Last week I had the opportunity to get out and about and see what South Berwick residents are up to.  I got to witness the community spirit that makes this a great town and I got to spend time with great people.

First stop was the August meeting of South Berwick Networking (SBN).  SBN is an informal network of South Berwick area business owners that meets monthly.  This month SBN met at Dogs XO, just over the town line in Berwick on Rt. 236.  Owner, Eve Baltzell gave an overview of her business, a dog day camp that provides a safe stimulating environment for dogs during the work week.

Patti Fousek owner of CreativeMind Search Marketing, a search engine marketing company located in South Berwick, also gave an overview of her search engine optimization business.  As always, there was time for informal networking.  What a great way to meet other business owners in South Berwick and learn about all the entrepreneurial endeavors springing up around us.  Visit the South Berwick Networking web site to find out how you can get involved.

Next stop was GreenUp! South Berwick, a grassroots group of folks interested in creating a more sustainable community.  The group has been meeting for a few months brainstorming, learning from each other, and planning how to build a culture of sustainability.  Their first public effort will be a sustainability forum about how to save energy and money.  They will host a panel discussion that will provide information on insulation, home energy saving measures, energy audits, and more.  The forum will be held September 25 at South Berwick Town Hall.  Check out GreenUp! South Berwick’s blog for more information about the group.

Last stop was the Great Works Regional Land Trust Art for Land Auction.  Supporters of the Land Trust’s work to conserve important resources gathered to bid on art, donated by artists who also support the Land Trust’s work.  The festivities began with music, food, and drink but the real business of the night was the art.  The crowd engaged in spirited bidding, acquiring lots of great art during the course of the evening.  I learned this is no place for a timid bidder, I will have to practice for next year!

 A blend of information to start the day:

The Front Street Market at the Salmon Falls Mills in Rollinsford kicks off today from 9 am until mid afternoon.  Artists, craftspeople, and growers will be offering their wares, there will be music all day. Rollinsford Fire Department is providing a fire engine for children to explore from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Front Street and Lower Mill restaurants will be serving breakfast. Story-telling will be held in the new Rollinsford Public Library, located in the Lower Mill. Childrens crafts will be in the Upper Mill. FigTree Café (located daily in the Lower Mill) will provide a brisquet in the grill area from noon – 3 p.m.

Hamilton House offers the third concert in its Sundays in the Garden series:  July 20: Omalley’s Alley.  Including bassist Tom Martin and drummer Gene Guth of the popular seacoast R& B band Rhythm Method and guitarist Justin Walton of Dreadnaught,  this ensemble will reach into each other’s repertoire to give material by artists such as Booker T & the MG’s and George Harrison their unique stamp.  The concert begins at 4:00 p.m.  Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, $4 for Historic New England members and children, free for Historic New England Garden and Landscape Members.  Concert goers are welcome to bring their own chair or blanket and picnicking is encouraged.  In case of rain, concerts are held in the garden cottage.

A portion of Route 91 will be closed to traffic starting July 23  through Aug. 30 for culvert work. Local traffic will have access to their homes but the road will be closed to through traffic from Pudding Lane at the York Corner end to Scotland Bridge Road. Traffic will be diverted down Route 1 to Beech Ridge Road and then to Scotland Bridge Road. The Town of York website has more details.

Nature’s Way Market is offering locally grown produce this summer.  Last night I had local baby squash and crispy cucumbers from local farms that I got at the Market. I can’t wait to see what’s coming next.

Feel like getting away from Maine this summer?  Head to the Jamaican Jerk Center, 1400 Route One in York (Cape Neddick) to be transported to the Caribbean.  This jerk stand serves up chicken, pork, and rib jerk (spiced and marinated meats) served with rice and plaintains as well as goat curry and Ackee and Saltfish, Jamaica’s national dish, if you are feeling adventurous.  Food is packed to go for take away or for eating at the picnic tables and hammocks set up around the stand.  The Boston Reggae band, Counscious plays every Saturday night until Labor Day.  It will make you dance, mon.

There’s a new restaurant in the Kittery Foreside area.  Tulsi serves up Indian specialties based on fresh and local foods in a sophisticated atmosphere decorated with the rich colors of Indian spices and bold abstract art.  It’s at 2 Government Ave. in Kittery.  I was delighted by their mussels served in a rich and spicy curry sauce accompanied by a warm crispy naan bread.  I also had a vegetable korma that had fresh corn in it.  Chef Rajesh Mandekar says they try to use as much local fish and produce as possible to create traditional Indian flavors with a Maine flair.

