Portland Time

State of the Air

The American Lung Association recently released its annual 'State of the Air' report which looks at ozone quality, particle pollution, and groups at risk. Apparently the grades are based on the number of orange, red, and purple days which measure the healthiness (or in this case unhealthiness) of the air.

According to the report for Maine, Washington County has the best ozone quality with a 'C' grade and Hancock and York counties both share an 'F.' (Aroostook, Piscataquis, and Somerset counties didn't receive grades due to not having any data or maybe they don't have air there.) All of Maine struggled with the High Ozone Days but did very well in respect to particle pollution.

Here in Cumberland County, our ozone air got a solid 'D' and our particle pollution grade was an 'A.' Here is the summary:

In the Sun

Yesterday's high temperature of 92 degrees (33 Celsius) was some sort of record in Portland and was the first time it hit 90 in over a year.

Seagulls enjoying the weather

And some people enjoying the weather on the Eastern Prom

Looking into the Past: Up Congress Street

Looking 'up' congress street. This is taken from almost the same location as this picture, just looking in the opposite direction. I've posted shots in this direction before, and I assure you that it looks almost exactly the same today, which is a good thing. I do wish we had a trolley though.

In other local news, I hear it's supposed to be in the 80's (~26 Celsius) today! It will then settle down to a more comfortable and seasonally correct average temperature of 60 for the rest of the week.

Sandwich Shop

Sure was a nice weekend for a bike ride (that's not my bike in the picture) to the old port for a a sandwich. 

Also, Original Portland has a nice summary and link to the Press Herald's story this weekend concerning the Franklin Arterial. It had some great 'before and after' photos of the arterial's path of destruction. The city is hosting a public workshop on Wednesday about the future of the arterial that looks pretty neat.  Also make yourself familiar with the Franklin Reclamation Authority's website. 

Light on the water

A nice touristy shot of Bug Light in South Portland for today.

Also, I wish I thought of this, a google maps alphabet hunt.

Studio One

Studio One is a snazzy salon on Middle Street, in the Old Port. I was bored so I greyed out all the brick and left the window display in color. 

Also, this feed is in my 'blog list' to the right, but I will post a link here also. Check out yesterday's neat post on the Munjoy Hill News blog, called "Did you know?" This post (in a multi-post series) looks at the origins of a few street names around town. Did you know that Kellogg Street was named after a local pastor, and not a breakfast cereal brand? You do now. 

Floating Observatory?

This shot was taken from the Bug Light Park in South Portland, which offers some terrific views of the Portland skyline and surrounding harbor. I've posted many pictures from this location and will surely continue to do so. Here is a similar shot to the one above, showing how the shot was accomplished. I simply lowered my camera to the ground and the observatory in the distance was the only object peeking over the sidewalk. 

Decked

The new 135 Sheridan St. Condos seem to be finished, now through April 30th you can get a 'free' gas fireplace if you purchase a unit through their website. As you can also kind of see, Portland Trails has done some nice landscaping to connect Sheridan Street to the North Street Park/scenic outlook. 

Bicycle

A cyclist makes his way around Portland's Back Cove. 

Looking for a bike? I am. Some (there may be more I don't know of) of the Bike shops around town include: Gorham Bike and Ski, Back Bay Bicycle, Cycle Mania, Allspeed Bicycle and Ski, Peak Performance Multisport, Eastern Mountain Sports, and Ernie's Cycle Shop. 

Also be sure to check out the website for the Portland Bike Commuting group and the annual Bike Swap at USM this Saturday. 

West End = Best End

I don't know what this is all about. I'm sure the East Ender's have a different opinion. 

Edit: Thanks for the comment Matthew! This picture is of part of the 'Captcha the Flag II' event, billed as "(an) epic city-wide battle for directional superiority." Check out the event on facebook.

Milk & Exchange Streets

Looking down Milk Street to Exchange Street in the heart of the Old Port. It is almost summer and soon these streets will be full with tourists from Quebec, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and many other states and provinces. 

 

If they ever renamed Exchange Street (why?!), they could probably call it 'Buy Local Street.'

West End Neighborhood

Just a few shots around the West End, which can not be adequately captured by just 4 pictures but this is a good start. Most of my photos focus on the 'downtown' or 'commercial' areas so I figure I should also share some of the great residential areas on Portland as well.

My Blog List

I hope everyone is in the habit of checking my 'my blog list' in the right column, which captures the latest posts from my favorite local blogs. Here are a few of the sites I've recently added to my list that you should check out:

http://portlandfoodcoma.blogspot.com/

http://munjoyhillnews.wordpress.com/

http://midcoastcollective.blogspot.com/

Also, http://www.overheardinportland.blogspot.com/

Have a nice weekend everyone!

The Big Sky

Big Sky looks down on all the people looking up at the Big Sky

Today's post is brought to you by The Kinks. 

Looking into the Past: West on Congress

I don't know if anyone here visits my flickr regularly (and vice versa), but this has been my most popular shot over there. Enjoy! I look forward to doing more of these photos once the leaves start appearing on the trees and it becomes warm enough to wander around without a jacket on. 

Around the Peninsula - April 14

A lot of blogs have nice weekly/monthly/daily round-ups and I've considered doing something similar here. Here is a test run for you. I will highlight some things happening around Portland that might be of interest. If no one hates the idea, I might do this once every week or two.

