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.

Go Get a Croissant

Picture this. I’m driving toward Harrison last weekend to cut down a Christmas tree when the snow starts coming down hard. Roads get slick fast. A little slipping. A little sliding. One of those moments where you think maybe it’s smarter to let this pass than push it.

And right as that thought hits, I spot the Waxwing Bakery sign in Windham, Maine.

Waxwing sits in what used to be a Carpet Town, which feels exactly right. Hannah Buoye and Billy Hager opened it last winter after years cooking around Portland. Hannah ran the kitchen at Tandem. Billy was the executive chef at Helm back when it still existed. You don’t need the résumé to enjoy it, but you can taste it.

We grabbed a few things to try and the barista mentioned they’re really known for their laminated pastries, which made the ordering easy. Almond croissant, ham and cheese croissant, and a blueberry cheese danish, plus a cortado and a brown butter cookie. The croissants exploded in the best possible way. Flaky, buttery, everywhere. I would not suggest eating one in the car. I loved this place. Like, genuinely loved it. This is the kind of pastry that makes a lot of bakeries feel like they’re cutting corners

I settled in and waited out the worst of the snow. Locals drift in. Jackets half-zipped. Quick road reports traded at the counter.

By the time I head back out, the snow’s eased up and so has my mood...

Waxwing is named after a bird that gathers when food is good, and that’s exactly what’s happening. Waxwing Bakery is the kind of place you pull over for without overthinking it.

If you love Tandem but don’t love the line, this is your excuse to leave town. Waxwing Bakery is a winter stop worth building into your drive north.

Go to Waxwing

Sponsored by the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine

What To Give Kids This Time Of Year

Every holiday season I end up shopping for my friend’s kids, standing in a store staring at toys that light up and make noise, trying to figure out what actually lasts. Some gifts get used once and disappear. Others quietly become part of a kid’s everyday life.

I keep buying toys or clothes for the kids in my life, and over time I’ve realized the question isn’t really about how much a child has. Some kids have shelves full of things. Others are holding onto one thing that has to last. Either way, the question ends up being the same: what actually keeps them curious, engaged, and open to the world.

Especially in winter.

At some point, you start wanting to give kids something that genuinely helps. Something that doesn’t rely on having more, but on being able to do more. Somewhere they can go to make things, ask questions, burn off energy, and feel like there’s room to explore.

That’s where experiences start to matter more than objects.

There aren’t many things to do with kids in Portland that you can reliably drop into all winter without planning your entire day around it. Which is why the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine ends up being one of those places families keep circling back to.

It’s three floors at Thompson’s Point built around a simple idea: Kids Learn by Playing. Making things. Trying things. Messing up. Doing it again. You see kids coming in bundled up from the cold, snow still on their boots, already excited before they even get inside.

One visit might be art in MakerSpace. Another is a show in Maddy’s Theatre. Another is standing nose-to-glass at the aquarium asking a million questions. There’s no “right” way to do it, which is exactly why it works.

A membership turns it from a special outing into an easy fallback. Drop in after school. Pop in on a rainy afternoon. Spend part of a Saturday there without turning it into a whole production. With free general admission all year, it pays for itself in about three visits. For most families, that’s basically one winter.

Members also get a few practical perks. Discounts on workshops, classes, theatre tickets, and birthday parties. Early Member Magic Hours. Reciprocal access to children’s museums around the country.

But the part that matters most isn’t the math.

A membership supports CMTM’s mission to keep creativity, curiosity, and access front and center for Maine kids. They’re intentional about inclusion, with scholarship memberships available so cost doesn’t quietly become a barrier. You feel that when you’re there. It feels open.

If you’re looking for a reason to go now, December helps. The Little Prince is playing in Maddy’s Theatre through December 28, and on December 31 they’re doing a New Year’s Eve Indoor Beach Party, complete with sea creatures, MakerSpace projects, and a Sea Star Drop instead of fireworks.

Kids don’t remember most of the stuff we buy them. They remember the places they keep going back to.

Scholarship details live at kitetails.org/scholarship-memberships.

I know a few kids who are getting a membership this year, and I can’t wait to tag along!

Learn more or purchase a membership

THIS WEEKS CONDITIONS
☀️ SUNRISE: 7:09 AM
🌅 SUNSET: 4:05 PM.
🌊 SEA TEMP: 45.7 °F (Casco Bay,)
✨ Local Favorite of the Week: 33 by Hand

🏡 I write the Logbook, and I’m also a Portland-based Realtor. If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home around here, I’m always happy to talk it through. Just hit reply.

🐾 Adoptable Buddies of the Week! 🐾

🐶 Coco – almost 3
Big, black, joyful, and full of energy. Coco is affectionate and playful and wants a home that likes to move. Best with kids six and up. She’s lived with cats before and can do well again with slow intros. Bring the whole household to meet her. She’s the kind of dog who fills a room fast.

🐱 Glaze – 1 (in foster)
A three-legged survivor with a lot of spark. Glaze is curious, playful, and surprisingly quick, with a shy-at-first, affectionate-later personality. Best with patient, cat-savvy teens or adults. Loves short head scratches, window watching, and cozy hiding spots. A calm home will bring out his best.

🐱 Helen – 3
A Tiny Tiger who needs a gentle, quiet start. Helen is hand-shy at first and prefers a home without young kids. With patience and space, she has the potential to be a steady, thoughtful companion. For someone who understands that trust takes time.

🐕 Interested? Check them out here

If the link doesn’t open anymore, it means they’ve already been adopted!