A Little of This, A Little of That: Local Pizza, Québécois Folk Music, a Caskata Table Setting & Trader Joe’s Favorites

A few moments from the week — a wonderful new local pizza spot, an evening of lively Québécois folk music, dreaming of summer with a sea-creature table from Caskata, and a few of my favorite Trader Joe’s items.

We are in that in-between season.

No longer full-on winter, but definitely not spring yet either. I woke on Wednesday morning to a snowy wonderland — fluffy white covering every branch and stem. Within a couple of hours, though, the temperature had risen to 40 and the fresh snow had melted, flooding my front walkway, turning my driveway to mud, and revealing the layers of old dirty snow beneath.

Classic early March in Maine.

So I can’t say this is my favorite season. If you have been with me for a while, you might remember that I tend to get downright cranky this time of year. So forgive me in advance.

But I try, as always, to look for the small joys — everyday things that lift my spirits. This week I’m sharing a few of those with you: a rare night out for pizza and live music, a fun sea-creature-themed table with dishes and linens from Caskata, and what I always pick up when I make my monthly trek to Trader Joe’s in Portland.

Join me today for a little of this and a little of that.

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A Wonderful New Local Pizza Spot

I have written before that one of the things I love about Maine is how often I am surprised by people and places here. Artist Jamie Wyeth sitting in front of me in paint-splattered pants at a local reception. The Alna Store — a James Beard semi-finalist for Best New Restaurant — in an unassuming building at a crossroads in I-don’t-really-know-where.

On Saturday night I was surprised and delighted once again by a new place — this time a charming new pizza spot.

St. George Pizza is located in “downtown” Warren. To be clear, I have driven around Warren countless times but never realized it had a downtown. So I use the term loosely — there is a village green, a lovely stone library, an open-by-chance antiques store, a building under renovation, and next door, St. George Pizza, painted blue and white with a cheery red door.

Megs Senk and George Korsnick opened the place last January as an anchor when their day jobs began changing in ways beyond their control.

It turns out this warm and welcoming space — filled with mismatched antique and homemade furniture — has become an anchor for this small community too. The night a friend and I went, there was only one other table of diners when we arrived. But by the time we left, the place was buzzing.

Megs and George kept the menu simple — soft, airy Sicilian-style crust topped with fresh ingredients, locally grown or produced when possible. One white wine, one red, and one with bubbles. Three beers and three cocktails. A wedge salad to start and a chocolate cake to finish.

My friend and I both had the Greens pizza — “white pie + big pile of lemon-y arugula.” It was delicious in its simplicity.

We couldn’t stop talking about what a delightful time we had. I will certainly be back again (and again). If you happen to make it to downtown Warren, ME — or anywhere nearby — don’t miss it!

An Evening of Live Music with Le Vent du Nord

After dinner, my friend and I headed to Rockland (which has a true downtown) for a concert by the Canadian band Le Vent du Nord. Dinner and live music — a rare night out!

I had never heard of the band, but my son-in-law, who loves indie music, noticed they were playing at a local theater and purchased tickets for me. The Strand Theatre is a real gem — a historic performing arts venue that showcases first-run art-house films, live music, and HD broadcasts such as the Metropolitan Opera. We are lucky to have it in our small town.

Winters are quiet and dark down the peninsula, and I tend to stick close to home. I often forget there is a relatively lively scene — restaurants and entertainment — just a half-hour drive away (through the pitch black…).

So imagine my surprise when we arrived at the concert of a band I had never heard of to find a sold-out theater full of people. There were even a few familiar faces. I was loving the energy, and the band wasn’t even on stage yet. Once they were, they took things to the next level.

Le Vent du Nord is a well-known Québécois folk band that brings traditional French-Canadian music to life with fiddles, accordion, guitar, rhythmic foot percussion, and the electronic hurdy-gurdy. The music was lively and full of joy, as were the four musicians — often simultaneously stomping their feet on percussion boards, playing the fiddle, and singing. (It gave new meaning to rubbing your tummy and patting your head at the same time.)

I spent my entire career working in foreign policy, so I think a lot about our country’s standing in the world these days. Relations with our good neighbors to the north have often been tense over the past year, and then last Saturday saw the start of strikes on Iran. All this weighs on my heart. So thank you, Adam, for gifting me this sorely needed evening out — full of positive energy, community, and international goodwill.

Dreaming of Summer with a Caskata Sea-Creature Table

There’s still snow on the ground, but my friends at Caskata sent me some table linens and dishes that have me dreaming of summer.

I had fun setting a table with them, pretending the days were long and the windows open. I thought I would share it with you, in case you are also summer-dreamin’ — just ignore the bare trees and white stuff outside the windows in the photos.

Caskata is a wonderful woman-owned small New England business — just the kind I like to support. I have partnered with them multiple times in the past, filling my cupboards with a collection of classic-but-fun dishes and glassware. Even Maddie and Cisco eat their meals out of Caskata bowls — Maddie’s has a floral pattern and Cisco’s is covered in fish. Both are blue and white, of course.

