Month: February 2020

Fresh Approach: Neighborhood Grocery Store Portland Maine

Post author By keithk0721
Post date February 5, 2020

Fresh Approach Grocery Store — Fresh Approach 155 Brackett Street 207-774-7250

Neighborhood Grocery Store

Fresh Approach is a locally owned neighborhood grocery store in the West End of Portland Maine. They sell meats, produce, groceries and baked goods. I fell in love with Fresh Approach instantly because it reminded me of the corner grocery stores we had when I was growing up in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. The atmosphere has a comfortable vibe and the employees are friendly and helpful.

The Meat Market

The core of the shop is its Meat Market. They make their own sausage, sell freshly ground chuck and wholesale their meats to many local restaurants in Portland. There is a Deli that offers made to order sandwiches and there are weekly specials on their meats, produce and cheeses. And, they offer prepared foods for your lunch or dinner that are simply delicious.

The produce is delivered everyday directly from the Boston Market and during the growing season they offer local produce which makes everything exceptionally fresh. And for your sweet tooth, they sell baked goods that taste homemade (I believe they are!)

Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

In the morning you can get breakfast sandwiches with ham, bacon or sausage with egg and cheese and a cup of coffee. At lunch you can have burgers, hot sandwiches and cold sandwiches. For dinner, they offer prepared foods that are out of this world. Everything tastes homemade and fresh.

My Neighborhood Grocery Store Favorite Items

As I become more familiar with the store, my morning routine is strolling to Fresh Approach and picking up the morning paper ( New York Times, Boston Globe and Portland Press Herald) and a breakfast sandwich with coffee. My favorite items are:

Chicken Salad (the best chicken salad I have ever had!)
Breakfast Sandwiches (are scrumptious)
Egg Salad (is wonderful)
Spaghetti and Meatballs (prepared dinner tastes just like Mom used to make)
Meatloaf (prepared dinner that is the epitamy of comfort food)
Apple Pie (from the crust to the apples, homemade pie at its best)

Going to the store has become my first Portland tradition and I will be a customer for life. I recommend this neighborhood grocery store to everyone I meet! We all need to support local businesses like Fresh Approach because they are few and far between these days.

Tags Fresh Approach: Neighborhood Grocery Store Portland Maine

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Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Monument

Post author By keithk0721
Post date February 13, 2020

Franklin Simmons began the design and the construction of the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Memorial in 1885, three years after the poets death. The pedestal was designed by Francis H. Fassette. The bronze statue depicts Longfellow seated in a chair with a stack of books under it. Longfellow is wearing an overcoat, and a cape is draped over his lap and one shoulder. One hand holds a manuscript while the poet gazes at the passersby. The statue is located on the corner of State and Congress in the West End neighborhood of Portland.

Tags Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Memorial

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Monument Square Portland Maine

Post author By keithk0721
Post date February 9, 2020

Monument Square Park is a Town Square in Portland Maine located at 456 Congress Street. The Portland Soldiers and Sailors Monument is in the center of Monument Square. The statue was dedicated on October 28, 1891 and honors the soldiers in the Army and Sailors in the Navy who died in the late Civil War. The sculpture is known as “Our Lady Of Victories”.

The bronze sculpture was created by Maine sculptor, Franklin Simmons who also created the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Sculpture in Portland. The granite base was designed by New York City architect, Richard Morris Hunt. Inscribed on the base of the monument is “Portland To Her Sons Who Died For The Union”.

Along Congress Street, there are other town squares named Bramhall, Congress and Longfellow. Many events take place in the squares throughout the year. Two of the most fun events are Pianos In The Square and the Monument Square Tree Lighting.

Pianos In The Square

Painted pianos start to show up around Portland in July. They appear in Monument, Congress, Bramhall and Longfellow Squares and passersby can stop and play a tune. Scheduled entertainers also appear throughout the month. 2019 was the second year for the event and I hope it will become an annual tradition. The festive vibe really brings people together and everyone enjoys the music. It is magical! Local businesses take the pianos in at night and bring them out each morning. Strolling from square to square listening to the music is a wonderful way to spend the day.

Monument Square Tree Lighting

The Monument Square Tree Lighting is a traditional downtown favorite that occurs right after Thanksgiving. The event includes entertainment and food to celebrate the official beginning of the holiday season. You can watch an ice carving demo and enjoy a horse and wagon ride. Drink some egg nog and try the marshmallows, donuts and maple taffy. Portland Maine is a beautiful city with outdoor and indoor events to enjoy in Spring, Summer, Winter and Fall.

Tags Monument Square Portland Maine