This salad is an escape from the ordinary, an extra-special dish that is sure to shine on a holiday table. The elements that make it so exceptional – an ambrosial dressing and crisp pistachio-breadcrumb topping – take a bit more effort than you might put into an everyday salad, but that’s the point and what […]
Leslie Bridgers
Columnist
Leslie Bridgers is a columnist for the Portland Press Herald, writing about Maine culture, customs and the things we notice and wonder about in our everyday lives. Originally from Connecticut, Leslie came to Maine by way of Bowdoin College and never left. She joined the Portland Press Herald in 2011 as a reporter and spent seven years as the paper’s features editor, overseeing coverage of arts, entertainment and food.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
A history of books in wartime – and of unexpected book-burners
Accounts from Andrew Pettegree’s ‘The Book at War’ will make you wonder what role books are playing in current conflicts.
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Posted inArts & Entertainment
The 10 best movies of 2023: ‘The Holdovers,’ ‘Oppenheimer’ and more
I cannot tell a lie: 2022 was kind of a bummer, movie-wise. As the year ended, I was hard-pressed to come up with 10 titles I genuinely loved. The pickings were so slim, I worried about the future of the movies, not just as art or mass entertainment, but as communal events that are central […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
‘Wonka’ a candy-sweet origin story that’s missing some bite
It is difficult – nay, impossible – to imagine that the Willy Wonka of the prequel “Wonka,” a simperingly sweet musical origin story starring Timothée Chalamet as the aspiring chocolatier made famous by writer Roald Dahl, ever matures into the adult version of the character we saw in 2005’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” starring […]
Posted inOut & About
Snowshoeing vs. cross-country skiing: What to know before you go
Plus, where to find trails, rentals and lessons in southern Maine.
Posted inGuides, Local & State
Where to go ice skating across southern and central Maine
These spots, from Auburn to Kennebunk, range from free outdoor ponds to full-service arenas with rentals and more.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Meet our 2023 Mainers to Be Thankful For
We once again recognize community members who show exceptional kindness and generosity in their everyday lives and also acknowledge those who stepped up in the wake of the tragedy in Lewiston.
Posted inFood
9 Thanksgiving recipes that put a twist on tradition
Break free from the Thanksgiving recipe rut with dishes that offer a fresh take on the classics.
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Things to Do
Where to play trivia almost any night in southern Maine
More than 30 restaurants, bars and breweries in the area host weekly trivia nights.
Posted inFood
Arayes are a delicious marriage of meat and pita
In these sandwiches, a ground meat mixture is spread inside pitas and grilled or fried.