This time they surprised me with a sea-creature theme — entrée bowls, drinking glasses, a table runner, and coordinating napkins.

To set the table, I pulled in some Caskata dinner plates rimmed in blue stripes, my everyday vintage silverplate utensils, and Serena & Lily rattan placemats I scored at a local church thrift store.

For the centerpiece I went full-on summer with simple cordless lamps with wicker shades, large seashells, and starfish. I usually use the view out my windows as inspiration, so creating something so out of sync with the season was an interesting exercise for me. I can’t wait to set the same table this summer.

When I visited the Caskata website to link the products (below), I noticed they’re having a big end-of-winter sale — 25% off orders of $150+, 30% off $200+, and 35% off $300+. If you are looking for something special for your table, this would be a good place to look. They have some lovely new spring designs. (Or you can skip straight to summer, like I did.)

Want to see more Caskata table inspiration? Check out these posts: Summer in Maine: A Coastal Table Setting on the Porch, Planning My Holiday Home Part 2 | Pillows, Throws, and Table Setting, After the Homeworthy Shoot | My Home all Prepped and Primped.

Shopping links:

Shop my products and the Caskata sale.

Unfortunately my rechargeable lamps and wicker placemats are no longer available. I have linked similar items here.

What I Always Bring Home from Trader Joe’s

I am a huge fan of Trader Joe’s. Their combination of unique, often quirky items, well-priced staples, and creative marketing has kept me coming back for years. In Maryland, Trader Joe’s was an easy five-minute drive from my home. Alas, in Maine there is only one store in the entire state — a two-hour trek for me to Portland.

I try to get there once a month to stock up — often on my way home from the airport if I am traveling, or otherwise a long round trip. There is always something new to discover at Trader Joe’s, but today I am sharing the things I always bring home with me — a mix of pantry items and special treats. Maybe there is something on my list that is new to you.

I give the full Molly-in-Maine endorsement to each and every one of these items (in no particular order):

All the nuts and seeds (almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts, cashews, walnuts, pecans, pepitas, sunflower seeds, etc.): I have bags and bags of nuts in my pantry. I use them in granola and baked goods, to top salads or a bowl of oatmeal, and to snack on by the handful. Maddie and Cisco each get four almonds in the morning when they come in from their first time out. In the summer I also keep bags of mixed seasoned nuts on hand for impromptu happy-hour get-togethers. Trader Joe’s selection and prices are better than my local grocery store.

• All the dried fruits: Trader Joe’s carries fruits other stores don’t. My favorites are tart dried cherries (so good!), apricots, and blueberries. Again, their prices beat most regular stores.

• Chili lime tortillas: They elevate the everyday quesadilla.

• Sesame sticks: Large and crunchy. I often enjoy a small bowl while I feed the animals in the evening.

• Dark chocolate covered power berries: I don’t know how much power these give me, but a few make a delicious sweet-tart treat.

• Dark chocolate covered almonds: Again, moderation is key — five or six for dessert.

• Happy Trekking Trex Mix: A handful of this mix of almonds, chocolate chips, cashews, pistachios, cranberries, and cherries helps energize me for my evening workout.

• Cheese: Unexpected Cheddar, Quattro Formaggi (an easy addition to scrambled eggs), and Authentic Greek Feta (creamy and smooth).

• Organic Super Bread: Nutrient-dense with nine grams of protein per serving. I like that the slices aren’t huge, like some breads.

• Power Greens: Sub for plain spinach in soups, salads, scrambled eggs, and even quesadillas.

• Premium Extra-Virgin Olive Oil: My everyday oil for cooking and salad dressings.

• Flowers: Because we all know Trader Joe’s has the best flowers.

Of course there are other items I enjoy from Trader Joe’s — their Thanksgiving Stuffing Seasoned Kettle Chips were addictive. In the winter, I also get a package of steamed lentils and the holiday hash to make an easy soup. And while I don’t find their wine prices to be better than my local Hannaford, last visit I did pick up a bottle of red wine they were promoting for $5.

If you love Trader Joe’s like I do, their podcast, Inside Trader Joe’s, with “inside information” on their products is a fun listen. You can find it wherever you get your podcasts.

This Week Into Next

Well, we made it through the first week of March. With all that is going on, that seems like an accomplishment.

I plan on celebrating tonight with a glass of that five-dollar wine and the final episode of the most recent season of Bridgerton. I have a sneaking suspicion it is going to have a happy ending, and that is exactly what I need at the moment.

This weekend I have pillow covers to sew for Zoë, and Sunday is the monthly antiques show in Bath. I am also planning a little time to sit and work on my needlepoint canvas. It’s coming along, and I’ll share my progress with you soon!

I hope you all are tending to your own hearts with moments of joy and peace.

Be well and take good care,