Sunday, April 11, 2010   6:00 PM

Rabelais Books, the Maine Institute of Food & Drink and One Longfellow Square continue a series of culinary cinema paired with offerings from the finest local restaurants.

A menu from El Rayo meets Alfonso Arau’s Like Water For Chocolate in April!

Doors open at 6pm!

www.elrayotaqueria.com/

Reviews

Paola Arreola:

“I was in Portland during restaurant week (Mar 2010) and had the chance to stop by El Rayo. Good concept, I liked the atmosphere and brightness of the restaurant. I had the tortilla soup, fish taco, and dessert as well as a beverage.

The pomegrante drink was refreshing and the rice krispy treat with the cajeta was delicious. Unfortunately I have not found a single “blended” tortilla soup that I like, this is just my personal preference but I prefer to keep the ingredients in the broth vs. blending all save for the chunks of cheese and avocado that are added before serving.

When my taco arrived, I had to ask for another plate as the filling for the fish taco was piled on top of two stacked corn tortillas. I made two tacos and I would have liked them better if they had not been so wet/soggy. As I looked around to other patrons I noticed a couple of women eating their tacos with a knife and fork – it reminded me of the Seinfeld episode about the candy bar. I realize El Rayo is doing its thing but I wasn’t sure if my taco meant to come with two tortillas or not and just wanted to note that in many taco joints open faced tacos are served with the tortillas spread out but overlapping each other and the filling is placed in the middle of the tortillas.

I do wish El Rayo lots of success. It would be great to visit Portland again and find El Rayo doing great business.

Price: $35.00

Juanito Pascual & El Periquin- Flamenco Guitar Duo

Wednesday, April 14, 2010   8:00 PM

Born in Minneapolis, MN on July 26, 1973, Juanito has won praise around the globe as a respected new voice in this most Spanish of musical genres. He is recognized in Spain as a unique and creative voice with mesmerizing virtuosity, warm and evocative playing, and original compositional style. He has been a featured artist in some of the best-known fine arts centers, clubs, and festivals in the United States, including the renowned Tanglewood Jazz Festival, New York’s 92nd St. Y, Blue Note Jazz Club, Boston’s Jordan Hall and Regattabar, and countless colleges and performing arts centers. He has also been featured on National Public Radio’s “The World” program, as well as countless television and radio programs.
Juanito holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Contemporary Improvisation from New England Conservatory and was Second Prize winner of the 1996 New England Classical Guitar Competition. He has studied with Adam del Monte, Parilla de Jerez, Manolo Sanlucar, El Entri, classical guitarists David Leisner and Eliot Fisk, jazz guitarist Gene Bertoncini, and Boston-based maestro Dimitri Goryachev.

. El Periquín is one of Holland’s most famous flamenco artists. He played almost every big venue in Holland, with highlights such as the Royal Concert Hall and Paradiso in Amsterdam and the Lowlands festival.
El Periquín performed several times “Concierto de Aranjuez” . In 2008 El Periquín also played at the international guitar festvial “Acoustic Strings” amongst artists like Rafael Cortes and Sylvain Luc.
The latest album of El Periquín Diálogos was released end 2007. On this album he worked with Carles Benavent, Tollak Ollestad and Martin Verdonk. With Diálogos El Periquín brings an exciting mix of flamenco, jazz, classical, and latin american music. He shows that he has grown as a flamenco guitar player and composer. Therefore Diálogos is not for flamenco experts only but for everyone who loves beautiful music!

www.juanitopascual.com

www.elperiquin.com

Price: $12.00

The Maine Island Trail Association and The Northern Forest Canoe Trail presents: The Third Annual Paddlers Film Festival

Thursday, April 15, 2010   7:00 PM

All proceeds from the festival will go to benefit MITA and NFCT. Advance tickets $12; at the door $15; Advance tickets available at One Longfellow Square, or by calling MITA at 207.761.8225 x107.

The event promises to be an inspiring celebration of kayaking and canoeing, and will include a terrific line-up of films. Viewers will enjoy the diversity depicted in these works, from the peace of a canoe paddle in quiet waters to the adrenaline rush of kayaking down multi-story waterfalls. Paddling-related door prizes will be distributed as part of the fest.

For more information contact the Maine Island Trail Association at events@mita.org

About the Maine Island Trail Association

The Maine Island Trail Association is a membership organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the wild islands of coastal Maine. With 182 trail sites and over two decades of community-building, stewardship and education, the organization developed a model of sustainable recreation while creating America’s first recreational water trail. The 375-mile waterway currently extends from the New Hampshire boarder to Machias Bay. The uninhabited islands and coastal sites that make up the Maine Island Trail are owned by a combination of individuals, land trusts, the state, businesses, and other non-profit organizations. For more information contact MITA at 207-761-8225, info@mita.org or visit www.mita.org.

