Up portland december 2016

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Sauntering With Mat

By Mat Robedee / Up Portland Commentator

I feel like a guy with a hundred years’ worth of travelling experiences wearing 32 years of age proudly. During this time, the majority of my explorations have been either alone or with a close friend or two. Large group travel sounds like a logistical nightmare and personally I find greater romance in the idea of setting off alone into uncharted lands. This past November though was an entirely new experience for me, as my immediate family (six of us in total, including my partner) decided to take a two week “road trip” through Spain and Portugal for my mother’s 60th birthday.

First of all, “two weeks “and “family” in one sentence is enough for most people to abandon ship. Luckily for me, I was blessed with a group that regardless of the various differences and ailments, made a pretty solid team. Better than that, I am deeply blessed with a mother who is the most adorable, kind and outgoing person — an anchor in the sea of life’s intensities.

The trip started off in Lisbon and went along the southern coast of Portugal, into Spain, eventually ending at the Alhambra in Granada. I could go on forever reminiscing about experiences had in these countries because every day was a new adventure: castles, caves, olive groves, horses, incredible architecture and gorgeous people. The food alone is an entirely other story to write about, as I travelled and ate in areas where people have truly mastered the art of gastronomy.

we topped off the moment with a couple bottles of champagne and dark chocolate. As the sun slowly descended, an amber glow filled the air. With drinks in hand, we toasted my mother’s 60 revolutions around the sun and all gazed out to sea until the day came to an end.

Amongst all this goodness, there is one moment that is forever etched into my mind. Those who know me best know I am a very sentimental guy who wears his heart on his sleeve. So the real highlight of the trip for me was the 4th day — my mother’s birthday.

We rented a place in the town of Lagos, which is on the southern coast of Portugal. This area is well known for its beaches, jagged seaside cliffs and dramatic ocean views. What initially caught my eye about Lagos was its close proximity to Cape St. Vincent — the most Southwestern most point in continental Europe. I was initially drawn to this area due to the coast jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean and being surrounded by vast acres of protected land.

Upon researching it further, I fell in love. It is considered to be a magical place, famous for sunsets, maritime history and rumoured to be a place where you can hear the sun hiss as it sinks into the sea. It’s a headland that has been wind blasted and storm pounded for ages and truly delivers an “end of the world” type of feel. It was there that we decided to celebrate the life of a truly amazing woman.

After a beautiful drive to reach this area, we brought her out to cliff side, overlooking a lighthouse. After setting up comfy seating with pillows and blankets,

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The gift of a sunset is unique, as you will never see that one again nor can anyone ever truly copy that experience. The same goes with family. The two together, on the cliff edge, overlooking an ocean ablaze in colour was a moment that I will always remember.

There is a raw and simple beauty in sharing a moment like this with others, too, because seldom do we stop to truly take a moment in and when we do, rarely are we given the opportunity for it to be shared with those we most love. It seems the instinct to stop has been overridden long ago by the perceived need to hurry up and “do” rather than just take time to “be”.

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We are more than just copies…

Quite often actions and shared moments speak far louder than words. So if you ever get the opportunity to give someone an experience they will never forget — one they will talk about for the rest of their life — do it.

and

I read somewhere that “Experiences of awe bring people into the present moment” and there are few things as important in life as being present. Everything else fades away, leaving only you and the moment you are in. It is in those moments, like on that cliff edge with my family, time slowed down and I was truly overcome by just how fortunate I was for everything that led to that exact moment in life. How fortunate I was for the powerful woman who brought me into this world.

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Beyond The Forecast

By Jack Sillin / Weatherman & Meterology Student Hello everyone!

After a long and technical discussion of the Winter forecast last month that was done on a hemispheric scale, I’m going to bring it back to explaining some of the weather that we experience in Maine on a day-to-day basis. This month’s column will discuss what types of precipitation fall from the sky here in Maine, how they form, and how you can help forecasters like me to predict them.

There are two easy types of precipitation: rain and snow. Snow occurs when abundant moisture and lift combine in a cold atmosphere and the resulting flakes fall through subfreezing air all the way to the ground. Rain happens when warm air occupies either the lowest level of the atmosphere or all of it resulting in any snowflakes that form aloft to melt and stay liquid all the way to the ground.

But what happens when there’s a layer of warm air aloft that partially or fully melts the snowflakes and then a layer of cold air near the surface to refreeze them? How about when it’s raining even though temps both at the surface and aloft are well below freezing?

of the power grid.

The December 2008 storm was much less damaging though still resulted in significant impacts. The bottom line is that significant freezing rain events can be extremely destructive and even minor ones, as we had last Spring (at right) can turn roads into skating rinks and damage trees and wires.

If the layer of cold air near the surface is more significant and the layer of warm air aloft less so, sleet usually falls from the sky. Sleet happens when snowflakes fall into a layer of cold air, melt, and then enter that cold layer near the surface. However, unlike in freezing rain, this time the raindrops can completely refreeze into ice pellets.

They look almost like hail but sleet is not hail. Hail forms in violent thunderstorms during the Spring and Summer months. Sleet forms from refrozen raindrops in the Winter. Sleet usually has no significant impacts on trees or power lines, though it can make for slippery roads and sidewalks.

There’s another commonly confounding precipitation type you may encounter during the Winter months in Maine known as freezing drizzle. Freezing drizzle can occur at any temperature below freezing and liquid drizzle has been observed at temperatures well below zero fahrenheit. How can liquid drizzle fall from the sky at such cold temps?

The answer lies in something called the dendritic growth zone. This is the part (zone) of the atmosphere where snowflakes (dendrites) form (grow). When this area of the atmosphere (wherever the temperature is between -10 and -20 degrees celsius) is full of moisture and the air contained in it is rising, snowflakes can grow and fall from the sky. When this area is dry or lacking sufficient rising motion, no snowflakes can form and the water droplets in the atmosphere fall to the ground as supercooled liquid, freezing on contact. Freezing drizzle almost never amounts to anything significant enough for damage to trees and power lines though it can definitely make for slippery travel conditions!

Check our graphic above from the National Weather Service and you will see we get one of two most common “mixed precipitation” types: freezing rain or sleet.

Freezing rain happens when snow falls into a deep warm layer aloft. The snow then melts into raindrops before they fall into a shallow layer of cold air right near the surface. The layer of cold air isn’t deep enough to refreeze the rain, instead it freezes on contact with subfreezing objects on the ground like your windshield, trees, roads or power lines.

Ice storms can wreak havoc on the power grid as trees are weighed down by hundreds or even thousands of pounds of ice. I’m sure Up Portland readers have memories of the ice storms of December 2008 and January 1998, both of which brought widespread destruction of the power grid. In the 1998 ice storm, up to five inches of ice fell across interior Maine causing a near complete destruction

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Depending on the exact conditions in the atmosphere and the depth/caliber of warm and cold layers, different types of precip can fall from the sky. A sufficiently moist, cold, and lifted atmosphere will produce snow. Without the moisture or the lift, freezing drizzle will form due to a lack of ice crystals in the cloud layer. If there’s a shallow warm layer aloft, snow will melt and then refreeze into sleet. If the warm layer is deep and warm enough, snow will melt into rain but not have enough time to refreeze in the shallow cold layer resulting in freezing rain. If the air near the surface is too warm, snow will melt into rain and fall that way all the way to the ground.

