Portland is home to over 365 restaurants.  The city is a foodie’s paradise, as there’s no shortage of amazing eateries.  My favorite place for high end dining in town is Street and Co.  On average I eat there twice a year with my family to celebrate a birthday or special occasion.

The Atmosphere

Located on one of Portland’s cobblestone streets lined with brick buildings, you almost feel like you’re walking back in time, as no cars are allowed down the drive after a certain hour.  Upon entering the restaurant one walks down a narrow hall before arriving at the hostess stand.  The place is dimly lit but when seated it’s bright enough, so you don’t have to struggle to read your menu.  The staff is friendly and professional.  ⅓ of the restaurant is reserved for walk-ins starting at 5 pm.  If you choose this option, the earlier you go the better.  Especially in the summer, I recommend making a reservation, so you don’t have to fight with tourists for a table.

The Menu

The menu at Street and Co. changes weekly.  The chef works with the highest quality, freshest ingredients available.

Start off with a couple “Tastes.”  Tastes are 2-3 bite dishes providing you with, well, just a taste.  How does “Marinated Organic Zucchini with Dill, Local Feta and Heirloom Tomato” sound?

Next move to Salads and Appetizers.  I recommend picking an appetizer that comes in a broth.  Street and Co. bakes their own bread and it’s delicious when soaked in, for example, a white wine sauce.  I ate at Street and Co. in May and had the best salad of my life.  Arugula with blood orange wedges, pecorino romano cheese, and prosciutto.  Delicious.

Entrees are all served “in the pan.”  Talk about fresh! You’re served in the same dish your meal is cooked in.  I’m very much a creature of habit and always order the same thing for an entree – Sole Francaise.  It’s a house specialty and is always on the menu.  Lightly coated sole cooked in a lemon butter of sorts, the fish practically melts in your mouth.

Have Your Cake, and Eat it Too…but not at Street and Co.

Street and Co. does offer dessert, but after sitting in the same spot for an hour and a half, I’m usually ready for a change of scenery.  Right across from Street and Co. lies the Bar of Chocolate.   It’s an intimate spot with an impressive drink list and the best cheesecake I’ve ever had, among a plethora of other desserts.  Whether you’re looking to top off the night with an espresso or experience a peanut butter martini, you won’t be disappointed.

Maine may run on Dunkin, but Portland is home to many other coffeehouses.  I am a strong believer in supporting local businesses, so although you can’t beat the efficiency of a drive-thru window, drive-thru coffee doesn’t offer the ambiance and quality downtown coffeehouses do.

Check out my top 3 favorite places to grab a cup of joe (or a nice latte) in the Port City!

Coffee By Design (CBD)

CBD has four locations in Portland, but you’ll find their roasts served in restaurants across Maine.  Roasted in Portland on Diamond Street (by Marginal Way), CBD creates some awesome blends.  My personal favorite is the Organic Girl Blend developed by the female members of the roastery crew.

Arabica Coffee

Arabica is my favorite place in the city to grab a cup of joe.  I prefer the Commercial Street location because you can’t beat overlooking Casco Bay while you sip on a maple latte – a specialty at Arabica.  The Commercial Street location also has tons of seating.  I hate walking or driving to a coffeehouse with the intention of studying for a while and not being able to find a seat, but I’ve never run into that problem at Arabica.

Bard Coffee

Bard Coffee’s slogan speaks to my inner English major – “a story in every cup.”  I just love that!  Their lattes are truly a work of art.  You know a place is good when it’s always busy, as is Bard.  Grab a spot at the bar-like seating in the front of the shop overlooking Middle Street; the people watching is superb.

I often hear millennials describe Portland as a “hipster” town.  Walk down Exchange Street in the Old Port, and no doubt, these hippie vibes come alive when you see Mexicali Blues. Their wares include clothing, jewelry, home décor, and accessories, but, I promise, it’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before.

Mexicali actually has two stores in the Old Port across from each other.  One focuses on jewelry, the other on clothing, but both are stocked with eccentricities.  I’ll focus on the clothing store for specifics in this post.

