Feeling cabin feverish? We get it. Shoveling, shivering and layering in wool makes us cranky and itching to hit the town. It’s time to get up, get out and get your groove back. Here’s a rundown of activities to assist. Hat and hand-warmers optional. Well, sort of.
The kids are alright
Musical youth needs mentors. On Friday, Maine’s 21-piece orchestra, the Maine Youth Rock Orchestra, gets them in spades. Students ages 12 to 18 take the stage at Port City Music Hall with a trio of local tunesmiths such as Maine’s “holler-folk band” Ghost of Paul Revere, bluegrass rockers Darlingside and the harmonic heroes The Ballroom Thieves for a mid-winter jam. The collaborative show is everything that is right with Maine music now. Bands perform original songs with the orchestra. They share unscripted moments, stagecraft and the spotlight. Come out and dance the snowmageddon blues away.
Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 the day of. www.portcitymusichall.com, 7 p.m.
Winterfest is winterful
The toboggan races are not until next weekend, but Camden Winterfest is not a one-and-done event. On Saturday the frosty fun begins at the Village Green, where snow sculptures come to life. Sculptors participating in the state’s only sanctioned competition of its kind work all weekend. Judging takes place Sunday at noon. In the meantime head over to the Snowbowl for freestyle ski and snowboard demos Saturday and Sunday and to sneak a peek at the chute. For more information, visit www.camdenmaineexperience.com.
SuperBowl beer bash with extra spice
All-you-can-eat Mexican food, Maine craft beer and a Super Bowl win by the New England Patriots. What more can you want? How about transportation? The good people behind Hella Good Tacos, Bissell Brothers and Maine Brew Bus join forces on Sunday to make it happen. They can’t promise a win, but they can promise a tasty tailgate party. Think self-serve taco bar, tapatio wings, beer-battered pickles and artichoke hearts, chili and churros. Wash it down with Bissell Brothers Beer on three taps at Hella’s headquarters. That’s $5 pours; $20 buffet. Catch Pats action from a super screen with this festive crew. The brew bus provides complimentary shuttle service to and from the event. Hella Good Tacos, 500 Washington Ave, Portland. 4:30 to 10 p.m. Tickets available at www.eventbrite.com.
Winter in Waterville, dog sleds, bonfires and thou
It’s Maine and it’s going to snow. Throw yourself into the spirit at the Winter Carnival at Quarry Road. On Saturday families and outdoor enthusiasts can cross country ski and snowshoe on 6 miles of groomed trails, try out winter bike equipment and recharge with soups, stews and chili — a buck a cup. Want to sled and warm up by a bonfire? Ride a dog sled? This city-owned park over 200 acres is ready to oblige. Get up early and make this happen. See winter in a new light. Quarry Road Recreation Area, Quarry Road, Waterville. Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free. www.quarryroadrecarea.org
Openings/closing at Portland Museum of Art
Portland sculptor Aaron T. Stephan closes out his show at the Portland Museum of Art Saturday with an artist talk about his last 10 years, which coincides with his increasing prominence. The Maine College of Art grad creates accomplished installations, from pillars to moveable blocks to Chuck Close-like images. His show “To Borrow, Cut, Copy, and Steal” moved from the gallery walls to his kitchen. Stephan will discuss the eight concept dinners he staged in his Portland home, along with his life in art, in this slideshow presentation. If you are interested in the state of contemporary art, this is your ticket. Saturday at 11 a.m. $5 or free for members. This show ends Feb. 8.
While at the PMA, check out “The Coast & the Sea: Marine and Maritime Art in America,” which opens Friday. Organized by the New York Historical Society, the exhibit features 52 marine paintings and 10 maritime artifacts showcasing the United States’ seafaring history. The works, from 1750 to 1904, include portraits of seafarers and vessels, seascapes and harbor views, naval battle scenes and images of leisure and labor on the water. Admission is $12. Portland Museum of Art, 7 Congress Square, Portland. 207-775-6148, www.portlandmuseum.org. The show runs until April 26.
