Summer 2008 in Freeport, Maine

Here it is, summer again! We have been chugging along this year, doing small projects around the inn. Stripped off the wallpaper in 4 more bathrooms and painted them all in cool greens and blues. Really changes the whole look of the rooms!

Finally decided this was the year we attack 'our side' of the inn and stripped the wallpaper off in our bedroom. Still have to paint, but it's a start. I'm looking at a yellow that approximates the color of the cabinets in the kitchen. Bright, cheery, but not 'school bus' yellow! We'll pick back up on that project come November.

We've taken out some shrubs near the stairs. They were getting so big and out of control that guests were telling us they couldn't figure out how to get to the door to check-in. Now I have started a small flower garden where the shrubs came out. I bought the flowers at the flower sale at the church across the street. I got a huge hosta, one of the 'elephant' variety, some purple coneflowers and some purple irises. I dug up a pink creeping phlox from under a conifer, where it was not happy. That should eventually drape itself down over the stone wall and make quite the display in the spring!

The bachelor's buttons self-seeded all over the place this year! I can't believe how many new plants I had when things started coming up. They are such a pretty blue flower but tend to completely fall over once a heavy rain sets in. This year the peonies were unbelievable! The honeysuckle was a bit of a disappointment, though. There were great buds but the flowers didn't amount to much. I may have to dig those up and replace with a climbing rose.

So, what's happening in Freeport? I try to keep a running list on our blog of what's new. (Which is one reason this newsletter has taken so long to produce.) The blog is where I have been expending the creative writing juices that build up.

Here's what's new:

Tommy Hilfiger is open in the old Lenox/Dansk location.
The Freeport Cabaret has opened up on Depot Street. Check it out for late-night entertainment. Yes, you read that right, Freeport has entertainment after dark!
Buck's Naked BBQ is in the new location where the Dexter Show Store used to be. They also have entertainment and a much larger restaurant. It's kid-friendly, with a play area inside and balloon animals being made for the kids (selected nights). As for the balloon animals, one guest here brought back a moose. It was really rather good!
Coffee by Design is now running the coffee shop inside LL Bean. Coffee by Design is a local company out of Portland.
Wicked Whoopies are now available in Freeport! Yowza, you are going to want to stop in there and try them out!
Simply Divine Brownies has moved here as well. They are located in the new Wilbur's Chocolate Factory, just south of where the old factory was located. (As of right now, the old factory store is still open as is the one on Bow St.) During the summer there will be tours available to see both chocolates and brownies being made. There will be tastings and 'make it yourself' events. We are fast becoming the 'Chocolate Capital of Maine!'
The Freeport Village Station is really moving along now. You can definitely see more of what it will look like upon completion. Even though it appears construction is taking up a lot of parking places, many parking lots have been reconfigured with better signage and lines, especially for campers & RV's.

On the home front, Alicia and family have moved to Vermont and Sara and family are moving to NY. Some get closer, some get farther away! Bre is still happily available for hugs on demand!

We know things are tough right now for planning a vacation so we hope you are able to find the time and resources to make it over this way sometime this summer or fall. For Maine residents we are offering a 'Staycation' package and our Lobster and Foliage package is available for everyone. I know it's a bit early to plan, but we'll be offering our 'Wrapping Paper Party' again this year, starting the Friday after Thanksgiving and happening every Friday and Saturday until Christmas. If you've missed this in the past, how it works is we provide the wrapping paper, tape, scissors, labels & bows so you can wrap your Christmas presents here, before you head home.

It's not too late to book the Inn to Inn package we are doing with Seaside B&B in Port Clyde. Give us a call today, we've got an excellent line-up of things to do here, there and in between!

And don't forget the LL Bean Summer Concert series! Still a whole summer's worth of free entertainment every Saturday night!

Stay cool! Hope to see you soon!

White Cedar Inn ~ 178 Main Street ~ Freeport, ME 04032 ~ 207.865.9099 ~ 800.853.1269