OCT 2018
Up Portland 10.18 In Print * On The Web At: www.upportland.com * On Facebook Page 1
DIFFERENT IS GOOD
Personalized service from
knowledgeable staff Our level of service is very different from the others and we’re pretty sure you’ll be ok with that. Custom Compounded Medications
High-quality Vitamins and Supplements
Veterinary Medications
Natural Personal Care Products 29 Marginal Way, Portland 1 Block East of Deering Oaks Park www.coastalpharmacyandwellness.com
OCTOBER PROMOTIONS 20% OFF Renew Life Products and Coastal Brand Products
Page 2
Up Portland 10.18 In Print * On The Web At: www.upportland.com * On Facebook
Are you feeling held back by pain? Does injury keep you from recreation or sport? Is your day-to-day life limited by lack of mobility? Not sure if physical therapy is for you?
We believe we are up to the challenge. Schedule a free, no obligation 15 minute consultation to speak with one of our highly trained and experienced therapists. They will listen and answer your questions and determine if we can help.
Call us on 207 536 0702 or fill in the form at allianceptme.com to book your free consultation.
Up Portland 10.18 In Print * On The Web At: www.upportland.com * On Facebook Page 3
Processed Media By Randy Dankievitch — TV Critic / TVOvermind
In Insomniac’s Spider-Man, Hope Wins
popcorn film. Spider-Man is very much a product of this careful coordination, at least on a narrative level; and it is because of that careful approach to telling stories about its legendary web slinger, that Spider-Man establishes itself as one of the most exciting new franchises in console gaming. In a nutshell, Spider-Man is Rocksteady’s Batman games, re-engineered for the famous web-slinger; everything from the game’s movement and combat mechanics, to how it encourages players to experiment with devices and engage with environments, is directly, and obviously, influenced by the explosively popular trilogy of games about the Dark Knight. Of course, Batman’s gadgets are transformed into web slingers, and Batman’s powerful, meticulous destruction of enemies is replaced with a much more open, freewheeling (and talkative) style of fighting in Spider-Man.
There’s been plenty of discussion detailing the striking dichotomy between the tone of Marvel’s recent slate of blockbuster films, and those from the DC Universe: while Marvel’s refined their lighthearted, serialised formula to critical and box office success, DC’s much darker (and less subtle) approach to storytelling hasn’t. And that’s not because darker superhero stories don’t work: just look to Rocksteady’s trilogy of Batman games, or Nolan’s trilogy of Batman films for a counter argument. There is beauty and poignancy to be found in the grim refines of Gotham, and the larger DC Universe as a whole; but there’s an undeniable, absolutely infectious infusion of personality to Marvel’s cinematic storytelling that’s opened up a realm of new possibilities for its iconic line of heroes.
But in gameplay terms, these games are cut from exactly the same cloth; a continuation and slight evolution of the refined mechanics found in DC’s one successful modern video game endeavour.
Insomniac Games’ latest Playstation 4 exclusive, Spider-Man, is the first major attempt to turn a Marvel character into a AAA-published open-world adventure, is the first we’ve seen since 2011’s Deadpool (a game that is so awful, it’s been pulled from shelves twice, on two different platforms, over the years). In that seven years, Marvel’s learned a lot about how to tell their stories effectively. By the same token, video games have learned to tell better stories as well, combining innovations in gameplay with advancements in graphical technology and motion capture, to deliver epic, grand experiences in the vein of a major
As players learn through the opening chapters of the story, Peter’s already experienced the highs and lows of being a superhero; the darkness has already crept into his world, and he survived it. He continues to resist it at every corner, trying to repair his friendship with MJ, volunteering at the homeless shelter Aunt May helps run, and investigating a series of increasingly violent crimes against the people of New York, while always fighting against the darkness seeking to define him.
Page 4
The real difference, unsurprisingly, is found in the game’s story, which feeds off the parallels between Marvel and DC in exciting, eye-opening ways. Rather than tell an origin story of Peter Parker getting his powers and realising the world isn’t as light as he thought, Spider-Man takes us into the world of Peter Parker eight years into his career as Spider-Man, past his days of photography, dating MJ, and being an awkward high schooler.
Up Portland 10.18 In Print * On The Web At: www.upportland.com * On Facebook
Because of that narrative structure, and how it is weaved into the core of SpiderMan’s gameplay – a.k.a., spending hours and hours swinging through New York, because the swinging mechanics are so freaking good – Spider-Man feels less like a slog through a darkness pulling Peter in, and more of a celebration of the pursuit of goodness, and just how insanely difficult an uphill climb it can be. Through a story full of surprises and wonderful re-imaginings of Spider-Man’s rogue gallery (this Rhino may be my favourite incarnation of the character ever), Insomniac’s open-world action title is more engaging and emotionally relevant than any of its grittier counterparts --- either in gaming or storytelling. Spider-Man is equal parts detective, environmentalist and innovator, and the joys of success and sadness of failure resonate much truer than in most games, not because of a punishing difficulty or overpowering rewards (though that web bomb is most certainly broken), but because it engages players with Peter Parker the human being --- a young adult coming to terms with his own limits, as a human, and a super hero. That arc throughout the game is quite sobering at times, but also brings moments of joy I’ve hardly experienced in modern gaming: the mere image of Spider-Man, suited out in one of the game’s two-dozen plus costumes (all of which offer deep references for long-time Spidey fans like myself), perched on top of a building, looking down at the beautiful, virtual New York before him. The sun shines across the frame, capturing Spider-Man as he looks down on the people he’s sworn himself to protect, crouched over and poised to blindly take on whatever threat, challenge, or task he has to, to make life just a little bit better. The unselfish nature of Peter Parker’s character is perhaps the most singular powerful element in a game with terrific character design, great writing (side note: I LOVE this version of Mary Jane Watson, and wish more writers would engage with her character on this kind of level), and some truly awesome action sequences. I could talk about how beautiful Spidey suits look in 4K, or I could gush about how the facial animations are evolutionary in their ability to convey complex emotion: but every time I play the game, it’s Peter’s helpful, gracious nature that sticks with me. In a culture of gaming known for cruel, harsh worlds, and even crueler, harsher fans (*cough* Gamergate *cough*), Spider-Man’s relentless optimism, even as he watches his personal heroes and inspirations transform themselves into entities of evil, is a powerful notion in a time where so much feels helpless and pointless. With each defeated crime, repaired transmission tower, or citizen saved, Insomniac’s Spider-Man offers us a glimpse of the light, and how much the power of positivity can transform a story, an idea, or even an entire virtual universe: and it’s that feeling I get every time I walk away from the controller I can’t let go of. Spider-Man just wants to do good; and that sense of nobility and purpose seeps into every facet of this game --- always for the better.
