PORTLAND, Maine: Gloomy, Grey & Beautiful
video description
If you come back, check out the West End, there are some pretty homes there. Also, check out Maines first brew pub since prohibition, opened in 1988, Gritty McDuff on Fore St. in the Old Port.
The restaurant Fore Street is renowned for its food as is Davids restaurant.
I worked at Grittys for a few years as a cook and waitress while attending college at The Maine College of Art in the 90s. They brew on premise, make a nice stout and many other traditional English beers. The Halloween ale was my favorite. The summer ale is refreshing. At the time, the shepherds, chicken/sweet potato, and steak & kidney pies were all customer favorites. I recall many early a. m. pastry making sessions, at that time, it was made by hand. ( I still have the recipe) I also made homemade pate for the ploughmans lunch.
Being a native Mainer your surprise regarding education was not a surprise, Maine people have long been assumed as being uneducated, I realize that was not your intent though. Thanks for visiting Maine, I hope you can come back and visit some other places. Id be happy to give you some cool local favorite spots to go to on your next foray into Maine.
Date: 2024-01-28
Related videos
Comments and reviews: 34
user-dl1un6xt1s
Try visiting Maine in the Summer. I will tell you something cool you wont read in a travel book. You can go to NH's lakes region and drive an hour east and be in Portland. Drive an hour south from Portland and be in Portsmouth NH or Hampton Beach. From the same Maine/NH lakes region, you can drive to Mt. Washington in an hour, too. So what i just said is you can be within an hour of great skiing, shopping or fishing and all those places have a great live music scene and fantastic food. You just got a bad weather day to be in Maine on your trip. Oh, yes and renting a room is cheaper inland most of the time as well. May i suggest you rent a lake cottage for a week in August when Dallas is broiling hot but Maine is perfect, then go to the moutains, go sea fishing, go swimming in the lakes. Go shopping for a day and spend some evenings dining at some of the best places to eat. I could keep going but it would take all day to write all the fun things you could do here.
reply
Try visiting Maine in the Summer. I will tell you something cool you wont read in a travel book. You can go to NH's lakes region and drive an hour east and be in Portland. Drive an hour south from Portland and be in Portsmouth NH or Hampton Beach. From the same Maine/NH lakes region, you can drive to Mt. Washington in an hour, too. So what i just said is you can be within an hour of great skiing, shopping or fishing and all those places have a great live music scene and fantastic food. You just got a bad weather day to be in Maine on your trip. Oh, yes and renting a room is cheaper inland most of the time as well. May i suggest you rent a lake cottage for a week in August when Dallas is broiling hot but Maine is perfect, then go to the moutains, go sea fishing, go swimming in the lakes. Go shopping for a day and spend some evenings dining at some of the best places to eat. I could keep going but it would take all day to write all the fun things you could do here.
reply
dbszady
There are many places to visit if you go in the summer. Portland, at one point maybe not now, had one of the highest ratio of bars per square mile.
Kennebunkport has the Bush family summer home. A lot of rich people. Also Bar Harbor. Lots of small niche bars and restaurants with Acadia National Park nearby. First national park east of the Mississippi.
Western Maine is known for skiing in the winter. Clean lakes and rivers everywhere. Northern Maine has long trails for snowmobiles. Also the beginning or end of the Appalachian trail around Mt Katahdin if you're into hiking. Then not far from Portland is Bath Iron Works which is one of two shipyards making destroyers for the Navy.
Grew up in Maine but for me it's a place to visit/vacation not live.
reply
There are many places to visit if you go in the summer. Portland, at one point maybe not now, had one of the highest ratio of bars per square mile.
Kennebunkport has the Bush family summer home. A lot of rich people. Also Bar Harbor. Lots of small niche bars and restaurants with Acadia National Park nearby. First national park east of the Mississippi.
Western Maine is known for skiing in the winter. Clean lakes and rivers everywhere. Northern Maine has long trails for snowmobiles. Also the beginning or end of the Appalachian trail around Mt Katahdin if you're into hiking. Then not far from Portland is Bath Iron Works which is one of two shipyards making destroyers for the Navy.
