“Iwouldn’thaveburnedthepiano,” Michaeladmitswhenhehearsthestory ofourStroudwaterChristmashouse. “Aerobics.Alotofaerobicswouldhave supplanted the need to burn the
Re:our“BeanSprouts'featureinour October1996issue,wewereunableto depicttherenderingofthenewL.L. BeanFactoryStoreinPortlandforthat issueatpresstimeandarepleasedtodo sohere.PDTisthearchitectandFul¬ crumAssociatesisthecontractor.ConI I I I I I ■ gratulationsonawonderfuljob:The PortlandLL.BeanFactoryStore’sNov¬ ember20openingdelightedrecord crowdsofholidayshoppers.
Portland Magazine is published bv Sargent Publishing. Inc., 578 Congress Street, Portland. ME 04101. All corre¬ spondence should be addressed Io 578 Congress Street, Portland. ME 04101
Advertising Office 578 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101 (207) 775-4339.
Billing Questions: If you have questions regarding ad¬ vertising invoicing and payments, call Karen Stcvcns-Bartok at (207) 6463265.
Newsstand Cover l>atc: December 1996. published November 1996. Vol 11. No 9, copyright 1996. Portland Magazineis mailed at third-class mail rates in Portland, ME 04101 (ISSN: 1073-1857), Opinions expressed in articles arc those of authors and do not represent editorial positions ofPortland Magazine Responsible only for that portion of any advertisement w nich is printed incorrectly, and as compensation we will nm a cor¬ rection in the following issue. Nothing in this issue may lx* repnnted in whole or in part without written permission from the publishers. Submissions welcome, but we take no respon¬ sibilityforunsolicitedmaterials.
Portland Magazine is published 10 times annually by Sargent Publishing, Inc., 578 Congress Street, Portland, with newsstand cover dates of Winterguide. Fcbruary/Marcb, April, May. Summerguide, Julv/Augnst, September, October, Novemlx-r, and Dcccmlrer.
CatherineLandriganwasoneof themostcolorfulcharacters inmid-19thcenturyPortland. Butshewasbetterknownby heragnomen“KittyKentuck.” Calledarum-sellerandaprostitute, Kitty would go from a prosperous tradertoadestitutealcoholicina fewshortyearsanddieatthehands
ofherbrawlingsoninahome-made shanty.
TheriseandfallofKittyKentuckis astudyinthesocial,economicaland criminalhistoryofPortlandinthe 19thcentury.Itisthestoryofapoor Irish immigrant woman caught be¬ tween the upheaval of the KnowNothingParty,ananti-Catholic,anti¬
KittyKentuckwasbornabout1810 inCountyCork,Ireland.Herbirth¬ name was perhaps Margaret Calla¬ ghan,althoughshewentbyatleast fivedifferentaliasesovertheyears.
She immigrated to Maine sometime inthemid-1830s,almosttenyears beforetheGreatHunger,ortheIrish PotatoFamine,andsettledinPort¬ land.Shefoundasmall,butgrowing Irishcommunityhere.St.Dominic’s Catholic Church had been estab¬ lishedonStateStreetonlyafew yearsbeforeherarrival.Anti-Irish sentimentswerealreadystrongin Portland.AGalwayimmigrantnamed PatrickMoghanhadbeenshotdead inascufflebetweenseveralIrishmen andanativePortlanderonVaugh¬ an’sBridgein1828,andin1833,an Irishman,JamesLarkin,wasbeaten todeathbyalocal,JamesGoodwin, atMrs.Abbot’s,abrothelanddrink¬ inghouseonMunjoyHill.Thereislit¬ tledoubtthatbothincidentswere sparked by local hatred of Irish Catholics.
KittygavebirthtoasonMichael Callaghan or Callahan in 1838. Whethershewasevermarriedtothe boy’sfatherisunknown,althoughhe wasprobablyillegitimate.Kittyocca¬ sionallywentbythesurnameCalla¬ ghan,anditispossiblethatitwas hermaidenname.
Anexperimentalprohibition legislationhadbeenenactedin1846. Herfirstconvictionforsellingliquor appears to have been on December 21,1847,whentheMunicipalCourt foundherguiltyof“retailingontwo cases.”Kittywasfined$8andcosts of$2.55oneachcharge.Ofcourse, sheappealed.Hersuretiesorbonds¬ men were Andrew McGlinchy, a no¬ torious Irish laborer and liquor trader,andhisbrother-in-lawJohn O’Neal.Bothmenwouldappearbe¬ forethecourtonnumerouscharges ofrumsellinganddrunkenness.An¬ drewwasabrothertotheinfamous James McGlinchy, grocer, liquor dealer, and brewery owner, who, whenhediedin1880,wastherichest IrishmaninPortland.
