Love it or hate it, this Friday is Valentine’s Day. Flowers, chocolates, teddy bears and conversation hearts decorate the aisles of grocery stores and pharmacies in town. Whether you’re looking for a night out with your significant other or a dinner with friends, there are a few locally-owned spots in Bangor that might be the perfect setting for this Feb. 14.

Blaze

Located right in West Market Square, a central spot in downtown Bangor, Blaze brings its own twist on pizza and beer. With a tap lineup featuring local Maine breweries such as Orono Brewing Company, Bissel Brothers, Maine Beer Company and more, the huge selection of 50 craft beers on tap has something for everyone. The brick oven pizzas on the menu range from classic Margherita to more exotic flavors, such as a Greek pizza or the “Chorizo Manzana” featuring apples and cheddar. But pizza and beer are just the beginning; the drink menu contains a huge selection of cocktails and wines, and the food extends far beyond just pizza: specialty tacos, a wide selection of unique paninis, sandwiches and burgers and a handful of entree options can also be found on the restaurant’s huge menu. Aside from the food and drinks, Blaze is perfect for a night out due to its sleek, modern decor featuring dark colors and dim lighting. With reasonable prices for a more upscale spot, it can be a romantic evening over dinner and wine, or a night out for cocktails and apps (like duck fat fries, spinach artichoke breadsticks or pork belly lollipops) with friends. Either way, an evening at Blaze is worth the 20-minute drive into downtown Bangor from Orono.

11 Central

A quick google of 11 Central, located in downtown Bangor a few doors down from Bagel Central, will bring up a brief description of 11 Central’s food as “American fare” – but let me be clear: this is no burger-and-fries type of place. 11 Central, like many locally-owned restaurants in Bangor, prides itself not only on sourcing as many ingredients as they can from local farmers but also making everything in-house, from desserts to dressings and sauces. Their menu consists of uniquely prepared seafood and meat dishes, such as “JK’s Spicy Duck Alfredo,” as well as a list of appetizers that look just as appetizing as the entrees themselves, like a smoked salmon plate. The interior of the restaurant is decorated with artwork from local artists, all of which are for sale, and the dimly-lit interior with exposed brick walls makes a perfect setting for such a classy meal. Given the quality of the food, it’s a little pricier than your average night out, so an occasion like Valentine’s Day might be the perfect time to go. The restaurant is open for dinner from 4-9:30 p.m. on the 14th.

Evenroods

Located in a space that used to be a bank just across from West Market Square, Evenroods is a sleek, American fine-dining restaurant with very reasonable prices. The menu boasts a long list of sandwiches, pastas, seafood and meat dishes, similar to that of 11 Central but priced slightly lower. Appetizers like Evenroods’ two takes on mussels, the Thai-inspired spicy mussels and the classic wine and butter flavor are standouts, as well as pan-roasted buffalo cauliflower with gooey gorgonzola and ranch sauce on top. The interior is dark and modern, and with a frequently rotating list of creative cocktails as well as various wines and local craft beers, the drinks pair perfectly with the food. If you want to bring in a group, call ahead and reserve “The Vault,” a space that, as the name implies, used to be a vault in the bank and now is a space set just slightly apart from the rest of the restaurant for groups to enjoy a meal. If you’re craving seafood above other things, this might just be what Evenroods does best, so reserve a table ahead of time because you probably won’t be the only one.

Looking for a couple more casual spots, or don’t want to spend too much? Check out these other downtown Bangor spots:

Portland Pie Company

This option has a great variety of pizzas, sandwiches, salads and pastas, with a full bar and a selection of over 20 craft beers with draft and can options.

Paddy Murphy’s Irish Pub

For a more casual dining experience, with burgers, sandwiches and plenty of apps to share, Paddy Murphy’s is the place to go. And, of course, there are a number of drinks to choose from as they tout a mix of domestic and craft beers, as well as a full bar.

Sea Dog Brewing Company

Sea Dog is another Maine brewery serving great beers and a wide variety of pub fare available.

Pepino’s Mexican Restaurant

Classic Mexican fare, delicious margaritas and a bar, Pepino’s is reasonably priced and nice enough for a date any day of the year.

