Find the Best Things to Do in Nasons Corner
By Mark Pechenik
Portland Local Expert
About Nasons Corner
Photo courtesy of Mark Pechenik
Once a primarily blue collar neighborhood for local Portland dock workers, Nasons Corner has been "rediscovered" by an influx of ethnic groups and young hipster types. The result is a community where families and individuals of many backgrounds are staking their own identity in this vibrant, changing corner of Portland.
See & Do
Nasons Corner is conveniently located near such downtown Portland landmarks as the world famous Portland Museum of Art, the Maine Historical Society, and the Children’s Museum of Maine. Several tour operators can be found locally who frequently arrange treks through the city and nearby Casco Bay. Among these are Portland Discovery (170 Commercial Street, 207-774-0808, www.portlanddiscovery.com) which features trolley and sailing excursions for visitors interested in taking in Portland’s many sightseeing opportunities. Within Nason’s Corner itself, the Portland Fire Museum (175 Spring Street, 207-772-2040, www.portlandfiremuseum.com) does a great job of presenting the rich, courageous firefighting history of Maine’s largest city. This museum features one of the best collections of antique firefighting equipment – from trucks to axes – on display in New England as well as a vast collection of photographs, documents, and paintings. Art lovers will find much to like about Nason’s Corner thanks to the University of New England Gallery of Art (716 Stevens Avenue, 207-221-4499, http://www.une.edu/artgallery/) . This museum features a vast collection of works including photography, paintings, sculpture, illustrations, and craft pieces from the early 1800s to the modern day. The museum is especially celebrated for its modern art holdings, many of which have been created or donated by alumni.
Eat
An influx of Asian immigrants in the 1990s has introduced fine Pacific dining to the Nasons Corner district of Portland. Among the best of these eateries is Kons Asian Bistro (1140 Brighton Avenue, 207-874-0000, www.konasianbistrome.com) which specializes in light, tasty and fresh Asian fare with emphasis on Japanese and Chinese cuisine. Another popular choice – and well worth sampling – is Panda Garden Restaurant (1041 Brighton Avenue, 207-874-6935). This eatery features traditional Chinese dishes that are home cooked to order by the restaurant’s family staff. While the menu is fairly standard, each order is both tasty and satisfying.
Party
Nightlife in Nasons Corner features an appealing mix of quiet, low key taverns and cafes, perfect for relaxing over cocktails and good conversation. For those seeking a more active nightlife scene, however, the Platinum Plus entertainment complex (200 Riverside Street, 207-772-8033) dominates the neighborhood. This upscale lounge features a plush, comfortable atmosphere with subdued lighting, a large dance floor. top of the shelf liquors and craft ales. Weekends feature an expert DJ spinning house beats. Sharing this address is Nashville North (200 Riverside Street, 207-828-0355) which features an alt-country theme with music, design and good vibes.
Shop
Think of Nasons Corner and inevitably quirky, independent spirited and owned shops come to mind. In particular, this neighborhood has become a top destination for gourmet baked goods. Among top picks are Upscale Consignment Furniture (150 Riverside Street, 207-774-2900, www.upscalegroup.com) which features premium used furniture – everything from lamps to antique bureaus – available to the public. Many of the finds here are from estate sales that feature one-of-a-kind items. Several shops do a fine job of carrying on Nasons Corner’s deserved reputation for the finest in pies and pastries. Among them are the award winning Izzy’s Cheesecake (135 Walton Street, 207-797-9990, www.izzyscheesecake.com); Cakes Extraordinare (1048 Brighton Avenue, 207-874-2253, www.cakesextraordinaire.com); and Rosemont Market (559 Brighton Avenue, 207- 774-8129, www.rosemontmarket.com) each is know for serving up some of the finest, tastiest and moist bakery specialties in the region.