Good morning, Portland.

South Portland restaurant Taj Indian Cuisine served about 4,800 free meals last Thanksgiving and is serving 6,000 meals today (with local volunteers delivering meals to those without transport).

A pre-Christmas storm is blanketing the region with heavy snow and power outages as towns open warming shelters for residents.

In Portland, the overnight shelter at 166 Riverside Industrial Parkway will operate on Sunday and Monday nights — check local postings for shelter hours in nearby towns.

Rabelais Books, known for vintage cookbooks on Washington Ave., will close its pop-up location on Jan.

4 so owner Don Lindgren can focus on his larger business operations, while Emma Cousins (from Gorham) will open Total Loss Books in the same space in January.

Nonesuch Books & More in South Portland released its weekly bestsellers list, with fiction 'Dog Show' and nonfiction 'The Gales of November' topping their sales charts.

The list includes top-selling titles in both hardcover and paperback.

Portland poet Mary Tracy offers her new poem Legacy, which explores nature's endless cycle and our role in the world.

Poets can submit work to Deep Water: Maine Poems now & through the end of the year.

Mr. Tuna chef-owner Jordan Rubin announced a dinner series, Tuna & Friends, that will run from January to June 2026 at his restaurant in the Old Port.

Guest chefs will make special menus with local seafood from 5 to 9 p.m. + reservations are open on OpenTable.

Ecomaine, a nonprofit managing waste for 20 southern Maine communities, reported a 33% rise in waste and recycling in the first week of January compared to late December.

The organization detailed recycling tips for Christmas trees, lights, wrapping paper and recommended safe battery disposal (to avoid fires) for a greener post-holiday cleanup.

Maine’s health officials reported 864 flu cases and 69 hospitalizations during the week ending Dec.

20 compared to 320 cases and 27 hospitalizations the previous week, and Portland experts urged early testing and treatment for symptoms—local doctors stress prompt care to lessen severe illness.

Newport native Cooper Flagg led college basketball at Duke and was drafted No. 1 by the Mavericks, while Portland's Hearts of Pine set USL League One attendance records and Maine high schools like Westbrook and Cheverus won historic state titles.

Polar Express Train Ride

5:15 p.m. — Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad — Ticket prices vary — Experience a magical journey to the North Pole aboard a festive train ride this holiday season.

Maine Mariners vs Trois-Rivières Lions

3:00 – 4:30 PM — Cross Insurance Arena — Watch an exciting hockey matchup featuring the Maine Mariners and Trois-Rivières Lions.

Technology Tutoring at Peaks

10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. — Peaks Island Community Center — Free entry — Enhancing digital skills for all levels of computer users in a community setting.

New Year's Eve Gala: The Golden Age of Hollywood

7 PM - 12:30 AM — Après — $60 single, $80 couples — Celebrate the New Year with old Hollywood glamour, dancing, and a champagne toast.

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.