Month: July 2024

Labor Day weekend is an excellent opportunity to explore Portland, ME, and there’s no better place to stay than The Press Hotel. Located in the heart of downtown, this luxury hotel offers a unique blend of historic charm and modern amenities, making it the perfect choice for a memorable holiday.

A Historic Gem in Portland

The Press Hotel, housed in the historic Portland Press Herald building, offers a unique ambiance that combines the charm of its storied past with modern luxury. The hotel’s architecture and design pay homage to its origins, with typewriters and vintage journalism artifacts adorning the public spaces and guest rooms. This thematic approach provides a nostalgic yet contemporary atmosphere, making your stay both comfortable and memorable.

Luxurious Accommodations

The Press Hotel offers a variety of rooms and suites, each designed with a blend of vintage and modern furnishings. With plush beds, high-quality linens, and premium amenities, you’ll enjoy a restful and luxurious stay. For an extra special experience, consider the Penthouse Suite, which offers sweeping views of Portland and exquisite furnishings.

Culinary Delights at Union

Dining at The Press Hotel’s Union restaurant is a must. The farm-to-table dining experience features locally sourced ingredients and a seasonally changing menu. Whether you’re enjoying breakfast, brunch, or dinner, the dishes reflect the rich culinary heritage of Portland. From fresh seafood to artisanal cheeses and handcrafted cocktails, every meal is an event.

Exceptional Service

One of the standout features of The Press Hotel is its exceptional service. The staff is dedicated to providing personalized and attentive care, ensuring that every aspect of your stay is perfect. From the moment you check in to the time you depart, you’ll feel welcomed and well-cared for, making your Labor Day weekend truly unforgettable.

Activities for Labor Day Weekend

Portland offers a variety of activities to make your Labor Day weekend unforgettable. Here are some highlights:

Art in the Park: This annual event in South Portland’s Mill Creek Park features over 170 artists displaying their work. Enjoy the beautiful setting and discover unique pieces of art.

Maine Brew Bus Tours: Explore Portland’s thriving craft beer scene with guided tours of local breweries. The Maine Brew Bus offers fun and educational experiences that showcase the best of Maine’s brewing talents.

Eastern Promenade: Spend a day at this scenic waterfront park. With walking trails, picnic areas, and stunning views of Casco Bay, it’s the perfect spot for outdoor relaxation and activities.

Portland Museum of Art: Visit the largest and oldest public art institution in Maine. The museum offers an impressive collection of American, European, and contemporary art.

Portland Symphony Orchestra: Enjoy a special Labor Day weekend performance. The symphony’s concerts are a treat for music lovers and a great way to experience Portland’s cultural scene.

Experience the Best of Portland at The Press Hotel

For an unparalleled Labor Day weekend in Portland, ME, look no further than The Press Hotel. With its historic charm, luxurious accommodations, exquisite dining, and prime location, it offers everything you need for a memorable and relaxing getaway. Book your stay today and experience the best that Portland has to offer, all from the comfort and elegance of The Press Hotel.

Portland, ME, is a fantastic summer destination, brimming with activities that cater to all interests. From outdoor adventures to cultural explorations, there’s something for everyone. Here’s a guide to some of the best summer activities in Portland, followed by why The Press Hotel is the ideal place to stay during your visit.

Top Summer Activities in Portland

Casco Bay Cruises: Experience the stunning beauty of Casco Bay with a variety of cruises. Whether you prefer a relaxing sunset sail or an adventurous island-hopping tour, the views of the coastline and surrounding islands are breathtaking.

Portland Head Light: Visit Maine’s oldest lighthouse at Fort Williams Park. This historic site offers picturesque views, walking trails, and picnic areas, making it perfect for a summer day out.

Old Port District: Stroll through the cobblestone streets of the Old Port, known for its boutique shops, art galleries, and lively nightlife. Enjoy alfresco dining at one of the many restaurants and soak in the vibrant atmosphere.

