THINGS TO DO ON MOUNT DESERT ISLAND THIS WEEK
And in the near future.
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Side Street Cafe’s New Year’s Eve Party.
THINGS TO DO
It’s our weekly round-up, and we may have missed some things, so apologies! If you have something you’d like in here, please let me know.
Also, you may have to click through to see everything. There are so many things that this email is a bit long for a lot of inboxes.
We hope you have some great adventures this week!
To check out our news stories from the past week. Click on the archive section and you’ll see them in chronological order.
WHAT IS OPEN FOR RESTAURANTS?
This list is constantly updated by Jennifer Cough at First Express and she lets us share her latest version. This often changes and tweaks throughout the week, so for the absolute latest version, head to that First Express page or Jennifer’s page, which are on Facebook.
ARTWAVES CLASSES AND EVENTS
ArtWaves often has classes, a variety every week. For the updated selection, check out its website here
JESUP EVENTS
For a full list of Jesup Memorial Library events, click through to its calendar here.
EVENTS AT THE GILLEY
For a full list of Gilley events, click here.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE SCHEDULE
The calendar is here.
MDI YMCA
Events are here and the gym schedule is here. You can peruse its website for other schedules.
NORTHEAST HARBOR LIBRARY
A list of events is here.
SOUTHWEST HARBOR LIBRARY
A list of events is here.
SOMESVILLE LIBRARY
A list of events is here.
THE COLLEGE OF THE ATLANTIC
A list of events is here. Make sure to choose “open to the public” on the side bar.
MDI HIGH SCHOOL
A list of events is here.
MOUNT DESERT ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
A list of events is here.
MOUNT DESERT ISLAND ADULT EDUCATION
A list of classes and events is here.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 30
DECEMBER 30, BLOOD DRIVE!
LEGO CLUB!
Divine Play Yoga at the Neighborhood House
Mon/Wed; 9:00-10:00 a.m.
Cost: $15/class
with Mike Bouscaren
Dear Yogis,
You’ll recall that our flow yoga classes progressively tease out more body aliveness and mental acuity in you. And they’re fun!
For one hour you alone as do others around you, return to the grounded center that is the unburdened original self. Freer in every way.
You’ll walk away feeling more open, calmer, and sharp. And mightily prepared for whatever the day throws at you.
Divine Play yoga invites you to shine, to be your best, to transform into a Beacon of Joy. It works!
Register: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=19801383
Monday events via the Bar Harbor Chamber:
None are listed
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31
DECEMBER 31 NEW YEAR’S GALA!
DECEMBER 31 SIDE STREET CAFE’S NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY
DECEMBER 31 NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER AT HAVANA!
NEW YEAR’S EVE AT LE BRUN!
Le Brun on Cottage Street in Bar Harbor will be serving dinner from 4-9 p.m. offering a 4-course menu for $125 per person and then from 10 p.m. to at least 1 a.m., it will be having a little party to ring in the New Year, offering late night bites and cocktails!
NEW YEARS AT THE PATHMAKER!
The Pathmaker warmly invites you to a special New Year’s Eve Dinner as we all toast to new beginnings and cherish the moments that brought us together this year! 🎊
💫 Date: December 31, 2024
💫 Location: The Pathmaker Hotel | 77 Cottage St, Bar Harbor, ME 💫 Time Options: 5 PM | 5:30 PM | 6 PM 💫 Price: $100 per person
Gather your loved ones for an evening filled with delicious food, a cozy atmosphere, and heartfelt celebrations. Let us take care of everything while you relax and enjoy this meaningful night.
Call us at +1 (207) 266-9136 to make your reservation. Space is limited, so reserve your spot today!
NYE AT THE FINBACK!
OPEN TABLE MDI!
"Anyone in and around Bar Harbor, if you want an early meal – community made vegetarian – and some fun music from Andrew Revkin before New Year’s Eve festivities, come to Open Table MDI between 4:30 and 6 p.m. or so!”
Open Table MDI is at 116 Cottage Street, Bar Harbor.