ItshouldbenotedthatKittywas calledMargaretLandanginginthis conviction. For reasons unknown, Kitty went by the names Margaret andCatherine.Allattemptstoascer¬ taintheoriginofthenickname“Kitty
Kentuck”haveprovedunsuccessful. OnJune30,1848,Kitty’shusband, PatrickLandrigin,whowasperhaps a common-law husband as no mar¬ riagerecordhasbeenlocated,was foundguiltyofmakingthreatsand orderedtokeepthepeace.Hewas finedandsenttojail.Alocalpaper, the WashingtonianJournal, wrote: “Thecomplainantwasthewifeofthe defendant-andsheaRumseller.”The CumberlandCountyJailCalendarof PrisonersrecordsthatPartrickLandrigan was arrested on a warrant from the Municipal Court on an assaultcomplaintbyMargaretLandriganonJune30,1848.Patrickwas listedasalaborer.Hewas‘condi¬ tionedtokeepthepeacetowardall thecitizensandespeciallyMargaret Landregin for the term of six months.’NomoreisheardofPatrick Landriganafterthis,butheprobably eventuallyleftKitty,astheirrelation¬ ship was obviously a rocky one. They could not be located in the 1850Portlandcensus.Sixmonths earlier,onJanuary8,1848,anadver¬ tisement, found under INFORMA¬ TION WANTED, appeared in the BostonPilot.Itseemslikelythatthis referstoKittyandherhusband,but proof goes wanting. The ad could explainwhylittleinformationcanbe foundonPatrick.ManyIrishimmi¬ grantshadbeenswallowedupbythe vastnessoftheNewWorld,andthe Pilot, aBostonIrishpaper,helped theIrishtotraceeachotherformore thanseventyyears.ManyIrishhus¬ bandsleftPortlandtoworkorlook forwork,leavingtheirwiveswaiting andwondering.Morethanafewnev¬ erreturned.PatrickLandriganre¬ turned,butperhapsnotforlong.The adread:
Of PA TRICK LANDERGAN, (mason),whoissupposedtobein Boston.Whenlastheardfromhewas inSt.John,N.Y.Hiswife,whoisvery sickatPortland,Maine,isanxiousto seeorhearfromhim.
InDecember1850,“Mrs.Catherine Landrigan,aliasKittyKentuck”was finedsixdollarsandthecostofthe prosecution,forsellingaglassof brandytoaboy.Thisisthefirst known time that her nickname is
Itwasduring1851thatKittyreally begantohaverun-inswiththelong armofthelaw.Itwasalsointhat yearthatshefirstacquiredproperty in Portland. On January 1, 1851, CatherineLandrigan,ofPortland,list¬ edasatrader,mortgagedapieceof land on Hancock Street from John Neal,acounsellor-at-law.Ofcourse thiswasnoneotherthantheJohn Neal(1793-1876),aPortlandauthor, editorandlawyer,andacousinto temperanceczarNealDow.Nealdis¬ charged the mortgage deed on August12,1852,havingreceivedpay¬ mentinfull($900)fromKitty.This obviously indicates that she was alreadyratherprosperousfromthe liquortrade.WealsolearnthatKitty wasilliterate,asshecouldnotsign hernameonthedeed,insteaddraw¬ ingasmallX.
InAugust1851,Kittywasconvict¬ edofsellingliquorafterthepolice hadseizedabarrelofstrongbeer, tengallonsofgin,andatengallon keg of brandy at her home. The cachewasordereddestroyed.Kitty paida$20fine.Alocalnewspaper, theEasternArgus,statedthatshe paidthebillpromptlyandthatshe was“elegantlydressedandlookedas though she had seen ‘good times’ lately.”ThepaperalsosaidthatJohn Neal,Esquire,hadappearedasher counsel,but,afterhearingtheevi¬ dence,hesaid“thathehadbeenmis¬ informedastotherealfactsbyhis fascinatingclient-thatshehadas¬ suredhimthatshehadnothingbut strongbeer,whichsheonlykeptfor theuseofherboarders.Mr.Neal gavehersomegoodadviceandwith¬ drewfromthecase.”Thisisnotthe lastweshallhearofMr.Neal.
The Portland papers, from the 1840son,arefilledwithstoriesof Irishrumsellersandbootleggers, drunkenIrishmenandwomenbrawl¬ inginthestreetsandathome,Irish children running amuck, usually stealingandcausinggeneralchaos, and unfortunate Irish immigrants whohadperishedinrailroadorcon¬ structionaccidents,haddrownedin theharbor,orhadbeenmutilatedat
theirfactoryjobs.Thepapersdid reportsimilarstoriesonotherfor¬ eignersandtoalesserextenton poorPortlandnatives,butforthe mostparttheyreveledinthemisfor¬ tunes and strange customs of the Irish.Theywerebiasedandoften exaggeratedtheactualincidents. Thisbegantochangebythe1870s, butitcontinuedincertaindegrees intothiscentury.
Kitty,nowrunningaboarding house, was convicted once againinOctoberof1851as “MargaretLandregan,aliasKit¬ tyKentuck.”Shewasfinedten dollarsforsellinghergoods.There werethosethatwouldcontendthat Kitty’sboardinghousewasinfacta brothel and her “boarders” were women of the night. James Mundy, inhisHardTimes,HardMen:Maine andtheIrish,writesthatshewas“the wifeofanIrishlaborer,knowntoher customersandthepolicealikeas “KittyKen-tuck...”Startingoutasa streetwalker,sheoperatedherown establishmentattheheightofher popularity.”
