January 31, 2012
How to warm up in the middle of winter
Freezing? So is everyone else except for those lucky few who live in the south for the winter. Nothing can be more frustrating than being cold and not being able to warm up. Don’t want to crank the heat and rack up a huge bill for the winter? Why not try some other ways to stay warm over these winter months? A great sweater will go along way. Not only is a great sweater warmer than a tee shirt or even a long sleeve but it can be worn with almost anything. Sweaters can be casual or dressy depending on the accessories you use to spice it up with. Sweaters are perfect for work or home. Love the idea of a sweater but you just really don’t want to do anything with effort? Why not grab a bowl of popcorn and curl up on the coach with a snuggie? Snuggies can be great when you have no where to go because they are a giant blanket you wear. What can be warmer than that? Another great way to warm up in the cold winter months is to grab a great cup of joe and some hot cocoa and snuggle up on the coach with your favorite movie. For some other great ways to stay warm click here.
Wish you could warm up during the cold months by taking a trip? Why not do it every year! Head to Festiva Adventure Club and learn how affordable taking more vacations can really be. Festiva has been around for over 10 years and has the experience you can trust. Festiva Adventure Club has resorts from Maine to the Caribbean so no matter what you like there is something for you! Call 1(888)695-0200 to set up a reservation today!
January 30, 2012
Sand or Snow?
Wish you could play in the sand? Why not play in the snow instead! Snow castles can be even more fun that sand castles! Its great to get out doors especially in the winter when your usually cooped up inside the house. Arm yourself with the appropriate clothing before going out doors. Then grab the shovel and pail and head into the snow. You can build the traditional sand castle with snow using the same tools. You could also go big and build the biggest snow castle you can! Why not take the opportunity to make something you couldn’t build in the sand. Snow castles are great because you can literally build them as big as you want. Want a life sized castle to hang out in? Go for it! A great way to make sure your snow castle stays
strong all winter is to spray it down with water. The ice created will provide a stronger structure for the rest of the snow to sit against. Add towers and maybe a flag or two to the top and you have yourself an awesome snow castle. All you have to do is bring out a thermos of hot cocoa, sit back, relax, close your eyes, and pretend your on the beach!
Love vacationing? Why not head over to Festiva Adventure Club located at 190 Riverside St in Portland. View a quick 120 minute presentation and learn how affordable vacationing really can be. Festiva Adventure Club has resorts from Maine to the Caribbean so weather you like to really lay in the sand or just pretend there is something for you! Festiva 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!
January 27, 2012
Disney on Ice “Treasure Trove”
Discover endless riches when Disney On Ice presents “Treasure Trove” comes to Portland!
Disney On Ice sets the golden standard with its newest skating spectacular. Get tangled up in Disney’s 50th animated feature with Rapunzel and Flynn and enter the worlds of your other favorite Disney princesses – Tiana, Cinderella, Jasmine, Ariel, Aurora, Belle
, Mulan and of course, the one that started it all, Snow White. Ahoy, Mateys! Set sail with Peter Pan, the always sassy Tinker Bell and the cantankerous Captain Hook & his pirate pals on an adventure beyond Neverland! Trek the wilds of Africa with Simba, Nala, Pumbaa and Timon as they discover the true meaning of the ‘Circle of Life. ‘ Tick-Tock! Tick-Tock! Don’t be late for a very important date with Alice and the Mad Hatter as they march with the Queen of Hearts’ Army Of Cards. Be sure to see this show full of memories guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Stories to represented in the show:
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Cinderella
Alice in Wonderland
Peter Pan
Sleeping Beauty
The Little Mermaid
Beauty and the Beast
Aladdin
The Lion King
Mulan
The Princess and the Frog
Tangled
Disney On Ice is a touring ice skating show. Aimed primarily at children, the shows feature figure skaters dressed as Disney cartoon characters in performances that each derive their music and plot from elements collected from various Disney films and properties; the “stars” of the show are credited as the Disney characters themselves, performing their parts in mock cameos, while the skaters performing themselves remain anonymous.
Seven Shows!
Thursday, Feb. 9 @ 7:00pm
Friday, Feb. 10th @ 7:00pm*
Saturday, Feb. 11th @ 11:00am*, 3:00pm & 7:00pm+
Sunday, Feb. 12th @ 11:30am & 3:30pm
Tickets: $60 (Front Row), $50 (VIP), $25 and $15 – All seats reserved
Discounts:
*Groups of 15 or more: $3 off the $25 and $15 tickets (discounts not available on Front Row or VIP seats.)
+Kids/Youth ages 2-12: $12 tickets in the $25 and $15 seating locations (discounts not available on Front Row or VIP seats.)
January 26, 2012
Frog Cupcakes
Don’t just make cupcakes for your kid’s birthday party, make frog cupcakes!
They will be sure to get a giggle out of your little one when he or she sees them and will be a hit at the party. (Who doesn’t love cute faces on their desserts?) Or have your child help you make them for a fun and edible family activity.