Move Free Run Club
BAR HARBOR—The runs take place every week of the year and meet Tuesdays at 6 p.m. from the Bar Harbor Village Green and Sundays at 7:30 a.m. from Choco Latte.
TWO SHOES LINE DANCING!
Tuesday events via the Chamber:
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1
Please check on events that are weekly before you head over because of the holiday.
11th ANNUAL TREMONT FIRE DEPARTMENT POLAR PLUNGE!
Please join the crew of Tremont Fire Department on Back Beach in Bernard, New Year's Day promptly @ 10:00AM for a refreshing plunge into Bass Harbor.
Members of the public are encouraged to participate and spectators are always welcomed too.
Neighboring emergency services are invited as "mutual aid" to make this 11th year of the event spectacular.
Location is 98 Lopaus Point Rd
Limited beachside parking spots are available.
Weather permitting we will have a bonfire and provide hot chocolate.
High tide is 1.5hrs after the event so expect a short walk down to the water's edge. Beach footwear is recommended. Enter this event at own risk. Life Guard will be onsite via kayak.
In the likelihood of a weather postponement, updates will be announced via this event site.
GUIDED MEDITATION
Baby Storytime at Southwest Harbor
10:00 a.m. Southwest Harbor Public Library. Stories, songs, rhymes, bubbles. www.swhplibrary.org. 207-244-7065.
Library hours 9-5, Mon., Tue., Thu., Fri., 9-8 Wed., 9-1 Sat.
Wednesday events via the Chamber:
None are listed.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 2
COMMUNITY CAFE AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE IN NORTHEAST HARBOR
GUINEA PIGS BOOK CLUB
Holiday light show at Timberland Acres, Trenton!
Thursday-Saturday, 5-8 P.M.
STITCHES KNITTING GROUP!
Stitches Knitting & Crochet Group meets weekly at the Trenton Town Office (59 Oak Point Rd), Wednesdays 3-5pm. All levels are welcome. FMI contact Christina Heiniger at fernhousestudio@outlook.com
FIGURE DRAWING AT ARTWAVES
Thursday events via the Chamber:
FRIDAY, JANUARY 3
Holiday light show at Timberland Acres, Trenton!
Thursday-Saturday, 5-8 P.M.
FUN FRIDAY!
Family Storytime at Southwest Harbor
10:00 a.m. Southwest Harbor Public Library. Interactive books, puppets, songs, movements, bubbles.
Library hours 9-5, Mon., Tue., Thu., Fri., 9-8 Wed., 9-1 Sat.
Friday events via the Chamber:
SATURDAY, JANUARY 4
Greek Dance Party!
Leave the winter cold and be transported to the Greek islands! The Downeast Folk Dancers will feature authentic dances from the mainland and the islands of Greece, 7-9pm on January 4 at the YWCA 36, Mt. Desert Street, Bar Harbor. Live music by the Kotwica Band playing Greek village tunes, rebetiko, and music from the Black Sea and beyond. Dances will be taught by Carolyn Rapkievian - no experience and no partner is needed. Admission is $10 at the door. For more information, visit Downeast Folk Dancers on Facebook. (Photo by Nikolai Fox)
New Saturday Storytime every other week—Next in January 4
SOUTHWEST HARBOR—Looking for a fun and engaging experience with your family? Drop in to the Southwest Harbor Public Library on Saturdays, every other week at 10:00 a.m., for a new family storytime with Ms. Lia ana. Listen to stories, sing songs, pop bubbles and more. Be sure to also join us for our weekly storytimes on Wednesdays (babytime) and Fridays (family storytime) at 10:00 a.m.
Holiday light show at Timberland Acres, Trenton!
Thursday-Saturday, 5-8 P.M.
