Living in downtown Portland, I see a lot, from the newest restaurants to the hottest parties. You can see it too, thanks to my always-handy pocket-sized camera and my Portland in a Snap blog. Find my snapshots of the people, parties and places generating the latest buzz on MaineToday.com, where you can find a number of bloggers offering dispatches from the local culture scene.

Those of you who know me know that as a girl who’s gone from the commune to the city and managed to keep her natural foodie intact, I’ve witnessed some pretty strange sights. (Headless chickens, raw goat’s milk, willow trees killed by Round-Up, the inner workings of a Burger King.) The view these days is pretty sweet, with the growing popularity of meat-free meals and the beginning death spiral of industrial food. (Can anyone say beef recall?) I’ve launched a blog where I plan to offer insights into the natural foodie lifestyle, plus occasional walks down memory lane to my commune childhood.

Check it out at  http://communetestedcityapproved.blogspot.com

If you haven't been yet, you need to get yourself over to the Portland Museum of Art to check out the John Bisbee show, "Bright Common Spikes." This contemporary sculpture exhibition is the talk of the town and with good reason. Everything is wrought from simple old nails to create the most amazing forms and textures. And Bisbee himself is a trip. If you get a chance to visit his studio in Brunswick or hear him speak, don't pass it up. He's both riotously funny and insightfully deep. The show is up through March 23.

Art lovers flocked to the Black Frame Art Sale in droves this past weekend. Lines formed at each of the three participating Bayside galleries ahead of the 5 p.m. Friday opening. A total of 84 10x10 works priced at $200 each sold during the 2-day only show. This raised $16,800, to be split between the artists and the Bayside Neighborhood Association, which uses the money to support its children's art program and other community programs.

Works by  John Knight, Marsha Donahue, Holly Ready, Justin Richel, Matt Welch, Anastasia Wiegle and Diane Wienke sold-out completely. Many other artists, such as Otty Merrill and Caren-Marie Michel, only had one work remaining. At the start of the show, collectors rushed in to examine and quickly purchase the pieces created by  some of Maine's hottest contemporary artists.

"The Greater Portland art community looks forward to this yearly show," said  Tom Blackburn, chair of the Black Frame Art Sale Steering Committee. "It presents an opportunity to acquire pieces by well-respected artists at affordable prices. Artists enjoy the show because it is a great way to generate exposure and excitement for their work."

Fifty-six artists exhibited at this year's show, which took place Sept. 7-8 at 3fish Gallery, Grapheteria and Back Bay Tower. This was the fourth year the Bayside Neighborhood Association has held the event. The next show will take place in September 2008, at a date to be announced. For more information, call 780-0915.

Generous support for the event was provided by Portland Digital Printing & Copying, Grapheteria, Gorham Savings Bank, Avesta Housing, Ocean Gate Realty, InterMed, PowerPay and Pizzagalli Construction Company, with special thanks to WBRC Architects & Engineers and Back Bay Tower. Media sponsorship was provided by The Maine Switch magazine and Fox 23.

This year's hot Black Frame Art Sale is right around the corner and is sure to generate big crowds, lines ahead of the opening and competition for the most sought-after works. Make sure you don't miss it.

You'll find 240 pieces by 55 Maine artists from across the state displayed in three galleries in Portland's Bayside neighborhood. Each work in the show was selected for inclusion by a curatorial committee. The show opens with a reception Friday, Sept. 7 from 5-9 p.m. and continues Saturday, Sept. 8 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Works will be displayed at 3fish Gallery, 377 Cumberland Ave., Back Bay Tower, 401 Cumberland Ave., and Grapheteria, 141 Preble St. Maps will be available at each venue. For more information, call 207-780-0915.

Hosted by the Bayside Neighborhood Association, the show and sale benefits children's art programs and other Bayside community activities in this rapidly developing downtown neighborhood. Each piece in the show is 10x10 and framed in an identical black frame. All works sell for $200.

Those who visit all three venues will be entered into a drawing for an untitled metal sculpture featuring a fish created by Pat Plourde.

In past years, the strong demand for works in the show has generated huge crowds and lines at the door ahead of the 5 p.m. opening. Works by artists such as Marsha Donahue, Holly Ready and Gina Adams have sold-out quickly (some within minutes of the doors opening). This year collectors will be hoping to pick up pieces by artists selected to exhibit in past Portland Museum of Art biennials, such as Jennifer Gardiner, John Knight and Justin Richel, and other established artists, such as Michael Branca, Richard Jacobs , Caren-Marie Michel, Martha Miller, Elizabeth Saltonstall, Jan ter Weele, Matt Welch and Richard Wilson.

