Friends of Congress Square Park

Cocek! Brass Band
2017-06-07 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Detroit) | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Like a spiraling galaxy, wandering notes from Balkan scales fill the corners of any room Cocek! Brass Band performs—trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone, tuba, all pouring out notes in varying speeds and directions. Pockets of writhing hipsters, grandmas, Balkan dancers and stragglers begin to swell as the Tappan drum (traditional Eastern-European drum) pounds out rhythms that seem to juggle the wandering arpeggiations and catchy melodies of the horn section.

A collection of original compositions influenced by Eastern-European and New Orleans dance music, Afrobeat, Klezmer and elements of reggae and Western Classical music is the best way to describe CBB. The songs are inspired by acts like Fanfare Ciocarlia, Fela Kuti, Miles Davis, Rebirth Brass Band, traditional Balkan songs and chamber brass repertoire. Dance music for those seeking something new and unique, contemplative Old World melodies that hark to a lost era and catchy riffs that will have you singing along and tapping your foot all night long.

**photo credit Meghan Ireland

Films in the Square: NEW YORK STORIES
2017-06-04 20:30 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Join us every Sunday evening at dusk for Films in the Square co-presented by Portland Summer Films. Bring a lawn chair, sit back and enjoy classic films in an outdoor venue. June 4th through August 27th.
Co-Presented By:

Sponsored by:

Hamilton Sing-Along!
2017-06-02 18:00 - 20:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Last year over 400 strangers came together in Congress Square Park to sing along with a Broadway Cast Recording…Time to do it again!
Join Cast Aside Productions and other HAMILTON fans on Friday June 2 (First Friday) in Congress Square Park for a revolutionary sing-along.
Dress in your finest Hamilton-inspired outfit, grab your friends, and don’t throw away your shot at singing along to the 11 time Tony Award-winning musical.
Performers wishing to get on stage: Sign-ups begin at 5:30pm.

Salsa in the Square with PM Salsa and Primo Cubano!
2017-05-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Don’t miss our sizzlin’ Salsa in the Square evenings with PM Salsa featuring Primo Cubano! ALL Level dancers wanted! From 6:00-6:30 enjoy a free 1/2 hour beginner Salsa lesson with Wendy of PM SALSA, followed by live music and dancing with Primo Cubano. Come dance the night away on the 4th Friday of the month.
PM Salsa seeks to spread the joy, creativity, athleticism and passion that is brought about through salsa dancing and to grow a stronger community through dance. Wendy Edwards of PM Salsa believes the best part of salsa dancing is in seeing people come together in a positive, healthy environment while celebrating people’s individuality. Her goal is to provide people with the foundation and tools for them to build on their own individual style. Her classes are fun and welcoming for all.
Primo Cubano plays traditional Cuban dance music dating back to the turn of the 20th Century. Son is the most popular style to come out of Cuba and is the primary contributor to the blend of Latin styles today known as Salsa. It was first a music of the country people and eventually migrated to Havana, where it was urbanized and began to draw a wider audience.
Guitarist Paul D’Alessio, a simple-living country man himself, came into contact with this music on a trip to Cuba in 2004 with the Brunswick-Trinidad Sister City Association, a cooperative between Brunswick, ME and the city of Trinidad, Cuba. He began learning to play Son music on a guitar-like instrument native to Cuba called the tres and subsequently formed Primo Cubano, “Cuban Cousin”.
Trumpeter Marc Chillemi has also spent time in Cuba and has played in various other Latin groups. He also plays percussion and sings on the choruses, or coros, to which the lead singer, or sonero responds with an improvised lyric.
Lenny Hatch has loved the congas since he first heard Mongo Santamaría play Watermelon, and he has been playing them in addition to the bongó and other percussion instruments for over 20 years now.
Eric Winter has been singing all his life and began studying Spanish at the age of 12. He has become particularly interested in Cuban music in the last few years. Eric also plays maracas and is the newest addition to Primo Cubano.
Keeping it all together is Duane Edwards on the bass fiddle. He is a graduate of the University of Maine at Augusta and plays in various groups in the area. As a jazz student, he took very quickly to the tumbao bass pattern that makes this music so danceable.

