{"id":12663,"date":"2017-03-23T18:48:10","date_gmt":"2017-03-23T22:48:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/?p=12663"},"modified":"2017-03-23T18:48:10","modified_gmt":"2017-03-23T22:48:10","slug":"the-curtain-call","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/the-curtain-call\/","title":{"rendered":"The Curtain Call"},"content":{"rendered":"

April 2017 | view his story as a .pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

Starved for a night of entertainment? Candy from the concession stand just won\u2019t cut it. Instead, try elegant dining before<\/strong> or after<\/strong> curtain<\/strong> at these go-to watering holes.<\/span><\/h3>\n

By Karen Hofreiter<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"APR17-After-Dark\"With electric performances ahead, from Golden Dragon Acrobats<\/strong> (April 6) to Annie <\/em><\/strong>(April 27); Tony Bennett<\/strong> (May 11) to Tchaikovsky\u2019s Pathetique<\/em><\/strong> (May 16); to a storm of sound from Riverdance <\/strong>(May 31) at Merrill Auditorium<\/strong>; Bridget Kearney<\/strong> (of Lake Street Dive) at the State Theatre<\/strong> (April 17); Portland Jazz Orchestra<\/strong> at One Longfellow Square <\/strong>(April 20); and String Around My Finger<\/em><\/strong> at Portland Stage <\/strong>(through April 23), there\u2019s never been a better time to add a first or final act to your evening\u2019s headline sensations. Whether your preference is a pre-show opening snack, post-curtain call nightcap, or late afternoon matinee bite, Portland\u2019s vivacious dining scene offers plenty of star options.<\/span><\/p>\n

Industry Favorite<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking to add a little extra drama to your night in the audience, there\u2019s nothing like sitting and sipping under a glowing golden dragon. Situated close to State Theatre<\/strong> and One Longfellow Square<\/strong>, sleek Bao Bao Dumpling House<\/strong> has everything you need to set the scene. Sample steaming plates of hearty Asian fare (shrimp and bacon dumplings, anyone?); cocktails by the bowl (you\u2019ll see Scorpions aren\u2019t just for college kids); and, as Bao Bao\u2019s Chris Peterson puts it, a selection of \u201cwonderful but often overlooked\u201d desserts. If you\u2019re in a pre-show rush, \u201cthere are quite a few menu options [Somen noodles arrive in a hurry] that can get you in and out in enough time to catch the curtain.\u201d Post-show, Bao Bao (open till 11 p.m.) is a \u201csuper fun way\u201d to stretch your evening. But if you\u2019re still not convinced, just ask the hard-working and heavy-lifting stage crews who stop by Bao Bao to fuel up for the long night and wind down afterward.<\/span><\/p>\n

Culture & Cocktails<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Heading uptown, just a skip across Congress Street from Merrill Auditorium<\/strong>, you\u2019ll find the tweedy Inkwell Bar<\/strong> within The Press Hotel<\/strong>. According to Derek Hunt, the \u201clively but relaxed lounge-style atmosphere and cozy seating by the fireplace\u201d make the old-school media-themed bar the perfect mise-en-sc\u00e8ne<\/em>. Beyond the artistic small plates, patrons will find cocktails to match the evening\u2019s theme. For example, \u201ca dramatic and fancy evening calls for a twist on the classic Manhattan, which describes our Just North Of<\/strong> drink (rye whiskey, B&B, Luxardo, dry vermouth\/bitters)\u2013a reference to our location 312 miles north of Broadway and 42nd.\u201d Ahead of a show, don\u2019t miss Inkwell\u2019s \u201cOff the Record\u201d happy hour (Su.-Th. 4-6 p.m. and 10 p.m.-1 a.m.), with $5 select local craft beers on draft and wines.<\/span><\/p>\n

Only a three-minute stroll from Merrill, a leisurely stop at Dobra Tea<\/strong> is the perfect way to extend an afternoon matinee or start an evening on a zen note. Swathed in rich hues of burgundy and turquoise with Persian-style rugs and floor-pillow seating, it\u2019s \u201ca great space to relax and unwind and the perfect space for conversation with friends or relaxing with the whole family,\u201d says co-owner Ray Marcotte. (Actors from Portland Stage<\/strong> frequently stop by pre-performance to get \u201cinto the zone.\u201d) Over 100 tea varieties mean everyone will find something to soothe or energize, from chocolate-laced comfort teas (try the \u201cMemories of Prague\u201d made with Black Assam tea mixed with semi-sweet chocolate) to heady and invigorating blends (the \u201cTaste of Kashmir,\u201d a mix of green, black, and oolong teas with orange peel, cloves, ginger, and cinnamon). And since no one wants to provoke disapproving sidelong glances with a rumbling tummy, don\u2019t leave without a bite of something decadent like a matcha cheesecake, currant scone, or chocolate-drizzled macaroons. <\/span><\/p>\n

Set The Stage<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

If the tickets in your hand are for a performance at Portland Stage<\/strong>, the Little Tap House<\/strong> is less than a four-minute stroll (six minutes with heels) through the colorful Arts District. With white<\/span> stucco and exposed brick walls, the rustic-modern locale combines a neighborhood-pub feel with an upscale aesthetic\u2013perfectly suited for an evening of artistic and intellectual stimulation. (It even lured in Bernie Sanders for a post-rally indulgence of fish and chips.) <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Little Tap House is a cozy nook to hang your hat before or after an event. Feel the warmth of the wood interior and comfort of friends around you while listening to some jamming tunes,\u201d says Robin Landry. \u201cThe beer connoisseur is bound to find a favorite local brew or special one-off style to sip on. If the concert falls on \u2018date night,\u2019 sharing a local beer flight is a romantic way to have an enjoyable tasting experience together.\u201d More than just a beer haven, Little Tap House\u2019s cocktail creations like the Maple Manhattan (Knob Creek whiskey, Aztec chocolate bitters, Maine maple, sea salt rim) are encore-worthy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Miss<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Over on the East End, the St. Lawrence Arts Theater<\/strong> isn\u2019t the only place with a flair for the dramatic. Petite, crimson Lolita<\/strong> is a beloved spot for local theater-goers. The small plates menu lends itself to a quick bite pre-performance, and the kitchen is open until 10:30 p.m. for a post-show feast. Stella Hernandez, co-owner and wine director, describes the self-styled \u201cVinoteca and Asador\u201d as \u201cwarm and urban, but decidedly low-key.\u201d Cocktails sipped at the zinc bar are a must. Hernandez recommends the Bijou cocktai<\/strong>l (gin, green Chartreuse, sweet vermouth, orange bitters)\u2013\u201ccomplex and herbaceous with a lovely, opulent color that is very much about drama.\u201d<\/p>\n

Not to be outdone, South Portland\u2019s Portland Players <\/strong>is surrounded by great pre-show spots, including the laid-back Elsmere BBQ<\/strong>, with its fascinating auto-garage-chic interior; David\u2019s 388<\/strong>, with its warm hues and urban-cottage feel; and the bright and airy Italian spot, Enio\u2019s Eatery<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

April 2017
\nStarved for a night of entertainment? Candy from the concession stand just won\u2019t cut it. Instead, try elegant dining before or after curtain at these go-to watering holes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12668,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[122],"class_list":["post-12663","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","tag-april-2017"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12663","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12663"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12663\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12669,"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12663\/revisions\/12669"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12668"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12663"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12663"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12663"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}