Like other recent contemporary art shows in Maine, encaustic and photography have a marked presence in this exhibition. Look for photographs by  Karen Bushold, Jim Castonia, Billy Griffin, Jim Kelly, Phil Powell, Don Verger and David Wade. Look for encaustic works by Gina Adams, Otty Merrill, Susie Schweppe and Diane Bowie Zaitlin.

Thousands of people turned out for the first ever Bayside International Fair & Market at the Portland Public Market on Saturday. The event included more than 100 vendors selling everything from flea makret goods to fine arts to ethnic food. The music, dance and journey stories drew overflow crowds, as did the henna hand painting and kids' activities. Media professionals from WMTW-8, WGME-13, WCSH-6, The Portland Press Herald and The Maine Switch all came to cover the event. Once again, another smashing success for the Bayside Neighborhood Association. Way to go Baysiders!

This Saturday, June 2, from 1-8 p.m., the Portland Public Market will be filled with 100 vendors offering a diverse selection of new and used goods. Find flea market items, art, crafts, ethnic food, local restaurant samples and community information. Reminiscent of eclectic and vibrant markets held in cities around the world, the Bayside International Fair & Market includes a festival, where music, dance and storytelling from a range of cultures will be showcased. Free classes for new Americans take place on the second floor. Admission to the market is free.

The Portland Public Market is located at the corner of Preble Street and Cumberland Avenue in downtown Portland. Parking is available in the attached garage. Call 207-780-0915 for more information.

What you need to know to attend a wine tasting like a pro

Two types of people dominate wine tastings: Wine geeks and freeloaders.
You can spot the geeks because they say things like, "I detect a touch of sweetness balanced with a hint of acidity. And the finish, how delightful. It's crisp, but it lingers." The freeloaders are even easier to pick out. They're the ones who guzzle their tasting sample (poured to contain 3-4 thoughtful sips) in one gulp.

Sure wine tastings can work for a cheap date, letting you both get buzzed for free. But if you like to enjoy wine with dinner, a tasting has a bigger value: It can help you figure out what you like without slapping down 20 bucks for a bottle you hate.

Want to give it a try but afraid you might look like a jerk? Use these tips and you'll be sure to look more like a connoisseur and less like a cheapskate.

Where to start?

Any organized wine tasting will include a cheat sheet of tasting notes. Use this as your guide. It will give you the basics on the wines you'll be tasting and sometimes will include comments about taste, aroma and food pairings. The notes will also clue you in on the order to try the wines.

Tastings start with lighter wines and finish with the heavier concoctions. This means you'll begin with the whites, move to the reds and finish with the dessert wines. Following the established order means you won't overwhelm your tongue with the taste of a full-bodied wine and then follow it with a lighter, more delicate vintage.

"Never, ever try the dessert wine first," says Eric Fullagar, owner of Freeport Cheese & Wine. "Your taste buds are shot for 10 to 15 minutes after you try the dessert wines."

The spit bucket

The experts all agree that at most wine tastings there's no need to spit out the wine. However, most places provide a bucket for this purpose. Fullagar points out that larger tastings, such as the Boston Wine Expo "where theoretically speaking you could taste 400 wines in 8 hours," you need to make use of the bucket.

"At a wine tasting, you're going to taste 6 to 8 wines, but you're not even going to drink 6 ounces," says Jacques DeVillier, who owns the Old Port Wine Merchants. "If you're going to taste 50 wines, sure spit them out. But swallowing them is a good thing."

When you want to add a little professional flair to your tasting routine, Kyle Wolfe, the owner of The Clown, says: "Probably my best advice is to swirl it, sniff it, take a small sip and spit the rest. But between you and me, almost no one spits the wine."

Cleansing the palate

Most tastings will offer up white bread or crackers as a way to clean up your taste buds before you move on to the next wine. Mild cheeses are another good palate cleanser.

"A simple bread with very little taste works well between each wine," Wolfe says. "In an ideal world, you'd rinse your glass. But in most wine tastings it's difficult to accommodate that."

The pros rinse their glasses with the wine they're about to taste. This rids the stemware of the previous wine without contaminating it with fluoride or chlorine from the local tap water.