~Ingredients~
1 (18.25 ounce) package white cake mix
1 (16 ounce) can prepared vanilla frosting
6 drops green food coloring, or as needed
1/4 cup green decorator sugar
12 large marshmallows
48 semisweet chocolate chips
1 drop red food coloring
~Directions~
Bake cupcakes according to the directions on the package. Allow them to cool completely.
Scoop 2/3 of the frosting into a small bowl and mix with green food coloring. Frost the cupcakes. Sprinkle
some of the green sugar over the tops.
Cut the marshmallows in half to make two circles. Dip half of each marshmallow piece into water and dip into the green sugar to make the eyelids. The remaining white will be the eyes.
Place on the cupcakes. Use a little bit of white icing to glue a chocolate chip into the center of each eye for the pupil.
Mix the remaining frosting with red food coloring to make pink. Use the pink icing to draw smiling mouths and nostrils or even tongues on the frogs.
January 25, 2012
Brea Lu Cafe
Brea Lu’ Cafe offers an amazing selection of breakfast food, prepared to perfection.
Story from the Portland Press Herald by The Features staff of The Portland Press Herald. Find it here.
As a breakfast food fanatic, I’ll take substance over style any time. I’d rather have the restaurant staff focus on attaining perfection with my over-easy fried eggs than spending a lot of energy arranging the artwork on the walls.
However, if I can find a breakfast place with both substance AND style, I’ll gladly take it. And that’s what I’ve found at Brea Lu Cafe.
Located on a busy part of Forest Avenue not far from Oakhurst Dairy in Portland, Brea Lu has been a neighborhood landmark for 20 or more years. But even if you’ve been there before, it’s worth a return visit.
As soon you as walk into the old storefront, which looks sort of Art Deco from the outside, you’re struck by the interior details, including pressed-tin-type ceilings and shelves full of books, knick-knacks and pictures of the city’s past. A back room has exposed brick and a wood stove, making it very cozy in winter.
Despite the cheery disposition of the place, what impressed me most was the dedication to breakfast-food excellence. I like sunny-side up eggs. And I know it’s not easy to get them perfect – yolks full of juice, not overcooked, whites cooked just enough, not runny and not burned. Every time I’ve gotten them at Brea Lu, my sunny-side up eggs have been perfect.
I ordered the homemade corned beef hash with two eggs, home fries and toast ($7.95). I like canned hash just fine, but this was definitely not canned, and that made all the difference. There were tender, meaty pieces of corned beef and big pieces of potato. It was neither greasy nor chewy, but was just right, as were the potatoes. Sometimes diner home fries stay on the grill too long and get a really hard edge to them. But these were lightly fried, and tasted fresh.
One of my dining companions had two scrambled eggs with bacon, home fries and toast ($5.95), and the size of the egg yolks made it seem like there were three or four eggs on the plate.
I also like breakfast places where you don’t have to get huge portions if you don’t want them. We were about to order two blueberry pancakes ($4.75) for a child when our waitress told us one ($3.75) would likely be enough. She also told us we could get it shaped like a teddy bear head, with ears, if we wanted.
Brea Lu is open for breakfast and lunch, hence the name, but the menu is heavy on breakfast. There are burgers, club sandwiches and chili, but most of the menu – and the most creative parts of the menu – are about breakfast foods.
Under the “speciality omelets” section, for instance, there was one with peanut butter, mushrooms and cheddar cheese ($6.95). This is one of the most talked about menu items on Brea Lu’s Facebook page.
There is an omelet with potato, cheddar, sour cream and bacon for $8.95, which I’d like to try. There’s also a chili-filled omelet for $7.50 and a Hawaiian omelet with pineapple, ham, sour cream and cheddar for $7.95. Other omelet varieties include a Greek, a Mexican, a Western and a Mediterranean. You can pick your own ingredients as well.
Brea Lu’s is a must if you have a taste for breakfast foods or if you like cute cafe’s with super friendly staff. The Portland Press Herald gives it 4 1/2 stars out of 5.
WHERE: 428 Forest Ave., Portland; 772-9202
HOURS: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily
CHEAPEST GRUB: One pancake, $3.25; cup of chili, $2.95
Photos by John Patriquin//Staff Photographer, 2nd photo features Server Debbie Thibodeau.
January 24, 2012
January 24
Think today is just another day? Think again. There are many important and interesting historical events that have taken place today! There have been tragedies, triumphs and many changes of power. Some interesting changes in power include both good and bad changes. Today in the year 41 Gaius Caesar was assassinated. In 772 Stephen III ends his term as the Catholic Pope. Matthias I Corvinus was chosen to be the king of Hungary. Some natural disasters that have happened today in history include an earthquake in Shaaxi, China that killed 830,000 people. There were 30,000 people who were killed in Concepcion Chile during an earthquake in 1939. There were some cool things that were patented on this day in history. The Rubber Heel was patented by Humphrey O’Sullivan. Eskimo Pie was patented by Christian K Nelson in 1922. There are tons of interesting things that happen in history everyday!
