Siano’s Pizzeria to open in Portland’s Old Port

In my travels recently, I saw and have confirmed via SianosPizzeria.net that Siano’s Restaurant plans to open a third location at 505 Fore Street, Portland, in March 2010. You may remember this Old Port location was previously home to Una Winebar and Portland Pie. A trip to the site noted building permits and work being performed to transform the property. Rivalries Sports Bar and Brian Boru are already strong mainstays just steps away.

The brick oven pizzeria adds its third location to the list along with the original Siano’s located at 5 Brentwood Street, Portland, in the popular Rosemont neighborhood, and it’s 140 Main Street, Freeport location, just up the road from L.L. Bean’s flagship store. I’m interested to know whether a brick oven will adorn the new location and give that warm feel to customers like the 5 Brentwood St restaurant.

El Jezel, a Brooklyn based band plays Apohadion

A little over a month ago, I received a package in the mail from El Jezel, a Brooklyn-based band, who asked that I give a listen to their CD entitled “The Warm Frequency”, as they were reaching out to let Portland music lovers know they would be in town February 18, 2010.

Listening to their music was relaxing, and thought I would share them with you here. According to HillyTown.com, El Jezel will be playing with Phantom Buffalo and Metal Feathers at Apohadion located at 107 Hanover Street, Portland.

For more information on El Jezel, check out their blog at El Jezel.Tumblr.com. Enjoy the show!

Snoop Dogg performs at Bates College February 27

As announced earlier this week in the Bates Views, Rapper Snoop Dogg will perform at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine on Saturday, February 27, in the Clifton Daggett Gray Athletic Building, 130 Central Ave, Lewiston. The show will be at the tail end of his current tour that begins February 8, in St. Petersburg, Florida. Doors will open at 8pm and the show will begin at 9pm with special guests to be announced.

Admission to the Bates College Snoop Dogg show will be $35 for general admission. Bates College students will be able to purchase tickets on Wednesday, February 10, for $22.50. All concert goers may purchase Snoop Dogg tickets beginning at 8am on Friday, February 12, by going online at BatesTickets.com.

Any questions regarding the show should be directed to the Chase Hall Committee student organization at 207-795-7496

Maine Home, Remodeling and Garden Show – Portland, Feb 6-7

Sure it’s chilly today, but we’re all thinking ahead to the spring and summer, and what a great way to get ready for the warmer weather by visiting The Maine Home, Remodeling, and Garden Show at the Cumberland County Civic Center today and tomorrow. The show will be open Saturday, February 6, from 10am – 6pm, and again Sunday, February 7, from 10am – 5pm, just in time to get back to watch the Super Bowl.

Like past home shows at the Civic Center, there will be over 170 exhibitors of home-related products & services for you to preview. You’ll witness some home remodeling ideas and be able to talk to the experts in the field about questions or concerns you have with your own projects, or be able to “interview” them for the job of taking on your next remodel. There will also be informative seminars related to home and garden pieces, as well as cooking demonstrations from the “Meet the Chefs” cooking series.

For more information on the show and exhibitors, please visit HomeGardenFlowerShow.com.

Prep Kitchen Food Salon – Freeport

So, here’s the scenario: You want to cook something new and exciting for dinner. First, you spend an hour or so online, pouring over recipes until you find something both palatable and reasonably undaunting. You write down the fifteen-step recipe; neglecting to omit minutiae about the color of a good carrot or firmness of red potatoes because you don’t have time to let a mushy potato ruin your meal.

Next, you begin a lengthy shopping list accompanied by a corresponding internal dialogue, “I have cilantro, don’t I?” You examine a dusty glass shaker with dull green leaves inside. “How long does cilantro keep?” you ask the shaker. Feeling overwhelmed by your jumble of a cupboard,  you throw caution to the wind; stopping at no fewer than two crowded grocery stores to fulfill the now bedraggled recipe in your clenched fist and still unsure of tonight’s outcome.

Wouldn’t it be nice to go into your kitchen and find your gourmet meal ingredients laid out and ready for you to prepare? Enter, the Prep Kitchen.

The Prep Kitchen located at 491 US Route One in Freeport, Maine has been taking the legwork out of cooking for the last two years and its repeat customers attest to its common sense approach to modern meal preparation.

Menus are planned for the month, featuring entrees such as Curried Island Chicken or Shrimp in Wine Sauce over Spaghetti to serve up with appetizers like Spanikopita in Puff Pastry or Chicken Satay. Not sure about something you may not be able to pronounce to your friends? There are always mainstays like Barbeque Meatloaf and Not-So-Sloppy Joes to choose from. Items are priced by the serving which usually feeds two to three people.