Eastern Promenade: This waterfront park provides a perfect setting for outdoor activities. With walking trails, picnic spots, and panoramic views of Casco Bay, it’s great for biking, kayaking, or simply relaxing by the water.

Art in the Park: Held annually in South Portland’s Mill Creek Park, this event showcases over 170 artists. It’s an excellent opportunity to appreciate local art in a beautiful outdoor setting.

Portland Museum of Art: As Maine’s largest and oldest public art institution, the museum offers an impressive collection of American, European, and contemporary art. It’s a must-visit for art enthusiasts.

Maine Brew Bus Tours: Discover Portland’s vibrant craft beer scene with guided tours of local breweries. The Maine Brew Bus offers fun and educational experiences, perfect for beer lovers.

The Press Hotel: Your Ideal Summer Base

After a day of exploring Portland’s summer activities, retreat to The Press Hotel, a luxury hotel located in the historic Portland Press Herald building. This unique hotel combines historic charm with modern amenities, providing a perfect base for your summer adventures.

Historic Charm and Modern Comfort: The Press Hotel features rooms and suites with a blend of vintage and modern furnishings. Enjoy plush beds, high-quality linens, and premium amenities that ensure a restful and luxurious stay. The Penthouse Suite offers an elevated experience with its spacious living area and private terrace.

Culinary Delights at Union: Union, the hotel’s acclaimed restaurant, offers a farm-to-table dining experience with locally sourced ingredients. From fresh seafood to artisanal cheeses and handcrafted cocktails, dining at Union is an essential part of your stay.

Exceptional Service: The dedicated staff at The Press Hotel provides personalized and attentive care, ensuring every aspect of your stay is perfect. From the moment you check in to the time you depart, you’ll feel welcomed and well-cared for, making your summer getaway truly unforgettable.

Experience the Best of Portland at The Press Hotel

For a summer filled with unforgettable activities and luxurious comfort, The Press Hotel in Portland, ME, is the perfect choice. With its historic charm, exquisite dining, and prime location, it offers everything you need for a memorable getaway. Book your stay today and experience the best that Portland has to offer, all from the elegance and comfort of The Press Hotel.

Portland, Maine, is a cultural epicenter, especially during the summer when the city hosts many renowned music and arts festivals. Staying at The Press Hotel places you in the heart of these vibrant events, allowing you to experience the best of Portland’s creative spirit. Here’s a guide to some of the most anticipated music and arts festivals happening in Portland this summer.

WCLZ Maine Music Festival

Scheduled for August, the WCLZ Maine Music Festival showcases local and regional talent across various genres. This festival is a fantastic way to discover new music and enjoy performances from some of Maine’s best up-and-coming artists. With a laid-back atmosphere and plenty of local food vendors, it’s a must-visit for music lovers.

Portland Chamber Music Festival

Every August, the Portland Chamber Music Festival brings together top-tier musicians from around the world for a series of concerts that highlight the dynamic and expressive qualities of chamber music. Held in intimate venues like Hannaford Hall, this festival provides an immersive experience for classical music aficionados.

First Friday Art Walk

Portland’s First Friday Art Walk is a monthly celebration of the city’s vibrant arts scene. On the first Friday of every month, galleries, studios, and museums in the Arts District open their doors to the public. Street performers, art installations, and food trucks add to the lively atmosphere. Staying at The Press Hotel, you’re just steps away from this cultural extravaganza, making it easy to explore the diverse artistic expressions that Portland has to offer.

The Heart of Portland: The Press Hotel

Located in the heart of Portland’s vibrant Arts District, The Press Hotel offers a unique blend of modern luxury and historic charm. The building’s history as the former home of the Portland Press Herald is thoughtfully reflected in its design, combining contemporary comfort with historic elements.

Luxurious Accommodations

The Press Hotel features stylish rooms and suites with custom furnishings and modern amenities. Each room is designed to provide a comfortable and luxurious retreat, with plush bedding, spacious bathrooms, and stunning views of the city or waterfront.