Five years ago, if anyone would have told me I’d be celebrating my 21st birthday in Japan I would have said that they’re full of it before promptly fantasizing about it. Now, it’s almost surreal as I do that very thing. Not the fantasizing part, but the actual celebrating.

Turning 21 has always been a huge thing in the States. It’s a “We’re finally legal so let’s go out and massacre our livers in one fell swoop” kind of thing. Naturally, despite never being a big drinker, I was still affected by that same mindset. In fact, I was even looking forward to going out bar hopping with family and friends. Of course, things are a little different in Japan. The big day to be celebrated is when someone turns 20, so upon arrival in the amazing country, I was already legal for all the fun stuff. Despite this and not having the crazy “let’s kill my liver” kind of night, it was still a special and bittersweet day. More accurately, it’s been a bittersweet week.

A lot of fun things have happened, all of which you’ll have the chance to hear about in upcoming articles. I went to Yokohama for the first time, had Korean BBQ in Korea town and, obviously, turned 21. I have created so many great memories, but it almost stings thinking back on them as I write this article.

I bid farewell to the fall semester at Waseda. The official start to spring break was Feb. 2. It was a great relief and an achievement for the books. What came with that relief and achievement were farewells that had to be made as friends that were only here for half a year departed for home.

One of the best parts about studying abroad is the people we have the chance to meet. It’s a double-edged sword as what follows is also the worst part: having to say goodbye. We have this amazing opportunity to make lifelong friendships that can be so life-changing in the ways that we view the world. We connect with other people and establish relationships that essentially become a part of who we are, and then we have to say goodbye. Even if it’s not permanent it still stings watching the taxi drive away and waving furiously, emotions swirling inside us.

One conversation. A simple, “Is anyone sitting here?” question and an amazing, joyous, lifelong friendship is made. The people I’ve met and spent this semester in Japan with have made it ten times better than it would have otherwise been. It’s these people that we meet that come into our lives through the simplest interactions that enrich the experience of being in another country.

Plans are made, promises spoken, many laughs shared and, at the end, tears shed. There’s a feeling of bittersweet happiness this week as I welcome a literal new age for myself and part ways with close friends. I know it’s not goodbye forever, though. There are already plans for a New Years’ backpacking trip across Europe. 

Tucked between Pat’s Pizza and the Nest in downtown Orono is Mainely Succulents, a bohemian, family-friendly plant boutique. Open Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m., and Mondays through Thursdays by appointment, people of all ages frequent Mainely Succulents to both browse and learn about locally-grown greenery. Owner, Lauren Tuell, a mother of three and token plant guru, aims to bring the Orono community together through connecting with the natural world.

When first entering Mainely Succulents, you’re greeted with a sunny, modern space blossoming with vining plants and succulents. The shop features a plant-your-own station, pots from both local artists and made from found pieces by the shop owner, macramé hangers and more. Providing plants that cater to both avid growers and novices, Tuell sells simple, low-light plants such as varieties of pothos and rare plants like monstera cuttings. As the shop name suggests, she has many succulents available, perfect for a dorm, which you can either grab-and-go and re-pot in your favorite container from home or pick a pot and decorate it with various stones and ornaments in the plant-your-own station.

Prior to opening her succulent business in 2019, Tuell graduated from the University of Maine with a degree in Child Development, originally seeking a career in teaching, though she later shifted her focus to marketing. Her idea for starting a succulent business began after creating “Grow With Us” succulent favors at her own wedding, something everyone who took one loved. Tuell always enjoyed plants and the natural world growing up, as her father helped instilled a love for gardening in her. With her marketing background, she had the means to start a business doing what she loves.

“It had so much potential I couldn’t not go for it,” Tuell said. 

Tuell then became a stay-at-home mother involving herself with growing and arranging plants for weddings and craft fairs, volunteering for community gardens and eventually taking a University of Maine Cooperative Extension Master Gardening course to further her natural education. She began selling her succulents at a local downtown Bangor shop, The Willie Wags, and started learning business from example and self-teaching.

“I had no idea how to do retailing,” Tuell said, but with help from Jaime Clark, the owner of The Willie Wags, Tuell was able to host regular workshops for the public. After gaining a significant amount of retail experience, she sought out her own space in downtown Orono when the opportunity arose.

Once settled in, Tuell set her focus on bringing the local community a touch of green this winter season.

