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.

I Think I’m Going to Spend a Lot of Time at Supper Club

I’ve been excited for Supper Club for a while. Anyone who liked Cocktail Mary’s (RIP) will understand why.

I ended up inside way before I probably should have by accident. Someone connected me to Jake from the team because they thought I could help style food photos. I already knew I couldn’t. I haven’t done that in years and don’t even own the gear anymore. But I wanted to see inside, and this was my perfect chance.

When I arrived, they were installing a fish tank near the back bar. The room was mostly finished, tools scattered, people in booths planning the menu.

It was already coming together. Unfortunately, I had to break it to them that I wasn’t the right person to help, but I was excited to come back once it was alive.

A few weeks later, my chance to return came when I ended up there as a plus one. My friend G from Portland Dirt brought me to one of the early nights they did for the Space crew.

Between the time I was there and the opening night the place truly transformed. It already felt like a place locals were at…

Nobody was hovering near the door ready to Irish Exit. People weren’t there just to bar hop. Groups had settled in and stopped checking their phones. At one point, I realized people had been engrossed in the same conversations for over an hour.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get to try their food that night; Bones from Oun Lido catered. They also said they’re trying to keep prices reasonable, which matters more than most design choices now.

Walking onto Congress, it already felt established. I can see a random Tuesday turning into 11:30 easily. I’ll probably end up in that back room more than I plan to.

They open at the end of the month

You Like That House for a Reason

There’s a certain kind of house that people almost always react to the same way.
They slow down a bit while walking past and usually say some version of “wow… that’s a nice house,” even when it isn’t large or recently renovated.

It usually has a deep front porch, wide enough for chairs instead of just steps. The front door sits back from the exterior wall rather than opening right onto the sidewalk. The windows line up but don’t feel rigid, and the roof looks sized for the building instead of decorative. The whole place feels settled into the lot rather than placed on top of it.

You’ll notice people tend to interact with these houses differently. Packages can sit out of the weather. Someone can sit outside without feeling like they’re directly on the sidewalk. You can acknowledge someone walking by without fully inviting them in. The design creates a small buffer between the street and the interior.

Next time you’re out, try a quick comparison.
Find a house like that and stand across the street. Then look at a newer house nearby. The newer one often has a shallower porch, the door sits closer to the exterior, and the windows prioritize alignment over direction. You register it and keep walking. The older one tends to hold your attention a moment longer.

Many of those older houses were designed by the same architect: John Calvin Stevens.

He was working before central heating and cooling systems automatically handled comfort, so the building itself managed wind, sunlight, and privacy. The recessed entry slows drafts before the door opens. The porch creates a transition space. Windows are positioned for seasonal light rather than only symmetry. Rooms connect gradually instead of opening immediately into the main living area.

I also hear it all the time at showings. Someone walks in and says, “This room just feels right” within about ten seconds, before they’ve seen the kitchen or even the bedrooms. They’re reacting to the entry transition, ceiling height, and the source of the light, not the finishes. People assume they’re responding to style, but most of the time it’s layout.

People often describe these houses as cozy, but the effect mostly comes from the layout, which supports everyday movement between inside and outside.

After you notice one, you start seeing them everywhere.

Deep Dive into Maine’s Memory of John Calvin Stevens

THIS WEEKS CONDITIONS
☀️ SUNRISE: 6:37 AM
🌅 SUNSET: 5:14 PM
🌊 SEA TEMP: 37 °F (Casco Bay,)
✨ Local Favorite Shop of the Week: Skordo
✨ Local Artist of the Week: Bellows Tattoo

Portside Real Estate Group

🏡 I write The Portland Logbook, and I also help people buy and sell homes in Portland.

If a move is on your mind, I’m always happy to help you think it through.

Work With Jake

🐾 Adoptable Buddies of the Week! 🐾

🐶 Crumpet – 4 yrs
Big dog, soft life. She’ll follow you room to room, go for a long walk, then claim half the couch like it was always hers. Good with kids 8+, wants to be the only dog at home. If you’ve ever wanted a built-in best friend, this is one of those dogs.

🐶 ZZ Flops – 1 yr
Shy at first, then suddenly zoomies and leaning into you on the couch. He just needs someone calm and patient to show him the world is fine. A confident dog friend helps. The payoff here is huge once he trusts you.

🐱 Chalk – 1 yr
Quiet little black cat energy. Needs a confident cat buddy and a peaceful home, but if you give her time she’ll start choosing you. Not loud about affection, just steady and real.

🐕 Interested? Check them out here

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