Grew up in Maine but for me it's a place to visit/vacation not live.
reply
LesMorrisracing
I was stationed in Brunswick, there was a Naval air station there. Lot's of snow in the winter. My friend and I found the base rented canoes. So we got one. First place was the ocean. Dumb, didn't understand tides. we floated about 1 mile down and had to paddle like heck to make it to the shore. So we figured we would go to this pond. Mistake. The guy that lived there put out Lobster traps. As we were going by them he started shooting a gun at us. My friend panicked and turned the boat over. So we hung on to the boat and swam to the edge of the pond. Good thing we put our wallets in sandwich bags.
reply
I was stationed in Brunswick, there was a Naval air station there. Lot's of snow in the winter. My friend and I found the base rented canoes. So we got one. First place was the ocean. Dumb, didn't understand tides. we floated about 1 mile down and had to paddle like heck to make it to the shore. So we figured we would go to this pond. Mistake. The guy that lived there put out Lobster traps. As we were going by them he started shooting a gun at us. My friend panicked and turned the boat over. So we hung on to the boat and swam to the edge of the pond. Good thing we put our wallets in sandwich bags.
reply
glennbourque111
I relate to your comments about the weather. Weather in the Northeast, almost anywhere, is atrocious. I lived in NYC for 40 years, having moved there from Texas, and the weather was a constant thorn. Nice, mild sunny days were golden, but there were so few of them. Except for the two summer months, it was mostly overcast, rainy, chilly, windy. Finally, after 40 years of it, I'm now living in San Diego, Calif. It's better by a long shot, but not as nice as Texas. Having said that, Texas weather has become extreme in recent years, due to climate change - not sure I would be that happy with it nowadays.
reply
I relate to your comments about the weather. Weather in the Northeast, almost anywhere, is atrocious. I lived in NYC for 40 years, having moved there from Texas, and the weather was a constant thorn. Nice, mild sunny days were golden, but there were so few of them. Except for the two summer months, it was mostly overcast, rainy, chilly, windy. Finally, after 40 years of it, I'm now living in San Diego, Calif. It's better by a long shot, but not as nice as Texas. Having said that, Texas weather has become extreme in recent years, due to climate change - not sure I would be that happy with it nowadays.
reply
alankelly-hamm2702
Portland is not always gray and gloomy, during the summer and fall and often the winter its sunny and bright. I hope you come back and see more of Maine that just Portland. Southern Maine from the NH border to Portland is very different that the other two thirds of the state. We are a largely rural place with vast expanses of country and coastal areas. Its a very diverse state with wealth along the coast and a lot of poverty inland. Its a beautiful place to visit and I am fortunate enough to live here.
reply
Portland is not always gray and gloomy, during the summer and fall and often the winter its sunny and bright. I hope you come back and see more of Maine that just Portland. Southern Maine from the NH border to Portland is very different that the other two thirds of the state. We are a largely rural place with vast expanses of country and coastal areas. Its a very diverse state with wealth along the coast and a lot of poverty inland. Its a beautiful place to visit and I am fortunate enough to live here.
reply
neilouellette3004
You mention how many 3 story homes you see 4: 53. You should have checked out Worcester, Ma. while cruising through New England. Surprised you didn't as Worcester is the 2nd largest city in New England. It would have blown your mind w/your reaction. The city is well known for having one of the most 3-Deckers as we call them, in the U. S. Even in the nicer neighborhoods of the city there are 3-Deckers 3 family homes everywhere. Most are very nice except in the South portion of the city off of Main Street.
reply
You mention how many 3 story homes you see 4: 53. You should have checked out Worcester, Ma. while cruising through New England. Surprised you didn't as Worcester is the 2nd largest city in New England. It would have blown your mind w/your reaction. The city is well known for having one of the most 3-Deckers as we call them, in the U. S. Even in the nicer neighborhoods of the city there are 3-Deckers 3 family homes everywhere. Most are very nice except in the South portion of the city off of Main Street.
reply
travisrandall1863
I’m sorry you visited when it was gray and gloomy. We are not a Seattle or Portland Ore. other than winter most days are sunny and warm. The graffiti you portray are not gang related like other cities such as Boston or NYC with gangs but local artists trying to just color up the brick city. Moved here in 2005, never felt safer, and will stay here. This place is the best. You want mostly sunny days (other than winter, safe neighborhoods, good jobs, and friendly people, welcome to Portland ME!
reply
I’m sorry you visited when it was gray and gloomy. We are not a Seattle or Portland Ore. other than winter most days are sunny and warm. The graffiti you portray are not gang related like other cities such as Boston or NYC with gangs but local artists trying to just color up the brick city. Moved here in 2005, never felt safer, and will stay here. This place is the best. You want mostly sunny days (other than winter, safe neighborhoods, good jobs, and friendly people, welcome to Portland ME!
reply
JasonBurque-nk4xh
99% of the Maine seafood is shipped out of state because it's very desirable and the local stuff is shipped in from Canada if it's live lobster or Maryland clams everything else is frozen.