Justthreemonthslater,onJanuary 12,1852,sheagainappearedbefore thejudge.JohnNealwassecuredas herattorney.Despitehertrackre¬ cord,Nealbelievedherinnocence, andsoheandthreeofhisfriends signed the heavy bonds necessary under the Maine Law to permit an appeal.Nealwroteinhisautobiogra¬ phy, WanderingRecollectionsofA SomewhatBusyLife,that“Margaret Landrigan, a poor, but generous, kind-hearted Irish woman, was chargedbyadrunkenvagabondwith sellingliquor,becauseshewouldnot openherdoorstohim,butsentfor thepolice,andhadhimcarriedoffto thestation-house,where,underthe same execrable law, she was re¬ quiredtogivetwobonds,amounting tothreehundreddollars,withfour differentsureties,beforeanappeal wouldbeallowed...”Nealgoesonto statethatinsuchcasesappealsare deniedforty-ninetimesoutoffifty, and he warned Neal Dow that the vagabondhadbeenconvictedofper¬ jury in previous cases. Neal had securedhisbrother-in-lawandtwo personalfriendstoco-signthebond, whicheventuallyresultedinKitty’s
acquittal.
Mayor Neal Dow was not a happy man with this outcome. As James Mundy writes, “The Grand Poohbah oftemperance,NealDow,livedin Portland, and his name became a curseonIrishmen’slips.”Dow,the so-called‘ProphetofProhibition’, was the author of the highly ac¬ claimedMaineLaw,thefirsttrue prohibitionlawintheU.S.,passedin 1851.Thelawprohibitedthe manufactureandsaleof“spiritousorintoxicatingliquors” notintendedformechanical ormedicalpurposes.Amonth afterKitty’slatestconviction, Dow was honored at a ban¬ quetoftheill-fatedNational Temperance Society of the UnitedStates,inNewYork. The noted educator Horace Mann called Dow “the moral Columbus” and General Sam Houston presented Dow with alargegoldmedalforhiswork atthebanquet.Dow,ofcourse, was a highly esteemed mem¬ beroftheKnow-Nothings.
In March 1852, Dow, who hadbeenelectedtohisfirst termasPortland’smayorthe previousyear,wrote“agreat number of open rum shops were in existenceinallpartsofthecity; temptationstotheyoungandinex¬ perienced,aswellastothosewith depravedappetitesconfirmed,were spreadoutateverycorner;atthe presenttime,notonesuchplaceisin existenceamongus;thetemptation todrinkisentirelywithdrawn,and depravedappetiteforintoxicating liquors,cannowbegratifiedwithdif¬ ficulty—andonlyindarkandcon¬ cealedplacesonlyknowntoafew, andwhicharekeptonlybypersons ofthelowestandabjectcharacter.” NodoubtDowincludedKittyinthat group!Buthecouldnothavebeen morewrongwithhisstatements.As Mundy writes, “Dow’s overzealous enforcementofhisownlawhadlit¬ tle effect in retarding it.” Dow claimedthatonly“lowerordersof Irishmen”werestillrunninggrog shops.Indeed,hislawdrovemany moreIrishimmigrantsintoalifeas anillegalliquorsellerandmanyof themwouldriseupoutofpoverty
because of it, including the McGlinchyclanandtheirin-laws,the Bradleys, Deehans, Parkers, and O’Neals,allIrishimmigrants,many fromCountyDerry.Downeverreal¬ izedthatmanyIrishfamilieshada longtraditionofmakingalcoholille¬ gallyandconcealingitfromtheir oppressors,theEnglish,inoccupied Ireland.
Ananonymousletterappearedin the Maine Temperance Watchman soonafterKitty’sJanuary12thcon¬ viction,andJohnNealattributeditto hiscousinNealDow,whomhefeud¬ edwithmostofhislife.Theletter read:“Thisisthehardestcaseyet. Kittyhasbeenlongknownasamost accomplishedlady.Shelived,some timeago,inthesmallhouseatthe headofUnion-Wharf,whereshewas supposedtokeepboarders.Thecur¬ rentofherlifedidnotalwaysrun smooth, for the watch was some¬ timescalledtogiveheraid.Sheafter¬ wardmovedtothegenteelandairy residenceattheheadofHancockStreet,whereshehaskeptavery respectablehouse,wellknowntoall thepoliceandwatch,as‘KittyKentuck’s’.Shehashadsomelittletrou¬ bleintherumsellingline,buthas made many friends, particularly amongthebravesailors,whotoast hercharmsineveryclime.LastMon¬ day,shewasupbeforetheMunicipal Courtforsellingalittleliquorforthe stomach’ssake.HisHonorthought
sheoughttopaytwentydollars,and costs,butcertaingentlementhought not;andMessrs.JohnNeal,W.H. Pringle,JamesW.Winslow,andDr. Cummings of Park Street were her sureties.”
