Daily
Portland
Thursday, January 8th, 2026
Good morning, Portland. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 8th of January.
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ The owner of Mae’s and Wildflours opened Baked on Maine, a new cafe at 42 Maine St. in Brunswick on Friday, Jan. 2. It serves breakfast, lunch and gluten-free baked goods (sister bakeries) from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday through Monday. Portland Press Herald
- ➤ Orchard Ridge Farm reopened its store Wednesday after a fire on Friday destroyed its home. Community members helped restore water service, and despite four firefighter injuries everyone escaped safely while the business returned to regular hours. FOX23
- ➤ Dry Dock, a restaurant on Portland’s waterfront, featured general manager Matt Ginn discussing current operations in a segment aired Wednesday, Jan. 7 — the update reveals adjustments made to meet dining trends. FOX23
- ➤ Christian Hayes, former chef-owner of The Garrison, launched Sparhawk Tavern at 81 Bridge St. in Yarmouth on Wednesday with a pop-up offering takeout menus that feature sandwiches and wings; the dining room and bar will open later in January as the pop-up runs through April. Portland Press Herald
- ➤ Visit Portland launched Winter Weekdays, a statewide promotion offering special midweek deals for restaurants, breweries, cafés, bars and hotels to boost business during Maine’s slow season. The program runs Jan. 5-Apr. 30 and builds on last year’s Winter Wednesdays effort. Portland Press Herald
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ In 1775, Benedict Arnold led nearly 1,000 men on a failed expedition to capture Quebec that stopped in Phippsburg and Falmouth (now Portland), where local volunteers aided the campaign before British forces attacked in Casco Bay. Portland Press Herald
- ➤ Local poet Sharon Kane debuts her new poem “Haze,” which meditates on global crises and a fleeting moment of love. The piece is featured in Deep Water: Maine Poems (in collaboration with the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance) and is available to readers now. Portland Press Herald
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ According to the Maine Department of Labor, November’s report showed the unemployment rate dropped to 3.2% while labor participation slipped to 59.6% from a year ago; nonfarm salary jobs rose (up 1,300) from October’s low amid a 4,400-job annual drop, reflecting more retirements than new workers. WMTW
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ A Maine watchdog is checking that local stores and online retailers do not sell banned items that contain toxic PFAS, a law that took effect on Jan. 1. Defend Our Health said most retailers are complying, and the state DEP will investigate any violations. WGME
-
LAST CALL Comedy Showcase
9:30 PM — Empire Comedy Club — $10 — Enjoy a fast-paced showcase featuring local and visiting stand-up comics with drink specials.
-
Primal Soup (Phish Tribute) Live Performance
8-11:30 p.m. — Bayside Bowl — $15 adv, $25 door — Maine's premiere Phish tribute act returns for an all-ages show.
-
Script Club – Lend Me a Tenor
1:30-2:30 p.m. — Portland Public Library — Free entry — Engage in a lively discussion of 'Lend Me a Tenor' moderated by Portland Stage’s Literary Manager Todd Brian Backus.
-
Bess Jacques & The Strays Concert
7-8:30 p.m. — Blue Portland Maine — Tickets required — Experience a fusion of jazz, Americana, and more with Bess Jacques & The Strays.
-
Winter Concert Series: Sigrid Sibley & Shannon Allen
7-8:30 p.m. — Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village — Ticket details not provided — Experience beautiful acoustic music in support of local cultural arts.
-
Maine Mariners vs. Trois-Rivieres Lions
6-8 p.m. — Cross Insurance Arena — Bid on unique jerseys — Celebrate Portland's title as the Top Minor League Sports Market in the USA with a special game experience.
-
Burns Night Celebration
5-9 p.m. — Rí Rá Irish Pub & Restaurant — Ticketed event — Celebrate Scotland's beloved poet with traditional food, live music, and cask beer.
-
Wild Pink Live with Dead Gowns and Tremelo Fields
7:30-10:30 p.m. — SPACE Gallery — Cost info not provided — Experience the explosive rustic rock of Wild Pink alongside Portland's own Dead Gowns and Tremelo Fields.
-
Community Bake at Flatbread Company Portland
5-9 p.m. — Flatbread Company — Portion of proceeds to support MOFGA — Celebrate local food and gather educational resources while enjoying delicious flatbreads.
-
Contra Dance Night with Stomp Rocket
7-10 p.m. — Mechanics' Hall — $15-$20 admission — Experience a lively evening of contra dancing with live music to warm you up from the winter chill.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.
Know who said this? Send us an email!
Reveal the authorAbout Daily Portland
Welcome to the Daily Portland, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Portland, Maine community. If you like the Daily Portland, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Portland.
Advertising Opportunities
Advertising with us will make sure you stay at the top of everyone's mind—in Portland and across Maine. You can learn more here. We'll work together to build a custom plan to hit your goals this year.
Alternatively, you can submit events, announcements, real estate listings, and job postings. We'll include them in our newsletter on whichever dates you like.
Community, delivered
Our hyper-local media company activates communities through daily email newsletters that curate the most positive, impactful local news + events – all for free.
Subscribe to Daily Portland
A free Portland community newsletter.
- Daily local news
- We curate the most positive, impactful local news + events.
- 6AM City
- A publication of 6AM City, the nation's leading local newsletter-first media network. Nominate your city.
© 6AM City Inc. 2025. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Service. Questions? Contact us here
Sitemap: https://dailyportlandnews.com/sitemap