Images of Ogunquit Beach 27 July 2010

The human race is challenged more than ever before to demonstrate our mastery - not over nature but of ourselves     
                                    -Rachel Carson

What a perfect summer day! Very low humidity and beautiful weather. I am always amazed how nature and humans interact with Ogunquit beach. The rhythm of the tide is dramatic. The rhythm of the people is sometimes more dramatic.
Here are some shots I took today. First picture was taken at 6:06 this morning. This is what Ogunquit beach looks like when I go running in the morning. In the morning, the beach is serene and tranquil. Runners, walkers and various foul explore the pristine white sands. At 7:17am the beach is still quiet and peaceful. After 8:33 am the beach begins to awake to the sounds of beach goers and vacationers.

Mid-day, 10:54 to 2:47 ( pictures 5, 6 &7), the beach is at it fullest, with most of the parking lots maxed out.

Late afternoon and evening, the beach again transforms itself. The light sets behind the dunes and cast a shaedow on the beach. Beachcombers, lovers and meditaters seek solace and peaceful moments on a quieter and tamer beach.

The last picture of the main beach was taken at 8:17pm. The sun had set, and the sounds of evening bagpipes illuminated the beach.

High temp of 87 degrees (30 celsius), fair weather clouds, and a clean ocean, truly a beautiful day!


  

Gourment Express of Ogunquit

A smiling face is half the meal.
         -Latvian proverb

There are many restaurants, and delivery services in Ogunquit. In the summertime the town bustles with delivery people on scooters, mopeds and bicycles. Its quite common to see the local kids making deliveries well into the evening. There are some nights at Ogunquit Beach Inn that we really do not want to cook in, or dine out, so we check the menus and decide what to order.

 

This year a local favorite has re-opened. Gourmet Express is owned by Sue Pollard and her family. Sue has been around the food/restaurant business much of her life. Her parents owned Howell's Market in Ogunquit. This past decade she launched Suzi Poo Specialty Foods, and then she re-launched Gourmet Express at 53 Shore Road near School Street.

Gourmet Express' motto is: "Let us bring the restaurant to you", and the motto is true. They do bring the restaurant to you: Pasta, homemade lasagna, stuffed baguettes and pizza. Sue, and her crew operate a small boutique restaurant. This micro-restaurant boasts a beautiful patio, and distant views of the beach.

My favorite is the "Chicken Stir Fry Stuffed Baguette". This "Stuffed Baguette" features: grilled chicken breast, mushrooms, green peppers, onions and a three cheese melt. As the menu states "deliciously overstuffed" is true. The bread is warm and the baguette is mouth watering. The sandwich overflows several inches on the 10 inch plate. Sue knows how to cook, and please with her food. There are many restaurants in Ogunquit that offer interesting cuisines, but sometimes, you just want to "grab" a decent meal, and Gourmet Express is good option.
 

 My second favorite option is: Buffalo Chicken Bleu Cheese. This boneless chicken breast tossed in a homemade buffalo sauce & bleu cheese, then baked. Another seasonal favorite is the Lobster Pizza at $16.95.


The Details:
Gourmet Express
53 Shore Road
Ogunquit, ME 03907
Phone 207 646 7117

Pizza, Pasta, Stuffed Baguettes, Salads, Lasagna, and more.
Delivery is fast and reliable, or eat at their garden patio with distant views of Ogunquit beach.
Delivery servers are friendly and polite. Food is delicious and plentiful.
Price is extremely reasonable. Pizza's and baguettes start at $7.95 and there periodic specials and coupons.
Owner: Sue Pollard, restaurateur, entrepreneur and co-author of Alternate Survivor.

Antiques Ogunquit, Blacksmiths' Mall

I have this beautiful antique silver wine decanter that I bought at an auction. I always pour wine from that.                       
                                                                              -Paul Lynde

The southern Maine coast towns are dotted with antique and group shops from York to Arundel. In Ogunquit village centre, close to Ogunquit Beach Inn is the Blacksmiths' Antique Mall. This group shop originally was a livery station, and a place where horses would get shoed. The Hutchins family has been running this property since 1840. Seventh generation brother and sister,  David & Joanie manage and operate this high volume group shop with their children.

I am often looking for a piece of furniture for the B&B. The first place I visit is this antique mall.
















There are cases with estate jewelry, depression glass, McCoy pottery, ephemera, paintings, collectibles, objet d'art and furniture. You never know what you might find! There are over 80 dealers at this antique mall. 

The shop is a cornucopia of Americana, from classic to kitsch items. Well worth a visit if you are in Ogunquit!
 
The Details:
The Blacksmiths' Antique Mall
166 Main Street ( US Route One)
Ogunquit, ME 03907-0795
Telephone 207 646 9643
Owner/Manager
David Hutchins
Joan Hutchins Bannister

Staff is friendly and helpful, and prices vary from dealer to dealer.

