Halloween falls on a weekend this year, which makes it easy to plan and attend multiple parties. If you're looking for something to do that doesn't include trick or treating read on...
Anna Mae Mitchell & Rising Tide
October 30 & 31
Brewer
Two nights of great bluegrass music, food and drinks, and a costume contest. The theme? Boograss of course! $10 adults, $8 seniors, students, and military. Free for kids 12 and under. 7:30 pm.
www.ammrt.netii.net
Forever Plaid
October 29, 30 & 31
Penobscot Theatre, Bangor
Based on the book by Stuart Ross, this musical follows four young male singers who get killed in a car accident, but are miraculously revived for a second chance at life.
www.penobscottheatre.org
UCP's Pumpkins in the Park
October 31
Bangor Civic Center
Looking for a non-spooky way to spend Halloween with your kids? Pick a pumpkin, enjoy a pumpkin pancake breakfast, and hop on a hayride. Breakfast starts at 8 am and Pumpkin picking goes from 12 to 7 pm. $5 for breakfast and $2 for pumpkin picking. Children 3 and under are free.
www.ucpofmaine.com
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Seasonal Flavor: Pumpkin
By Melanie Brooks
'Tis the season of pumpkin carving. But pumpkins are much more than just jack-o-lanterns. Did you know that pumpkins are considered a fruit? They are 90% water and jam packed with beta-carotene, which has been shown to reduce cancer and heart disease. One cup of pumpkin contains 50 calories and 3 grams of fiber.
I could eat pumpkin pie morning, noon, and night if presented with the opportunity to do so. I love the stuff. But recently I've been tasting other pumpkin-flavored foods that have knocked my socks off.
Specialty Sweets on Stillwater Ave. in Bangor makes a mouth-watering pumpkin fudge. It is, by far, the most delicious fudge I have ever tasted. Not only does the consistency of the fudge melt in your mouth, it's pumpkin flavored and makes for a tasty fall treat when you have a hankering for something sweet that isn't chocolate.
I had the opportunity to try some pumpkin bisque at Pairings in Winterport on Tuesday night during a Bangor Chamber of Commerce event. A bit apprehensive at first, I tried the soup with a bit of trepidation. The worry was instantly melted away as the soup happily slid down my throat. I'm not exaggerating when I say it is the best soup I have ever tasted. It had a not-too-sweet and smoky flavor that was unlike anything I had tasted before. The chef created an apple wine reduction sauce -- using Winterport Winery's own apple wine -- and maple syurp to create the creamy bisque. I had two bowls and didn't even apologize for it. I wanted to literally swim in the stuff.
Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are an easy way to use pumpkin in your baking and seem to be a distinctively New England treat. When I have made these cookies for friends in the other cities I have lived in (Boston, Baltimore, and New York City), they are always pleasantly surprised and ask me for the recipe. If you are looking to bring something to a party this fall, these cookies are sure to be a hit. Try the recipe out for yourself! I promise, you won't be disappointed.
Ingredients:
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Directions:
1. Combine pumpkin, sugar, vegetable oil, and egg. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt. Dissolve the baking soda with the milk and stir in. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and mix well.
2. Add vanilla and chocolate chips.
3. Drop by spoonful on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees F for approximately 10 minutes or until lightly brown and firm.
'Tis the season of pumpkin carving. But pumpkins are much more than just jack-o-lanterns. Did you know that pumpkins are considered a fruit? They are 90% water and jam packed with beta-carotene, which has been shown to reduce cancer and heart disease. One cup of pumpkin contains 50 calories and 3 grams of fiber.
I could eat pumpkin pie morning, noon, and night if presented with the opportunity to do so. I love the stuff. But recently I've been tasting other pumpkin-flavored foods that have knocked my socks off.
Specialty Sweets on Stillwater Ave. in Bangor makes a mouth-watering pumpkin fudge. It is, by far, the most delicious fudge I have ever tasted. Not only does the consistency of the fudge melt in your mouth, it's pumpkin flavored and makes for a tasty fall treat when you have a hankering for something sweet that isn't chocolate.
I had the opportunity to try some pumpkin bisque at Pairings in Winterport on Tuesday night during a Bangor Chamber of Commerce event. A bit apprehensive at first, I tried the soup with a bit of trepidation. The worry was instantly melted away as the soup happily slid down my throat. I'm not exaggerating when I say it is the best soup I have ever tasted. It had a not-too-sweet and smoky flavor that was unlike anything I had tasted before. The chef created an apple wine reduction sauce -- using Winterport Winery's own apple wine -- and maple syurp to create the creamy bisque. I had two bowls and didn't even apologize for it. I wanted to literally swim in the stuff.
Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are an easy way to use pumpkin in your baking and seem to be a distinctively New England treat. When I have made these cookies for friends in the other cities I have lived in (Boston, Baltimore, and New York City), they are always pleasantly surprised and ask me for the recipe. If you are looking to bring something to a party this fall, these cookies are sure to be a hit. Try the recipe out for yourself! I promise, you won't be disappointed.Ingredients:
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Directions:
1. Combine pumpkin, sugar, vegetable oil, and egg. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt. Dissolve the baking soda with the milk and stir in. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and mix well.
2. Add vanilla and chocolate chips.
3. Drop by spoonful on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees F for approximately 10 minutes or until lightly brown and firm.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Wicked Funny
By Kayla Riley
On Saturday I witnessed Maine's own comedian, Bob Marley, live at the Collins Center for the Arts. I had seen his DVDs and heard a few tracks from past CDs of his, but I had never seen a live performance. I can sum up the experience in one word—hilarious. After each punchline was delivered, I barely had time to recover from gut-busting laughter before the next joke hit me. Considering Marley's fast rise to comedic stardom, I admit I am a little behind on discovering how truly funny he is.
Although his popularity is just now hitting its peak, Bob Marley has been a stand up comedian for 15 years. Born and raised in Maine, Marley graduated with a degree in community health from the University of Maine in Farmington. From there he quickly began his tour de force comedy career. He got his start at comedy nights in Portland, soon moving to Boston to widen his scope.
Since then, Marley has had his own special on Comedy Central and made the rounds to all the major late night shows, including Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien, David Letterman, and Craig Ferguson. One of his most well known appearances is his more serious role in "The Boondock Saints", in which he played Detective Greenly. He can be seen in the movie "All Saint's Day" starting Friday in theaters nationwide in "All Saint's Day".
If you haven't seen Bob Marley live yet, I encourage you to do so. His live performance was even more energetic than I had expected, including jokes from his latest CD, Runamuck, along with some unexpected new material. His act was a hysterical mix of Maine-based, relationship, family, and observational humor that had me laughing until I cried.
Photo courtesy of bmarley.com
On Saturday I witnessed Maine's own comedian, Bob Marley, live at the Collins Center for the Arts. I had seen his DVDs and heard a few tracks from past CDs of his, but I had never seen a live performance. I can sum up the experience in one word—hilarious. After each punchline was delivered, I barely had time to recover from gut-busting laughter before the next joke hit me. Considering Marley's fast rise to comedic stardom, I admit I am a little behind on discovering how truly funny he is.
Although his popularity is just now hitting its peak, Bob Marley has been a stand up comedian for 15 years. Born and raised in Maine, Marley graduated with a degree in community health from the University of Maine in Farmington. From there he quickly began his tour de force comedy career. He got his start at comedy nights in Portland, soon moving to Boston to widen his scope.
Since then, Marley has had his own special on Comedy Central and made the rounds to all the major late night shows, including Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien, David Letterman, and Craig Ferguson. One of his most well known appearances is his more serious role in "The Boondock Saints", in which he played Detective Greenly. He can be seen in the movie "All Saint's Day" starting Friday in theaters nationwide in "All Saint's Day".
If you haven't seen Bob Marley live yet, I encourage you to do so. His live performance was even more energetic than I had expected, including jokes from his latest CD, Runamuck, along with some unexpected new material. His act was a hysterical mix of Maine-based, relationship, family, and observational humor that had me laughing until I cried.
Photo courtesy of bmarley.com
Thursday, October 22, 2009
What's Happening This Weekend...
Rain and cloudy skies are in the forecast for this weekend, but don't let that get you down. There's plenty to keep you distracted from the gloomy weather. Read on for some rainy day ideas.
Fright at the Fort
October 23 & 24
Fort Knox, Prospect
Get a jump on spooky Halloween fun with a visit to Fort Knox. You never know what may be waiting around the corner! 5:30-9 pm. $5
http://fortknox.maineguide.com
Hillbilly Pirate Halloween Ball
October 24
The Grand in Ellsworth
Dance the night away in your Halloween garb to the tunes of Gandalf Murphy. 7:30 pm. Adults $20, students $12.
www.grandonline.org
Bill Evans & Megan Lynch
October 23
Unity Centre for the Performing Arts
A bluegrass banjo player from California and a fiddler from Nashville team up for a foot-tapping performance. 7:30 pm. $15
www.unityme.org
Forever Plaid
Through October 25
Penobscot Theatre in Bangor
See the musical that tells the story of four young male singers who get a second chance at life. Check the Penobscot Theatre's web site for various show times. $40
www.penobscottheatre.org
Fright at the Fort
October 23 & 24
Fort Knox, Prospect
Get a jump on spooky Halloween fun with a visit to Fort Knox. You never know what may be waiting around the corner! 5:30-9 pm. $5
http://fortknox.maineguide.com
Hillbilly Pirate Halloween Ball
October 24
The Grand in Ellsworth
Dance the night away in your Halloween garb to the tunes of Gandalf Murphy. 7:30 pm. Adults $20, students $12.
www.grandonline.org
Bill Evans & Megan Lynch
October 23
Unity Centre for the Performing Arts
A bluegrass banjo player from California and a fiddler from Nashville team up for a foot-tapping performance. 7:30 pm. $15
www.unityme.org
Forever Plaid
Through October 25
Penobscot Theatre in Bangor
See the musical that tells the story of four young male singers who get a second chance at life. Check the Penobscot Theatre's web site for various show times. $40
www.penobscottheatre.org
Maine ranked in top 10 for energy efficiency!