From the Press Herald, "Downtown Downeaster in Portland?" A look at a topic being discussed by city councilors concerning extending the Amtrak's route down Commercial Street by the marine terminal. It would bring those travelling by train closer to the downtown/old port area than the current station which is very nice but not very pedestrian friendly for those trying to get downtown.

Thanks to Hillytown for the tip about the inaugural Tower of Song Festival which will take place near the end of May. Sign up now as a vendor or to volunteer. Should be fun!

When I get home I will post a few of my favorite photos of Portland taken this week by people other than myself (Can't get on flickr at work). Check back later in this spot.

Safe Harbor

The sail boats are part of a Sail Maine class. A Casco Bay ferry is coming in from the islands on the left, Bug Light sits center, and an oil tanker (safe from Pirates in friendly Casco Bay) is on the far right. 

Overpass

From here you can see the old railroad tracks (and Deering Oaks) spotted in yesterday's post. This is from Deering Avenue as it passed over I-295. In case you missed the last time I linked to this, here is the article on the Rights of Way blog with some good suggestions for replacing this scar in Portland's urban fabric. 

Behind the walls

A few shots from behind Hadlock Field, home of the Sea Dogs. 

The train  tracks that run behind here are on the same line as those that run (used to run) through the Bayside neighborhood and out behind Deering Oaks. 

It was an April morning...

Some early bloomers

And a nice west end street

Words on walls

This photo goes along with Yesterday's article on graffiti in the Press Herald. 

537 Congress

A nice old building, now gound floor retail and lofts above. Source of old photo

Check out the Looking into the Past group on Flickr here.

Flashback - April 2008

Let's take a short look back at a year ago, April 2008. Here are three of my top shots from that month:

Check out the rest of April 2008 here, or any other month and year by clicking somewhere in the 'blog archive' widget on the right hand side, just below my blog list area.

Maine College of Art

Some sort of artistic event at MECA during the last First Friday Art Walk.

Just a heads up: I got the post dates to show up again, hurrah. I also added a new poll to the right so feel free to vote if you feel like it.

Munjoy Eats

Rosemont Market and Hilltop Coffee on a quiet afternoon. I waited around for some pedestrian action but no luck. Anyhow, I endorse both establishments. Rosemont Market Bakery also has a location on Brighton Ave. in the Rosemont neighborhood of Portland.

Woodford's Corner

I really liked the sky in this one. I didn't like all of the telephone lines but I also wasn't bave enough to stand in the middle of this busy intersection to get them out of the frame.

This shot is noteworthy for the fact that I rarely venture off of Portland's peninsula. The red dot below marks to location of this intersection. Perhaps as the weather improves I will make it out there more often.

Osher Map Library, USM

The Osher Map Library at the University of Southern Maine appears to be complete from the outside. The inside is empty as of today but it looks like a great space. It is set to open this September, possibly to coincide with the start of the school year. The building is designed by Koetter Kim & Associates of Boston. From the library's website:

During the next few months the collections will be returned from offsite storage and installed in the new two story vault. New shelving, flat files and globe cases were funded by a Stabilizing Humanities Collections Grant of $466,009 from NEH. 

 

The new building is clad with etched aluminum panels depicting Buckminster Fuller's dymaxion projection of the world.

This is looking down Durham Street, Oakhurst Dairy is on the left, and the USM Portland campus is straight ahead and mostly to the right.

This is looking at the geographical center of campus. They recently made the parking lot a bit smaller and did some great landscaping on Bedford Street, but I strongly urge those responsible for this type of stuff to remove about 90% more of this parking lot and create some sort of 'college looking green area in the middle of campus.' The photo was taken from the behemoth parking garage that was completed a few years ago and there is enough space for all students and staff in this garage. 

Crowd

Whenever I find myself at this exact spot and have a camera in my hand, I feel compelled take a picture. When there are a lot of people out and about it makes it look like Portland is much bigger than it really is.

What time is it?

I'm quite sure there used to be a clock here pretty recently. The other side is covered up as well. Maybe the timepiece is in the shop or something? 

Narrow Gauge

A view from the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad yard.

PS - For the last week I've been trying to figure out where my 'post dates' have gone. It looks like they are there in the page's HTML and they aren't invisibly colored or anything. Hmm. 

Commercial Streeting

Some shots from a stroll down Commercial Street recently. I hope the sun comes out again someday.

I'm not sure exactly what these folks were protesting but I do agree that 'lousy food' is a 'bad policy' for a restaurant. 

Why don't they build 'em like this anymore?

More working waterfront!

Also, don't forget that today is FIRST FRIDAY. 

Maine Red Claws

Looks like my support of this name a few weeks ago (see here) helped make it the winner! (Or maybe it was just most tolerable / least lame of the choices given)

From the team's website:

Portland, ME (April 2, 2009) – NBA Maine of the NBA Development League today announced that the team, which will begin play in the 2009-10 season will be called the Maine Red Claws, as determined by a fan vote. After one month of voting, 2,943 fans submitted their vote and selected the Red Claws as the team’s name. The Maine Red Claws are working on logo designs and plan to unveil their new logo in the near future. The name was unveiled this morning by Red Claws team president and General Manager Jon Jennings on The Big Jab, the team’s flagship radio station.

Here is the (thankfully!) temporary logo:


See a story on this on the Press Herald site too.

Hot Dog

Mark is all set up, maybe it is summer already?

Reds

I'm sure it's enjoyable to give parking violation tickets to cars like this.

Weather

It has been rainy lately, it must be spring!