We’re very proud that two members of Maine’s DaPonte String Quartet are Honeck O’Toole clients… so it’s fitting that we feature the quartet here. This exceptional group has been voted a Downeast “Best of Maine” Readers’ Choice for Performing Artists year after year, so what’s new for 2019? Executive Director Lisa Westkaemper filled us in.…
Is there a place in Portland to enjoy “an honest breakfast or lunch at a decent price?” Lucy and Ian Dutch say YES, INDEED! It’s Dutch’s Breakfast & Lunch, their restaurant located at 28 Preble Street. They opened Dutch’s in 2014 offering an affordable, world-class “from scratch” menu based on the couple’s extensive cooking experience…
Back in 2014, we profiled Shays Grill Pub at 18 Monument Square in Portland, and it’s been doing quite well. So well, in fact, the owners decided to open a second restaurant in Scarborough this year. Co-owner Jennifer Brennerman reported, “We opened Dunstan Tap & Table on Route One back in July. It’s a completely…
Fascinating fact from Rebecca Gagnon: “Custard is similar to any other ice cream except it uses egg as an emulsifier. This makes the product a lot smoother and creamier.” Now you know why Mainely Custard is a popular destination every summer in Freeport and Kennebunk. Rebecca told us she didn’t create the business, but she…
Raven Rocks Resources Retirement is a foreign word to Claudine Weatherford. So, when she retired from her career and then turned 70 a few years ago, she created a small consulting business that suits her cross-disciplinary background (anthropology/archaeology, folk culture/ folk art, and organizational change and behavior), while requiring less than a full-time commitment. She…
If you’ve never gone whitewater rafting in Maine, perhaps we can convince you to try it this summer. Start by checking out US Rafting, run by Bill Lyons. Why? Because safety is their main concern, but FUN is a close second. They told us that they de nitely have the most fun on the rivers.…
When Rob and Bridget O’Brian took over North Atlantic Inflatables in April of 2014, it was a unique, growing business — the first to bring reliable, safe, high-quality inflatable boats to the US market at reasonable prices. It was a perfect fit for the O’Brian’s, combining Rob’s background as a Naval Architect and a retail…
The mushroom business is… well… mushrooming for the owners of Maine Cap ‘n Stem in Gardiner. Christopher Campbell, a Portland-area architect, co-started the business with friend Erik Lomen in 2013 after finding a market for the wild mushrooms he and his wife would discover while foraging along Maine’s hiking trails. He said, “Erik started selling…
It’s a familiar story. You move to Maine for its quality of life, you fall in love with it, and you decide to invest in its future. That’s exactly what happened to Sally Struever and Peter Eiermann, who moved to Portland 11 years ago from Providence, Rhode Island. In 2016, they purchased the Potter’s Building…
Dr. Sansonetti isn’t just a wonderful doctor based in Scarborough, Maine… he’s developed a special reputation for giving each newborn in his medical practice a special gift: a hand-knitted beanie. He was inspired by a book that he bought for his children as a Christmas gift when they were teenagers. It is the story of…
