Angelone's won the Riverbank Republic's poll for best pizzeria in Westbrook. The Main Street institution attracted 17 of the 40 votes (42%) and was followed by Portland Pie Company (10 votes, 25%), Profenno's (9 votes, 22%), Pizza Hut (3 votes, 7%), and Pizza Time (1 vote, 2%).
- John C.L. Morgan
Showing posts with label Profenno's. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Profenno's. Show all posts
Monday, January 28, 2008
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Paper City Pub Crawl: A Review
The first annual Paper City Pub Crawl in Westbrook was successful in the sense that I survived to write about it. As for attendance, let's just say a good time was had by all, um, two of us.
The night started at 6:45p when my friend Walter and I walked down Seavey Street to Mill Side Tavern. The crowd inside the bar was light, but heavily clad in flannel mackinaw coats. We each got a drink, Walter a Bud Light, and me a shot of whiskey from the "lowest shelf you have." The bartender obliged with a glass of Senator's Club. After we got our drinks, we hopped onto the unattended pool table.
Forty-five minutes and two games of 2v2 pool later, we were having a grand time. All irony aside, Mill Side Tavern was probably the most enjoyable experience of the night. I learned that I broke the rack "like a girl;" my pool partner, a Mill Side regular, dispensed the sageful advice that the most effective way to piss off my old lady was to always give into her and never fight back; and my fellow Pub Crawler and I shared edible shots. The shot glasses are made of chocolate and are about the size of medium-sized thimbles. Frankly, it's a bit of a rip-off, but at least I can tell my grandkids that I had an edible shot of Bailey's at Mill Side Tavern when I was young and wild. As for Walter, a few of the bar maids (who were very friendly, by the way) convinced him to forgo the Bud Light filling in favor of strawberry-flavored vodka. Good idea.
After a cold walk (this will be common theme, so I'll try to vary the way I phrase it) from Mill Side to Stockhouse via the old Portland & Rochester Railroad, we settled into a table at the restaurant. I felt a hint of culture shock when we first got into Stockhouse. We had just come from a cozy tavern with a fluid social space to a relatively sprawling and rigid restaurant in which each table is more like its own island than a place to merely park your drink or plate. We had appetizers, but left after a relatively unremarkable hour. Stockhouse is a better bar in, say, July or August than it is in January.
We hopped onto the railroad again after crossing Main Street (note to self: invest in one of those railroad handcars for the next crawl) en route to Skybox bar on Brown Street. The air was sharp, the railroad was caked with crusty snow, and a decision loomed ahead of us: Do we slide down the hill before we get to the Black Bridge and cross the Presumpscot via the metal footbridge, or do we cross the bridge and crawl down the hill onto Brown Street? We were feeling adventurus (or stupid, or influenced, or whatever other curse you prefer) and gingerly walked across the top of the bridge with black sky over our heads and black water below our feet.
Skybox was d-e-a-d, so we left after about thirty minutes. We did witness a man and woman outside threaten to shoot each other, though, so that was mildly entertaining. Oh well, Skybox's loss would be The Frog and Turtle's gain (we aren't egotistical or anything) because we would now able to squeeze in a visit to that heralded hot spot before ending our night at Profenno's.
Since it was a Friday night between 9 and 11p, The F&T offered a spot to cool our heels with live music. After enduring a half-hour of thumping in the dj'd Skybox, musician Tom Dee's mellow melodies were a welcome respite, as was the bar's laid-back atmosphere. Walter continued on his Bud Light binge, while I had my first Beefeater Gibson. I'm not generally a big fan of gin (forget about Moxie being the official beverage of the state, gin's pine-needley palette is the real taste of Maine), but it was actually a good drink. Next up was Profenno's, the bar where every night is a high school reunion.
Profenno's is the happy medium of all the diverse bars in Westbrook. The everyman's bar, if you will. It is there that Mill Side's coziness is complemented by Stockhouse's food menu. You can feel at home with a Budweiser in your mitts like you would at, say, Skybox, but you also wouldn't feel out of place if you were cradling a glass of wine like you were at The F&T. Besides, where else in Westbrook can you rub shoulders with the city's mayor, while also reminiscing about life in The Hamlet with fellow trailer-park alums? And all this while being supervised by a bouncer named Butch.
