Destination Maine: A Birthday and Holiday Visit

Update - November 25 to December 1

Skeptical about "grits"

-- Vacation and Birthday Celebration in Maine

After Thanksgiving, we spent the weekend doing some shopping and some decorating and final planning for our vacation to Maine. We had decided to spend Patti's Birthday celebration in Kennebunkport and the surrounding area. We had been to Kennebunk and Kennebunkport many times over the years, but it was generally in the spring and summer months when we could focus on golf and warm weather activities. The idea of winter in Maine has always been just that: an idea. We never really spent any time exploring our favorite towns in the winter.
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READ my Blog "The Books of Richard F Wright" (Books, Bookstores, Writing)

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-- Overcame Fear of Cracker Barrel Restaurant

Over the years, from time to time, I have stopped at Cracker Barrel restaurants to grab a quick bite to eat. But, I had been unsuccessful in getting Patti interested in stopping when we were traveling together. She showed no enthusiasm for such things as biscuits and gravy or grits. So I was surprised as we drove north on the first day of our adventure to Maine that she said it would be okay to get some breakfast at the Cracker Barrel. I agreed and it turned out great. At first, she was skeptical about "grits," so I wasn't sure if she was going to like her breakfast. As it turned out she ordered eggs with all the fixings, which included grits. She tried them and agreed they were not as bad as she imagined. I don't expect her to stock grits at the house for future use, but at least we can stop at Cracker Barrel in the future with a bit less anxiety.

-- Last Minute Shopping for Toys for Tots

It turned out that the resort we were going to stay at had offered a steep discount if you brought an unwrapped present to add to their Toys for Tots collection. And I mean it was a steep discount. I had already bought a nice toy for a boy, but I needed a nice one for a girl as well. As we were heading into Maine, we stopped at one of the many Reny's department stores. This place reminds us a little bit of Building 19 and Spag's department stores that we had back home years ago. It has top brand items, but generally in the least popular colors. That's a drawback when buying a shirt or pajamas, but not when you buy marmalade or toys. We found several bargains and continued our journey.

-- Checked In to the Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport

Nonantum Resort

The Nonantum Resort offers waterfront views from its Portside building including a direct view of the lighthouse at the water's edge. Years ago, we had spent a couple nights here as part of the company recognition night held each year by The Hope Group. The charm of the place was as we had remembered it and there were some improvements as well. For one thing, they had expanded the off-lobby pub so that there was a larger seating area for smaller meals. Previously, it was no larger than a broom closet. When I checked in, we surrendered our Toys for Tots gifts and got ready to go out to dinner. My plan had been that we would indulge in fine dining three nights in a row, something you can justify only when it's a special birthday vacation.

-- The Boathouse at Kennebunkport

The Boathouse

Two years ago we tried to get a meal at David's restaurant near Dock Square in Kennebunkport but discovered that it was closed, under renovation, and would be under new ownership. Also, it would have a new name: The Boathouse. So, we had it in our minds that we would try it the next time we came to Kennebunkport. I had made a reservation for our arrival night, so we drove over knowing it would not be crowded and there would be plenty of parking, which was true.

The place did not disappoint. It was a very eclectic style and with the added comforts of holiday decorations, it was warm and inviting. The place was very quiet, but we could tell that in the summer, with the bar layout, the general seating and the enormous waterfront decks, it will probably be a very hopping place in the summer. The food was great and the wine pour was generous, so I appreciated that.

-- Christmas Shopping in Kennebunkport instead of Chatham

Minka is Unusual

For many years now, Patii and I have made a trek to Chatham on Cape Cod to spend a day or two Christmas shopping. We have found that any gifts we select there are less likely to be anything you find in the regular mall shops near home. This year, it's Kennebunkport that offered the chance to find the unusual and special, not likely to be in the mall.

Among the shops where we found the unusual and delightful were the Whimsy shop and the Minka shop at Dock Square. The owner-operators were there and the specialty items they offered were great.

