Events - March 2008

Featured March Event: March 14 – May 9, 2008: Portland Maine Streets: Selections from the Photographic Archives of the Penobscot Marine Museum The Eastern Illustrating and Publishing Company of Belfast was a postcard manufacturing firm active from 1909 -1947. Founded by Herman Cassens of Rockland, the firm was, at one point, the largest manufacturer of photo postcards in the United States. The visual legacy of that company, more than 30,000 original glass plate negatives, now reside in the photographic archives of the Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport. Featured are remarkable scenes of Main Streets in various communities throughout the state of Maine. Taken between 1910 and 1940, these images reveal fascinating glimpses into the architecture, businesses, people, modes of transportation, and way of life in Maine during the first half of the 20th century. Join the Museum in celebrating the opening of this exhibition on view at the Acadia Trust, NA offices in Portland with an opening reception on March 14 from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm. For more information contact Kim Fleming, 207-548-2529 ext. 208. www.penobscotmarinemuseum.org March 6 - March 29, 2008: Portland John Whalley - Mementos: Drawings and Paintings An artist of painstaking precision whether working in oils, egg tempera, or graphite, this detail-oriented artist graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design and traveled extensively before settling in Maine. As evidenced by his subject matter, the artist seeks to "discover the beautiful in unlikely places." Besides Greenhut, John also shows at the Spanierman Gallery in New York City. Opening reception: Thursday, March 6, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Artist's Talk: Saturday, March 15, 1:30 pm. Greenhut Galleries, 146 Middle Street, Portland Phone: 207-772-2693; www.greenhutgalleries.com

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This month: March 1, 2008: Arundel Short-handed Sailing: A free lecture & discussion at The Landing School Join renowned solo circumnavigators Josh Hall, Brian Hancock, Bruce Schwab and Rich Wilson at The Landing School. Two major short-handed races are sending sailors offshore this fall. Hear first-hand what new technologies and strategies are involved in making a successful sail around the globe, competing with internationally renowned, record-breaking competitors. Tours of the school will be available after the discussion. 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm. 286 River Road. 207-985-7976; www.landingschool.edu March 1, 2008: Brownfield Portland Chamber Music Festival Back again for an encore performance - Join musicians from the Portland Chamber Music Festival for a mini trip around the globe featuring music from Brazil, Austria, and Czechoslovakia. Featuring flute, cello, violin, and piano, the group will perform the exotic Jet Whistle by Heitor Villa-Lobos, Josef Haydn's jovial Trio in D Major for flute, cello, and piano, and Antonin Dvorak's beloved and songful "Dumky Trio. 8 pm, Stone Mountain Arts Center, 695 Dugway Road, $20. 1-866-227-6523; www.stonemountainartscenter.com March 2, 2008: Brownfield Bill Frisell's Disfarmer Project featuring Greg Leisz and Jenny Scheinman The work of photographer and artist, Disfarmer, has captivated the imagination of the celebrated guitarist and composer Bill Frisell, who has been inspired to write and perform music in concert with multiple projected images from Disfarmer's treasure trove of period portraits. In the small mountain town of Heber Springs, Arkansas, Disfarmer captured the lives and emotions of rural America between 1939-1945. Critics have hailed Disfarmer's remarkable portraits as "a work of artistic genius" and "a classical episode in the history of American photography." Violinist Jenny Scheinman and steel guitarist Greg Leisz will share the stage with Frisell. $65, 7:30 pm, doors open at 6:30. Stone Mountain Arts Center, 695 Dugway Road. 1-866-227-6523; www.stonemountainartscenter.com March 3, 2008: Rockland Country Two-Step Workshop Whether or not you have ever tried a step of this fun, popular dance, you will LOVE this workshop! If you're experienced we will teach you some new styling. $15 per person, intended for couples. Singles will be paired up. 