Inapublisheddefenselater,Neal Dowdidnotdisclaimresponsibility fortheletter.JohnNealimmediately pennedaresponsetotheletterand sentittotheWatchman. When they refusedtoprintit,hesentittothe PortlandAdvertiser.Hestatesthat thesuretiesaforementionedwerehis personalfriend’s,notKitty’s.They agreedtoco-signwithNealbecause theytrustedhim.Healsowritesthat oneofthetwowitnesseswhotesti¬ fiedagainstKittylateradmittedthat hebelievedhiscompanionhadlied and that he was only going along withhim.Nealassertedthat“thisis notthefirsttimethatthispoor womanhasbeenconvictedupontes¬ timonyofaverysuspiciouscharac¬ ter,tosaytheleast...”
WhatwasKittyKentuckreallylike? Wassheacharmingandstillrather attractivevixenofaPortlandbawdy house, her own bawdy house, as Dowclaimed?JohnNealthoughtor knewotherwise,ashewritesinhis autobiography,“thefactsbeingthat
PerhapsthefullstoryofJohnNeal and Kitty Kentuck might never be discovered.
Neal Dow seems to have had the finalwordonthematter,however, whenhewrote,“KittyKentuckisan Irish woman who for years kept a notoriousgroggery,whichhasgiven thepolicemoretroublethananyoth¬ erplaceinPortland.1shallnotquar¬ relwithMr.Nealonheraccount.I amnotaccustomedtodobattlein thecauseofsuchpersonages,and leavethefieldentirelytohim.”
Bythemid-1850sKittymusthave grownlonely,forshestartedtoseea youngmarinernamedGeorgeTouro, who was either an immigrant from FranceorItaly,dependingonwhich referenceyoubelieve:the1860cen¬ susofPortland,ortherecordinthe marriageregisterofSt.Dominic’s Church.Toconfusemattersevenfur¬ ther,thesurnameTouroissaidtobe Portugueseinorigin,andanAbra¬ ham Touro, called a Spanish Jew, was a prominent Boston business¬ manintheearly1800s.Kittyand George were married on June 16, 1857,inthepresenceofDennisHick¬ eyandEllenO’Mara.Shewasthen47 yearsold,twentyyearsolderthan
hernewhusband!
Ayearlaterthenewcouplewere residingatthefootofUnionStreet.In May1858,CatherineTouro,“other¬ wise called Margaret Touro,” and George Touro conveyed their Han¬ cockStreetpropertytoJabezWood¬ man. The deed stated that the propertywas“thesameconveyedto Catherine Touro, by the name of
The 1860 Portland census lists CatherineTouroasage50,bornIre¬ land, George Touro, age 30, born France, a mariner, and Michael Callaghan,age22,boilermaker,born Maine.Kitty’spersonalestatewas only$200,buttheworthofherreal estatewasestimatedat$4000.OF Kittyhadcomealongwayfromher daysasapoorgreenhornservinga glass of brandy here and there. Between1851andtheearly1860s, Kittyappears14timesaseithera grantororgranteeintheCumber¬ landCountyRegistryofDeeds. James Mundy writes that “Kitty appearedincourtforliquorviola¬ tionsandforrunningahouseofillfame” throughout the rest of the 1850s.Bytheearly1860s“itwasKit¬ ty’sfeeblemindedandviciousson whobegantoshowupinthepolice recordsforvariouspettycrimes...” Mundy continued. He was called Michael Landergan when he was
fined$3.00andcostsforassaulton April 19, 1858. Local historian WilliamB.JordansaysthatMichael wasemployedinthegasworks,and wasonceovercomewithgas,which resultedinpermanentbraindamage. By1863Kittywasstillresidingat22 HancockStreet.Shecontinuedtosell the“crittur”or“cratur,”Irisheu¬ phemisms for hard alcohol. Her “place,”accordingtonewspapers,be¬ cameadenofthelowestclassof characters.Thepolicepaidfrequent visitstoquellfightsorsearchfor liquor.Bythistimetheyearshad caughtuptoKittyKentuckandshe indulgedherselfmorefrequentlyin herliquor,consumingwhiskeybot¬ tlesonaregularbasis.
Whiskey, or Uisce beathadh, the “wateroflife”inIrish,destroyedKit¬ tyintheend.
OnJuly4,1866,agreatfireswept throughthecityofPortland,con¬ sumingalmosteverythinginitspath, includingKitty’shome.Mostofthe citywasleftinruins,andtheIrish wereseverelyaffected.JohnGlea¬ son,animmigrantfromthewestof Ireland,wasburnedoutofhisYork Streetresidence,andfounddead“of extreme exhausture.” Many of the Irishlosteverything,includingtheir pigs and chickens. Kitty, with nowhereelsetoturn,erectedashan¬ tyin“theBight,”apoverty-stricken areaofHancockStreetnearwhere heroldhousehadstood.
ManyIrish,theirpossessionsgone, roamedthestreetsinsearchofany¬ thingthatsurvivedthefirethat mightbringthemalittlemoney.And many of these same Irish were in turn brought to court for theft. MichaelFlahertytookironfromthe ruinsoftheFoxblockandwassent tojailfor30days.JohnandCharles O’Nealwerearrestedfor“larcenyof asextantandotherarticles,more than$100worth...”Onewondersif Kittywasalsoascavengerofthe ruins.Didsheloseeverythinginthe fire?ItseemslikelythatKittydidn’t havemuchtolosebythistimeany¬ way.
