Cooking Classes in Midcoast Maine

There are four wonderful options in the mid-coast area for those who wish to combine travel with culinary interests. Stay at a cottage property, inn, or B&B and enjoy the options:

1. Bay Leaf Cottages & Bistro - www.bayleafcottages.com/bistro
Cook Chinese homestyle dishes, German holiday fare, and learn all about seafood preparationsl
June thru August open-enrollment cooking classes by reservation.

2. Cellardoor Winery - www.mainewine.come
Cooking classes and wine pairings at the winery.

3. Hartstone Inn - www.hartstoneinn.com
Cooking Classes by house chef.

4. Salt Water Farm cooking school - wide range of themes and classes. www.saltwaterfarm.com
Variety of techniques by chef AnneMarie or chef-instructors are brought in to teach cllas.

Just a Few More Days Leaf Peepers!

Fall is showing it's hot and cold side this weekend as leaf peepers head our way for Columbus Day Weekend. They are coming from all over - we have bookings from Italy to the western parts of the US. Join us as we wind down our 2011 season and get ready for winter. We'll be closing in just a week with most of our units closed from Monday October 10th thru to May 1st. As always, we will be taking reservations throughout the winter and spring months for your 2012 stay at Bay Leaf Cottages. Contact us by phone 207-505-0458, email: info@bayleafcottages.com, and online reservations www.booking.com. For those seeking wedding reservations/bookings, plan ahead and give us a call!

I'll be blogging on and off - don't miss our summer 2012 cooking class dinners - Seafood galore!
Keep checking in!
Jane

Thanks Yankee Magazine!

Camden Named 3rd Best Foliage Town in New England in Yankee Magazine's Online Poll

Camden has been named the 3rd best foliage town in New England, up from 6th in 2010, according to a poll conducted on YankeeFoliage.com, Yankee Magazine's fall foliage Web site. A seaside town located in the "jewel" of Maine's mid-coast has everything a visitor is looking for, color intensity against the backdrop of the rocky coast, scenic drives, hikes and a whole host of outdoor recreation-adding to that world class dining, lodging, shopping and cultural venues that make Camden and the communities of the Camden Hills definite not-to-miss fall favorites. The voting took place from mid-August and ended on September 28.

"This area brings together the best Maine has to offer, with an explosion of color and activities to delight all visitors, we are proud to continue to be a fall favorite," said Dan Bookham, Executive Director of the Penobscot Bay Chamber of Commerce serving the mid-coast area including Camden, Rockport and Rockland. "Families and visitors come from all over to enjoy the unhurried life that is quintessential Maine-hiking, schooner sails, taking in a museum or wine-, cheese- or chocolate- making-rest assured there is plenty to occupy one's time."

To qualify for consideration, tourism professionals, along with some of Yankee Magazine's writers and editors, came together to determine the Top 25 Foliage Towns in New England. Towns were then scored on a scale from 0 to 5 in 14 areas that make up the perfect fall foliage travel destination: color intensity, scenery, vistas, nearby water, scenic drives, hikes, culture, farmers' markets and farm stands, orchards, covered bridges, state or local parks, the quality and variety of shops to browse, tourism amenities such as hotels and restaurants.

Rainy Weekend in Mid-coast Maine

Rain Rain Go Away!
We have no less than 9 wonderful weekend events in the mid-coast and it's raining moose and lobsters! The weekend's weather forecast is not good. The movie theaters are going to be full for sure. Head to the Northport Music Theater tonight for good old-fashioned musical theater!

If you have your raingear ready don't miss...Vinfest at Cellardoor Winery
Savage Oaks Winery Fall Festival
Apple Picking and Cidar Making at Hope Orchards
Corn Maze, Cidar and Apples at Beth's Produce
Lincolnville Fall Festival and Parade on Rt. 1
Antique classic car show in downtown Camden
Harbor Arts Juried Arts & Crafts Show in downtown Camden
Camden International Film Festival in Camden & Rockland
Belfast is having a parade today as well

Want to stay dry??Film Festival and Movies
Farnsworth Museum in Rockland
Owl's Head Transportation Museum
Penobscot Marine Museum in Searport
Reny's the Maine 5 & 10 experience
LLBean Outlet store in Ellsworth
Hollywood Slots in Bangor
Dining on seafood or hanging out in coffee shops, wine-tasting, and more!

