Month: March 2021

This Week’s Events: Restaurant Week, Reopening and Pop-ups

| Posted in Events

Maine Restaurant Week kicked off this week and runs through March 12.

Thursday – Fore Street, Street & Co, and Scales are re-opening after a long winter break, and Sugar High Donuts will be at Urban Farm Fermentory for a 2-day pop-up.

Saturday – Crispy Gai is participating the guest chef series at Ramona’s (continues on Sunday), Briana Holt from Tandem will be participating in the Small Axe guest chef series (menu) at East Ender (continues on Sunday), Ada’s is holding the first of a series of pop-ups (menu will go live today) in anticipation of fully re-opening later this year, and the Winter Farmers’ Market is taking place.

Outdoor Dining & Retail Program

| Posted in General News

The City of Portland has published details on the 2021 Outdoor Dining & Retail Program. The program details street closure, how restaurants can make use of public spaces such as parks and on how to make use of adjacent on street parking space to expand their outdoor dining areas.

In order to continue helping local businesses through the pandemic, the City is updating its outdoor dining and retail permitting program, which will be in effect from April 2021 to April 2022. The program allows retailers and restaurants to apply to expand into public spaces, including closed streets, parklets, the public right-of-way, and parks. In addition, they may apply to extend their use of private space into the winter season.

How Restaurants Have Adapted

| Posted in People

Yesterday’s episode of Maine Calling talked to members of the restaurant community about how restaurants have adapted during the pandemic.

Winter is traditionally the toughest season for Maine restaurants — but this year, because of the pandemic, it’s even more challenging. Local restaurant owners say revenue this winter so far has been about half of what it usually is. Several Maine restaurants have closed during the pandemic, others have changed the way they operate, setting up to-go windows, outdoor seating options and food trucks. A few new restaurants have even opened. Maine Restaurant Week is different this year, too, hoping to underscore how creative solutions might keep the restaurant industry afloat.