Be Sure To Tell Them You Saw Their Ad In Up Portland! Up Portland 10.18 In Print * On The Web At: www.upportland.com * On Facebook Page 5
Hackin’ The Net By Ted Fleischaker / Publisher Let’s talk about that bomb in your pocket, on your nightstand or on your desk for a few minutes. Yes, a bomb... a real explosive device. One that can go “BANG!” and injure, kill or maim you or others nearby. What, are you thinking, am I talking about? Well, it could be your phone, tablet, laptop or even something like your rechargable electric shaver, a vape pen, blue tooth speaker or remote control. Anything with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery to provide power could cause an explosion, a fire or what’s known in the biz as a “thermal event.”
or shaver would just explode while in your pocket or in use, there’s always a very small chance. Also, do not leave these devices plugged in for days or “forever” because that adds strain to those lithium-ion batteries. The same is true for just “losing” an old phone or vape pen or laptop somewhere in a closet or drawer. The longer stuff sits, the less stable things can be, and the greater chance of them shorting out or deteriorating. In other words, do not just sit that disused old stuff around and forget it’s there. Next, remember temperatures can play a part. This involves plain, old common sense. Leave a lithium-ion battery device in your car glove box where Summer’s heat and Winter’s extreme cold can get to it and you increase the chances of failure and possibly worse. Most devices have “thermal warning” screens (below from iPhone) which show when they get too hot or cold. Usually the phone, tablet or computer will quit working until it’s returned to the operating temperature range it was designed for. For instance, according to Apple, iPhones have an operating temperature between 32° and 95° Fahrenheit. That means pulling your phone out on the slopes at Sunday River when it’s almost zero this Winter might get you either a blank screen, refusal by the phone to turn on or warning to put it in your inside coat pocket where it (like you)
And these are not just somewhere way away from here. We know of at least one local Maine tech repairman who ended up in the ER at Maine Med after a device he was working on caused a thermal event when the battery “vented”. Fortunately, he was not severely injured, but it was a lucky break. Probably the best explanation we’ve seen of what a thermal event is comes from the folks at The Washington Post, whose “Switch” gadget e-mail recently talked about the issue. Here is what they said: “For all their benefits at making our devices slim, powerful and easy to recharge, lithium-ion batteries have some big costs. They contain Cobalt, often mined in inhumane circumstances in places like the Congo. And when crushed, punctured, ripped or dropped, lithium-ion batteries can produce what the industry euphemistically calls a “thermal event.” It happens because these batteries short circuit when the super-thin separator between their positive and negative parts gets breached. Remember Samsung’s exploding Note 7 smartphone? That was a lithium-ion thermal event...” But there’s more. Not only is there an issue if something goes badly wrong with these batteries inside your device (and hopefully not while it’s inside your shirt, purse or pants pocket) but what happens after the device with the battery gets to the end of its useful life? Not only shouldn’t you just toss it in the trash bin, but there are parts which can, should, and by law, must be recycled. Not only to keep the heavy metals like cobalt and cadmium out of our Maine bays, lakes and rivers, but because not disposing of these bombs can cause them to go off and possibly injure or kill someone down the road. The Post story mentions a California recycling centre which missed one such battery coming thru. It subsequently ended up in a recycling stream, blew up and sparked a fire which did over eight million dollars damage. Elsewhere, reports of recycling centers being evacuated with fumes from exploding batteries, lesser-damaging fires and injuries when employees were exposed to the chemical haze created when a battery “vented” are widespread. One local shop lost an employee to the sick list for a few weeks due to a leg injury he got when a battery had a thermal event and he hurt his leg dashing to escape the fumes, so this is not just “somewhere else” we are talking about. What to do, now that we have scared you to pieces? First, treat those items which contain rechargeable batteries with care. While it is unlikely that a phone
Page 6
can get some insulation and body heat. But worse than cold is overheating of a device. Asurion, the insurance folks who cover a lot of electronic devices offer these easy tips when it comes to heat: ---Avoid direct sunlight on your phone. While leaving it easily accessible may be better for you, it is terrible for your phone. Your phone catches light and heat from the sun and retains it, getting hotter the longer it remains in the sun. Avoiding direct sunlight and heat is the easiest way to prevent overheating your phone.
Up Portland 10.18 In Print * On The Web At: www.upportland.com * On Facebook
---Turn off unused apps on your phone. Allowing apps you’re not using to run in the background drains the battery and increases the heat on your phone. On an iPhone for example, all you have to do is simply press your home button twice and swipe the apps away. Closing these down not only saves battery but also decreases how hard your phone works, which in turn decreases heat.
By the way, if you want to see some scary video showing what happens when a lithium-ion battery is not properly disposed of, visit The Washington Post’s story on this topic at https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2018/09/11/explosive-problem-with-recycling-ipads-iphones-other-gadgets-they-literally-catchfire/?utm_term=.3e4da76b6242&wpisrc=nl_tech&wpmm=1
---Don’t turn your brightness up, buy a glare screen. Just the same as running background apps, turning your brightness up will force your battery to work harder. Instead of turning your brightness up, buy a glare screen. You’ll be able to use your phone in the sun no matter how bright it is. ---This one is simple, if you’re not using your phone, turn it to airplane mode or turn it off. Putting it in airplane mode will allow you to continue to use basic functions on your phone but that will be it. These two options make it easier to save your battery and prevent it from heating up. ---And finally, if your phone is already overheating, take your case off. If your phone is hot, your case traps the heat. Taking the case off will allow the phone’s heat vents to do their job fully without being blocked. This will help your phone cool down quicker. Also, if your phone or computer show frequent heat or cold error messages at “room temperature” then you have a problem. Turn the device off and take it in for service --- either to the Best Buy Geek Squad, Microsoft Store, Apple Store or other authorised repair facility. It is not normal for there to be a thermal warning or shut down due to heat when your device is in routine use. This can indicate a serious issue. So it’s pretty much common sense. And we are including it here because anything which puts extra strain on that lithium-ion battery not only can cause it to fail (immediately or cut its life short), but could also cause it to burst or vent. And we know what that can be like already! Finally, above all, know that when you get that newest pad, phone or other gadget, the old one has to go somewhere. Keep that in mind and for heaven’s sake, do not just toss it in the household trash. Here in Portland, the Riverside Recycling Facility (http://riversiderecycles.com/items-we-accept) will take devices with lithium-ion batteries, as well as the batteries themselves; though there is a small fee. Check the clip below and visit their website and read about it, along with the days and hours the service is available. This will keep the batteries out of the waste stream, out of the neighbourhood trash truck’s compactors (where they could cause a thermal event) and help keep folks safe. You can also go to a licensed repair shop or a place like the Apple Store or Lowe’s or some Home Depot stores to recycle that battery or device safely. Apple note on their website, “Trade in your eligible device for an Apple Store Gift Card or a refund on your purchase. If your device isn’t eligible for credit, we’ll recycle it for free. No matter the model or condition, we can turn it into something good for you and good for the planet.” In other words, they will do all they can to prevent your old battery from causing a thermal event in their store or anywhere else, and if you are lucky, you will get credit toward a new pad, phone or computer, making this win-win.
Up Portland 10.18 In Print * On The Web At: www.upportland.com * On Facebook Page 7
Beyond The Forecast
By Jack Sillin / Weatherman & Meterology Student Hello everyone!