It's been 50 years since you could buy Maine seafood in Maine and Made in Maine LLBean it's all a tourist trap. If you look at the menus they'll say fresh caught year round. Problem is most has a season so it's illegal caught or there lying. Disgusting really if you're from there and know real fresh caught.
reply
99% of the Maine seafood is shipped out of state because it's very desirable and the local stuff is shipped in from Canada if it's live lobster or Maryland clams everything else is frozen.
It's been 50 years since you could buy Maine seafood in Maine and Made in Maine LLBean it's all a tourist trap. If you look at the menus they'll say fresh caught year round. Problem is most has a season so it's illegal caught or there lying. Disgusting really if you're from there and know real fresh caught.
reply
audigit
Westerrn Promanade is all three story condos since before 1999. I lived in the city there for over a Decade in the80's, early 90's. Far different and more diverse people then. It was a very easy place to live on a small budget, while doing Uni. Quite different than you went, and much more so today. Go in the Summer. Everyone's on an island or hiking in the mountains. It's busy with tourists, but overall, quite nicer than whenever you chowe to go.
reply
Westerrn Promanade is all three story condos since before 1999. I lived in the city there for over a Decade in the80's, early 90's. Far different and more diverse people then. It was a very easy place to live on a small budget, while doing Uni. Quite different than you went, and much more so today. Go in the Summer. Everyone's on an island or hiking in the mountains. It's busy with tourists, but overall, quite nicer than whenever you chowe to go.
reply
todddunn945
Portland is actually pretty hot in the summer. Lots of 80 degree days and even some 90s. Too hot for me. As others have said, the Portland area is not representative of the rest of Maine. I live about half way up the coast on the ocean side of an island and we only have a few hot days (above the high 70s) a year. Also, the only significant fishing in Maine is lobstering with scallop fishing a distant second.
reply
Portland is actually pretty hot in the summer. Lots of 80 degree days and even some 90s. Too hot for me. As others have said, the Portland area is not representative of the rest of Maine. I live about half way up the coast on the ocean side of an island and we only have a few hot days (above the high 70s) a year. Also, the only significant fishing in Maine is lobstering with scallop fishing a distant second.
reply
manonfire3642
Millions of illegal aliens being bussed throughout the USA making the landscape and flag orientation subject to change in the very near future. There will be no more Anglo-America; it will be a mixture of Muslims, India's indigents, Arabs and Asians. The dominant of these people will fly their nation's banners over cities of the USA. Who do you thank for this transformation BHO/Joebama/Soros/Bilderbergs
reply
Millions of illegal aliens being bussed throughout the USA making the landscape and flag orientation subject to change in the very near future. There will be no more Anglo-America; it will be a mixture of Muslims, India's indigents, Arabs and Asians. The dominant of these people will fly their nation's banners over cities of the USA. Who do you thank for this transformation BHO/Joebama/Soros/Bilderbergs
reply
ECP361
I'm glad you enjoyed your little tour of our town. :) I hope you make your way back when it's a little more sunny and warmer. The bay on a clear day is really a sight to see. You couldn't see all the islands because of the fog. Please come back when you have a bit more time. There's a lot more to see here.
reply
I'm glad you enjoyed your little tour of our town. :) I hope you make your way back when it's a little more sunny and warmer. The bay on a clear day is really a sight to see. You couldn't see all the islands because of the fog. Please come back when you have a bit more time. There's a lot more to see here.
reply
debbiefranks6404
When I was growing up in Portland, Congress Street was downtown not Commercial St. Congress Street has Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's house on it, City Hall was there . Old Port off Commercial Street had some great restaurants. altho it has been 25 plus yrs since I have been there .
reply
When I was growing up in Portland, Congress Street was downtown not Commercial St. Congress Street has Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's house on it, City Hall was there . Old Port off Commercial Street had some great restaurants. altho it has been 25 plus yrs since I have been there .