South Berwick resident Cliff Gilliam has started a website where you can buy and sell items locally. The site works similarly to Ebay but is for local users and allows you to sell anything that you have, upload a picture of the item, bid on items, and buy it now. Because it is for local residents, you can check out items before you buy and eliminate shipping costs. Mr. Gilliam hopes it will be a way for local residents to make a little extra money or pick up a bargain from a neighbor.

Check it out at www.sbshopandswap.com

Cliff Gilliam is the owner of Ye Olde Computer Shoppe which offers technical support solutions. He provides local in home and in shop computer repair & upgrade assistance to the Southern Maine and the NH Seacoast Region as well as training & online remote computer support nationwide.

There are signs of spring…

and there are signs of spring.

Every year I eagerly await the opening of the Dairy Queen at the Kittery Traffic Circle as the definitive sign of spring. For some, the beginning of spring is the first crocus, or opening day at Fenway Park, or putting away the winter coat for good. For me it’s the first vanilla cone with chocolate jimmies. Spring came for me yesterday at lunchtime.

hhh 

Dairy Queen is located at 174 State Road, right on the Kittery Traffic Circle, Kittery, ME.

This morning Don and I headed out to Kittery to do some errands and started our outing at the Sunrise Grill. This is a great place that offers hearty breakfasts at reasonable prices. It’s a busy place where the very skilled wait staff are always friendly and efficient. It’s a convenient location to meet up with people from up and down the coast so I often meet friends or have business meetings there. I’m not sure how long it’s been there, but it’s a community institution. It’s not uncommon for a multi-table discussion to break out, or to be next to a table with a card game in progress, or to see people table hopping so they can talk to all the people they know. I’m convinced if I sat there long enough I would eventually see everyone I ever knew come through the doors.

They have a varied menu with lots of specials with almost any kind of breakfast fare you could want. I have to admit that I have rather boring breakfast tastes, so my usual is two eggs over hard, home fries, and a blueberry muffin grilled. Sunrise does it perfectly.

Sunrise Grill is located just north of the Kittery Traffic Circle at 182 State Rd, Kittery, ME 03904 (207) 439-574.

I was having friends for dinner and wanted a special dessert. I went to Monkey Business Bakery and told Nicole that my friends love chocolate and birds. The result: an incredible cake that satisfied every kind of chocolate need and was beautifully decorated with a delicate tree with tiny birds perched among the branches.

Monkey Business Bakery is located at 440 Main St. in South Berwick. I suggest that you get your sweet tooth over there and check it out yourself.

On the third Saturday each month Nature’s Way Market hosts a wine tasting to offer customers a chance to sample wines.

This past Saturday wine distributor South Portland Wine Company was there to showcase their wines. I sampled Farnetella Chianti Colli Senesi from Tuscany. It was fresh and crisp tasting and since I was going to a dinner at friends where Italian food was on the menu, I bought a bottle. I also tried the wonderfully named Hill of Content Benjamin’s Blend. It is a light refreshing white with a hint of citrus that is a blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Semillon. I picture myself drinking this wine sitting on my screen porch on a hot summer evening and feeling quite content.

The wine room at Nature’s Way Market is a delight. What used to be the nail room at Rideout’s has been turned into what feels like an upscale wine shop without the upscale prices. The wine selection is broad with an affordable price range that includes lower price wines that are perfect for parties and a wide selection of mid range wines that are great for an occasion. I’ve enjoyed browsing through the wine to pick out something interesting to take to dinners at friends or when I am in the mood for a treat of a nice wine. The tastings are a great way to try before you buy.

Nature’s Way Market is at 271 Main St. in South Berwick, ME.

Meet Richard Rodgers, Produce Manager at Nature’s Way Market. He’s the man responsible for the great selection of fruits and vegetables at the market. From standbys like potatoes and green beans to more exotic fare like mangoes and pomegranate juice he has built a produce department that I’ve come to count on for everyday needs and for those special treats.

Richard is happy to share information about the produce and will help with cooking and serving ideas. This day he was talking root vegetables: yams, rutabagas and parsnips; baked, roasted, and sautéed in butter. He also pointed out some pears that had just arrived that proved to be sweet and juicy. He is looking forward to the growing season when the market will carry locally grown produce.

