|
|
October 26th, 2011 by Ray Deleo
 Main House 2011 Central and Southern Maine are the best locations to see colorful foliage through the weekend, according to the final 2011 fall foliage report from the Maine Department of Conservation.
Maine Forest Service and state park rangers are reporting past peak leaf color in each of the state’s seven tracking zones, but pockets of remarkable color can still be seen in the Kennebec Valley region along Route 201 and in Cumberland and York counties in southern Maine. Leaf drop in these regions is currently 50 to 70 percent, rangers say.
 Autumn Colors I went out for one of my rare October drives this Tuesday on Route 9 and Shore Road to see Nubble Light House in Cape Neddick and I was surprised to still see an abundance of bright colors and leaves still on the trees. I am usually here attending to guests here at the Atlantic Birches Inn a Southern Maine Bed and Breakfast, for most of the October leaf-peeping season. I wase amazed at the brilliance of leaf color even at higher elevations. Along the beach here in Old Orchard Beach many of the trees are at their color potential. We have Ash, Maple, Birch and Oak trees on our property that are in their full Fall display of bright fall colors. The road that we are located all the trees are orangingy, red and yellow Crayola Crayon shades that over-shadows all other leaf colors.
 Wooden Covered Bridge Numerous guests have taken area drives on scenic inland To Route 5 toward the White Mountains and coastal roads this past weekend and brought back spectacular photos of waterfalls, swimming-holes, covered wooden bridges, landscapes, hiking trails, and all the photos bore a palette of bright colors.
Never mind the experts. We have gotten the word straight from the source, our guests: The leaves are still on the trees and that the show will go on for another week or two. Don’t miss them.
August 12th, 2011 by Ray Deleo
 Bed and Breakfast Maine namely the Atlantic Birches Inn a Old Orchard Beach ME. Bed and Breakfast is happy to inform you of the Boston Portsmouth Air Show. The United States Navy Blue Angels along with the Brazilian Smoke Squadron will bring their high adrenaline, action packed flying performance to the Boston Portsmouth Air Show at Portsmouth’s International Airport at Pease on August 13 & 14 for the 2nd time in 21 years.
There will also be precision aerobatic flying by John Klatt in his Staudacher S-300D, Michael Goulian in his Castrol Aviator Extra 330SC, and Sean D. Tucker in his custom built 400 horsepower Challenger II Biplane.
The air Show will host ground displays of many different aircraft including today’s military jets, Vintage Warbirds, Bi Planes, and Civilian Aircraft. Many of the display will allow hands on and walkthroughs.
The U.S. Army Golden Knights Precision Parachute Team will be parachuting in on this years show.
 Impressive demonstrations of the mighty roar of the USAF F-15 will be put on, along with the display of power and maneuverability of the F-16 that combines to make this Jet one of the world’s most lethal aircraft, also the Navy’s top fighter and attack aircraft the F/A-18 Super Hornet will captivate the audience with it powerful, precise demonstration of it’s speed and skill. An also must see demonstration is the KC-135R Stratotanker, the fuel lifeline of the United States Air Force in action in an exciting fly-by.
June 24th, 2011 by Ray Deleo
 La Kermesse In 1982 Joseph Plamondon and his wife Mignonne attended the Festival de Joie, an annual Franco-American festival, in Lewiston. While driving back to Biddeford, Joe began talking to Mignonne about his dream of having a festival similar to Lewiston’s in Biddeford. Within a few weeks, Joe had assembled family members, friends and interested Biddeford citizens in planning a festival which would take place in the summer of 1983. The group organized entertainment, a parade, bean supper, etc. The main focus was of course fundraising. They held yard sales, raffles etc. to raise the necessary funds to put on the festival. In the spring of 1983 a few weeks before the scheduled event, Joe passed away. The dedicated volunteers, including his wife, children and friends, were determined that the festival would take place. And so in 1983 the 1st La Kermesse Festival was held and what a success it was. We thank the founding members and all the past members of La Kermesse for their pride and determination in making the last 25 festivals a success and we look forward to another great festival as we celebrate our 26th festival.
