Bray's. I Love This Bar.

Is it Toby Keith who sings the great song "I Love This Bar?" I think it is. 

I know what he's talking about. I love this bar. There is no better better place to have a drink and hang out. I've spent many a night at Bray's over the past six summers. It's part of the reason I keep coming back to Maine for the summer.

Bray's is tucked away in the small Maine town of Naples. It's about 15 minutes away from camp and is a local joint. A lot of places around camp cater to the camp counselor crowd, but not Bray's. We come up here on any given night, sit out side and wind down. 

They make their own beer and The Canadian will tell you that there is no better porter beer made in the world. 

The regulars all have hand made ceramic mugs that line the shelves and hang from the ceiling.

The outside beer garden is full of picnic tables. It's our favorite place to sit.

Pete the bartender usually works the outside bar. He's the grumpiest bartender alive (I take that back, he just brought my nachos to me and is in a good mood) but we love him anyway. Don't get me wrong, we love Nate, Scotty and Woody too. They even come outside and hang out with us on slow nights. 

Live music plays inside every night and the place gets rowdy with all the locals dancing their hearts out.

When it gets a little chilly, as Maine nights do, someone always lights up the fire pit for a little warmth and ambiance. 

So, next time you're looking for me on a random summer night and I'm not answering my phone its because I'm sitting my happy butt at Bray's hanging out with Tiffany, The Canadian, or another camp friend and ignoring the real world.

Next time you're in Naples be sure to swing by and try the Porter. You can thank The Canadian for the recommendation.

A Morning Wine Tasting. It's How We Roll.

Hello Blacksmith's Winery! Tiffany and I are ready to taste some wine! So what if it's 11am in the morning? It was a Saturday and one of our few days off camp. We decided to throw caution to the wind and start off our day with a bang.

This winery is located in a small town in Maine. It may be tiny, but it is packed with all sorts of delicious treats.

The bar was super cool. It was made of lots of different old doors. The counter was steel from their old loading dock. Apparently the counter isn't even attached to the bar. It's so heavy it just sits on top and isn't going anywhere.

Not only do they make your basic red and white wines...

They make goodies like Blueberry wine, Sparkling Cranberry, Peach Wine, Rhubarb Wine and Elderberry Wine. Like, whoa.

The bartender, Brandon, was adorable and super friendly. He helped us pick out the 5 wines we would each be tasting.

There were definitely some favorites. Tiffany started with a Vidal Blanc and I went directly for the Blueberry. I could have finished the bottle.

The Roughshod was amazing. It's made of Maine blueberries blended with brandy. I think I died. The Sparkling Cranberry was a close second. Okay, it may have been a tie.

But, wait. It was a Saturday. That means the Ice Wine was available. I'm not sure you're familiar with the concept of Ice Wine but it is rare and expensive. Something about the grapes being frozen. I wasn't really paying attention, I had just inhaled for glasses of wine, mind you. Anyway, this stuff runs $50 for a small bottle and it is sweet. Holy cow, it is sweet. A taste test was definitely all I could handle.

It was time to make our exit and get on with the shopping.

I was just tipsy enough, and just excited enough to grab a bottle of Sparkling Cranberry. 

Okay, fine. I bought a bottle of Blueberry Wine too. Don't judge. I'm in Maine. It's like a requirement.

Best Breakfast in Town.

Chutes is my kind of breakfast spot. Cheap. Hole in the wall. Friendly. Delicious.

Not to mention the regulars get their own coffee mug. 

Come on. That's funny.

Plus the sign directly next to the front door is priceless. I'm going to get it permanently tattooed on my forehead. 

Next time you're in Naples, Maine be sure to check it out. You won't regret it, I promise.