Kitty Kentuck was found dead on thefloorofhershantyonaSaturday morning, September 15, 1866. Her obituaryintheSeptember17thedi-
tionoftheEasternDailyArgusread:
“A NOTED CHARACTER DEAD-Mrs. CatharineTuro,orCalahan,alias “KittyKentuck”wasfounddead... Thereweremarksofviolenceupon herperson.Herson,MichaelCala¬ han,wasthefirstpersontogive informationofherdeathatthepolice office.Hisstatementswerenotwhol¬ lyclear...anditbeingknowntothe officersthatheandhismotherquar¬ reledfrequently,hewastakeninto custody...”Nomentionismadeof George Touro, who was perhaps at seaorhadlefthiswifebythistime.
A jury was immediately impannelledbyCoronerS.D.Hallwhich consistedofsixprominentPortland men.TheJurorswereinsessionfor anentireday.Itwasrevealedthat Michael Callahan had abused and beatenhismotherontwooccasions adayortwobeforeherdeathand thatshehadcomplainedaboutit. Thenightofherdeath,Kittywas “verydrunk...havingdrunkhalfapint ofwhiskeyatonedrought....”Herson wasalsoveryinebriatedthatnight andthetwoofthemhadbeeninthat conditionforthelastseveralnights. Thejuryissuedaverdictattheend oftheday.TheyconcludedthatKitty had“metherdeathfromexcessive useofintoxicatingliquorsandfrom abuseandbeatingbyherson...”
Callahan remained in custody to awaitanexaminationbeforeJudge BenjaminKingsbury.
The only Afghan Restaurant in Maine is conveniently located downtown at 419 Congress Street,wheretheHabibzaifamilybringstraditional AfghancuisinetoPortlandusingingredientssuch as Basmati rice, lamb, chicken, beef, spinach, eggplant,greenbeans,andpumpkin.Theresults— includingmanyvegetariandishes—aredeliciousbut nottoospicy,andattractpatronsfromasfaraway as Boston and Bangor. Bring your own wine and beertocomplementmealsthathaveearned3-1/2 starsoutoffourandthe“BestEthnicFood"award from CBW. Cateringandtake-outareavailable,and mostmajorcreditcardsareaccepted.773-3431.
The Audubon Room at the Inn by the Sea on Route77inCapeElizabethcombinesbreathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean with culinary masterpiecesthatfeaturefreshlocalproduce, native seafood specialties, and exceptional homemade breads and desserts prepared on the premises. Some house favorites include Grilled SalmonwithanOrangeBasilVinaigrette,Sautbed Oysters with Porcini and Champagne, and Lemon CustardTartwithMaineBlueberries.Patiodining andcarry-outavail-able.767-0888.
Situatedinanhistoricstoneandbrickbuilding designed by Frederick Law Olmstead of Central Park fame, the BarkingSquirrelCafe offers patronsawarmfireandarelaxingsettingbythe fountaininPortland’sDeeringOaksPark,inviting comparisontoNewYork’srenownedTavernonthe Green. Open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch,dinner,Sundaybrunch,andtake-out,the BarkingSquirrelservesabroadvarietyoftrad¬ itional.vegetarian,seafood,andworldcuisineat veryaffordableprices($1.50onup).Enjoythehuge outdoorbarbecuepitforlobsterandclambakesin summertime. FREE Green Mountain coffee 7:3010:30a.m.!774-5514.
CateStroudwater, locatedintheEmbassySuites Hotel at the Portland Jetport, specializes in Americanbistrocuisinewithanemphasisonnative seafood and prime cuts of meat, but it is Chef WilliamBoutwell'screativetouches—likeshrimp andlobsterNapoleonwithgrilledeggplant,goat cheese, and red peppers served over a tomato coulis—thatmakethisdiningexperiencelikeno otherinPortland.Inadditiontoaspectacular Sundaybrunch,theCafealsoofferswinedinners, Portland’sonlyChef'sTable,andafineselectionof locallybrewedbeers.Forreservationscall7750032.
AtDavid'sRestaurantyou cansamplefour-star entriesfeaturingfarm-freshproduceandnative products like seafood sausage, sesame and coriandercrustedtuna,orgoatcheesepacketswith grilled vegetables (773-4340). David’satthe OysterClub, setinaconvertedopen-airmarket building,boastsanabundantrawbar,20varietiesof seafood, lobster, fresh pasta, microbrews, and
Youcan’tbeatthelocationof DiMillo’sFloating Restaurant at25LongWharfoffCommercialStreet forfabulouswaterviewsofPortlandHarbor.Escape fromthehustleandbustleofthecitybywatching theboatsgobyasyouenjoyfreshMainelobster served year-round, steak, seafood dishes, and more.Open7daysaweekfrom11a.m.to11p.m., withachildren’smenuavailable.Fordrinksanda lightermenu,trytheirPortsideLounge.772-2216.
