I just wrapped another 2017 mini-break! I hope I'm not starting to sound obnoxious with all these little trips I've been taking. I promise they're much more economical than they probably sound. This latest started with a work trip to Nashville (so all expenses paid!), followed by five days in Maine.
I was in Nashville from Saturday through Wednesday, but working every day, so my sightseeing was limited to eating. But I think I did pretty great on that front. On Saturday night I went to Husk, a highly recommended restaurant near the convention center, with two coworkers. It's in an adorable old house, but we had to sit in the basement bar because I didn't make reservations. It was still charming, though, even if the bartenders were snobby tools and not good communicators (I'd recommend you confirm if you're ordering a glass of beer or a two-liter bottle of beer. And who knew butter could be so complicated?).
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| So charming |
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| My blurry but tasty grilled catfish, zucchini, and grits on the left; Lindsay and Allan displaying the $36 beer our bartender failed to warn her about on the right. |
Sunday I worked through dinner at the convention center with all of
my coworkers, but on Monday we were able to go out to dinner again. This
time a few of us headed to Broadway (where all the tourist-trap honky
tonks are) and chose Acme Feed and Seed for dinner. It had four levels,
with a band on the first and a rooptop deck on the fourth. They make you
order at the counter and wait around by the registers for your food to
come out, which was a little awkward (and loud thanks to the band, but
I'm old and grumpy), but then we took our plates and drinks up to the
second level to eat. Afterward we were able to score some spots on the
roof for a couple drinks while the sun set.
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| Walking down Broadway |
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| Acme Feed and Seed: sunset from the roof, inside on the first floor |
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| Delicious scallops from Etch |
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| See the guitar? |
For our last dinner on Tuesday, my boss took me and my team out for the best meal of the trip. We walked a few blocks to Etch, and again sat at the bar because we didn't have reservations, but this time the service was excellent. We had roasted cauliflower as an appetizer (highly recommend) and I ordered scallops for dinner. They were gigantic and delicious, but overpriced enough to make me very grateful that my boss was paying. After dinner we headed back to the hotel bar before going out for the all-staff party (an annual tradition on the last night of the conference), and I noticed for the first time that the convention center I'd spent the last four days inside was shaped like a guitar. Well played, Nashville.
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| Classy travelin' with a GooGoo |
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At 1:00 pm on Wednesday I was released with most of my conference compatriots, and it was time for me to fly to Maine! The best part about adding a personal trip to the end of a work trip is my company generously paid me the amount they would have spent flying me home from Nashville to Austin, so I was able to put that toward my Maine flights. I flew to Charlotte and on to Portland, arriving late on Wednesday. Andrew, who had arrived earlier that day, picked me up at the airport. We made it to his parents' house in an hour and went right to bed. The next morning I woke up to Dunkin' Donuts and a variety pack of Whoopie Pies, best Maine welcome ever.
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| Running errands pre-party with Calo |
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| Steamer clams |
Andrew's parents planned a cookout for Thursday afternoon, and around noon friends and family started showing up. We played ladder golf, the guys built a bonfire as usual, we ate clams and beer-can chicken and grilled shrimp and veggies, and drank too much. It was a gorgeous day, too.
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| Eat here! |
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| Andrew with Karen's bounty |
On Friday we slept in a little before packing up and driving down to Boothbay Harbor, where the wedding was going to be. The rehearsal dinner was tonight, and Andrew and I scored invites without any responsibilities. Win-win. On the way we stopped for lunch at a little food trailer in Wiscasset called Karen's Hideaway, and I can't recommend it highly enough. Karen (I'm assuming) and her partner we so sweet and welcoming, and the food was deeeelicious. And plentiful and reasonably priced. (It was $45 for four of us to be stuffed and have leftover fries and onion rings.) Definitely stop by if you're in the area, but bring cash because they don't accept cards.
We arrived at the Newagen (a little town near Boothbay Harbor) Seaside Inn and settled in our room with a balcony overlooking the lawn and the harbor before heading down to the wedding rehearsal. Then it was time for cocktails and yet more amazing seafood (don't judge that all of my food photos are seafood). After dinner they set up a s'mores station on the lawn by the fire pit and a game of cornhole. Unfortunately, June in Maine means mosquitoes, and I forgot bug spray. At one point in the evening I looked over at Andrew and saw no fewer than ten mosquitoes swarming his head. That's when I had to call it a night.
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| View from our room: we made s'mores over that fire. |
The next morning, after our free hotel breakfast buffet (jackpot), Andrew and I drove into Boothbay Harbor for a little shopping (Priority #1: bug repellent) and sightseeing. The town is picturesque with narrow streets, shops and cafes, and boats in the harbor.
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| Boothbay Harbor: Downtown street on the left, coffee break on the top right, botanical gardens on the bottom right |
After wandering around town a bit, we went for a quick walk through a nature preserve and then to the botanical gardens. It was in the 70s and pretty much perfect (sorry, I'm not bragging; Maine is just idyllic).
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| The wedding was gorgeous |
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| Another amazing meal |
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| Sunset at the wedding |
We headed back to the hotel with plenty of time to spare before the 4:00 wedding, set out on the lawn in front of the harbor, looking like a postcard. Afterrward there was cocktail hour in the gazebo, followed by another amazing seafood dinner, and then lots of me dancing like a jackass.
Sadly, Sunday came, and we had to pack up and check out of the room. Andrew and I drove back to Portland for our flight home, but not before stopping at a lighthouse for photos and a fish market for a thank-you present for my parents (aka my pet sitters). Maine, until next time! xoxoxoxo
