December 5th was the last Gardiner Art Walk for this year. It was a balmy 8° outside, the coldest…read morenight so far. But the smell of homemade meatballs lured me into the gallery! Yes. Meatballs. Alan Claude studio always has fabulous food for art walk night, tonight was meatballs and tiramisu. Delish!!!! I looked through the 8x10 prints to find some winter scenes to bring home. But did get a little overwhelmed by the amount people sharing the gallery and shop space and had to duck out. But! He always runs a really good sale for the 8x10s, where you can pick three for one set price. So I've made my list, I'm checking it twice and I'm sending my Santa back to pick them up. Nobody how busy the gallery is, Alan himself ALWAYS makes a point to greet every single person that steps in the door. He's also happy to take photos and sign art!

Was delighted to find an Alan Claude Gallery on our recent visit to Gardiner, ME! His work is…read morestunning and quintessential Maine. There is something for every ME fan to enjoy. Original pieces, popular prints in many sizes, calendars, and assorted cards fill the historic space. Insider tip: free bookmarks.

We visited this gallery recently and enjoyed the various works of art. The walls are loaded with…read morepaintings which slightly detracts from the overall experience, but we took our time and focused on each individual piece one at a time. I look forward to returning next year.

This is a wonderful art gallery. Owners Rick and Ann Scanlan are very welcoming and knowledgeable…read more Art is superb!

I love this gift shop so much. Every town we've lived in during my life, we've always found that…read moreONE spot that we seek out to be the special place for those unique and thoughtful gifts for our loved ones. Monkitree is THAT place, for Gardiner. The owner features local artisans from across Maine, in a variety of themes. Textiles, jewelry, fine art, kitchen goods, small games and puzzles, coffee, chocolates, and a few unique items of clothing. There's a few things that a true to Gardiner here, that feature fish (alewives), the Kennebec River and the sturgeon. I'd say the prices are on par with the quality of the work shown in the shop. There's something for everyone here!

Really cool place, and the owner is very nice. Not one of those low class "gift shops" where you go…read moreto get the cheapest possible piece of crap for jealous relatives you hate. This is a great place to buy a gift for someone who you actually want to buy a gift for or just chill out and talk about politics in the back room. I think they stopped allowing smoking since the pandemic, but this is just one of those amazing little gems. If you're in the area I think you should check it out as it is truly unique.

This is one of the best art galleries in Maine because it continues to offer outstanding shows each…read moremonth that are juried by quality art experts. The art works selected are hung by folks who have experience in professional art settings and have a great eye for creating beautiful exhibits. Artists who exhibit at River Arts are welcomed by a friendly staff and enjoy the great openings each month. A special place!

Really cute gallery with a range of art work from local artists. Includes water colors, oil…read morepaintings, and photography. Most of the work is already framed. But they do have a small selection of unframed art as well. We ended up getting two watercolor pieces. The staff could be a little more upbeat and welcoming. They hang out in the back office. No one bothered saying hello or seeing if we needed any help. We had to go walk into the office to let them know we were interested in making a purchase.

With over 50 Maine artists represented and approximately 150 pieces of art for sale, the owners,…read moreJulie and Alec Rogers, have created an unusual and amazing venue for the public to see what Maine artists are doing. As you enter the reception, you can pick up a map and do a self-guided tour of the entire hotel. Art is in all public areas and available to purchase. I live in a nearby town and often bring visitors to visit the Gallery of Maine Art at the Evergreen Hotel in Augusta. We usually spend an hour or so viewing art and then go to one of the many wonderful restaurants in the area. At night, the hotel offers light dinners and entertainment on the weekends. Definitely a place to explore and enjoy while in Maine.

I wanted to explore the Midcoast Maine region, and I wanted nature--but I didn't want to rough it…read moreor sleep on the ground. I wanted a retreat, but I didn't have a lot of time. And I wanted good food and a bit of company, without feeling overcommitted. Lo and behold, this is exactly what Tops'l Farm provides! With a gorgeous farm setting in Waldoboro, Tops'l is run by Sarah and Josh Pike, where you can do any of the following: * host a glorious event (think gorgeous weddings or reunions) * camp out in an adorable cabins--but think glamping with comfortable beds and a central kitchen/wash house with fire pits and picnic tables, and thoughtful touches like thermoses, coffee and tea, and games * stay in cushier accommodations in a farmhouse and a cider house if you want * take advantage of whatever's on at the event barn, where there are happy hours, seasonal dinners, and yoga classes * wander anywhere on the 80 acres with gorgeous paths through fields and woods and to the river, and spend time with the very friendly sheep and pigs * schedule a massage with one of their AMAZING affiliated practitioners All of the above varies depending on what's scheduled for a particular week--and I was lucky enough to take part in a September retreat called a "Petite Pause," which the owner Sarah has devised as brief 2- to 3-day retreats for women. It's almost impossible to describe how beautifully this was thought out and how restorative it was, even in such a short time--and how the dozen or so of us there bonded (some with friends; others, like myself, on my own). The retreat included morning yoga sessions and a wonderful breakfast; we then had the days to roam and explore, have massages, enjoy the outdoor wood-burning sauna and hot tub, participate in one of the featured workshops (we had jam-making and a human design class), or just . . . relax. We then all met up again for drinks and dinner--the chef features delicious local ingredients, lots from Tops'l's own garden--and enjoyed big fires outside before bedtime. None of this felt rushed or overscheduled (you can participate to the extent you prefer); somehow, the couple of days felt like much much more. I can't recommend the experience highly enough. I'm looking forward to seeing what Tops'l offers for 2024! This is a special place with owners who have worked to create something new while lovingly honoring and restoring the old, and truly showcasing the best of the simple pleasures Maine has to offer.

Pine Tree Yarns in Damariscotta offers colorful hand-dyed yarns, knitting supplies, and creative…read moreinspiration in a cozy shop that celebrates Maine's fiber arts and the joy of crafting.

Beautiful yarns and patterns. Very friendly and knowledgeable. If your a knitter or crocheter you…read moreshould definitely stop by.