All this precip type stuff is complicated isn’t it? It’s even harder to forecast than it is to understand and that’s where forecasters across the world need your help.

All you have to do to help improve precipitation type forecasts is to download the free mPING app from the Apple or Google Play store, then when you see precip falling from the sky, just press the appropriate type on the app. The data you send in will help researchers at the National Severe Storms Laboratory compare what actually fell from the sky (your data) to what radars and other

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instruments thought fell from the sky. This will allow them to figure out better ways of detecting and forecasting correct precipitation types.

That’s all for this month and if you’re curious about how the Winter forecast is looking now, check out the update I posted on my blog at forecasterjack.com Thanks for reading and I’ll be back next month with more weather.

— Jack Every month I define a couple terms that will help you increase your knowledge of the weather jargon you will see in both my forecast discussions and in those of others. Here are this month’s terms. If you have further questions or have a weather term you would like explained, shoot me an email at jack.sillin@gmail. com or send me a note on twitter @JackSillin. You can also drop a comment on my blog at forecasterjack.com Mixed Layer —The mixed layer is the layer of air that mixes up and down to the surface. It is bordered aloft by any sort of inversion where temps rise with height. It can also be capped by a layer of saturation though there are some cases where air can mix up and down in a saturated environment. Winds in Maine are almost always strongest when they are blowing from the North-West though notable exceptions include nor’easters (NE winds) and sou’easters (SE winds). Strong NW winds occur more frequently because the events needed to trigger them are less extreme than a powerful nor’easter or powerful low pressure to the west. All you need is a decent cold front and the NW winds will kick into gear. This is due to the deep mixed layer in a downsloped cyclonic flow environment. The winds at all levels of the atmosphere are unidirectional and advecting cold air into the region. This means that there are no inversions and the air is dry as well as turbulent due to the mountains. This results in stronger winds aloft mixing down to the surface, even without strong thunderstorms (as we saw in momentum transfer last ‘winter’). We often see strong NW winds this time of year because of deep mixed layers behind strong cold fronts!

Inversion — An inversion occurs when the temperature of the air rises with height rather than cools. In the troposphere, as you get higher the air cools off.

This is why mountains usually have more snow at the top than at the bottom and why airplanes have to be carefully insulated. Sometimes, however, there are narrow regions where the air warms with height. These are known as inversions and are responsible for some of the precip types discussed above, such as freezing rain and sleet.

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In a world where big budget productions dictate the industry. At a time when piracy and instant streaming are running the streets. One theatre dares to play the films that others won’t touch. It’s a new age of cinema and this time: it’s personal.

When the Nickelodeon started playing films in the Old Port, it was a different world. Today, anyone can download the latest blockbuster with a swipe of their phone, so why bother to attend the theatre? For the same reason, people still dine in rather than ordering takeout: it’s an experience. Movie-goers aren’t just coming to see the films; they’re coming to see their friends and to talk about the movie after the final credits have rolled. The Nickelodeon understands that as a small downtown theatre, a movie-goer’s unique experience is everything. When asked how many pumps of butter a patron should receive on their popcorn, general manager Sam Mercer replied: “However many they want.” I had a chance to sit down with Sam and talk to him about what keeps the films rolling.

Coming...

To A Theatre Near You! Jack Gentempo Reports On The Nickelodeon For Up Portland

Though Patriot Cinemas owns the Nickelodeon in conjunction with several other movie houses throughout the Northeast, ‘the Nick’ remains unique due to the types of films they screen. The theatre is known as a bit of a testing ground for Patriot Cinemas.

Films that may not be guaranteed commercial successes are given a chance to be seen on the big screen by the people of downtown Portland. That’s not to say that every film ‘the Nick’ plays is entirely unheard of. For instance, some more obscure films are sold as a package deal with major blockbusters. This is why one might see a smaller film like Dope play alongside Magic Mike XXL, which was featured at the Nickelodeon to surprisingly large audiences.

But honeymooners vacationing off the coast of Somalia are not the only ones who have to deal with the threat of piracy. ‘The Nick’ combats this trend by offering the public what the pirates cannot. By creating a night out on the town appeal, as opposed to a night hunched over a computer screen, ‘the Nick’ hopes that film enthusiasts will make this a staple of the community and their viewing venue of choice... and it seems to be working: The 2013

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Daniel Radcliffe film Horns was distributed online simultaneously with its theatrical release, yet the Nickelodeon still received decent numbers for the movie.

In a time of emotional detachment in regards to the way we receive movies, ‘the Nick’ is trying its best to engage viewers. During the Manhattan Film Festival, a yearly festival wherein short films play in theatres throughout the country; the Nickelodeon partakes in the festival voting process. Members of the audience are given a chance to vote for their favourite short film. The votes are then collected and counted by the staff. It’s not unusual for front desk workers to comment about which film is their favourite, but General Manager Mercer has assured me that any claims of voter fraud can be swiftly extinguished by the ethics exhibited by his staff.

In his earlier days, Mercer was an omniscient projectionist. Today he’s in the spotlight. He’s well known among movie-goers, so well in fact, that he was offered a part in his friend’s film for Maine Mayhem, a festival that hosts a screening every spring at ‘the Nick’, where aspiring student filmmakers are given a chance to see their movies on the big screen.

With just six screens, the largest of which dwarfs its runner-up at just over 200 seats, one is left to wonder how the Nickelodeon is competing with the fancy new theatres popping up across the state. Part of it is accepting certain changes. Another part is embracing the quirky things that make each venue unique. Though they might not be gigantic, these small theatres will soon hold the intense suspense of films like Nocturnal Animals, alongside the vast serenity of the German Nature Documentary Les Saisons.

The biggest thing that not only the Nickelodeon but all theatres have going for them is that movies bring people together. If you want to be a successful business in the modern age, you can’t deny diversity. A broad customer base is what keeps businesses around after various fads and styles have died out.

As Sam puts it: “Everybody sees movies, and we show every different type of movie.”

The Standard Reviewer

that soars and soothes in equal measure. Eddie Redmayne, who won an Academy Award for his role as Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything, is tailor-made for the role of Newt Scamander. He is an actor who magically communicates a whole spectrum of human emotions with his eyes and his quirky, misshapen mouth.

Katherine Waterston as Tina is a spunky and smart foil to Newt, while Dan Fogler as Jacob and Alison Sudol as Queenie provide a romantic chemistry that gives the film warmth and compassion. Ron Perlman has a cameo as Gnarlack, a goblin gangster who owns a speakeasy nightclub.