Dining at UNION

The hotel’s acclaimed restaurant, UNION, focuses on farm-to-table cuisine, using locally sourced ingredients to create seasonal dishes. It’s the perfect place to start your day with a hearty breakfast or unwind with a sophisticated dinner after a day of festival fun. UNION’s menu showcases the best of Maine’s culinary traditions with a modern twist.

Art and Culture at Your Doorstep

Staying at The Press Hotel places you within walking distance of many of Portland’s top cultural attractions. The hotel’s central location means you’re just steps away from galleries, theaters, and music venues, making it easy to immerse yourself in the city’s vibrant arts scene. The hotel itself hosts an impressive collection of local artwork, providing guests with a taste of Portland’s creative spirit right in the lobby.

Immerse Yourself in Portland’s Summer Festivals

Portland, Maine, offers a rich tapestry of music and arts festivals throughout the summer, providing endless opportunities for cultural enrichment and entertainment. By staying at The Press Hotel, you’ll be perfectly positioned to enjoy all these events while experiencing the best of Portland’s hospitality and charm. Whether you’re a music enthusiast, art lover, or simply looking to explore something new, Portland’s summer festivals promise a memorable and inspiring experience.

The lauded seacoast of Maine—among New England’s defining geographies and America’s classic vacation getaways—is not only about postcard-perfect maritime scenery, charming harbor ports, and picturesque lighthouses. It’s also part of a sumptuous foodshed that draws equally from saltwater farms, orchards, forests, and the superlative fertility of the Gulf of Maine.

The lively little capital of Vacationland, Portland, is the perfect hub from which to explore this foodshed. After all, this is “The Foodiest Small Town in America” and Bon Appétit’s 2018 “Restaurant City of the Year,” with our very own Press Hotel restaurant, UNION, being a marvelous manifestation of that foodie-focused culture.

Along with such eateries—and the varied regional smorgasbord on offer from area farmers’ markets and farmstands to groceries and dockside seafood vendors—you’ve got a plethora of culinary festivals on the Portland-area calendar to take advantage of. And there’s simply no better base of operations for doing so than The Press Hotel!

Annual Portland, ME Culinary Festivals

One fantastic food event here in Portland is just in the rear-view mirror: The Portland Peninsula & Island Parishes, for example, host Saint Peter’s Annual Italian Bazaar (August 9th & 10th this year), the Latino Food Festival (September 7th), and the African Festival (September 28th), while the 22nd annual Greater Portland Festival of Nations—set for July 27th in Deering Oaks Park—includes a globe-spanning array of cuisine among its delights.

And this past April, among the more unique food-and-drink festivals in the country marked its sixth iteration: Seaweed Week, wherein chefs, bakers, brewers, mixologists, and other craftspeople feature that sustainable “superfood” in celebration of Maine’s rich kelp harvest (the largest in the nation).

And mark your calendars now for one of Maine’s great culinary happenings this fall: Portland’s Harvest on the Harbor, taking place October 23rd through the 26th. It’s one huge celebration of Portland’s phenomenal chefs, distillers, brewers, cheesemakers, seafarmers, and other artisans and producers, with highlights including the grand tasting, a Maine distillers’ happy hour, and the crowning of the Best Maine Lobster Chef of the Year.

Other Regional Food & Drink Festivals

The Yarmouth Clam Festival (July 19th through the 21st), has been going strong since 1965 and includes (as you might imagine) some delicious clams among its diverse food offerings, plus live entertainment, a carnival, and much else.

Within day-tripping distance is the famous Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland, a five-day extravaganza landing the first weekend in August. It draws people from all over the world to Mid-Coast Maine to honor the state’s best-known crustacean and iconic seafood export.

An Unbeatable Foodie’s Perch in Portland, ME at The Press Hotel

We’ve only scratched the surface when it comes to culinary festivals and seafood soirées in the Portland area and along the Maine coast, but hopefully you get the picture!

You couldn’t ask for a better home-away-from-home to enjoy it all than The Press Hotel, providing singular Autograph Collection accommodations in the historic Gannett Building and serving some of the best eats in the city at UNION Restaurant. Come stay—and dine—with us this summer!