Suzanne, Art, Food and the Annoying Beard Guy
Posted: September 4, 2025 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentI had a big day in Portland with Suzanne. Weeks and weeks ago she got tickets from the Portland Museum of Art for the Winslow Homer Studio Tour. So she planned a big day with Art and a very early dinner at Scales in Portland.
I got up early and made the almost two hour drive down to Portland and met her at the Museum. For those who are unfamiliar with Winslow Homer, he was one of American’s preeminent 19th century artists. Born in 1836 and died in 1910. He painted lots of marine scenes and you would most certainly recognize his works.
Homer lived the last third of his life in Prouts Neck, in Scarborough Maine. I was unfamiliar with Prouts Neck, but once we visited the very tony neighborhood I could see why Homer took up residence in his brother’s carriage house. But I am getting ahead of myself.
The PMA purchased the Homer Home and property a few years ago from the family and painstakingly restored it to show it as it was when Homer lived and worked there. Since it is in this very fancy gated community of other much more grand homes, 80% of which are just summer homes, the museum is greatly restricted as to how many visitors can come and see the studio.
The small group for today’s tour, which could only total the number of people who can fit on the small sprinter bus to take the 25 minute ride from Portland to Prouts Neck gathered in the museum lobby. One man stood out immediately and not just for his long and wispy white beard.
Gardiner, our diamond-stud earringed docent, was knowledgeable and engaging. He first took us to see the museum’s prized Homer, Weatherbeaten and told us we would visit the very sight that inspired this fabulous painting. Mr. Wispy beard began to display his encyclopedic knowledge of Homer. Garndier, was kind, but did not defer to Mr. Wispy as he ushered the 14 of us onto the bus where Suzanne and I sat in the back row as all trouble making students tend to do.
We had a good lesson on Homer in the bus and Suzanne and I generally tuned out the Mr. Wispy commentary since we were in the way back. The studio was beautiful and the property on the rocky Maine cliffs was awe inspiring.
At one point when I was tiring of Mr. Wispy’s unasked for lecture on his personal knowledge of Homer I asked, “Were you a friend of his?” Quickly followed by, “That was not a comment about your age.” It only shut him up for a few minutes, but gave the rest of the tour members the much needed break.
In spite of the unpaid additional docent on the tour, it was an exceptional tour and Suzanne and I had a great time. We spent another three hours exploring the museum’s collection after the tour before we walked the streets looking at stores.
Suzanne had made a 4:30 reservation for our lunch/dinner at Scales right when it opened. Amazingly the whole place filled up immediately at 4:30, which means it was going to be great.
We ordered everything to share and the first thing that came was a sweet potato and lobster bisque. We each dipped our spoons in and took our first taste. TOO SALTY. We apologetically sent it back. The waiter came back and told us the kitchen had tasted it and agreed it was much too salty. Thank goodness we were not deemed difficult diners. The next thing that arrived was Anadama bread with butter and molasses. Apparently my body language upon first bite was dramatic enough that the people at the table across from us ordered, “what she is having.” Everything else we ate was spectacular and I would return to eat there any chance I could get.
It was such a fun day with Suzanne and I was sorry that it was over by 6:30, but she had an hours drive back to New Hampshire and I had almost double back to Shay and Russ in Owl’s head. Just another great day in Maine and a cherished day with my dear life-long friend.
Less Dana, More Good 