State Street Bench

From back in October - Looking westward from the corner of State Street and Danforth Street. 

Black and White Christmas

A view of the trees lit up in Tommy's Park. Now we just need some snow.

Food Truck

A Gusto's of Maine food truck parked on Thames Street on Sunday. Here's a story in the Bangor Daily News about the short history of food trucks in Portland. The city started offering food trucks licenses earlier this year. 

Gift Local 2012

In honor of the Christmas shopping season, here are some Portland-themed gifts for that special person on your list. In no particular order (except for the first two!):

Portland, Maine 2013 Calendar by Corey Templeton. Just $24.99 for 12 months of your favorite city!

Check out the professionally printed photos and other products like canvas wraps, magnets, and more  at Corey Templeton Photography. Photos make great gifts and you can get anything on the site for 20% off between now and the end of the year by using code Holidays2012 at checkout. 

I recently stumbled upon this artwork by Andy J. Hunter that combines Portland, Maine with the animated television series Futurama, which sells for just $6.60 for an 8" X 10.2" print:

Check out the weather resistant, durable, and fashionable wallets, bags, and iPad sleeves designed and manufactured in Portland (on Peak's Island) by Flowfold.  The company has been making their goods since 2010 from "high tech racing sailcloth," and their products seem to be catching on. I like the cut of their jib, and so should you. Also note that some Flowfold folk will be at the Picnic Holiday Sale at the Portland Company Complex today.

A Portland institution since 1994, Coffee by Design has a variety of coffee and other goods available in their stores and online. Nothing says "Portland, Maine" like a CBD bumper sticker or coffee mug. 

Portland's own independent book store, Longfellow Books, is still alive and well and books always make a good gift.

Want some more lists of local gifts? Check these out:

Support Portland's Creative Economy with These Locally-Produced Gifts - by LiveWork Portland

Maine Today's Buy Local Gift Guide - by Fore Front Fashion 

Maine Made Holiday Gift Guide: 2012 - Bourbon. Portland. Beer. Politics.

Back in October

I still have plenty of photos from previous months that I never got around to posting. This photo from October is, of course, of Exchange Street. 

Commercial Street Vista

A view of a portion of Commercial Street from this past summer. 

Lobsterman Statue

The Lobsterman (as in someone who catches lobsters for a living, not a half-lobster and half-man superhero) statue at the corner of Middle and Temple Streets in the Old Port. Per this interesting read on the city website, the statue was commissioned for the 1939 New York World's Fair. The Portland copy has been here since 1977 and other copies of this statue exist in Washington, D.C. and in Augusta, Maine. You can learn more about this piece in-person at 5:30pm on Friday, December 7th as part of the "Art in Our Front Yard" series.

A Dusting of Snow

A view up Exchange Street during last weekend's light accumulation of snow.

Reader Photos - December 2012

Time again to share some excellent reader-submitted photos. Want to share your photos with readers of this blog?  Submit your Portland-themed photos to the Portland Daily Photo Flickr Group or the blog's Facebook Page. You can also email a photo or two directly to me.

Casco Bay Tunnel by Sean Flaim. Check out Sean's site here: www.seanthomasflaim.com.

Stroudwater Waterfall by Nancy Ciocca. 

Casco Bay Kayak by Zach Beane

Untitled by Gborn207

Fog by Paul Noble

Portland Harbor - Sunrise Through Rigging by Kvell of It 

Western Prom Sunset Pano by Michelle Doyle

As always, thanks to all the contributors!

Winter Cobblestones

A view of the cobblestones on Fore Street after a light snow.

Sunday Snapshots - Dec. 2, 2012

Here are some recent cell phone snapshots. You can follow me on Instagram under username coreytempleton or by click here: Instagram.com/coreytempleton.

Civic Center Love

City from Bug Light

South Portland side of Veterans Bridge

Three Red Pipes

Dressing Longfellow

The Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Statue, conveniently located in Longfellow Square, being decorated for the holidays.