I’m Jake Newman. The Portland Logbook is my love letter to this city: the food worth hunting down, the history that refuses to die, the corners you only find if you’re paying attention.

What I Found Inside Portland’s Hidden Art Gallery on Parris Street

It was one of those freezing First Fridays where you almost talk yourself out of leaving the house. Still, I’d heard about a show at 82 Parris and figured what the hell. I swung by The Art Mart, grabbed Josh, and pulled him along. He was into it right away.

The space had that unfinished charm that makes you want to stay a while. Concrete floors. Heaters humming in the corners. People wrapped in scarves, drinking wine from paper cups. The bathroom was tucked in what looked like a janitor’s closet, but the toilet sat on this strange little platform that lifted you above the room like a throne. It felt oddly regal for a place that smelled faintly of bleach and turpentine.

The show was The Colors Between Days by Jordann McKenna, and it felt quiet in the best way. Her paintings pull from the small moments most people overlook. Corners of rooms, bits of light, the kind of soft color that feels like memory. The pottery and smaller pieces carried that same spirit. Nothing loud. Just honest and familiar.

The artwork in the accompanying show, Veil with Gavin Fahey, was beautiful too. Different tone, but it fit. The two together made the room feel whole, like a conversation between calm and curiosity.

82 Parris sits inside the old New Systems Laundry building in Bayside, just across the street from Batson River Brewing. You can still smell detergent and dust in the air. The gallery is run by a small group of artists who give early and mid-career creatives a place to show, experiment, and connect. They host solo and group shows, live music, and the kind of pop-ups that make you feel like something’s actually happening here. It’s not polished, but that’s the point.

Standing there, I kept thinking how Portland needs more spaces like this. Not over curated. Not chasing trends. Just people making things and showing them to whoever shows up. It’s what keeps this city real.

Go see it and bring someone who doesn’t usually go to art openings.

See the Show

6,000 Strong

The Portland Logbook just passed 6,000 subscribers. Six thousand people who care about this city enough to read about it every week. That number feels big, but what matters more is what comes next.

I want to keep growing this into something that feels like Portland itself. Real people, real places, and the stories that make this city worth caring about. Over the next few months, you’ll start seeing more community spotlights, collaborations, and chances to get involved. Maybe an event or two. Maybe something you can actually hold in your hands.

Thank you for reading, for sharing, and for caring about this place. Portland’s small, but when people show up for it, it feels huge.

If you’ve been reading and loving The Logbook, forward it to a friend who’d love it too. Let’s see how fast we can get this thing to 10k and make Portland feel a little smaller, in the best way.

What Should The Logbook Build Next?

THIS WEEKS CONDITIONS
☀️ SUNRISE: 6:19 AM
🌅 SUNSET: 4:24 PM
☁️ AIR QUALITY: Clean and crisp all week.
🛳 Tourist Level: Light — locals take back the sidewalks.
🌊 SEA TEMP: 54°F (Casco Bay,)
✨ Local Favorite of the Week: Oun Lido’s

🏡 Thinking about buying or selling in Maine? Just hit reply, I’d love to help.

🐾 Adoptable Buddies of the Week! 🐾

🐶 Sherman – 6 yrs
Big, blue-gray, and full of heart. He’s shy at first but once he trusts you, he’s loyal for life. Looking for a calm home where he can finally exhale and just be loved.

🐱 Apple Butter – 4 mo
A tiny black kitten with a brave little spirit. She’s shy but curious, and with patience (and maybe a furry friend) she’ll blossom fast.

🐱 Lulu – 16 yrs
Sweet, sassy, and set in her ways. Lulu’s ready to spend her golden years napping in sunspots and running the house like she always has.

🐕 Interested? Check them out here