“I want people to realize gardening is therapeutic; gardening is learned … anyone can love plants,” Tuell said.

For Tuell, “Family is number one,” so naturally her shop has a corner for everyone. With three children of her own, she understands the importance of having a “kid-space,” where children can play with Legos, color, paint and when they’re ready, even create a fairy garden in one of her workshops. For teens and adults, Tuell offers individual parties, meaning a group of 10 or more, where people can gather and plant for a fun night, a birthday party or just-because, along with regular workshops. For those who struggle with caring for their plants, Tuell offers plant assessment, where you can bring in your plants from home and learn about their special care.

At the end of this month, Tuell has decided to start her own free to join plant club. The first meeting will be on Feb. 28, from 5-7p.m. in her shop, where people may come and learn about the world of plants, later guided by goals decided on by the group — perfect for UMaine students looking to de-stress and get creative.

If you can’t find the time to stop in, you can follow the shop on Instagram @mainelysucculents and on her Facebook page: Mainely Succulents, where Tuell updates her followers on upcoming events, plant care and sneak-peaks as to what is coming to her shop.

4.8 out of 5 stars

As someone who hasn’t read Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women,” or seen the original film adaptation of the classic novel, I went into the theater to see the most recent version of it on the big screen with expectations I’d derived only from Twitter and my previous experiences with director Greta Gerwig’s work. So this review comes with no relationship to the plot, characters or original screen adaptation, and as the viewer, Gerwig built the story from scratch; and she did so beautifully and colorfully. The movie features a star-studded cast and leaves viewers with a connection to each character and a feeling of empowerment for women, young artists and anybody who wants to fall in love.

The movie follows Jo, played by Saoirse Ronan, through her attempts to get published at a time when this was not common for women. The beginning of the movie clearly lays out this issue, for those who, like me, are new to the plot and the setting. Meeting with publishers, Jo immediately finds that her stories will need to adhere to the unwritten social rules of the time if she wants to make a living from her work. Women must behave properly and have the ultimate goal in life of getting married. Throughout the movie, women’s lack of civil rights and their inability to earn a living for themselves are emphasized repeatedly from each character. 

While the movie displays Jo’s talent and desire to stray from the path that’s paved for women at this time, it also paints a picture of family and the love that can sometimes exist under a single roof. The March family, with Jo’s three sisters, played by Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen and Emma Watson, exudes warmth and belonging. There are typical family issues, such as envy between sisters, and tragedies that make it very clear that the love among family far triumphs other trivial issues. Jo’s siblings, each with their own very distinct personalities, play different roles in the family, demonstrating how the relations between the March family as a whole are complex and dynamic; this effect leaves viewers wishing they could be a part of it all.  

I did find myself slightly confused when the movie jumped back and forth in time. With a cast of mainly young men and women and a time-lapse of only a few years, the characters look nearly the same at all points in the movie, making following the timeline a challenge. 

Overall, Gerwig’s adaptation is a work of art that takes you through love and loss, the ups and downs of family and sisterhood, and, perhaps most importantly, the determination of a young woman far ahead of her time.

When I first imagined writing this introduction article I pictured myself in my favorite coffee shop, sipping on a latte with quiet music floating around in the background. Never did I imagine I’d write it while waiting for the trains to resume on the metro; nevertheless, here we are. As I like to say, every day in Japan is an adventure.

I’m currently a second-year English student studying in Tokyo for this academic year and so far it’s been an amazing experience. For as long as I can remember, Japan has always been my number one country to visit, but studying abroad in high school is way too expensive, as some of you may know. So when I enrolled at the University of Maine and the opportunity to go abroad appeared, I jumped on it. A year and six months later, here I am, writing in the underground metro. Adventure has a strange way of presenting itself.

Despite the current circumstances, one of the best things since coming to Japan has been the vast availability of transportation throughout the country. You can basically get anywhere you want through the simple use of the trains. It’s so convenient it terrifies me to think about how I’ll drive once I’m back in America. Though it is a godsend for getting around the country, it can be a complete nightmare if you get on at the wrong time, and I’m not talking about the train getting delayed. No, we’re talking about rush hour!

