Take Me Out To The Ballgame!

My brother Stacy and sister-in-law, Louise stopped in Portland for a visit at the inn on their way up to Deer Isle. We decided to go to a Sea Dogs game at Hadlock field. It is short ten minute walk from the Wild Iris Inn. We bought general admission tickets which were all of $7.00. You can also buy box seats for $9.00. It was nice to see lots of families enjoying an evening out together. It definitely is a fun affordable family outing. Sea dogs were playing Hartford that night and it was a great game and they won 7-4. So on your next visit to Portland this baseball season check out their website, www.seadogs.com and see if there is a home game. It was a great way to spend a warm summer evening. Don't forget to try a Sea Dog Biscuit while you are there!

Diane Edwards
Wild Iris Inn
273 State Street
Portland, ME 04101
800-600-1557
www.wildirisinn.com
Diane@wildirisinn.com

Portland Maine Day Trips- Maine Wildlife Park

Monday was quiet afternoon at the Wild Iris Inn so Jacqui, my assistant and I decided to take a drive to the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray, http://www.mainewildlifepark.com. It is located about 30 minutes NW of Portland. We stopped and got some sandwiches and headed out. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IF&W) manage this park.

Many of the animals at the Maine Wildlife Park were brought there because they were injured or orphaned, or because they were human dependent - raised, sometimes illegally, in captivity. The Park serves as a permanent home for wildlife that cannot survive in the Wild.

They had a nice shaded picnic area to sit and eat our lunch. Jacqui and I were quite surprise how pleasant and accessible the park was for all ages. We viewed moose, lots of deer and turkey vultures, along with a variety of Maine's wild cat population. It was a very hot and humid day and it was quite pleasant walking through the woods and viewing some of Maine's wildlife up close. It would be a great place to take kids or adults as they had lots of information on the animal that lived there. It is stroller, wheelchair and walker accessible. We both agreed it was a pleasant way to spend the afternoon.

Diane Edwards
Wild Iris Inn
273 State Street
Portland, ME 04101
800-600-1557
www.wildirisinn.com
Diane@wildirisinn.com

May Music Happenings in Portland Maine

Portland has a very active music scene with a variety of venues to listen to your favorite music. The Wild Iris Inn is conveniently located within walking distance to many of these hot spots! One Longfellow Square is an intimate venue within a couple of blocks walk from us. Coming in May are many exciting shows, Rachel Efron and Audrey Ryan Saturday, May 01, 2010 8:00 PM, Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill Saturday, May 08, 2010 8:00 PM, Portland Jazz Orchestra Thursday, May 13, 2010 8:00 PM to name a few, see http://www.onelongfellowsquare.com/ for more shows. At Port City Music hall at 504 Congress there are more greats shows coming, Peter Wolf 5/12, Crash Kings 5/21, Rustic Overtones, Might Mystic 5/28 to name a few see ttp://www.portcitymusichall.com/ for a more detailed listing. Blue is a intimate little club to listen to music and a short walk from the inn. See their website for listings, http://www.portcityblue.com/. SPACE is another interesting place for music, art and film, see their happening at http://www.space538.org/. If Chamber music is your thing then check out Portland Chamber Music festival, http://www.pcmf.org/. One of my favorite venue for music is the Merrill Auditorium, http://www.pcmf.org/ which is a beautiful venue at City Hall. In May go listen to the Portland Symphony Orchestra, Best of Broadway show or come this summer and see Kotzschmar Organ Summer Series. Whatever your taste in music I am sure Portland has a venue for you to enjoy it. So come to Portland Maine and let us entertain you!

Diane Edwards
Wild Iris Inn
273 State Street
Portland, ME 04101
800-600-1557
www.wildirisinn.com
Diane@wildirisinn.com

Is It Spring Yet?

What a mild winter and early spring we have been having. Although today when I took the dogs out for their morning walk there was ice on the ground. This early spring has made me anxious to start digging in my gardens. My bulbs are pushing up through the soil and I actually went out and bought some pansy to put in the window boxes and it is still only March. Last week I put two truckloads of mulch on my front and side garden and was so sore! The next day is was snowing. Weather in new England is so unpredictable that I guess I am going to curb the urge to plant and settle for flowers from the grocery store. We are shooting a video for of the inn and the grounds this May and we are also going to have our own Wild Iris Inn avatar on the website! So stay tuned for some changes on our website!


Diane Edwards
Wild Iris Inn
273 State Street
Portland, ME 04101
800-600-1557
www.wildirisinn.com
Diane@wildirisinn.com

Innkeeper's Vacation

After seven years of running the Wild Iris Inn by myself and no time off in the last two years I decided it was time to get away for a month and relax. So I decided to do a road trip with my dog Basil. I left the inn in the trusty hand of my assistant/housekeeper. January is my slowest month so I decided that would be a good month to leave. I spent the fall trying to decided where to go. I ruled out leaving the country as this was the first time I left the inn that long and was a little nervous about it. So I settle on the panhandle of Florida, the forgotten coast as they call it here. I had never been to that part of Florida and it looked like there were lots of State Parks, National Forest and beaches to explore. I rented a place on St George Island, mainly because it had a dog friendly beach right across the street. I figured the rest of the trip I would visit family and explore along the road.
Of course when I got here they had the longest cold spell that anyone could remember. It has been sunny and it usually warms up by afternoon so I get down to two layers instead of three. It has been great hiking weather and Basil does not seem to mind the cold. We have already done looks of exploring and looking forward to more. The beaches here are incredible beautiful. I can walk the beaches and trail and not see a soul.
I can already feel myself relaxing and wondering why it too me seven year to figure I needed more time away from the inn. I know I will go back to our long Maine winter a happier innkeeper and will look forward to planning next years adventure.
Diane Edwards
Wild Iris Inn
273 State Street
Portland, ME 04101
800-600-1557
www.wildirisinn.com
Diane@wildirisinn.com