West End News events and culture.

Children’s Museum Installs Exhibits at New Location on Thompson’s Point
Whether you were out walking the Western Prom on Christmas Eve morning to catch some views or dashing down I-2...

Surviving the Pandemic at the Portland Conservatory of Music
By Jean Murachanian, Portland Conservatory of Music It’s been a crazy year, to say the least, and we continue...

PechaKucha Portland Announces VISION 20X20
PechaKucha Portland Announces The First PechaKucha Night of a New Decade – VISION 20X20! By Kymberly Dak...

An Eventful Day At The Capital
Each week I volunteer on Tuesdays and Thursdays with Maine People’s Alliance to speak with representativ...

Pecha-What??
PechaKucha Portland’s 45th show seeks stories of empowerment By Kelly Merrill What is PechaKucha? How do...

Same Company. Brand New Look. You’re Invited.
From Tom Landry, Realtor® Dear Friends and Neighbors, Benchmark Residential & Investment Real Estate is no...

Update on Portland Area Villages
The Portland Area Villages Board has been working hard and thanks to our members and volunteers, we have some...

BUY LOCAL BINGO – Washington Ave
By Mary Alice Scott, PBL Executive Director After you Vote Local, it’s time to Shop Local! The holiday season...

The House Sharing Trend – An Event by West End Aging in Place
The House Sharing Trend Please join us on Tuesday, November 13 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM Reiche Community Room, 166 Br...

Community Investment in Action
CONGRESS SQUARE PARK Community Investment in Action By Dela Murphy, Executive Director Friends of Congress Squ...

Julie Laukkanen – First Friday Art at PelotonLabs
July First Friday Art at Peloton: Julie Laukkanen Every Month PelotonLabs founder Liz Trice catches up with a...

Radio Wonderland – Portland Exclusive Interview
PRESS PLAY Taking any sound and making it musical By Tony Zeli, Editor & Publisher From the NYC undergroun...

New Horizons Adult Concert Band – I’m Glad I Joined!
LA VIDA LOCAL – IRREGULAR NOTES ON WEST END LIFE Make Your Own Music by Rosanne Graef “Music produces a kind o...

Designing a Vision for Bramhall Square
by Tony Zeli Historic Bramhall Square Site of the first federal execution (of Thomas Bird in 1790), today Bram...

INDIE BIZ AWARD WINNERS
1oth Annual Indie Biz Award Winners Announced Portland Buy Local held its 10th annual Indie Biz Awards on Thur...

Mary Alice Scott New Buy Local Director
Mary Alice Scott New Portland Buy Local Director Mary Alice Scott is a Portland-based organizer who worked mos...

Do you plan to stay in your home as you age? Some advice…
WEST END AGING IN PLACE Please join us for our SECOND MONDAY EDUCATIONAL SESSION September 11th | Reiche Commu...

Fine Craft Show Brings Customers to Artists
3rd Annual Fine Craft Show Big Success in West End by Tony Zeli Maine Craft Association The Maine Crafts Assoc...

Portland Buy Local Announces New Leaders
Portland Buy Local Updates New Leadership Announced Portland Buy Local announced a new slate of officers at th...

Adult concert band forming and other updates from PCM
Portland Conservatory of Music ADULT CONCERT BAND FORMING The Portland Conservatory of Music (PCM) is a non-p...

Beach to Beacon Inspires Shipyard Brewing
Shipyard to Donate $20,000, Release Commemorative Cans for 20th Beach to Beacon In honor of the 20th running o...

Portland Area Villages and West End Aging in Place Join Forces
UPDATE ON WEST END AGING IN PLACE West End Aging in Place (AIP) organizers have decided to join Portland Area...

Fine Craft Show Returns to West End
The Maine Crafts Association will present the third annual Portland Fine Craft Show on August 26th, from 9 a.m...

World Refugee Day Celebration
Catholic Charities Maine Hosts World Refugee Day Celebration Catholic Charities Maine presents Portland’s Worl...

Harbor View Park Planting Day
Harbor View Park Edible Hillside Begins by Pamela Shaw The first planting day at Harbor View Park was successf...

Karger College Prep Music Program at PCM
Karger College Prep Program One-of-a-kind in Maine by Liesl Quigley, graduating Karger Student For high school...

PCM Resurgence
Portland Conservatory of Music enjoys a resurgence in enrollment and activity by Jean Murachanian, PCM Executi...

Free Things To Do at Reiche Community Center
Reiche Community Center 166 Brackett St. Use Clark Street entrance. Open during school vacations. Mondays 8:30...

WEST END AGING IN PLACE UPDATE
First Monday Gatherings Thanks to all who came to the first monthly gathering of interested community members...