Nature’s Way Market is at 271 Main St. in South Berwick, ME.

Monkey Business Bakery, one of South Berwick’s newest businesses opened this week on lower Main Street. Dover residents Jake and Nicole Bouchard rented the space vacated by Hot Dog Heaven in October and spent months fitting up the baking kitchen and the showroom.

Jake and Nicole both grew up in central Maine. Nicole learned her craft at the New England Culinary Institute in Vermont. They knew they wanted to locate their bakery in a small town and when they found the space in South Berwick they decided to go for it. Jake explains the name, “We both have a thing for monkeys and Nicole had to do a business plan as an assignment when she was at the Culinary Institute and used the name in that. We liked it so decided to use it here.”

The bakery offers cakes, cheesecakes, breakfast pastries, tarts and cookies, all made from scratch using simple high quality ingredients. Nicole’s passion is cakes and the bakery will always have a selection on hand. Special orders are available with advanced notice. Nicole loves to make fancy sculpted art cakes and plans to offer them once the business gets more established.

I didn’t get to try a cake yet but I did get some cookies and brownies for tonight’s dessert. I couldn’t wait for dessert though and tried a double chocolate cookie this afternoon. It was perfect, tender and crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside with a beautiful balance of high quality chocolate, butter, and fresh flour with just the right touch of sweetness. If the cookie is any indication, I expect the cakes to be sublime.

Monkey Business Bakery also serves coffee and has a couple of tables for eating in. The are open Tuesday through Friday from 7 AM to 4 PM, Saturday 8 AM to 4 PM, and Sunday 9 AM until 2 PM. They are located at 440 Main St. in South Berwick, across from Fogarty’s.

The Little Hat Company is a fun place to go. It is full of colorful toys, books, fuzzy puppets, and the very sweet and unique hats that are the core of its business. But that’s only part of the story; the other part is that the Little Hat Company is a company on the move, adding daily to the economic vitality of South Berwick.

On the day I visited, Jennifer Houghton and her son were putting up new shelves to showcase the hats. A designer had just dropped off the prototype for a strawberry hat that Jen expects will be a big hit at the Strawberry Festival, and Jen shared the news that Little Hat Company will be featured in Yankee Magazine’s summer travel issue.

The growth of Little Hat Company has been an exciting journey for South Berwick resident Jen Houghton. It all started when she sewed a hat for her own child. Soon friends and then retailers were requesting hats and Jen was trying to figure out production processes and working late into the night to fulfill orders. Over the next two years the business grew quickly and reached several milestones: joining with business partner, Susan Page, incorporating as an LLC, opening the retail store in South Berwick, expanding retail sales to include toys and gifts, internet sales, the first catalog, a second location in Cape Neddick, and now the business is getting ready to launch a new website with a new more professional look.
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The new windows at 4 Portland St., the new home of South Berwick Yoga look great! It’s amazing how a relatively small improvement can spruce up the look of downtown.

South Berwick Yoga is having an open house on Saturday March 8th 1-4 pm and on Sunday March 9th 1-4pm. You can see their new space and on Saturday from 1-4 pm PB&J unplugged will be performing. They will also have giveaways.

South Berwick Yoga offers yoga classes in a variety of styles including Ashtanga Flow, Vinyasa Flow, Hatha, Restorative, Pilates and Yoga for your Core. They also offer children’s classes through ChildLight Yoga. They will be offering Workshops and beginners series each month.

They are at 4 Portland St. in South Berwick. More information can be found at their web site.

If you are looking for something to warm you up from the inside out, head out to Tasty Thai just off the Kittery Traffic Circle. Owners Dan and Nok Raynard have created a cozy ambiance with rosy walls and gold accents where it is comfortable to linger over lunch or dinner. They have a full menu that includes soups, salads, rice dishes, noodles dishes, special entrees, luncheon specials, and all the curries. Most of the dishes offer your choice of meats, seafood, vegetables, or tofu so it’s a great place for vegetarians.

I love Thai food. I’ve had it three time in the last week and am a regular visitor to all the Thai restaurants in the seacoast. What stands out for me at Tasty Thai is their Basil Pad Thai. They’ve taken traditional pad thai and turned it up a notch with an extra level of hot and the addition of Thai basil with its subtle licorice flavor. The Basil Pad Thai alone is worth the trip, but everything else I’ve tried has been fresh and flavorful.