Maine is among the 10 states that are doing the most to implement energy efficiency, according to the 2009 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard. This is the third edition of the state-by-state ranking by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
"The most improved states are stepping up their efforts in several ways, such as adopting new building energy codes and setting aggressive new energy savings targets," Maggie Eldridge, lead author of the report from the ACEEE, said in a press release. Last year Maine ranked 19th.
Gov. Baldacci is quoted in yesterdays press release as saying: "I am pleased that Maine is being recognized for our commitment to energy efficiency. We began by making State government a model in order to show businesses and residents that reducing energy consumption improves our way of life by reducing harmful effects on our environment and our health, while making a significant impact to our bottom line. We made this commitment in 2003 when the price of oil was $20 a barrel. Since then, we've made new investments in weatherization, encouraged alternative modes of transportation, and encouraged voluntary alternative work schedules for State employees, and we became the first state to purchase 100 percent of our electricity from zero carbon renewable resources."
The 10 states doing the most include (in order of ranking):
California
Massachusetts
Connecticut
Oregon
New York
Vermont
Washington state
Minnesota
Rhode Island
Maine
The states with the most room for improvement include:
Arkansas
Missouri
Louisiana
Georgia
Alaska
West Virginia
Nebraska
Alabama
Mississippi
North Dakota
Wyoming
Washington D.C.
To learn more about what Maine is doing right regarding energy efficiency check out the October Energy edition of Bangor Metro magazine.
"The most improved states are stepping up their efforts in several ways, such as adopting new building energy codes and setting aggressive new energy savings targets," Maggie Eldridge, lead author of the report from the ACEEE, said in a press release. Last year Maine ranked 19th.
Gov. Baldacci is quoted in yesterdays press release as saying: "I am pleased that Maine is being recognized for our commitment to energy efficiency. We began by making State government a model in order to show businesses and residents that reducing energy consumption improves our way of life by reducing harmful effects on our environment and our health, while making a significant impact to our bottom line. We made this commitment in 2003 when the price of oil was $20 a barrel. Since then, we've made new investments in weatherization, encouraged alternative modes of transportation, and encouraged voluntary alternative work schedules for State employees, and we became the first state to purchase 100 percent of our electricity from zero carbon renewable resources."
The 10 states doing the most include (in order of ranking):
California
Massachusetts
Connecticut
Oregon
New York
Vermont
Washington state
Minnesota
Rhode Island
Maine
The states with the most room for improvement include:
Arkansas
Missouri
Louisiana
Georgia
Alaska
West Virginia
Nebraska
Alabama
Mississippi
North Dakota
Wyoming
Washington D.C.
To learn more about what Maine is doing right regarding energy efficiency check out the October Energy edition of Bangor Metro magazine.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Gas Guzzles
By Melanie Brooks
Yikes! In the past week or so the price of gas has really gone up! Is this a trend? Who knows these days. How much the price of gas changes from one day to the next is an anomaly to me. But while the price of gas is difficult to follow, finding the least expensive gas station is pretty easy. All you have to do is click here and MaineGasPrices will show you the cost of gas at local stations in your area. All you have to do is put in your zip code!
Yikes! In the past week or so the price of gas has really gone up! Is this a trend? Who knows these days. How much the price of gas changes from one day to the next is an anomaly to me. But while the price of gas is difficult to follow, finding the least expensive gas station is pretty easy. All you have to do is click here and MaineGasPrices will show you the cost of gas at local stations in your area. All you have to do is put in your zip code!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Mt. Hope Cemetery
By Melanie Brooks
I decided to take advantage of the gorgeous day on Saturday and head to Mt. Hope Cemetery for a couple of hours. This might sound weird but I love old cemeteries. It's interesting to read the names on the old gravestones and get a glimpse into someone's past. Some of the gravestones at Mt. Hope are so old they're weathered unreadable. Many are in various degrees of tilt.
Mt. Hope is one of the oldest garden cemeteries in the nation -- second to Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Mass. For a short history lesson click here.
Below is a slideshow of some of my favorite shots.
I decided to take advantage of the gorgeous day on Saturday and head to Mt. Hope Cemetery for a couple of hours. This might sound weird but I love old cemeteries. It's interesting to read the names on the old gravestones and get a glimpse into someone's past. Some of the gravestones at Mt. Hope are so old they're weathered unreadable. Many are in various degrees of tilt.
Mt. Hope is one of the oldest garden cemeteries in the nation -- second to Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Mass. For a short history lesson click here.
Below is a slideshow of some of my favorite shots.
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