A generation ago the city’s signature smells included J.J. Nissen Bakery, Jordan’s Meats and the soon-to-close B&M Baked Beans plant. Today the city’s aroma includes whiffs of coffee roasting, food trucks, breweries and oil tanks.
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 inArts & Entertainment
Writers for ‘Rugrats’ reboot have roots in Windham
The new version of the popular Nickelodeon cartoon series from the ’90s features two Windham High School grads in crucial roles, Kate Boutilier as executive producer and Sam Clarke as script coordinator.
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Posted inArts & Entertainment, Maine
Brandi Carlile concert at Thompson’s Point postponed until Aug. 27
Friday night’s show was rescheduled because the singer was sick.
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Maine, News
Major Portland music venues adopt vaccine requirements
The State Theatre and Thompson’s Point in Portland will require vaccination proof or a negative test starting this weekend, while the Portland House of Music will do the same starting Aug. 26.
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Maine
Maine concert venues consider requiring proof of vaccination
The Opera House at Boothbay Harbor and Stone Mountain Arts Center in Brownfield have policies, while others are following the lead of concert giant Live Nation, which says it will start similar requirements in October.
Posted inMaine, News
Spectrum launches local news app for Maine customers
The Spectrum News App will feature Maine news gathered by local journalists, as well as content from the Portland Press Herald and Bangor Daily News.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Author tells an upbeat story about girls Down East
The nonfiction book ‘Downeast: Five Maine Girls and the Unseen Story of Rural America’ by part-time Southwest Harbor resident Gigi Georges has garnered national attention since its release.
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Maine, Things to Do
Over 25 years, Umbrella Cover Museum showered with love
The quirky Peaks Island attraction marks the anniversary with a fashion show. Guess the material.
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Maine, News
Fairs and festivals go on with few restrictions, but organizers are ready to change on the fly
Organizers of Maine’s seasonal fairs and festivals are watching COVID cases and guidance closely.
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Maine
Apple Cinemas to reopen former Cinemagic locations in Westbrook, Saco
The company, which runs theaters in Connecticut and Massachusetts, is leasing the buildings and plans to reopen the theaters by the end of September.