By Bill Elliott / Up Portland’s Film & Theatre Reviewer

I’ve never been a fan of J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books or the books’ spinoff films. Perhaps I am just too old or too cynical to be carried away into escapist magical alternative worlds anymore. Having recently seen Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by default (there was nothing else that seemed interesting or exciting at the multiplex), I may have to rethink my Rowling/Potter boycott.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is not a Potter film per se. Harry doesn’t make an appearance in the film. It is, however, a prequel, or rather, a context setter for the Potter book and film universe.

The film’s protagonist is a nerdy Potter-like gown up named Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), who is a magizoologist, a scholar and guardian of magical and fantastical beasts. After being expelled from Hogwarts, Newt joined the Ministry of Magic in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.

At the opening of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Newt is on route from England to Arizona to release a giant but genial thunderbird named Frank, one of the many beasts he keeps hidden in his leather suitcase (think Dr. Who’s Tardis and you get a sense of how Newt can fit numerous beasts—some as big as houses—in the case).

Sailing into New York City in 1926, at the height of Prohibition, Newt finds the Big Apple in turmoil. Something unseen and malignant has been disturbing the city’s physical and psychological core. He stumbles on a Temperance style lecture by a non-magical woman (a “No-Maj” or “muggle”) named Mary Lou Barebone (Samantha Morton), who claims that witches and wizards are real, dangerous, and are destroying the city. As Newt listens to her speak, one of his magical beasts, a Niffler (a kind of kleptomaniac duck-billed platypus) escapes from his suitcase and runs rampant in the vaults of a bank and a jewellery store. Attempting to capture it, he bumps into aspiring baker Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) and they accidentally swap suitcases. Newt is arrested by wizard tracker Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston), for being an unlicensed magician in New York City, and he is hauled before a court of the Magical Congress of the United States of America. However, the charges against him are dropped and he is freed. Meanwhile, several of the magical creatures escape the suitcase in Jacob’s apartment.

The film’s special effects are clearly designed with 3-D viewing in mind. Even in 2-D, the effects are spectacular and only occasionally remind you of the fact that 3-D demands extraneous elements aimed at wowing the audience. It’s a shame that specialised technology formats dictate content and not story and character. That, however, is a minor complaint. The “beasts” themselves are adorable. The longsnouted niffler, with its magpie-like attraction for expensive shiny objects (gold and diamonds, for example), is a pleasant diversion in the action. Frank, the thunderbird that Newt is trying to return to its home in Arizona, is a spectacular creation that plays a significant role in the film’s conclusion. There is the bowtruckle, a prayingmantis-like creature, that lives under Newt’s lapel and to which he is fiercely loyal; the erumpent, a horny (in every sense of the word) glowing rhino; and the demiguise, a sloth-like amalgam of ET, Yoda, and Chewbacca, who can see into the immediate future.

I’ve recently rekindled my lifelong love affair with C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia. I read them as a 10-year-old and found the stories transformative and heart warming.

I purchased the box set (with magnificent illustrations by Pauline Baynes) and found myself immediately pulled back to the magical world of childhood. Because I loved the books so much, I couldn’t bring myself to see the movies based on the series (Lewis claimed he didn’t want the books filmed as it would detract from using the imagination — he had a point). For the same reason, I never read or saw anything Harry Potter related. I felt it would interfere with my childhood imaginings of the fantastical world of Narnia. Having seen Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, however, I feel that there is still a place in adult life for childhood imagination. I look forward to the sequel.

Power struggles are rife in both the magical and real worlds of New York City. A rich and humourless senator, Harry Shaw Jr. (Josh Cowdery), is running for office on a tough law and order platform. He doesn’t believe in magic (his oldest son does); he a populist who seems to harbour contempt for ordinary working folk. In the other realm, Director of Magical Security for MACUSA, Percival Graves (Colin Farrell), who is charged with protecting wizards and keeping magic secret from the outside world, has an agenda of his own. It’s surely no accident that there are Trumpian elements to be found in both characters?

Newt teams up with Tina to retrieve his suitcase of fantastical beasts and he, Tina, Jacob, and Tina’s mind-reading magical sister, Queenie (Alison Sudol), uncover Graves’ plot to control a malevolent whirlwind of darkness called the Obscurus, which is inflicting damage on the city.

There is a much going on in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and it is easy to feel a little confused at times. But it doesn’t really matter. Director (and Potter film alumnus), David Yates, along with J.K. Rowling, in her screenwriting debut, create a world of make believe that is not only enchanting, but thoroughly believable. Philippe Rousselot’s cinematography brings to vibrant life preDepression jazz-age New York City while James Newton Howard assembles a score

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Processed Media

By Randy Dankievitch — TV Critic / TVOvermind

What I’ll Be Playing During the Holiday Season

was done after the disasterous first update: and yet, the game’s recent series of patches have caught my attention again, in a way unlike any other game in recent memory. Completely rebalanced and re-engineered, playing The Division now feels like a completely different experience than six months ago, in a strangely satisfying way: in many ways, this new version of Ubisoft’s socalled transformative new IP puts in place common sense features that drove gamers away in the thousands the first few months post-release.

I love me a game with some numbers, and The Division finally looks like it may be able to satisfy that craving in exciting, productive new ways: and for that, I’m willing to extend the olive branch and open my fragile heart once again to it.

Ahh, the holiday season. A time for weird, milk-based holiday drinks, an abundance of baked meats… and of course, binging on all the video games there wasn’t time to dig into during the other 11 months of the year. For those looking to fill their game queue during the holiday season (and those looking for a little inspiration in gift-shopping for the gamer in their family), here’s what I’ll be digging into on my Playstation 4 Pro, in between heavy helpings of mashed potatoes, hot toddys and ritual viewings of Die Hard:

Ultimate Tetris — The holidays don’t just mean more time to fill clearing out the old game queue, but dredging up old classics that everyone in the family can play. Tetris Ultimate slides neatly into that role in 2016, a four-player extravaganza of classic and modern Tetris stylings for a surprisingly enjoyable, tense experience. I don’t think I need to say more, considering Tetris remains the best-selling video game of all-time, having sold 495 million copies across the world.

Batman: Return to Arkham — If you’ve never played Batman: Arkham Asylum, you’re missing out on one of the best video games of the past ten years. An atmospheric masterpiece featuring the best combat system in modern action games, the dark, disturbed tale of Batman’s night in Arkham’s infamous mental hospital is one of the great achievements in modern gaming (not to mention Mark Hamill’s show-stopping performances as Joker in both games, easily his best work in the role since the original Animated Series).

Overcooked — This game is the counterpart to Tetris: Overcooked is a new game to introduce to the family, a collaborative multiplayer experience, based around trying to manage the tasks of a restaurant in some of the weirdest, stressful places imaginable (in space, on the ocean, near a volcano… you know, the usual places people like to eat fancy meals).

