June 20, 2011
The Bicylcle Coalition of Maine’s Annual Pizza Party and Fundraiser
Love riding your bike? Love Pizza? Come down to Flatbread Pizza Co. on June 21st to get your fix of both. Flatbread Pizza Co is located at 72 Commercial St in Portland. It will be the host of this years Coalition of Maine’s Annual Pizza Party and Fundraiser. The event will begin at 5pm and continue until 9pm. A portion from the proceeds of every pizza sold will be donated to the Bicycle Coalition of Maine. This even includes takeout! 1$ from every beer sold will be donated by Shipyard Brewing Co. The Bicycle Coalition of Maine was formed in 1992. The coalition main focus is to make Maine a better place to bicycle in. It has helped Maine become the 3rd best state to bike in. The coalition also offers different classes on bike safety and education. They also provide different classes and events for people of all ages to participate in and become healthier.
Love participating in events like this? While your in Portland why not stop by Festiva Adventure Club located at 190 Riverside St. Festiva Adventure Club has been around for over 10 years and has the experience you can trust. Call 1(888)695-0200 to set up a reservation today and see just how much Festiva can save your family on your next vacation.
June 19, 2011
June is EVERYTHING month!
June is Bike Month! It is also Dairy Month, National Safety Month, Potty Training Awareness Month, Adopt-A-Cat Month, American Rivers Month, National Ice Tea Month, Great Outdoors Month, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month, Zoo and Aquarium Month and so many more it’s just silly.
June does have a lot to offer, nice weather, the first day of summer, long daylight hours, it’s really not bad.
Here are 10 fun facts about our month of June that are a little obscure, quirky, or that you can’t believe you didn’t know already.
- The gemstones for June are the pearl, alexandrite, and moonstone.
- Charles Goodyear was granted a patent for rubber vulcanization, June 15, 1844.
- June 9, 1934 is Donald Duck’s Birthday.
- June only had 29 days originally.
- “A swarm of bees in May is worth a load of hay, A swarm of bees in June is worth a silver spoon, A swarm of bees in July is not worth a fly”
- June 30th is Mike Tyson’s birthday.
- No other month begins on the same day of the week as June.
- The First Friday in June is National Doughnut Day! Both Dunkin Donuts and Krispy Kreme celebrate by giving away free donuts.
- June in the Northern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent to December in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa.
- In Iceland, folklore says that if you bathe naked in the morning dew on the morning of June 24, you are supposed to keep aging at bay for longer. Ironically, June 24th in the United States is UFO Day.
If you love going out and enjoying everything April has to offer, stop by Festiva Adventure Club and check out how we can help you travel for cheaper. Ask one of our Festiva Hospitality Travel Agents how they can get your family to take luxury vacations while still respecting your budget. As a thank you for stopping in, you will receive gifts like Irving gas cards, DVD players, and a chance to win $15, 000! More information can be found at www.festiva.travel.
June 18, 2011
Cake Batter Chocolate Bark
Got a sweet tooth?
I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited to share a recipe with you. Or to lick a bowl. The secret ingredient here? You may think I’m crazy… but it’s a spoonful of actualcake mix. All you must do is whisk it well into the melted white chocolate. Best decision ever. And don’t worry about “what to do with the rest of the cake mix.” Store it for later. Make more bark. Make cake-mix cookies. Eat it off a spoon. Bake a cake. Mail it to me.
Just don’t not make this because you’re worried about the extra cake mix. It’s simply a detail.
The truth is, I’ve never been much of a “bark” person. I think barks tend to be beautiful, colorful, and make fabulous gifts, but I’m not really interested in eating my chocolate with nuts and fruit. I decided yesterday that I was going to make some form of chocolate bark, but I knew it had to be different. Not plain, old, boring bark.
Then later, my friend came over with some cake batter ice cream to share, and I had my answer: cake batter! I also didn’t want to just make white chocolate bark. This baby needed a little more personality. More spunk. More flavor. More richness. More calories. More reason to buy new bigger pants.