 Musical Entertainment La Kermesse starts Friday night with a parade scheduled to step off at 6:30 at the corner of Main and Beach streets in Saco and wind its way across the river to Biddeford City Hall. Opening ceremonies will follow from 7 to 7:30 in the main festival tent. A pig roast begins at 7 p.m. Friday musical performances in the main tent include Famille LeBlanc. La Kermesse Idol and Contagious.
 La Kermesse Dancing On the outdoor stage, Lawton will perform followed by Breakthrough Crafter tables and food vendors also will be open. The festival continues Saturday with field games for children Hoopalula, and various trampoline exhibitions by Dudziak’s Gymnasium Saturday entertainment under the main tent includes Steppin’ Out Dance Centre a puppet show by Dick Coffin and Rick Charette. The La Kermesse Idol contest continues followed by Zumba with Intensity Fitness Dance Studio. Dick Coffin will take the stage to do impersonations. Chantel Et Marcel avec Les Filles will be featured and followed by Famille LeBlanc The La Kermesse Idol finals are scheduled followed by Corona Brothers. An all-you-can-eat bean supper will be served from for $7. Other activities available through the day include face painting, rides, food vendors and crafts. Instead of carnival rides, the festival will offer a variety of bounce houses, a special trampoline and rock wall. Saturday’s festivities will be capped with a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m.
.
 Things To Do La Kermesse wraps up Sunday with a religious service from 9 to 10 a.m. and a crepe breakfast from 10 a.m. to noon. Closing ceremonies with a performance from the St. Louis Alumni Band will take place 11 a.m. to noon. La Kermesse advance tickets are $8 for Friday and Saturday. Tickets at the gate are $2 per day to walk around or $5 with access to all areas, including the main tent. Entry is free on Sunday. Entrance to the bounce house area will be free throughout the festival. Tickets are available in Biddeford at Ray’s Market, Hannaford, Peoples Choice Credit Union, Shaw’s, Saco-Biddeford Savings Bank, Biddeford Savings Bank, Super Sub Shop, Pool Street Market and Majestic Flowers. They are available in Saco at Hannaford, Shaw’s and Peoples Choice Credit Union
April 25th, 2011 by Ray Deleo
 Ogunquit Playhouse The Atlantic Birches Inn a Southern Maine Bed and Breakfast in Old Orchard Beach Maine would like to show you a Better Way To Stay this Summer while attending the , a local summer stock theater, surrounded by pastoral fields and scenic woods.The theater has opened its doors to visitors of York County Maine and Southern Maine locals alike for the past 77 years. It is touted as one of the best Summer Theatre’s still operating in the United States,
There is something for everyone this year at the Ogunquit Playhouse - an edgy hip show, a Broadway Golden Era Classic, a spectacular Blockbuster, a new hit show that is a fun romp for all ages and the East Coast premiere of a musical that will bring folks of a certain age back to their Glory Days (or should I say daze!).” Don’t miss your opportunity to see one or all of these very spectacular shows this season!
 Avenue Q Avenue Q opens the summer stock theater season when “Sesame Street meets South Park” in the Tony Award Best Musical of the Year, smash-hit,. This delightful parody that dares to ask the question, “What do you do with a B.A. in English?” is on stage May 25 to June 18. Winner of three Tony Awards including Best Musical, the show conveys life’s tough lessons through the trials and tribulations of Princeton, a recent college graduate, who is anxious to discover his purpose in life; but first, he must find an apartment and a job, with no work experience — but an English degree. Join Princeton along with the Broadway puppets for this toe-tapping, hilarious and often moving musical that the New York Times declared to be “savvy, sassy and eminently likable
 Summer of Love Summer of Love, a groovy new musical from Roger Bean, the creator of The Marvelous Wonderettes and The Andrews Brothers, on stage June 22 through July 16. When a runaway bride discovers the countercultural revolution of the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco, with a little help from the hippies and dropouts of Golden Gate Park, she comes to realize she has to make her own kind of music! This hippie, trippy musical features the powerful music of the late 1960s, by some of the most influential artists of the love generation: The Mamas and the Papas, Donovan, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane and many more. You’ll love this flower-power, feel-good musical experience!