Buy Local Events & Membership Opportunities
Buy Local Events & Membership Opportunities by Jenn Thompson, Portland Buy Local February was a busy month...

BikeMaine Route Announced for 2017
2017 BikeMaine Route The Bicycle Coalition of Maine revealed the 5th annual BikeMaine route and announced that...

Window Dressers – Community Builds for Affordable Winterization
Window Inserts for the Community Window Dressers Community Build Program Offers Affordable Weatherization by T...

Inside Tips: Buy Local at the Portland Winter Farmers’ Market
PORTLAND WINTER FARMERS’ MARKET by Jenn Thompson Amidst the ice and wind, you will find farmers selling their...

Students Help the Spotted Turtle
The Spotted Turtle Gets Some Help from Noble Middle School LEGO League Team by The Turtle Tribe, Noble Middle...

Congress Square Redesign – Your Ideas Needed
Congress Square Park Needs Your Ideas by Bree LaCasse, FoCSP Happy New Year from your Friends at Congress Squa...

Reports from the 2017 Women’s March Announced
Events by USM Women & Gender Studies Program Personal Stories of Resistance and Reports from the 2017 Wome...

Congress Square Park in Winter
Congress Square will be lit up and ready for fun this winter! by Bree LaCasse Congress Square Park is once aga...

Keep It Local this Holiday Shopping Season
Why it is more important than ever to support local business when holiday shopping by Jenn Thompson, Buy Local...

Veterans Day 2016 Photos
Veterans Day Parade 2016 Veterans Day ceremonies in the City of Portland on Friday, November 11th, began with...

Take the Aging in Place Survey
Aging in Place in the Greater West End SURVEY West End Community Action Network – Aging in Place (WECANAIP) is...

Halloween Parade Draws Big Crowds
After 34 years the West End Halloween Parade is as popular as ever by Tony Zeli The 34th West End Halloween Pa...

Portland Buy Local Indie Biz Awards Winners Announced
Indie Biz Awards Winners Wow – what a great evening at the Portland House of Music and Events last night...

Calligraphy Welcomes the World at Congress Square
Calligraphy Event at Congress Square Park Hosts Mosaic of Cultures by Joan Grant Something special took place...

Qigong Classes at Reiche Still Open
Qigong classes at the Reiche School begin this Thursday, September 22nd The Portland Recreation Department wil...

4-H Swiners to Feed the Hungry
4-H Swiners Design Community Project to Feed the Hungry Cumberland County 4-H Swiners Adam Dale, Caleb McGrath...

Craft Show 2016 Pictures
Portland Fine Craft Show 2016 Draws Art Lovers to West End The Maine Crafts Association held the Portland Fine...

Sunset Folk Concerts Need Volunteers
Ted Musgrave Remembers the Sunset Folk Concerts by Bridget Chase The Western Promenade has been home to the We...

Portland Fine Craft Show
‘Great for the Neighborhood’ Second Annual Portland Fine Craft Show Brings Visitors to West End by Tony Zeli T...

Nominate Your Favorite Indie Biz
Nominations Open for 2016 Indie Biz Awards Nominations are now open for Portland Buy Local’s 2016 Indie Biz Aw...

Eastern Prom Concerts
EASTERN PROM CONCERTS Bring a chair or blanket, sit back and enjoy the music! Food trucks on site during each...

West End Photo Show
West End Photo Show In the winter, WENA will be sponsoring the 2016 West End Photo Show. The basic guidelines...

Second Annual Portland Fine Craft Show
20,000 Expected for Second Annual Portland Fine Craft Show and WCSH Art Festival The Maine Crafts Association...

Resurgam – The Movies Return
Newsy Musings Resurgam – The Movies Return by Jenny Anastasoff The Movies return to Exchange Street, hopefully...

How To Run Congress Square Park
To run Congress Square Park dozens of volunteers and community input are needed. by Tony Zeli With over 100 ev...

At Reiche Swimming Matters
Reiche swimming lessons by Bridget Chase The West End is fortunate to be home to the the Hap Frank Pool, house...

Portland Thrift Shop Is Still a Good Cause
Portland Thrift Shop Grand Reopening by Tony Zeli They have a slogan at this Portland thrift shop, “If we ours...

Congress Square Park Kicks Off 2016 Season
May Day Starts New Season at Congress Square Park by Tony Zeli On May 1st, Friends of Congress Square Park kic...

Patricia Daunis: Being the Jeweler from Maine
The story of how West End jewelry designer Patricia Daunis became known around the world. by Tony Zeli A lot h...

Romantic Travel Plans
Romantic Plans… It “is” the thought that counts! by Nancy Dorrans Many years ago I was a ski instructor at Bos...

