Good morning, Portland.

Taj Indian Cuisine in South Portland now offers free hot meals year-round by keeping a warming cabinet stocked during business hours (11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays to Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends); owner Sai Guntaka says it now serves over 100 meals daily.

A plane crashed in Bangor on Sunday and killed at least six people, making it one of Maine’s deadliest aviation incidents—investigators are working to determine the cause.

Federal immigration officers detained an Angolan asylum seeker known as Makengo after he visited his newborn at a local hospital Friday evening + over 200 individuals have been detained statewide since an enforcement surge began last week, and his church is coordinating support with groceries and legal fund efforts.

Portland-based musicians Samuel James and Michael Kebede present Haint Blue, a show featuring Black American folk songs and stories at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church on Feb.

5 at 7 p.m. The performance aims to celebrate cultural heritage + fresh sounds.

MOXIE Public Schools will open a tuition-free charter school near Maine Mall in the renovated Wex building at 123 Darling Ave this fall, accepting applications for grades 6, 8, and 9 with plans to add grades until 6-12; an open house is today from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

A nor'easter dumped heavy snow across Maine Monday, with communities reporting 8-13.8 inches and a burst of 3-6 inches falling Monday evening before sunshine returned today while temperatures remain chilly for the rest of the month.

A Portland mental health clinic, Riverbird, LLC (with providers Matthew Stevens, DO and Selma Holden, MD), agreed to pay $20,000 to settle allegations of failing to report and document controlled substance transactions, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The Department of Marine Resources will hold a lottery starting at noon on Monday for 20 elver licenses for the upcoming 2026 season.

Eligible residents may apply online or at the Augusta office until 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 20 — each license comes with a four-pound quota.

Maine ski areas now offer winter fun beyond skiing, with tubing at Black Mountain, tobogganing at Camden Snow Bowl + free ice skating at Pineland Farms.

Locals have new ways to enjoy outdoor activities today and on upcoming winter weekends.

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.

Stews & Stories Potluck Supper

5:30-8:30 p.m. — Mechanics' Hall — Pay-what-you-can, suggested $20 — Enjoy a cozy evening of shared stews and storytelling that warms both body and spirit.

Night Moves Pizza Night at Lambs

4:30-8 p.m. — Lambs — Bring your own pizza — Enjoy a casual evening with delicious pizza from Night Moves in a great neighborhood bar setting.

Holy Cross School Dance with The Jim Ciampi Band

7-11 p.m. — Portland, Maine Elks Lodge #188 — Cash bar and snacks available — Groove all night with live music and good vibes from The Jim Ciampi Band.

Book Launch: Emily Nemens' CLUTCH

7-8 p.m. — Mechanics' Hall — Ticketed event — Celebrate the launch of CLUTCH with author Emily Nemens and a conversation with Nick Fuller Googins.

An Evening of Middle Eastern Music and Dance

7-8:30 p.m. — Cadenza — Free entry — Enjoy a captivating blend of Middle Eastern music and dance performed by talented ensembles and artists.

Kouchera In Concert

7-8:30 p.m. — The Hill Arts — Cost info not provided — Experience a vibrant R&B journey from the 70s to the 2000s with high-energy performances and soulful rhythms.

Curtain Call Discussion – LEND ME A TENOR

4:15 p.m. — Portland Stage — Free entry — Engage with performers in a lively discussion about the production's creative process and themes.

Writer as Flaneur: Braided Essay Workshop

6-9 p.m. — Mechanics' Hall — $275 Members/$475 Nonmembers — Explore the art of the braided essay while embracing the wandering spirit of the flaneur.

Valentine's Day Dinner at Earth

4-6 p.m. — Earth at Hidden Pond — $115++ per person — Experience a romantic prix fixe menu with seasonal ingredients in a charming setting.