 The Music Man The Music Man marches into town July 20 to August 20. Meredith Willson’s all-American favorite follows fast-talking traveling salesman Harold Hill as he cons the people of River City, Iowa into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys’ band he vows to organize – this despite the fact he doesn’t know a trombone from a treble clef. His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marian the librarian. Does he stay? Does he run with the money? Even if you know, you’ll still want to see the quirky characters of this Golden Era classic and hear the award winning songs that have long become American standards: “76 Trombones,” “Till there Was You” and “Trouble.”
 Legally Blonde Legally Blonde the Musical, on stage August 24 through September 17! This award-winning Broadway musical sensation is based on the hit movie of the same name and follows college sweetheart and homecoming queen Elle Woods as she puts down the credit card, hits the books and heads for Harvard Law School in pursuit of her boyfriend Warner, who just dumped her for someone more serious. Legally Blonde the Musical will take you from the social whirl of California campus life to Harvard’s halls of justice with our heroine Elle, her Chihuahua, Bruiser and the bull-dog-toting-hairdresser Paulette, played by none other than Emmy Award winning Playhouse favorite Sally Struthers.
 Miss Saigon Miss Saigon, an epic love story that will touch your heart and haunt your memory, on stage September 21 through October 23. This compelling tale, a modern variation of Madame Butterfly by the creators of Les Misérables, shares the emotional story of an American GI and his love affair with a Vietnamese girl in a world torn apart by war. From the first sound of a helicopter flying as the sun rises over Saigon during the Overture, to the show’s powerful ending, Miss Saigon will take you on a touching journey about unwavering love and self sacrifice. The emotionally powerful score features the show stopping “The Movie in My Mind,” “I Still Believe,” “Why God Why” and “The American Dream.”
PLUS A SPECIAL FAMILY PRESENTATION!
 Pinkalicious Pinkalicious about a girl who can’t stop eating pink cupcakes despite warnings from her parents. On stage for the whole family July 9 and 10th and August 13 & 14. Her pink indulgence lands her at the doctor’s office with Pinkititis, an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe – a dream come true for this pink loving enthusiast. But when her hue goes too far, she has to figure out a way to exercise self-control and get out of this pink-dicament.
April 16th, 2011 by Ray Deleo
 Discover the Rail Way. On May 7, 2011, the 4th Annual National Train Day will be a free coast-to-coast celebration. Take the Amtrak Downeaster from Boston Mass. to Old Orchard Beach Maine, and enjoy your stay at the Atlantic Birches Inn, an elegant Southern Maine Bed and Breakfast. Stay two nights during the week of May 7, 2011 show us your train stub at our Southern Maine Bed and Breakfast and we will pay for half your fare from Boston to our Old Orchard Beach Inn.
Old Orchard Beach Maine trains are now traveling eight times daily between Boston to Portland. Old Orchard Beach is a seasonal stop that is open from mid April through late October. There is some talk of making Old Orchard Beach a Year Round stop.
 First National Train Day National Train day was first celebrated on Saturday May 10, 2008 as a result of high gas prices, environmentalists seeking to lower their carbon footprints and Amtrak’s increase of ridership by 12 percent for the year. On May 1, 2011, Amtrak will celebrate 40 years as America’s Railroad, providing vital intercity and high-speed passenger rail service from New York to Los Angeles and offering critical transportation choices for both urban and rural communities. From steam to diesel-powered engines travelers have had a long love affair with trains.
