it out. All proceeds benefit the MDI YMCA.
www.mdi.org

4th of July Parade & Celebration
July 3
Thomaston
Check out this traditional small-town 4th of July celebration that includes a pancake breakfast, entertainment, horseshoe tournament, baking contests, crafts, and fireworks.
www.thomaston4thofjuly.com

July 4th Celebration Weekend
July 3 & 4
Bar Harbor
Celebrations begin with a 6 am blueberry pancake breakfast at the Bar Harbor athletic field. From 9 am to 3 pm visit the craft fair, then enjoy the parade, followed by lobster races. Other festivities include a seafood festival, free concert on the Village Green, by the Bar Harbor town band, and an antique show. End the day with a fireworks display over Frenchman Bay.
www.mdi.org

Paranormal & Psychic Faire
July 3 & 4
Fort Knox, Prospect
Meet with people who believe in things unusual: psychics, ghost hunters, UFOologists, dowsers, and more. Regular fort admission applies, plus $2 event donation requested.
fortknox.maineguide.com

The Fabulous '50s, Sensational '60s, & Antique Aeroplane Show
July 3 & 4
Owls Head Transportation Museum
See over 400 big, beautiful cars along with vehicle demonstrations, biplane rides, and activities for the whole family. 9:30 am-5 pm. $12 adults; free for children under 18.
www.ohtm.org

Brooks Field Day
July 4
Brooks Community Park
This annual celebration is filled with family-friendly activities and great food. $5.
www.brooks.govoffice2.com

4th of July
July 4
Eastport
Don't miss the Grand Independence Parade, entertainment in Overlook Park, water sports, antique car show, contests, and the fireworks.
www.eastport4th.com

July 4th Celebration
July 4
Greenville
Spend the day and catch the annual parade, craft fair, children's activities, live music, and the largest display of fireworks in Piscataquis County.
www.mooseheadlake.org

4th of July Celebration
July 4
Deer Isle-Stonington
Check out early morning road races and fun run in downtown Stonington, then head over to Deer Isle Village for the 4th of July parade. Grab lunch at the annual Fish and Fritter Fry on the Stonington Fish Pier, followed by fireworks over Stonington Harbor at nightfall.

Food & Wine Pairings
July 4, 18, & 25
Cellardoor Vineyard, Lincolnville
Discover which wines best compliment local foods with Cellardoor Winery. Sessions will feature area farms and businesses, such as Seal Cove Farm, Appleton Creamery, and O'Meara Family Farm.
www.mainewine.com

Don't see a listing for 4th of July activities for your town? Check out your town's website.

Sweet Treat for the 4th of July

By Melanie Brooks

Are you looking for a sweet treat to bring to a 4th of July picnic this weekend? I think I might have found just what you are looking for in the Bangor Metro archives. I was looking through our older magazines for a certain recipe and stumbled upon Ramey's Raspberry Cake Rolls. I love fresh berries -- they're even tastier when I can pick them myself. It's not quite raspberry season yet, but I'm a sucker for anything raspberry. And jelly rolls are really fun to make. Don't let on how easy it is -- let your family and friends think you're a culinary genius.