All those stories you might hear about the trains getting so full the people literally have to be pushed in are all true; every morning, I commute to Waseda University via a forty-minute train ride and, because I have a 9 a.m. class, I need to leave by 8 a.m. at the latest. It just so happens that that’s when everyone leaves to go to their respective destinations. The concept of “personal space” is nonexistent during this time. It’s as if we’re all sardines, jam-packed into a tiny can, and when you think no one else could possibly fit, five more shove their way in. Sounds terrible, right? Well, it kind of is.

When it’s hot outside, the train is clammy and sticky, and when it’s cold, it gets damp and musty. Despite the nightmarish picture I just painted, this part of the train ride is also one of the best aspects of living in Japan. How? Well, it’s because it’s part of the everyday routine. When I get on that train every morning, and all the people get on with me, it feels like I’m more than just some exchange student living in a foreign country. It’s as if I become a part of the culture and that’s because I’m getting immersed in their everyday routine.

Studying abroad, whether it’s for an academic year, semester or summer, is this amazing opportunity that’s almost difficult to grasp with proper words. There’s so much to it. The best way to understand and benefit is not by hearing about it, but by doing it. It may seem like this big, awe-inspiring dream to go and live in another country for any duration of time, but, in reality, it’s so simple it almost feels like a crime not to take the opportunity while it’s right there in front of you.

I have only six months left in this exchange, not counting the month we’re in, and it’s going by so fast that half the time I feel like I have whiplash. There are so many things I’ve already experienced and done, but there’s a vast amount more to follow, which is why I’ll be seeing you in the next article. 

Located at 40 Harlow St. in downtown Bangor, the University of Maine Museum of Art (UMMA) has opened four new exhibits for its winter season. The exhibits feature artists from across the United States, and the open space of the museum showcases a variety of visual art, from acrylic and oil on canvas to an LED-illuminated stainless steel display, tucked behind curtains as part of Deidre Murphy & Scott White’s “Oculus” exhibit.

The exhibits each season are chosen by George Kinghorn, the executive director and curator at UMMA, and the museum boasts the honor of being Maine’s “only collecting institution devoted solely to exhibiting and collecting contemporary art,” according to the museum’s website. 

“Rhythm from Within” is the first exhibit that one will encounter upon entering the museum, and it consists of a series of unique greyscale photographs by Michael Philip Manheim. Manheim, a professional photographer since 1969, has been featured in exhibits worldwide, including Germany, Greece and Italy; his photography is also held in collections throughout the United States, perhaps most notably in the Library of Congress and the International Photography Hall of Fame.

Manheim’s exhibit seeks a new approach to still photography. The collection uses in-camera multiple exposures and displays the movement of human beings, specifically aiming to capture the ability of professional dancers to physically express their emotions. Out of the four winter exhibits at UMMA, “Rhythm from Within” is the only one that utilizes only black and white imagery.

Teresa Dunn’s “Cover the Waterfront” is a stark contrast to the work of Manheim, as visitors to the museum will exit Manheim’s black-and-white photography display and enter a world of color. Raised in Southern Illinois, Dunn is a Mexican-American artist and uses her dual-heritage identity as an influence and inspiration for her art. Dunn utilizes color, space and light to tell stories in her art, particularly stories of the contradictory tensions of her identity. “Cover the Waterfront” features several circular oil and flash compositions on paper and panel. Dunn’s exhibit cites the circles as symbols of contradiction, representing “isolation and belonging, loneliness and solitude, internal conflict, journey, the difference between home and homeland.” The paintings in the exhibit create a fictional environment that shows the world of a female protagonist and her associates on an island, and, with the content of each piece, the viewer is left to contemplate the meaning and how it fits into the larger story that the display tells.

The next exhibit featured is “Oculus,” by Deidre Murphy & Scott White, a married couple of artists that collaborated to create this collection. “Oculus” consists of a series of paintings by Murphy and a series of wall-based sculptures by White, with the two combining to exhibit the artists’ pondering on the relationship between art and scientific discovery. Three of the pieces, together called “Phosphorescence,” represent a series of Petri dishes used by scientists. The exhibit shows science through art and art through science, with some pieces giving a microscopic perspective while others zoom out to a macroscopic level. White’s work pairs perfectly with Murphys to create a dynamic exhibit, using his sculptures to address issues such as the effect of pollution and climate change on animals and nature. A unique twist on the connection between art and science, his display “Ursa Major” can only be viewed by entering a closed section of the exhibit, protected by black curtains. Inside, White has created two smooth, domed fixtures, facing each other on opposite walls of the pitch-black room, and both are lit from behind with color-changing LED lights, “meant to re-contextualize the phenomenological events we see in the night sky,” the exhibit description explains. Together, Murphy and White have created a fascinating union between science and art. 