Long before Amtrak began operations in 1971, people were riding the rails. Amtrak was created to ease congestion on highways and at airports, and to restore the efficiency, attractiveness and convenience of train travel. Amtrak’s original passenger cars were acquired from private railroads and came in all different colors, which is why the public and the media called them “Rainbow Trains.
 Amtrak Downeaster Train service first began to Old Orchard Beach over 159 years ago in 1842 and continued until the mid 1900’s. After nearly 50 years, train service was resumed to Maine. In 2002 The DownEaster Train resumed its seasonal scheduled stop in Old Orchard Beach. Trains are now traveling eight times daily between Boston to Portland.
 OOB Train Station Old Orchard Beach is a seasonal stop that is open from mid April through late October. There is some talk of making Old Orchard Beach a Year Round Stop.
With high-speed rail access from Washington D.C. and New York to Boston, vacationers and weekenders now enjoy a speedy trip to Boston and then connect for a 2 hour train ride from Boston to the Old Orchard Beach Maine train station stop, adjacent to the new Visitors Welcome Center and Chamber of Commerce Building, is just 100 yards from the beach and a 2 minute walk to the Atlantic Birches Inn an Old Orchard Beach ME. Bed and Breakfast.
January 31st, 2011 by Ray Deleo
 Chocolate Whoopie Pie Whoopie pies should be declared Maine’s official state dessert what do you think. Here at the Atlantic Birches Inn in Old Orchard Beach we think it would be a great ideal before Pennsylvania tries to snap up credit for the tasty cakes. We already have a state berry the wild blue-berry, and a state drink Moxie why not have a state desert the Whoopie Pie.
 Golden Whoopie Pie Whoopie pie folklore has it being created during the Depression, by a woman in Bangor, Maine who was making a cake and she had some leftover batter. Mainers are traditionally known for being frugal and very resourceful, so she plopped the extra batter on a cookie sheet. When these were done baking, she filled them with frosting and shouted, whoopie it worked hence the creation of the Whoopie Pie. Whoopie pies even have their own festivals that are held in Maine. We have found that the best place for Gourmet Whoopee Pies is Cranberry Island Kitchen in Portland.
 Pumpkim Whoopie Pie They offer a wide variety of cake flavors from golden vanilla butter cake, classic chocolate cake or pumpkin cake filled with cream cheese, maple cream cheese orange cream cheese, or espresso cream cheese. The golden and chocolate pies can be purchased with any of the following filling flavors lemon and lime, original, cointreau and fresh orange zest, myers dark rum, freshly brewed espresso, rich chocolate champagne, chambord, peppermint, chocolate chip, espresso chocolate chip or mexican chocolate filling with a hint of cinnamon and a kick of cayenne pepper. Innkeepers Ray, Heidi and Alison
January 11th, 2011 by Ray Deleo
 Beach Birding We have provided a list below of some of our favorite Winter walking and Birding trail locations near the Alantic Birches Inn Bed and Breakfast and hope you enjoy visiting and photographing these Maine Birding Trails as much as we have.
The Old Orchard Beach Maine area enjoys abundant seabirds in winter,see some Purple Sandpipers on the rocks and Sanderlings on the beach, and the day is full of other surprises. Although the entire Maine coastline is full of birds, there are two land features (half-moon bays and rocky capes that make for some of the best places to visit for Winter Birding.
 Rocky Coast Rocky capes that extend into the ocean are the places where Harlequin Ducks, Common Eiders, and Wandering Alcids are more likely to be found. They are good vantage spots for the passing Northern Gannets and Great Cormorants. The good sites to see these birds on the Southern Maine Coast from south to north are Fort Foster in Kittery, Nubble Light at Sohier Park in York, Marginal Way in Ogunquit, Biddeford Pool, and Dyer Point in Cape Elizabeth. Noteworthy Major land extensions into the sea in the Mid-coast area are at Ocean Point in Boothbay, Pemaquid Point and Lands End on Orr’s\Bailey Island.
