Hi hello good to see you –
I’ve mentioned before that I seem to get a lot of requests for information about three places: Birmingham, New York City, and Portland, Maine. I’ll claim expertise about Birmingham since I’ve lived here for approximately one quarter of a century, but I’m not an expert on NYC or Portland by a long shot. I’ve just visited both places a good bit, and I have some preferences, and I’m always delighted to share those preferences with you. The problem is that I have shared info about all three cities in bits and pieces and lo, over a variety of social media platforms. So when it comes to where can you find my recommendations and reactions and whatnot – well, the short answer is A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES.
You’re so welcome.
And that is why, this summer – as I have rummaged through old newsletters and Google docs and etc. to share links with readers and podcast listeners – I have come to realize that I need one centralized place to direct people with their questions.
This blog post is going to be that place. Officially. LOOK AT ME STREAMLINING THE PROCESS.
All righty. Let’s start with the Magic City.
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
– For starters, Melanie and I did a Birmingham city guide for our B’ham live show back in 2024, and we included so many of my favorites. Feel free to peruse that PDF.
– Just to make sure you know where I would stay if I were coming to town: Valley Hotel is a gem. The Grand Bohemian is also fantastic, and there’s a new Residence Inn in Mountain Brook.
– I’m super intrigued by a new boutique hotel called The Painted Lady.
– There are a few new restaurants I would add to our original list: Bayonet (next door to Helen with the same owners), Current Charcoal Grill, Armour House, and Johin’na.
– Just to reiterate: if you leave Birmingham without stopping by the shoe department at Gus Mayer, you’ve done yourself a disservice. I’d put Gus up against any shoe store in the country. I said what I said. :-)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
– I’ve done a couple of New York round-ups in newsletters. Whether you subscribe to the newsletter or not, you can reference those newsletters for hotel suggestions and info about our most recent trip.
– If you want to see one great show in NYC between now and the beginning of 2026, my vote goes to Just in Time. If you’re in New York between now and September 7th, you really, really need to see John Proctor Is the Villain. Most meaningful play I can remember.
– I get that Times Square has its challenges, but if you’re doing a theater-heavy trip, you can’t beat it for proximity to the theaters. Just put your head down and don’t make eye contact with the people dressed up like superheroes. I felt like the Hard Rock Hotel was a really nice oasis in the middle of the madness. And did I mention that it’s the best hotel air conditioning I have ever encountered?
– One of my Pilates instructors really loves The Michaelangelo, and I’m intrigued by its location. It also looks like they’ve done a recent upgrade / remodel of the rooms, and that’s always nice to see.
– Some friends and I had a really lovely early lunch at Palma a couple of years ago, so I always like to recommend it, especially for a girls’ trip.
– Hotel Chelsea remains on my want-to-stay-there list, but I feel like it should be for more of a shopping/sightseeing trip instead of a Broadway trip.
– Just a friendly reminder that The Wallace is DREAMY.
– The Wallace is also just a couple of blocks from the Beacon Theatre, and it’s always a good idea to check out who’s playing at The Beacon when you’re there. My nephew Beck and I saw Tedeschi Trucks Band there last year, and it was magical.
– My friend Kasey and I went to Cafe Carlyle for a dinner show last year, and it was a total blast.
– For central / north Alabama (and some Mississippi) travelers, I highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend Delta’s three-times-a-day direct flights from Birmingham to LaGuardia. The 11 o’clock flight gets you to LaGuardia by 2:15-ish, and you can almost always roll right up to your hotel for 4:00 check-in.
– David and I had the nicest driver on our last trip from our NYC hotel to the airport. He gave me his business card, and I’m gonna put a picture of it here. I’m a big Lyft user, but if you’re traveling in a group, it’s so nice to have someone with a big SUV waiting to pick all of you up at the airport. This chauffeur’s name is David, and he said to feel free to text him to make travel arrangements. I’m going to line him up for when I’m there again in December.
– Finally, I always book shows directly through the show’s website (go to the show’s website, then click on Buy Tickets) as opposed to any third-party site. If something should go wonky with tickets (and that’s never happened to us, btw), I’d like to be able to sort it out at the theater box office.
– Wait – another finally – I always book hotel rooms through a hotel’s website. I don’t use any of the third-party travel sites…there’s usually a mark-up, and again, if something goes wrong with a reservation, I want to deal with the hotel directly.
PORTLAND, MAINE
– David (my husband, not the driver in NYC) works for a company in Portland, so we have had the joy (AND IT IS A JOY) of getting to hang out there a good bit over the last few years. Portland is a charmer, for sure, and it’s also super walkable from downtown to the bay. In fact, we have never rented a car when we’ve been there; David walks from the hotel to his office, I walk around and pop in and out of shops, we walk to wherever we’re going to dinner – it’s just walk-y all around.
– I’ve never stayed downtown in Portland; when I go we always pick a place closer to Commercial Street because that area is where I like to do the bulk of my wandering. My favorite hotels are the AC and, if you want a little extra space, the Cambria.
– I’m not a donut fan in general, but I always, always, ALWAYS go to The Holy Donut in Portland. The blueberry donut should be a requirement for all visitors.
– Another requirement: the Duckfat frites at Duckfat. When I was in Portland earlier this summer (it was the next-to-last stop on my friend Jamie’s birthday cruise), our group-o-travelers made the pilgrimage to Duckfat, and there wasn’t a person in our group who was sad about that. The fries alone are outstanding, but when you add that gravy and those cheese curds? A REVELATION.
– Obviously seafood is a big deal on the Maine coast, but usually D and I will hit a point where we just want a really good burger. Our fave is Butcher Burger. My gosh. MY GOSH. It’s so delicious.
– For seafood restaurants I have a couple of recommendations: Street & Co. and Eventide. Street & Co. is more traditional/now-you-must-crack-open-this-lobster, and Eventide is small plates. Very different vibes in terms of the atmosphere, but the common denominator is really excellent food. David says that Scales is fantastic, too (I haven’t been there, but I’ll take him at his word).
– If you want more of a pub situation, there are tons of options, and I can vouch for the fish and chips at RiRa. Gorgeous views of the harbor, too.
– Love a good lobster roll? Try The Highroller Lobster Co. I’m not a lobster roll connoisseur, but this is a great non-food truck option. There are excellent food truck options all around, though.
– I think Standard Baking Co. is the go-to for really beautiful pastries / breads, and I am a devoted fan of the coffee at Navis Cafe. I’ve done a good bit of writing and/or editing fueled by their caffeine.
– As for shopping – there’s just so, so much – but there are a few places I go every single time: Kate Nelligan, Blanche & Mimi, Sea Bags (I don’t need any more tote bags, but I love looking through all their designs), and the CUTEST kitchen shop, LeRoux Kitchen (I could spend HOURS there).
– Obviously there are all sorts of Portland treasures tucked away all over the city, so when you’re there, be sure to ask some locals about their favorites. D’s coworkers have given us so many great suggestions.
Questions? Leave ’em in the comments like it’s 2008 and blogs are the hottest thing going on the interwebs.
Happy travels, everybody!
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