And even if you’ve already discovered every hidden Riddler trophy in the original (and the equally fantastic, open-world sequel Arkham City), Return to Arkham’s graphical upgrade is worth the revisit, especially on the beefier PS4 Pro capable of handling the game’s demanding visuals (there hasn’t been a specific PS4 Pro patch released for the game, but the added hardware improve the frame rates noticeably in both titles). Sure, the boss fights still stink, and Arkham City’s secondary narratives are still disappointing, but this collection is a great reminder of what narrative games can be capable of on a large scale, an uncompromised vision of The Dark Knight that remains impressive a half-decade later.

NBA 2K17’s myGM Mode — I made my gripes about some of 2K17’s shortcomings in this column earlier this year, but I’ve been waiting for the first two-day long snowstorm to dig into something new and special: 2K17’s revamped myGM mode, which features the full contents of the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, right down to the contract nitty gritties of bird rights, pick swaps, and a whole lot of other features no one but my fellow salary cap nerds would understand. After years of patiently waiting, 2K17 has finally included a full-featured GM mode (including the ability to design and manage expansion teams) - proving that, at least in the realms of digitised virtual basketball content, there is a god somewhere.

Overcooked is the game everyone will want to watch you and your cousins fight over playing: trying to get family members to play as a team under stressful situations is a holiday highlight and this game is guaranteed to make everyone in the room laugh, scream, sweat, cry and celebrate. Guess that’s precisely the reason why it finds its way onto this list as the rare experience you’ll actually want to share with your awkward extended family.

Ratchet and Clank — 20 years ago, 3D platformer franchises were everywhere: Banjo-Kazooie, Gex, Spyro the Dragon and Rayman were but a few of the dozens of series featuring animal protagonists in colourful worlds full of talking creatures, weird currencies (puzzle pieces?) and beautiful soundtracks.

In 2016, those series have all but died, leaving the 3D platformer franchise on desperate life support.

Enter Ratchet and Clank, arguably the best Super Mario 64 clone of the bunch hailing from the Playstation 2 era, a game that openly lauds itself as a game “based on a movie based on the game”, but acts as an effective bridge between generations of platforming gamers. Kid-friendly but still challenging, Ratchet and Clank is both a reimagining of itself, and of the 3D platforming genre as a whole: and it’s gorgeous to boot, one of the few games that run in full, stunning 4K.

The Division — Have you ever given a game a second chance? For the most part, when we as gamers finish or walk away from a title, that’s it. There’s no returning to Fallout 4 after playing for 60 hours, then trying to return six months later, or trying to take month off from competitive Call of Duty play: the rhythm is gone, the story’s been largely forgotten, and there’s inevitably something newer and shinier worth my attention.

The Death Stranding trailer — Ok, this isn’t a game - and given that it’s a vague, three-minute trailer, it’s not really much of anything. But there is a Hideo Kojima production releasing on the Playstation 4 sometime between 2017 and 2050, and it features both Norman Reedus and Mads Mikkelson in its cast… and it looks weird as f***, with whales on beaches, babies in jars, dudes with futuristic masks, and that general sense that Sony is letting Kojima truly unhinge himself from reality, and create what looks to be one of the weirdest, wholly unique creations we’ve seen from a AAA production in years.

The Division fell prey to this like so many other games before it: a title with no idea how to construct its end game or provide compelling content beyond the first 15 hours. Beautiful and soulless, I thought my time in The Division

I have no idea what this game is actually going to be when we play it years from now (Will we even see Gameplay in 2017? Who knows? Who cares!), but I can’t stop watching the trailer trying to figure it out.

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Letting The Cat Out Of The Bag

By Stacy Begin / Owner, Two Fat Cats Bakery

From Our Kitchen to Yours I love that phrase. Especially when it’s written on a small little tag decorated with holly and ivy and fastened to some jar or bag or box of deliciousness.

To me, the “from our kitchen” gifts are one of the best things about the holiday season. Someone has spent time in their kitchen thinking about you, hoping you’ll like the cookies or candies that they have made with such love and attention, and then, ever so carefully, wrapping the gift with ribbons and papers and, of course, a lovely gift tag.

It’s old fashioned, sure. But it never gets old for me. I’m always thrilled to receive a homemade gift and just as thrilled if the gift I make is received with so much joy.

In that spirit, I’m sharing with you a recipe that I hope you will share with others.

Cajeeta Magic Bars are delicious, take no time to make, and can be boxed up or bagged to share with friends and families or brought as a hostess gift to a holiday party. Cajeeta is a goat’s milk caramel. You can find homemade jars of it at the farmer’s markets or down the international aisle of the grocery store.

Can’t find it? No problem. Regular caramel will do just fine.

Happy Holidays! _______________________________________________________________

Cajeeta Magic Squares 2 cups graham cracker crumbs ¼ cup sugar 6 TBSP butter, melted ½ tsp cinnamon 14oz condensed milk 12oz semi-sweet chocolate chips 11/2 cups pecans, toasted and chopped ½ cup cajeeta caramel (more if you’d like) Mix together the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, butter and cinnamon until well combined. Press the crumb mixture into a 9x13 pan. Spread the condensed milk over crumbs. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and pecans. Drizzle caramel all over bar.

Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Allow to cool before slicing.

These are rich bars, so smaller servings are best.

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Food For Thought...

The problem with reviewing food here in Portland is, to use the British phrase, we are spoilt for choice. With what seems like a restaurant on very nearly every corner (and a couple in the block between) in some areas you could literally eat yourself from one end of the block to the other and take a week or two doing so at one restaurant per day.

That said, this month, between all the holiday shopping and other work, we have managed to get to two very different eateries, and we enjoyed both — though in one case not for what they claim as a specialty. For variety, we did a more formal spot in the form of the West End’s Caiola’s (58 Pine Street, just behind Mercy Hospital) and for the informal, we squeezed in a lunch at Liquid Riot Bottling Company (though everyone I know just calls it Liquid Riot) on the waterfront at 250 Commercial Street. As I said, both were enjoyable times, though I will confess right at the start, I found Caiola’s more to my non-beer-drinking liking.

Caiola’s is one of those cute neighbourhood spots that most of us drive or walk by time and time again and seem not to notice, which is sad. I’ve done Aurora Provisions (which shares their parking lot... it’s that close) several times and I never noticed it. What’s that old prayer about passing by miracles sightless in this world?

Anyway, Judy Katz-Leavy, my neighbour, suggested we go try it and for good measure we took along Peggy Fitzpatrick, our other neighbour so we made a party of four.

About the only part of the evening none of us understood was that they did not have a 6.30 reservation (on a Monday night) for us and asked us to come at 6.45, which we did, but we found the place quite vacant leaving us to wonder why the 6.30 request was denied. Aside from that, the evening was flawless. In fact this is what Judy, when I asked for her comments told me in an e-mail: “I like Caiola’s very much. The food is consistently delicious. On this occasion, I had the beet salad (above right), which was excellent, as my appetizer. For an entree, I had the steak, which was prepared exactly as I requested and served with French fries and Brussels sprouts. The Brussels sprouts were superb. Finally, I would note the ambiance. We sat in the front room, which is comfortably furnished.