Summer Swing Dance with CC & The Swing Set
2017-05-24 18:00 - 20:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Help us kick off our 4th season of summer swing dances in the square with our incredible partner Portland Swing Project!
This talented musical powerhouse plays songs from the prohibition era on, songs from around the world, and originals fit to swing. The group’s core includes Caroline Cotter on ukulele, guitar and vocals, Tyler Lienhardt on fiddle and vocals, and Jed Bresette on standup bass and vocals. They’ll make you want to dance! Or tap your foot and smile. www.ccandtheswingset.com
Portland Swing Project is a local organization with a passion for swing music and dances of the 1920s to today. We teach, dance, perform and provide live and DJ’d swing music spanning a century to local venues. We’re also some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet – we have a bunch of fun so come join us! For information on weekly classes and dances, private lessons and special events, check out www.portlandswingproject.com.

Community Event: Steel Drum Street Dance
2017-05-06 18:00 - 20:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Join Sister Steel Pan Band (Portland) and Planet Pan Band (Blue Hill) for an outdoor dance party in the heart of Portland! We’ll be kicking off the 27th Annual New EnglandSteel Pan Festival held the following day at Thompson’s Point. Come and dance side by side with steel pan players from over twenty different bands around New England as they join together to let loose as audience members for a night! The mix of traditional calypso and familiar pop will be sure to have you dancing and smiling, no matter what age.

Community Event: Air Story from LumenARRT!
2017-05-05 20:00 - 21:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
“Air Story,” the latest video projection from LumenARRT!, will be in Congress Square on First Friday. LumenARRT!, the video crew from The Artists’ Rapid Response Team (ARRT!), is using this projection to remind people that climate change is an undisputed fact among scientists and that there are many toxic substances in our air. The brief video projections will be repeated from approximately 7:45 to 9 PM. An interactive component will allow viewers to find out the air quality in their zip code.
#WhatsYourBreathableNumber

Royal Hammer (Roots Reggae)
2017-05-05 18:00 - 20:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Join us for live music during the May First Friday Art Walk featuring Royal Hammer!
Royal Hammer is a seven-piece roots reggae collective from Portland, Maine. Comprised of some of Portland’s most talented and seasoned musicians, Royal Hammer has for many years paid thoughtful and respectful homage to the great traditions of Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, Roots Radics and many others. Fresh off the release of its debut album, My Bubble, Royal Hammer has begun spreading their message of love, hope, and justice to a broader audience. Fronted by lead singer, guitar player, and arranger, Michael Taylor (Rustic Overtones, the Awesome), Royal Hammer is, Gary Gemitti (Rustic Overtones) on drums, Tyler Quist (Jaw Gems, the Awesome) on keyboards, Stu Mahan (London Souls, Nat Osborne) on the low end, and horn section Ryan Zoidis (Lettuce, Soulive, Rustic Overtones), Dave Noyes (Plains, Rustic Overtones) and Lucas Desmond (Model Airplane, Kenya Hall Band). Among their long list of accomplishments, Royal Hammer has shared the stage with such legendary artists as Lee “Scratch” Perry, Barrington Levy, and Midnite as well as backing up international reggae artists Marty Dread and Glen DaCosta of the Wailers.

Tai Chi Chih/Qigong class
2017-05-03 10:00 - 23:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
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.

May Day Celebration!
2017-04-30 14:00 - 16:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Join us for the official opening of our 2017 season with our 3rd annual May Day Celebration! Don’t miss this wonderful family friendly community event in celebration of Spring and public spaces!
There will be May Pole festivities and New England folk dancing with live music and instruction by Caller Maggie Robinson. Fun, easy social dances for all ages – families, singles, and couples welcome. Bring friends, bring the kids!
Plus, there will face painting and tissue and crepe paper May crowns made by the wonderful seniors from 10 Congress Square Plaza and 100 State Street!

Park Clean-up Day!
2017-04-09 09:00 - 23:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Help us get the park cleaned up and ready for spring and the return of our colorful amenities! Please bring gloves. Rakes and brooms will be provided
P.S. Our colorful amenities return the week of April 17th!

Season Kick-off Meet & Greet!
2017-04-04 05:30 - 19:00 | 10 Congress Square Plaza Apartments, Portland
Join our Park Steward team!
Do you live or work in the Congress Square Neighborhood? Do you like what is happening in the park and want to get involved? Our amazing neighborhood volunteers make it all possible. YOU can help too!
Join us for our Season Kick-off Meet & Greet on April 4th from 5:30-7pm.
Come meet other volunteers, learn about our 2017 events, activities & volunteer opportunities, and help us celebrate the wonderful CSP community. From one-time events to the gardening team to our weekly amenity crew, we have plenty of opportunities for you to get engaged.
It takes a community to create a place, and a place to create a community.
Please note: RSVP required to friends@congresssquarepark.org for access to the building.

