Arts + Culture

A Seat for Everyone

How Portland Ovations opens its doors so more people can experience live performance. Article by Angela Smith Portland Ovations believes live performance should be within reach for every person in our community. Through its Community Seats program, Portland Ovations partners with local nonprofits, social service agencies, and others to offer tickets to people who might not otherwise attend a show, from newer Mainers and youth programs to families navigating tough seasons. We sat down with...

Life + Culture

February Field Guide

Little Adventures, Big Local Love: 40 Ways to Brighten February Article by Angela Smith From sunrise thermos walks to igloos, trivia nights, and wintry beach walks, this list is your invitation to treat February like a month-long micro-adventure. Use these ideas as date nights, solo resets, or ways to show off Portland to visiting friends. Circle a few, add them to your calendar, and let small, local moments brighten even the grayest days here. Sunrise Thermos Session on the Eastern Prom ...

Arts + Culture

The Art of Paying Attention

National Geographic–published photographer Robbie George captures the presence hiding in plain sight. Article by Angela Smith | Photography by Robbie George Robbie George is a National Geographic–published fine-art nature photographer whose work focuses on the quiet, powerful moments where wild landscapes and human experience meet. He has spent more than 20 years photographing the natural world, from the high Rockies to the rugged New England coast. Robbie’s connection to Maine began through...

Arts + Culture

Love, Illustrated

A look at Illustration Institute, the Peaks-born nonprofit turning illustration into a living conversation and showing how stories on and beyond the page connect us. Article by Angela Smith | Photography by Courtesy of Illustration Institute Illustration Institute isn’t just about hanging pretty pictures. Founders Scott Nash and Nancy Gibson-Nash are quietly and methodically building a place where illustration is treated as a serious, egalitarian art form that connects people through story. ...

Wellness

New Era of Skin Care

C. Skin Co. blends science, prevention, and gentle aesthetics to keep skin healthy, confident, and true to you. Article by Angela Smith | Photography by Caylin Lee Photography At C. Skin Co. Medical Aesthetics, skin care is part of your wellness plan—not an afterthought. We sat down with co-founder Carolyn Lebeis to talk about a new era of skin care rooted in education, prevention, and feeling like yourself.   Q. Can you start by telling us a little bit about your company and what makes it...

Wellness

Two Doors to Wellness

Emotional & Physical Paths That Help Kids Thrive—and Adults Stay Steady Article by Angela Smith Two Doors to Wellness Emotional & Physical Paths That Help Kids Thrive—and Adults Stay Steady   Why Now: The Early-Childhood Need   Mornings start early, emotions start big, and many days feel full before drop off or circle time begins. Teachers and families are doing their best inside long days and short margins. Children bring big feelings to small bodies, and the adults who love them...

Wellness

The Root of It All

Beauty starts at the scalp: Maine’s first trichology salon blends craft with clinical clarity—evaluations, imaging, and head-spa care that redefine healthy hair. Article by Angela Smith | Photography by Epic Frames Media Most of us learn the basics of health and fitness, even a bit of skin care—yet almost no one is taught how to care for their scalp. Trikhos changes that. As Maine’s first trichology-focused salon, it pairs real assessment with simple, sustainable care so people feel seen...

Fitness

Cold outside. Strong inside.

A reader’s guide to a steady winter practice—simple starts, smart progressions, real recovery, and community that makes showing up easier. Article by Angela Smith | Photography by Powers Media House Winter in Maine can be hard, nudging even the most active toward the couch. NXGen flips the script, offering the space and support to make January the month you build a practice—not a burst. A practice you can return to on dark mornings and busy nights. Start light. Keep it doable. Let winter be...

Shopping

Stocking Stash & More

Our favorite stocking stuffers, hostess gifts, and books by Maine authors. Article by Angela Smith Consider this your shortcut to thoughtful giving. We scouted Maine shops and makers to find small delights for stockings, gracious host gifts that travel well, and a shelf of Maine books curated by PRINT: A Bookstore. From kitchen keepers to page-turners, these picks feel personal and useful, with a spark of joy. Shop local, wrap with care, and send a little bit of Maine with every gift. And be...

Food + Beverage

Seven Fishes Feast

Italian Christmas Eve, the Maine way, with a little help from Browne Trading Company Article by Angela Smith There’s something timeless about a table built around the sea. For generations, Italian families have gathered on Christmas Eve to celebrate the Feast of the Seven Fishes —seven seafood dishes shared in gratitude and abundance.  A Tradition Anchored in the Sea Here in Maine, the tradition takes on its own flavor, blending old-world recipes with the best of our local waters. While...