The owners have made an effort to moderate the noise level, with ceiling

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panels hung to absorb noise; and the result is that you can actually engage in civilized conversation, which we did and enjoyed. I would highly recommend Caiola’s.”

There’s not a whole lot I can add to that though I will say partner Ivan loved his burger which was served not on a bun, but on really delicious toast with the crust removed (see the photo, lower left) and his side of polenta fries which he proclaimed “the best!”

I enjoyed my Berkshire Pork Schnitzel (left), which came with sauerkraut and what the menu correctly advertised as warm Maine potato salad, accompanied by a mustard cream sauce. I do wish the chef had eased up on the cooking time of the schnitzel as it was a bit tougher than I’d liked and next time I’ll ask for that sauce on the side, but that’s all 100% personal preference.

Point is there will definitely be a next time as we all loved Caiola’s.

To find out more and see the whole menu, the restaurant’s history and some reviews from real pros (even Bon Appétit and The Washington Post have been) check out www.caiolas. com Sadly, for those of us who enjoy mid-day meals, like so many of the local eateries, Caiola’s is not open for lunches thru the week, but it’s worth a dinner visit. Hours are Mondays thru Thursdays 5.

10 p.m. plus they have a Sunday brunch (on my list to try) from 9 a.m. till 2 p.m.

As Judy said: I would highly recommend Caiola’s.

Onward to Liquid Riot and they are the place I mentioned at the outset where I said one of their specialties got a thumbs down from me and a neutral from my dining companion on a recent day at noon (their opening hour) for lunch. The specialty? Chicken Skin Sliders (at right). You do not need to go back and read that again. And I honestly was excited as I have been a grumpy shopper the past 10+ years since groceries stopped selling boneless breast of chicken WITH the skin on. There’s nothing like a whole chicken breast cooked in one of myriad of ways with that crispy skin on it. That’s why I was close to orgasmic when I heard about the sliders and neighbour Peggy talked me into going and trying them. Happily, being a reviewer, and to hedge my bets I also ordered a burger and she had a salad (details to follow) but the sliders were not at all to my linking. The menu says, “crispy

Up Portland 12.16 On The Web At: www.upportland.com

.30 till 9.30 p.m.; and Fridays and Saturdays till

chicken skin, sour trouble orange marmalade, smoked tomato mayo, pretzel roll.” The trouble I saw and tasted was the sweet from the marmalade and the savoury from the mayo clashed and got added the the greasy feel of the chicken skin and in my way of thinking they were just not all that good.

Fortunately, the decor (right) was cool and main dishes were good so we both came away smiling even though it being noontime we neither had any of the beers that Liquid Riot is so famous for. We are told by beer-loving friends this is a justified fame and they adore the brew. Drop by on “canning day” — which the website says is Wednesday — and have some fresh there or buy it to take home. Or get it on draft most any day. To those who love and know beer, Liquid Riot has some of the Peninsula’s best.

But wait! This is a food column so we should say their main dishes are also great. I did the house burger ($15 with fries, below right) and it was wonderful. To quote the menu, “house blend half-pound patty, stout bacon jam, aged cheddar, pickled red onion.” It was cooked rare as ordered and that pickled onion was some of the best I have had anywhere.

Peggy did the dinner portion salad and came away not only raving, but with a 2nd one in a box to take home for later. Is this love or what?

Service is also worth mentioning as while I have no clue about beer, I do know good service and the staff at Liquid Riot do, too, as they gave it from start to finish. I will admit the place had literally just opened so there was no line, no drunk folks carrying on or the like, but if the staff is this good empty, this reviewer is convinced the quality will carry over when there are butts in all the seats in the brewery dining room is hoppin’.

Pricing at Liquid Riot is more than fair as we got a lot of food and even with the extra salad to go we escaped for $41 and change, though a big “boo!” to Liquid Riot’s management for not taking Discover Cards and forcing me to dig into my wallet for alternative payment!

My recommendation is you go and try Liquid Riot. Take cash or a Visa or Master Card, but go. Hours are from noon every day with last call at 11 p.m. weekdays and 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights. You can see the whole menu, read a lot about beer and see some photos of Liquid Riot at www.liquidriot.com Oh, and having nothing on Caiola’s they have some awesome reviews and recommendations from the likes of The New York Times and Celebrity Chef Challenge posted, too.

Look for me back at Liquid Riot, too.

Just check my plate for those wonderful fries, the pickled onions and anything but the chicken skins because on those I’ll pass — despite their being the fave of some friends!

Please continue on the Next Page

Up Portland 12.16 On The Web At: www.upportland.com Page 13

More Food For Thought...

Hours are from 11 a.m. weekdays and noon Saturdays and Sundays. They close at 11 p.m. weeknights, 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 9 Sunday nights. They do take all the usual credit card suspects and you won’t need a lot of cash, anyway, as two of us escaped on our recent dinner for under $35 with a side salad and two of the meatball and pasta bowls. Keep in mind we did not hit the bar or have either of the blackboard posted desserts, but it’s a good deal and one we will be going back to soon. Try Portland Meatball Company and post a selfie for all your photo loving friends (maybe even Pierre?) to see.

Continued From The Previous Page Bits & bites, more restaurant news downtown... It looks like one of the city’s largest restaurant sites will be serving food no more, not that they have for almost a year, anyway, as the site of the former White Cap Grill on Middle Street is surrounded by scaffolding and a little birdie told this paper that the contemporary furniture and bedding store West Elm will be opening there in the near future. We were never that pleased with the food or service at White Cap Grill, but were still sad to see it close, though we are thrilled West Elm is on the way (assuming what we were told is accurate) and even failing that, we are glad to see this huge space about to be put back into service and used!... Speaking of repurposing space, we had a really nice first meal recently at the Portland Meatball Company over at 104 Exchange Street — a spot where before cameras, computer and electronic gear held sway at Pierre’s Camera. I adore puns so will say the transformation is something to “picture” as we have not a single “negative” thing to say about the “technicolour” meatballs which graced our plates on the first visit. They were technicolour as we had an order of the pesto sauce ones (green) and the meat sauce versions (red, below) and the whole thing did not cost a lot of green, either, so we were far from blue.

If you were ever in there when it was Pierre’s, you might not be able to “picture” this but Noah Talmatch, owner of next door’s Timber Steakhouse is the operator of Portland Meatball as well, and he’s got a great staff, including manager Curtis, whom we knew from his days as head of the valet service at the nearby Press Hotel. The rest of the crew is equally fun, smiling and the service is prompt (or dare we say “instant” as Polaroid cameras were or if you prefer things came “in a flash”). They also know their (dare we say it?) balls because when we had questions about sauces and the different types of meatballs they were right there with answers. By the way, they have a ball of the day, plus a standard house beef-pork-veal blend, not to mention a veggie ball (made of chick peas) and ones of duck and chicken, too.

