Highs and Lows
| January | 31 | 13 |
| February | 34 | 16 |
| March | 42 | 25 |
| April | 53 | 34 |
| May | 64 | 44 |
| June | 73 | 53 |
| July | 79 | 59 |
| August | 78 | 58 |
| September | 70 | 50 |
| October | 59 | 39 |
| November | 48 | 31 |
| December | 37 | 20 |
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John Ford Statue in Portland Maine
The John Ford Statue is located on the corner of Pleasant and Danforth Streets in Portland Maine. The great film director grew up in Portland and graduated from Portland High School. He directed more than 100 movies and has won multiple Oscars.
New York artist George Kelly made the piece, which was dedicated in 1993. His legs are crossed, seated in a directors chair with pipe in hand. Granite blocks ring the case of the statue naming his Oscar winning films. Linda Noe Lane, a Ford family friend, donated $250,000 to make the statue after visiting Portland and finding little evidence of him.
John Ford won a total of six Academy Awards. He was awarded Best Director for:
- The Informer (1935)
- The Grapes Of Wrath (1940)
- How Green Was My Valley (1941)
- The Quiet Man (1952)
He was also nominated in the Best Director category for Stagecoach in 1939 and won two Oscars for Best Documentary:
- The Battle Of Midway
- December 7th: The Movie
Maureen O’Hara was his favorite actress. The statue is located in Gorham’s Corner in Portland at 2 Pleasant Street, a neighborhood once populated by Irish immigrants.
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Monument Square Portland Maine
Monument Square Park is a Town Square in Portland Maine located at 456 Congress Street. The Portland Soldiers and Sailors Monument is in the center of Monument Square. The statue was dedicated on October 28, 1891 and honors the soldiers in the Army and Sailors in the Navy who died in the late Civil War. The sculpture is known as “Our Lady Of Victories”.
The bronze sculpture was created by Maine sculptor, Franklin Simmons who also created the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Sculpture in Portland. The granite base was designed by New York City architect, Richard Morris Hunt. Inscribed on the base of the monument is “Portland To Her Sons Who Died For The Union”.
Along Congress Street, there are other town squares named Bramhall, Congress and Longfellow. Many events take place in the squares throughout the year. Two of the most fun events are Pianos In The Square and the Monument Square Tree Lighting.
Pianos In The Square
Painted pianos start to show up around Portland in July. They appear in Monument, Congress, Bramhall and Longfellow Squares and passersby can stop and play a tune. Scheduled entertainers also appear throughout the month. 2019 was the second year for the event and I hope it will become an annual tradition. The festive vibe really brings people together and everyone enjoys the music. It is magical! Local businesses take the pianos in at night and bring them out each morning. Strolling from square to square listening to the music is a wonderful way to spend the day.
Monument Square Tree Lighting
The Monument Square Tree Lighting is a traditional downtown favorite that occurs right after Thanksgiving. The event includes entertainment and food to celebrate the official beginning of the holiday season. You can watch an ice carving demo and enjoy a horse and wagon ride. Drink some egg nog and try the marshmallows, donuts and maple taffy. Portland Maine is a beautiful city with outdoor and indoor events to enjoy in Spring, Summer, Winter and Fall.
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Neighborhoods Of Portland Maine
The neighborhoods in Portland Maine each have their own identity and special characteristics. There are neighborhoods that are on the peninsula and off the peninsula.
0n Peninsula Neighborhoods
East End/Munjoy Hill
West End
Downtown/Old Port/Waterfront/Arts District
West Bayside
East Bayside
India Street
Parkside
Valley Street
Off Peninsula Neighborhoods
Libbytown
Oakdale
Back Cove
East Deering
Deering Center
Rosemont
Nasons Corner
Stroudwater
Riverton
North Deering
Peaks Island
East End Neighborhood
The East End includes Munjoy Hill and the Eastern Promenade. It is located on the far Eastern end of Portland’s peninsula. The Eastern Promenade offers sweeping views of the ocean. The East End used to be a less than desirable neighborhood but over the past two decades has become one of the best places to live in Portland. There are a mix of fancy new homes, luxury townhomes and condominiums. Funky upscale restaurants and shops add to the hipster charm of this area. Most residents of the East End are renters and views from Munjoy Hill are breathtaking.
West End Neighborhood
The West End is the most affluent neighborhood in Portland but to me it is a mixture of two neighborhoods. Along the Western Promenade there are multimillion-dollar mansions and beautiful architecture. It’s one of the best preserved Victorian neighborhoods in the country. East of the Western Prom are condos, apartments and regular family homes. Great restaurants and coffee shops are everywhere. This is my favorite neighborhood.
Old Port Neighborhood
This neighborhood is filled with boutiques, restaurants and bars making it a popular destination for tourists. The neighborhood charms include cobblestone streets, fishing piers and 19th century brick buildings. Old Port is a working waterfront along with unique shops, award winning dining spots and residential buildings. The area is easily walkable but can be congested during tourist season.
Small City With Cosmopolitan Feel
These are my three favorite neighborhoods in Portland. The city of Portland is a very cosmopolitan small city. If you live in a big city now but want something smaller, Portland is the city for you.