When tasting those full-bodied reds, Fullagar recommends salami or other deli meat as a palate cleanser, because the fat will help wash away the tannins. He also advises that you avoid eating spicy food, like salsa, while trying wines.

Bottom line

"Be open to tasting everything, even if you think you don't like red wines or you think you don't like white wines," Fullagar says. "Taste everything, and if you don't like it, spit it out."

This story was published in The Maine Switch. Check it out online at www.themaineswitch.com.

By Avery Yale Kamila, Lifestyle Editor

 

While here in Southern Maine we've yet to experience a deep freeze this winter, kitchens are filled with the aromas of roasting meats, simmering soups and other traditional cold-weather favorites. These comfort foods make for excellent pairing with rich, full-bodied wines. So we asked three area experts to offer a few suggestions of interesting wines to try this winter.

"With heavy foods, like lamb stew, beef stew and comfort foods, I start thinking cabernets, big syrahs, Côtes du Rhônes from Southern France and Nero D'Avola from Sicily," says Eric Fullagar of Freeport Cheese & Wine.

Fullagar points out that now is a perfect time to serve cheese fondue and heat raclette cheese in an oven specially designed for this purpose. White wines pair well with cheese, and Fullagar recommends Vin de Savoie, dry riesling, pinot blanc and grüner veltliner.

"There's an area in the French Alps called Vin de Savoie where fondue-style cheeses are made," Fullagar says. "A good rule of thumb is if they make the cheese there, then drink the wine from there (with the cheese)."

He adds that this rule holds up well with European wines and cheeses, but it doesn't apply to California wines and cheeses.

Nik Koengeter of Cork & Barrel in Falmouth says California pinot noirs, made wildly popular by the film "Sideways," are always a good choice at this time of year. He recommends pairing pinot noir with venison, wild game, pork tenderloin, salmon and tuna.

"There is a reason why 'Sideways' went the way it did, because everyone drinks pinot noir in the end," Koengeter says.

He says the grape appeals to experienced wine drinkers, and he describes a typical progression those new to wine take. Koengeter says people generally start with white zinfandel, move to white wines, then jump to lighter reds like merlot and finally reach pinot noir.

While American-produced wines tend to list the grape variety on the label, French producers categorize wines by region. So if you're looking for a French pinot noir, grab a bottle of Burgundy.

Red wines tend to have more tannins, which coat the mouth and can create a dry feeling that some find objectionable. Fullagar says this can become more pronounced when wine is consumed without food.

"Old world wines tend to have more tannins and acidity because they go with the food better," Fullagar says. "New world wine is more fruity, because we treat wine as a cocktail. Steak and lamb have a lot of fat in it. The fats kind of wash the tannins away and the fats stand up to the tannins. That's why they go well together."

But when it comes to selecting wines, Sheila Donofrio of Basil Provisions in Cumberland says not to worry too much about traditional pairings and trust your own taste.

"We always tell people to drink what you like," Donofrio says. "These days the rules are generally out the window

Expert picks for winter sipping

Whites

Apremont
Vin de Savoie
Price: $12.99
Vintage: 2005
Picked by: Eric Fullagar, Freeport Cheese & Wine

E. Guigal
Côtes du Rhône
Price: $12.99
Vintage: 2004
Picked by: Nik Koengeter, Cork & Barrel, Falmouth

Höpler
Pinot blanc
Price: $15.99
Vintage: 2004
Picked by: Eric Fullagar, Freeport Cheese & Wine

Les Cailloux
Chateauneuf du Pape
Price: $37.99
Vintage: 2005
Picked by: Nik Koengeter, Cork & Barrel, Falmouth

Reserva Nieto
Chardonnay
Price: 10.99
Vintage: 2005
Picked by: Sheila Donofrio, Basil Provisions, Cumberland

St. Chapelle
Riesling
Price: $14.99
Vintage: 2003
Picked by: Sheila Donofrio, Basil Provisions, Cumberland

Reds

Delormier
Merlot
Price: $19.99
Vintage: 2002
Picked by: Sheila Donofrio, Basil Provisions, Cumberland

De Martino
Organic cabernet sauvignon
Price: $14.99
Vintage: 2005 Picked by: Eric Fullagar, Freeport Cheese & Wine

Lancatay
Malbec
Price: $11.99
Vintage: 2004
Picked by: Eric Fullagar, Freeport Cheese & Wine

Orogeny
Pinot noir
Price: $26.99
Vintage: 2005
Picked by: Nik Koengeter, Cork & Barrel, Falmouth

Renato Ratti
Barbera D'Alba
Price: $16.99
Vintage: 2005
Picked by: Sheila Donofrio, Basil Provisions, Cumberland

Rosemount Estate McLaren Vale
GSM (grenache, syrah, mourvedre)
Price: $24.99
Vintage: 2002
Picked by: Nik Koengeter, Cork & Barrel, Falmouth

This story orginally appeared in The Community Leader's Jan. 11, 2007 edition.

