This Week's Haul, May 14: Tiptoeing through the tulips
And: Big Maine culinary news!
Good morning from eastern Maine, where this week, despite not being much of a reality competition show person outside of my beloved Drag Race and the original “Project Runway,” I did tune in for “America’s Culinary Cup” because I wanted to see Maine’s own Cara Stadler compete! And man, not only did she shine: she won the whole damn thing and the million bucks that come with it. Cara’s two restaurants, Tao Yuan in Brunswick and BaoBao Dumpling House in Portland, were two of the best in Maine, and I sought them out multiple times - flavorful, fun, creative takes on Chinese cuisine, made with serious thought and skill but without a hint of pretension. I was so sad when she closed both, though I understood what with the two adorable babies she and her wife have now. She’s an extremely cool person and I’m glad I got to know her a little bit in the several times I interviewed her over the years. I’m very proud of her! I hope she opens another restaurant in Maine someday!
Spring is very sprung! I would love to see your photos of your spring and summer flowers as they arrive. I’m a not very good gardener but I certainly try my best, and I’m eagerly awaiting the blooming of my prized Fedco tulips and the rose bushes we inherited when we bought our house - the guy that grew up here in the 1970s said his dad was gifted them from the Rockefeller estate in Bar Harbor, for whom he worked as a groundskeeper. Don’t know if that’s true, but they’re beautiful either way!
Intrigued about this new book bar, the Fireheart Tavern, that’s coming to 105 Main St. in downtown Bangor later this year! Located in the same building as Bangor Window Shade & Drapery, the owner - who is very active on TikTok - promises a “space for readers, for connection, and for community” and “a place to enjoy a great book, a good drink, and meaningful conversation.” I’m into it!
It’s Thursday morning. Do you know where your couches are? Well you should, since JD Vance is in town in Bangor. Blech. And he’ll be bringing your racist uncle along too.
I know it’s extremely old news that housing prices in Maine are absolutely out of control, and that the only people that can truly afford a home in Maine are extremely wealthy people who likely only plan to live in their new properties for two weeks in the summer. Nevertheless: even I was GOOPED at this $1.8 million house in Belfast, next door to where when I was a kid I used to swim in a motel pool for free in the summer because my dad knew the owner. In the New York Times no less!
“And let’s talk about Maine. M-a-i-n...e? Huh! Really? The “e” is silent. But who silenced it and why?”
“What the hell are you talking about? You’re talking about the silent ‘e’ in Maine now?”
“I’m glad you brought it up, Colin.”
“I didn’t.”
“And what does that “e” stand for? Oh, I know. ‘Euphoria.’”
The Christian Civic League and its various supporters and enablers over the years are always trying to ban something in Maine. Right now, it’s trans kids being able to use the right bathrooms in their schools. Previously, it was allowing LGBTQ+ folks the rights to not be fired because they’re gay or trans, or to get married. And 40 years ago, it was pornography - or their loosely defined version of it, anyway. As with most of their attempts to get Mainers to pass ballot questions that take away people’s rights, it failed - badly, that time, with 71 percent of voters rejecting it. Keep that in mind as you make your choices at the polls this year!
