Discover Greater Portland 2026

BRINGING HEART TO AMERICAN SOCCER:

PORTLAND HEARTS OF PIN E

BY CRYSTAL SANDS

With an estimated fan base of 3 billion to 4 billion people worldwide, soccer is the world’s most popular sport, and Maine’s first professional soccer team has found a unique way to embrace it. In just its second year as a professional team, Portland Hearts of Pine is selling out games and bringing an extraordinary professional soccer experience to Maine.

Founded in 2023 and playing its inaugural season in 2025, Portland Hearts of Pine is a professional American soccer team that competes in USL League One, the third tier of the American soccer league system. In its first season, the team made the playoffs and finished seventh in the league. But Portland Hearts of Pine is about more than competition — it is about bringing people together.

Gabe Hoffman-Johnson is the founder and chief community officer for the team. He said one of the main reasons for bringing a professional soccer team to Maine was to build community.

According to Hoffman-Johnson, “[It] started with a belief that soccer can bring people together in a way that’s bigger than the game itself. I grew up in it. I played, my family was around it, and a lot of what shaped me came through soccer. But the part that always stuck with me wasn’t just the game, it was what it could do. The connections, the community, the way it could create something bigger than the field.”

So far, that community connection has been profound.

The team’s home field is Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland, and tickets to 2026 home games sold out before the season even began. It seems people from the Portland area and beyond were eager for both soccer and the sense of community the sport can bring.

For those excited about experiencing a professional soccer game and connecting with others in the community, Hoffman-Johnson described what attending a home game is like. He said there is great food from local vendors. Fans can get oysters and grab a local beer. Before the game, children can play in the Kids Zone area. All the while, a packed stadium gathers to experience an exciting soccer match.

“It’s part sporting event, part festival. What makes it unique is that it doesn’t exist until people show up. Fitzy (Fitzpatrick Stadium) becomes a place to gather, to convene, almost like a town square. You’re arm in arm with people you may not know, but in that moment you’re connected. There’s a kind of shared energy there that’s hard to describe, and honestly something people are really craving,” he said.

Hoffman-Johnson added, “You see it at Fitzy, people from all over the state, different backgrounds, all in one place. If we’re doing this right, it feels like it belongs to everyone. That sense of belonging and shared experience is powerful, and it’s something that can have a real impact on how people feel connected to each other and to where they live.”

That sense of belonging may be more important than ever as many people search for real human connection in an increasingly digital world. But strong demand for connection, along with the popularity of soccer, has led to both benefits and challenges for team management. With tickets for the entire season selling out so quickly, many people who want to attend a game and experience that community are unable to.

Hoffman-Johnson said the lack of ticket availability is a good problem to have — but it is still a problem for management. Tickets for the 2026 season, which begins in June, went on sale in March and quickly sold out. Currently, both season tickets and single-game tickets are sold out, but Hoffman-Johnson said management is working to create solutions that allow more people to experience a Hearts of Pine game.

For the 2026 season, fans can sign up for “Last Chance” tickets. On the Hearts of Pine website, under “Single Match Tickets,” there is an optional form to sign up for up to four Last Chance tickets. While tickets cannot be guaranteed, for those who did not already purchase tickets, this may be the best chance to watch the team and experience professional soccer in Maine during the 2026 season.

And with the success of Hearts of Pine, Hoffman-Johnson said efforts are underway to bring women’s professional soccer to Portland, with hopes that play will begin in 2027. This would create even more opportunities for fans to experience professional soccer and the sense of community a team can bring to an area.

Ultimately, Hoffman-Johnson said it has been exciting to see momentum around Hearts of Pine build so quickly. On the field, reaching the semifinals last year was a major success. Off the field, the team has become a beacon for community-driven soccer. He said the team’s slogan, “Lead with your heart,” is not just a tagline but reflects how the team shows up for each other and the community.

“You see it in the way people talk about the club, not just here, but across the country. We’re shipping jerseys to every state and more than 30 countries. There’s a sense that this is a club people connect with, even if they’ve never been to Maine,” he said. “That’s been one of the most meaningful parts of it. You start to see Maine being recognized as a place that’s doing something different in American soccer, and that’s something we’re really proud of.”

Even if you are not able to catch a game this year, there will be community events surrounding the World Cup, including watch parties and day-of-play events. In addition to trying for a Last Chance ticket, be sure to check the team’s website early next year to purchase tickets for 2027 when they become available.