-- Step Back to 1956 with Country Squire Station Wagon

Patti and 1956 Ford 

We both found the 1956 Ford Country Squire with roof-top tree and grille-mounted wreath to be a perfect reflection back to Christmas when we were kids. The car was parked just off Dock Square as it might have been 62 years ago. I consider it the best holiday decoration in Kennebunkport this year.

There were many years when we were kids that the family carried a tree home on the roof of the car. It was so iconic to see this piece of Americana that Patti posed for a picture with it, as you can see.




-- Seashore Trolley Museum Opened for Christmas Prelude

Seashore Trolley Museum

You know how big an event the Christmas Prelude is when you realize that the summer-only Seashore Trolley Museum opened for tours and rides this past week. We visited the museum and, of course, took a ride. The history of trolleys is a history of many of our cities. As the cities evolved and transportation needs also evolved, so did the trolleys. During their prime, there were thousands of trolley companies in the United States. The largest cities and the smallest towns had trolleys, mostly to move the workers, but also as a convenience and recreation vehicle. The trolley at Kennebunkport rolls out to one of the iconic recreation parks that were built by the trolley companies to give riders a special way to enjoy the outdoors, away from the city or town. In fact, these were the progenitors of what today we call amusement parts. The trolley companies made a living taking residents and tourists for a "ride in the country." We had a blast riding along imagining what it must have been like nearly 100 years ago. It's a not to be missed stop if you visit Kennebunkport.

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-- Scenes from Our Visit to Kennebunkport

Richard Shopping

Tour of White Columns

We did a bit of shopping in town and managed to collect some items suitable for holiday gifts giving. We also took the time to tour one of the historic homes in town at the White Columns. 

We enjoyed the holiday ambiance of the hotel, which included the fresh baked cookies in the lobby and the hot chocolate. We had dinner one night at the White Barn, which was a truly elegant experience and we had fun at the Prelude Dinner too.

Lobby of Nonantum

Patti at Prelude Dinner

Sunset from our Room

Dinner at White Barn Inn

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-- We Met a Special Artist and Bought One of His Creations

Artist Bill Schafer and Me

Now on Display at Home

On Saturday, the morning we were heading home, we visited several of the Holiday Fairs being held at the schools, churches, town halls, Legion halls, and libraries. In all, we went to half a dozen and there were more than that we didn't have time to visit. At the American Legion Hall on Main Street, we met William Schafer, a Navy Veteran, who has a hobby crafting exact replicas of homes, churches, camp cabins, diners, apartment buildings, and every imaginable structure you can imagine. But, he only makes one example of each, keeps a record of who he sold it to, and ends up making a donation to charity from the proceeds he collects. I was totally amazed at the craftsmanship and detail that he brought to the structures. When I showed them to Patti she immediately agreed with me that we had to have the Little White Church. It was an exact replica of the church in Eaton New Hampshire, which is a famously iconic building often the subject of painters, photographers, and craftsmen like Bill. When we got home, I set up a vignette as part of our Christmas decorations. 

 -- Former President George H. W. Bush Passed Away During Our Visit to Kennebunkport

The Bush home is in the distance

On Saturday, we woke to the sad news that former President George H. W. Bush had passed away the night before, probably at the time we were downtown taking late night pictures of the Lighted Christmas Tree in Dock Square, which is the central attraction for the Christmas Prelude event held each year in Kennebunkport. The former President was well known and well liked by those who lived in town as he and Barbara were frequent downtown visitors, visiting the restaurants and shops like any resident or tourist. We drove past the Walker's Point home that the Bush family made famous over the years.

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Reading Update: As usual, I'm attracted to biographies and autobiographies, and when it's about a journalist, it's even more tempting to me to read about the life and times of those who bring us the news. "A Good Life," is an autobiography by Ben Bradlee, the famous editor of the Washington Post newspaper. He's the guy with the Watergate story, the Pentagon Papers, and the wildly infamous Janet Cooke, the writer who won a Pulitzer Prize for writing a fake story about a fake child who was addicted to heroin. The book reads like a thriller, which is what I find fascinating that real life is more entertaining than fiction. It's a good review of journalistic challenges and a refresher on interesting national history.