31. Second Time Around
City: Portland, ME
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (207) 772-0010
Address: 367 Fore Street
Description: In 2009, the consignment store Second Time Around opened a second location around the corner from its original spot in the Old Port. A consignment store for the frugal professional, here you’ll find discount designer sweaters, shirts, jackets, and pants, as well as a selection of shoes and handbags and a rack of used designer jeans. The Exchange Street location carries the store’s designer offerings, and the Fore Street location carries more casual threads. Most of the clothing and accessories here are for women, though there is a small section for men at the Fore Street store.
32. Nelson Rarities, Inc.
City: Portland, ME
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (800) 882-3150
Description: Founded by Andrew Nelson, a fine-arts major from Harvard University, Nelson Rarities specializes in antique and estate jewelry. In particular, Nelson features high-quality vintage rings, including Asscher-cut diamonds. The jeweler also sells men’s and sporting jewelry. Call ahead for an appointment.
City: Portland, ME
Category: Shopping
Address: 20 Myrtle Street
34. Portland Performing Arts Center
City: Portland, ME
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (207) 774-0465 (tickets)
Description: The Portland Performing Arts Center is located in a brick building on a busy downtown through-way lined with restaurants and shops. The main theater here is the home of Portland Stage Company, the professional theater troupe that owns and operates the arts center. Portland Stage often hosts guest performers from New York City and beyond. The main theater is small (it seats only 290 people), so performances have an acutely intimate atmosphere. The center also contains a studio theater, which is available for short-run performances, one-act plays, or guest artists, as well as troupes unaffiliated with Portland Stage.
35. St. Lawrence Arts And Community Center
City: Portland, ME
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (207) 775-5568
Address: 76 Congress Street
Description: The St. Lawrence Arts and Community Center is located in half of the former St. Lawrence Street Chapel (which dates back to 1854), on the top of Munjoy Hill. The other half of the building is still mired in renovations and fund-raising for said renovations. In the meantime, the 110-seat Parish Hall is up and running, and the nonprofit group that owns the space attracts an eclectic lineup of musicians, performance artists, and theater and dance troupes. The St. Lawrence is friend to all things original and funky. In 2004 the Portland Phoenix recognized the originality of the performances here and called the “rebirth” of the St. Lawrence Arts and Community Center one of the five most significant state arts events in the last five years.
36. One Longfellow Square
City: Portland, ME
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (207) 761-1757
Address: 181 State Street
Description: In 2006 the space that had housed concerts for the Center for Cultural Exchange was sold and transformed into One Longfellow Square, a spare, simple venue that allows the night’s artist to define the mood. One Longfellow showcases an impressive mix of local, national, and international acts, including world-renowned folk, Latin American, and African musicians. The hardwood floor here is sometimes cleared of its folding chairs to allow for dancing, and there’s always the balcony for a clear view of the small stage. Coffee, wine, beer, and light snacks are available in the lobby here.
37. Port City Music Hall
City: Portland, ME
Category: Shopping
Address: 504 Congress Street
Description: With a maximum capacity of 660 people standing, Port City Music Hall near Monument Square is an important new addition to the local live music scene. Port City brings respected musicians from all genres to its 1970s lounge-like space, which has a full bar and a light food menu and can be arranged with row seating or four-top tables depending on the act.
38. New Dance Studio
City: Portland, ME
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (207) 780-0554
Address: 61 Pleasant Street
Description: The New Dance Studio features modern dance performances year-round by local and professional choreographers. The troupe often performs at the Portland Performing Arts Center in downtown Portland. New Dance also runs the Center for Dance Development, which offers a two-week residency for emerging choreographers from Maine and beyond. New Dance is a relatively new troupe, but the group is quickly making a name for itself for producing exceptional contemporary dance performances. It’s worth keeping your eyes peeled for New Dance performance announcements in the local papers.
39. Portland Ballet Company
City: Portland, ME
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (207) 772-9671
Address: 517 Forest Avenue, Suite 2
Description: The Portland Ballet Company was founded in 1985. This small, classically oriented company is directed by Eugenia L. O’Brien and has performed full-length classic ballet pieces as well as modern works. It was the first ballet company to premiere in Portland and the first to work with internationally acclaimed dancers. The annual Victorian Nutcracker, which sets the famous ballet on a stage modeled after Portland’s Victoria Mansion, is the performance for which the company is perhaps best known. Portland Ballet also hosts a dance school for children and adults.
40. Maine Jewish Film Festival
City: Portland, ME
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (207) 831-7495
Description: The Maine Jewish Film Festival runs in the spring and features some two dozen short and feature-length films by Jewish filmmakers and/or about Jewish culture. The films are screened at venues in downtown Portland (usually including the Portland Museum of Art, One Longfellow Square, and Nickelodeon Cinemas), and tickets are available by the show or for the entire festival. Opening and closing galas mark the weeklong event. Tickets for individual screenings cost $8 for adults, $6 for students under 18 and seniors over 65.
41. Acoustic Artisans
City: Portland, ME
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (207) 749-1279
Description: Acoustic Artisans builds violins, guitars, and other stringed instruments, and also hosts bluegrass and other live music jams and workshops in guitar and violin making. The staff includes world-class violin maker Jon Cooper, who was trained in Cremona, Italy, by luthier Gregg Alf before launching his violin making career in Maine 25 years ago. Acoustic Artisans is open Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Appointments are recommended.
42. Aucocisco Galleries
City: Portland, ME
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (207) 775-2222
Address: 89 Exchange Street
Description: Opened in 2000 by Maine College of Art graduate Andy Versoza, Aucocisco is a contemporary fine art gallery that features mid-career artists and some emerging artists. All of the artists in Aucocisco have a connection to Maine, either personally or as an inspiration for their visual style. The name Aucocisco comes from English explorer John Smith’s approximation of the Native American name for Casco Bay. The gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday noon to 5 p.m.
43. Earth And Soul Gallery
City: Portland, ME
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (207) 775-1089
Address: 34 Washington Avenue
Description: Earth and Soul Gallery features pottery from owner Sarah Sorenson-Coppi and indigenous artwork from local and international artists, with special emphasis on artists from Africa and Colombia. All objects from indigenous artists are fairly traded. The gallery’s hours change by the month, so call ahead or check out its Web site for more information.
44. Fore Street Gallery
City: Portland, ME
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (207) 874-8084, (877) 874-8084
Address: 372 Fore Street
Description: The Fore Street Gallery opened in 1998 and features framed artwork by 20 artists as well as matted originals, prints, and photographs. Artwork here depicts Maine’s landscape, coast, and surf and ranges from lighthouse scenes to depictions of ocean kayaking. The gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
45. Greenhut Galleries
City: Portland, ME
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (207) 772-2693, (888) 772-2693
Address: 146 Middle Street
Description: Native New Yorker Peggy Greenhut Golden opened Greenhut Galleries in 1977, years before the Old Port enjoyed the arts renaissance that it is now known for. Golden continues to spearhead this local gallery giant, which is the oldest year-round gallery in the city. Greenhut represents more than 20 artists and artists’ estates, and the gallery hosts monthly exhibits and receptions for featured artists. The paintings and sculpture featured here range from the realistic to the abstract. The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.