PORTLAND – “A Deaf Artist in Early America,” the first comprehensive exhibition on John Brewster Jr., one of the best early American portrait artists who painted in a characteristically American style, is on view at the Portland Museum of Art.The exhibit, up through March 25, features 50 paintings that illustrate the full range of Brewster’s […]

After being overhyped and underutilized in a series of American films, Penelope Cruz returns to form in this magnificent performance that in any other year would be an Oscar lock. Rated: R for sexual content, profanity. Rating: 3½ stars. Running time: 2 hrs. – by Carrie Rickey, The Philadelphia Inquirer

Boston Brown Bread – Miss Jessie A. West, Center street, Auburn:Cook six hours or more. Two cups corn meal, one cup rye meal, one-half cup molasses, one teaspoon salt, two cups sour milk, one cup sweet milk, one teaspoonful soda dissolved in the sweet milk. This will just fill a five-pound lard pail. Put a […]

LISBON – The Maine Music Society, whose goal is to bring beautiful music to Maine, will host a wine-tasting Sunday, Feb. 11, as a fundraiser for the local arts organization. It will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at Graziano’s Restaurant, on Main Street.Founded in 1991, the Maine Music Society, is a nonprofit arts […]

ConcertsFeb. 3: DAMARISCOTTA, Castlebay will perform at 7:30 p.m. at Skidompha Public Library. $10/$8 529-5438Feb. 4: MECHANIC FALLS, a Country Valentine Show will be held at the Silver Spur, 272 Lewiston St. $6/$5 345-3211Feb. 4: PORTLAND, the Cathedral Choir will perform at 4 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Luke, 143 State St. 772-5434DanceFeb. 2, […]

BRUNSWICK – The Brunswick High School music department will host a swing dance, with The Mike Willette Swing Band playing from 8 to 11 p.m., Friday, Feb. 9, at the school. Swing dance lessons will be provided from 7 to 8 p.m.A high-energy, 12-piece ensemble, The Mike Willette Band features male and female vocalists and […]

AUBURN – “Woman is the Future of Man,” a powerful drama about two childhood friends and their common interest in a woman, will be shown Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 7-8, as part of L/A Arts’ International Film Series in partnership with Central Maine Community CollegeThe film, directed by Hong Sangsoo, in Korean with English subtitles, […]

Castlebay will present a concert in celebration of the Celtic holiday Imbolc, also known as St. Brigid’s Day or Groundhog Day, Wednesday, Feb. 7, at the Rumford Public Library. The duo, Julia Lane and Fred Gosbee, will present songs and instrumentals played on Celtic harp, guitar, fiddle and woodwinds – interspersed with ancient lore and […]

BATH – A centurieslong, time-stream of boat-building and knitting techniques will be the focus of Arts Night Wednesday, Feb. 7, at Patten Free Library.With “400 Years of Craft and Industry along the Kennebec” as its theme, the program will feature Brenda Cummings of Bath introducing the subject and Robin Hansen of West Bath speaking on […]

PORTLAND – The Leipzig String Quartet, widely acclaimed as one of the most exciting string quartets on the international chamber music scene, will perform Feb. 22 at Merrill Auditorium, courtesy of PCA Great Performances.The ensemble will present a program of music composed by Beethoven at 7 p.m., with a free “About the Music” discussion after […]