Eric Poulin: De-radicalizing the Radical
Interview with The Soapbox’s Eric Poulin Originally posted on February 6, 2015 West End News Editor Tony Zeli...

Interview with Mayor Ethan Strimling
New Faces at City Hall: Get To Know Mayor Ethan Strimling by Tony Zeli WEN Editor Tony Zeli had a chance to in...

Thompsons Point Opening
by Emilia Scheemaker It’s hard to miss the construction going on at Deering Oaks Park. Backhoes and excavators...

NEW FACES AT CITY HALL: D2 Councilor Spencer Thibodeau
by Tony Zeli WEN Editor Tony Zeli had the opportunity over the busy holiday season to interview by email new W...

Compost Wars: The Race to Compost Your Food Scraps
by Tony Zeli The big Thanksgiving meal is done. The leftovers have moved their way to the back of your fridge....

Enduring Style: West End Native Keeps Business Thriving for 40 Years
by Tony Zeli It isn’t easy being a small business owner anywhere. But to survive in the Old Port for over 40 y...

PARSONSFIELD: Folk Band with Strong Maine Roots to Play OLS, Nov. 13th
by Luke deNatale American Folk music is largely drawn from early American musical traditions from the inhabita...

Newsy Musings – Damnationland
by Jenny Anastasoff It’s that time of year again, when our New England psyches shift. The nocturnal gain...

Stitched in Community: American Roots Does Labor Differently
by Emilia Scheemaker Ben Waxman left a career in Washington politics to come home to Maine. As the adviser to...

ONE LONGFELLOW SQUARE REACHES OUT TO A NEW GENERATION
One Longfellow Square has developed a reputation for jazz, folk, blues and bluegrass… some might say, mostly f...

Craft Brewing: Even for the Old-timers, It’s All About the New
by Tony Zeli To celebrate the craft brewers of Portland, we want to share their story. We reached out to many,...

Newsy Musings – Losing Videoport
by Jenny Anastasoff Good day, West End News readers. I may know some of you from Facebook, or the West End Nei...

FIRST ANNUAL FINE CRAFT SHOW A BIG SUCCESS
The Maine Crafts Association held the first annual Fine Craft Show on Saturday August 22nd, on Congress Street...

Who Gives a Charette about Bramhall Square?
Peloton Labs owner Liz Trice is hosting an Open House and Charette for Bramhall Square at Peloton Labs from 5:...

17 Carleton Street Gets a Tax Break
Avesta Housing gained Council approval for tax-increment financing for a 37-unit affordable housing project at...

Bike Thefts Up, Advice for Securing Your Wheels
by Luke deNatale At the July West End Neighborhood Association’s meeting, Portland Police Officer David Schert...

Curbside Composting Business Heats Up
Portlanders clearly love to compost. There are now competing options for residential composting, with two comp...

FORE RIVER IN TROUBLE
by Tony Zeli The salt marshes of Upper Fore River are polluted with nitrogen leading to a host of problems for...

Vaped Out: Council Bans Public Use of Nicotine Vaporizers
by Tony Zeli Smoking has been banned in Portland for years, but as of this summer the ordinance has been expan...

Businesses Get Creative with 5 Cent Bag Fee
by Tony Zeli Earlier this year Portland became Maine’s first city to place a five-cent fee on disposable, or s...

Old Port Fest ’09: How the World’s Longest Lobster Roll Saved Lives
by Tony Zeli In 2009, the oddest thing that happened at the Old Port Festival was not giant parading puppets o...

Congress Square Park: Derelict Space to Summer Hot Spot
The Revitalization of Congress Square Park by Tony Zeli There is a new venue in town. Wednesday night concerts...

Biking Surges Among Millennials
by Luke deNatale Warmer weather always brings Portlanders outdoors from the many months spent inside waiting...

TREES NEEDED IN WEST END
by Tony Zeli As the debates around the budget demonstrate, resources are scarce in the City. Parks and green s...

Summer March Season Has Begun
Summahs in Maine. Time to visit the lake, go camping, enjoy the beach, have a lobster bake. Every weekend ther...

High Kicks, Laughs and Action: Local Filmmaker Set to Release Miniseries
by Luke deNatale Portland has a burgeoning film scene that is always bringing new filmmakers and genres to the...

$15 LIFTING WORKERS UP, SHUTTING SMALL BUSINESS DOWN
$7.50… $8.75… $10.10… $15… The stakes keep getting higher for workers and small busine...

When City Council Fails: A Look at the Ballot Initiative Process
“It’s an option of last resort.” -David LaCasse, Friends of Congress Square Park “The referendum is a blunt in...

Any 10 Citizens… And a Lot of Bureaucratic Hurdles: The Ballot Initiative Process
So you want to put your own ordinance on the ballot? Get ready… The process is not exactly an easy one....