Congress Square Redesign Public Meeting #3
2017-03-16 17:30 - 19:30 | Westin Portland Harborview Hotel, 157 High Street, Portland, ME, United States
Join WRT and your local Project Team (Planning Department, Public Art Committee and FoCSP) for the final public meeting for the Congress Square Redesign schematic design phase. The schematic designs will be at 70% complete and we’re looking for public feedback before the designers complete the finishing touches.
Thank you to Westin Portland Harborview Hotel for hosting this meeting!

PMA's Lights Across Congress
2017-02-03 18:00 - 22:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
The countdown to the unveiling of the new PMA begins at 6 p.m. on February 3 with Lights Across Congress, a special event that will bring together more than 20 community organizations, businesses, and supporters to present a massive 130-foot-wide cinematic projection on the museum’s façade, promising to be the Maine arts event of the year.
Lights Across Congress will serve as a public countdown to the reopening of the PMA, and at the end of the projection the museum will open its doors and welcome visitors to the entirely new and reimagined PMA, for free.
Lights Across Congress will include one of the largest multidimensional projections in Portland’s history, made possible through generous support from Unum as well as through partnerships with Headlight AV, p3, and the City of Portland. To celebrate the reopening of the museum, the projection will light up the façade of the PMA with an exciting and colorful animated sequence that people will remember for years to come. With support from the city of Portland and to provide as many viewing angles as possible, Free Street at Congress Street will be closed to traffic on the evening of February 3.
Many more community partners will be involved—including ice sculptors and food trucks—to make Lights Across Congress a festive winter carnival environment and a true party to mark the reopening of the PMA.
Lights Across Congress is a moment of celebration for the Portland Museum of Art, as well as an opportunity to showcase the economic and social power of Maine’s arts and culture for a wide array of organizations, community partners, and businesses. From leading corporations such as Unum to creative agencies such as p3 and The VIA Agency, and from community organizations such as Creative Portland to state agencies such as the Maine Office of Tourism, Lights Across Congress and the reopening of the PMA provides a moment for the city of Portland and the state of Maine to rally around the arts.
Lights Across Congress is made possible and supported by Unum.
Technical assistance is provided by Headlight Audio Visual, Inc. and the projection is designed and animated by p3.
In-Kind Event Support for Lights Across Congress
Crestline Custom Promotional Products
Headlight Audio Visual, Inc.
Hyatt Place Portland Old Port
p3
Portland Press Herald
Seacoast Scaffold & Equipment Corporation
Townsquare Media
The Law Office of Joe Bornstein
The VIA Agency
WCSH 6
The Westin Portland Harborview
Wright-Ryan Construction
Community Partners
City of Portland
Greater Portland Convention + Visitors Bureau
Creative Portland
Friends of Congress Square Park
Hyatt Place Portland Old Port
Maine College of Art
Maine Office of Tourism
Maine Public
METRO
Portland Downtown

Last Day for 2017 Programming Submissions!
2017-01-31 23:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
If you have an idea for an event or activity in 2017, we want to hear from you! We’re looking to present a diverse mix of programming again next year – from music, films and theater to dances, engaging art interactions, and sing-alongs. They can be one-time events, weekly activities or something in between. In February, our Programming Committee will review the submissions and select the line-up for FoCSP’s 2017 In The Square series which will run from May through October.
Be part of our 2017 In the Square Series! Submit your idea here today!
Please Note: Congress Square Park is a public space, so if you prefer not to be sponsored by FoCSP under our In the Square event series, you are always welcome to apply for an event permit directly from the City of Portland Event Office at TVM@portlandmaine.gov. But, submitting an idea through our open call gives you the potential to be part of our event series and, if selected, to receive a stipend and be included in FoCSP’s event promotions.

Design Concept Presentation to Land Bank Commission
2017-01-12 17:00 - 18:00 | City Hall, Room 24
Portland’s Urban Designer and CS Redesign Project Manager, Caitlin Cameron, will be presenting the WRT/Sarah Sze concept materials to the following city boards/committees in early January for feedback and review. All of the meetings are open to the public. Join us!

