Food + Beverage

The Bagel Guy Next Door

Blue House Bagels is a homegrown operation with a devoted local following Article by Becca Abramson | Photography by Lauren Lear On a quiet stretch off Portland’s peninsula, there’s a moment when the neighborhood starts to stir. A dog barks, a car door shuts, someone heads out for coffee. Inside one house, though, the morning has been underway for hours. Ryan Mash is already baking. The dough he’s working with isn’t new—it’s been resting, developing, quietly doing its thing for nearly two...

Life + Culture

3,600+ Miles to Go

As he turns 80, Portland chocolatier Dean Bingham sets out on another cross-country journey Article by Becca Abramson | Photography by courtesy of Dean Bingham As he approaches his 80th birthday, Dean Bingham, founder of Dean’s Sweets, isn’t slowing down. Instead, he’s gearing up for his next goal: a cross-country bike ride from the Pacific to the Atlantic, an ocean-to-ocean journey fueled by grit, curiosity, and purpose. “I think it’s a challenge,” he says simply. “There’s something pretty...

Finance + Legal Services

Who's Really Managing Your Wealth

The registered investment advisor (RIA) industry has been undergoing a rapid wave of consolidation and aggregation, reshaping the landscape for both firms and their clients. While firms claim these mergers and acquisitions bring better services and stability, the reality is that consolidation is often driven by succession challenges, the need for growth, and financial incentives. This shift in ownership structure can lead to both opportunities and challenges for clients, impacting the level of...

Finance + Legal Services

Giving More than Money

Your time and experience are valuable gifts. Consider making those gifts even more meaningful.In my work with clients, many of our conversations revolve around building a great retirement. But what happens once you’ve actually reached that milestone? Several of my clients who are recently retired or considering an upcoming retirement are trying to figure out what this stage of life should actually look like. They’re trying to find what gives their days meaning after spending so much time...

Finance + Legal Services

Why Independence Matters in Wealth Management

When it comes to managing your finances, trust is everything. The decisions made with your wealth manager can shape your future, impact your lifestyle, and influence the legacy you leave behind. That’s why the independent business model in the wealth management world can be a big deal; advisors are allowed more freedom to act without outside pressure or influence… truly considering the client first.In Maine, we understand that trust is further built from personal relationships, genuine...

Home + Design

Making Her Mark

Carrie Dessertine on craft, legacy, and the launch of Meyette Article by Becca Abramson | Photography by Nicole Wolf When Carrie Dessertine launched design firm Mey & Co, she built a reputation for thoughtful interiors and custom furnishings for hospitality spaces around the country. Now she’s turning that expertise inward. Her newly launched brand, Meyette, offers both restored vintage pieces and an original collection of furniture designed in-house with longevity, craftsmanship, and...

Home + Design

Building the Vision

Principal designer Jeanne Rapone of Centerline Design & Build shares how a decades-old idea became a collaborative approach to home renovation Article by Becca Abramson | Photography by Darren Setlow When Jeanne Rapone recalls her path to becoming a principal designer at Centerline Design and Build, she laughs at the seeming contradiction in her story. “I never pictured myself as the owner of a company like this,” she says. “Except for the fact that I always envisioned what I have.” That...

Life + Culture

Booked For Spring

Three standout releases from Maine women writers to add to your stack Article by Becca Abramson Longer days call for fresh books. From windswept coastlines to shadowy stretches of forest, Maine’s women writers are delivering stories that feel as transportive and refreshing as the season itself. These three spring picks—spanning literary fiction, suspense, and poetry—are perfect companions for slow mornings and sunlit afternoons. The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout Elizabeth...

Life + Culture

Women Making Waves

From storefronts to storytelling to job sites, these women are shaping the way Portland lives, works, and grows Article by Becca Abramson Kristan Vermeulen, Founder, Makers of the USA What inspired you to launch the Makers of the USA platform? I’ve always been drawn to the people behind the product. I realized we were celebrating scale, speed, and mass production, but overlooking the makers, the craftsmen, the small business owners who are the backbone of our communities. Makers of the...

Entertainment

The Return on Rhythm

How a homegrown music festival became a platform for Maine talent to grow Article by Becca Abramson | Photography by courtesy of All Roads Music Festival In 2015, when Josh Gass and his co-founder Meg Shorette launched what would become the All Roads Music Festival, there wasn’t a master plan for an 11-year run, an expansion into Portland, or a brand recognized across Maine’s music community. There was simply an opportunity and a belief that local music deserved a bigger stage. “Meg and I...