Ah, another humid week in Vacationland for the books. Speaking of books, any recommendations? We have been in a reading rut recently (sometimes it’s difficult to read for fun when you read and write for a living) and are looking for some literary inspiration! Hit us with your recs for late-summer stories: any genre, any length, with some sort of tie to the Pine Tree State being an obvious plus. We are planning to climb into a hammock by the lake or sprawl out on a towel on the beach and won’t come up for air until we’re four chapters deep. Here’s our roundup for this weekend in Maine:

Something to Do:

While your peers in kindergarten declared ambitions of becoming a doctor or firefighter or president, did you list Ariel as your role model? Well, even if becoming a mermaid (or merman) didn’t work out exactly as you’d hoped, there are still ways to live out your dream. This Sunday  Two Maine Mermaids is hosting a full moon swim at Willard Beach in South Portland! Gather on the beach at 7:45 p.m. to meet your fellow ocean dwellers, and then submerge as a group at 8:15 p.m. Created as a way to find moments of pause during a stressful year, the Full Moon Swim Series is a monthly occurrence through December. Grab your flippers and dive in!

Something to Eat:

Somehow, food trucks never lose their novelty. Is anyone else wildly pleased that the food truck population in Maine has been proliferating this summer? If you’ve been craving Neapolitan pizza on the go, check out Quanto Basta, which is hosting its first pop-up this Saturday outside of Maine and Loire in Portland! With indoor and outdoor seating and wine from Maine and Loire to pair, you can’t go wrong. The pop-up will be held from noon until the Quanto Basta team sells out, so be sure to get in line early.

Somewhere to Go:

Whether you’re a seasoned mountain biker or new to the sport, head to the midcoast this Saturday for the “Tree” Hours of Thomaston mountain bike relay race! Running from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m, the race will be held at the Thomaston Town Forest. Grab a partner and get pedaling, because the team that completes the most laps of the course at the end of three hours wins! The race is open to riders of all abilities, and, best of all, is free. Sounds like our kind of race.

Something Sweet:

Eighty8 Donut Cafe opened its new location in the Old Port last month, making summer in Maine even sweeter. This more permanent location for Eighty8, which has a spot at Sugarloaf (only open during ski season) and a doughnut truck known to haunt the Eastern Prom, is a welcome addition to Portland! Take your sweet tooth out for a date this weekend, and indulge in delicacies such as the Bamm Bamm (a doughnut topped with Fruity Pebbles) or the Ol’ Blue Eyes (with a lavender glaze, lemon curd, and Nilla crumble).

Something to Write:

This October is our inaugural Mainers of the Year Issue, honoring 25 individuals across various sectors who have made the state a better place over the past year. For the issue’s reader love letters, we want you to nominate your own personal Mainer of the Year! Whether a public figure, a family member, or your neighbor who calls you once a week to check in, tell us about someone who recently made a difference in your life and why. Send us your love letter by August 23 for a chance to be featured in print and online!

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