We’ve officially survived the worst of Summer, and are well on our way to Winter. I know that comes as sad news to most, but I for one have really enjoyed the cooler temps. In absence of any outstanding weather events over the past month here in Maine, I figured I’d use this month’s column to talk a bit about Fall, and some of the changes the earth’s atmosphere undergoes, as well as some of the science behind why. To start, it’s important to have an understanding of what causes our seasons. Perhaps you may remember some of this from earth science class back in middle school, but as a quick refresher, seasons are the result of the earth orbiting the sun while tilted on its axis. If you were to draw out the earth’s orbit, it would form a two-dimensional ellipse. Instead of the earth’s axis (an imaginary line extending from the North Pole to the South Pole) being oriented perpendicular to this plane, it’s offset a little bit, 23.5 degrees to be a little more exact. At almost any given point along the earth’s orbit, one of the poles will be tilted towards the sun, and the other tilted away. In Summer, when the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, we get more of the sun’s energy on our side of the earth. The opposite is true in Winter, when more of the sun’s energy is being absorbed by the southern hemisphere. Because heat is a form of energy, it perhaps makes sense that when we see more energy from the sun in the month of June, our temperatures are warmer compared to when we see less energy from the sun in the month of December. Between June and December, the sun gives us in Maine a little less energy with each passing day. This change in the amount of energy we get from the sun with the seasons means that a perfectly sunny day in December will likely be pretty cold, while the same perfectly sunny day in June will likely be pretty hot.
ered by differences in temperature across airmasses, the differential cooling of the northern hemisphere provides a rapid uptick in fuel for storms. In the Summer, the average “tropical” airmass might have high temps in the upper 80’s or low 90’s, with the typical “polar” airmass packing temps in the upper 60’s/ lower 70’s. This works out to a temperature difference of ~20 degrees, which isn’t much. In the Fall on the other hand, tropical airmasses haven’t cooled off very much (temps generally in the 80’s) but polar airmasses have cooled off a lot (temps in Northern Canada as I write this on 28th September are in the 10’s). Our measly 20 degree temperature gradient has now increased to 70 degrees! This rapid increase in fuel leads to a rapid increase in the strength of storms, with Summer systems and their scattered showers/thunderstorms giving way to strong fronts with heavy rain and gusty winds. Eventually, by the time the polar-tropical temperature gradient exceeds 100 degrees, you’ll get our big blizzard/nor’easter systems with their heavy precipitation, howling winds and other assorted impacts. You’ll notice that these changes are all over the period of weeks/months. You can still get warm Summer-like days in the fall, they just slowly become less and less frequent as the total amount of heat energy available in the northern hemisphere drops. Seasonal changes aren’t announced suddenly, with a single powerful blast of cold air in the Fall and warm air in the Spring. They’re slow, incremental processes that only eventually work their way down to the scale of individual weather systems. That being said, one of my favourite things each year is to watch how our weather here in New England slowly gets more and more interesting as more and more cold air becomes available for storms to tap. It will only be a matter of time before the first flakes start flying! Meanwhile, enjoy the last remaining warm/calm days while you can. I’ll be back next month with the annual Up Portland winter outlook! -Jack
Jack’s Weather Terms
So why don’t temperatures start cooling off after the Summer solstice (June 21st) if that’s when we start losing some of our solar energy input? This has to do with what the fact that the temperature we see here at the surface of the earth is the net result of both the energy we receive from the sun during the day, and the energy we lose back out into space at night.
Langley extrapolation: In the theme of this month’s column, the Langley extrapolation is one way of estimating how much energy enters the top of the earth’s atmosphere from the sun. Like any extrapolation, it’s not perfect, but it does a pretty good job, and is one tool scientists use to investigate questions relating to light and energy in the earth’s atmosphere.
It’s not until we’re losing more energy at night than we’re gaining during the day that our temperatures begin to shift in the cooler direction. This usually happens here in Maine around the first week of August. As you’ve probably noticed, we’ve been well on our way down that road for a little while now.
Airmass: An airmass is a part of the Earth’s atmosphere that has similar temperature/moisture characteristics. Airmasses can range from very cold and very dry (Arctic) to very warm and very moisture-laden (Tropical) with every combination in between. Airmasses with low moisture content are usually referred to as Continental, with high-moisture airmasses referred to as maritime. As I discussed in the main column, the exact characteristic of these airmasses change with the season (i.e. a Continental Polar airmass in January will look different than a Continental Polar airmass in June), but their general traits (for the Continental Polar example, cool and dry) remain the same, as does their general source region. Boundaries between airmasses are what we refer to as fronts, which, as I’ve discussed in previous columns, is where we tend to find our most active weather.
So how do these seasonal shifts in energy and temperature impact our weather? The answer starts with the fact that the entire northern hemisphere doesn’t cool off at the same rate each Fall, because the entire northern hemisphere doesn’t lose solar energy at the same rate. The north pole loses solar energy rapidly, while the tropics barely lose any solar energy at all. So by the time we get into September, it’s pretty cold up at the North Pole, but folks around the equator would be hard pressed to notice any difference in temperature compared to a few months ago. Because “interesting” weather, i.e. big storms, here in the mid latitudes is pow-
Page 8
Up Portland 10.18 In Print * On The Web At: www.upportland.com * On Facebook
Eric’s Optimal Corner Lynette Spring Baker / Optimal Self Community Health and Wellness Center
Shifting Gears For the past thee months, I trained hard, fast and powerfully, achieving a solid and lean athletic body. I ate to build and maintain a stable gut to balance and regulate my body’s systems and energy levels. I ran religiously during these months in order to crush my goal of completing the Maine Marathon. This was my Summer mission! Now that Summer is behind us, taking it’s warmer weather with it, the days have grown shorter and life is again changing. It is now time to shift gears and honour Mother Nature’s dramatic transformation --- the one she brings year after year here in Maine. I have found that each season offers a different opportunity to flow and adjust with these changes. So, I go with the flow…because Nature knows what I don’t know. I listen to the changing rhythms as Summer turns to Autumn in order to acclimate myself and make the best out of this and each season. MY PLAN
My plan is to shift my gears physically, to be more aggressive and powerful, to push a lot more weight and to enhance my strength. My personal workout plan is five days a week over seven weeks, allotting 1.5 hours of training each day. Coming from three months of high reps, lighter weights, high speed workouts that allowed me to achieve a leaner physique and help my marathon training, I now plan to build on that foundation to discover a new capacity for enhanced growth and profound beastliness! I will focus deeply on what are considered the three main lifts: the bench press, squat and deadlift, while mixing in other exercises to compliment the muscles
Simply put, I am going to take this lean machine and build it into a battle tank! How exactly? Well, read on, friends... DIET (FOOD PLAN) During the warmer months, I cultivated a lighter diet that allowed me to maintain high metabolic activity and to also support my intense training by still including meat like chicken and bison for their rich, dense nutrients. Over the Summer I ate more carbohydrates --- even refined ones such as ice cream and Pad Thai, which were essential to my mental stability. Moving into Autumn, I plan to change up my carbohydrate intake and opt for more seasonal whole-food carbohydrate sources like sweet potatoes and brussels sprouts. Other foods that I will welcome are squash, carrots, chard and cranberries, since ’tis the season. I will increase my meat intake to compliment my intensified strength training, which will include adding bacon: YUM! REST & RECOVERY I remember waking up at 5 a.m. during the Summer and it felt great outside! I would pop out of bed and charge into my day. Now I have a hard time getting out of bed: it’s dark and I feel a bit heavier. This is because of the changes that occur within our bodies as our tissues become colder in response to the decrease in seasonal temperatures. Sometimes it takes longer to warm up the body and the joints. This means more daily stretching is ideal. Also, the lack of sunlight makes us want to sleep more. Our body’s natural circadian rhythms operate with the rising and setting of the sun and that influences the release of certain hormones in our brain and controls our sleep-wake cycles. So in the colder weather months, it’s okay to get a couple extra hours of sleep when you can ;). With my intensified weight training, I now have to increase my recovery time between sets because of the increased stress on my body. I even move more slowly in the colder weather during my training, being more present in my body with a deeper, more powerful sense of calm. This is essential to push the immense weight that I plan on pushing. With these dramatic seasonal changes, the turmoil in our life sometimes can pick up like a tornado. This is natural in any life transition. We leave our comfort zone to go to a new place, which feels weird and awkward. I embrace these changes in life by listening and surrendering to the flow. With the surge of new and intense emotions that can come, it’s important to maintain our peace and calm in our mind, body and spirit and to even welcome these changes. I look forward to the change of seasons and all the opportunities of new experiences it brings. I plan and I strategise. I do my research. I jump on every season like a bull. I crack the whip and claim my destiny! I offer to you a challenge to try yourself to see the opportunity in the change. What’s your destiny? What is coming for you in the future months and with the changes that come year after year? Don’t be afraid. Don’t be shaken by what may come. You claim your day and your success. Make the best out of life. I hope to see you next season with your triumphant smile and great sense of accomplishment!
