Since the start of spring last Sunday, we’ve blundered full force into mud season. Beware walking across the lawn right now, unless you want to tear up the grass and risk rolling an ankle. However, the newly returned chirping of birds from dawn until dusk is a welcome change, and we are eagerly keeping an eye out for green buds sprouting on the trees. Here’s our roundup for this weekend in Maine: 

Something to Do: 

If you’re anything like us, you’ve been waiting all year for the return of Maine Maple Sunday. We’re delighted to inform you (as if you didn’t already know) that the wait is finally over! Check out the list of farms participating in Maine Maple Sunday Weekend to plan your trip and decide whether you want to attend a full pancake breakfast, pet farm animals, or dig into vanilla ice cream drizzled with the liquid gold from Maine’s forests. 

When: Saturday and Sunday
Where: Various locations around the state

Somewhere to Go: 

Planting season is almost upon us! Now that your yard is fully watered by the recent rain, it’s time to prep for spring flowers. Not sure where to start? Make your way to Thompson’s Point in Portland this weekend for the three-day Maine Garden and Marketplace! Featuring numerous vendors and gardening experts from around the state, the event will help gardeners of all skill levels get the seeds and tools needed to start a garden, in addition to providing advice on gardening topics. Tickets cost $17 for the general public and $12 for seniors and veterans and can be purchased at the door. 

When: 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday
Where: 8 Thompson’s Point Rd., Portland

Something to Eat:

Are you dying for it to be summer already? Jumpstart warm-weather vibes this weekend with a visit to the newly opened Paper Tiger, a cocktail bar and restaurant in Portland marked by a beachy ambiance that will make you want to pull out the sunscreen. The menu includes a raw bar, pan-seared scallops, wok-fried lobster, and cocktails that range from classic island drinks like a Trinidad Sour to more exotic options like the Grow Up, Peter Pan, which features a rum and mezcal blend with chocolate, almonds, pineapple, and lemon. 

When: 5 p.m.–1 a.m. Sunday–Saturday
Where: 425 Fore St., Suite 104, Portland

Something to See: 

The Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art and Design, in partnership with the Indigo Arts Alliance, is debuting its latest exhibition, Visions of Our Future; Echoes of Our Past, this Saturday! Curated by the Indigo Arts Alliance’s Jordia Benjamin and Ashley Page, the exhibition features the work of three previous artists-in-residence at Indigo Arts Alliance, Dianne Smith, Nyugen Smith, and Carl Joe Williams, and provides a look into the lives and experiences of Black and Brown communities that have been historically excluded from the art history canon. 

When:11 a.m.–5 p.m. Wednesdays–Sundays, 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Thursdays, March 26–May 6
Where: 522 Congress St., Portland

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