Take is going on the road, checking out New England’s corners for everything from the best bodegas to tiny galleries and music spots. We’ll be adding towns as we come across them. Read our other New England finds. Up now? Scarborough, Maine.

Maine is full of nooks and crannies and while most of them are rocky and cold for the majority of the year, they are gems nonetheless! One of those fabulous little nooks is Scarborough, Maine. Located just south of Portland, this town has sandy beaches, tasty restaurants, and some talented artists. Let’s take a look at our five finds in Scarborough!

Shade Restaurant

Just a stone’s throw from Higgins Beach, the Shade Restaurant at the Higgins Beach Inn is the lively local hangout that you always hope you’ll come across on your travels. Serving up dinner Thursday-Sunday and breakfast every day of the week, the restaurant does the classics well, with its own spin on them, of course. The breakfast is particularly spot on, especially as fuel for a day at the beach or a day shopping in Portland.
Location: Higgins Beach

Sea Dog Brewing Co.

Maine has no shortage of craft breweries and one of my favorites is Sea Dog. Not too far from the Portland Airport, Sea Dog Brewing Co. is a cool brewpub offering up some hearty bar food and craft beer. You have to try their popular flavored beers like the blueberry and raspberry ales. And paring that with a warm pretzel makes for a tasty afternoon. But full disclosure, this is located just over the border into South Portland from Scarborough, but is a Scarborough favorite nonetheless.
Location: 125 Western Ave.

Winslow Homer Studio

A stylish enclave jets out off of Scarborough called Prout’s Neck. Filled with lovely homes and waterfront views, Prout’s Neck is the crown jewel of Scarborough. And at the tip of this lovely point, sits a historical site that all art lovers need to visit while in the area, the Winslow Homer Studio. The former home and art studio of the famous American artist, Winslow Homer, this is the site of one of the most important American artists of the last century.
Location: 5 Winslow Homer Rd.

Chart Room Restaurant

And after you’ve had your fill of art and history, head back up the point to the Black Point Inn’s Chart Room restaurant for a classic New England style meal. The historic hotel is a blast from the past in the best way. The traditional architecture and the warm service will remind you of all the New England charm filling the area. Grab some seared scallops and fresh oysters for a classic seafood dinner while you over look the water at the Chart Room.
Location: 510 Black Point Rd.

Edgecomb Potters

While, not Edgecome Potters is technically located in Scarborough, I always associate it with Scarborough because I first saw a piece of their work in a friend’s home in Scarborough. And when they told me where they picked it up, I just had to make the quick drive to Portland to check it out. The beautiful designs and the quality craftsmanship are a refreshing alternative to its mass produced competitors.
Location: 145 Commercial St.

Top image: Courtesy of Edgecomb Potters

The post Five Finds Around Scarborough, Maine appeared first on Take Magazine.

Take is going on the road, checking out New England’s corners for everything from the best bodegas to tiny galleries and music spots. We’ll be adding towns as we come across them. Check back regularly for the latest New England finds. Up next? Elm Street in Manchester, New Hampshire. 

Northern New England’s largest city was named by merchant and inventor Samuel Blodget after the industrial city in England and soon became “Manchester in America.” Incorporated as a company town in 1846 under the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, the city soon became a giant in industrial mill towns.

Today, the city’s main thoroughfare, Elm Street, is one of the longest in the world that dead ends on both sides. And in between, right around City Hall, exists a thriving downtown, given new energy by the expansion of the New Hampshire Institute of Art and the large Southern New Hampshire University campus.

And the best news? The city just signed up for a downtown bike rental program, So, now you can visit these five finds in Manchester, New Hampshire, from the comfort of a touring bike on your next visit:

Vivace Sculpture
Location: In front of SNHU Arena, 555 Elm Street

You can’t miss Vivace! Constructed by the husband and wife artist team of Jonathan and Evelyn Clowes of Walpole, N.H. Vivace’s bold shimmering green, like a giant blade of grass, shoots straight up from a hill near the arena. Since its installation, it’s become quite the meeting spot, or just a nice place for a nap in the grass.

Studio 550 Art Center
550 Elm Street

Studio 550, located in an old renovation red stone, has become an art community, bringing together local artists, photographers, sculptures and kids with a series of classes and shows. Among the events: a pie competition, a chalk art day and a teen art camp.

Milk and Honey Juicery and Cafe
889 Elm Street

For a working class mill town, the opening of a vegetarian juice bar right across the street from City Hall has been a pleasant addition to Elm Street. The items are named after colors of the rainbow with a different color menu sample featured every day. Vegan friendly too!

USA Chicken and Biscuit
990 Elm Street

Sometimes, you just need chicken wings at midnight and if you are in Manchester the family-owned USA Chicken and Biscuit is the place to go. Fresh, clean and usually crowded, this is the place to go for all things fried!

Veterans’ Memorial Park
723 Elm Street.

Manchester’s main downtown park has existed for as long as the city. Stop by to relax and watch the world go by or check out the enormous Civil War monument, sculpted by famous memorial artist Caspar Buberl in 1878. Intown Manchester also holds a series of Thursday and Saturday concerts under the big yellow tent during summer.

The post Five Finds on Elm Street in Manchester, NH appeared first on Take Magazine.