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Explore Woodfords Corner

For over 150 years, Woodfords Corner was a pass-through kind of place – not really belonging anywhere. It was once part of Falmouth, until it became part of Westbrook in 1814, and then it seceded in 1871 and became a whole town: the Town of Deering. Eventually Woodfords Corner was incorporated into Portland and, while no one was paying much attention, it quietly became one of the city’s most talked about neighborhoods. Trendy restaurants popped up and cool barbershop-tattoo parlors threw open their doors, ushering in locals and visitors alike.

The first businesses that brought the cool vibes to the Corner were the Great Lost Bear, Big Sky Bakery and Artist and Craftsman Supply. The bakery’s fluffy loaves of bread, crunchy granola and huge cookies go perfectly with everything you need for your next art project. Big Sky, housed in an old firehouse, is a great place to grab a sandwich, too. The Great Lost Beer is perhaps Portland’s original gastropub – with over 70 beers, mostly Maine-Made, on tap.

Grab a coffee from Coveside Coffee where they brew 44 North Coffee and serve up pastries and croissants from Solo Pane & Pasticceria. Then maybe it’s time for a good read so head to Back Cove Books, a new indie bookstore with immaculate vibes and a knowledgeable staff.

Experience SPEEDWELL, a contemporary art gallery dedicated to promoting the work of women that offers artists residencies as well. The gallery commissioned an immense lighted aluminum sculpture spelling out Hopeful for their roof, the first in a national installation project by artist Charline Hewitt. You might go to Woodfords Corner to get trim (and a tattoo) at the Black Door Barber Company or just a trim at the Lion King Barber. And once you’re all cleaned (or inked) up, it’s time to eat.

Woodfords Corner has many amazing dining options, all within a couple of blocks from each other. Bring your appetite and dine at Woodford Food & Beverage, whose simple name belies the level of cuisine prepared by Chef Courtney Loreg, a recent James Beard Foundation semifinalist for “Best Chef - North East.” Bird & Co offers tacos of all sorts, including many vegan options and numerous kinds of margaritas to pair with them. Maiz offers Columbian street food featuring creative arepas and delicious breakfast dishes. Or if you want something lighter, head to Blake Orchard Juicery for an invigorating raw juice, smoothie or bowl.

If you’re ready for more of Portland, it’s all easy to access from this charming urban hub. But you might just want to stick around to see what’s happening next. As a Main Street America Affiliate™, Friends of Woodfords Corner is part of a national network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities who share a commitment of building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. For easy exploring, their website includes a historic walking tour map and a listing of local events.