Wishing you could have some interesting history of your own? Why not head over to Festiva Adventure Club located at 190 Riverside St in Portland. View a short 120 minute presentation and learn how much fun you can have for less. Festiva Adventure Club has been around for over 10 years and has the experience you can trust. Festiva has resorts from Maine to the Caribbean so no matter what type of vacationer you are there is something for you! Call 1(888)695-0200 to set up a reservation today!
January 23, 2012
January
Love January? So do I! January is a very special month as it kicks off the whole year! January is national eye care month as well as hot tea month, blood donor month, braille literacy month, hobby month, soup month, staying healthy month, thank you month, and oatmeal month. Not only is January a great month for the things we get to celebrate such as soup and oatmeal but there have been many great people who have been born in this special month. Benjamin Franklin, Alicia Keys, Carey Grant, Buzz Aldrin, Dick Cheney, Edgar Allan Poe and Elvis Presley just to name a few. Wish you could speak a couple different languages? Why not start out with the first month of the year? January in Spanish is De enero, in Italian it is Gennaio, in French it is Janvier, in German it is Januar, and in Polish it is Stycznia.
Love getting into the world and exploring new things? Why not do it all the time? Head over to Festiva Adventure Club located at 190 Riverside St in Portland. View a quick 120 minute presentation and learn how you can vacation more often for less. Festiva Adventure Club has been around for over 10 years and has the experience you can trust your vacation in. Festiva has resorts from Maine to the Caribbean so no matter what kind of vacationer you are there is something for you! Call 1(888)695-0200 today to set up a reservation!
January 20, 2012
Thurston Moore
Sonic Youth frontman and underground music godfather Thurston Moore comes to SPACE Gallery in Portland.
Moore’s 2011 solo album “Demolished Thoughts”, expertly produced by Beck, showcases the restless spirit and rigorous mind that informs all of Moore’s work, this time with a stripped-down acoustic bent. With NH’s Mmoss.
Monday 01.30.2012, Doors at 7:30 PM, Starts at 8:00 PM, $15 advance / $18 day of show, 18+
Thurston Moore was born in Coral Gables, Florida, but was raised in Bethel, Connecticut. Moore (born July 25, 1958) is an American musician best known as a singer, songwriter and guitarist of Sonic Youth. He has also participated in many solo and group collaborations outside of Sonic Youth, as well as running the Ecstatic Peace! record label. Moore was ranked 34th in Rolling Stone’s 2004 edition of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.”
Love fun events like local concerts? Why not stop by Festiva Adventure Club located at 190 Riverside St in Portland. View a quick 120 minute presentation and learn how much you and your family can save on vacations with Festiva. Call 1(888)695-0200 to set up a reservation today!
January 19, 2012
Local Hip Hop Concert
Local hip-hop luminaries take the stage for an expansive evening of beats and rhymes. Come to Space Gallery and see Alias, Trails, Sandbag, & Educated Advocates.
No stranger to the SPACE Gallery, Alias’ amazingly diverse portfolio of EPs, remixes, collaborations and sonic explorations consistently impresses. Rapper Syn and DJ/producer theLinform the raw and unconventional duo Trails. Sandbag is a collective of talented emcees – Mr. Harps, Pensivv, Nate Shupe, and Ill By Instinct – who fuse socially aware lyricism with good-old-fashioned hip hop. Educated Advocates makes “new vintage” hip-hop, mixing innovative rhymes and vocal arrangements with golden era production styles. Keeping it fresh all night on the decks will be DJs Mayonnaise and Rew. With expert visual instruction by David Meiklejohn.
Saturday 01.21.2012, Doors at 8:00 PM, Starts at 8:30 PM, $8, 18+
While you are in the Portland area, ride on over to Riverside Street and stop by Festiva Adventure Club to enter to win $25,000 in cash. While there, you can learn about our exciting vacation opportunities. Just for viewing our 120 minute presentation, you can walk away with Flagship Cinemas gift cards, dinner certificates, a 2 night Marriott stay and more. Call Festiva Resorts at 800-695-0200 to set up your tour today!
January 18, 2012
Film: Urbanized
See a screening of the film Urbanized at Space Gallery Tuesday, January 24.
Urbanized (the third part of Gary Hustwit’s design film trilogy, joining Helvetica and Objectified) is a feature-length documentary about the design of cities, which looks at the issues and strategies behind urban design and features some of the world’s foremost architects, planners, policymakers, builders, and thinkers.
Showing is Tuesday 01.24.2012, Doors at 7:00 PM, Starts at 7:30 PM, Ends at 9:30 PM, $7 / $5 for SPACE Members, FREE for AIGA Maine, All Ages
Over half the world’s population now lives in an urban area, and 75% will call a city home by 2050. But while some cities are experiencing explosive growth, others are shrinking. The challenges of balancing housing, mobility, public space, civic engagement, economic development, and environmental policy are fast becoming universal concerns. Yet much of the dialogue on these issues is disconnected from the public domain.
Followed by Q&A with Noah Chasin, Assistant Professor at Bard College and Mitchell Rasor of MRLD Landscape Architecture + Design. Co-Presented by AIGA Maine and MRLD Landscape Architecture + Urbanism.
