My friend Christopher Campbell is an architect living in Portland and working around the state. He just completed a residential job on an island in the midcoast and was looking to get it featured in Dwell, the magazine specializing in modern design for the built environment. I am a Dwell subscriber and pounce on it the minute it hits my mailslot. Pages and pages of sleek modern residences filled with creative people and innovative solutions to living space. Meow.

It turns out that Dwell has never covered Maine and they may be interested in doing a web feature on Portland. They asked Christopher for his suggestions on what is hot for Portland architecture, clothes, food and furniture as it relates to modern living and design. He in turn asked for my suggestions.

It was a revealing exercise to see if there is enough going on in Portland to make it Dwell worthy. I say there’s enough. We’ll see what they think. Here’s what I came up with:

Furniture and Design and Home Goods
Angela Adams
Angela is the pioneer. She’s been doing modern way before it became trendy. Her initial line of rugs has grown to include home bedding, textiles and accessories. Hubby Sherwood also contributes with his ultra mod furniture line.

Eli Phant
After taking part in the renaissance of Providence, RI, Sally Streuver and Peter Eiermann moved here where they have been active in the arts, urban planning and design communities. Their latest effort is a store selling the work of talented indie crafters and designers making rad home goods and accessories such as
earrings made from salvaged copper nails,

Ferdinand
Diane has been at the forefront of the contemporary crafts movement, bringing her San Francisco style here to the East Coast to show us what is possible. Handmade underpants, letterpress cards, one-of-a-kind lampshades and wacky kids toys.

Addo Novo
What do you get when two graphic designers start a high end furniture store? (OK, other than pieces by Knoll, Herman Miller and Kartell.) You get slick. All the store displays, signs, marketing and promotion are so well done everyone thinks it’s a chain. Nope. They are locals who also support emerging artists and designers in the city by carrying their work.

Wary Meyers
More culture makers from away! The Wary-Meyers duo relocated to Portland after stints with big shots in New York. Traded it all in for ongoing access to the best thrift stores and yard sales a designer and decorator could ask for.

Clothes
Rogues Gallery
Contemporary. By being historical. This clothing line references the nautical and outdoorsman past for the people who are fashion forward. With a store on Wharf Street, warehouses overseas and fans everywhere in between.

Brook There
Brook DeLorme designs clothing with an eye toward using organic and sustainable fabrics and local manufacturing.

Food
Portland Psst
Restaurant and foodie news with a bite. This town has a voracious appetite for good local food and the author feeds this mania with regular updates on all things edible.

Portland Food Map
Gastronomy meets graphic design in this comprehensive overview of where to eat in Portland.

Events and Organizations
First Friday Art Walk
The first Friday of the month brings throngs of people to the city to visit the 60 venues showing artwork. Eat your weight in cheese and grapes.

Pecha Kucha Portland
A great way to learn what local artists and designers are up to. They present their latest project via 20 power point slides with a time limit of 20 seconds per slide.

Portland Society of Architects
Their motto: To advocate for design excellence in the Greater Portland built environment while promoting fellowship in the local design community.
Their latest actions: The 10-minute Architect, Sustainable Portland forum

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