- John C.L. Morgan
The night started at 6:45p when my friend Walter and I walked down Seavey Street to Mill Side Tavern. The crowd inside the bar was light, but heavily clad in flannel mackinaw coats. We each got a drink, Walter a Bud Light, and me a shot of whiskey from the "lowest shelf you have." The bartender obliged with a glass of Senator's Club. After we got our drinks, we hopped onto the unattended pool table.
Forty-five minutes and two games of 2v2 pool later, we were having a grand time. All irony aside, Mill Side Tavern was probably the most enjoyable experience of the night. I learned that I broke the rack "like a girl;" my pool partner, a Mill Side regular, dispensed the sageful advice that the most effective way to piss off my old lady was to always give into her and never fight back; and my fellow Pub Crawler and I shared edible shots. The shot glasses are made of chocolate and are about the size of medium-sized thimbles. Frankly, it's a bit of a rip-off, but at least I can tell my grandkids that I had an edible shot of Bailey's at Mill Side Tavern when I was young and wild. As for Walter, a few of the bar maids (who were very friendly, by the way) convinced him to forgo the Bud Light filling in favor of strawberry-flavored vodka. Good idea.
After a cold walk (this will be common theme, so I'll try to vary the way I phrase it) from Mill Side to Stockhouse via the old Portland & Rochester Railroad, we settled into a table at the restaurant. I felt a hint of culture shock when we first got into Stockhouse. We had just come from a cozy tavern with a fluid social space to a relatively sprawling and rigid restaurant in which each table is more like its own island than a place to merely park your drink or plate. We had appetizers, but left after a relatively unremarkable hour. Stockhouse is a better bar in, say, July or August than it is in January.
We hopped onto the railroad again after crossing Main Street (note to self: invest in one of those railroad handcars for the next crawl) en route to Skybox bar on Brown Street. The air was sharp, the railroad was caked with crusty snow, and a decision loomed ahead of us: Do we slide down the hill before we get to the Black Bridge and cross the Presumpscot via the metal footbridge, or do we cross the bridge and crawl down the hill onto Brown Street? We were feeling adventurus (or stupid, or influenced, or whatever other curse you prefer) and gingerly walked across the top of the bridge with black sky over our heads and black water below our feet.
Skybox was d-e-a-d, so we left after about thirty minutes. We did witness a man and woman outside threaten to shoot each other, though, so that was mildly entertaining. Oh well, Skybox's loss would be The Frog and Turtle's gain (we aren't egotistical or anything) because we would now able to squeeze in a visit to that heralded hot spot before ending our night at Profenno's.
Since it was a Friday night between 9 and 11p, The F&T offered a spot to cool our heels with live music. After enduring a half-hour of thumping in the dj'd Skybox, musician Tom Dee's mellow melodies were a welcome respite, as was the bar's laid-back atmosphere. Walter continued on his Bud Light binge, while I had my first Beefeater Gibson. I'm not generally a big fan of gin (forget about Moxie being the official beverage of the state, gin's pine-needley palette is the real taste of Maine), but it was actually a good drink. Next up was Profenno's, the bar where every night is a high school reunion.
Profenno's is the happy medium of all the diverse bars in Westbrook. The everyman's bar, if you will. It is there that Mill Side's coziness is complemented by Stockhouse's food menu. You can feel at home with a Budweiser in your mitts like you would at, say, Skybox, but you also wouldn't feel out of place if you were cradling a glass of wine like you were at The F&T. Besides, where else in Westbrook can you rub shoulders with the city's mayor, while also reminiscing about life in The Hamlet with fellow trailer-park alums? And all this while being supervised by a bouncer named Butch.
- John C.L. Morgan
Thursday, January 17, 2008
A Few Toasts In Honor of Neal S. Dow
Here at Riverbank Republic headquarters, we don't usually require a reason to imbibe. However, we'll be drinking with purpose this Friday night when we (casually and haphazardly) organize the first annual Neal Dow Pub Crawl in Westbrook.