Hours:
In the Summer seven days a week  9am to 4.50pm
Autumn hours vary. Call for details
MasterCard and Visa accepted.
Items vary from Antiques, collectibles, decoratives, estate items, antique garments and mid century items!
Interesting trivia:
Paul Lynde was a frequent visitor to Ogunquit, and would also perform at the Ogunquit Playhouse. Many locals claim that Paul was exactly how he was on TV, hilarious! Paul would visit the Front Porch Piano Bar, and wear a rain coat and rain hat, on summer days! He would walk through town with his standard poodle and admire the flowers and Marginal Way. Paul also shopped all the curio shops in the Ogunquit area.....

Bike Ogunquit!

Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race.

                                                                                                        -H.G. Wells

Bicycles are everywhere in Ogunquit!  The Ogunquit Police use bicycles to patrol the streets. Bread & Roses Bakery uses a bicycle to deliver lunch, and pies. Seasonal workers use bikes to get to and from work, and people cycle for enjoyment. There are some days that Ogunquit looks like a little Amsterdam-by-the-Sea with all the bikes! It is truly the greening of Ogunquit!

Bike rack at the main beach in Ogunquit.

I needed a bike rack for the Ogunquit Beach Inn. I could not find anything decent. The bike racks that I saw on-line were cheesy and flimsy looking. So I talked to Rob at Hut Sixty-6. Rob said he could make a  bike rack that would fit with the theme of my craftsman B&B.

Hut Sixty-6 Cyclery is the local bike shop. The shop rents and services bikes. Rob is a bit of a renaissance man. He re-builds and restores classic bikes from yesteryear. He literally brings old bikes back to life. Its truly a pleasure to visit his shop. My guests at the Inn enjoy renting bikes and going for day trips on the southern Maine Coast. A favorite ride is down Shore Road to the Nubble Lighthouse. Another favorite ride is to Mt Agamenticus which is onky 7 miles from the Inn.

The Details:

Hut Sixty-6 Cycle & Surf

178 Main Street

Ogunquit, ME

http://www.hutsixty6.com/

207.251.4767

Bike, Surf and Scooter rentals, sales and service. Complete selection of vintage bikes and supplies.

Blogger Greg, rides for work and pleasure in Ogunquit Maine

Refections by photographer Dan Perez on his summer trip to Ogunquit

                My art reflects the way I view the world. I can see and appreciate the beauty, despair and absurdity that exists in everyday life. In all of my art, I attempt to make the viewer think by hinting at more of a story than is immediately visible.

                                                -Dan Perez, photographer, artist, and traveller

         

Light: Its something that is abundant on the Maine Coast in the summer time. For over 120 years photographers and artists have been "painting with light" in Ogunquit.

There is also an abundance to subject matter to capture in Ogunquit, whether it be a sunrise, lobsterman, or tourists flocking to the coast. One such artist is Dan Perez. Perez captures nature and the human element with bold and stunning pictures using the medium of photography. Please enjoy these photos from his summer vacation while staying at Ogunquit Beach Inn .

 Dan Perez a self taught artist and photographer from the Boston area. Dan enjoys taking all types of photographs. Dan's main interest is portraying people in unusual settings, urban photography and photos inspired by mythological and biblical themes. Perez has had group and solo shows in New York and Boston.  Currently Dan Perez is working on burlesque themes. While in Ogunquit he finds beauty, despair and absuridity........

Dan is currently working on book of burlesque images. Dan enjoys working with burlesque characters, dragqueens and other "subjects" outside the box....

Photos courtesy of Dan Perez. Please view Dan's Facebook site for more information http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Dan-Perez-Photography/83266068589?ref=ts
View Dan's on line gallery http://danperez.redbubble.com/

Marginal Way from another lens

Look and think before opening the shutter. The heart and mind are the true lens of the camera.

                                                                                                   -Yousuf Karsh

I often take photographs in Ogunquit.  Ogunquit's scenery is always changing with the dramatic coastline, clouds and varied weather. I also like looking at pictures that my guests take. I like to see how they view Ogunquit....

One such guest has a brilliant eye.  Dean of Upstate New York appreciates the quite beauty of Ogunquit; even on one of the busiest weeks of the year. Dean makes several trips to Ogunquit each year. He captures the wild beauty of the rugged coastline from his Apple I-Phone Camera. These photographs were taken in the morning of July 6th with the town packed with beach goers, and July 4th  long weekend revelers. Even on a busy day there is a calmness in the early morning.

This is "Little Beach on Marginal Way".  The Marginal Way is a strip of land on the margin of the ocean that starts on Shore Road and runs along the winding shore to Perkins Cove. The rocks and cliffs are a geological wonder. The rocky coastline was formed by glacial deposits. There are lifeguard stands and benches along the path and at the Little Beach.

From the highest point of Marginal Way one can see the pristine sands of Ogunquit beach, and the coastline of Wells and Kennebunkport.

I always tell my guests at Ogunquit Beach Inn, to take their time and enjoy the Marginal Way. Along the way there are benches for relaxation, and rock formations to explore. With the shifting tides there are pools of salt water filled with little marine life. Starfish, Sand Dollars, barnacles, crabs and sea urchins can be found during the changing tides.

Locals folks enjoy the Marginal Way in the morning before the beachgoers and tourists explore the meandering indian trail......

Photographs courtesy of Dean Rogers. Dean is an avid runner, photographer and food aficionado. http://www.facebook.com/dean.m.rogers