Disability Advisory Committee: Wednesday, January 4, 11am (Room 24)
Historic Preservation Board: Wednesday, January 4, 6:45pm (Room 209)
Parks Commission: Thursday, January 5, 5:00pm (Room 24)
Bicycle Pedestrian Committee: Monday, January 9, 5:30pm (Room 209)
Planning Board: Tuesday, January 10, 4:30pm (Council Chambers)
Land Bank Commission: Thursday, January 12, 5:00pm (Room 24)

Public feedback on the concept will be collected through January 15th here. See full WRT/Sarah Sze Presentation here.

Design Concept Presentation to Planning Board
2017-01-10 16:30 - 17:30 | City Hall, Council Chambers

Concept Design Presentation to Bicycle Pedestrian Committee
2017-01-09 17:30 - 18:30 | City Hall, Room 209

Concept Design Presentation to Parks Commission
2017-01-05 17:00 - 18:00 | City Hall, Room 24

Concept Design Presentation to Historic Preservation Board
2017-01-04 18:45 - 19:45 | City Hall, Room 209

Concept Design Presentation to Disability Advisory Committee
2017-01-04 11:00 - 12:00 | City Hall, Room 24

Call for 2017 Programming Ideas Opens!
2017-01-01 08:00 - 17:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
We’re excited to announce our call for programming submissions for the 2017 season is now open. We will be accepting ideas through our website until Tuesday, January 31st.
If you have an idea for an event or activity in 2017, we want to hear from you! We’re looking to present a diverse mix of programming next year – from music, films and theater to dances, engaging art interactions, and sing-alongs. They can be one-time events, weekly activities or something in between. In February, our Programming Committee will review the submissions and select the line-up for FoCSP’s 2017 In The Square series which will run from May through October.
Submit your idea by 1/31 here.

Pumpkins in the Square
2016-10-23 16:00 - 18:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Join us for the 2nd annual Pumpkins in the Square! Help us celebrate a successful 2016 season with pumpkin carving, cider, treats, and blue grass music by Northwood!
BYOP or buy one at the event. Prizes will be awarded for the best carved pumpkins!
A special thanks to our in-kind sponsors: Rosemont Market, Standard Baking Company, and Allagash Brewing!
Photos from 2015 celebration:

Portland Swing Project featuring Hadacol Bouncers
2016-10-12 17:30 - 19:30 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
The Hadacol Bouncers formed in the summer of 2013 for a Portland, Maine swing dance festival and never looked back. The group is a joint effort by co-band leaders Tom Whitehead (piano) and Peter Dunphy (banjo). Tom has a multi-style background in blues, New Orleans R&B and Bebop piano, and Peter has been playing New Orleans and Chicago style jazz since he was fourteen. When forming the group, Tom and Peter handpicked some of their favorite musicians from the Portland and Portsmouth jazz scene.
The Hadacol Bouncers play the music of Fats Waller, James P. Johnson, Louis Armstrong and more. The music is a fun hybrid of New Orleans Jazz, Chicago-style Jazz, novelty songs and other classics from the great American songbook. Hadacol has a traditional lineup of banjo/tenor guitar, piano, tuba, drums, trombone, soprano sax/clarinet and trumpet/cornet.The music is fresh and bright and great for dancing! .www.hadacolbouncers.com
Portland Swing Project is a local organization with a passion for swing music and dances of the 1920s to today. We teach, dance, perform and provide live and DJ’d swing music spanning a century to local venues. We’re also some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet – we have a bunch of fun so come join us! For information on weekly classes and dances, private lessons and special events, check out www.portlandswingproject.com.

Community Event: Viking Ship!
2016-10-09 10:00 - 16:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Members of the Maine Nordmenn lodge of the Sons of Norway have rehabilitated the non-seaworthy 19’ sailboat (originally built at the Sample shipyard in Boothbay) into a Viking Ship! This impressive craft will be visiting Congress Square Park on Leif Erikson Day, Sunday, October 9, 2016.

The ship will be on display during the daylight hours and members of the Maine Nordmenn will be there to tell you a little bit about the ship, the lodge and the Vikings. This is a great photo opportunity for the whole family! Remember, Leif as the first European to reach North America, hundreds of year before Columbus!

