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Try Portland, Maine, during the winter to beat the summer crowds

Anthony Everett motors up to Portland, Maine, where he finds a hotbed of development on the outskirts of the city, and a lively food scene still growing downtown

Try Portland, Maine, during the winter to beat the summer crowds

Anthony Everett motors up to Portland, Maine, where he finds a hotbed of development on the outskirts of the city, and a lively food scene still growing downtown

>> THE BEST PART ABOUT WINTER IN PORTLAND? NO CROWDS. NOW IS THE CHANCE TO DINE AT ONE OF THE CITY’S MANY AWARD-WINNING RESTAURANTS. >> SOMETIMES IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET A RESERVATION. IN THE WINTERTIME, IT IS MUCH MORE USER-FRIENDLY. >> PORTLAND IS HOME TO 300 EATERIES. SAMPLE A FEW ON A MAINE FOODIE TOUR. HE LEADS TODAY’S TOUR. WE BEGAN HERE, SAMPLING LOCAL MEAD AND BALSALMICS. >> DIP RIGHT IN. >> WE GO DOWNTOWN, SAVORING A SNACK. WALKING THROUGH THE OLD PORT, WE FILL UP ON SUSHI, LOBSTER ROLLS. THEN IT IS TIME FOR A BOURBON SMASH. TOPPING IT ALL OFF, DESSERT. MOST PORTLAND VISITORS STAY IN THE OLD PORT NEIGHBORHOOD. LOCAL SAY STOP IN SOMEWHERE NEW. >> A LOT OF PEOPLE NOW SAY THAT THOMPSON’S POINT HAS CHANGED PORTLAND COMPLETELY. IT IS DRIVING MORE MORE PEOPLE TO EXPLORE OTHER PARTS OF THE AREA. >> A BREWERY, WINERY, DISTILLERY, AND RESTAURANT. >> WHEN THEY HAVE A NEW RELEASE, THERE IS OFTEN A LINE AROUND THE CORNER. JUST TO GET THEIR NEW RELEASE CANS. >> THIS IS A FIRST FOR ME. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS BEFORE. I CAN SEE WHY IT IS SO POPULAR. >> AT THE CENTER OF THOMPSON’S POINT, AN OLD TRAIN REPAIR BUILDING THAT HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED. >> NOW IT IS A BEAUTIFUL SPACE WHERE WE HOST EVENTS. WE HAVE A MARKET ONCE A MONTH. WE HAVE WEDDINGS. >> BUNDLE UP AND HEAD OUT TO THE RINK. >> THAT SEASON TYPICALLY RUNS FROM NOVEMBER TO MARCH. IN THE SUMMERTIME TIME, WE HOST SUMMER CONCERTS. >> DOWNTOWN, A HOTEL WITH A HISTORIC PAST. THE PRESS HOTEL LOCATED IN A BUILDING THAT HOUSED A NEWSPAPER. RATES DROPPED MORE THAN 40% IN WINTER. THE PENTHOUSE SUITE IS MORE THAN 50% OF. >> WE CALL IT OUR PACKAGE. YOU CAN COME EXPERIENCE IT WITH BREAKFAST AND PER PSYCHO ON -- PROSECCO ON ARRIVAL. FROM THE HEADLINES IN THE PAPER THAT CRASHED INTO THE LETTERS ON THE CARPETING. I LOVE THE ROOM NUMBERS. >> GUESTS SEE TYPEWRITERS EVERYWHERE. BUT THEY ARE MORE THAN JUST PART OF THE DECOR. >> YOU CAN TYPE A LETTER IN THE LOBBY. >> GRAB A QUICK BITE AT THE BAR OR A MEAL AT THE RESTAURANT. >> WE FEATURE AN OPEN KITCHEN. YOU CAN HAVE A DINNER AND INTERACT WITH THE CHEF. >> THE CITY’S ONLY 24/7 GALLERY IS LOCATED DOWNSTAIRS. >> IT IS SURELY A VALUE FOR ANYONE LOOKING FOR A GETAWAY. SHAYNA: THE PRESS HOTEL AND BRICK SOUTH ARE STILL OPEN. AS FOR OUR VIRTUAL FOOD TOUR, BROTHER’S BREWERY IS OPEN FOR PICK UP AND DELIVERY, AND HOLY DONUT HAS CLOSED THE OLD PORT LOCATION, BUT IT HAS ANOTHER SHOP IN PORTLAND THAT’S OPEN FOR TAKEOUT. UNFORTUNATELY, VERVACIOUS IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED. NEXT, CASTING A
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Try Portland, Maine, during the winter to beat the summer crowds