that support these lifts. By making my sets no more than ten reps, it will allow me to increase my muscular strength and put me into a state of hypertrophy (muscle-growth).
This is Eric Hilton, owner of Optimal Self Community Health and Wellness Center here on Congress street. If you need help with seasonal transition, please reach out to me. Stop by or e-mail me at optimalselfme@gmail.com
Up Portland 10.18 In Print * On The Web At: www.upportland.com * On Facebook Page 9
Layne’s Wine Time
Layne V. Witherell / Up Portland Wine Critic
DUCKING UNDER THE RADAR Now that our little Portland, Maine, is the food capital of the universe you will have to think and act fast to get wine and food gratification, or in other words, you gotta duck under the radar in this town. Bon Appétit articles energise their chosen small number of favourites resulting in a three-hour wait with your smartphone pressed to your face, together with all the buzz and noise that comes with all the hype. There can be a better way. There are two strategies: the “Happening Event”, that is local in nature, loud, raucous and not to be missed. Or the second, a quiet repast for ducking under the radar; a serene experience. A place that didn’t make the “hallowed list”. Both need to be sought after as the world is being guided willy nilly by media both print splashed and social. Think fast, act fast: The Roma Café at 767 Congress St. and chef Ron Medlock recently presented “Big Night”, a wine, food and movie event. This was the quintessential insider Portland happening. Tickets went on sale and were gobbled up immediately. The theme was a movie wrapped around copious food and drink. Big Night, in the words of film critic Roger Ebert “is one of the great
Page 10
food movies, and yet it is so much more. It is about food not as a subject but as a language --- the language by which one can speak to gods, can create, can seduce and can aspire to perfection.” That glass of Trebbiano D’Abruzzo by Pianoro was an electric, energised white ($7 a glass) with the prima seafood risotto that took your mind and memory back to Rome with a taste and a bite. The Montepulciano D’Abruzzo by Pietrantonj, a classic of grape and place ($36 a bottle) allowed your senses to linger and savour the quarto braised pork belly. The audience was appreciatively wonderful and raucous. Under the radar is where the Portland chefs come to play. The table of sous chefs had enough tattoo ink on their bodies to keep afloat a lobster boat. Chef Ron’s eight course dinner was an admired creation by his peers. DATE NITE: The Roma, Tuesday at 7 p.m. Corner table, candles throughout. Antipasti and two glasses of Verdicchio De Castelli Di Jesi ($8 a glass), the flavours of citrus, flowers and herbs, all in a good way. LIO: 3 Spring Street. Remember when the singer Prince changed his name to a symbol? This is the way that I think of LIO. Just Google the word up on your phone. There are dozens of meanings, some of them not so good. We have dined so many times at their sibling outposts (Tao and Bao Bao) that my hands are automatically shaped to properly hold chopsticks. The real name for this spot should be Cara Stadler’s Kickass Wine Bar, or for short, CSKSWB, a catchy little phrase that you could hum in the shower. This might bring them from under the radar to way over the radar. I asked the hostess what the name LIO meant and she didn’t have a clue. There is no three hour wait. Just pick your serpentine table spot: kitchen view,
Up Portland 10.18 In Print * On The Web At: www.upportland.com * On Facebook
street view or the little back room for anonymity. The floor to ceiling glassed in wine cellar is cool --- it announces “hey, you’re in a wine bar”. The paintings on the wall have changed and don’t make a lot of sense. I miss the bristly oil portrait bearing a close resemblance to William Tecumseh Sherman (replaced by an innocuous picture of Truman Capote). The famous civil war general aptly summed up the world with his quote “war is hell”. Owning three restaurants, staring at fame past, present and future could resemble a milder form of hell. Navigating the list. There are three categories to choose from: the three-ounce taste, the six-ounce glass and by the bottle. In addition, the waitstaff will pour you a tiny taste to save you from making a mistake. There aren’t many mistakes on this list. Yeah, yeah, the $18 glass of Barbaresco was a dud. Fortunately, it’s gone. There are the highlights that you aren’t apt to stumble on elsewhere every day. The prices on their pours make a lot of sense. They are value and pour calibrated. The food, of course, is terrific: the tiny grilled Shishito peppers, the aged duck breast, oh so sliced. The Fois Gras, ah, the Fois Gras, appearing moments fresh from the kitchen. ---Viognier/Picpoul, St Cosme, “Les Deux Albions”, Southern Rhone, France, 2016. $7.50/$15/$60. St. Cosme is a famous Rhone producer known for their reds. Their white blend grown on limestone from famed Viognier vines and the less than famed Picpoul equals an irresistible combination of flint and dried apricot as a luscious dry wine. Not to be missed. For a seasoned pro, visiting a wine bar, there should always be one wine that causes you to go to Google, search in your wine books, or both. This is it. ---Petit Rouge, Caves des Onze, Torrette, Vallee d’ Aoste, Italy, 2016. $48 by the bottle, and worth it. Petit Rouge is an ancient Roman grape that resembles a redcurrant and spice sandwich. Torrette is the ZIP code in the smallest Italian region, the Vallee d’ Aoste, a speck of an area above the yowling jaws of the great Piedmont region. ---Cabernet Franc, Domaine de Pallus, Chinon, France, 2016. $6/$12/$48. Herbal. Say it again: herbal. We don’t drink enough cabernet franc. Chinon is its original home town. ---Nebbiolo, Nino Negri, Valtellini, Italy, 2014, $6/$12/$48. The thick skinned, tannic Nebbiolo grape can wring your taste buds out to dry, and, can usually cost you real money. This is a gem. ---Provence, Provence, Provence Rose, yeah, I know. Change it up with this masterful Sangiovese/Prugnolo Gentile, Tuscan, Italian rose, 2017, $7/$14/$56. The Napa Technology wine preservation system used here are four units at five grand each staring you in the face, providing a perfectly proportioned, lively, fresh opened out of the bottle taste every time. The list is very approachable. There are no “Unicorn wines”, the kind of stuff that mortals beg to experience. This can be either good or bad. Good if you are the average or above average wine drinker. Bad If you are searching for the wine adventure of a lifetime. Will this place become the home of the culinary adventurers? The list is a moving target that changes frequently. Time will tell. They are still under the radar. (EDITORS NOTE: Layne is a professional in the wine business with over 30 years of experience. He can be reached at lvwitherell@gmail.com for talks and consulting. His website is http://winemaniacs.wordpress.com/blog The Roma Café, 767 Congress St., Portland, will be doing a dinner event “Ancient Roman Wine Night” 1st November. Call 761.1611 for details and reservations.)
