On Location: Riverbank Park at Night

Riverbank Park on a wintry night is the most beautiful spot in Westbrook. The park's clear, white lights serve as a respite from the rust-orange streetlights that plague the city's streets. And regardless of how crusty or stale the snow on the ground is, Riverbank's illuminating lamps never fail to make it look powdery and fresh. And the sky, that beautiful sky. Following a snowstorm (or even better, during snowfall), the sky above the park has a soft, pink glow that inspires a feeling of both melancholy and contentment in even the most cynical and restless bosom. But even when the sky is an inky black, the expanse above just seems more lively in Riverbank Park than anywhere else in the city.

Therefore, it's a damn shame the rules governing the park make such a nocturnal visit illegal, the stroll of a criminal, if you will.

There are signs posted at each of the park's three entrances which lay out the various rules of Riverbank Park. And though the libertarian (or romantic) in me is a little annoyed that smoking, alcohol, and pets are prohibited in the park, I am more than a little annoyed that the park is off-limits when it is dark. In fact, this seems to be such an important rule that it is essentially listed twice, only with different phrasing.

Now, I understand the practicality of prohibiting visitors after, say, midnight. More likely than not, visitors to the park at that hour are not going to the park for (euphemism alert!) respectable uses. However, any close reader of my Westbrook Almanac posts would recognize that the sun sets during the winter as early as 4:15p. It is ridiculous that a visitor to the park at that respectable hour risks being confronted by a member of Westbrook Police and told she has to leave, the park is now closed. (Actually, confronted is too strong of a word because the few times I've been talked to by the police about this matter--yeah, I'm a rebel--Westbrook's finest have been courteous). Anyway, my point is that the rules of the park should be changed so that the park is closed at a certain hour (anytime after 11p is fair, I think), instead of merely when night begins to set in.

And the closing time should remain consistent all year. After all, the second-most beautiful spot in Westbrook is Riverbank Park on an August evening.

- John C.L. Morgan

Best Pizza = Angelone's

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

Did You Know?

Did you know Sappi Fine Paper's landmark smokestack is 353 feet tall? Erected in 1926 to emit the gases of the mill's furnaces, the smokestack initially bore the words, "WARREN STANDARD PAPERS."

- John C.L. Morgan

Freaky Bean Wins Poll

The Freaky Bean Coffee Company won Riverbank Republic's poll for the best cup of coffee in Westbrook.

Freaky Bean received 52% of the vote (9 votes), Dunkin' Donuts finished second with 23% (4 votes), The Daily Grind received 17% (3 votes), Tim Hortons received 5% (1 vote), and Panera Bread received 0% (0 votes). A total of 17 votes were cast between January 7 and January 13.

The next poll question will be "Who makes the best pizza in Westbrook," and will be open from January 14 to January 27.

- John C.L. Morgan

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

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