So I added a dark chocolate layer too.
How to make Cake Batter Chocolate Bark
6 ounces high quality dark chocolate (I used Lindt 70%)
12 ounces high quality white chocolate (I used Lindt)
3 teaspoons yellow cake mix
3 tablespoons (or more!) sprinkles of your choice
Melt dark chocolate either in the microwave or a double boiler. For shiny chocolate, read about tempering your choclate. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and pour chocolate on. You can smooth it with a spatula to the thickness you desire. Stick in the freeze for 20 minutes.
Melt white chocolate. Whisk in cake mix slowly, stirring well until no lumps remain. Let it set for 3 full minutes (or at least until it slightly thickens). Remove baking sheet with chocolate from the freezer and immediately pour white chocolate on top. Sprinkle on sprinkles. Freeze for 20 minutes.
Once set, break into chunks. Keep refrigerated if there is any leftover. And I really mean IF.
Love food from all over, especially sweets? Wish you could travel to new places and try new foods like Creme Brulee from France and Swiss hot cocoa? Why not stop by Festiva Adventure Club, check out our log cabin in the city, and hear about our great deals on our Members Only Vacation Packages? Ask one of our Festiva Hospitality Travel Agents how they can get your family to take vacations while still respecting your budget. More information can be found at www.festiva.travel. Maybe your next dessert will be gelato from Italy.
June 17, 2011
Relay For Life
Have you donated to Relay For Life yet this year? 
Festiva has!
We have been collecting donations to give to Relay For Life by having Hawaiian Day and Dress Down Day. Each employee paid a dollar for the right to dress in a Hawaiian themed outfit back in April. This past May, we had a dress down day, where the employees all wore jeans, flip flops and anything comfortable they wanted. We also had a barbecue! That’s what weekends are about, right? Needless to say, it was a hit!
What is Relay For Life?
The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event that gives everyone in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay, teams of people camp out at a local high school, park, or fairground and take turns walking or running around a track or path. Each team is asked to have a representative on the track at all times during the event. Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length. Although every Relay For Life is different, there are certain traditions at all Relays, no matter where they are held. These traditions help participants celebrate, remember, and fight back.
Where is Relay For Life held?
Relay For Life will happen at many different Maine locations: Auburn, Caribou, Brunswick, Waterville, Farmingotn, South Portland, Ellsworth, Millinocket, Machias, Camden, Orono, Windham, Gorham, Rumford, Skowhegan, Wells, Oxford and Calais. Find one near you and help join the fight against cancer. You can walk in the relay or just lend you support financially or in person at the event.
Though Festiva is just a hop over the bridge to South Portland, many of our employees here at the Portland location live near or in the Sebago Lakes Region, so Festiva Portland is lending it’s support to the Windham location this year. We are very excited to be a part of such a great event.
The event in Wi
ndham, ME will have donation raising events on site aside from the walking. There will be race car photo opportunities, glow in the dark bracelets and other handmade jewelry for sale, slices of pizza, hot dogs and cupcakes to purchase, hair extensions and nail painting and more! Check Cancer.org for your local Relay For Life event to see what events will be happening near you!
Stop by Festiva Adventure Club, check out our log cabin in the city, and hear about our great deals on our Members Only Vacation Packages. Ask one of our Festiva Hospitality Travel Agents how they can get your family to take vacations while still respecting your budget. More information can be found at www.festiva.travel. Maybe your next seafood dinner will be overlooking Oahu.
June 16, 2011
The Best Pavlova
Pavlova. Ever heard of it? It is an Australian dessert with a meringue base, topped with fresh cream and fruit. This is a recipe that I have experimented with and all my friends and family say it’s the best pavlova they’ve ever tasted. So make your own and dig it. It’s light and refreshing for a nice summer’s day!