Simply walk in the door, choose recipe cards for your meals, and find the shiny work station corresponding to the recipe card. All the raw ingredients are in the workstation, allowing you to control the meal for your own taste. When the ingredients are assembled for each part of your meal, simply close the container and place it in the freezer and move on. Detailed cooking instructions accompany each menu item. Within about an hour, even the first-timer can have meals for the week or month ready to go freezer-to-oven for as little as three to four dollars per serving; but why hurry? Dinner Diva (it’s on her card) Wendy Wren has created an inviting atmosphere that combines grab and go efficiency with the older traditions of the kitchen as a place of social gathering. Coffee and tea are available and there is no rush to push clients out the door. Make a date. Bring friends, music, and a bottle of your favorite wine and spend a couple relaxing hours creating healthy and affordable meals.

In an age when families struggle to find time to sit down to a meal, the concept of the Prep Kitchen has eased the burden for many. The meal options at the Prep Kitchen are varied, nutritious, and more affordable than attempting to buy and assemble ingredients in your own kitchen. No longer do couples have to stare across the room at each other and play the game of “What do you want for dinner?” The game where the question, if asked a sufficient number of times, will cause the phone to spontaneously dial the nearest pizza place.

For more information on The Prep Kitchen Food Salon, please visit their website PrepKitchenOnline.com

Special thanks to Doug McIntire for contributing this fine post. For more great writing by Doug, visit his WordPress Blog CDMcIntire.wordpress.com

Amtrak Downeaster extension to Freeport and Brunswick

According to reports from various sources this past Thursday following President Obama’s State of the Union Address, the Amtrak Downeaster may soon find an expansion north from Portland to stops in Freeport and Brunswick, Maine.

While an estimated 200+ jobs will be created to upgrade the rail, one can only imagine the economic development that could result for both towns, as well as others along the route.

For more information on the announcement and future plans, please visit The Forecaster article – “Amtrak Downeaster extension from Portland to Brunswick gets $35M jump-start”

Maine Red Claws 1st Annual Best Shot for Youth – Free Throw Tourney

Today, January 31st, from 1pm to 2:30pm at the Portland Expo, 239 Park Ave., Portland, the Maine Red Claws along with various sponsors host the First Annual Best Shot for Youth – Free Throw Tournament. Open to all York and Cumberland County students in grades 6 through 12, the event will feature the Maine Red Claws team and coaching staff, as students go head to head in a free throw competition.

In collaboration with Mercy Hospital, the Maine Red Claws will offer sports and wellness information and demonstrations during the event. Twenty-five students will win 2 tickets to tonight’s 5pm Red Claws game against the Springfield Armour.

As part of the “Best Shot For Youth Initiative” and with thanks to local corporate sponsorship from the likes of Mercy Hospital, Quirk Chevrolet, Saint Joseph’s College of Maine, Cozy Harbor of Main, Coca-Cola, and Auto Europe, free sports physicals at Mercy Hospital Primary Care locations will be made available for students who do not have a primary care physician or who are currently patients of Mercy Primary Care.

For more information, or to learn of upcoming Maine Red Claws games, please visit their website at Maine Red Claws Official Website

The Best of Portland 2010 – Nominations

It’s that time of year again to vote for your favorite Portland people, places, hot spots, and even web sites thanks to the Portland Phoenix. You have an opportunity to vote in four categories; FOOD + DRINK, SHOPPING, ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT AND CITY LIFE.

Every vote counts! Please be sure to vote via Best of Portland 2010

Thanks for your support and good luck to everyone!

Downtown Showdown – Monument Square Saturday

With the Winter X Games in full force and snowboarding sensation Shaun White preparing for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, what a great time for Maine sponsors Sunday River and Sugarloaf to once again return and host the 2nd Annual Downtown Showdown.

Featuring a custom-built staircase rail in Monument Square in Portland, approximately 30 skiers and snowboarders will compete and entertain the crowd, expected to attract roughly 2,000 onlookers despite the frigid temperatures in the forecast.

The Downtown Showdown will take place on Saturday, January 30, at 5pm in Monument Square, Portland. For more information on the Downtown Showdown, please visit the Downtown Showdown Website.

Oh Canada! Portland Jetport to add Air Canada flights

Beginning May 17, 2010, travelers will be able to fly from Portland, Maine, to Toronto, Canada, along with six other U.S. cities, as Air Canada plans to service the Portland Jetport and return PWM to international status.

Great news for business growth and perhaps more beneficial to Portland and the link between Portland, Toronto, and TDBank, a large employer here in Portland.

For more information, please visit the Portland Press Herald article.