Friends of Congress Square Park

Fishin' Ships Food Truck
2018-06-17 18:00 - 21:00, 2018-06-03 18:00 - 21:00, 2018-06-01 17:00 - 20:00, 2018-05-30 17:00 - 20:00 (America/Detroit) | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Fishin’ Ships Food Truck starts with a classic street food that pays tribute to Portland’s historic fishing industry – fish and chips! Then, they break the mold of what is traditionally considered fish and chips by offering craft beer batters made with gourmet ingredients. Look forward to a perfected classic, and twists like a basil and thai chili battered fish, prepared in Bissell Brothers Substance beer batter or a curry and onion battered fish, fried in Allagash White beer batter. A rotating menu of lighter fare options include fish tacos, fish sliders, and ceviche. All fish comes from local waters and all beer batters are made with Maine made beer!

Flea Bites Food Truck Brunch
2018-06-17 11:00 - 15:00
Come to the park to enjoy an afternoon of live music and street food! In June, four trucks will be featured, and musicians Jake Hoffman and Geraud Ngolo will perform from noon to 2pm.
Sponsored by Portland Flea-for-All.

Flea Bites is a series! Join us in Congress Square Park for the Food Truck Brunch on third Sundays June through October from 11am – 3pm every time.

Falafel Mafia Food Truck
2018-06-15 18:00 - 20:00, 2018-06-13 20:30 - 22:00, 2018-06-08 18:00 - 20:00, 2018-06-06 17:00 - 19:00, 2018-05-25 18:00 - 20:00, 2018-05-23 18:00 - 20:00, 2018-05-18 18:00 - 20:00, 2018-05-05 18:30 - 20:00 and 1 more date
Falafel Mafia is a Maine based food truck and catering company specializing in Falafel pita pockets and other Middle Eastern cuisine. They aim to support local farms while making creative and delicious food, much of which is vegetarian or vegan. And they’ll be in Congress Square Park regularly throughout the season! Check out our calendar to see which events will feature their cuisine.

Check Mates! Chess
2018-05-05 09:00 - 12:00
The Check Mates! is a casual community chess club for everyone! All ages and experience levels welcome. Come for just a game or stay for as long as you like.
Use one of 10 new Weighted Tournament Style chess sets to play a game with a friend or a neighbor you don’t yet know.
*This event is weather permitting. If it gets too cold, Check Mates! will meet at the nearby Coffee by Design on Congress Street.*

Check Mates! Chess meets weekly in Congress Square Park every Saturday morning from 9 am until noon from May through October.

Thanks to SPACE Gallery, The Friends of Congress Square Park and YES Books for making this series possible.

Chase the Chill: Knitting in Public
2018-05-03 09:30 - 11:00
Chase the Chill: Knitting in Public is a casual hand-crafts group that meets weekly in the Square. If you’re a knitter or crocheter, gather with others to create craft and community each week!
*This event is weather-permitting. Should rain or inclement weather occur, the group will likely meet in the Reiche School Community Room.*

Knitting in Public is hosted in Congress Square Park weekly every Thursday from 9:30 until 11 am May through September.

Robin’s Zodiac Yoga Summer Series with Live Music
2017-07-27 17:30 - 18:45
Flow for the Solstice. Salute the return of summer as Congress Square Arts rolls out the dance floor for astrology based yoga in the park 4 times this season.
June 22nd Solstice & New Moon Yoga with music by Happy Folk
July 27th Robin’s Zodiac Yoga for Leo season with music by Helena Nash
August 24th Robin’s Zodiac Yoga for Virgo season with Sacred Sound & Living Todd Glacy
September 21st New Moon and Autmnal Equinox Yoga with musical guest tba
All classes are on Thursdays at 5:30 pm and free for all!
Keep Portland beautiful & vibrant & enjoy our downtown parks!

The Way We Move
2017-07-08 15:00 - 16:00
The Way We Move activity is an interactive flow arts/circus program for children and adults with disabilities, and anyone else who wants to participate. There will be multiple types of props and movement activities for people to try out and play with and trained instructors to help people learn the activities and address any needs they may have. The end of the session involves participants and the instructors showcasing their skills. Come join the fun!

Chase the Chill Knitting in Public
2017-07-06 09:30 - 11:00
Calling all knitters and crocheters! Lend your needles and hooks to creating a scarf, hat, mittens or socks!

Robin's Zodiac Yoga Summer Series with Live Music
2017-06-22 17:30 - 18:45

Kitten Therapy
2016-09-28 11:30 - 13:30
Midday stress and world events got you down? Lighten up your day with a dose of kitten therapy in Congress Square Park.
The Animal Refuge League and Dextrous Creative will be hosting kitten therapy on Wednesday, September 28th inviting park goers to take a break from their busy day to relax and play in a box of bouncing kittens.

Robin's Zodiac Yoga
2016-09-12 16:00 - 17:00
Robin’s Zodiac Yoga starts your week off right with Sun and Moon salutations, deep stretches, twists, balance, and heart and hip openers. Attune your mind and body to the natural rhythm of the season including postures aligned with new and full moons. Energize with breath and movement, songs and sound, and other surprises that’ll make you smile. All levels are welcome including beginners. Robin promises a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. Bring your own mat.