Good rainy day hangout options (most with WIFI):
Dots in Lincolnville
Market Basket in Camden
Zoots in Camden
Boyton & McKay in Camden
American Baking Co in Rockland
Chase's Daily in Belfast
Lots of cafes/restaurants in Rockland, Camden, Lincolnville Beach, and Belfast

Leaf Peeping Activities in Mid-Coast Maine

This time of year - Fall and Leaf Peeping is really special in Maine. There's so much to see and do normally but there's so much that's unique to Fall...

1. Arts and Artisan's Tour in Lincolnville/Camden/Hope - this weekend (Sept 9-11) - ride around mid-coast Maine and stop at the galleries and workshops of accomplished artisans of the region. Everything from goldsmiths to pottery, fine art to metalworking.

2. Common Ground Fair in Unity - September 21-25 - get the 60s-70s vibe as you rub elbows with sustainable farmers, eco-friendly power, organic agriculture, artisans, home cooks, canning, unique products, and music/fun galore.

3. Vinfest in Lincolnville at Cellardoor Winery (Sept 30-Oct 1) - get in touch with your inner grape - which one speaks to you. Try 6 samples from a menu of about 20 wines made on-site. All are amazing and there are some unique blends thanks to local blueberries. Gourmet dinner, activities for the family, tastings for the adults, demonstrations/tours - all with a gorgeous fall view.

4. October 1st & 2nd in Lincolnville for our Fall Festival - brings the local parade and activities galore for family and friends. Don't miss the farmer's and artisan's market at the Whales Tooth Pub.

5. Camden International Film Festival (Sept 29-Oct 1st) - Showcasing documentaries from throughout the globe -screenings at various cinemas in the region - Lincolnville, Rockland, Rockport and Camden.

6. Carol Sebold Harbor Arts (Juried) Arts and Crafts Show - October 1-2 in the Camden Harbor. Don't miss this eclectic mix of established and emerging artists.

Don't miss area farmer stands and apple orchards. Pop into the many antique shops.

And there's always a place to stay right here at Bay Leaf Cottages & Bistro www.bayleafcottages.com  Book soon!

After the Storm

Irene left her mark with downed trees and this large split tree which will need to come down so it won't crash into large structures on the next storm - and surely there will be another in our future. The big casualty was the playground. We will reorder and redo the kids playground once the tree is removed. We also lost some poplar trees behind the cabins. Root systems aren't deep here so trees just fall over versus breaking like our 100'+ tree did - rotted in the core somehow. Given we had to take a large dead piece off of it last season, this came as no surprise.

Readying for the leap peeping season, raking leaves already from the butternut tree. Mowing the grass that has really grown up with all the rain makes for a good Friday.
Tell everyone Maine is open for business. It seems people are fearing that the news about Irene and the problems/devastation in Vermont will keep people away from Maine. Come our way - we'll be here!

Calm before the Storm

It's the calm before the storm - Irene is on her way! We're put away all the chairs, covered the motel windows, removed the plants, and brought the extra water, food, and candles into the house. We're ready for the storm - as ready as we can be. Of course by the time it reaches us the winds will only be 65-70 mph but they can still bring down trees, power lines, and cause havoc. We have no guests at present - everyone heading "home" where ever that might be.

Some neighbors may come stay with us as they fear being isolated in their homes with downed power lines. I reminded them we'll also be without power if they are without power but they are welcome to ride the storm out here if they wish. Being more "open" I suppose is appealing to those living in the woods. However, we have some mighty big trees on the property - who knows what's going to happen. Luckily we had everything pruned last year and most of the dead limbs are long gone. No power means no water so we'll be filling the tub up tonight so we can "flush" the toilet as needed. This is where having guests during a storm is problematic and this is why all of our signage is down. My only fear is that we'll lose the tops of our new lights. Aren't they pretty with the leaves? (If it would only right itself - hmmm). More after the storm! No lobster dinners tonight!