Anthony Everett motors up to Portland, Maine, where he finds a hotbed of development on the outskirts of the city, and a lively food scene still growing downtown

This was filmed prior to COVID-19. Please check out the websites of the attractions covered in the segment for visitor information.Head out to Portland, Maine, for your next winter getaway. With no crowds and lower prices, visitors can stop at one (or a few) of Portland’s eateries and breweries. Looking for a place to eat and don’t know where to start? Look no further than Maine Foodie Tours. With seven tours to choose from in Portland, stop in at a variety of local businesses and try the local fare.The first stop on our tour was Vervacious, where they sell a variety of spices and balsamic vinegar. A must-try is their blueberry balsamic vinegar. While there, the tour tried local mead from Portland Mead Works.From there the tour was off to The Holy Donut, where they make a variety of donuts out of mashed potatoes. This is a must-do spot during winter – during the summer months, the line wraps around the block.Soup is always a good idea during the cold winter months. Scattoloni Bakery in Portland not only has tasty desserts, they have delicious soup! The tour tried their fish chowder and red pepper bliss soup.Located in the Portland Public Market House, people are buzzing about Mr. Tuna and their crabmeat rolls. They have a variety of other offerings too!A Maine food tour wouldn’t be complete without a traditional lobster roll at Andy’s Old Port Pub. Wash it down with a Maine craft beer to experience your lunch like a local.Maine’s history of ice harvesting comes alive at the whiskey bar, Independent Ice Company. Tourgoers sipped on a Bourbon Smash and sampled a meatloaf slider – wrapped in bacon of course!To top the tour off … dessert! Dean’s Sweets specializes in chocolates, truffles, and caramels. Tour-goers tried their chocolate sea-salt truffle and a Needham.Located in the old Portland Press Herald building, the Press Hotel will wow guests with its details. Old headlines line the hallways and spot old typewriters throughout the building. Take advantage of off-season rates. Even the penthouse suite is discounted (make sure to check out the private roof deck with views of Portland). Stop in to Inkwell Bar for a quiet bite or sit down at Union for a full meal that will please tourists and locals alike.Head to Portland and check out Thompson’s Point. About 10 minutes from the Old Port neighborhood, Thompson’s Point is home to Bissell Brothers Brewery, Cellardoor Winery, Stroudwater Distillery, Locally Sauced, and the Cryptozoology Museum. Events and concerts are held at Brick South and during the winter months, ice skating is out on the point.

This was filmed prior to COVID-19. Please check out the websites of the attractions covered in the segment for visitor information.

Head out to Portland, Maine, for your next winter getaway. With no crowds and lower prices, visitors can stop at one (or a few) of Portland’s eateries and breweries.

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Looking for a place to eat and don’t know where to start? Look no further than Maine Foodie Tours. With seven tours to choose from in Portland, stop in at a variety of local businesses and try the local fare.

The first stop on our tour was Vervacious, where they sell a variety of spices and balsamic vinegar. A must-try is their blueberry balsamic vinegar. While there, the tour tried local mead from Portland Mead Works.

From there the tour was off to The Holy Donut, where they make a variety of donuts out of mashed potatoes. This is a must-do spot during winter – during the summer months, the line wraps around the block.

Soup is always a good idea during the cold winter months. Scattoloni Bakery in Portland not only has tasty desserts, they have delicious soup! The tour tried their fish chowder and red pepper bliss soup.

Located in the Portland Public Market House, people are buzzing about Mr. Tuna and their crabmeat rolls. They have a variety of other offerings too!

A Maine food tour wouldn’t be complete without a traditional lobster roll at Andy’s Old Port Pub. Wash it down with a Maine craft beer to experience your lunch like a local.

Maine’s history of ice harvesting comes alive at the whiskey bar, Independent Ice Company. Tourgoers sipped on a Bourbon Smash and sampled a meatloaf slider – wrapped in bacon of course!

To top the tour off … dessert! Dean’s Sweets specializes in chocolates, truffles, and caramels. Tour-goers tried their chocolate sea-salt truffle and a Needham.

Located in the old Portland Press Herald building, the Press Hotel will wow guests with its details. Old headlines line the hallways and spot old typewriters throughout the building. Take advantage of off-season rates. Even the penthouse suite is discounted (make sure to check out the private roof deck with views of Portland). Stop in to Inkwell Bar for a quiet bite or sit down at Union for a full meal that will please tourists and locals alike.

Head to Portland and check out Thompson’s Point. About 10 minutes from the Old Port neighborhood, Thompson’s Point is home to Bissell Brothers Brewery, Cellardoor Winery, Stroudwater Distillery, Locally Sauced, and the Cryptozoology Museum. Events and concerts are held at Brick South and during the winter months, ice skating is out on the point.