| Cultural cuisines — There are plenty of places to eat Chinese, Thai, Indian and Japanese foods in Greater Bangor. But what about Russian food, or West African or Korean? How about all those cuisines under one roof? Join the international students at the University of Maine for the annual Culturefest, a celebration of the diversity of ethnicity at UMaine, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Memorial Gym on the UM campus. Members of the UMaine International Student Association will serve traditional homeland cuisine in the food court area from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a small donation. Students also will perform a talent show, a fashion show, and have information tables with maps, flags and cultural items. The event also will offer activities for children. For more information, call 581-3423.
Bangor dining vacancies filled — The ever-changing Greater Bangor dining scene keeps diversifying and growing. In keeping with that trend, there’s yet another new player in the game: The dual attack of Ipanema Bar & Grille and the Reverend Noble Pub. Owner Steve Parlee opened his business in the old location of Christopher’s and the Red Martini, refilling the hole left when those places closed. Ipanema is a Caribbean-themed restaurant, with a menu that boasts spicy stews, grilled steak and chicken kebabs and some seriously fabulous ribs. For a late-night cocktail, split a Scorpion Bowl with a friend, underneath the welcoming tropical-colored lights and warm wooden furnishings. Upstairs at the Reverend Noble (named for the man who supposedly named Bangor), there is an array of classic pub dishes, from fish and chips to a steak burger. The pub also features 100 different beers — and if you try each one over the course of a year, you join the Century Club, with special benefits for members. Both spots open at 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and both have Facebook pages. Thanksgiving carols — Christmas music is everywhere, with instantly recognizable songs from multiple genres and time periods played throughout the season. But what about Thanksgiving music? The foodcentric holiday often plays second fiddle to Christmas, and let’s face it: There isn’t really any Thanksgiving music. Fortunately, Round Pond-based traditional music duo Castle Bay has solved that problem, with its new album, “Going Home: Thanksgiving Music for Celtic Harp.” The pair, made up of harpist Julia Lane and guitarist, flutist and fiddler Fred Gosbee, made the album to be played as an accompaniment to Thanksgiving Day festivities, and to that end chose traditional English, Celtic and Appalachian songs with themes of homecoming and hospitality. “Over the River and Through the Wood” and “Old Folks at Home” pair with “Amazing Grace” and “We Gather Together” for a light, relaxing soundtrack to dinner with friends and family. “Going Home” is available by calling 529-5438, or by e-mailing castlebay@castlebay.net. |