So how about some places to avoid? (Portland, Lewiston: crime, houses)

[mainebrokerman]

Originally Posted by coffeebean29

Lewiston...stay far away!

coffe,,,there use to be quite a few jokes about lewiston when i growing up,,,but now, living a few towns over, there are parts of lewiston are really nice..

[quiet walker]

Originally Posted by elston

There was an independant movie called "The Spitfire Grill" about a city family that wins a little cafe in a northern maine town and their adventures and misadventures in adjusting to the move. I havent seen it for years but dispite being a bit contrived, I really liked it.

Thanks for the revue just ordered it from net flix.

[elston]

I just read the synopsis of the movie and I was a bit mixed up about the plot but the setting is a fictitous town in northern maine and involves a resturant, and a lottery. It isnt a family that is central; it is a young woman with a past and the townfolk judgemental suspicion of her and how it all works out. I hope you like it; I think you will. It is definately drama not comedy--and if I recall at time the plot is a bit contrived. I liked it.

[Petertherock]

It's funny you are talking about Lewiston when there was just a murder there. Not that there is anything funny about a murder but it just goes to show that Maine isn't as safe as people make it out to be.

http://www.wcsh6.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=75149 (broken link)

[msina]

Ya know,... it's a sad, sad thing. Perhaps you should read the news from around the country. It happens far too frequently in far to many places.

[K-Luv]

Originally Posted by Petertherock

It's funny you are talking about Lewiston when there was just a murder there. Not that there is anything funny about a murder but it just goes to show that Maine isn't as safe as people make it out to be.

http://www.wcsh6.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=75149 (broken link)

A murder is one too many, but I wouldn't get so worked up over the safety factor. From my research it seems as if the few murders that take place in Maine usually involve people who know each other and is generally not something random.

[Petertherock]

While I will agree that when compared to other areas in the country Maine is relatively safe there is still crime in this state and like any area there are places you should avoid...particularly in the bigger cities like Portland and Lewiston. I would also pretty much avoid the whole city of Westbrook. They didn't even want to tear down some of the crack houses to build a Wal Mart because it would ruin the character of the area. That was about the biggest laugh I heard in a long time.

[quiet walker]

Originally Posted by elston

I just read the synopsis of the movie and I was a bit mixed up about the plot but the setting is a fictitous town in northern maine and involves a resturant, and a lottery. It isnt a family that is central; it is a young woman with a past and the townfolk judgemental suspicion of her and how it all works out. I hope you like it; I think you will. It is definately drama not comedy--and if I recall at time the plot is a bit contrived. I liked it.

Thank You, I _love_ movies and look forward to enjoying this one. Recently retired I am going to finally have time to enjoy them. This deserves to be in a new thread - but I don't know how to do that at the moment. I spent a lot of time in the forum FAQ's yesterday and didn't cover that topic.

I suppose that Spitfire Grill will at least not be as scary as the new movie "Mist" by Maine's Stephen King I looked at imdb dot com and found some information and photos. A reviewer said "...It makes you feel like you are in this small little town, getting to know all the people. I've never lived in a small town, but this is like Hometown America. It was tragic, funny, sad, romantic, and just the place you would want to visit..."

BTW, you said you said you read a synopsis - perhaps you are a movie person - this is totally out of the blue - but perchance you might help me with a movie search. I saw it in the late 80's. Don't know the movie name and the actress' name is just out of reach too - she is well known. Fragments of the plot - An aunt (?) who is slightly a free spirit comes to take care of two (?) children in a rural home after their mother (?) dies or is gone. There is a lovely scene where there is a flood and the aunt is walking in knee deep water in the house. A closet door opens and several little pots float out. The aunt uses a broom to gently herd the floating pots back into the closet.

I tried everything I could in imdb - no luck. Anyways, Best Regards, qw

[elston]

Oh Dear, quiet walker, I don't recognize the scene gems you recall; but now I am on a mission, If I find anything, I will let you know. It sounds like a part that Shirley McClain could play, or Sally Fields, or any number of character actresses. I have heard the expression, "like trying to herd cats" never floating pots and pans.

[quiet walker]

Originally Posted by elston

Oh Dear, quiet walker, I don't recognize the scene gems you recall; but now I am on a mission, If I find anything, I will let you know. It sounds like a part that Shirley McClain could play, or Sally Fields, or any number of character actresses. I have heard the expression, "like trying to herd cats" never floating pots and pans.

I found it Thanks to your clue "character actress" WooHoo!!!

"Housekeeping" Christine Lahti Housekeeping (1987)

I forgot this was when I was on a Bill Forsythe (director, writer) trip.

There is no synopsis but there is the movie trailer. Oh thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, and did I say "Thank You." I highly recommend this film and Bill Forsyth's films as well. With Christmas coming up I also highly recommend another gem "Comfort and Joy"

Thank You - and enjoy your Thanksgiving