Life + Culture

The Science of Gratitude

A conversation with Dr. Robert A. Emmons, the world's leading scientific expert on gratitude Article by Angela Smith Before gratitude lists were a thing, a scientist who put gratitude on the map started his journey in Maine. Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D., UC Davis psychologist and a leading gratitude expert, earned his degree at the University of Southern Maine. He recently shared with us what gratitude is—and how to live it. In our Q&A, Emmons brings gratitude from the Hallmark aisle to the lab...

Health + Wellness

Air. Ground. Gratitude

Care in motion. Gratitude in person. How LifeFlight brings the ICU to patients, then helps complete the circle. Article by Angela Smith | Photography by Henry Frank and Mark Fleming LifeFlight of Maine brings the ICU to patients. By helicopter. Plane. Specialty ground ambulance. They meet people on the hardest days of their lives and move them toward care. In one of the most rural states, bases in Bangor, Lewiston, and Sanford let teams reach 90% of Maine within 45 minutes — shrinking long...

Life + Culture

Mainers Talk Thanks

Four Community Members Offer Their Perspective on Gratitude Article by Angela Smith We recently caught up with four Mainers, neighbors you might recognize, to talk about gratitude. We asked two simple prompts that open big doors: 1. What does gratitude mean to you? 2. What’s something you’re grateful for right now? Their answers are personal and practical, reminding us that gratitude is both a mindset and a daily practice—shaped by the work we do, the communities we serve, and the people and...

Arts + Culture

Kindness Delivered

Local shops for cards that carry connection and joy Article by Angela Smith The art of a thank-you note is simple and mighty. It’s gratitude, love, and empathy, tucked inside an envelope. Putting words on paper and sending mail lands differently. Cards carry connection, evaporate distance, and affirm worth. Writing and sending cards takes time. Presence. It’s a personal act that goes a long way. Cards surprise and delight people. They land on a counter or desk and deliver lift every time...

Food + Beverage

From Farm to Table, Feasting the Maine Way

At Wanderwood, a harvest meal blends food, farming, and community. Article by Angela Smith A Harvest Escape at Wanderwood Tucked into Maine’s midcoast, Wanderwood feels like the kind of place you don’t just visit—you step into. Guests arrive by way of a path that winds through blueberry fields and open pasture, the land alive with the season’s rhythm. At its center, an 1870s barn and 1920s farmhouse set the stage for evenings that bring food, farm, and community together in one...

Food + Beverage

Chocolate Silk Pie

A melt-in-your-mouth pie for any occasion Article by Angela Smith | Photography by Josh Samson & A.V. Crofts In one pie-baking competition Anita Verna Crofts entered, chocolate pies were banned because judges feared they’d overshadow humble fruits and custards. While Anita agrees a key lime or peach can rival any dessert, she believes her Chocolate Silk Pie would’ve been unbeatable. Silky and rich, it’s adapted from her grandmother’s legendary recipe, stored in the tin she received from her...

Arts + Culture

Artistry of a Meal

Four Maine artists infuse creativity into every course Article by Angela Smith Every meal holds quiet magic. Nourishment that feeds body and soul. Especially when art shapes each step. From painted recipes to illustrated ingredients, hand-thrown vessels to thoughtfully plated dishes, four Maine artists infuse creativity into every course, reminding us that artistry lives not just around the table, but within it.   Brenda Erickson Paints the First Course: A Watercolored Recipe Before the...

Arts + Culture

Gather & Share

Serving and strengthening communities one story at a time Article by Angela Smith | Photography by Karl Schatz At the heart of every Community Plate Story Sharing Supper is a simple idea: come hungry, bring a dish, share a story. Held in libraries, churches, farms, and fairgrounds across Maine, these potluck gatherings have quietly become one of the state’s most heartfelt community movements. Rooted in ritual and shared humanity, they invite us to slow down, pull up a chair, and nourish body...

Food + Beverage

A Portland Icon Returns

A reimagined take on the classic tavern, Dry Dock returns with stunning views, bold flavor, and heart. Article by Angela Smith | Photography by Jenny Bravo They say timing is everything. And in the case of Dry Dock’s return, this adage holds. For the past five or six years, Luke Holden, co-founder of Luke’s Lobster, has been reaching out to his longtime friend, former classmate, and culinary peer Matt Ginn with the same question: “When is it time to link up and do something together?” Last...

Style + Beauty

Threaded with Meaning

How a quiet brand born in a New York apartment grew into a Maine-made label of elegance and calm Article by Becca Abramson | Photography by Maria Mylena In a world of fast fashion and fleeting trends, Portland-based designer Bailey Renée is embracing a pace defined by slowness, stillness, and intention. Her namesake label, Bailey Renée , is a contemporary womenswear brand rooted in natural materials with heirloom quality, timeless silhouettes, and a strong sense of place.  “It all began in a...