Welcome to F. ParkerReidy’s, siteoftheoriginal PortlandSavingsBankbuiltin1866at83Exchange Street.Establishedin1976duringtherenaissance oftheOldPortarea,F.ParkerReidy’shasbecome aPortlandfinediningtradition,specializinginsteaks andfreshseafood,butalsoofferingpasta,chicken, andsalads,withprimeribfeaturedonweekends. Turn-of-the-centurydecor,personalizedservice, and great food create a warm and congenial at¬ mospherepopularforbothbusinessandintimate dining.773-4731.
DeepintheheartofthemysteriousWoodfordsarea at 540 Forest Avenue is the GreatLostBear, whereyou’llfindafullbarfeaturingover50(that's right,five-o)draughtbeers,predominantlyfromlocal micro-breweries.Accompanyingthemisanenor¬ mousmenuwitheverythingfromsoups,salads,and sandwichestosteaksandribs,aswellasalarge vegetarian selection and the best nachos and buffalowingsintown.Discoverwherethenatives gowhenthey'rerestless!Servingfrom11:30a.m.to 11:30p.m.sevendaysaweek.772-0300.Visitus on-lineat:http://www.ime.net/bear/
Iguana Bay Mexican restaurant is the area’s newest source of contemporary Tex-Mex south¬ westerncuisine.Convenientlylocatedonlyminutes northofPortlandinthePortlandAthleticClubat196 Route1inthebeautifulcoastaltownofFalmouth, Iguana Bay is open seven days a week from 11 a.m.to11p.m.,withbrunchfrom11a.m.to2p.m. onSunday.Housespecialtiesincludechilirellenos, shreddedbeefburritos,margaritas,micro-brews, andspecialtytequilas.HappyHouris4-6p.m.Mon¬ daythroughSaturday.781-5308.
breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Reservations ac¬ cepted.774-4200.
Voted“BestPizzainMaine"since1990bythe PPH and CBW, Ricetta’sBrickOvenPizzeria istrulya tasteoftheOldCountry.M.E.Curlyofthe PPH raves:“Ricetta’sisarguablythebestpizzawestof Rome."Dine-in,take-out,delivery,andcateringare available,andtheall-you-can-eatgourmetlunch buffetincludespizzas,pastas,soups,andsalads.A fullselectionofbeerandwineisavailable,andkids eat FREE on Mondays from 3 p.m. till closing. Located at 29 Western Avenue, South Portland. 775-77400.
SaigonThinhThanh, 608CongressStreet,Port¬ land.JustacrossCongressSquarefromtheState Theatre and the Portland Museum of Art is Maine’s—and probably New England’s—finest Vietnameserestaurant.Four-star,spicy,exotic tastesjumpfromthedeliciousfish,pork,shrimp, andscallopdishesthatincludeVegetableSateRice Vermicelli,BeanCurdwithGarlicRiceVermicelli, ScallopswithSnowPeas,andextraordinarycurries andspecials.773-2932.
Freshlobsters,shellfish,salmon,andlocalfishhave beenspecialtiesatthehistoric Seamen’sClub for overthreegenerations,whileagedbeef,primerib, quiches,freshpasta,vegetarianandsouthwestern selections,home-bakedbreadsanddesserts,and freshfruitsandvegetablesroundoutthemenu.The best weekend brunches on the planet include soups,turkeysandwiches,andsalads,andafullbar isalwaysavailable.TheLunchand“Lite"menusare servedfrom11a.m.to11p.m.inacomfortable settingoverlookingtheharborat1ExchangeStreet and375ForeStreetinthehuboftheOldPort.Call 772-7311.Faxorders:761-4444.Noroomcharges everforbanquetsandmeetings:773-3333.
TabithaJean’sRestaurant at 94 FreeStreetoffers youzestyAmericanregionalcuisineinacasual setting that is handicapped accessible and convenienttotheStateTheatre,theCivicCenter, andthedowntownartsdistrict.Theirfreshseafood, pasta,vegetariandishes,grilledentries,home¬ madedesserts,andextensivewineselectionre¬ ceivedanenthusiasticfour-and-a-half-starrating from MaineSundayTelegram. Validatedparkingis available.780-8966.
CourtQualityInsurance&EstateAppraisals•EstateAuctionService• AlwaysPurchasingQualityAntiquesIncluding:FineJewelry,Silver,Art, Clocks,Furniture,China&Accessories.Bonded&LicensedinMaine, Mass. & Florida • Member of MADA, MAA, NEAA, NWCA & ANA
Pr. “At peak periods our receptionistcan’tanswerallourcalls inatimelyfashion.”
Pi, ‘Tm constantly on the move. How do I keep from missing calls?"
Probr "Whenever I'm on one call and a second call rings in, my secretary has to come into my office and pass me a note. Isn't there a better way?"
Problem: “There are times when I'm withavisitor,orinameetingand can’tbedisturbed.I'dliketobeable toletpeopleknowthatI'minthe office,andwhenI'llbeavailable.”
Solution: Let us show you how advanced, digital technology can significantly improve your business communications.