While the place might be called a meatball company, pizzas, sandwiches from the press and salads, as well as a very well-stocked bar with wine, beer and cocktails is also on offer.

Also, while they cleaned out the last bits of Pierre’s so booths, bar stools and great food could occupy the space, you might want to still spend a bit of time looking at the eclectic decor. There’s an old floor model radio at the host’s stand, posters and signs from the 50s and before adorn the walls and probably the best word to describe the decor is “retro.” I know, given its past you can “picture it” but the best way to “develop” a full frame would be with a visit ASAP.

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Up Portland 12.16 On The Web At: www.upportland.com

Small (8-10) Lasagna Stuffed Shells Eggplant Parmesan Bakes Ziti Baked Jumbo Ravioli Meatballs (Old Family Recipe)

40.00 35.00 35.00 35.00 35.00 30.00

Medium Large (10-18) (18-24) 60.00 55.00 55.00 55.00 55.00 40.00

75.00 65.00 65.00 65.00 65.00 50.00

Chicken Anthony

69.95

89.95

Sauce w/ Peppers, Onions & Mushrooms

69.95

89.95

Chicken Marsala

69.95

89.95

Chicken Tetrazzini

69.95

89.95

Chicken Cutlet Parmesan

69.95

89.95

Boneless Chicken, broccoli and ziti in garlic butter sauce

Your choice of hot or sweet sausage

Boneless chicken with ham and mushrooms in a Marsala wine sauce over ziti.

Boneless chicken with mushrooms and cherry tomatoes in an Alfredo sauce over ziti

Breaded chicken tenders with Mozzarella cheese and red sauce

Garden Salad

29.95

34.95

39.95

Antipasto Salad

34.95

39.95

44.95

Garlic Bread

15.00

25.00

35.00

151 Middle Street • Portland, ME • 774-8668 Fax: 774-2395 • anthonysitaliankitchen.com

The Buck Stops Here

ducing your loan may be appealing if it results in years of living without a house bill. Younger homeowners should explore methods of accelerating their mortgage pay down. Among the strategies to consider are contributing more money each month, refinancing your mortgage over a shorter term (i.e., a 15-year mortgage instead of a 30-year one) or occasionally making a larger, lump sum payment to reduce the balance.

Considering the emotional side

By Luke Reinhard / Advisor — Ameriprise Financial

Should You Pay Off Your Home Mortgage Early?

Many people who carry a home mortgage dream of the day when they will no longer face the burden of a monthly house bill. They want the financial freedom – and the satisfaction – of owning their home outright. Does that mean you should make paying off your mortgage early a priority? The answer depends on your circumstances and goals. One question you should ask yourself is, “Would the money you spend on your home loan be better spent on or invested in another financial opportunity?”

Getting a different perspective on debt Reducing debt as early as possible could help you avoid costly interest rate charges. You may have experience with this principle if you’ve eliminated credit card debt or a car loan. While your home mortgage is a type of debt, the same concept may not apply. In certain instances, staying true to your repayment terms may be best for your financial situation for these reasons: 1.) The interest rates on mortgages tend to be more reasonable than other types of credit, and the terms often provide more certainty (a 30-year fixed rate mortgage, for instance).

Deciding if you should carry a home mortgage is not only a rational decision, but an emotional one as well. Your home is where you raise your family, create memories and return to each day. How important is it for you to know that you will own your home free and clear? As you think about your decision, be sure you’re in a position to not jeopardize your financial security today by putting additional funds toward your home. Adjusting your monthly bill will impact your cash flow, and you’ll want to have flexibility in your budget to cover unexpected expenses. Review your financial circumstances carefully before you decide what’s right for you.

Insurance package discounts?

Home, Auto and Liability Insurance All Together Can Save You 10%

2.) The interest you pay can potentially be deducted from your taxes. This deduction makes a mortgage much more cost-efficient on an after-tax basis than most other forms of debt. If mortgage interest is part of your tax strategy, consider if you’ll be able to itemize deductions once you own your home outright.

3.) If you’ve reaped the benefits of today’s historically low interest rate environment (by refinancing or purchasing a home recently), your payment could be half of what homeowners paid 15 years ago. At least that’s what Mortgage rates: What to expect in 2016 from LendingTree.com. said in February 2016. (https:// www.lendingtree.com/mortgage-rates/mortgage-rates-what-to-expect-in-2016-article).

On the other hand, the earlier you pay off your loan, the longer you could have the opportunity to invest the money each month. This additional investment could help you achieve a more secure financial future. To see if investing may make sense, compare your interest rate to what you could reasonably expect to earn in market returns.

Call 774-6257 Serving Portland’s Peninsula Since 1931 www.clarkinsurance.com

Factoring in time As you evaluate your situation, you should consider the time you expect to stay in your home and how close you are to retirement. Those who are approaching retirement or are already retired may prefer to be done with the monthly expense of a mortgage. Since this is also a stage in life when your investment approach may be more conservative, the tradeoff of reducing your balance rather than investing may not be as significant. Those who are in this position may want to consider if accelerating payments today would help reduce housing expenses in retirement.

The same is true for those who plan to stay in their homes for a long time. Re-

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Up Portland 12.16 On The Web At: www.upportland.com Page 15

Eric’s Optimal Corner Kraven Blak / Optimal Self Community Health and Wellness Center It can be extremely challenging to start and maintain a workout routine to achieve health and fitness goals, but the benefits are worth the challenge. In this article, I want to discuss some of these challenges, particularly regarding the LGBTQ community, and ways to start a routine.

But first, allow me to introduce myself: My name is Kraven Blak and I’m the Head Guardian & Office Manager at Optimal Self Community Health and Wellness Center. I’ve been a resident of Portland for 10 years and I love it here. I’ve been a part of the Optimal Self community for two years, and as someone who is transgender, I can say that I’ve always felt comfortable here. It’s very important for people to feel comfortable and safe while exercising, especially those in the LGBTQ community or any minority group, who struggle with safety and acceptance in ways some take for granted. Optimal Self is definitely a positive and safe space full of support for all people.

Growing up in the South and knowing I was born in the wrong body from the age of four, I understand the struggle and frustration of not feeling understood or accepted.

I played baseball for a few years, and I really enjoyed the sport but it was discouraging when the coach would use me to motivate the rest of the team by saying things like, “the only girl on the team is batting 1000, what’s wrong with you guys?” I didn’t even hear the word ‘transgender’ until I was in my late teens and I didn’t know of anyone else who felt they were born in the wrong body, so while I was growing up I just didn’t know how to talk about how I felt. I got involved in martial arts when I was 5-years-old and became a black belt and certified instructor in taekwondo in my late teens. Being more of an individual sport, I felt more comfortable in martial arts to be myself.

Taekwondo was an incredible sport for my self-esteem and it taught me leadership, self-respect, focus, discipline, integrity and courage — all things which can be applied to every aspect of life.

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Exercise definitely played a positive role in helping me find my confidence and sense of self. And now, I take every opportunity I can to share what I’ve learned through my struggles and accomplishments.