WPockets of Nature:

PORTLAND-AREA PRESERVES

hile enjoying an exciting metropolis like Portland, visiting a local park or wildlife preserve is a nice way to escape the crowds and recharge. Luckily, you don’t have to travel far to experience the beauty of wild spaces. Trails thread throughout the city, and green spaces dot the landscape. You might be surprised by how quickly you can transition from busy sidewalks to quiet, forested pathways. Here are a few pockets of nature in and around Portland.

MACKWORTH ISLAND

This 100-acre island at the mouth of the Presumpscot River is a state-owned bird sanctuary. “A dozen different species may be encountered during a leisurely stroll,” according to the Maine Birding Trail website. A smooth path of packed gravel circles the island, offering great views of Casco Bay. With no major barriers to wheelchairs or strollers on the main loop, it is highly accessible.

According to the Portland Trails website, the trails travel through some of the most diverse habitats in greater Portland. It is a lowland area where saltwater and freshwater marshes meet, attracting a wide variety of animal species.

Visitors can access the preserve from several locations. Access is free. For more information and a map showing access points, visit trails.org/trail/foreriver-sanctuary.

GILSLAND FARM AUDUBON CENTER

The Maine Audubon operates eight public wildlife centers and sanctuaries throughout the state, and one is just five minutes from downtown Portland. What’s more, Gilsland Farm is the organization’s headquarters, offering regular bird walks and other nature-themed programs.

Along the pathway is a section of forest where children — and creative adults — can build fairy houses out of natural materials such as sticks, rocks, and shells. Once home to former Gov. Percival Baxter, the island also features a pet cemetery for his beloved dogs and horse. A side trail leads to this interesting landmark, which is surrounded by a rock wall.

Mackworth Island was deeded to the state of Maine in 1943 and is currently home to the Baxter School for the Deaf. Its trails are open to visitors from dawn to dusk, and the perimeter path is maintained by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands. Entrance fees vary from $1 to $4 per person, depending on age and residency. For more information, visit trails.org/trail/mackworth-island-trail.

FORE RIVER SANCTUARY IN PORTLAND

Home to Portland’s only natural waterfall, Jewell Falls, this 85-acre preserve is a green oasis surrounded by city streets. The land is owned by a mix of private landowners, Portland Trails, and the city, making it a great example of how collaboration can conserve green spaces in the midst of human development.

Home to a network of intersecting trails totaling more than 5.5 miles, the preserve is a popular place for local residents to hike, jog, and walk dogs.

The 65-acre sanctuary features an environmental education center, a gift shop with nature-themed items, and 2.5 miles of trails that pass a pond, forest, meadow, orchard, and salt marsh. While there, don’t forget to check out the rotating nature-themed art exhibit in the education center.

Dogs are not permitted at Audubon wildlife sanctuaries. Trails are open from sunrise to sunset. Access is free. For more information, visit maineaudubon.org/visit/gilsland-farm.

CRESCENT BEACH STATE PARK

Featuring one of Maine’s finest sandy beaches, this park opened in 1966 and is just south of Portland in Cape Elizabeth. While many visitors simply sunbathe on the sand and listen to the crashing ocean waves, others enjoy nature along the park’s forested trails, which total more than 2 miles.

Amenities such as picnic tables and grills, a children’s playground, and a bathhouse with cold-water showers make this a popular place for people to unwind in the summer. The park’s signature feature and namesake is a milelong, crescent-shaped beach. It also neighbors Kettle Cove State Park, which features a smaller beach and rock ledges.

Dogs are not permitted on the beaches from April 1 to Sept. 30. Entrance fees vary from $2 to $8 per person, depending on age and residency. For more information, visit maine.gov/crescentbeach.

VOLUNTEERS PRESERVE HISTORY AND LIFE IN BURIAL GROUNDS

BY JEN LYNDS

W. JOHN FUNK , president and trustee of Stewards of the Western Cemetery, said that although their voices were silenced hundreds of years ago, the dead are still excellent historians.

“Their voices are reliable, and they have a compelling story to tell,” he said in a recent interview. “It just takes more digging to find their story.”

The Western Cemetery is in Portland, with its main gate at Vaughan and Clifford streets. It served as Portland’s primary municipal cemetery from 1829 to 1852.

