The Maine Weekender, 12/15—12/17

Still on the hunt for the perfect holiday gift? Be sure to explore our Wishbook + Holiday Gift Guide, a curated list of presents for anyone on your list. From quintessential cozy blankets to holiday hosting tools, cannabis-infused goodies, and more, you’ll find exactly what you need to make this holiday season one of a kind. Here’s our roundup for this weekend in Maine:

Something to Do:

Channel your inner summer camp kid and create your own paw print tie-dye shirt at Olive Pit Brewing! The registration fee covers all materials for the event, where you’ll receive step-by-step instructions to design your own tie-dyed masterpiece. While you’re visiting, be sure to try Olive Pit’s Media Luna Lime Ale, made with salt water, agave, and lime, or the Erdbeern Haze, a hazy pale ale juiced up with pureed strawberries.

When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: 16 Main Street, Lisbon Falls

Somewhere to Go:

Opening its doors this Friday is Bar Futo, a Japanese-inspired restaurant rooted in binchotan-fired cooking from the team behind beloved Portland hotspots Mr. Tuna and Crispy Gai. With a nuanced menu guided by seasonal ingredients, a bar program with a robust sake list, and varieties of kakigori (Japanese shaved ice) for a sweet endnote, this highly anticipated restaurant is bound to knock it out of the park. 

When: 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, Thursday, and Sunday
Where: 425 Fore Street, Portland

Something to Eat:

Visit Frannie’s Mini Donuts for a festive donut decorating session this weekend and enjoy all the fun of making treats for the holidays without having to clean up your mess! For just $7.75, you’ll receive four chocolate or buttermilk glazed donuts that you can decorate with holiday-themed frosting, sprinkles, and decorations, plus a cup of coffee or hot cocoa to wash it all down. Don’t forget to register online to reserve your spot.

When: 5 p.m. Friday; 1 p.m., 3 p.m., or 5 p.m. Saturday
Where: 913 Main Street, Sanford

Something to Watch:

Tune in to PBS on Friday evening for the season premiere of Craft in America, a Peabody Award-winning documentary series that explores the beauty, significance, and relevance of handmade objects and the artists who make them. In this season’s inaugural episode, called “Inspiration,” world-renowned Portland ceramicist Ayumi Horie explains how handmade objects hold power and how contemporary craft can act as a force for change.

When: 9 p.m. Friday
Where: Your local PBS channel

Share The Inspiration