Up Portland 10.18 In Print * On The Web At: www.upportland.com * On Facebook Page 11
Food For Thought... As the old saying used to go: Life is short. Eat dessert first. Sadly, the same is, we feel, true for diners headed for the West End’s Chaval, which took the place of Caiola’s at 58 Pine Street some months back. Why dessert first? Because in this reviewer’s opinion, go for coffee (they use Speckled Ax’s and it is wonderful) and a dessert (fantastic, see photo at right) and skip the rest of the meal. Not that the meal we had with friends at the end of September was bad, but it was not great on either the food or service ends. Especially when we looked at the bill we were handed ($108 for two) after we had eaten the last bites. And getting the bites was trouble enough, as a combination of a waitress who, this reviewer feels, did not seem to care what was going on, and a kitchen which failed to communicate meant we sat, and sat, and sat until the clocks had ticked over well more than an hour, for which there was absolutely no excuse. The eatery was not on a wait and it was not a busy weekend night. In fact, one of the always mild-mannered ladies at our table got so upset with the delay that she went to find a staffer to demand to know the whereabouts of our grub after 60-plus long minutes had passed. But let’s do this from the beginning: Table for five with a 6.15 reservation on a Monday night. Arrived and were seated at a wonderful table right in the front window. Lovely flowers, great view to the outside. Staffer comes by and says hi, then goes on about the specials which feature honey and advises that some part of the profit was going for bees and their preservation. Good idea. Great cause. Sadly, the rest of our evening’s service flowed just like honey on a below zero night. In other words, have we said “slow” yet? Add to that, X (staffer’s name was on our bill, but we decided to omit it here) was training a guy the night we visited and it was HE who came by numerous times to check on us, and it was HE who wore a smile and was friendly every time. Maybe the trainer and trainee were reversed, but he had a lot of talents he could have taught her. This became even more obvious after I requested one of the restaurant’s steaks (menu says, “Grilled Steak ‘Frites’ prime new york strip steak, french fries, béarnaise, $28”) extra rare. I donno why, but as regulars of this column know, I just love my meat extra rare and I often tell staffers (only half in jest) to unwrap the steak, wave it over the stove and bring it out. I truly DO like steaks really, really rare. In fact, as an appetiser I ordered Chaval’s Beef Tartare and Bone Marrow (menu says “pickled onions, capers, mustard, country bread...”) and steak tartare, for those unaware, is beef not cooked at all. It was a cool presentation sitting on a split bone, but the spicing drowned out the beef flavour.
Page 12
Up Portland 10.18 In Print * On The Web At: www.upportland.com * On Facebook
Anyway, I digress. When I requested my steak extra rare, our grimacing waitress looked terribly pained then informed me “Well, I’ll ask the chef, but he usually does it like he wants!” I (only half in jest) reminded her that I might pay or not pay for said steak if it came out wrong, “only if I wanted.” Following that exchange, I threw caution to the wind and ordered it anyway. Meanwhile another at our table opted for two appetisers: Heirloom Carrots (menu says “tartare” style, green romesco, $6) and a Fried Cauliflower (cauliflower pureé, lemon, aleppo pepper, $7) and a salad; another joined me for the steak; yet a 4th opted for the $27 Long Island Duck Breast (“charred sweet corn, swiss chard, onion, fennel, wild Maine blueberries”) while the final diner with us, who is vegetarian, had an item the menu only calls “Vegetable” and says is, “farmers’ ratatouille, eggplant ‘a la plancha,’ romesco sauce, ‘calçot,’ extra virgin olive oil, $17.” And that was the line-up for our table, which we placed within 20 minutes of hitting the door. We chatted, we looked at photos on a phone, we watched folks outside go by and we chatted more... and we waited... and we waited... and we waited. Did I mention we waited? Two of the ladies at our table are especially noise-sensitive and also noted the place was loud. Even half-deaf me noticed that it would have given any respectable machine shop a run for their money, but I was less-concerned about the decibels than I was the lack of any plates in front of me! Through it all, we saw very very little of the waitress, though her “charge” did bring more water and a couple at the table had other drinks --- both alcoholic and non. And while appetisers did show, no real food made it from the kitchen at all. Sadly, as is the case with too many Portland eateries these days, not even a roll or butter was offered, and while the flowers on our table looked nice, nobody was quite ready to dig into them with a fork or spoon --- though it was a close call. After over an hour went by, one of our usually polite and quiet friends got up and went searching for someone to ask whatever became of food. This was followed almost immediately by our orders, and while the food had its short-comings, it was all more than edible. My steak was OK rare, though not near as rare as I’d have liked, while the other one served was closer to that guest’s liking. The Vegetable looked nice and got a thumbs up from the lady who ordered it; the salad recipient was happy with hers (her comment: different spices than normal) and the diner ordering the duck said hers was decent, but the vegetables which came with it were outstanding. Next, we decided to risk dessert... and eureka! Finally something notable in a good way! First, someone, somewhere in the bowels of the restaurant got the message that we’d waited and waited, so a staffer brought out a couple comp orders of Madelines (menu says: soft cocoa nibs sponge cookies, baked to order). They were very nice and appreciated as an apology gesture. But the best was yet to come as while three of the five at the table were full by this point, two of us opted for dessert --- my partner loved his huge portion of Churros ($9) and I found my Plums & Cream dessert (menu says: sage ice cream, honey gelato, meringue, vanilla cream --- no mention of plums in the details, but they were there in large portion) little short of wonderful, though the $15 price tag would have bought me a lot of gelato at Gelato Fiasco or Gorgeous Gelato down the street. Oh, and if you are wondering what sage ice cream tastes like, honestly the sage was either too mild for me to detect or someone forgot to put it in. Still, dessert was wonderful. So, did Chaval make up for the botched service and the sitting contest? In this reviewer’s opinion, not really, which is why I started this review as I did. I’d go back to Chaval, but only if I were going to do dessert and coffee (hours are till 10 weeknights and Saturdays so after say an early show) but I don’t plan another dinner there. It was just too much work to get a so-so steak, put up with a server’s “off day” ‘tude, lots of noise and then face that triple-digit bill I was handed at the end. Portland is a city with a lot of good and great restaurants --- including several with the same owners as Chaval, but while the room is cozy, the neighbourhood fun and the concept should work, on the night we went obviously the engine was not firing on all the cylinders. And with so many choices right here on the Peninsula, I rarely return to the scene of a less-than-wonderful experience. Chaval, sadly, despite all the promise, is just such a place. Oh, and a P.S. here: I did tip $20 on that $108 bill, but I don’t know if that will do anything to encourage our staffer to try harder next time, or will convince her I do not know good service from bad.