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm. Call Swing & Sway Dancing at 207-594-0940 to RSVP. March 6 - March 29, 2008: Portland John Whalley - Mementos: Drawings and Paintings An artist of painstaking precision whether working in oils, egg tempera, or graphite, this detail-oriented artist graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design and traveled extensively before settling in Maine. As evidenced by his subject matter, the artist seeks to "discover the beautiful in unlikely places." Besides Greenhut, John also shows at the Spanierman Gallery in New York City. Opening reception: Thursday, March 6, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Artist's Talk: Saturday, March 15, 1:30 pm. Greenhut Galleries, 146 Middle Street. 207-772-2693; www.greenhutgalleries.com March 6, 2008: Thomaston Rachmaninoff Festival Choir Concert Rachmaninoff's Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom performed by the Rachmaninoff Festival Choir, combining members of Down East Singers and Bowdoin Chorus under the direction of Anthony Antolini and featuring Anatoli Panchoshny, bass soloist. $15, free for those under 18. 7:30 pm, Watts Hall, Main Street. Email kathy.p@verizon.net for more information. 207-236-2463 March 6, 2008: Rockland James Cotton in concert Grammy Award winner James "Superharp" Cotton is one of the most sought-after, hard-driving, seminal blues musicians touring the world today. Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2006, the Smithsonian Institute in 1991, he has shared the stage with B.B. King, The Rolling Stones, Johnny Winter, the Allman Brothers, Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Led Zeppelin, and Janis Joplin, among many others. Opening for Mr. Cotton, is Samuel James, a fresh talent on the blues scene who is steeped in the traditions of his elders but has already created his own voice that speaks with clarity and pathos to a contemporary audience. $23, 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm, Strand Theatre, 345 Main Street. 207-594-0070; www.rocklandstrand.com March 6, 2008: Boothbay Harbor Armchair Traveler with Chuck House Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library’s third “Armchair Traveler” takes us to South Africa with Chuck House. Chuck managed an orphanage for seven weeks and will be sharing his unique experiences while there. 7:00 pm, 4 Oak Street. Email barbh@bmpl.lib.me.us for more information. 207-633-3112 March 7, 2008: Portland Gleason Fine Art Celebrates new Portland Location during First Friday Art Walk Gleason Fine Art will celebrate the opening of its new Portland location at 545 Congress Street during the upcoming First Friday Art Walk on Friday evening, March 7. Gleason Fine Art, which has been a destination for art lovers in Boothbay Harbor for more than wo decades, focuses on nineteenth through twenty-firstt century paintings and sculpture with an emphasis on Maine. Management of the new gallery in Portland will be a joint effort by owners Dennis and Marty Gleason, Christine Hamilton, and the Gleason's' son Andrew. The Portland location will open with works from some of the gallery's most well-known artists. The Portland location of Gleason Fine Art at 545 Congress Street will be open Wednesday through Friday, 11:00 to 6:00 and Saturday, 11:00 to 5:00. 207-775-2126; www.gleasonfineart.com March 7 – 28, 2008: Bath Legacy of Ships: Maine Boatbuilders Tour Maine Maritime Museum offers four opportunities to tour several of Maine’s premier boatbuilding facilities. Drawing from our Legacy of Ships exhibit, you can explore four contemporary boat manufacturing facilities, each unique in its focus: Hodgdon Yachts, Washburn & Doughty, Richard Pulsifer, Southern Maine Community College Advanced Technology Center. Members $15/Non-Members $20. Fridays, 1:00 pm. More information available from the Maine Maritime Museum. 