What good would our acquired knowledge be if we kept it hidden within us and didn’t use it to make a difference in others’ lives? By teaching each other and sharing our unique experiences, we all grow and expand our understanding of the world. I feel this is a big part of what community is all about. Being part of a safe and strong community, like the one at Optimal Self, allows me to continue to flourish and grow – emotionally, mentally and physically.

Everyone benefits from exercising but some people need to use it as a tool to fight for their lives. A study released by NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) says, “LGBTQ individuals are almost three times more likely than others to experience a mental health condition such as major depression or generalised anxiety disorder. The fear of coming out and being discriminated against for sexual orientation and gender identities, can lead to depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, thoughts of suicide and substance abuse.”

Aside from the many other benefits of exercising, doing so enhances the release of endorphins, chemicals in the brain which help ease depression. Therefore, exercise is a major proactive step to improve one’s state of mind if one is feeling vulnerable, anxious or depressed.

However, it can be hard to get motivated and form a new habit of working out regularly, especially for someone who feels vulnerable or worried about how they may be judged. Some research says it takes 21 days to form a new habit, others say a little more than two months. Despite the lack of the consensus, it’s important to make a strong plan before you get started and find a place you feel comfortable and accepted. Your plan could include listing your reasons for wanting to start exercising, setting goals and looking ahead to the reward or outcome you are envisioning, researching what type of exercises you might be interested in, and keeping yourself accountable. If you have a well thought-out plan and a safe place to exercise, you are more likely to stick to a routine and meet your goals.

There’s no better time than now to make changes. I’ve learned through the years that change doesn’t happen overnight. I used to try to make too much change, too quickly, and I’d end up discouraged when I didn’t meet my unreasonable expectations.

In the past couple years, I’ve learned that change happens when you make reasonable goals that are spaced out in a realistic time frame. I also stopped getting so discouraged to the point I would give up because I started allowing, and actually expecting, myself to mess up. By doing that, when I inevitably encountered difficult times, I had more patience with myself and started to slowly chip away at shifting my life onto a brighter path. I also sought out a community that would have my back and make me accountable, while also accepting me for exactly who I am.

I wanted to write this article to share a bit of my story, to encourage others and let everyone know there’s always hope! Hope allows you to overcome obstacles that seem impossible. The hero who swoops in to save you, is you. It’s up to you to decide to make a change and take life by the horns. I’ve been in a place where I sat around, hoping and waiting for someone else to fix my problems…that day never came. Eventually, I woke up and realised that only I can create the life I seek. While it was my own initiative to get started, having a community and a space like Optimal Self has given me the momentum to stick with a routine and reach my goals.

It took effort, time and disappointments along the way, but I am so thankful for every challenge and hardship I’ve gone through because I wouldn’t be who I am today or who I’ll be 10 years from now without them. And I’m grateful for my surrounding communities who have supported me along the way.

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Hackin’ The Net

By Ted Fleischaker / Publisher Time flies when you are having fun and it was a busy, but fun, Summer here in Portland and that means “the holidays” are just around the corner. Christmas remains as always the 25th and this year, thanks to a “leap month” the Jewish calendar adds every so many years Chanukah’s first candle is the 24th — Christmas Eve. This will compound the problem that some folks think Chanukah is the “Jewish Christmas” which it most certainly ain’t. But we shall leave that for your rabbi, priest, minister, imam or just Mr. Google to explain. The point here is that they are both “gift-giving” holidays (along with Kwanza and more) so it’s time to dig into our electronic bag of tricks and see what might be there.

A few things, however, never change, so let’s look at two of those first: 1.) Be sure you check with the person you plan to give that gift to and make certain what you are considering giving will work for their needs and their system.

If your Aunt Lucille is all pc then as much you you’d like to, a Mac accessory is not the best route, though these days things like drives, routers and more are able to be formatted out of the box to handle either system. For my “as-old-asme” Up Portland readers, we can recall a time not that long ago when that was not the case and a Mac accessory on a pc was as useful as a sack of hammer heads. If you do not know: ask!

2.) Keep receipts, find out return policies (especially if buying early and you will have the gadget around awhile before gifting) and ask about guarantees and extended warranties. Some, I feel, are as useful as throwing cash into Back Bay, but others really can save your recipient. Some warranty extensions (like AppleCare) can be purchased AFTER the device is activated for 30 or 90 or more days, which means the option can be up to the recipient. Ask! OK so those basics said & done, here are some ideas for gifts from big bucks to less costly...

— A computer. Yes, they can cost thousands (a Mac Pro basic will start at $2,999 and they go up from there, for example) or you can get computers for hundreds or maybe find one on sale refurbished or on a site like eBay, but remember you often get what you pay for here so beware and give special attention to my second point above — the one about warranties, returns and so on. Check the ads as sometimes there are deals. I spotted an HP laptop on Black Friday at Staples for $229, for example. But remember a computer is (in my way of thinking) sorta like a car: you usually get what you pay for based upon what it does and

Page 18

how it works, but other times it’s a matter of whose name is on the case. And remember if the recipient wants Apple an HP just won’t do — and the other way around! No Chevy if they really only want a Toyota. Oh, and to take the similarity a step further... I would never ever buy a used computer because you are usually only inheriting someone else’s problems. Think used car here and if at all possible on your budget, buy new with warranties and return privileges.

— A tablet. Like computers these days they come in all sizes, shapes and from all the usual manufacturers. Like computers, they run apps so if you have a friend with an iPhone, it might not be good to get her or him a Windows Surface which doesn’t run any of the same apps or may require repurchasing favourites or doing without. Last year this column was looking forward to the then soon-to-be-released iPad Pro line. Happily it now exists and one lives at our house. I am amazed with the clarity, the size (I got the larger 12.9 inch screen) and the ease of navigation on it, but above all, as the Pro has four speakers, the stereo and surround sound on movies, music and even radio is outstanding. I heartily recommend saving up for the best audio around and buying one if you are in the market for a tablet to give or keep for yourself. Do keep in mind the 12.7 inch starts at $799 and heads up from there depending upon configuration, but in this case you do get what you pay for, I feel. If this is just too much, at the other end of the scale, Amazon when I checked just now was offering a 7 inch RCA refurbished tablet for $29.95 and there was any and everything available in between so prepare to shop if you have a tablet in mind.

— Need more ideas? Well our friends all love their Fitbits and I prefer my Apple 2nd generation Watch, but whichever (and there are many other choices in all price ranges from about $79) fitness trackers (as these are properly called) are all the rage this year. If you plan to give one, be sure you know what the recipient does or likes as I have found some are better than others if one bikes, skis, climbs steps or just walks or runs or wants to know their pulse rate. The technology on these is awesome and the uses equally so, but keep in mind that some have way too many bibs and bobs for the average Joe just wanting to know how far they walked in the Old Port. Again, know your recipient or ask or make a “gift certificate” and after the holidays, take the person shopping and let them pick out what they’d like within a price range you select. That way you can be sure the bit will fit.