Ingredients
- 3 egg whites
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1 pint fresh strawberries
Directions
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Draw a 9 inch circle on the parchment. An easy way to do this is to draw around the outside of a 9 inch pan with a pencil.
- In a large bowl, beat egg whites on high speed until soft peaks form. Add 3/4 cup of the sugar gradually, while continuing to whip. Make sure sugar is completely dissolved. Mix together the remaining 1/4 cup sugar with the cornstarch; lightly fold into meringue with lemon juice.
- Spread a layer of meringue to fit circle on parchment, approximately 1/4
inch thick. With remainder of mixture, pipe or spoon swirls around the edges to form a shallow bowl shape. - Bake at 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) for 1 hour. Turn off oven, but leave meringue in oven for an additional 30 minutes. When cool, the meringue should be hard on the outside, and slightly moist on the inside.
- In a large bowl, combine the cream and half a cup of confectioners sugar, and whip until thickened. Decorate with fruit of your choice; strawberries are excellent, some people will add kiwi, raspberries, or blueberries. The possibilities are limitless.
Love food from all over the world, like this Australian classic? Wish you could 
travel to new places and try new cuisine? Why not stop by Festiva Adventure Club, check out our log cabin in the city, and hear about our great deals on our Members Only Vacation Packages? Ask one of our Festiva Hospitality Travel Agents how they can get your family to take vacations while still respecting your budget. More information can be found at www.festiva.travel. Maybe your next gourmet dinner will be overlooking the island of Oahu.
June 15, 2011
Kids Open Studios: Portrait Printing
Bring a friend and come make printed portraits with us!
This open studio workshop at SPACE gallery will be led by local art teacher Ashley Shoukimas. We will be experimenting with relief and hand burnishing printing techniques while using Acrylic inks to create colorful, textural portraits. This workshop is fun, easy and you get to bring home your printing plate to continue experimenting as much as you like.
Workshop is Saturday June 18th Drop in 2:00-4:00pm, $5/free members. Suggested age is 3 and up.
Love having fun with your children? Wish you could go out and have fun more 
often? Why not stop by Festiva Adventure Club. Located at 190 Riverside St in Portland. View a quick 120 minute presentation. Festiva has been around for over 10 years and has the experience to provide your family with the best vacation possible for less. Call Festiva today to set up a reservation at 1(888)695-0200!
June 14, 2011
The Excelsior Cornet Band
Are you a history fan? Come down to Peaks Island’s Memorial Building Friday June 17th or Saturday the 18th and see The Excelsior Cornet Band. The Excelsior Cornet Band is an authentic Civil War Brass Band. If you want to experience a historical evening out, this is the band to see. The band is made up of experienced musicians who have played in a mix of genres. The experience and enthusiasm of these musicians really makes the band one to see! Everything from the music that they will be playing to their uniforms are authentic. The instruments they play are even from the civil war era. The band preforms in replicas of the 1890′s New York militia’s uniforms. Tickets for Friday’s show will be 4$ for children and 7$ for adults. Saturday’s tickets will be 10$ per person and 15$ per family. Showtime for both shows will be 8pm.
Love going out and experiencing life? While you are in the Portland are why not stop by Festiva Adventure Club. Festiva is located at 190 Riverside St in Portland. Festiva Adventure Club has been around for more than 10 years. Festiva knows how to provide your family with the best vacation options for less. They also have the experience you can trust. Call 1(888)695-0200 today to set up a reservation.
June 13, 2011
Fan of Seinfeld?
Are you a Jerry Seinfeld fan and want the opportunity to see him in action? Come down to the Merrill Auditorium and watch Jerry preform his stand up live! Don’t know much about Jerry Seinfeld? I bet you’ve seen at least one episode of the hit show Seinfeld that ran from 1989 to 1998? He was the star! Jerry is best known for his observational comedy. The show was a semi fictional version of his own life. It always started with just a tid bit of his standup. Tickets for the show have been on sale since March 25 so they may be limited. Ticket pricing for the event ranges from 56$ to 86$ depending on where you want to sit. Jerry will be preforming Thursday June 16. The show will start at 7pm.
