Tulips on the Western Prom

One of the scenic plantings of tulips on the Western Promenade:

Morning Street in Spring

Signs of spring on Munjoy Hill. 

Smooth Sailing

Portland's central skyline from South Portland. The reflections from the unusually calm water caught my eye. 

And the view in the opposite direction, of some scenic oil tanks and their reflections.

Cedar Street House

A house and its fence on Cedar Street in the Bayside neighborhood. I really like the colors in this one, which are due to the bright sun setting just out of the frame. 

Sunset Over Parkside

A pretty sunset over Deering Street. (Yes, taken from my apartment). 

Tate House

The Tate House Museum in Portland's Stroudwater Village neighborhood. According to the museum's website, the house was constructed in 1755 for Captain George Tate, who was a Senior Mast Agent for the Royal British Navy.  It is the only pre-revolutionary home open to the public in Greater Portland and it offers an insightful glimpse of 18th century life in Colonial Maine. Check out the museum's website for more info. 

Reader Photos (Round II) - April 2012

I've gotten a ton of photo submissions from readers lately, thanks! I truly enjoy seeing other people's perspectives of this city and am glad I have the opportunity to share them with my viewers.

Some of these were submitted to me via email and some were uploaded to the Portland Daily Photo Flickr Group. Since I got multiple submissions from some people, I will try keep it fair and post one photo from each contributor in this post. Here we go, in no particular order:

"Proselytizing." Taken in Tommy's Park by Flickr user maine_mike.  

By Flickr user TimothyPatrickMcMahon. Taken on a trail between the Ocean Ave dog park and the old city dump.

Untitled, by Flickr user george weatherbee.  A dramatic view towards Congress Square. 

"Portland Skate Park," by Flickr user wayupstream.  I have to check this place out someday. 

"Maquoit II," by Zach Beane on Flickr. 

"A Day of Winter," by Brandt Hatala. 

Cruising the East End, by Nick Power. This photo features the Flowfold Ipad Sleeve, which made out of recycled sailcloth and is produced locally on Peaks Island. 

"Never Enough," by Elizabeth Goodine. Taken outside of a watch shop on Exchange Street.

"Cake," by Flickr user Tom Whitney Photography. Taken on Wharf Street.

Before and After: Baxter Library Building

Here's a before and after set of Congress Street, looking West from Congres Square:

Photo via the Library of Congress website. 

From a similar spot, taken by me. 

I love the plentiful street trees and the trolley system present in the before photo. The ornate brick building on the right is the Baxter Library building. It was built in 1900 and housed the main branch of the Portland Public Library system until the late 1970's when it moved to it's current location in Monument Square. The Joanne Waxman Library, part of the Maine College of Art, occupied the building from the 70's until 2000 when it consolidated with the rest of MECA in the Porteous building.  Upon completion of a beautiful restoration project in 2010, the Via Agency moved into the building and is still going strong.

Spring on Lower Exchange

Some wide angle action on Exchange Street:

Lobster Door Knocker

Spotted on Park Street.

Free Fridays

The Portland Museum of Art has free admission every Friday evening, not just on Friday Friday, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. (made possible through the generous support of L.L.Bean and Patricia and Cyrus Hagge). Here's a couple photos from the museum.

The main lobby area.

Looking out a dirty window toward Congress Square. 

Underpass

A colorless view of Veranda Street, the section where I-295 passes overhead. 

Congress Street Foliage

Some more springtime scenes on Congress Street:

In front of Portland City Hall

First Parish Church

Eastern Cemetery in Bloom

Some beautiful trees in bloom inside the Eastern Cemetery. 

Looking Up

A couple looking up at one of Portland's ugliest and most insulting buildings, located on Cumberland Avenue. The building houses telecommunications equipment for Fairpoint Communications, I believe. I'm still not sure what they were looking at, which I find adds to the charm of the photo.

Mackworth Island

Last weekend I stopped by Mackworth Island in Falmouth for some photos. As noted on the Portland Trails page for the Mackworth Island Trail, the 1.25 mile loop around the island, the island was once the home of James Phinney Baxter and son (and Maine Governor in the 1920's) Percival Baxter. The island is currently the home of the Baxter School for the Deaf.

Sit and Swing.

The Western Shore

Rocky coastline. Munjoy Hill is in the background.

Zooming back towards Munjoy Hill and the Eastern Promenade.

Zoomed southward towards Fort Gorges and Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth.

Dramatic portrait of my bicycle on the causeway that connects Mackworth Island to mainland Falmouth.

Flea For All - Now Open!

The much anticipated Portland Flea For All is now open! The Flea is located at 125 Kennebec Street, in the heart of Bayside and will be open every Saturday and Sunday from 10am-5pm. I had a photographic preview of the space a couple weeks ago, and as promised made it out to opening day for a couple more pictures of everything in action. I was amazed/happy to see so many people wandering around the neighborhood and checking out this excellent addition to Portland's buy-local economy. 

Flea For All front entrance.

1st Floor

2nd Floor

Modern

Facade of the Hilton Garden Inn Portland Downtown Waterfront on Commercial Street. 

Munjoy Hill Sunset

A winter sunset over Munjoy Hill. Taken from across the harbor in South Portland:

Martin's Point Marine Hospital

Here are some photos of the former Marine Hospital on Martin's Point. This brick Italianate building dates back to the late 1850's and was beautifully renovated a couple of years ago. The building is now part of Martin's Point Health Care. 

The West side of the building.

East Side of the building.

Viewed from Mackworth Island. 

Fire Escape

Fire escape on the backside of some Monument Square buildings. 

I'm Looking Through You

An empty boat at the East End Beach boat launch.

Outtakes - April 1-7, 2012

As I often say, I take a lot of photos that I don't end up posting here. It's always better to take too many photos of a scene than not enough, and that means I delete a lot of photos that don't quite "make the cut." Here are some "outtakes" from photos I posted the previous week. I've been meaning to start doing this for a while now, so this week is as good as any.

Fire Hydrant on Thompson's Point

Thompson's Point, random Junk

Alternate view from the old train tunnel.

Looking out towards Bayside from the new Portland Flea For All.