Maine Politics

The Tipping Point

Mike Tipping writes about the politics of the Pine Tree State, covering Maine like black flies in June. Mike hails from Orono, Maine, works for the Maine People's Alliance, and blogs daily at www.mainepolitics.net

Collins' Moderation Based on Politics, Not Policy

There's an interesting subtext to Maine Today political reporter Rebekah Metzler's overview of Susan Collins' last two years in office.

It's mostly found clinging to a series of quotes in the article, gathered from a wide variety of political sources:

Maine Media

Media Mutt

Al Diamon

Story on Monks’ Book Lacks Details and Disclaimer

The rich get different treatment: On August 11, the New York Times published a lengthy article on Millicent Monks’ new book, Songs of Three Islands, and its painful details about her prominent family’s history of mental illness.

Maine Nature

George's Outdoor News

George Smith of Mount Vernon is a columnist, TV show host, executive director of the state's largest sportsmen's organization, political and public policy consultant, hunter, angler, and avid birder and most proud of his three children and two grandsons.

Maine's New Conservation Proposal

The face of Maine conservation could change dramatically if federal officials embrace a proposal embodied in the Keeping Maine’s Forests initiative. The initiative was created by a Steering Committee of 23 individuals representing state agencies, landowners, and conservation groups and submitted to federal officials on August 18.

Maine Humor

Just Ask Ida

Ida LeClair is the brainchild of humorist Susan Poulin.

When Oprah Fails You, Call Tech Support

The other day, out of the blue, my email stopped working. I didn’t notice it at first. Heck, I didn’t think I was that into email, but you know what? I am. My routine is, I check my email right after breakfast, and read my daily inspirational quote from Martha Beck. She writes that column in the Oprah magazine. I like her because she’s not too woo-woo with that New Age-y stuff.

Maine Media

Coffee With That

A blog by Maine novelist Richard Grant. Art, life, gardening, kid-raising, culture, community, music, political intrigue, pointed commentary, and links to all that is cool in Maine.

Insects, Pumpkins, and Maine's Other Seasonal Portents

My friend, the Tattooed Novelist Mom, called me in alarm (or it may have been amusement) to report that many extra-large dragonflies have been flying lately, much higher than usual, above her place on Coleman Pond.

"Maybe you could blog about this," she suggested.

Maine Life

Maine: The Week in Review

Maine, the way life was last week.

Bombs, Business Plans, and Meals With No Bad Eggs

On August 11, the French Press Eatery in Westbrook held a grand reopening to celebrate its renovations, which included a bar and accommodations to serve dinner.

Three days later, the place closed.

The co-owner, James Tranchemontagne, said he didn’t have enough cash to keep the restaurant operating, thereby making himself eligible for the BP-Worst-Advance-Planning-Since-The-Gulf-Oil-Spill Award.

Maine Food

Notes from a Maine Kitchen

Kathy Gunst is a cookbook author and the award-winning resident chef for WBUR's Here and Now (heard on over 60 public radio stations). Her newest books, Stonewall Kitchen Breakfast and Stonewall Kitchen Winter Celebrations, will be published by Chronicle

Eat Pray Love the Food You Eat In Maine This Summer

Like so many women in America, I saw Eat Pray Love last night, the new film based on Elizabeth Gilbert’s blockbuster memoir of the same name. There were a few guys in the theater, but this is a chick flick is ever there was a chick flick. Watching Julia Roberts traipse through Italy made me very very hungry.

Maine Life

Sea Glass & Scrap Iron

Eva Murray writes of all-things Matinicus, including wrenches, whoopie pies, and wayward reporters in search of quaint Maine.

Peace, War, and Political Cartoons on Matinicus Island

A former island teacher who has fallen in love with Matinicus (as people occasionally do) returned for a visit last week and was amazed at how much there was to...attend. The little community was buzzing with the goofy summer socializing we enjoy — perhaps a sophisticated tete-a-tete hanging around the grill at the Farmer’s Market (sorry, no farmers this year, but wicked good sausages).

Maine Humor

Tim Sample

Tim Sample, in the tradition of Bert and I, is a Maine humorist of the finest kind. See more of his books and cds in the Down East.com bookstore.

Maine Weather: Warm, Weird, or Wild

During a recent email exchange with a friend of mine at the Maine Department of Tourism, I mentioned that perhaps it’s time to start marketing The Pine Tree State as the “garden spot” of the nation.

I was only half-kidding.

Maine Food

The Maine Mouth is the place where you can get the word of mouth advice that will lead you to the good eats—and all that is related to it—from York to Fort Kent.

Sandwiches and Sticky Pudding for Saints

This Sunday the New Orleans Saints will be on TV screens across Maine, but there’s only one place to go to sample some authentic New Orleans grub. Po’ Boys and Pickles (1124 Forest Avenue, 207-518-9735), which opened in Portland this past December, is a low-key southern sandwich shop that is cheap enough, good enough, and trendy enough to become a local favorite.