Another Helping? More Food News On The Next Page
Up Portland 10.18 In Print * On The Web At: www.upportland.com * On Facebook Page 13
More Food For Thought... Continued From The Previous Page Finally on the food front for this month, we have been hearing rave reviews from friends about the baked goods over at Cape Elizabeth’s C Salt Gourmet Market, 349 Ocean House Road, and I am happy to say all of the rumours are true --- the baked goods at C Salt are everything this reviewer has heard and more. It’s our good fortune that a friend has been house shopping over in Cape Elizabeth and finally got tired of my whining that I never get time to go over and experience C Salt’s English Muffins for myself, so she stopped and picked me up a pack, which lasted all of a few hours on my kitchen bar, conveniently near my
toaster. What can I say, but check the ingredients on their label and you will see why: butter is listed ...and that means a bit of jam or alone these are truly English Muffins worth a drive to Cape Elizabeth for. You won’t really need to add butter after you toast one as it truly is so buttery there’s just no need for more. As that old ad said: “It’s in there!” Now all I have to do is convince my doctor, who has me on a diet, that I can still eat them, and bribe that friend into getting me more of these and the other items C Salt has on offer on her next jaunt. To find out more, visit them online at www.csaltgourmetmarket.com
Joan Busing’s Art Headlines Current Exhibits At The Maine Jewish Museum Writing about Joan Busing, whose unique “Moon Series” of monoprints is currently on display in the Spiegel Gallery of the Maine Jewish Museum, is close to impossible. This life-long artist and New York transplant to Maine is a human ‘Nor’easter who has stormed the world of art and adds tons of creative energy as she describes her unique painting process, then skips over to her class and teaching interests and next shows some of her hand-made jewellery (also on display and for sale at the museum) and then goes back to talking about her love of art and anything artistic. But once the pieces get put together, Busing (at right in the photo) comes into proper focus as one of Portland’s most singularly artistic individuals, all set to expose the local art community to more of her works and talents — talents and works which have graced the walls of and classrooms at such prestigious institutions as The Design Centre in New York City, Harvard University’s Houghton Library, The Library of Congress, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, New York and Columbia University’s Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Asked about her career, Busing says, “I have been doing art since I could hold a pencil ...and you do know that artists never, ever retire, though we do mature and change. I am an abstract painter and as such have grown away from landscapes and seascapes to become a colourist.” Busing’s process is a unique one, where a set of plexiglass plates use French oils and line up just right for a one-only print on paper; a process which she says “creates painting on paper,” adding, “The process takes two people...the artist and an assistant who makes sure that everything lines up and that the one print from each set is perfect, making each monoprint unique.” Speaking about her dedication to art, Busing is definite. “My life is my work... I have been teaching art all of my adult life and have been making art every day since childhood.”
Page 14
But despite such credentials and her illustrious past, one would think Busing might be ready to slow down. Quite the reverse is true as she makes trips to create monoprints in her still active New York City studio, designs and makes jewellery in Maine, spends time with her Maine daughter and catches flights to Chicago to visit her son. And in between it all, she spoils her cute adopted dog Fritzi unmercifully and teaches art to some of her friends and neighbours with regular classes. See why we said ‘Nor’easter? A true never-ending storm of creativity, energy and ideas all rolled into one diminutive lady whom Portland is fortunate to count as a citizen. If readers want to experience a small sample of Busing’s work, head up to the Maine Jewish Museum at 267 Congress Street. Hours are weekdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays 1 to 5 p.m. The museum is closed Saturdays. Busing’s show is one of three currently at the museum thru 26th October. Also to be viewed are Mixed-media art by Sara Crisp in the Fineberg Family Community Room and “After the Fall” watercolours by Shelley Jordon in the Third Floor Sanctuary. Admission is free, though donations are happily accepted.
Up Portland 10.18 In Print * On The Web At: www.upportland.com * On Facebook
Walk Among the Shadows
Spirits Alive at Eastern Cemetery presents its annual event -
Walk Among the Shadows
Scandals, Scoundrels and Sinners October 18-20 & 25-27, 6:30-7:30 pm Sundays, October 21 & 28, 5:30 - 6:30 pm Suggested donation $10 - Adults, $5 - 12 & under ¡ Tours every 20 minutes First come, first served ¡ Tickets at the gate or on Eventbrite www.spiritsalive.org/wats Up Portland 10.18 In Print * On The Web At: www.upportland.com * On Facebook Page 15
The Standard Reviewer
By Andrea Rouda / Up Portland’s Film & Theatre Reviewer
From the Ridiculous to the Sublime As everyone will readily agree, film is truly an amazing art form. While all movies have so much in common, still they all end up being completely unique. The producers, directors, editors, cinematographers, actors and hundreds of associated participants whose names flash by on the end credits combine their talents to create something that’s grand enough to make your day or bad enough to ruin it. Following are three short reviews of notable movies that run the gamut from the ridiculous to the sublime, in that order. The Big Short In case you were expecting more, be forewarned that The Big Short is a big disappointment. Shockingly, this mess won a 2016 Oscar for “Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay,” making me wonder, “On what planet?” Talk about your visual stream of consciousness, it’s a mass of confusion from beginning to end. The plot centres on the build-up to the mortgage/housing bubble that burst back in 2007, causing the down-fall of Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers and some other big banks — I think.
watch The Road from beginning to end. I guarantee when it’s over you’ll kiss the ground beneath your feet and declare, “All’s right with the world -- even Donald Trump!” First released in 2009, The Road stars Viggo Mortenson as a nameless man, the loving father of a young boy. The two are survivors clinging to one another following an apocalyptic event that is never explained but apparently was literally The Last Straw. There once was a beautiful wife and mother (Charlize Theron) who we see in flashbacks, but she opted out early. Imploring her husband to shoot her and their son and then himself rather than fight to live and then die in such horror, she explained, “Many other families are doing it.” But the man opts for life, holding out hope for better days somewhere down that eponymous road. In this bleak future there are few people, animals, rivers, lakes, trees or crops to speak of. There’s only death, represented as grey skies, abandoned shacks, dilapidated buildings and roving bad guys armed with rifles, out hunting protein. The man and his boy are headed south hoping to find better weather, not that there is better weather anywhere since everything is covered with nuclear ash, or something very much like it. The whole business is accompanied by gloomy, maniacal music perfect for slitting your wrists if you are so inclined. Saying this film is grim is like saying Hitler found Jews annoying. To give you an idea, my favourite scene in the Bleakness Department is when the man uncovers a hidden cache of naked, skinny, starving, half-demented, wounded, moaning and groaning humans locked in the basement of what looks like an abandoned house from the outside, but is really the local barbecue joint for the band of survivors scouring the countryside for food, i.e. people still breathing. That bunch in the basement are like so many chickens in the freezer. Several large Weber grills are in the yard, awaiting the dinner hour. (Yum.)