Half-moon bays and sheltered harbors are more apt to contain any of the scoter species. Grebes and Long-tailed Ducks appreciate the respite from surf. Buffleheads and
 Common Golden Eye Common Goldeneyes particularly favor the calmer waters that escape the prevailing breeze. Wells Beach in Wells, Fortunes Rocks Beach next to Biddeford Pool, Old Orchard Beach and Scarborough Marsh (Pine Point and Higgins), Crescent Beach and Kettle Cove in Cape Elizabeth, Eastern Promenade in Portland, and Sandy Point Beach in Yarmouth are good spots to check in winter. Popham Beach State Park in Phippsburg and Reid State Park in Georgetown are two of the best sites in Maine year round.
 Lapland Longspur Bird anywhere along the coast for sea ducks. Snow Buntings and sometimes Horned Larks frequent beaches, particularly at Reid State Park, Pine Point, Ferry Beach State Park. A Lapland Longspur is also possible in flocks, too. Northern Shrikes may turn up anywhere in winter but enjoy the edges of open areas along the coast similiar to Old Orchard Beach.
November 19th, 2010 by Ray Deleo
 Atlantic Birches Inn The Atlantic Birches Inn Bed and Breakfast in Old Orchard Beach Maine would like to show you the Better Way To Stay while attending your Portland Maine Christmas Holiday Event.
Portland hosts many different Christmas shows and events throughout the Christmas season. From the Portland Stage Theater to Merrill Auditorium to selection of Handel’s Messiah sings at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, these Christmas shows and events are sure to entertain you and fill you with holiday spirit.
A Christmas Carol
 A Christmas Carol This charming version of the holiday classic A Christmas Carol tells the story of the redemption of a human soul. The play follows the ever-powerful story of Scrooge, a lonely miser, who, through the help of spirits and visions from his past, present and future, finds a second chance to become a loving, generous human being. A Christmas Carol is the perfect holiday treat for the entire family—and a great way to catch the Christmas spirit at the Portland Stage Company.
The Santaland Diaries
 The Santaland Dairies Spend an irreverent evening with Crumpet as one of Santa’s little helpers working during the holiday rush at Macy’s Department Store as he copes with thousands of shoppers (and their kiddies) with whacked out, wicked wit. This show is holidays treat for grownups that will put you in the Christmas spirit, so leave the little angels at home for a behind-the-scenes peek at an elf gone bad at the Portland Stage Company.
The Nutcracker
 The Nutcracker The Maine State Ballet again brings the classic holiday story of Clara, the Nutcracker Prince and the Sugar Plum Fairy to Merrill Auditorium. Maine State Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker, with the live musical accompaniment by the Maine State Ballet Orchestra conducted by Karla Kelley, is a perennial favorite of Portland’s holiday season.
Magic of Christmas
 Magic of Christmas Maine’s favorite holiday tradition is a yuletide treat for the whole family! Happy patrons declared last year’s Magic “upbeat and fun” and “the best yet!” Find out what Robert Moody has in store this year, when the Portland Symphony Orchestra and special guests celebrate “Simple Holiday Joys.
Polar Express – Maine Narrow Gauge
The Polar Express™ will come to life again when the Maine Narrow Gauge  Railroad trains departs from its Portland depot for a journey to the “North Pole,” but with some delightful changes. Holiday decorations along the train’s route will fit the Polar Express story as they light up the night. Individually decorated cars will add to the magic of the experience as you listen to the enchanting story read over our sound system.
Christmas at the Cathedral
 Choral Art Singers This year the Choral Art Singers will present a wide variety of holiday and seasonal pieces, including a Gregorian chant, Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s Magnificat and a set of Appalachian carols. Audiences can also expect to hear traditional holiday songs, “Ave Maria” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful” among several other favorites. A concert highlight for many is the candle lit procession to “Silent Night,” concluding the evening
|
