I hope you have had a couple of days to rest up and prepare for this weekend after your long holiday weekend last week. This weekend is filled with charitable opportunities, races, lobster, Ninja Turtles, beer and of course a ton of fun!
The weekend starts in the Arts District on Friday with the First Friday Art Walk. Portland’s Art Walk is a free self-guided tour of art galleries, art studios, museums, and alternative art venues. Come check out all the beautiful artwork and support local artists. The art walk starts at 5 so head over after work! If you’re “pretty good at drinkin’ beer” and love being outside head to the Maine State Pier to see Billy Currington perform live. Dig out your jean shorts and cowboy boots, the show starts at 6! If you’re not a fan of country music, make your way over to Aura’s newly renovated space to see Ziggy Marley w/ Gorilla Finger Dub. Doors open at 6 and they will be jammin’ until 9. What is better than pizza in the summer? Hot dogs of course! Tandem Coffee is slinging hot dogs from 6-9 at their First Friday Hot Dog Night. Get there before they run out.
Saturday kicks off in true Maine fashion with the Down East Lobster Roll Festival. If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet unfortunately you missed your opportunity to be a judge (those tickets are sold out) but you can still get tickets and join the fun! Down East Magazine partnered with LifeFlight of Maine and they are offering a special opportunity to celebrate Maine’s newest medical helicopter, affectionately called the “Lobster Chopper.” Enjoy the lobster roll festival with your family, general admission into the festival is $10. For those of you who are 21+ you are welcome to join us at the Healers in the Sky VIP celebration. The celebration features hor d’oeuvres, live music, cocktails and a chance to win an aerial tour of beautiful Portland, Maine in the new helicopter when the party ends. VIP tickets at $100 and they are worth every penny. Flash back Friday is happening on Saturday this week with the 90’s Bar Crawl. For those of you who remember AIM, the Ninja Turtles and whose first pet was a Tamagotchi, grab your slap bracelets and lace up your sneakers for the best bar crawl in Portland this summer. Come wearing your favorite 90’s trend to collect your signature bar crawl cup. Your ticket includes a welcome drink at Bull Fenney’s and drink specials at numerous bars in Portland. Join the crowd of 90’s kids afterward at Slab like any true Ninja Turtle lover would. Leonardo would be proud that you grabbed a hand slab while you listen to Hilary Silver as part of the Slab Summer Music Series. If you are more of an early morning runner than a mid-day bar crawler head to Ocean Gateway for the 2017 Shipyard Old Port Half Marathon & 5K. The race starts at 7am, run through the Old Port, the Portland peninsula and around Back Cover for an easy 13.1 miles or stay on the East End and finish in the Old Port with the 5K. No matter which race you choose, it ends with a cold, refreshing Shipyard beer. If you are looking for a way to give back this weekend take the family to Bayside Bowl for Take Back Hope! A benefit show for the Hope Acts, a local non-profit organization which works for Portland’s immigrant and recovering addict populations. Tickets are only $10 and 100% of the proceeds go toward Hope Acts! After Take Back Hope! Watch 311 perform live at the Maine State Pier. Although the band technically formed in 1988, they still fit into the 90’s weekend theme if you ask me! Doors open at 6! If 90’s alternative rock doesn’t sound like your idea of a good time, walk over to Port City Music hall and see Raekwon (of Wu-Tang Clan) w/ Stann Smith & Ill by Instinct. At 7 pm join us at Portland House of Music for Gump it For Vets. This is an all-out Forrest Gump tribute to benefit K9s on the Front Line and our military veterans. There will be live music, giveaways, southern cocktails, veterans and service dogs! If you are just planning on relaxing this weekend after having a crazy fourth of July weekend, join us for Sunset Yoga + Potluck for Camp Kita at Fort Sumner Park. This class will be donation based ($15 donation is suggested). The money raised will be donated to Camp Kita which is a local non-profit camp for children who have lost a parent to suicide. Your donations will help provide free camp and grief counseling for these children.
On Sunday head out to One Longfellow Square for Music for Mutts benefit concert. There will be live music featuring local artists and guest artists from New York. There is a “Yappy Hour,” a 50/50 raffle and more. The best part is that there will be some adoptable furry friends in attendance! Once you have found your new furry family member, head to Bissell Brothers for the Recon Fitness Benefit. Recon Fitness is a non-profit organization that is involved in supporting our city through cross-training, mixed martial arts and community. All proceeds raised through the benefit will be put toward scholarships, gear and programming for high and at risk populations.
