July 4, 2009

One more post today since it' a holiday...

Happy Birthday America

Wharf Street

Wharf Street, in the heart of the Old Port, on a recent rainy evening:

Know Your Blog - Walk Around Portland

My other blog, Walk Around Portland, was featured in this week's 'Know Your Blog' on the Press Herald's website by Justin Ellis.

In the introduction to the Know Your Blog series, Justin wrote:

"If there's one thing we love more than bacon on the NXT Desk, it's local blogs. But for the longest time we've struggled on how to incorporate them better around here. Many of you probably notice that when I'm away from the desk or otherwise incapacitated I try to get local bloggers to keep the shop running.

But I think we need something on a more regular basis, and until we get together an NXT blogroll (the page may not be able to handle any more heft), I'm introducing "Know Your Blog," a new feature where we'll spotlight local bloggers on a regular basis. If you've got or know of a great local blog, e-mail me or find me on Twitter with your ideas."

It is an honor to be among the first blogs profiled for this feature. The first two were HillyTown and The Sunday Best. Send Justin your suggestions via the links above.

New Skin

From last Saturday, which was indeed sunny...

The Portland Daily Sun reported in a recent story :

Finard Properties, owner of the Key Bank/Pierce Atwood building at One Monument Square, has started a renovation of the exterior of the building, replacing windows and applying a new skin. The plans include a new entrance on the square.

Exterior work started a couple of weeks ago and, with favorable weather, should be done this year, said Rick Feldman, project manager for One Monument Square.

The first stage of the work, according to Finard Properties, is to remove the interior storm windows and the perimeter induction units that are no longer used for heating the building. Next is removal and replacement of the exterior windows with high-efficiency windows, work that's under way and visible now.

"The second stage of the project is to install a new exterior skin over the entire brick facade of the building made up of Copper Metallic Alucabond panels," the company reported. "These panels will seal the exterior facade, preventing any water from entering the building. This design will cover all the existing brick and present the building with a much improved state-of-the-art design."

Sounds great to me, this building is due for a face lift. The entrance on to Monument Square will also be welcome and will go well with the new entrance to the library, across the street.

Maine Historical Society

I checked out the Maine Historical Society's open house this past weekend, and here are some photos in and around their new research library:




It has a very neat section in the research library which is 3 levels tall. This is taken from the middle level, which overlooks the main research hall.

As Fast As

A humorous poster for local band As Fast As, which is regrouping for a new album and a show in July. Click image to view bigger size.

Guitar

For something different, here are some guitars along the wall at Buckdancer's Choice in Portland.

Upon us all a little rain must fall

Another rainy day today

An Unfitting Tribute

There is a rock/monument/reminder in front of the new Marriott on the Eastern Waterfront, across from Ocean Gateway. It serves as a notice that the house which Henry Wadsworth Longellow was born and raised in once stood on this site. Per the Vigorous North, the house was demolished long ago to make way for industrial buildings, which were then demolished for this development and a parking garage.

A view towards the waterfront

And on the other side

Buoys

Looking down at a lobster boat

Every Day has a Night

A few shots downtown on a recent evening:

Congress Street Eats

In the foreground we have Wild Burritos and just a few doors up a small group of people congregate outside of the new Otto's Pizza. I welcome Otto's and wish them well in their prime location, which should attract plenty of late-night diners who don't want a sit-down diner.

Looking In

Taking a look inside the old public market building, which is being renovated into office space for a local company.

To quote myself from my flickr comment on this photo:

"It's definitely a plus that is'a local company moving in, but it is sad that such a fine building wasn't able to remain a public market. The combination of not making a profit, being kind of out of the way for tourists, and the nighborhood it borders (homeless shelter, lower income housing, etc) did it in.

The good news is that public market house, right in monument square, is doing great and expanding to the 2nd floor at the moment!"

Bumper Stickers

On High Street:

Vine

Dangerous

Here are a few shots of the previously mentioned demolition of the old USM dorms on Congress Street. The back wings of the building are being demolished and the part of the building on Congress Street will be rehabed into retail spaces and apartments.

Walk on By

People walking by Port City Music Hall last evening.

Pier People

At the end of the Maine State Pier...

Churchy

Immanuel Baptist Church on High Street. The structure reminds me a bit of the Cathedral of Learning in Pittsburgh.

Restaurant Grace

This is a not-so-perfectly framed shot of the old Chestnut Street Church with the City Hall dome in the background. The church was purchased a few years ago after its congregation moved out, and will soon open as a restaurant, known as Grace. They have a blog here and here are some great shots of the interior by a professional photographer. I dig the circular bar in the middle. I applaud this creative reuse of a beautiful structure.

Library Renovations

Work continues on the library renovation, see here for an earlier post highlighting the (excellent) updates to the front of the building. The picture above makes it look like they are building a moat around the building!

The Redfern House

Here are a few photos from an open-house I attended this morning. The house is the Redfern House and is on track to be LEED certified with a 'Gold' rating. An added bonus for this project (in my book) is that it is built in the city of Portland (off of Ocean Avenue) where as most LEED homes built in this state are in rural areas and the gains in sustainability of the house are erased due to long commutes and related expenses.

These sliding pieces move like barn doors and act to cool the house by covering the windows/patio doors in the summer and move to let more sun into the house in the winter for heat.

A small footprint by today's standards, but still a perfectly large house with the kitchen/dining room and living room downstairs and bedrooms upstairs.

From their site:

The Redfern House is a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home of roughly 1760 square feet. It will feature thoughtful spaces and attractive finishes, making it extremely comfortable and livable. And it has been designed and built to be healthy, extremely efficient, highly durable, and ecologically responsible.

The house uses no fossil fuels and even has a no-turf yard (think of all the pesticides used on the average yard and the costs and environmental impacts of mowing every few weeks in the summer).

The house is connected to the electrical grid, and has two power meters, as seen below. One measures the electricity coming in and one measures the electricity going out. Most of the year the house will produce more electricity than it takes in so the power company will pay (issue credits) to the owners for their power put into the grid. I couldn't get a good view of the solar panels but they are on the roof of the house, by the way.

Public tours will also be offered by the architect Chris Briley and ReVision Energy on Thursday, June 16th at 5:30 and 6:15pm. RSVP by sending an email to info@theredfernhouse.com

Preble Sunset

Seems like whenever I walk past Preble Street there is a beautiful sunset.

Like a painting

The 'S' on this sign has been burnt out for a while. I think it adds charm to the hotel. Brush effect from here.