This Week's Haul, Jan. 15: Maine's freedom to roam
And: Cure your asthma with radium?
Good morning from eastern Maine, where this week, the only things getting me through it all are two-for-one bags of Haribo gummies, never-ending “Heated Rivalry” memes and content, balmy 40 degree weather and ice-free sidewalks, and squeezing this ridiculous squish toy cat that we got for Christmas from Out on a Whimsey in Bangor.
I firmly believe that one of our core values as Mainers is the freedom to roam - an ethos shared by our friends in Scotland and Scandinavia, that holds that public and certain private lands should remain accessible to everyone, provided they use them in a recreational, non-destructive or non-extractive way. The Maine Supreme Court’s ruling this week about access to Popham Beach is indicative of this. We’re not Florida, or California, or other parts of the world where whole swaths of beaches are inaccessible to the public. And thank god for that.
I drive between Bangor and Augusta regularly, and I am basically always mildly terrified that someone is going to do one dumb thing in the many construction zones on 95 and people will get seriously injured or killed. It happened just this week. One time last year I narrowly avoided being hit by a poorly-secured porta potty (empty? Lord I hope) that flew off the back of a flatbed truck. I don’t want to die because someone is stupid!
I can’t believe I’m saying this, given how much shit I have given Urban Pizza on Main Street in Bangor for its nearly decade-long quest to stay open for more than a few months, but I have it on good authority that this time (it reopened last month) they have figured out how to make really good pizza. I have not yet tried it myself, but I plan to this weekend. Has anyone else?
Another Bangor region food-related pro-tip: Paradis Shop n’ Save in Brewer has a fascinating selection of imported goods from Canada, like King Cole tea, Vachon pastries, Habitant pea soup, Canadian candies and more. Beautiful produce, too. One of my coworkers says it’s the best grocery store in the area. And it’s still a Shop n’ Save!
Look at this good boy (girl?). Is that a good boy? That’s a good boy. What a good boy. Smart boy. Hard working boy. The bestest boy.
Things are getting really bad out there, folks. Jack-booted thugs that are paid by the government are harassing, assaulting, detaining and even murdering people all over the country – most abhorrently in Minnesota, but, if the rumors are true, here in Maine too (who knows what will have happened by the time you read this newsletter). The ACLU of Maine, the Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition and the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project put together this extensive guide to protecting yourself and others if you find yourself face to face with ICE or Border Patrol agents. Bookmark it! And, while you’re at it, consider a donation to Project Relief Maine, which distributes funds and assistance to people that have been detained by ICE and their families who are trying to get them back. Be safe, be smart, be loud.
This is just to say that 100 years ago, the Bangor Daily News ran a full-page ad encouraging folks to purchase and wear a device that distributed low amounts of radium into your body, in order to treat a wide variety of ailments - everything from a tummy ache to literally paralysis. The ding-dongs in the Department of Health and Human Services didn’t come out of nowhere.
Music & Dance
Jan. 16: Hymn for Her, 6 p.m., Fogtown Brewing Company, Ellsworth
Jan. 16: Noise Pollution: The AC/DC Experience, 7 p.m., Grand Theatre, Ellsworth
Jan. 17: Colby Darling, 6 p.m., Fogtown Brewing Company, Ellsworth
Jan. 17: Belfast Flying Shoes folk dance; Bal, a French folk dancing tradition, with musicians and teachers Eloise & Co., 7 p.m., First Baptist Church, Belfast
Jan. 17: Rock the Mic hip hop night, including open mic, 7 p.m., SaltNorth Taproom, Union Street, Bangor
Jan. 17: Greg Jamie and Deery (featuring The Other Maine contributor Courtney Naliboff!), 7 p.m., Hey Sailor, Searsport
Theatre & Comedy
Jan. 15-18: The Belfast Maskers present “Gruesome Playground Injuries,” 7 p.m. nightly plus 2 p.m. weekend matinees, Basil Burwell Community Theatre, Belfast
Jan. 15: National Theatre Live broadcasts “The Fifth Step,” 7 p.m., Collins Center for the Arts, University of Maine, Orono
Jan. 9-18: True North Theatre presents “Tinkerbell,” retelling of “Peter Pan,” Fridays-Sunday, Pavilion Theatre, University of Maine, Orono
Jan. 17: Comedy night feat. Brian Giles, Justin Arby and Jack Hodgson, 7:30 p.m., The Old Town Theatre, Old Town
Arts, Books, Film & Culture
Jan. 7-17: Community Jigsaw Puzzle Challenge; try to help put together a 42,000 piece jigsaw puzzle during library hours, Lecture Hall, Bangor Public Library, Bangor
Jan. 20: Nature photography walking workshop with photographer Laura Bradford, 2:30 p.m., Fields Pond Audubon Center, Holden
Jan. 20: Book talk with Zoe Weil on her new book “The Solutionary Way,” 7 p.m., Blue Hill Public Library, Blue Hill
Jan. 21: “Beyond the Page: Accessing Unique & Fun Collections at Fogler Library,” 4 p.m., Fogler Library, University of Maine, Orono
Jan. 21: Make Your Own Pinhole Camera workshop, 6 p.m., Waterfall Arts, Belfast
Jan. 21: Hoppily Ever After Romance Book Club reads “Bed Chemistry” by Elizabeth McKenzie, 7:30 p.m., Bookspace, Columbia Street, Bangor
Fairs, Festivals, Markets, Outdoors & Misc.
Jan. 16: Owl Prowl Talk and Walk, 5 p.m., Gate 1, Hirundo Wildlife Refuge, Old Town
Jan. 17-18: 16th annual SnowCon, weekend of tabletop and non-electronic gaming, Black Bear Inn & Convention Center, Orono
Apropos of not much, but over the past few months I’ve been greatly appreciative of the carefully curated playlists created by OG music blogger Matthew Perpetua. He’s on Substack, of course, but his playlists are available on Spotify,Apple Music and YouTube, and they are truly indispensable if you are a voracious listener with tastes that span decades. I went deep into his 90’s alt-rock golden greats playlist just yesterday, the Those Lonely, Lonely Nights soul and R&B playlist is a gorgeous vibe, and the 100 Art Rock Classics playlist included songs that even *I* hadn’t heard. And that’s just scratching the surface. I remain in awe of his impeccable taste. Do yourself a favor and go exploring. You will find something you love.