About 70 establishments are expected to participate in the annual event, started to help Maine restaurants attract customers in the dead of winter.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Oscar nod expected for Maine native’s work on ‘Avatar’ sequel
Eric Saindon, originally from Gorham, was the senior visual effects supervisor on the blockbuster film and is considered a favorite for his third Oscar nomination.
While Brunswick theater is ready to roll the credits, other cinemas hope to script happier ending
The closure of the Regal Cinema comes at a time when the southern Maine movie theater landscape is still unsettled, following at least five closures during the pandemic.
Maine’s Amy Allen out, country singer Michael Ray in as headliner for Carnaval Maine
The festival will be held on the Portland waterfront March 8-12.
TV series based on Portland author Richard Russo’s ‘Straight Man’ to debut March 19
Titled ‘Lucky Hank’ and starring Bob Odenkirk, the series will seen on AMC.
Lifetime turns Zumba prostitution scandal into made-for-TV movie
‘Let’s Get Physical’ doesn’t specifically name Alexis Wright, who went to jail in 2013 for running a prostitution ring from her Kennebunk fitness studio, but the setting and story are extremely similar.
Part-time Mainer aims to make science relatable in PBS series
Physicist and novelist Alan Lightman, a Maine summer resident, is host of the upcoming three-part PBS series ‘Searching: Our Quest for Meaning in the Age of Science.’
 
				
 
				 
				 
				 
				 
				
 
				 
				 
				