In 2001, Stewards of the Western Cemetery created a restoration master plan for the burial ground. The organization, having reorganized in 2021, now focuses on rehabilitating more than 800 damaged tombstones and identifying hundreds more.

“We have 15 or 16 regular volunteers, and we’ve had another 50 or 60 volunteers who regularly come and help us out with projects,” Funk said. “We also partner with a couple of groups, such as the Boy Scouts. This is a natural draw for people who want to come and learn about history and the city’s past.”

Funk said that each summer, a nationally recognized conservator trains volunteers in stone preservation.

“It is great to get involved and know that you are doing something good for the future,” he said.

In 2006, the Eastern Cemetery at 224 Congress St. was in equally desperate

ELI GOSS WAS BORN IN MAINE IN 1814 AND SERVED IN THE MILITIA THAT FOUGHT IN THE AROOSTOOK WAR IN NORTHERN MAINE. ELI GOSS WAS THE ONLY AMERICAN TO HAVE AN INJURY THAT EARNED HIM A PENSION. HE IS BURIED IN THE WESTERN CEMETERY.

PHOTO COURTESY OF JEN LYNDS

shape. That is when Spirits Alive, a nonprofit organization composed of a 10- to 12-member, all-volunteer board of directors, was organized to maintain and beautify the burial grounds. That includes preserving stones and educating the public about the 7,000 souls interred there.

Ron Romano is a cemetery historian and board member of Spirits Alive.

“This site is the oldest historic landscape in the city,” he said. “It was the only burying ground on the Portland peninsula for a couple hundred years. As Eastern Cemetery became overcrowded, the city opened the Western Cemetery. History unfolds as soon as you walk through the gate.”

Romano said that volunteers become interested in the group slowly but remain interested for a long time.

“They might come for a tour and then join us for a cleanup day,” he said. “Then they become a tour guide and stick with that. We are constantly looking for volunteers. We want people to get interested in their city’s history.”

PORTLAND

BY SARAH COTTRELL

YOU’VE HEARD OF A PUB CRAWL, BUT HAVE YOU EVER TRIED A BOOKSTORE CRAWL?

f you live in or plan to visit Portland this summer, a bookstore crawl should be on your list of things to do, especially when you consider that the city has more indie booksellers per capita than almost anywhere in the country. Bookstores are a magical place to spend your time and money. Not only can you find marvelous reads to enhance your life, but you can also find community and connection. If you’re not sure where to start, we recommend these iconic local indie shops:

prints, and fun oddities. They are also a full-service hand bookbindery. Directly across the street is the oldest cemetery in Portland, dating to the 17th century — and they have the key.

GRUMP

& SUNSHINE

BOOKSHOP

you can also find community and connection. If you’re not sure

LONGFELLOW BOOKS 1 MONUMENT WAY,

PORTLAND

The anchor of Portland’s literary scene, Longfellow has been an independent community bookstore in Monument Square since 2000. Beloved for its staff picks, as well as its robust Maine section, you’ll quickly realize the book curation is top-tier. They keep a handy online calendar of upcoming events, including book launches and author talks.

PRINT: A BOOKSTORE 273 CONGRESS ST., PORTLAND

Print is a bookstore for readers who like to keep up with the latest publications on prescient topics, with rotating staff displays on subjects covering a wide range. They take reading seriously, and to prove it, they have an action-packed events calendar, a rad newsletter, and a book club.

BACK COVE BOOKS 651 FOREST AVE., PORTLAND

Located in the Odd Fellows’ Block in Woodfords Corner, Back Cove Books is community-focused to its bones; this is a lovely place where everyone belongs. Not only do they have books in every genre and for all ages, but they also keep a busy community events calendar with programming, author events, and book clubs.

40 FREE ST., PORTLAND A newer addition to the Portland scene with a cult following, Grump & Sunshine leans into its quirky identity with a curated selection that rewards romance readers. If you’re the kind of reader who loves browsing books and cool book merch, then this place is absolute heaven. To check out events, follow them on social media for pop-up announcements, including author signings, book clubs, and even holiday parties.

SHERMAN’S MAINE COAST BOOKSHOPS

49 EXCHANGE ST., PORTLAND This iconic local bookstore has roots dating to 1886 in Bar Harbor, and its locations now dot communities along the rugged Maine coastline, including Portland. You can find almost any genre of book here and enjoy an events calendar packed with author signings and more.

