Eric Saindon left a Los Angeles hospital Sunday, fighting pain, to attend the Academy Awards and pick up his first Oscar, for visual effects in the movie ‘Avatar: The Way of Water.’
Ray Routhier
Staff Writer
Ray Routhier has written about pop culture, movies, TV, music and lifestyle trends for the Portland Press Herald since 1993. He is continually fascinated with stories that show the unique character of Maine’s people and places. He’s written about why so many businesses use the made-up word “Mainely” in their names, how you can trace Portland’s history through its various smells and why Mainers lament the loss of Portland-made B&M baked beans. He’s interviewed a wide variety of filmmakers, actors, musicians and authors, including Patrick Dempsey, Tony Shalhoub, Richard Russo, Tess Gerritsen, Tony Bennett, Anna Kendrick, and Stephen King. His passions, besides writing, include baseball history, old movies and “Jeopardy!” A native of Manchester, New Hampshire, he graduated with a degree in political science from the University of New Hampshire. He lives in South Portland with his wife and two children.
Posted inThings to Do
St. Patrick’s Day is very much back and jam-packed with lively events
Irish music concerts, corned beef and cabbage, parties, a cold dip in the ocean and pub fun are among the St. Patrick’s Day events planned around southern Maine.
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Posted inMaine, New England, News, Religion & Values
$3 million in federal funds will help preserve Maine Irish Heritage Center’s history
The center inside the old St. Dominic’s church building in Portland’s West End, a key piece of the area’s rich Irish identity, will get long-needed updates to the roof and brickwork.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
For Maine director Todd Field, making ‘Tár’ was worth the wait
The Midcoast resident went more than 16 years without directing a feature film, but now his movie ‘Tár’ is up for six Oscars, including best picture and best director. The Oscars will air at 8 p.m. Sunday on ABC.
Posted inMaine
Saturday’s storm packs a punch, though coast gets less than expected
The Portland jetport reported 8.5 inches Saturday evening, while inland towns such as Windham and South Paris recorded a foot or more.
Posted inAndroscoggin County, Arts & Entertainment
Durham man’s big-name musician friends turn up for benefit concert
After spending years on the road with the Grateful Dead and Blues Traveler, Greg Martens now organizes annual benefit concerts to fight hunger in Maine, featuring musician friends he met along the way.
Posted inFood, Things to Do
Maine Restaurant Week is returning for its 15th year. Here’s the deal
About 70 establishments are expected to participate in the annual event, started to help Maine restaurants attract customers in the dead of winter.
Posted inBusiness, Maine, Nation / World, News
Office romance in work-from-home era? It’s not as remote as you think
Maybe it’s isolation fatigue, but surveys and psychologists suggest workplace relationships could be on the rise and are definitely here to stay.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Maine author Cathie Pelletier seeks the cold, hard truth
After 12 novels, the Allagash-based author has developed a passion for narrative nonfiction and the research that goes with it. Her latest book, ‘Northeaster,’ follows the stories of a dozen or so people impacted by a huge Maine storm in 1952.
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Maine, Schools & Education
Actor Tony Shalhoub announces donations to USM arts center, credits college for launching his career
Shalhoub, who graduated from the University of Southern Maine in 1977, was at the Portland school Thursday, where he was named honorary chairman of the fundraising drive and pledged $150,000 of his own money.