Jeff Beam Band
2016-10-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Jeff Beam is a multi-instrumentalist songwriter from Portland, Maine. He writes, performs, records, & releases melodic experimental music tinged with kaleidoscopic soundscapes, inspired by the likes of Olivia Tremor Control, Elliott Smith, Deerhunter, & Spoon. His recordings are a one-man odyssey; his live shows revolve around an energetic band of his good friends.
His lyrics contain observations on humanity, existence, perception, and the attempt to find inner peace amidst a tumultuous outer world. Musically, Beam seeks to fuse together unorthodox pop melody with psychedelic sound textures & colorful instrumentation. 2016 opened with the release of Is Believed To Have Been, a 9-song full-length studio album follow-up to 2012’s Be Your Own Mirror.
Jeff Beam has played with Spoon, Nat Baldwin (Dirty Projectors), Eleanor Friedberger (Fiery Furnaces), Deer Tick, Marco Benevento, Sam Roberts Band, Wintersleep, Jefferson Starship, White Hinterland, and more.

CS Redesign Public Open House
2016-10-04 17:00 - 20:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
The design team WRT and artist Sarah Sze will be in Portland for a three-day Storefront Workshop to develop design concepts for Congress Square.
You are invited to attend any or all of the public sessions as scheduled below. This is your chance to shape the future design of this important public space at the heart of Portland!
Tuesday, October 4
Open House – Initial findings and approaches – Accessibility, Connectivity, Identity
5:00 – 8:00pm
Wednesday, October 5 (Please note that Sarah Sze Studio will only be in attendance on Wednesday.)
Brown Bag Lunch with Artist Sarah Sze – meet the artist and share your perspective
12:00 – 1:00pm
Open House – Presentation of Design Work from Day 2
5:00 – 8:00pm
Thursday, October 6
Open House – Preliminary Concepts
5:00 – 8:00pm
Where: All sessions will be at Think Tank Coworking (533 Congress Street)
How can you participate: All open houses are free and open to the public – feedback will be taken with interaction sessions. Please spread the word to those you think might be interested!
A big thanks to our in-kind Sponsors: Think Tank Coworking, The Art Mart, Tandem Coffee + Bakery, and Otto Pizza!

Waking Windows Music Festival
2016-10-01 12:00 - 17:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Waking Windows is a celebration of music, art, fashion, comedy & food. Featuring over 60 bands, writers, and comedians across 10 venues.
Music in Congress Square Park from noon-5pm is FREE. Stay tuned for more details on performers and times for CSP.
Tickets to the other venues can be purchased here.
Performer line-up:
Vetiver, JEFF the Brotherhood, The Luyas, Rough Francis, Nat Baldwin
Mal Devisa, Lina Tullgren, Paper Castles, Record High, YAIRMS, Soft Eyes, Leveret, Jeff Beam, Madaila, Micah Blue Smaldone, Kafari, Kelly Ravin, Footings, Greg Jamie, Beeef, Apartment 3, Asperos Saicos, Carinae, Cool Tara, Crystal Canyon, Eternals, Henry Jamison, Micromasse, Rick Rude, Tiny Hazard, Swale, Wren Kitz, Eugene Chadbourne, Foam Castles, Lisa/Liza, Music Band, Ada, Altar Boys, Altered Gee, DJ Disco Phantom, An Anderson, Bad Mariachi, Bright Boy, Diva Cup, Micromasse, Mosart212, Seth Gallant, Tanner Olin Smith

HOUSE MUSIC in the SQUARE
2016-09-30 18:00 - 20:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
An evening of soulful dance music by Portland Maine Soul Summit- POMSS local DJ’s Mr. DERELOID, KID RAY and Jack M Flash. These three DJ’s have lived and shared their positive music through residencies at Flask Lounge, private events and festivals across New England since the 1990’s. Insiders know that Portland is bursting with talent and a supportive environment for creative people of all kinds. POMSS is an international dance music festival celebrating LOVE in Portland, ME over Labor Day Weekend with an official launch in 2017. We are a group of DJ’s, vocalists, producers, promoters, artists, audiophiles and media coming together to spread positive energy and culture through house music.

Dance Party for Everyone: Make America Dance Again
2016-09-28 18:00 - 20:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Come join Ed King, Rosanne Graef and all your friends from Congress Square Park for a look at 50 years of hits, misses and crazes – get out your blue suede shoes, high-heeled sneakers and let’s do a little dance!