"Living Maine Style"
By Avery Yale Kamila





"At the Lake," by Claudia Hughes




"Gilsland Field-July," by John Knight


Art lovers needed to arrive early to walk away with a popular piece from this years Black Frame Art show.

This past weekend, the third annual show hosted by Portlands Bayside Neighborhood Association drew huge crowds and blew away the sales total from last years event. Ninety-one of the $200 works sold, raising $18,200 to be split evenly between the artists and the community. The festivities kicked off Thursday night, with a high-energy preview party.

New Systems Studios, owned by Ross Furman of Falmouth, served as the creatively-charged backdrop for live music, refreshments donated by Wild Oats and party-goers vying for time with one of the two show catalogues, which offered an exciting peek at the soon-to-be-unveiled art.

The next day, the buzz had grown. Those determined to snag a particular piece queued up as much as an hour before the doors opened. Artist Marsha Donahue proved a major draw. Typically Donahues works, sized only slightly larger than the shows trademark 10x10 size, sell for more than $1,000, so she and other well-known artists offered an opportunity to buy at a discount.

When Adam and I showed up at Grapheteria at 5:03 p.m. (three minutes past the shows official start), all the Donahue works had already sold. More than half of the pieces by Joe Begnaud and Elizabeth Saltenstall had been spoken for as well. Works by Gina Adams, Justin Richel, John Knight and Jan ter Weele of Falmouth, also were selling fast.

We moved quickly to add a Knight, with a lush view of the Maine Audubon preserve in Falmouth, to our collection. Knights work appeared in the 2003 PMA Biennial, and his paintings have been the subject of three solo shows since. Hes known for colorful celebrations of common plants, and Gilsland Field - July is a strong example of his style.

Our next stop was the neighboring Portland Architectural Salvage, where we admired works by Caren-Marie Michel, David Wade, Helene Farrar and David Marshall. My hands itched to make a second purchase, but my husband kept me in check.

We traveled across industrial streets dominated by Public Works garages (which will soon move out of the area and make room for more galleries and shops) to get to New Systems Studios. Here pieces by Holly Ready and Matt Welch were being snatched up by collectors, and I lusted after the dramatic crow-filled works of Melinda Titus and the soothing geometric pieces by Freeport-based artist Liz Prescott.

Once again my better half kept my wallet from making a repeat appearance.

The final stop on the show circuit brought us to 3fish Gallery. Like the other venues, the gallery was jam packed with chatting and laughing people spilling onto the wide sidewalk. Here popular artists included Richard Jacobs, Michael Branca and Richard Wilson.

Restricted from further purchases and famished from our whirlwind tour of this wildly diverse art selection, we grabbed appetizers and drinks at Portlands current hot spot, The White Heart, which was only a block away. Later we wandered outside onto Congress Street where Space Gallery was hosting Swell, which brought intricate designs and space age-style inflated bubbles into the street.

At both places we overheard others talking about the amazing art theyd just witnessed at the Black Frame show.

Saturday morning I returned to 3fish to volunteer, as the show continued into its second day. I had been told it would be slow, but instead a steady stream of people (including my mother who picked up a remaining Jacobs) filled the gallery all morning and more art changed hands. When my shift ended, I returned to Grapheteria to pick up my Knight. I learned business was brisk there as well.

Without the restraining influence of my husband, I couldnt resist and picked up the painting by Claudia Hughes I had coveted the night before. Hughes is a performing artist who recently entered the visual art world, and her work intrigued me with its mix of realism and abstraction and its sense of summers fast-paced stride.

Now it brings the aura of lazy days at the lake into my city home. Luckily, Adam has been swayed by the paintings charms and doesnt begrudge this latest addition to our decor. Even though Im sure hes glad this affordable art sale only happens once a year, Im already looking forward to the pieces Ill cart home next September.


Avery Yale Kamila is the Lifestyle Editor of The Community Leader. You can reach her at akamila@communityleader.net. This column appeared in the Sept. 14 edition of The Community Leader.