207-443-1316; www.maritimeme.org March 7, 2008: Boothbay Harbor George Winston Solo on Piano Best known for his rural folk piano style, George Winston has made no secret of the debt his playing owes to the musicians of New Orleans. He plays three styles: R&B piano, stride piano, and folk piano. His only scheduled appearance in Maine in 2008. $25 advance, $28 day of show. The Opera House at Boothbay Harbor, 86 Townsend Ave. 207-633-5159; www.boothbayoperahouse.com March 7, 2008: Rockland “Support for Courtney” Benefit Dinner and Auction A benefit spaghetti dinner and auction is to be held for Courtney Blasius, 23, of Waldoboro, ME who suffered a cardiac arrest and brain damage in September and is currently recovering. The Calliope String Quartet performs from 5:15 – 6:15, followed by a live auction at 6:30. 5:00 - 8:00 pm. $10 for adults, $5 for children at the door. Rockland Lodge of Elks, 210 Rankin St. FOr more information contact Erin Rhoda at 207-691-8864 or erin.rhoda@gmail.com. March 12, 2008: Castine Climate Change Lecture at Maine Maritime Academy Informal student interest group, Student Solutions to Climate Change, will host a lecture by Dr. Paul A. Mayewski, director and professor, Climate Change Institute, University of Maine. The lecture, sponsored in conjunction with the college’s Department of Arts and Sciences, will be held in the Delano Auditorium, located in Leavitt Hall on the college campus. Mayewski, a noted climatologist and explorer, will present his research and views on climate change. His lecture topics will include evidence for climate change, human impact, and future projections. Free, 7:00 pm. For more information contact Maine Maritime Academy. 207-326-4311; http://news.mainemaritime.edu/articles.php?id=163 March 14-16, 2008: Portland Maine Boatbuilders Show A gathering of the finest fiberglass and wooden custom boatbuilders on the East Coast. Also exhibiting will be numerous manufacturers of boating equipment. Sailboats, powerboats, canoes, kayaks, and rowing boats displayed with the builders there to discuss and sell their work. Visit the Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors booth for a free sticker and special pricing on subscriptions! Admission is $15.00 per day at the door. Children under 12 accompanied by adults, free. Friday and Saturday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm. Sunday, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Portland Company Marine Complex, 58 Fore Street. 207-774-1067; www.portlandcompany.com/boatshow March 14 – May 9, 2008: Portland Maine Streets: Selections from the Photographic Archives of the Penobscot Marine Museum The Eastern Illustrating and Publishing Company of Belfast was a postcard manufacturing firm active from 1909 -1947. Founded by Herman Cassens of Rockland, the firm was, at one point, the largest manufacturer of photo postcards in the United States. The visual legacy of that company, more than 30,000 original glass plate negatives, now reside in the photographic archives of the Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport. Featured are remarkable scenes of Main Streets in various communities throughout the state of Maine. Taken between 1910 and 1940, these images reveal fascinating glimpses into the architecture, businesses, people, modes of transportation, and way of life in Maine during the first half of the 20th century. Join the Museum in celebrating the opening of this exhibition on view at the Acadia Trust, NA offices in Portland with an opening reception on March 14 from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm. For more information contact Kim Fleming, 207-548-2529 ext. 208. www.penobscotmarinemuseum.org March 14-16, 2008: Louisville, Kentucky National Houseboat Expo 2008 Join hundreds of exhibitors for their 10th year at the World’s Largest Houseboat Show. A variety of houseboats will be on display with builders on site to answer questions to help guide buyers to the perfect investment. From bumpers to generators and control systems to sanitation products, it will all be at the Expo along with great gadgets, gear, toys, décor, accessory crafts, and much more. If it is houseboat-related, you’ll find it all under the roof of the Expo. Kentucky Fair & Expo Center, 937 Phillips Lane. 208-542-2216; www.nationhouseboatexpo.com March 16, 2008: Rochester, NH Boys of the Lough Celtic super group Boys of the Lough, stars of Carnegie Hall and NPR's Prairie Home Companion, combine traditional Irish melodies, Scottish fiddle music, wit and fun. If you love Natalie MacMaster, you'll REALLY love the Boys. 7:00 pm. $21/$19. Rochester Opera House, 31 Wakefield St. 603-335-1992; www.rochesteroperahouse.com March 17, 2008: South Portland Dave Rowe Trio Maine's Dave Rowe Trio will bring three-part harmony, hot guitar licks and jaw-dropping fiddling to the Thomas Room, South Portland, for a St. Patrick's Day concert. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Maine Irish Heritage Center. $20 individual, $30 per couple. 7:30 pm, The Thomas Room, 729 Broadway. 207-780-0118; www.maineirish.com March 19, 2008: Rockport “Sitting In Style” Chair Auction Join this fund raising auction to benefit the Teen Center of Camden. This unique auction offers one of-a-kind chairs, designed painted and donated by local artists. Guests will enjoy a gourmet wine and cheese reception while bidding on their favorite chairs. $20.00. 6:00 pm, Rockport Opera House. Email for more info at: info@theteencenter.org. 207-230-0866 March 21, 2008: Brunswick Brunswick Contradance and Potluck A swinging contradance to benefit Merrymeeting Community Shares. Live band and caller. Please bring clean shoes for dancing. Pot-luck before the event is free. $8/$15 family max. Potluck 5:30 pm, beginner dance 7:00 pm, contras 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm. People Plus Center, 6 Noble St. 207-729-4718 March 22, 2008: St. Albans Evergreen with special guests, Harmony Hill Evergreen has been entertaining New England audiences since 1991. Their eclectic style blends elements of bluegrass, folk, blues, old-time, country and swing into a seamless mix of upbeat, energizing music that appeals to a wide range of listeners. Tight harmonies, solid instrumentation, original interpretations and strong songwriting all combine to create a uniquely engaging show, and everywhere they play - from big-time festivals to backyard barbecues - folks tell them how much they enjoy what they do. St. Albans Town Hall. 207-277-3733; www.evergreenmaine.com March 27, 2008: Farmington Evergreen - Winter Blues Buster Evergreen has been entertaining New England audiences since 1991. Their eclectic style blends elements of bluegrass, folk, blues, old-time, country and swing into a seamless mix of upbeat, energizing music that appeals to a wide range of listeners. Tight harmonies, solid instrumentation, original interpretations and strong songwriting all combine to create a uniquely engaging show, and everywhere they play - from big-time festivals to backyard barbecues - folks tell them how much they enjoy what they do. 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm. Bass Room, Farmington Hospital, 111 Health Common. 207-277-3733; www.evergreenmaine.com March 27, 2008: Portland Evenings at Abromson: The Maine Hysterical Society Join actors, musicians and downeast humorists Randy Judkins, Barney Martin, and Steve Underwood as they present their comedy show of original songs, hilarious Maine characters, wicked good juggling and hysterical sketches. $15. 7:00 pm, Abromson Center - USM Portland Campus, 88 Bedford Street. 207-780-5900; www.usm.maine.edu/cce March 29, 2008: Rockport Pianist Anne-Marie McDermott McDermott is the 1995 winner of the Andrew Wolf Chamber Music Award, and is a regular with the Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society. Since winning the Wolf Award, she's gone on to perform at some of the most prestigious venues around the world. Her program will include a Haydn sonata, Bach's Chaconne and Schubert's great last piano sonata. 2:30 pm, Rockport Opera House. 207- 236-2823; www.baychamberconcerts.org March 29, 2008: Bath Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams The quirky quartet, Gandalf Murphy, began touring throughout the northeast and rapidly developed a fiercely loyal, all-ages following. Featured in Relix Magazine, the New York Times and on the CBS hit show, Joan of Arcadia, the band's charismatic live performances and whimsical blend of folk, rock, hillbilly and pop have simply captivated audiences and critics alike. The music of Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams has been described as "Hillbilly-Floyd, folk-pop", "alt-country roots-rock, and "surreal Americana". $12-$17. 7:30 pm, Chocolate Church Arts Center, 798 Washington Street. 207-442-8455; www.chocolatechurcharts.org