Though Neal S. Dow served as an officer in the U.S. Civil War and was the Mayor of Portland in 1851, he is most well-known today for his leadership of the temperance movement in Maine and the United States in the mid-nineteenth century.
A founding member of the Maine Temperance Society in 1827, Dow was instrumental in the passage of the Maine Law, which made Maine the first state in America to prohibit the manufacture, sale, and consumption of alcohol. Of course, the United States as a whole later followed suit when the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified on January 16, 1919, thus making alcohol illegal throughout the country. Hence Dow's nickname as the "Father of the Prohibition."
Which leads us back to the first annual Neal Dow Pub Crawl.
On the one hand, it does seem paradoxical to honor Neal Dow with a few toasts of adult beverages during the anniversary week of the constitutional amendment that realized the severe prohibitionist's lifelong goal of national prohibition. On the other hand, it is merely a classy way to honor our dry foe for his noble efforts. After all, the Eighteenth Amendment was later superceded by the 1933 passage of the Twenty-first Amendment, which repealed prohibition (true fact: The Twenty-first Amendment is the only amendment in the U.S. Constitution ratified explicitly to repeal an earlier constitutional amendment). Besides, it is always easier for the victor to hail the vanquished when the defeated has no chance of ever winning again.
So hailing our vanquished we shall do.
Starting at 7p on Friday, January 18, Riverbankers will be at the Mill Side Tavern on Main Street. After about an hour at Mill Side, we'll go to Stockhouse Restaurant for a few more toasts. Then, after about an hour at Stockhouse, we'll cross the Presumpscot and spend an hour at the Skybox Pub on Brown Street. After Skybox, we'll cross the Presumpscot yet again and finish the evening with a nightcap at Profenno's Pub. Got all that? However, depending on circumstances, we may make a pit stop at The Frog and Turtle en route to Profenno's. As I said earlier, the planning for this has been casual and haphazard. Nevertheless, if you have nothing else going on, join us at these fine establishments for drink, friendship, merriment, and of course, to honor the memory of Mr. Neal S. Dow.
Finally, a note of disclosure: The official Pub Crawl will demand some walking and exposure to brisk air (it's not called the Pub Drive for a reason). We aren't anything here at Riverbank Republic if not responsible.
- John C.L. Morgan
Though Neal S. Dow served as an officer in the U.S. Civil War and was the Mayor of Portland in 1851, he is most well-known today for his leadership of the temperance movement in Maine and the United States in the mid-nineteenth century.
A founding member of the Maine Temperance Society in 1827, Dow was instrumental in the passage of the Maine Law, which made Maine the first state in America to prohibit the manufacture, sale, and consumption of alcohol. Of course, the United States as a whole later followed suit when the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified on January 16, 1919, thus making alcohol illegal throughout the country. Hence Dow's nickname as the "Father of the Prohibition."
Which leads us back to the first annual Neal Dow Pub Crawl.
On the one hand, it does seem paradoxical to honor Neal Dow with a few toasts of adult beverages during the anniversary week of the constitutional amendment that realized the severe prohibitionist's lifelong goal of national prohibition. On the other hand, it is merely a classy way to honor our dry foe for his noble efforts. After all, the Eighteenth Amendment was later superceded by the 1933 passage of the Twenty-first Amendment, which repealed prohibition (true fact: The Twenty-first Amendment is the only amendment in the U.S. Constitution ratified explicitly to repeal an earlier constitutional amendment). Besides, it is always easier for the victor to hail the vanquished when the defeated has no chance of ever winning again.
So hailing our vanquished we shall do.
Starting at 7p on Friday, January 18, Riverbankers will be at the Mill Side Tavern on Main Street. After about an hour at Mill Side, we'll go to Stockhouse Restaurant for a few more toasts. Then, after about an hour at Stockhouse, we'll cross the Presumpscot and spend an hour at the Skybox Pub on Brown Street. After Skybox, we'll cross the Presumpscot yet again and finish the evening with a nightcap at Profenno's Pub. Got all that? However, depending on circumstances, we may make a pit stop at The Frog and Turtle en route to Profenno's. As I said earlier, the planning for this has been casual and haphazard. Nevertheless, if you have nothing else going on, join us at these fine establishments for drink, friendship, merriment, and of course, to honor the memory of Mr. Neal S. Dow.
