Essential Spotlight
The Frog & Turtle Restaurant: Serving Fantastic Food with a Huge Heart
I
recently attended a special event at The Frog & Turtle Restaurant at Vallee Square in Westbrook, Maine. I have been there many times for their amazing food, unique cocktail concoctions and to listen to awesome local, live music, but felt compelled to write about them after this event because I was reminded once
again of their generosity. Owner and Chef James Tranchemontagne has volunteered for years at many local organizations and this event was just another example of how he helps his community. This was the 2nd annual Taste of Westbrook where chefs from various Westbrook restaurants came into the kitchen at The Frog & Turtle to take turns preparing a different course for the 4-course meal. Besides The Frog & Turtle, other Westbrook restaurants participating were Profenno’s, Lenny’s Pub and Catbird Creamery. Local craft breweries, Mast Landing and Geary’s, also participated by pairing each course with their own special beer. This event was for the Westbrook Kiwanis, which James is a member of, and the proceeds were used to purchase books for the local schools. The evening was a huge success and community spirit filled the room as everyone came together for a common cause! This was definite- ly a night for The Frog & Turtle and Westbrook to be proud of!
A second example of The Frog & Turtle Restaurant bringing people together is another annual event and this one is for chil- dren as well, but in a different way! It’s their annual holiday event where cookies, doughnuts, coffee and hot chocolate are served while enjoying live Christmas music and a visit from Santa! Bring your kids, grandkids and friends or just show up to watch, love and celebrate the magic of Christmas! The date has been set for Saturday, December 3rd, and be sure you “like” their Facebook page to stay informed of the details as they become available.
In my opinion, Westbrook is very lucky to have a local busi-
ness with such a big heart! I encourage you to visit The Frog & Turtle Restaurant, not just because they were named Top 10 in New England for their Comfort Food and Brunches or because they have talented musicians playing multiple nights a week, but to help show your support for a local business that supports its’ community in such a big way!
For more information, visit:
www.thefrogandturtle.com. See ad on page 15
How Yesterday's Adulthood Became Today's Adulting
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was talking to my 71 year old aunt the other day and men- tioned my new business, The Adulting School. “You’re opening a school for what?” she asked, and I realized the concept would be perplexing to someone who didn’t understand the language on many levels. “Oh, you mean what we used to call managing your adult responsibilities,” was her response.
Adulting IS managing adult responsibilities. That’s true. But WHY has that term sprung up today? Why do so many of us feel ill-equipped to handle being a grown-up? Some people seem to want to pin it on laziness or a sense of entitlement that they feel today’s younger folks have; that somehow the teens or 20 or 30 somethings today are too spoiled and “entitled” to handle the s&%t grown-ups have to do. But we know that’s not true.
The fact is, the world has changed so much in the last 50
years. Adulthood today is JUST NOT what it used to be. Our world has evolved and the systems in place to prepare people to be out in the world independently haven’t quite caught up.
• A solid career used to be an expected return on your investment in a Bachelor’s degree.
• The average age for first marriage was 23(w)/26(m) in 1990 and today it's 27(w)/29(m). • In 1980 the average age of a first-time mom was 22.7. In 2013 it was 26.
• People used to be able to pay for college or graduate with rea- sonable amounts of debt.
• People used to have a somewhat limited number of choices of where to live, where to work, and who to marry (usually the folks who were near them geographically).
Adulthood has changed so much that people in their 20’s now
cover a whole new phase of psychological development called “emerging adulthood.”
Emerging adulthood has 5 main features: • Identity Exploration. You’re deciding who you are and what you want out of work, school and love. • Instability. You move a lot! You either go to college or live with friends or a romantic partner. • Self-focus. You’re the one making the decisions about what you want to do, where you want to go and who you want to be with. (Up to now parents have dished out their opinions and eventu- ally marriage, children and a career might influence a lot)
• Feeling in-between. You’re taking responsibility for yourselves but still don’t completely feel like an adult.
• Possibilities. Optimism reigns. Most of you feel you’ve got good chances of living "better than your parents did," and even if your parents divorced you believe you'll find a lifelong soul-mate.
The Adulting School is going to provide the skills and con- Sign up for our
monthly e-zine and digital bimonthly magazine at
EssentialLivingMaine.com
8 Essential Living Maine ~ November/December 2016
versations necessary to get your adulting groove on! We want you to know how to deal with your debt, how to balance your check- book, fix your flat, have healthy relationships and sew on a button. We know you’re tired of feeling like you wish someone’d given you the instruction manual for being a grown-up.
Welcome to The Adulting School. We’re writing the manual now. Join our community and BE EMPOWERED. Find events in your area and Discover your Adulting IQ by taking the quiz
at.theadultingschool.com. See ad on page 21.
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