reply
andrewward5891
Portland has such a concentration of people with college degrees because it’s about the only place in Maine with a decent amount of good jobs requiring college degrees. For most Maine college grads the choice is move to Portland or go out of state (I chose option 2.
reply
Portland has such a concentration of people with college degrees because it’s about the only place in Maine with a decent amount of good jobs requiring college degrees. For most Maine college grads the choice is move to Portland or go out of state (I chose option 2.
reply
MrJohMak
Those three story homes are multi family homes not single family, one thing I've realized bringing people from away to New England is they assume everyone has really big houses but don't realize they are apartments because they don't look like apartments where they are from
reply
Those three story homes are multi family homes not single family, one thing I've realized bringing people from away to New England is they assume everyone has really big houses but don't realize they are apartments because they don't look like apartments where they are from
reply
manonfire3642
An old Jimmie Rodgers song: Portland Maine is just the same as sunny Tennessee. Now I wonder if Rodgers was actually in Portland Maine I doubt it because Portland is a 3rd world country misfit whose oder perfectly portrays it character and disposition.
reply
An old Jimmie Rodgers song: Portland Maine is just the same as sunny Tennessee. Now I wonder if Rodgers was actually in Portland Maine I doubt it because Portland is a 3rd world country misfit whose oder perfectly portrays it character and disposition.
reply
usa-by-car
Thanks for sharing i grew up in Portland Maine. Congress street is the Main Street. Munjoy hill was where all the large homes are overlooking casco bay. The weather stinks from September to April-may. I joined the army to escape and never moved back.
reply
Thanks for sharing i grew up in Portland Maine. Congress street is the Main Street. Munjoy hill was where all the large homes are overlooking casco bay. The weather stinks from September to April-may. I joined the army to escape and never moved back.
reply
conniecharley1927
Husband stationed Brunswick scenery like a picture winters bad. people are friendly. I swear there are GHOSTS IN MAIN. FOUND BEAUTIFUL OLD FURNITURE IN OLD OLD BARNS. CLAM BAITS. FRESH SEAFOOD. WE HAD THE BEST LANDLORD BEING MILITARY AND ALL.
reply
Husband stationed Brunswick scenery like a picture winters bad. people are friendly. I swear there are GHOSTS IN MAIN. FOUND BEAUTIFUL OLD FURNITURE IN OLD OLD BARNS. CLAM BAITS. FRESH SEAFOOD. WE HAD THE BEST LANDLORD BEING MILITARY AND ALL.
reply
linh8997
Lol. here in Maine, we have something called winter. You will notice there are not even any leaves on the trees. If you visited here during the summer, especially lately, you could easily find weather nearly as miserable as that in places like Texas!
reply
Lol. here in Maine, we have something called winter. You will notice there are not even any leaves on the trees. If you visited here during the summer, especially lately, you could easily find weather nearly as miserable as that in places like Texas!
reply
CaptainHowdy1969
Hey Spoda. if I heard correctly you said that Portland Maine is right across the bridge you showed us in the video you did in Portsmouth new Hampshire. if that's true then talk about a double whammy. what a beautiful area to visit.
reply
Hey Spoda. if I heard correctly you said that Portland Maine is right across the bridge you showed us in the video you did in Portsmouth new Hampshire. if that's true then talk about a double whammy. what a beautiful area to visit.
reply
usa-by-car
I am Texas born and bred but married a Mainer. All my kids are Mainers. Been exploring Maine for well over 30 years and still haven’t seen all it’s beautiful nooks and crannies. So many areas that are more spectacular than Portland.
reply
I am Texas born and bred but married a Mainer. All my kids are Mainers. Been exploring Maine for well over 30 years and still haven’t seen all it’s beautiful nooks and crannies. So many areas that are more spectacular than Portland.
reply
MrIhatethisprocess
I know you're from Texas but it's still funny that you find 45 so cold. That's barely windbreaker/hoodie sweatshirt weather for a New Englander lol. Still, I'm glad you find our corner of the country enjoyable!
reply
I know you're from Texas but it's still funny that you find 45 so cold. That's barely windbreaker/hoodie sweatshirt weather for a New Englander lol. Still, I'm glad you find our corner of the country enjoyable!
reply
betsyb. 1619
Beautiful area in all weather.
Follow more north to York Maine take back way into nubble light house follow further take a nice walk along the rocks in ogunquit beautiful views and old fishing area.
reply
Beautiful area in all weather.