Bayside Trio (Contemporary Chamber)
2016-08-11 18:00 - 19:30
Back by popular demand, Bayside Trio joins us for a special Thursday evening performance, complete with PortTango dancers.
Widely recognized for their dynamic and imaginative approach, the Bayside Trio is a bold new voice in contemporary chamber music today. Dedicated to pioneering new works, creatively arranging for their instrumentation and presenting compelling repertoire that is seldom heard, the Trio is passionate about inspiring their audiences with inventive interpretations of progressive new works.
Anastasia Antonacos has given notable performances around the world as a solo recitalist and chamber musician. She has played at venues such as the Salle Cortot, Casa Orfeo, Holland’s Alkmaar Conservatory, and Alice Tully Hall. She has also played in Greece, Russia, France, and Belgium, as well as various places in the U.S., including Washington D.C.Dr. Antonacos has made solo appearances with the Northshore Philharmonic Orchestra, the Midcoast Symphony Orchestra, the Portland Symphony Orchestra, and the Bangor Symphony Orchestra. A former member of the full-time piano faculty at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, she holds a master’s and doctorate in piano performance from Indiana University in Bloomington, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Maine School of Music. She lives with her husband and daughter in Portland, where she was named one of the 100 Most Influential People of Portland by the Phoenix.
Flutist Nicole Rabata has performed throughout Europe, Asia and the United States as a soloist and chamber musician. Recent performance highlights include appearances at Interharmony International Music Festival in Bavaria, the International Flute Festival of Lund, Sweden and the Magic Flute Festival in Stockholm. She was selected as guest performer and presenter at the National Flute Conventions in both New York City and San Diego. She has appeared at the White Mountain Bach Festival, Portland Chamber Music Festival and has been featured on NPR National Radio, BBC Glasgow and French National Television. She has adjudicated and coached chamber music at the Bay Chamber Concerts’ Next Generation program, and recently travelled twice to India to teach and perform, co-directing and coaching a chamber music program at the Gandhi Ashram School in the Himalayas and presenting concerts in Northeast Bengal.
Benjamin Noyes, originally from Maine, studied in Boston before leaving for San Francisco at age 15 to participate in San Francisco Conservatory’s preparatory division. He won numerous awards while attending SOTA, an arts magnet high school in San Francisco , including top prizes in NFAA’s ARTS Recognition Competition, National Federation of Music Clubs Competition, and the National ASTA competition. After graduating, he was selected by Yo-Yo Ma to perform as soloist and recitalist throughout China, with the Beijing, Chengdu, Shenzen and Shanghai Symphony Orchestras. He received his BM from Rice University and his MM from Northwestern University playing under numerous maestros, including Pierre Boulez, Daniel Barenboim, and Mstislav Rostropovich. As a fellowship recipient he attended the Tanglewood Institute, the New York String Orchestra Seminar, Yale’s summer festival in Norfolk, CT, Sarasota Chamber Music Festival, the Aspen Festival, and participated in the Meadowmount program. A multi-faceted individual, Benjamin Noyes has as many talents as interests. His career currently finds him collaborating and participating in groups performing an eclectic array of styles, from improvising/composing with poets Gil Helmick and Lola Haskins, performing with the hip hop collective Immense Porpoise, jazz cellist in Quartet MUS, arranging and producing electronic music for the upcoming show Women’s Works, a concert of modern dance produced by Shana Bloomstein, as well as continued participation in various chamber ensembles in the area, including The Island Chamber Players and the Bayside Trio. He also finds immense joy sharing his passion for the arts as a teacher, coach and motivator of all ages and professions.

Colorist Club
2016-06-06 13:30 - 14:30
Join your fellow coloring enthusiasts weekly for a little creative meditation time. No instruction offered – coloring pages will be available or bring your own; bring your own pencils, crayons, markers, paints. For all ages and abilities – relax, have fun, meet new people and create!

Robin's Zodiac Yoga
2016-06-02 07:30 - 08:30
Robin’s Zodiac Yoga starts your day off right with Sun and Moon salutations, deep stretches, twists, balance, and heart and hip openers. Attune your mind and body to the natural rhythm of the season including postures aligned with new and full moons. Energize with breath and movement, songs and sound, and other surprises that’ll make you smile.

All levels are welcome including beginners. Robin promises a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. Bring your own mat.

Chase the Chill - Knitting in Public
2016-05-05 09:30 - 11:00
Calling all knitters and crocheters! Lend your needles and hooks to creating a scarf, hat, mittens or socks that will be used to decorate Congress Square Park on Veterans Day, November 11, 2016! The items will be displayed on trees, benches, light poles, etc. Anyone who needs or likes something is welcome to take it free of charge and wrap themselves up in it!
You can create on your own or if you’d like to work together drop by the Square any Thursday morning from 9:30-11am for part or all of the time. Please bring your own supplies. If you have yarn, needles or hooks that you’d like to donate for this project, please let us know.
https://www.facebook.com/ChasetheChillPortlandMaine/

Tai Chi Chih/Qigong
2016-05-04 10:00 - 11:00
Take an hour out of your busy week to enjoy a free Tai Chi Chih/Qigong class with Raymond Reid.
Tai Chi Chih (pronounced tie chee cha) is a non martial form of Tai Chi that increases the life force or vital energy that flows through us and all things in the universe.
Tai Chi Chih consists of 19 movements and one posture. Tai Chi Chih creates an awareness of and influences dimensions of our being that are not part of traditional exercise programs.