PRAYER SHAWL MISSION GROUP
Welcoming all knitters and would be knitters…and crocheters! The Welcome and Care Team at the Bar Harbor Congregational Church UCC is hosting a weekly Prayer Shawl Mission Group every Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon at the Bar Harbor Congregational Church UCC. The intention of the group is to create a sense of community and a flow of Prayer Shawls for distribution to those in need of comfort due to illness, loneliness, or loss. Supplies and instruction will be provided to those with skills for knitting and/or crocheting and for those with a desire to learn.
There are no costs to the participants.
For more information contact Pat by calling (203) 770-0063 or email: pgdizazzo@yahoo.com.
Saturday events via the Chamber:
SUNDAY, JANUARY 5
WINTER FARMERS AND MAKERS MARKET
NEW YEAR’S SOUND MEDITATION
Greet 2025 in harmony with sacred sound. Allow the resonance of a gong and singing bowls create waves of restoration, helping you release the old year and embrace new beginnings.
No prior meditation experience is necessary. This gentle restorative experience welcomes all who seek peace, healing, and stillness.
Provided:
Blankets, bolsters, and cushions
Location:
Acadia Yurts & Wellness, Southwest Harbor, Maine
Sunday January 5, from 3:00 PM-4:00 PM
Cost: $45 If you wish, please Venmo directly @ Vivian-Rae-Lambert
or Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1123564153629?aff=oddtdtcreator
Limited space available, Pre-registration required!
What to Wear:
Comfortable clothes
Sunday events via the Chamber:
None listed
FUTURE EVENTS:
AUDITIONS FOR ACT’S HOLIDAY SHOW - Wizard of Oz
NORTHEAST HARBOR—Acadia Community Theater will be holding auditions for its musical, Wizard of Oz, on Monday, January 6 and Thursday, January 9 from 6-8 p.m. at the Northeast Harbor Library.
Auditions will be held on both nights from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., but it is suggested that those auditioning arrive early to register and warm up. Roles are available for all ages. Children must be 7 years or older before May 2025 to audition. Audition materials can be found in advance on ACT’s website at acadiacommunitytheater.net.
The show will be directed by Matt and Angel Hochman and produced by Kate Young. For more information contact acadiacommunitytheater@gmail.com. Rehearsals will start the week of January 13, and the show will be performed in the spring.
The Wizard of Oz is presented through special arrangement with Concord Theatrical Licensing. All authorized performance materials are also supplied by Concord Theatricals.
Holiday light show at Timberland Acres, Trenton!
Thursday-Saturday, 5-8 P.M. until January 4, Timberland Acres, Route 3, Trenton
JANUARY 7
Play Reading of Reef Point about Beatrix Farrand’s Lost Garden by Carolyn Gage
SOUTHWEST HARBOR—Join us at the Southwest Harbor Public Library on Tuesday, January, 7 from 5:30-7:00 p.m., experience “Reef Point”, the debut play reading by local playwright Carolyn Gage. “Reef Point” is a new, one-act play about the Bar Harbor estate of the legendary landscape architect Beatrix Farrand and about her sudden decision in 1954 to dismantle her home and sell off the gardens. The reading will take place in the library with online viewing available.
It’s a play about facing massive changes late in life, about legacy, about surrendering a dream, about downscaling and recalibrating. “Reef Point” is a play about a lost garden, and a found one.
The cast for the reading includes local actors Phoebe Barnes, Mary Heffernon, Christopher Josephs, Katie Migdal, and Cindy Robbins. The play is by Southwest Harbor playwright Carolyn Gage.
Carolyn Gage is a playwright, director, and activist. She is the author of nine-collections of plays and eighty-eight plays, musicals, and one-woman shows. Her play St. Frances and the Fallen Angels was read at Southwest Harbor Public Library and at the Bass Harbor Library last year.
To register to attend in person or online, visit https://tinyurl.com/y4vb6ep5, call 207-244-7065, or email programs@swhplibrary.org. For more info about Carolyn Gage, visit
https://carolyngage.weebly.com
JANUARY 8 PFAS IN TREMONT
JANUARY 13—Unlocking the Secrets of Vision Restoration
Online event via Zoom
5 p.m.