Follow more north to York Maine take back way into nubble light house follow further take a nice walk along the rocks in ogunquit beautiful views and old fishing area.
reply
manonfire3642
Looks like a shanty town of SE Asia. Isn't USA supposed to be rich Not after BHO gave more than 5 billion cold cash to Iran. In the USA, the poor get poorer and the rich, parasitic elites get richer.
reply
Looks like a shanty town of SE Asia. Isn't USA supposed to be rich Not after BHO gave more than 5 billion cold cash to Iran. In the USA, the poor get poorer and the rich, parasitic elites get richer.
reply
nancyparker9986
I visited Portland Maine about 10 years ago. was there on a cruise ship. I live on the west coast. one one thing that stood out to me was the vendors on the piers selling the BEST lobster rolls,
reply
I visited Portland Maine about 10 years ago. was there on a cruise ship. I live on the west coast. one one thing that stood out to me was the vendors on the piers selling the BEST lobster rolls,
reply
MP-fq4dd
Many immigrants in the early 1900s would buy these three story buildings and rent the apartments they didn't need. My family owned a bunch of them in Cambridge, Massachusetts until about 15 years ago.
reply
Many immigrants in the early 1900s would buy these three story buildings and rent the apartments they didn't need. My family owned a bunch of them in Cambridge, Massachusetts until about 15 years ago.
reply
michellelappin8867
Portland is a great place to visit in the summer and fall. Spring Not so much, though you could get lucky and hit it on a nice day. You are correct, on a sunny day, that view is spectacular.
reply
Portland is a great place to visit in the summer and fall. Spring Not so much, though you could get lucky and hit it on a nice day. You are correct, on a sunny day, that view is spectacular.
reply
alandoughty6320
It’s unfortunate that the weather wasn’t better when you were here, climate change hasn’t quite made it here yet, no matter what the nutty governor says but I’m still holding out hope!
reply
It’s unfortunate that the weather wasn’t better when you were here, climate change hasn’t quite made it here yet, no matter what the nutty governor says but I’m still holding out hope!
reply
edwil111
Its a nice city, the downtown has places to walk. Visit Reid State Park about 10 miles away for a cool beach, clean and sandy. So you went there in the off-season, hit some weather waaaah its cold!
reply
Its a nice city, the downtown has places to walk. Visit Reid State Park about 10 miles away for a cool beach, clean and sandy. So you went there in the off-season, hit some weather waaaah its cold!
reply
Castleknight
Love cooler weather. We ate at the Portland Lobster Company, you walked past at 5: 20 into the video. Gotta try the Holy Donuts in Maine. Did Cape Elizabeth and the Portland Headlight, too.
reply
Love cooler weather. We ate at the Portland Lobster Company, you walked past at 5: 20 into the video. Gotta try the Holy Donuts in Maine. Did Cape Elizabeth and the Portland Headlight, too.
reply
lesleyheller2271
It's the norm for early March - so what It's gorgeous in the late spring through early fall. You can film in L. A. and have grey, rainy days. Sheesh! BTW: I'm from NYC, not Portland.
reply
It's the norm for early March - so what It's gorgeous in the late spring through early fall. You can film in L. A. and have grey, rainy days. Sheesh! BTW: I'm from NYC, not Portland.
reply
jewelweed5375
I always feel bad for those who visit Maine and miss so much. You missed a lot of old forts. If you really wanted to see Maine you have to travel well past the city of Portland.
reply
I always feel bad for those who visit Maine and miss so much. You missed a lot of old forts. If you really wanted to see Maine you have to travel well past the city of Portland.
reply
davidmay3348
Maine can and does get hot during the summer months. Talking 80s and 90s with humidity. To bad you visited during a cold damp period. By all means come back during the summer.
reply
Maine can and does get hot during the summer months. Talking 80s and 90s with humidity. To bad you visited during a cold damp period. By all means come back during the summer.
reply
iFluffz
Yeah, you definitely need to come back. This is not Life here at all. I get you could assume that. However, its cool that folks assume this because we like to keep it quiet here.
reply
Yeah, you definitely need to come back. This is not Life here at all. I get you could assume that. However, its cool that folks assume this because we like to keep it quiet here.
reply
Add a review, comment
Other channel videos
4:58:23
1:21:51