Chocolate Church Arts Center, 804 WashingtonStreet,Bath.At7:30p.m.on Friday,December13,NowellSingWeClear presentsahumorous,musicalhistoryof Christmastraditionsfrompagantimesin BritaintothepresentinNorthAmerica(tickets are$13inadvanceand$15atthedoor).Next upistheannualconcertbySchoonerFare, Maine’smostpopularfolkgroup,at7:30p.m. onSaturday,January4(tickets$16/$18).Call 442-8455.'
Jonathan’s Upstairs, 2 Bourne Lane, Ogunquit,willbehostingaNewYear’sEve dinnerandparty'withmusicprovidedbythe ShirleyLewisBluesBandfrom8p.m.on Tuesday, December 31 to 2 a.m. on Wednesday,January1.Call646-4777for tickets(pricesstillTBA).
Maine Historical Society Gallery, 489 CongressStreet,Portland,iscurrentlyhosting threeexhibitionsonthehistoryofNative Americancaningandbasket-makinginMaine. “Growth Rings: 200 Years of Wabanaki Basketry',Carving,andEnterprise"examines howMaine’sNativeAmericanpeopleshave madeandmarketedtheirartsfrom1790tothe present.“TreeandTradition:BrownAshand Maine Native American Basket Making” displaysmorethan50antiqueandmodern basketsbyMaliseet,Micmac,Passamaquoddy, andPenobscotbasket-makers.“Spiritsinthe Wood:PenobscotandPassamaquoddyRoot Clubs”featuresover30oftheselittle-known artifactsthatevolvedfromweaponstoobjectsof beauty(allthroughMarch1997).TheCallery isopenWednesday-Saturdayfromnoonto4 p.m.Admissionis$2foradultsand$1for childrenunder12.Forfurtherinfonnation,call 879-0427.
Wadsworth-1ongfellowHouse,487Congress Street,Portland,childhoodhomeofthepoet HenryWadsworthLongfellow,isbedeckedfor theholidayswithauthentic19th-century Christmasdecorationsandantiquegames, dolls,teddybears,sleds,andothertoysthat Victorianchildrenhopedtofindundertheir Christmas trees. Open 1 I am.-5 p.m. ThursdaysandSundays,and11a.m.-7p.m. FridaysandSaturdaysthroughDecember16. Admissionis$5foradultsand$1forchildren. Forfurtherinfonnation,call879-0427.
■ LISTINGS ■
Children’s Museum of Maine, 142 Free Street,Portland.Thefuniscontagiousatthe “H/MHA!HzMlaughterAroundtheWorld” exhibit,whereyoucanlearnonceandforall justwhatthedifferenceisbetweenasnicker andachortle;havejourownguffawsmeasured byalaughometer;depositandwithdrawknock¬ knocks,riddles,andtongue-twistersatthejoke bank;ortrymakinganaudiencerollinthe aislesbygettingbehindthemikeatthecomedy circus (through September 1997). Open Wednesday-Saturday10-5,Sunday12-5,and thefirstFridayeveningofever)'month5-8(free admission).zYdmissionis$4perperson.For recordedinformationcall828-1234.
MaineCollegeofArt’sBaxterGallery,619 CongressStreet,Portland.“GeniusLoci:A SenseofPlace”bringstogetherworksby regionalpaintersAlixS.C.Bacon,Sarah Barnum, Margaret McCahn, John Jacobsmeycr, John Schmidt Berger, and Alexandra McGovern tlrat reflect the interconnectednessofmemory,nature,and culture(throughDecember15).Freeandopen tothepublicTuesday-Sunday11-4and Thursday11-9.Formoreinfonnation,call7755152.
Osher Map Library, Smith Center for CartographicEducation,314ForestAvenue, Portland“TheCartographicCreationofNew England”chroniclestheevolutionofthe region’schangingidentityandconflicting place-namesviamapsdatingfromtheearliest Europeanexplorationsofthecoastthrough post-CivilWarhuntingexpeditionsledby NativeAmericanguidesinthebackwoods (throughz\pril27,1997).LibraryhoursareI4:30p.m.and6-8p.m.onWednesday;9a.m.12:30p.m.and1-4:30p.m.onThursday;and9 am.-12:30p.m.onSaturday.zXdmissionisfree. Call780-4850.
UniversityofSouthernMaineArtGallery,37 College Avenue, Gorham. “Representing Holocaust” by Judy Ellis Glickman and JonathanSharlinwillbeondisplaythrough December20intheUSMzXrtCallery.“Being Heard:theStrength,Courage,andAIDSof WinnieMacDonald”featuresphotographsby JimDanielsandrunsthroughDecember13in thePortlandCampusCenter.Caller)’hours: Tuesday-Saturday11-3orbyappointment(free admission).Call780-5409.
BowdoinCollegeMuseumofz\rt,Brunswick Iliegalleriesareopen10a.m.-5p.m.TuesdaySaturday and 2-5 p.m. on Sunday (free admission).Call725-3275.