To be honest I’m not sure, despite having seen it twice -- the second time because I wondered if I’d slept through all the good parts. (I tried to pay attention but it was like being back in high school history class and hearing about the American Revolution: I kept nodding off. Each time I opened my eyes there were still the same old talking heads yammering on and on about money and banking and mortgages, but it was so boring I’d close them again, totally missing what the heck a short was, and why it was so big.)
And more like that. The Road was adapted from Cormac McCarthy’s novel of the same name, which won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. According to reviews the book is much more gruesome than the film in its depiction of cannibalism, so if that’s your thing you may want to pick up a copy. And be sure to have some Pepto-Bismol handy.
To spice up the visually bland proceedings, director Adam McKay stuck in lots of unrelated images that flash on the screen like subliminal advertising and have nothing to do with the plot. Many of them show naked breasts and bare bottoms, as well as random shots of police, traffic jams, crowd scenes and anything interesting found on the cutting-room floor from movies of that era. (I’m guessing that film editor Hank Corwin got his hands on some killer weed.)
It almost feels wrong to write a review of Leave No Trace, the stunning independent film released in June of this year by director Debra Granik. Kind of like laughing at a funeral or eating a pastrami sandwich during Ramadan, the film is so intensely beautiful to look at and simply experience that words can’t come close to capturing its meaning, or answer the deep questions it poses concerning how we should spend our lives here in this paradise called Earth.
On the plus side, peppered throughout the confusion are impressive performances by Steve Carell yelling into his cell phone and Christian Bale staring at his computer, for which he won an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Brad Pitt shows up for a while, obviously too exhausted from all those kids he has at home to learn any lines so he just hangs out looking disgruntled. He still got his name in the credits. Marisa Tomei appears for a dull few minutes looking old and worn, which is very sad because she was so young and vibrant in My Cousin Vinny. Now that was great movie!
The story, adapted from a book that was based on a newspaper article about an actual event, concerns a sad ex-Marine with PTSD (Ben Foster) and his teenage daughter Tom (Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie), both of whom deserve an Academy Award for their amazingly authentic performances.
The Road Are you sick and tired of all the political drama dominating the news? Does the fact that presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner got $10 million as a graduation gift from his father make you sick? Do you wish Hillary Clinton would just shut up already and accept that she lost the election?
The two created a sophisticated camp where they cook their meals and sleep huddled together in a tent, barely visible to the naked eye. Dad home-schools Tom and teaches her survival skills, so she’s much smarter than others her age. Naturally their wayward lifestyle is deemed illegal by our culture and eventually their idyllic days spent in nature are abruptly ended by the harsh barks of a police dog, their woods home brutally destroyed and ripped apart by the lawabiding park rangers.
If you answered yes to any of the preceding questions you may need a vacation from reality --- and I’ve got the perfect one: Dim the lights, get comfortable, and
Page 16
Leave No Trace
Having abandoned society years ago, they live hidden in a densely wooded park on the outskirts of Portland, Oregon, their only contact with humanity their weekly trips into the city for supplies bought with government disability cheques.
Up Portland 10.18 In Print * On The Web At: www.upportland.com * On Facebook
The devoted pair is separated and questioned by the authorities who we instantly dislike, even though they are doing good work. After all, if the homeless suddenly could live anywhere, soon enough our national parks would be covered in trash, the forests depleted for firewood and the wildlife killed for dinner. Leave No Trace highlights the plight of all those odd people who refuse to spend their lives staring at computers, texting on cell phones, watching TV or shopping at the mall, driving in traffic to cubbyholes where they’ll push papers and strive to earn more money to spend on their measly weekends, holidays and allotted vacations. At bottom is the question we each must answer: Who are the misfits --- the people who live “off the grid” or the rest of us? Dad and daughter are reunited and through the vast web of social services given a place to live and some work to do, but it’s not to last long. The lure of the woods calls them back, and once again they find themselves hungry, cold and homeless, but somehow able to breathe easier. Eventually change comes in a big way -- as it always does -- but you’ll have to see for yourself and decide if it’s for the better or for the worse. Either way, this film will leave you smiling.
Home Furnishings & Gifts
15% off in store, if you mention UP Portland
15 Middle Street Portland
Local Art
www.lemonzesthome.com lemonzesthome@gmail.com @lemonzesthome
Nursery
Decor
Up Portland 10.18 In Print * On The Web At: www.upportland.com * On Facebook Page 17
Page 18
Up Portland 10.18 In Print * On The Web At: www.upportland.com * On Facebook
Check Out The Spirits In October At Eastern Cemetery’s Annual Walk The non-profit group Spirits Alive will again be offering their popular "Walk Among the Shadows" event this month in Eastern Cemetery. This year's theme is "Scandals, Scoundrels & Sinners." Six ghostly storytellers, most of whom are actually buried at Eastern Cemetery, will materialise to tell the scandalous stories of their own lives. Audience members will be led through Eastern Cemetery by specters, encountering each story at a different location within the graveyard. The event occurs at Eastern Cemetery 18th thru 20th and 25th thru 27th October, from 6.30 to 7.30 p.m. There will be a twilight performance on Sundays the 21st and 28th from 5.30 to 6.30 p.m. Audience groups will enter from the 224 Congress Street gate every 20 minutes during the event on a first-come, first-served basis. Each Walk Among the Shadows performance lasts about 30 minutes. The audience is cautioned to dress for outdoor evening weather and slightly uneven terrain. Suggested donation is $10 ($5 for under 12s), with tickets available on Eventbrite. Spirits Alive is a non-profit organisation formed in 2006 dedicated to the preservation of Eastern Cemetery. "Walk Among the Shadows" is their largest fundraiser. Eastern Cemetery is Portland's oldest graveyard, founded in 1668, and celebrating its 350th anniversary this year. It is on the list of National Historic Landmarks. All proceeds from this event go to Spirits Alive to help accomplish their twin missions of education and preservation. More info at spiritsalive.org Generous event sponsors include: Carlson & Turner Bookstore, Coffee By Design, Maine Memorial Co., The Munjoy Hill Neighbourhood Assn., Murray Plumb and Murray, Norway Savings Bank, Otto Pizza, Up Portland and The Dept. of History and Political Science at the University of Southern Maine.
