#portland-maine

#portland-maine

In mid-January, I gathered my staff of 10 for a training session on what to do if ICE agents showed up at my restaurant. It came after days of hearing how concerned the team was following news of an increased presence of ICE agents in Portland. This is not the kind of information we, as restaurant workers, are accustomed to needing to know and relay. This is all so new. We're entering the unknown. And people are scared of the unknown.

The third-best city for jobs is Portland, which stands out because of the number of available jobs and the quality of its companies. Portland has the 21st-most job opportunities per capita, along with the 12th-most full-time job opportunities per capita at companies rated 4.5+ stars on Glassdoor. The high-quality nature of jobs in Portland is evident by the fact that workers have the third-highest level of engagement in the nation.

Eater spotlighted Luncheonette for its "eclectic choices" and focus on exceptional, flavor-forward dishes. The publication highlighted standouts such as baba ganoush with roasted eggplants, coriander, fennel, tahini, Champagne vinegar, lemon, and olive oil; a roasted koginut squash pavê with Parmesan bechamel and Fresno pepper; and sandwiches that use sourdough Pullman-style bread layered with miso-marinated pork, Thai basil relish, Kewpie mayo, and mozzarella.

When I moved to Portland, Maine, from Boston in 2003 with my boyfriend, Craig, it was a pit stop, not a home. I had no desire to lay down roots. From as far back as I could remember, my dream was to head out to Hollywood and make a name for myself in the film industry. I even attended graduate school and received an MA in television/video production from Emerson College.

I paid $15 to take a ferry from downtown Portland, Maine, to nearby Peaks Island. The short ferry ride provided me with great views of Maine and Casco Bay.