“Fresh Paint” is the fourth of the museum’s winter exhibits, featuring art from 21 different artists that have been given to or purchased by the museum over the past four years. Each piece is unique; there are landscape pieces, sculptures, abstract pieces and more. The museum reviews pieces periodically as considerations for future displays, and Director and Curator Kingham is the sole decision-maker for which pieces make it into the museum. To submit pieces, artists must send a cover letter, resume, artist statement and photos of their art for consideration. The Museum receives a high volume of art regularly as submissions. 

A light, open and modern display, the UMMA has been in downtown Bangor since 2002, where it thrives as an expansion of the University of Maine community. The winter exhibits will be on display until May 2, 2020. Entry to the museum is free, and a schedule of events (from educational programs to trivia and entertainment) is available on the museum’s website, umma.umaine.edu.

If you opened Instagram at all on Thursday, you were likely barraged with screenshots of Spotify “Wrapped” lists from nearly everyone you know. From your high school lab partner’s artist of the decade, to your cousin’s most-frequented genres, to your best friend’s list of top songs that a little too clearly reflect that two-month post-breakup period from this spring — you’ve probably seen it all. Each year, Spotify collects data from its premium listeners until Oct. 31, when they start putting this data into lists to release in December for an individualized Spotify “Wrapped.” From this, you’ll learn your top artists, songs and genres for the year. You’ll see how many countries your music collection represents, and possibly, most boast-worthy, (or most concerning, however you see it), you’ll see exactly how many hours you spent listening to Spotify over the past year. 

Sharing your Spotify Wrapped list to friends and followers is part of the fun of it all. Finding out that someone you’ve barely talked to has three of the same top artists as you is intriguing. Noting that someone’s top artist is Taylor Swift when you’d expect it to be Drake is exciting. In general, music is something to bond over. So this year, The Maine Campus made its own “MEC Wrapped,” with a few songs that each of our editors considered pivotal, crucial and essential to their 2019.

MEC Wrapped:

So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings – Caroline Polachek 

Closer To You – Clairo 

BOY BYE – BROCKHAMPTON

Sex – EDEN

Next Up Forever – AJR

Yellow Hearts – Ant Saunders

Hard Times – Paramore

Non-Stop – Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton

James Dean – The Wrecks 

hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have – but i have it – Lana Del Rey

She’s the Prettiest Girl at the Party, and She Can Prove It with a Solid Right Hook – Frank lero

A New Day’s Coming – Frank lero

Love Her – The Jonas Brothers

Everybody Wants You – Red Hearse 

Prophet – King Princess 

10/10 – Rex Orange County 

fake smile – Ariana Grande

Talia – King Princess

bury a friend – Billie Eilish 

Ride – COTIS

Dapper – Domo Genesis

Couch Potato – Jakubi

Easy Breezy – Gualla Boys

Box #10 – Jim Croce

Heaven is 10 Zillion Light Years Away – Stevie Wonder 

The first-ever University of Maine Documentary Film Festival took place on Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Donald P. Corbett Business building. The festival featured documentaries centered around life in Maine and required that these documentaries were filmed in Maine with filmmakers who live in or hail from Maine.

The event was a success largely in part to Kelsey Gallant, a third-year studio art and psychology student.

“This event kind of fell into my lap. I work for the University Conferences and Institutes as a part-time work-study position. The festival is something we got a grant for before I was hired, but ironically enough I had recently begun to develop an interest in film. When they found out I was an art major, they asked me to take the lead on organizing this event,” Gallant said.

Gallant started out by emailing the submission flyers to every high school and college in Maine that she could get contacts for, as well as hanging up physical flyers around campus.

“We also used​ FilmFreeway​, which is a great medium where you can create a festival event and people from all over can submit their films,” Gallant said. “We ended up getting over 600 submissions, although most didn’t meet the specific criteria. We had a handful that did, and from those, we selected our finalists.”

