Photographing in Maine

I am going to be there from April 30th-May 7th, and wondering what all I should do while I am there, Sure I can%26#39;t shoot at night, but I will be alone and wondering where the best spots to go to for a single guy? I have been to a RiRa%26#39;s in Philly, and loved it, but wondering what to do. I have been going through a lot of photo%26#39;s already and know what to shoot while I am there on assignment but just want to know who wants to hang out meet up for some drinks and a good time. By the way i don%26#39;t do karaoke nor do i even want to hear it while I am there :) I am going to probably be staying at the Garden Inn downtown.

Photographing in Maine

There is a free arts and entertainment tabloid sized paper that you can pick up anywhere in the Old Port area where you will be staying. In there you will find articles, ads and all kinds of listings of events, clubs, etc. Also, just walking around the Old Port you will be able to walk into tons of places. A quick look around will probably tell you if it is your kind of place to hang.

Photographing in Maine

Thank you so much, I like the nice quiet bars where you can meet locals and just talk about anything. What are the smoking laws there right now? I love to smoke a good cigar while having a glass of scotch and just wondering is it possible to still smoke around there?

Maine is smoke-free in all indoor areas. We%26#39;ve gotten so used to it, it%26#39;s a shock to sit in a smoke-filled restaurant or bar now when visiting other places!

You might mention explain more about what you are looking for. Like what age crowd you want to hang with. And, if you want to pick up girls and dance, or just sit somewhere nice and enjoy good food and drink.

For example, if you were in your 20s and 30s I%26#39;d tell you Gritty McDuff%26#39;s in the Old Port is hopping, but if you are in your 50s it probably won%26#39;t be your scene.

Yeh, you%26#39;ll need to go outside for that cigar.

I am in my mid 30%26#39;s not looking to hook up with anyone, just like to sit and enjoy drinks. I am not into dancing and would rather sit at a towny bar and enjoy good conversations with a whole mix. Thank you all for all your great comments. I just found out that I will be there from April 30th-May 8th. I am staying at the sable oaks marriott, is that a nice place and close to anything fun?

The Sable Oaks is nice, but it%26#39;s out by the Mail Mall so the area looks like ';any mall %26amp; strip shopping center area, USA'; and not particularly Maine-y or New England-y. In other words, the area lacks character.

I%26#39;m assuming that as a photographer you are a very visual person. I am a very visual person, and if it were me and the Old Port hotels are the same price, I%26#39;d move my reservation to the Old Port in a heartbeat. Not just the fun of being in the old port, but also the fact the the Old Port is full of great eating and drinking spots, all in walking distance. The Sable Oaks is inwalking distance of Target. Linens %26amp; Things. Wendys. Dull, dull, dull.

Of course, if your shoot is out by the Mall, it makes more sense to be close to the Mall.

My2¢.

Oops. That should have been Maine Mall.

see the first part of my shoot is in Alfred, so that is where my company is putting me up, and they just figured that instead of moving hotels that it would be easier for me to just stay there. are there taxi%26#39;s that I could take to the area of more character then driving of a night after the drinking? What are the average temps in early may out there?

Ah, Alfred. You%26#39;ll get plenty of ';character'; there. Lovely teeny town especially if you can explore the backroads.

For typical weather, I like to use the Trip Planner function at Weather Underground, see www.wunderground.com/tripplanner/index.asp

I%26#39;m sure the Sable Oaks can find you a taxi. It%26#39;s within a mile or so of the airport and there are always taxis there. Plus, the Old Port bars should be able to help you get a taxi home.

Still, if you are staying over after your job for a couple of days of personal sightseeing, I%26#39;d move hotels. It%26#39;s worth the effort as in the Old Port you are walking distance to so much. It%26#39;s a really fun vibrant area for 30-somethings.

Yeah I may switch over then, though I am still on business, I have to shoot up and down the coast after I am done in Alfred, but my mainstay will be in Portland. I think I will take your advice thank you so much for being great with the info! I am really looking forward to coming on out there!