YES BOOKS 589 CONGRESS ST., PORTLAND

If you’re looking for an old-school secondhand bookstore with all the analog vibes of a record store, Yes Books is for you. While they don’t have a website, they do have the charm of floor-to-ceiling stacks, densely packed shelves, and a shopkeeper who knows where everything is. This is an experience you don’t want to miss.

LETTERPRESS BOOKS 91 AUBURN ST., PORTLAND

GREEN HAND BOOKSHOP 661 CONGRESS ST.,

It is hard to miss this bookshop, with its iconic green hand painted on the massive windows. A labyrinth of secondhand, vintage, and antique books on every subject, it is located in Congress Square across from the Portland Museum of Art. While there may not be a robust events calendar, that’s OK because when you walk in, you will lose track of time in the incredible stacks of vintage books.

PORTLAND is will lose track of time in the incredible stacks of vintage books.

CARLSON & TURNER ANTIQUARIAN BOOKS

& BOOKBINDERY

241 CONGRESS ST., PORTLAND If you are a serious bibliophile, this is the bookstore for you. Housed in a Victorian-era building, the shop holds more than 40,000 antiquarian, scholarly, and used books, plus rare manuscripts, maps, fine art

Letterpress Books is one of those super-friendly, small-town shops where the staff loves reading and wants to tell you about an amazing book you will love, too. If you want to see Maine authors highlighted, this is a place to start. Follow them on social media to find out about their regular author events, including meet-and-greets, book signings, and more.

TOTAL LOSS BOOKS 93 WASHINGTON AVE.,

PORTLAND Total Loss Books is the newest indie bookshop on the list, opening its doors in January 2026. While they do not appear to have a website, they do have a very cool Instagram (@ totallossbooks) worth checking out for its curated, art-forward vibe featuring high-quality secondhand and rare books.

While a pub crawl usually lasts only one night, your book crawl may indeed take a whole weekend — or summer!

MALONE FAMILY TOWER: GATEWAY TO THE FUTURE

STORY BY WANDA CURTIS • PHOTOS COURTESY OF MAINEHEALTH

Portland has many interesting sights to see — Portland Head Light, the Old Port, Portland Observatory, and more. A recent addition to the city’s landscape is the eight-story Malone Family Tower adjoining MaineHealth Maine Medical Center on Congress Street. Tall glass windows extend from floor to ceiling inside and surround the exterior of the building, overlooking the city.

The $378 million building, which opened in 2024, was constructed to address the growing need for cardiac and cardiovascular care in the region. MHMMC Chair of Cardiac Services and Chief of the Cardiovascular Service Line, Dr. Marco Diaz, said the incidence of cardiovascular illness is expected to increase in the area because of Maine’s large aging population. At the same time, he said, advances in cardiac therapeutics and treatments continue. The new facility, with its increased space and modern technology, positions MHMMC’s care team to better prepare for the future of cardiac care.

“Providing this type of care, close to home, is critical to patient outcomes and access, particularly as we see rising prevalence of conditions such as coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation and valvular heart disease that require increasingly complex, multidisciplinary care,” Diaz said.

The 300,000-square-foot building houses 96 private rooms, 10 operating rooms, nine procedure rooms, 40 preand post-procedure beds, six post-anesthesia care unit beds, five cath labs, four electrophysiology labs and one transesophageal echocardiogram room. It also includes 32 additional intensive care unit beds, increasing MHMMC’s total ICU capacity to about 100 beds.

SPACIOUS, MORE ACCOMMODATING PATIENT AND PROCEDURE ROOMS

MHMMC Director of Communications and Marketing Matt Wickenheiser said the spacious patient rooms benefit patients, care team members, and visitors. He said the rooms are also more accommodating for interdisciplinary patient care.

“The MFT patient rooms were designed for healing,” Wickenheiser said. “Each patient room in the Malone Family Tower is private, with floor-to-ceiling windows specifically angled to maximize patient views and access to natural light while reducing direct sun and glare. The spacious rooms are beneficial for patients, care team members, and visitors alike.”

Procedure rooms at MHMMC’s Malone Family Tower are also larger, Wickenheiser said. The additional space allows room for equipment, multidisciplinary care teams, and integration with other systems.