Zebrafish have a superpower: the ability to regenerate damaged tissues—eyes included! New groundbreaking research explores how we can apply these remarkable healing mechanisms to humans. Could this lead to real treatments for vision loss?
Join Dr. Romain Madelaine and his team at MDI Biological Laboratory for an exciting look into how zebrafish are revolutionizing our understanding of eye diseases like macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy.
Don’t miss out on this online-only journey into the future of vision science. Together, we might just unlock the secrets to better sight for all.
JANUARY 18—JOEL RAYMOND TRIBUTE PARTY
JANUARY 30—JOY EXISTS! SAILHOUSE DISPLAY BY REBECCA BRUGMAN
SOUTHWEST HARBOR—Visit the Southwest Harbor Public Library during the month of January to view a unique display documenting the creation of Rebecca Brugman’s Sailhouse, first conceived during the pandemic as quiet shelter in the woods made from the repurposed sail into what has become a mentored wellness experience. Through a series of photo books and video of the structure assembled with the wind breathing life into the sail, Rebecca brings the Sailhouse experience out of the woods and to our community. View original art pieces by local artists that accompany Rebecca’s Sailhouse fable. The Sailhouse will be exhibited in the library’s display case through Thursday, January 30th during library hours: 9-5, Mon, Tue, Thu, Fril 9-8 Wed; and Sat 9-1.ACADIA WINTERLUDE AND THE PINE TREE FLYERS
It may be cold outside, but the first-ever Winterlude is our way of giving back to the local community that has given our flagship June festival such a warm welcome. In addition to fulfilling our 501(c)(3) nonprofit mission by bringing traditional music into local schools, all door proceeds from both evening events will go to Open Table MDI, an organization dedicated to alleviating hunger and food insecurity on Mount Desert Island and beyond.
There’s no advance registration or RSVP required to attend either evening event. But to let us know you’re coming, ask a question or sign up to volunteer, please contact the leaders of our community outreach committee, Adam McLean, Eloise Schultz or Troy Jordan.
The Pine Tree Flyers are heading to Bar Harbor for the first-ever Acadia Trad Winterlude, February 4-5, 2025 – and you’re invited too!
The Pine Tree Flyers’ two-day residency on Mount Desert Island will consist of daytime educational visits to four local elementary schools, as well as two exciting evening events open to the public. Are you within range of Bar Harbor? You won’t want to miss these…bring your family and friends!
Community Tune Workshop & Open Jam with the Pine Tree Flyers
Tuesday, February 4th at 6:30-8:30pm
Jesup Memorial Library, Bar Harbor, ME
$10-$20 suggested donation
All instruments and experience levels welcome
Pine Tree Flyers Concert & Contradance (Chrissy Fowler calling)
Wednesday, February 5th at 7:00pm (doors 6:30pm)
Gates Auditorium, College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, ME
$10-$20 suggested donation (free for COA students and staff)
Open band, all instruments and experience levels welcome
ONGOING:
GET YOUR HERO ON!
ICE QUILTING DERBY
BAR HARBOR FIRE DEPARTMENT
To check if Bar Harbor Fire Department is currently hiring, please go to the town’s jobs page.
But even if it isn’t, you can become a call member
Becoming a call force firefighter requires extensive training, hard work, and dedication to the community. We rely on call force firefighters to respond quickly to emergencies, to perform firefighting duties, and to provide assistance and support to career firefighters. To be a fall force firefighter is to have a chance to aid and serve the community, which is an extremely rewarding experience.
Get Your Knowledge On!
ASC Racial Justice Book Group
Are you interested in joining us? We are open to new members who want to share in the reading and the hard work that ensues as we examine the underpinnings of systemic racism and its effects on society and on each of us individually, in the ultimate hope that our studies can work toward change.
We have been meeting once a month on the second Tuesday of the month from 10:30- 12:15.
We started with the basic readings of How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi and The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee. We then spent many months delving deeply into The 1619 Project edited by Nikole Hannah-Jones.