About the Northern Forest Canoe Trail

The Northern Forest Canoe Trail traverses the roof of the Adirondacks and Northern Forest. Called the “magnificent obsession” by the New York Times, this inland water trail traces traditional Native American travel routes across 740-miles in New York, Vermont, Québec, New Hampshire, and Maine. NFCT is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2010, and will be marking this occasion by releasing its first official guidebook. For more information contact NFCT at 802-496-2285, info@northernforestcanoetrail.org, or visit www.northernforestcanoetrail.org

Price: $12.00

Roy Davis and the Dregs Live CD/DVD Taping Party

Friday, April 16, 2010   8:00 PM

Roy Davis and the Dregs CD/DVD Release Party. Roy, Portland’s Prodigal son recently released his newest CD “We Are A Lightning Bolt” to rave reviews. Now, close on the heels of this success, Roy is releasing another CD and DVD devoted solely to live material.

www.myspace.com/roydavismusic

Girls, Guns & Glory formed in Scituate, Massachusetts in the winter of 2005 when former band-mates and high school friends, Ward Hayden (lead vocals/acoustic guitar) and Bruce Beagley (bass), teamed up to record Ward’s original compositions. They entered Noise in the Attic Studio and began work on the GG&G debut CD “Fireworks and Alcohol.” The success of that release fueled the formation of a 5-piece lineup that began to work the New England club scene in earnest. Their sophomore release, “Pretty Little Wrecking Ball”, in February of 2007, proved to be the catalyst in a break-out year for the band as they collected 2 Boston Phoenix awards, numerous articles in the press, and lots of radio play – culminating in a Boston Music Award for “Outstanding Americana Act of the Year”. The band solidified it’s lineup as a strong 4-piece featuring John Graham on drums and Colt Thompson on guitar.

www.girlsgunsandglory.com

($8 adv/$10 door, 8pm)

Anais Mitchell & the Hadestown Orchestra featuring; Michael Chorney Sextet

Saturday, April 17, 2010   8:00 PM

Anaïs Mitchell has lived the role of traveling minstrel already at only 25. From her Vermont roots in farming country to Europe and Africa, Mitchell has already got miles behind her. Originally she planned to be a writer because: “Not unlike artists, they’re always traveling, always writing, loving their loneliness, feeling that they have their finger on the pulse—worshiping the truth and trying to render it legible.”

Listening to Anais Mitchell perform her meticulously written songs, fervently singing them in a distinctive, almost childlike voice, you’d think it was her life mission to rouse the hearts and minds of her listeners with an acoustic guitar.

“In Mitchell’s universe, there is no light between the personal and the political, the venerable and the radical… she brilliantly intertwines the mundane and the profound, singing with the same intimacy about a carefree night on the town and wandering the warring towns of Israel. Her vivid snapshots of sweetly ordinary moments spin suddenly outward to bemoan the eternal woes of poverty and militarism.” – BOSTON GLOBE

“A songwriter of startling clarity and depth, equally skilled at turning a melody or lyrical phrase into what you didn’t know you needed until you heard it… fearlessly emotive…like Dylan, Cohen, and Welch, Mitchell weaves her stories into an effortlessly beautiful and cohesive tapestry with the skill of an artisan’s carpenter, showing no seams.” – ACOUSTIC GUITAR

www.anaismitchell.com

($15 adv/$18 door)

Box Office

We do not use paper tickets.
The name on your order will be automatically entered on the Will Call List for the event. Check in at the door. Please be prepared to show a photo ID when picking up your tickets.

For credit card purchases, tickets are available by phone within 60 days of the event and online within 30 days of the event.
Tickets are available by cash or check at any time.
To pay with cash or check please stop by our Box Office or contact us by phone at 207-761-1757 or email at tickets@onelongfellowsquare.com.

IN PERSON
181 State St
Suite 201
Portland, Maine 04101

BY PHONE (207) 761-1757

ONLINE

Saturday, January 09, 2010   8:00 PM

Hailing from a small New England town, Matthew Stubbs is quickly gaining a reputation as one of today’s premier Blues guitarists. Whether performing with his own band or as a sideman to some of the best singers in the business, the 25 year old always delivers a mesmerizing performance.

In 2003, the Matthew Stubbs Band garnered a first place finish in the Boston Blues Society’s “Blues Challenge.” Matthew followed that success with a third place finish at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN. The exposure that these accomplishments earned the young Stubbs was immense. The sought after guitarist soon joined many of today’s blues greats on stage.

Currently, Matthew is performing with The Legendary Charlie Musselwhite Band. Before joining The Charlie Musselwhite Band Stubbs did time with R&B Sensation John Nemeth and also spent a year and a half touring North America with diva Janiva Magness. Stubbs can also be found doing select tours/shows with Lynwood Slim, Junior Watson, Sax Gordon, Brian Templeton and many other top acts.

Stubbs has earned himself a reputation for his ability to write tremendously catchy instrumentals. He even went as far as to form a band just to focus strictly on writing instrumentals. The songs which he composes are a cocktail of Memphis Soul, Blues, R&B, Surf, Rock n’ Roll and Groove, all perfectly mixed together. His real knack is being able to blend all of these styles without overwhelming the listener.

www.matthewstubbs.net

Price: $15.00

Box Office

IN PERSON

181 State St
Suite 201
Portland, Maine
04101

BY PHONE

(207) 761-1757

ONLINE

Sarah Blacker is a Music Therapist turned full-time singer/songwriter, coined “the perfect blend of Ella Fitzgerald” by 92.5 the River Boston, and Suzie Brown is a cardiologist turned full-time singer/songwriter, from Philadelphia.

Suzie plays a solo performance at 8PM followed by Sarah Blacker and her full band All Kinds of Sugar.

These two young ladies are busily touring and building their national followings as they bring their unique blends of folk music to Portland.

This is a show not to be missed. Sarah Blacker has been featured in The Valley Voice for her CD Release Party in September that took place at One Longfellow Square.

http://www.myspace.com/sarahblacker
http://www.sarahblacker.com

Sarah Blacker + Suzie Brown
The North Star Music Cafe
225 Congress St.
Portland, ME