“The MFT supports dozens of complex cardiac, vascular, and robotic procedures for both adult and pediatric patients,” Wickenheiser said. “A number of rooms were constructed with ceiling-mounted equipment to improve patient access to robotic procedures. This expansion empowers and supports our top-notch care teams through enhanced patient care capacity, higherquality facilities, stronger collaboration, innovative training, and a better workforce experience.”

LEADING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY

In regard to technology upgrades, the MFT not only houses more accommodating procedure rooms, but also features leading-edge technology, including advanced robotic surgery platforms, hybrid operating rooms designed to support minimally invasive and complex procedures, and next-generation imaging systems, Diaz said.

“The tower also enables the use of laser-based procedures, sophisticated cardiac ablation technologies for treating arrhythmias, and robotic-assisted cardiac surgery — capabilities that enhance precision and recovery times,” Diaz said. “Its procedure spaces were intentionally designed for evolving technologies and future upgrades. Team members underwent comprehensive training on this new equipment prior to the tower’s opening, ensuring readiness.”

STERILE PROCESSING DEPARTMENT SERVES ALL OF MHMMC

The new 20,000-square-foot sterile processing department is located on top of the Malone Family Tower. It serves all operating and procedure rooms at the medical center.

READY FOR THE FUTURE

“The Malone Family Tower ensures MHMMC’s commitment to the most acutely ill members of our community for years to come, expanding our ability to meet growing demand with more procedures requiring large, interdisciplinary teams,” Wickenheiser said. “Our new suite of procedure spaces can accommodate the latest innovations in medicine — and we have the care team to match.”

THE GREATEST SHOW IN 9 INNINGS

BY DYLAN SAVAGEAU

FEW PLACES feel more like summer in Portland than Hadlock Field on a warm evening.

Kids lean over the railings during batting practice, hoping for a tossed baseball. The smell of ballpark food drifts through the concourse. Groups of friends settle into their seats with cold drinks while Slugger launches another round of chaos between innings. By the time the first pitch arrives, the place already feels alive.

That’s part of what has made the Portland Sea Dogs such a fixture in the city for more than three decades. A game at Hadlock Field works for just about everyone. Serious baseball fans come to watch top Red Sox prospects before they reach Fenway Park. Families show up because there’s rarely a quiet moment for kids. Others come simply because it’s one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to spend a summer night in the city.

For kids, the entertainment rarely slows down. Between innings, the field turns into a blur of contests, music, races, and mascots. During the game itself, there’s always the possibility that a foul ball could land a few seats away. Even children who barely know the rules stay locked into the energy of the ballpark.

Hadlock Field also offers something larger stadiums have mostly lost: closeness. Fans are close enough to hear players talking in the dugout during the game. Kids crowd the railings for autographs. A tossed baseball from a player can turn into the highlight of somebody’s entire summer.

That accessibility extends beyond the players. The atmosphere at Hadlock feels intentionally welcoming without feeling manufactured. It’s baseball stripped back down to what made people fall in love with the sport in the first place. Families spread out in the stands, sharing popcorn and snacks. Groups of friends gather for a casual night out, and longtime baseball fans track stats while debating prospects over cold drinks and the oh-so-incredible Sea Dogs biscuits.

For serious baseball fans, there’s another layer that makes the experience special.

As the Double-A affiliate of the Red Sox, the Sea Dogs roster often features players who are only a step or two away from reaching the majors. On any given night, fans could be watching future stars before the rest of the baseball world catches on. Several players who eventually became household names in Boston once played under the lights at Hadlock Field, long before national broadcasts and sold-out MLB crowds followed them around.

There’s also the occasional bonus of seeing established Red Sox players during rehab assignments. Suddenly, a regular summer game in Portland turns into an opportunity to watch a big league player from just a few rows away. That kind of access has become increasingly rare in professional sports, especially at a price most families can still justify for a night out.

What makes a Sea Dogs game memorable usually has very little to do with the final score. It’s kids sprinting back to their seats before the next inning starts. It’s fireworks over the ballpark after a summer win. It’s a foul ball sitting on a bedroom shelf long after the season ends.

In a city filled with summer traditions, Hadlock Field continues to hold its place near the top of the list. Some fans come for the baseball; others come for the atmosphere. Everyone comes for the lasting memories of the greatest show in nine innings.