Tag: Winter

Winter, Spring, Summer & Fall: Waterville is one of central Maine’s best kept secrets. Home to Colby College, residents and visitors alike can find plenty of things to see and do. Located on the campus of Colby College is one of the areas best art museums. Choke full of both contemporary art from well known artist as well as many temporary exhibits from locals and students alike. The museum is free and open to the public and is a great way to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. The museum also has a on-going events schedule that includes lectures, workshops and classes for adults and children. Waterville also has a small downtown area that offers some great restaurants and pubs to check out. Mainely Brews Restaurant and Tavern is the perfect place to hang out with friends. Whether it be inside, where you can enjoy a cozy pub atmosphere, great food and entertainment or take it outside to the patio during the summer months and listen to the music while sipping a cold one under the stars. Either way, this is a great spot to meet up with friends and enjoy a night out on the town. Another thing to do is to check out what is playing at the Flagship Cinema. With eight screens you will be sure to find something that will appeal the crowd no matter what their age. If you are looking for movies but, not quite the mainstream type, you should check out the Railroad Square Cinema. This alternative cinema brings to Maine some of the best foreign films and was named by Sundance Film Institute as one of twelve cinemas that were included in their “art house project”. During the winter months you can pack up your cross country skis and head over to the newly cut 3.5 miles of trails located just off Quarry Road. These trails are both serene and scenic. Parts of the trail run parallel with Messalonskee Stream which makes for some pretty views and solitude. This new trail system is going to be eventually expanded but, for now, the trails are groomed and ready to go.

Fall,Spring,Winter,Summer: Bangor is home to the largest children’s museum north of Boston, The Maine Discovery Museum. Kids love this place because of all the interactive displays. My kids love the hands on” learning areas that the museum has set up. Each floor offers visitors a chance to explore the world of nature, geography, children’s literaturel music, art and science. If your kids love to sing or have dreams of becoming a recording artist, the “sounds abound” karaoke studio will be a big hit. If reading is their preference than a tour through “booktown” where each doorway opens up to a page of children’s classic books such as Charlotte’s Web or Tidely-Idely will be fun. For those who long for adventure and global travel a trip through “Passport” may be just in order. Kids can visit the Australian outback or a marketplace in Ghana. “Artscape” allows that budding artist to create kenetic art and sculpture, learn about patterns and colors. “Mission Discovery” is my boys favorite part of the museum. Here kids can get involved in a hands-on exhibit where they learn the science behind movement, gravity, robotics and astronomy. “Body Journey” will be a hit for that upcoming nurse or doctor. The Maine Discovery Museum is three floors of fun and learning for your children and definitely worth the trip.

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer: If you want to increase your reading capacity this fall then you should consider starting a book club. If you decide to start your own group, your first task is to recruit members. The number of members you have in your book club will be determined by where you decide to have your meetings. Another thing to consider before you invite your participants is that more people leads to more discussion which can make it confusing unless you have a good moderator who is skilled at keeping discussions on track. On the flip side, too few participates will lead to littley discussion and so you really need to think about achieving the perfect balance. Most people recruit solely from friends or coworkers although you don’t need to stop there. Once you have a solid group of people together, it’s time to set some guidelines for your group. Things to decide are how and who picks the books and when and where you will meet. Most book clubs typically meet once a month and discuss one book per meeting. In the past, we have had each member recommend a book for their month and they are responsible for leading the discussion on that book. To be sure, planning and running your own book club can be a challenge. But if done properly, your book club will prove to be a rewarding and fulfilling experience for you and your peers.

Fall,Winter,Spring & Summer: Looking for a little action that different from the usual…feeling lucky? Why not try your luck at Hollywood Slots in Bangor. Hollywood Slots offers casino style gambling right here in Maine. With over 475 slot machines available that range for one penny up to one dollar and many video poker tables you try your hand at gaming without having to travel far. If you are looking for a fun way to spend an evening with friends you should check out Holllywood Slots. There is a restaurant on site so you can enjoy a bite to eat before the you hit the slots. Don’t know what to do with all that loose change you’ve collected over the years…bring it in with you it makes losing less painful and winning that much sweeter!