Finally, a note of disclosure: The official Pub Crawl will demand some walking and exposure to brisk air (it's not called the Pub Drive for a reason). We aren't anything here at Riverbank Republic if not responsible.
- John C.L. Morgan
Friday, January 11, 2008
BruChu's Pie Preference and Other Deep Thoughts
The American Journal's Leslie Bridgers has a must-read profile of BruChu in this week's edition.
Bridgers covers a lot of territory in her piece, including the Mayor's recent loss of his wife, Vickie; a brief synopsis of the kerfuffles (I'm sorry I've probably sent you scrambling to the dictionary for that one; the word is just too fun for me to write, and for you to say) between his administration and the City Council; his plans for Westbrook; and his favorite pizza pie in Westbrook.
Personally, I concur with most of this article. The BruChu has always been pleasant the few times I've talked with him and he has proven to be an earnest democrat (gasp! before the Westbrook Republicans lose their lunch all over their keyboards, I mean that with the small-d connotation). His open office hours on the first Saturday each month, his televised call-in show, and his plans for regular ward meetings are all signs of his willingness to give Westbrook residents access to their government.
I do have one criticism, though: Onion and pepper, extra crispy, and easy cheese at Profenno's? Say it ain't so, BruChu. It just shows that my thoughts and opinions should be taken with a heavy dose of sea salt, because I would've pegged The BruChu as a sausage/pepperoni from Angelone's kind of guy.
Besides, everyone (and by everyone, I mean me) knows the 10" mushroom with a Stella at Casa Novello is the way to go if you want the true pizza experience in Westbrook. Oh, and Bridgers's piece can be read here in its entirety.
- John C.L. Morgan
Bridgers covers a lot of territory in her piece, including the Mayor's recent loss of his wife, Vickie; a brief synopsis of the kerfuffles (I'm sorry I've probably sent you scrambling to the dictionary for that one; the word is just too fun for me to write, and for you to say) between his administration and the City Council; his plans for Westbrook; and his favorite pizza pie in Westbrook.
Personally, I concur with most of this article. The BruChu has always been pleasant the few times I've talked with him and he has proven to be an earnest democrat (gasp! before the Westbrook Republicans lose their lunch all over their keyboards, I mean that with the small-d connotation). His open office hours on the first Saturday each month, his televised call-in show, and his plans for regular ward meetings are all signs of his willingness to give Westbrook residents access to their government.
I do have one criticism, though: Onion and pepper, extra crispy, and easy cheese at Profenno's? Say it ain't so, BruChu. It just shows that my thoughts and opinions should be taken with a heavy dose of sea salt, because I would've pegged The BruChu as a sausage/pepperoni from Angelone's kind of guy.
Besides, everyone (and by everyone, I mean me) knows the 10" mushroom with a Stella at Casa Novello is the way to go if you want the true pizza experience in Westbrook. Oh, and Bridgers's piece can be read here in its entirety.
- John C.L. Morgan
Monday, January 7, 2008
Department of Self-Promotion
Stockhouse Restaurant won Riverbank Republic's inaugural poll for Westbrook's best bar.
Stockhouse garnered 47% (9 votes) of the vote, followed by Profenno's Pizzeria & Pub (31%, or 6 votes), Burrito (15%, 3 votes), Skybox Bar & Grill (5%, 1 vote), and Mill Side Tavern (0%, 0 votes). The poll was conducted between Tuesday, January 1 and Sunday, January 6. A total of nineteen votes were cast.
The poll for January 7-January 13 is for Westbrook's best cup of coffee. Vote now.
- John C.L. Morgan
Stockhouse garnered 47% (9 votes) of the vote, followed by Profenno's Pizzeria & Pub (31%, or 6 votes), Burrito (15%, 3 votes), Skybox Bar & Grill (5%, 1 vote), and Mill Side Tavern (0%, 0 votes). The poll was conducted between Tuesday, January 1 and Sunday, January 6. A total of nineteen votes were cast.
The poll for January 7-January 13 is for Westbrook's best cup of coffee. Vote now.
- John C.L. Morgan
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