Tag Archives: Portland

Batson River … round one, Portland.

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No trip to the big city is complete without us trying a new libation destination. On this particular day it was Batson River Brewery and Distillery.

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I’d heard wonderful things about this place so it didn’t surprise me to see it was packed ten minutes after opening.

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They take their Christmas decorations seriously here and as I was looking around my husband grabbed the last two seats at the bar.

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Cocktails were holiday themed, so I started with the Where Are You Christmas.

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The only thing wrong with it?

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The small glass. I could happily have downed a pitcher’s worth.

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I read they consider the decor ‘upscale hunting lodge’ but to me it had a more upscale urban, industrial vibe with exposed pipes and metal vents.

The ceilings were high and the music loud. The menu? Brunch on Saturday… which we weren’t expecting and didn’t want.

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I opted for the Caesar salad, which was dry as a bone and utterly unremarkable, but I washed it down with a quite lovely Yule Tai that countered my disappointment.

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Husband had the smoked tomato soup which he said was tasty if not plentiful.

Their beer?

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Nice doggie glass withstanding, nothing to rave about.

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A very large Santa was on the second floor and we watched a few tipsy patrons climb up to have their picture taken with him.

Talking with our neighbor at the bar, we discovered there are actually four Batson Rivers scattered in southern Maine, each one with their own personality, menu and cocktails.

Intrigued, and with nothing planned for dinner… we decided to drive to Biddeford and check out another one.

To be continued ….

A successful return.

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Our trip to Portland the other day had a destination other than my husband’s face on the itinerary… and that was Edgecomb Pottery. A high end artsy gallery where my thoughtful spouse likes to shop for gifts.

And as we walked around? it was obvious just how much he enjoys shopping there.

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See that bird?

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Here’s mine.

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See that lamp?

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Yup.

Have one of those too.

Our reason for shopping that day was the return of the thoughtful (but odd, and not my taste) bracelet my husband had given me for my birthday.

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I love that he tries, but he rarely scores a win when buying me jewelry so we exchange quite often.

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This was my substitution piece. Hard to tell by the photo, but it’s gold and silver intertwined.

❤️

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Out of the mouths of babes.

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The husband and I went to Portland the other day and as we were walking along Commercial Street in the Old Port, I suggested we go see his face.

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This requires explanation, I know.

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As a Christmas surprise for my favorite hero, I purchased a spot on the wall in his honor in 2009.

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I chose his boot camp graduation photo… and as the years go by we always get a kick out of seeing his innocent baby face.

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19 years old and sent to war.

Returning safely, but forever changed.

As we stood there looking at the wall, two young women with a large group of children stopped as well. They said hello… and started telling the children what the wall was for, whose faces were engraved and why it’s important to recognize veterans and their sacrifices.

One of the women looked over at my husband, saw his Marine Corps hat and thanked him for his service. The children all glanced over, heard my husband say thank you and tell the woman that he was actually on the wall they had come to see.

As he pointed out his picture the kind woman said, “You look exactly the same!” … which tickled us both as a sweet and ridiculous statement, but it what was one of the little girls said that made both of us choke up.

She looked at the picture on the wall, looked at my husband and said,”Mom… he’s a real live hero.”

❤️

She’s right of course.

He’s my real live hero, and always will be.

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News you can’t use.

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Or maybe you can. I’m not judging.

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For someone who doesn’t drink coffee but lives on freshly brewed tea… this is beyond disturbing.

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Another reason I live on the opposite end of the highway from this state.

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No.

You have your Impossible Burger, you have your soy based cheese ….

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For the love of all that’s holy keep your vegan hands off my seafood!

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Well this was disturbing. I’d only been to one out of nine. I must be getting old…

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Holy cannoli!

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If you know me, you know I’d walk a mile for a good cannoli. (Okay, who are we kidding… with my bad knee? I’d drive, but that didn’t sound nearly as dramatic.)

And now? It looks like I’ll have to drive an hour.

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Yes boys and girls, it’s true. A small Italian market in Portland will now be carrying Modern Pastry’s ever so scrumptious tubular slices of heaven.

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Mike’s? Don’t even bother, it’s Modern all the way.

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There’s a reason Clemenza chose pastry over firepower, and trust me… it’s Modern.

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Dipped shell, Chantilly cream filling with chocolate chips. Be still my heart.

❤️

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