Local Inventor Weighs Hives to Save Bees
Local entrepreneur and inventor Alex Jones has had bees on his mind for some time. “I was really hoping to bui...

BUILDING A POLLINATOR CORRIDOR
There is 26 square miles of roads, driveways, parking lots, roofs and other impervious surfaces in Portland. T...

Native Seeds for Native Bees
The Wild Seed Project is a nonprofit in Maine working to reintroduce native plants into the landscape. Native...

Neighbors Ban Together for Pollinators
The Portland Pollinator Partnership is hosted by the Bayside Neighborhood Association (BNA), and its partners...

Plant These to Help the Bees
by Betsy Garrold, The Populist Farmer We have all heard about the plight of our pollinator species especially...

Mayor Visits Neighborhood Entrepreneurs
Mayor Brennan has been visiting businesses to learn more about their needs. His latest visit was to Peloton La...

Snuggle Therapy Comes to Portland
Local Reiki master Lea Moon is launching Snuggle You Up offering therapeutic snuggling sessions from her offic...

Valentine’s Burlesque for a Cause
Strut on down to Geno’s Rock Club on Valentine’s Day, and for a twelve dollar cover–only ten...

Growing into the Optimal Self
A West End Gym Celebrates Its First Anniversary in the Community “You will grow into yourself,” personal train...

West End Artists Raise $20k To Produce Robot Game
William Hessian and John “Sighless” Supinski have spent the last two months playing demo nights in...

Local Artist Invents 100-Foot Robot Game
UPDATE: As of December 22nd, Team Robots made their Kickstarter goal, raising $22,310 from 192 donors. They no...

Local Pair of Reiche Parents Win $2 Million Education Grant
This fall a West End organization, Side x Side, in partnership with the University of Southern Maine and Youth...

FoFoGo Video – Fort Gorges Needs Friends
Friends of Fort Gorges has a new promotional video on their website, friendsoffortgorges.org, with narration b...

Bayside Neighbors Ask Needle Exchange Tough Questions
The event was a response to recent controversy. Bayside residents were alarmed when they found resealable plas...

Beer & Coffee, with Bayside’s Jay York, by Chris Shorr
For about a year now, I’ve followed Bayside resident, Jay York, on Facebook. The local activist has a ph...

Beer and Coffee… Chris Shorr w/ Shahin Khojastehzad on Bill Murray & Beer Week
Hi folks, some of you may already know me from my column with The Portland Sun, my blog for the Bangor Daily N...

West End NEWS Enters a New Era
When we published the first issue of the West End NEWS on St. Patrick’s Day, 2001, we really had no idea...











































































































July First Friday Art at Peloton: Julie Laukkanen Every Month PelotonLabs founder Liz Trice catches up with a Peloton member. This month Liz interviewed Julie Laukkanen, the artist featured... Read more
PRESS PLAY Taking any sound and making it musical By Tony Zeli, Editor & Publisher From the NYC underground, Joshua Fried takes to the road for the first time as Radio Wonderland, and hi... Read more
LA VIDA LOCAL – IRREGULAR NOTES ON WEST END LIFE Make Your Own Music by Rosanne Graef “Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.” ― Confucius This summer, the W... Read more
by Tony Zeli Historic Bramhall Square Site of the first federal execution (of Thomas Bird in 1790), today Bramhall Square is an oft forgotten public space at the intersection of the West End... Read more
1oth Annual Indie Biz Award Winners Announced Portland Buy Local held its 10th annual Indie Biz Awards on Thursday, October 12th. The awards celebrated Portland’s local, independent bu... Read more
Mary Alice Scott New Portland Buy Local Director Mary Alice Scott is a Portland-based organizer who worked most recently as the Community Engagement Manager at the Portland Food Co-op. At th... Read more
WEST END AGING IN PLACE Please join us for our SECOND MONDAY EDUCATIONAL SESSION September 11th | Reiche Community Room | 6 pm by Holly Lord Please join us for our monthly Second Monday sess... Read more
3rd Annual Fine Craft Show Big Success in West End by Tony Zeli Maine Craft Association The Maine Crafts Association held the 3rd annual Portland Fine Craft Show on Saturday, August 26th, on... Read more
Portland Buy Local Updates New Leadership Announced Portland Buy Local announced a new slate of officers at the organization’s Annual Meeting, held early in the summer at Rising Tide Brewing... Read more
Portland Conservatory of Music ADULT CONCERT BAND FORMING The Portland Conservatory of Music (PCM) is a non-profit community music school located in the Woodfords Corner neighborhood. PCM h... Read more
Anti-Establishment Candidate Wins School Board Seat
John Eder is a Green Independent, a former Representative for the West End (2002-2006), a politician, a mariju...