Since then, we’ve read some James Baldwin, Colon Whitehead, Zora Neale Hurston, Eddie S. Glaude, Jr., Clint Smith and many others. We look forward in the next few months to reading some James McBride and Bryan Stevenson. We also share articles of interest that deal with the issues we’re facing.
If the truly hard, but most meaningful, work we are doing to examine our society, culture and ourselves sounds like something that interests you, please contact me at rjbg2021@gmail.com or 207-664-9954.
Read more about the book group
GET YOUR VOLTA ON!
Volta, in Trenton, has a ton of things always going on. You can check that out here.
GET YOUR FITNESS, DANCE AND WELLNESS ON!
THE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE!
The Neighborhood House has a slew of classes to help you get your fitness on. Descriptions are at its website.
MDI YMCA!
The MDI YMCA’s program guide is here.
DOWNEAST COMMUNITY DANCE
Downeast Community Dance
Free form dance, conscious or ecstatic, not facilitated. Come drop into your own joyful movement.
This is now held the first, third, and fifth Sunday of the month at 10 a.m. at ArtWaves Dance Studio. For more information, contact Susan at 207-801-9023, or susan.sassaman@proton.me
Location:
Dance Studio at ArtWaves, 1345A State Highway 102, Bar Harbor
GET YOUR MUSIC ON!
THE FINBACK ALEHOUSE
The Finback has entertainment most nights in Bar Harbor. The schedule is posted every Tuesday.
THE NOR’EASTER
The Nor’Easter has music every Saturday night from 8-10 in the summer and 7-9 in the winter in Northeast Harbor.
ONE OFF PUB
The One Off Pub often has music and is often open until midnight. The location? 119 Main Street, Bar Harbor.
HAVANA
Every Saturday night it’s open, at 6:30 p.m, you can come hear the maestro Bob Lombardi. Maestro isn’t something we put out there for everyone. Havana is on lower Main Street in Bar Harbor.
“Things To Do” is mostly curated by me looking for things happening in the upcoming week, which takes a lot of time and I truly do not know all that is going on.
If there’s something in Bar Harbor (or MDI or Trenton or Ellsworth) that you’d like me to mention, please let me know, because I’m definitely always missing some events every week.
If you’d like to donate to help support us, you can, but no pressure! Just click here.
Hello!
This is Carrie and Shaun, again. When we started the Bar Harbor Story, one of our major tenets was that we provide high quality, unbiased news for everyone, for free. Why would we want to do this? Because we believe that everyone, regardless of financial means, deserves to be as informed as they choose to be and not have to pay for that privilege.
Not only does the Bar Harbor Story, provide local news in a way that keeps you informed, but it, and us, also embraces and promotes community and the good that is within it.
We are working very hard to get the news out there—for free—for everyone. Most media isn’t local. Most media has paywalls and is inundated with advertisements. We don’t. We aren’t.
Richard Stengel writing in The Atlantic said, "Paywalls create a two-tiered system: credible, fact-based information for people who are willing to pay for it, and murkier, less-reliable information for everyone else. Simply put, paywalls get in the way of informing the public, which is the mission of journalism.”
As a news source that is owned and staffed by locals, we make every attempt to gather all of the facts for our readers, information that might not be part of the main story and/or information that may not be known even to our towns’ officials, but is still just as important, if not more important, to the story.
As we continue our journey towards expansion of coverage area and what topics we cover, we are once again asking for your help. We are not asking for anything money related this time, although we always greatly appreciate that, but we are asking you to help spread the word about the Bar Harbor Story.
If you feel that the Bar Harbor Story is doing the job of providing high quality, unbiased news, then we ask that you tell everyone that you know that has access to the internet, via any type of device, about us. You can tell them personally and they can do a web search for Bar Harbor Story or you can send them this web address barharborstory.substack.com and it will introduce them to the Bar Harbor Story and all they will have to do on their own is hit the “Subscribe” button at the bottom of any article.
Thank you for helping us allow people to know that they can have free access to the local news.
Carrie and Shaun
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR COMMUNITY
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