Common Ground Fair

 The Common Ground Fair is an unusual 3 day collection of agriculture, farm animals, environmental concerns, native crafts, Made in Maine products, food, contemporary crafts and politics with  some kids activities and music thrown in for good measure. Held in Unity, Maine on the 3rd weekend after Labor day every year it is sponsored by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. The fair ground is huge and the crowds for all three days tops 60,000. Food (for sale) was a big disappointment and fairly expensive but the wood fired pizza was good, the various artisanal cheeses were worth trying. The Shepherds pie was by far the best thing Toby tried.

 I had a pretty decent slice of apple cranberry pie. 

 Local Sprouts couldn't keep up with demand for there pea soup on sunday in the damp and cold. It showed promise but of course it didn't time to really come together, but it was hot.

 Very interesting and artful drawing "The True Cost Of Coal". As I said there was a lot of politics, education and persuasion going on around the fair grounds including pro & con wind power advocate groups.  

 The farmers market had lots of really nice looking produce including Sparrow Arc Farm which supplies some of the better restaurants in Maine and beyond with fresh products.

 Fingers Look Like Carrots!

 This little guy would follow his owner around gathering lots of attention and affection from the kids.

 These were cool backyard houses for kids or grownups.

Best Food I tried by far was this milk, which lucky Portlanders can buy at Whole Foods.   

Can Ya Dig It! "The Most Infamous Waterline In Portland"

Well at long last the Figa waterline issue is moving toward resolution as the city today opened the roadway up in front of the Congress street restaurant, extending a pipe to within a couple of feet from the outside wall of the building. Tomorrow they will drill a hole in the wall bringing the pipe inside where a plumber for the restaurants owner, Lee Farrington, will finished the hook up.

Unfortunately if the inside hook up happens tomorrow, and at this point I haven't talk to Lee, I will be out of town until monday.

Portland Ovations Epicurean Auction

Portland Ovations held their main fund raiser for the year, An Epicurean Auction, at Merrill Auditorium on Tuesday evening. An enthusiastic crowd mingled in the foyer, noshing on finger food provide by fourteen area restaurants all the while browsing the silent auction items.

When that part of the evening closed Ovation supporters moved to the Merrill stage for coffee and chocolates and the live auction.  Items included an a signed Adam Vinatieri jersey, A Montreal get-a-way, an Evangeline/Bresca progressive Dinner, a custom suit by Joseph's ( I still have and easily fit into the black wool blend suit from Joseph's that I got married in 23 years ago), and 4 box seats to a red Sox game next season, as well as many others.

Finger Food, Coffee & Chocolate Provide By:

157 Cafe

Azure Cafe

Bibo's Madd Apple Cafe

Black Point Inn

The Corner Room

The Front Room

The Grill Room

David's

Foreside Tavern

The Good Table

Grace

Havana South

Marche

The Nonantum Resort

Coffee By Design

Dean's Sweets

You can check out this seasons Ovations offerings at

http://portlandovations.org/

or call

207-773-3150

My next post will be the Common Ground Fair, possibly Sunday more probably Tuesday