There were a total of 11 films, both short and full length, chosen to be shown at the festival on Saturday. Three were from high school students, six from college students and the remaining two were by professional filmmakers in Maine.

The winner of the high school age category was Ian Dow, a senior from Winthrop, Maine. He was awarded a $200 gift card to the University Bookstore. His documentary, “Ingrained: A Craftsman’s Story,” featured local Winthrop wood-worker Todd Park.

“I was tasked by my film teacher to make a documentary that I could submit to film festivals in Maine. Todd Park is one of the teachers at Winthrop high school and I’ve known him for a long time, so I thought he’d be a great subject for a film,” Dow said.

Although filmmakers of all levels are encouraged to submit their work, Dow’s equipment and experience made his documentary stick out among the other entries.

“Last year I invested in a Canon 70D and that’s really served me well. I use a 50mm with 1.8 lense for my close up shots, which worked great in this particular film to show the details of Todd’s work. I also use a slider a lot, which is a nice tool to make the shots look more professional,” Dow said.

“With [“Ingrained: A Craftman’s Story], I wanted to get more professional with the audio, shots and editing and advance my filmmaking in that respect,” Dow said. “In the future, I want to go to [the University of Maine] for mechanical engineering, but I plan on keeping my passion going.”

Dow’s winning submission wasn’t his first documentary. For the past three years, Dow has been producing videos at his high school, submitting another documentary “Can-Am Crown Dog,” in the Maine Outdoor Film Festival, which he completed during his sophomore year. This first piece placed in the top 10. 

The festival also had an intermission, where a variety of complimentary refreshments were served to break up the viewing. The afternoon films were created by college and independent filmmakers. Topics varied from growing up on a farm in Pownal to the history of the annual Margaretta Days Festival in Machias. The diversity in style and approach made for an entertaining viewing experience.

The event was a unique opportunity to learn about the hard work and passions of people whose livelihoods make the state of Maine what it is. The University Conferences and Institutes hopes to continue hosting an annual film festival for creative minds of all ages.

4 Stars 

On Nov. 1, Cold War Kids released their seventh studio album, “New Age Norms 1.” The album has eight songs and a total run time of 30 minutes. Together since 2004, Cold War Kids formed in Fullerton, California at Biola University and produced their first album in 2006. “Complainer” and “4th of July” are a part of “New Age Norms 1” and were released as singles in June as a sneak peek of what was to come. 

The music in this album fits in with Cold War Kids’ recognizable, nostalgic sound, with a few new additions and tweaks to make it stand out from their other albums. Following the success of their 2014 single “First,” this heavily anticipated album has much to live up to.

With a combination of indie, rock, soul, and blues, Cold War Kids continues to produce a sound all their own, and leaving fans wanting more in “New Age Norms 1.” As a part of a trilogy series of albums, “New Age Norms 1” sets the tone for the other two albums expected to be released in the next few years. 

“Complainer,” the first song on the album, emphasizes the talented and unique voice of lead singer Nathan Willett. The impressive range and high-pitched sound of Willett’s voice makes it distinct. Willetts indie-scruff paired with his piano and guitar skills give Cold War Kids a talented lead member.

“Waiting For Your Love,” another popular song on the album, has one of the most upbeat, positive messages of all the songs on “New Age Norms 1.” The song celebrates the wide array of emotions that comes with finding the person you’re meant to be with. Most of the other songs in this album reflect feelings of longing and nostalgia for how things used to be and serves as a “goodbye” to norms and social expectations of the past. Although each song has a short run time of around three minutes, each one packs a punch and is totally different from the one before it. 

“New Age Norms 1” is one of Cold War Kids’ most distinctly indie rock albums that they’ve produced. The slow, relaxed tone of the vocals along with the calming instruments in the background make it less techno and fast-paced than other albums, like “L.A Divine,” which they released in 2017. One song from “New Age Norms 1” that displays this change is “Beyond the Pale.” The song’s opening line, “how many nights have I been awake,” sets the tone for a dreamy and sleep-like addition to the other interesting pieces in the album. “New Age Norms 1” will leave listeners pleased with the band’s experiments with style and sound and eager for the rest of the trilogy.