Named after the Grateful Dead song, Mexicali Blues, the store originated in Newcastle, ME out of “a love of music, a passion for travel, and a mindful devotion to fun.”  You’ll find locations in downtown Bangor and on route 302 in Raymond, but never at mainstream, corporate locations such as the Maine Mall (possibly my least favorite place in Maine to shop – support local businesses everyone!).  Grateful Dead motif doesn’t stop at the store name.  You’ll find merchandise with custom Grateful Dead logos; instead of the characteristic skull with lightweight bolt you’ll find a scull with a Maine outline.

Have you ever felt like going for a hike but don’t want to drive a long distance?  Thanks to Portland Trails you don’t have to.

Portland Trails maintains 70 miles of trails and green space right here in Portland – a network spanning the entire city.  A private nonprofit land trust, Portland Trails is supported by members, donors, and sponsors making trail use free (FREE!) to the public.  Most trails are dog friendly; in fact, I’ve never walked one of the trails and not seen a dog.

The trails are accessible year-round.  To me they’re just as awesome in the winter as in the summer.  The City of Portland plows some trails in the winter, like the Boulevard, but others are simply packed down by cross-country skiers and snowshoes.

Portland Trails is another thing I’ve grown up with.  I live in the North Deering area of Portland and my backyard connects to the Presumpscot River Preserve.  In the winter when all leaves have fallen off the trees, I’m so close to the trail I can see people walking the trail from my bedroom window.  In 10 minutes, I can be at a trail junction.  Turning right brings me past rapids and into Falmouth.  Turning left connects me to the Sebago to the Sea trail – a trail connecting Sebago Lake to Casco Bay.

The trails are a great way to get some exercise when I don’t feel like going to hot yoga class or running on the treadmill.  Sometimes when I’m studying and need to clear my head, I’ll head out for a 30 minute walk or so.

I’m often amazed that I’m still in Portland and not, say, in the White Mountain when I pass the rapids of the Presumpscot River and can’t hear any other sounds.  It allows you to feel completely immersed in nature – an irreplaceable feeling.

Take advantage of the glorious summer weather and get outside!  Not looking to escape the city? No problem! Head on over to the Back Cove Trail, most commonly referred to by locals as the Boulevard.

Maintained by Portland Trails (more on this tomorrow – stay tuned), the Boulevard is Portland’s most popular trail.  Bordering, you guessed it, Back Cove and even crossing Tukey’s Bridge at one point, the Boulevard is a dog-friendly 3.6 mile loop for use by walkers, runners, and bikers.  Though it’s Portland’s most popular trail, don’t be turned away.  I’ve walked it well over 50 times in my life and have never felt like it’s crowded.  There are multiple parking lots.  A sizeable one across from Hannaford on Back Cove by Marginal Way and 1 by Payson Park – both easily accessible locations with ample space.  The Boulevard is a primarily level, gravel path.  Some people, like myself, choose to walk it clockwise while others go counterclockwise.  It’s open year round, and I can’t say one season is particularly better to walk it in than others.  I love all of Maine’s seasons, so it’s super hard for me to choose.  Portland Trails maintains it, and enough people traverse it, you don’t have to worry about it being too icy or buried with snow in the winter.

My one warning is look out for the occasional benefit walk or race.  Parts of the path narrow and it’s no fun shrinking against a fence as 100 people come towards you racing to end Alzheimer’s or cancer.  It’s great to show support though, especially if you’re participating.  I supported my cousins at the Presumpscot School 5K Run/Walk & 1 mile family fun run last Saturday.  My cousins came in 1^st and 2^nd for the age group/gender, so I was feeling very proud of both of them.

The trail offers beautiful views of the Portland skyline, offering a unique vantage point.  I think any local will cross paths with the Boulevard at some point in their lives.  This trail has always been a part of my life.  I still look for the Minnie Mouse sunglasses I lost their when I was 3 and being pushed in a stroller most of the way.  When I played field hockey at Cheverus High School, my team would have to run the boulevard multiple times per day for captain’s practices in the summer.  My best friend and I were looking for something to do where we’d be able to talk and not spend money, so we walked the boulevard – it takes about an hour to walk.

As long as I live in Portland, the Boulevard will be a part of my life full of memories.  Stay tuned for more about Portland Trails tomorrow!