Music & Dance
May 15: Sam Whitman and the Dudley Do-Wrong Duo, 7 p.m., Nocturnem Draft Haus, Bangor
May 15: Brooke Blanche, David Michael Osbourne and Nolle Bond, 7 p.m., Hey Sailor, Searsport
May 15-17: Bagaduce Music presents American roots musician Eli West, concerts in Round Pond, Steuben and Blue Hill; FMI at Bagaduce Music
May 16: New Renaissance Singers spring concert, 7 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Society of Bangor, Bangor
May 16: The Sugar Snaps, fundraiser for Waldo County Bounty, 7 p.m., Hey Sailor, Searsport
May 16: Skyliners Big Band dance and concert, 7:30 p.m., Next Generation Theatre, Brewer
May 16: Bluegrass sextet Stillwater, 5:30 p.m., Fogtown Brewing, Ellsworth
May 16: Wartime, Drop Out Cold, Fake Smile and Knife Biter, 7 p.m., The Old Town Theatre, Old Town
May 16: Adult Prom, 8 p.m., Eye Candy Studio, 128B Main St., Bangor
Theatre & Comedy
May 15-17: The Slightly Off Center Players present “The Sound of Music,” Center Theatre, Dover-Foxcroft
May 16: “Magic for Non-Believers” with magician Peter Boie, 3 p.m., Blue Hill Public Library, Blue Hill
May 16: Robinson Ballet presents “PLAY!” feat. “Peter and the Wolf,” 3 p.m. Gracie Theatre, Husson University, Bangor
May 16: Dancing With the Ellsworth Stars, annual fundraiser, 7 p.m., Grand Theatre, Ellsworth
Art, Books, Film & Culture
May 14: Screening of “Canoe Dig It?” Maine-made mockumentary, Center Theatre, Dover-Foxcroft
May 14: Red Rabbit Film Club screens “Cure,” 1997 film, 7 p.m., Red Rabbit Bazaar, Bangor
May 15: A Burrow of Rabbits and Readers romantasy book club reads “Silver Elite” by Dani Francis, 7:30 p.m., Bookspace, Bangor
May 15-17: 2026 Great Home Expo, daily at the Cross Insurance Center, Bangor
May 16: Galacticon Mini-Con feat. three local comic book writers, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Galactic Comics and Collectibles, Bangor
May 16: “The Animal and Wood: A Hands-On Woodworking Workshop with Aaron Margolis,” 1-5 p.m., Wilson Museum Castine; $45
May 16: Penobscot County Conservation Association presents “Foraging for Wild Edibles,” 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m., 570 North Main St., Brewer
May 16: Bangor Sports Collectibles and Memorabilia Show, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Bangor Elks Club, Bangor
May 17: Book release for “An Old Man’s Darling: A Memoir” by Deborah K. Shepherd, 5 p.m., Anodyne Books, Searsport
May 17: Bangor Historical Society’s Mount Hope Cemetery Walking Tour, 10 a.m., starts at Superintendent’s Lodge, Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor
May 18: “Wheeling, Vamping, Fair Play and Resilience: The Story of the Belfast Center,” 7 p.m., Belfast Free Library, Belfast
May 19: “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning,” workshop by grief counselor Gisele Biron, 2 p.m., Bangor Public Library
May 19: Author talk with Marie Dion on her book “Returning What’s Sacred,” 7 p.m., Blue Hill Public Library, Blue Hill
May 19: Great Bangor Fire of 1911 Walking Tour, 6 p.m., starting at Bangor Historical Society’s Thomas Hill House, Bangor
May 20: Derry-Free Horror Book Club reads “Freakslaw” by Jane Flett, 7:30 p.m., Bookspace, Bangor
Fairs, Festivals, Markets, Outdoors & Misc.
May 13-17: Island Heritage Trust’s annual Wings, Waves, & Woods Festival, throughout Deer Isle and Stonington, for more information click here.
May 16: Fiddlers and Fiddlehead Festival, day of music and fiddlehead recipes, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Patten Lumbermen’s Museum Patten
Here are a few nuggets of cinematic and culinary gold that I’ve been particularly enjoying in the past few weeks.
“Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie”
I went into this film knowing pretty much nothing about it other than it got rave reviews across the board, and that I would probably at least somewhat enjoy a weird Canadian indie comedy. It’s based on a long-running web and then TV series about two guys in a band desperately trying to get a show at the Rivoli Theatre in Toronto, and failing spectacularly every time. That’s pretty much what the movie is about as well, but let me tell you that it is shockingly smart, heartfelt, action-packed and incredibly well-made for its tiny budget and DIY production. I cannot recommend it enough - it’s one of the best comedies I’ve seen in years, and there are so many laugh out loud moments I can’t even start to list them here. Instant cult classic. It’s streaming everywhere though it still costs money, and I don’t know when or if it’ll be free to stream. I think it’s worth shelling out for.
I love a recipe that calls on pantry items and cheap grocery store purchases to make something really delicious and easy enough for a weeknight. This NYT recipe slaps - the only fresh things you need on hand are boneless chicken thighs, cherry tomatoes, garlic and scallions, and if you don’t want to open a whole bottle of white wine, you can swap that out for a half-cup of water mixed with lemon juice or vinegar. I serve it over parmesan polenta, but any carb is good. I also add a little flour to the tomatoes to thicken it at the end.