— Still too much cash or too complex? Well, then let’s explore more. There are headphones, Bluetooth speakers (including some for just $12 which are water resistant and work in the shower) and a myriad of other options. Partner Ivan mentioned a new line of thumb drives (below) with two ports — one for a computer and one for the lightning connector on an iPad or iPhone so that items can be viewed or downloaded to and from your portable. We spotted some of these starting at just $32 on Amazon and elsewhere, but do keep in mind if you buy one be sure it’s Apple certified or it won’t work with that pad or iPhone. That’s done by Apple to keep jank devices from damaging your gear.

You might also want to look at WiFi routers (from about $49 up for a decent one) or a signal booster or even hook-up cables or lightning cables for stocking

Up Portland 12.16 On The Web At: www.upportland.com

stuffers or for one of those intermediate nights of Chanukah. And do not forget there are a myriad of TV devices now, too. Apple TV is in a new generation with better choices, but there are Roku, Sling and other options, too. Just head for a local shop or do a search and remember our earlier comments — make sure you got a decent, reputable seller to back up things which do not work (yes, some do not work out of the box) and find out what the options you have are for replacement or returns.

— Still not there? Well, what about the true stocking stuffer price range? An old fashioned (computer only) memory stick (correctly called a thumb drive) is always useful and these days can be had for $5 or less everywhere from the drugstore to the local Staples or Target. There are also a wide variety of cheap ear buds, headsets and earphones, or whatever you wanna call ‘em. While the good ones with fancy noise cancelling and other gadgetry by Beats, Sennheiser and their ilk are $200 or can cost thousands, there are some really decent ones for under $50 and a few under $20. Do avoid the $1.99 bin at Big Lots or the drugstore because under a certain price point headphones just will not perform in a way your recipient will find pleasing to the ear. If your recipient tends to break or lose headphones (I know a few of those types) a lot then three $10 pair will be more appreciated than one $49 pair — trust me!

— Finally, people always need last-minute things on the electronic side, so don’t overlook that pack of batteries, hook-up cable or a phone or pad case. Just be sure to find out which make & model phone or pad is being covered and buy something of decent enough quality not to fall apart. Remember the case is supposed to guard and protect what’s inside so flimsy and cheap are not good adjectives here. You do not have to buy Otterbox or their ilk, but choose a middle ground that has some quality.

There’s also that LED flashlight or those cables or chargers we all seem to lose, break or need. Just remember if you grab any of the above to make sure you get the right thing since a lightning connector won’t work if you need an HDMI and an iPad 7S case doesn’t fit an iPhone 5, much less an ancient iPhone 4 or Android. If it’s for a Samsung Galaxy Note 7, be sure to get something fireproof!

Whoops!

Just like you would ask or know what size shirt or jeans to buy for someone do the same before you get anything electronic to achieve the correct “fit” unless you buy a gift card or an iTunes card, which means the recipients can select their own tunes, apps or other goodies.

Only one final word of caution if that gift card is your choice: Be 100% sure the firm whose card it is won’t be announcing that they are closing in a few weeks time. I know way too many folks with worthless Borders Books, Circuit City and other gift cards they got stuck with when those big names (just to mention two) called it quits. I’d say you are 100% safe with an iTunes or Apple gift card or one from Microsoft for the Xbox or Xbox Live, but beyond that do use caution and remind the recipient to use that card sooner — not later — as a lot of firms on the edge seem to limp thru the holidays, announce poor December results and say the party’s over in January or February. And usually (not always, but all too often) on the very day that bad news breaks, they announce that gift cards will no longer be honoured so as is the case with almost everything, let the buyer beware!

Merry, Happy and Joyous whatever you celebrate (or don’t). Happy gift giving and getting and come back next month for more electronics to start 2017 off right.

Maine Jewish Museum

Two Life Views Through January 8, 2017

First Friday Art Walk: December 2, 5pm-8pm & January 6, 5pm-8pm Spiegel Gallery & Fineberg Community Room Guest Curator: Anne Zill

Untitled, Acrylic on Paper, Margaret Nomentana

Margaret Nomentana makes non objective

paintings and mixed media collages. Nomentana says her art making is a form of self-discovery, infused with the light of Maine’s changing seasons and her own emotional weather.

Her engagement with process is visceral, intense and quite physical. She uses an intuitive but informed and purposeful approach in creating shapes that interact with and play off one another.

Tenement, Kiln-formed Glass, Marty Kremer

Marty Kremer has studied blown and fused glass for many years. Kremer’s focus has always been about craftsmanship, and the “art part” has usually happened when he wasn’t looking. He has wanted to see within and through the thick walls of a glass vessel – that has led to an exploration of windows, which are passages as well as destinations.

Let There Be Light 2016 Menorah Invitational Show Through January 20, 2017

3rd Floor First Friday Art Walk: December 2, 5pm-8pm & January 6, 5pm-8pm

Featuring six pieces from the private collection of Roberta Bass Jonathan Adler Lynn Rae Brandh Dunham Karim Rashid Elizabeth Mears Unknown Artist Menorahs created by Artists with a Maine Connection Catherine Bloom Reid Brechner Rush Brown Camille Davidson Pat Herrington

Lin Lisberger Elizabeth Louden Lisa Pierce Elizabeth Ruskin Allie Walter

Maine Jewish Museum

267 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101 (207) 773-2339

Monday - Friday 10am-2pm + Sundays 1pm - 5pm or by appointment

mainejewishmuseum.org

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WINTER SPECIAL!

PORTLAND’S COMMUNITY HEALTH & WELLNESS CENTER

WEIGHT ROOM M OV E M E N T R O O M M A SS AG E A N D E N E R G Y W O R K P E RS O N A L T RA I N I N G F I T N E SS C L A SS E S YO G A & T ’A I C H I

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January Edition Deadline

Friday 30th December Papers On Street: Wednesday 4th January

Up Portland is edited in Portland and printed the last week of every month in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. We may be contacted at the e-mail or phone number below. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy and fairness, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors. Liability is limited to the cost of said ad. Ads not cancelled by published deadlines may be billed at agreed-upon price.

Ads may be edited or rejected for content at the discretion of the publisher. All items appearing in Up Portland, as well as the name, logos and design are copyright 2016 by BBS, A division of High Speed Delivery Fork Ltd. & Ted Fleischaker and may not be reproduced in any form without prior written approval.

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Please Read Then Recycle!

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ANDREW ROY Associate Broker

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12/10/2016

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Juliet Karelsen, Porcelain Girl with Bird, 12" x 12", Gouache on paper

Juliet Karelsen, Groundless Opening reception December 10 5:30-7:30 with a poetry reading by Kristen Case DECEMBER 10-JANUARY 15

1 North Street, Portland, Maine 04101 | Thursday 1:30-6:00pm, Friday + Saturday 1:30-7:00pm or by appointment at 917 536 3423

Did You Know You Could Advertise In Up Portland For As Little As $99?

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