They are open every day except Tuesday from 11:30 until 9 pm and they offer take out. Their phone number is 439-9988.

It was one of those gray midwinter days, all dull skies, murky fog, and muddy, slushy puddles. The only reasonable thing to do was head to the brightest spot in town, Abby Chic. Owner and floral designer, Abby Mifflin goes to the flower market three times a week to stock the shop with a variety of fresh flowers. Today’s selection included romantic long stem roses, exotic orchids, extravagant lilies, and sunny daffodils. I selected tulips in assorted colors. Abby wrapped them beautifully. The attention to detail by a floral designer sets a bouquet apart from those pre-wrapped flowers from big box stores. Flowers are always nice; when they are beautifully presented and the freshest of fresh, they are wonderful.

Valentine’s Day is only nine days away and Abby Chic can help you treat your valentine to just the right flowers. Order now for the best selection.

If winter is getting you down, I suggest you stop in at Abby Chic and treat yourself. My tulips are on my kitchen table and every time I walk by, they whisper that spring is on the way!

Abby Chic is at 200 Main St. in South Berwick.

SoBo Book & Bean is a friendly little oasis in the heart of South Berwick. The patina of the wood floors, the book lined walls, and the homey furniture create a cozy ambiance for enjoying a coffee or a meal, conversing with friends, browsing the books, watching the world go by out the window, or a little of each. Co-owners Jenna and Tim are friendly, accommodating hosts who make SoBo a comfortable place to linger. This is one of the places that makes up the soul of South Berwick, don’t miss it.

Sobo Book & Bean is located at 241 Main St. in South Berwick and opens at 7 am during the week and 8 am on Saturday.

I’m a super fan of Nature’s Way Market. It offers a fine selection of real food but it’s also enhanced my quality of life in unexpected ways. I save gas and time by not having to schlep off to other towns to get basic foodstuffs. We waste less food because it’s easy to shop frequently. Instead of our old way of overbuying at a super store to stock up “just in case,” we get what we need for one or two meals. It seems counter intuitive, but we eat a greater variety of food even though the Market is at least ten times smaller than where we used to shop. The human scale of the Market makes it a pleasure to browse and see what’s new or looks tasty. I feel more connected to South Berwick because I go downtown more often than ever before, and it’s rare when I don’t run into someone I know when I’m there.

And did I mention the food? This night it was the Market’s freshly prepared crab cakes as an appetizer, followed by haddock baked in lemon and garlic, roasted rutabaga, and broccoli, served with a glass of pinot grigio from the wine room. See you at the Market!

Last night we headed south to the Shipyard Brewpub in the Eliot Commons to meet friends for dinner. The place was packed by 6:30 and filled with sounds of conversation and laughter. It felt good to be part of the communal celebration of the end of the work week.

Besides a comfortable bar, the Brewpub has a dining room with a full menu. Selections include small plates, pizzas, sandwiches, fish, meat, and vegetarian entrees. They have a “little skippers” menu with child-friendly selections. Our party tried the pan roasted cod special, the buffalo chicken wrap, the grilled chicken sandwich and a chicken caesar salad. The meals were freshly made and tasty and the tab was modest. And, of course, the beer was great.

There’s nothing better than a warm place on a cold night. Everything about Pepperland Cafe is warm, from the yellow ochre exterior to the deep red walls and the friendly owner and staff inside. Tonight it was squash and fennel (a very under appreciated vegetable) soup with a lovely touch of spiciness. Then a green salad with goat cheese, artichoke hearts and tomatoes and very crabby crabcakes. We left with a warm glow.

A morning meeting with Patti Mitchem at the Black Bean Cafe in Rollinsford. So much better than Starbucks, the Black Bean is locally owned, has great coffee, delicious hearty food, and very friendly people.

Nature’s Way Market is a great addition to South Berwick. Tonight I took a quick trip downtown to get food for dinner. It took all of twenty minutes to drive downtown, shop, and even visit with a few friends who I ran into on Main Street. What a contrast with B. M. (before market) when getting food for dinner meant going to York or Dover and never took less than an hour. Tonight for dinner it’s a “big salad” with organic feta cheese and pine nuts and multi-grain bread. All bought right here in South Berwick!