Love going out and experiencing new events? While your in Portland why not stop by Festiva Adventure Club located at 190 Riverside St. Festiva Adventure Club has been around for over 10 years and has the experience you can trust. Festiva can provide you and your family with the best vacation possible for less! Call 1(888)695-0200 to set up a reservation today!
June 12, 2011
Lighthouses in Maine
Spring Point Lighthouse, photo by Sarah Samoraj
Since Maine is one of the lucky states with a coastline, it also is dotted with plenty of beautiful lighthouses.
There are a variety of different lighthouses that you and your family can see, starting with Spring Point Ledge Light in South Portland. Located in the Portland Harbor, it was built in 1987 and stands about 54 feet high.
Maine has so much more to offer! There is Cape Elizabeth Light with twin towers. The east light is still operational and can be reached by car and the west light is 300 yards to the east but is privately owned and inactive.
Halfway Rock Light is another beautiful lighthouse on the coast of Maine that is located in Portland. It is 77-foot high granite tower and it was built on a submerged ledge in 1871.
Portland Headlight
While you are in the Portland area you can also see Portland Breakwater Light which was built in 1855 and stands on top of a pier of 20 feet. This lighthouse is interesting to go see because during World War II it was extinguished but was brought back into service in 2002. Ram Island Ledge Light is another lighthouse in Portland that was built in 1905 and stands to about 77 feet. This lighthouse can be seen from Portland Head Light which is one of Maine’s most famous houses.
Portland Head Light, located in Cape Elizabeth, is Maine’s very first lighthouse. When you are standing on the Hurricane Deck you can see over 200 Casco Bay islands that surround the coastline, and the lighthouse stands at a whopping 80 feet!
St. Augustine, FL Lighthouse
While you and your family are visiting the beautiful lighthouses of Southern Maine, feel free to stop by Festiva Resorts’ office in Portland. At Festiva Resorts we make it our responsibility to make sure that families are able to take more vacations and save money. Whether it is staying in one of our cabins at Rangeley Lake or at our beachfront resort in St. Augustine, Fla., (where there is another beautiful lighthouse) we want to make you a happy member with us. Feel free to call us at 888-695-0200 and schedule a visit to learn more AND walk away with free gifts just for coming in!
June 11, 2011
Alela Diane Concert
Alela Dianewill be performing with The Parson Red Heads,and Emily Dix Thomas.
The Portland, Oreg
on-based musician Alela Diane, though traveled the world over, is most at peace within audible range of a crackling fire and her cat’s paws padding across the wood floors of her creaky Victorian residence. From fashioning hand-sewn CD jackets for her debut The Pirate’s Gospel, to garnering a huge European following and a new album on Rough Trade entitled “Alela Diane & Wild Divine”, she has now fully taken the reigns of her strong, disarming voice backed by a full band. Comparisons often evoke childhood friend Joanna Newsom or Jolie Holland, but Alela is ultimately a traditionalist forging beautifully simple songs with uncluttered arrangements better suited to her Sandy Denny-esque vocal stylings over a decidedly folk, unequivocally American sound. West coast dreamers The Parson Red Heads and local cello-playing songstress Emily Dix Thomas, backed by Hersey State and Plains, open the night.
Buy tickets here or visit any Bull Moose location.
Concert is Wednesday 06.15.2011, Doors at 7:30 PM, Starts at 8:00 PM, $10, 18+
Love going to events like Alela Diane? Wish you could go to awesome events like this all the time? While you’re in Portland for Alela Diane why not stop by Festiva Adventure Club located at 190 Riverside St. View a 120 minute 
presentation and see how much fun Festiva can provide you with. Festiva Adventure Club has been around for over 10 years and has the experience to provide you and your family with the best vacation for less! Call 1(888)695-0200 today to set up a reservation!