Up Portland 10.18 In Print * On The Web At: www.upportland.com * On Facebook Page 19
Page 20
Up Portland 10.18 In Print * On The Web At: www.upportland.com * On Facebook
Up Portland Is A Proud Member of the
November Edition Deadline
Friday 26th October Papers On Street: Tuesday 30th October
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 2018 by BBS, A division of High Speed Delivery Fork Ltd. & Ted Fleischaker and may not be reproduced in any form without prior written approval.
Phone: 207/536.0922 e-mail: ted@upportland.com
Please Read Then Recycle!
Friend us on Facebook!
Be Sure To Tell Them You Saw Their Ad In Up Portland!
Up Portland 10.18 In Print * On The Web At: www.upportland.com * On Facebook Page 21
Mark: My Words By Mark Gatti / Mark’s Hotdogs “What kind of future could she have with a hot dog vendor”, he asked? I was on a double date with a young lady named Janice. This question was posed by a young man, Josh, who was dating my future wife, Susan. The question was posed after I had excused myself to get a round of beers and my date Janice was snoozing. She had inexplicably fallen asleep within minutes of arriving at the pub. My ego totally bruised, I walked back to our table thinking “there is no chance I will ever see these folks again!” We must take pause and wonder about Josh’s social IQ as well. It was a first date, the date was asleep, “why,” Josh was thinking “would we would become a couple, anyway escapes me,” no matter what occupation I may have had. This occurred 32 years ago. This upcoming week Susan and I celebrate 30 years of a good marriage that included raising two boys to independent adulthood. How did this happen, you may ask? It turns out Susan and Janice, who were roommates had moved up to Portland from Saco a few months after this weird double date. Susan was no longer dating Josh and began coming to the stand for an occasional lunch. Given her love of Bomb Dogs and discovering that she owned
her own fly fishing rod, it wasn’t long before we started dating ...and the rest is history. Oh yeah, she didn’t seem worried at all about her future with a hot dog vendor. People’s reactions and actions vary greatly from the quizzical to skeptical when learning what I do for a living. Generally not considered high on the social echelon type of career, my father-in-law was struggling with this topic at our wedding reception all those years ago. Apparently both Susan’s mother and father had some high society types in their families. Looking not to embarrass me or make me feel ill at ease socially with these elites, my father-in-law bragged that I had a restaurant where people stood outside on long lines waiting to get served. A stretch of the truth yes, but he was not lying. During those times I did have very long lunch lines and you could say I owned a restaurant without fibbing, right? Looking back, we had a good chuckle when recalling this. I can’t remember in any detail what I told those wealthy relatives when they brought up the topic of my restaurant. I do recall being somewhat weary after talking with them after performing some verbal gymnastics. Another aspect of being a hot dog vendor includes being asked quite often how much money I make. Typically, this is a topic that is considered a private matter. We don’t go around asking doctors, social workers, teachers, scientists and construction workers what they earn for a living, do we? Oddly, in my chosen career this question is brought up with no inkling by the questioner that this is private information not up for public disclosure. I don’t take major offense when asked this and guess that the somewhat uniqueness of this social job makes the question fair game in many circles. As you may surmise, I either politely decline this personal inquiry or sarcastically give a figure ridiculously high or low. Getting back to what life is like living with a hotdog vendor, it can sometimes be odoriferous. One of my sons was refused rides to hockey practice by a teammate because the smell of cooked onions emanating from his clothes polluted his teammate’s car. Another time my wife was participating in a work meeting and her manager questioned why she smelled food that was making her hungry. Susan fessed up that it was the morning aroma of the Gatti household she was graciously sharing with her co-workers. On a positive note, my neighbours, who regularly stroll by my house in the morning, loved the fragrant smells emanating from my home. Lastly, being a hot dog vendor has the benefit of having time to coach my son’s baseball and soccer teams. While we were never able to take long Summer vacations, we had many a Winter vacation ice-fishing, skiing and playing hockey. Going full circle back to my unconventional first date with Susan, I can happily state that Susan, Janice and I remain close friends. Janice no longer falls asleep when visiting us and lives a successful life in New York City. She has a great career and travels extensively to exotic places. Susan remains happy with her hot dog vendor and I am glad she is! It is only our best guess what happened to wise old Josh since he vanished years and years ago. Maybe he will see this and contact us once again to bring us all up-to-date. Who knows? Meanwhile, happy Fall to all. Warm regards, Mark.
Page 22
Up Portland 10.18 In Print * On The Web At: www.upportland.com * On Facebook
Visit Us and shop online at oldportcandyco.com
422 Fore Street, Portland • 772-0600
What We Think... By Ted Fleischaker / Up Portland Publisher What has become of the accepting, polite and open city I moved to from the rightwing “red state” Midwest a few years ago? These days it seems that everywhere I turn, we are in a sad state of NIMBY, which stands for “Not In My Back Yard.” Just ask the folks near the Barron Centre and look at the hateful faces shown on the news after a City Hall meeting to discuss building a new shelter on Brighton Avenue. Or the folks who own some downtown businesses and hate it that “those homeless folks” are even allowed to share our streets, much less allowed to walk into their shops and restaurants. But it hits closer to home than that. One after another, the buildings going up in gentrifying areas of town are considering regulations so they can decide if a business “fits” what a sometimes vocal minority want to have in retail spaces nearby or on the first floor. Woe be unto those who want to open but use the “wrong” words on their signs or sell the “wrong” stuff. This has gone as far as one person asking for restrictions being bold enough to say, “Please give this request priority consideration so that we can enact change prior
WICKED COOL CARDS, WACKY NOVELTIES, MAINE TREATS, & SO MUCH MORE!
3 Moulton Street, Portland • 773-5181 to the disappearance and devaluation of our lovely residential neighbourhood.” That was after said person informed friends she felt businesses which were (to her) “undesirable” should be forced to locate elsewhere. Everywhere one looks these days we see signs --- big and small --- of NIMBY. This newspaper urges two things happen right away to counter that spreading “illness”: 1.) Consider the “us” versus “them” attitude we see rapidly developing and change direction. Let’s really live that inclusive “everybody” attitude we preach, Portland. 2.) Stop playing the NIMBY game. It won’t serve anyone or anything --- it only tears people apart. Sure, it’s easier to “ship off” that shelter, or “objectionable” business like a medical marijuana dispensary or cigarette shop somewhere else, but we feel it should be wherever it wants to be because we, as a city need to continue to practice the diversification we preach so loudly. There are some limits, which is why we have zoning. Nobody sane would want a boiler factory next to The Observatory. Meanwhile, we have little use for folks unwilling to understand that not everyone is blessed with their means. And we have even less use for that type person because they are the very ones, despite loud denials, who 30 years ago would have voted to ban gays from their neighbourhoods. And 60 years ago, banned Blacks. And before that “undesirables” were Jews, Italians, Catholics and Irish. Read your history... it’s all so sadly there. So, our conclusion: We need to set aside our differences and fight the NIMBYs anywhere and everywhere we find them. We owe it to the community we all call home to really be diverse --- not just talk the talk!
Up Portland 10.18 In Print * On The Web At: www.upportland.com * On Facebook Page 23
Page 24
Up Portland 10.18 In Print * On The Web At: www.upportland.com * On Facebook