Maine Maritime Museum, 243 Washington Street,Bath.“TankersandTramps”traces Maine’shistoryofbuildingocean-going steamships(throughSpring1997).“ASeaGoingDynasty:thePattensofBath”focuseson Batla’sfirstshipbuildingfamilyandtheirlarge fleetofmerchantsailingships(throughMay 18, 1997). “Seafaring from Old Bath” chroniclestheshipsandshipbuildersofthe Kennebec River from the end of the Napoleonic Wars until 1860 (ongoing). Museum hours are 9:30-5:00 every day. Admissionis$7.50foradults,$4.75forchildren 6-17,and$21forafamilyofatleast2adults and2childrenFordetailscall443-1316.
Comedy Connections, 454 Fore Street, Portland,mightbeagoodplacetotestout ReadersDigest ’sassertionthat“LaughterIsthe BestMedicine”forwhateverailsyou.'Ilie126scatOldPortclubissetupcabaretstyleand bringsnationalcomicheadlinersfromallover thecountrytoPortlandeveryweekendat8:50 p.m.onThursdayandSunday(tickets$6),at9 p.m.onFriday($8)andat8p.m.and10p.m. onSaturday($8).Thewaitstaffsenesdrinks andappetizerswhileperformerssuchas AnthonyClark,JonathanKatz,DaveFitz¬ gerald,MariaFalzonc,EddieBrill,EdRegine, Mike McDonald, Mike Donvan, and Bob Sommerby(whoonceroomedwithAlGore andTommyLeeJones)struttheirstuffon stage.Call774-5554fortickets.
UniversityofSouthernMaineSouthworth Planetarium,96FalmouthStreet,Portland. TakeatriptothestarswithoutleasingPortland! EveryFridayandSaturdaynightat7p.m. there’sanastronomyshow,followedbyalaser lightconcertat8:50p.m.;andonSaturday afternoonsat5p.m.thereareFamilyAs¬ tronomy Shows such as "Mr. Man in the Moon,"“TheLittleStarThatCould,”andSky Friends.”Theexhibitarea,whichcontains interactivecomputers,spaceart,andvideo displays,isopentothepublicTuesday-Friday from9am.to5p.m.atnocharge.Ticketsfor eithereveningshoware$4foradultsand$5for children,students,andseniors;ticketsforboth eveningshowsare$7/$5;andticketsfor matineesarc$5foreveryone.Forcurrentshow titles(theyrotateweekly),call780-4249.
Thenewmaterialsandtechniquesavailable allow'ustochangethecolor,shapeorsizeof yourteeth-manytimesinonly one appointment. Calltoday'andaskusabout bleaching,bonding,crowns,implants andveneers.
£ Sugarloaf/USA
||LocatedinCarrabassettValley,theheartoftheWestern iT Mountains of Maine, Mountain Valley Property is a fullservicerentalagencyofferinganexclusiveselectionof HLlodgingintheSugarloafarea.OuronetofivebedroomonHmountainpropertiesofferskiersskiin,skiout,convenience ■witheasyaccesstoSugarloafUSA’sskitrails,lifts,andthe fl alpine village*|We also offer affordable off-mountain Hhomes—aquietalternativetothebusyhuboftheresort. ■ Call now to reserve vour ski vacation. i a Formoreinformationabout ourwideselectionofexclusive projXTties.pleasecallourofficeat: (80(9)435-7162or(207)235-2560 3
• Discounted heating oil prices 75.9 cents/gallon—30 day cash price)
• Accounting/bookkeeping services .
•Tenantrelations
Improve your cash flow by letting a professionalhandleallaspects of managing your property
Call A.M.S for hassle free property management guaranteed
This English Tudor Style offers eleven rooms,fourbathroomfacilities,atwocar garage, 422' of saltwater frontage—all for $545,000 — including five acres of WestportPrivacy.OnehourfromPortland.
ROY FARMER ASSOCAITES
Maine Street, po box 267 Wiscasset, ME 04578 PHONE (207) 882-7357
CAESAR SALAD with red chili croutons .$3.95 with mesquite grilled chicken .$5.95
QUESADILLAmolechicken,BBQonions,grilledcorn,goat&jackcheese, accompanied by a salsa fresca .$5.95
TAMALE OF THE DAY served with salsa .$5.95
PAN FRIED SHRIMP CAKES complimented with black bean chipotle garlic ragout .$5.95
ARTICHOKE HEARTS stuffed with cashews, chicken & southwestern peppper dressing.$5.95
DEVILS ON HORSEBACK!! grilled scallops wrapped in proscuitto and leeks served with fresh melon mint salsa.$5.95
ASSORTED GREEN SALAD with house dressing.$2.95
Dinners
GRILLED SALMON with a chile corn sauce .$13.95
SAUTEED PORK TENDERLOIN complimented with black bean pineapple salsa, served with potato & vegetable.$14.95
ZUNIBURRITOwithroastedvegetables,blackbeans,riceandajackandgoatcheeseblend. Served with lettuce, salsa and sour cream.$9.95 with roasted chicken .$11.95
PAN BLACKENED CHICKEN wrapped in a flour tortilla with salad greens, ancho mayonaisse and chili pepper cole slaw.$10.95
PASTA OF THE DAY .Market Price
BAKED CORN TORILLA CASSEROLE layered with roasted vegetables, black beans, cilantro pesto, blended cheeses and ancho chili garlic sauce. Served with rice and beans.$8.95
