PORTLAND

The quest for the ultimate female orgasm
How far will women go for an orgasm? - BY DEIRDRE FULTON

Barring the way to public records

More Government Fees
The Maine Legislature is considering a move that will make it more difficult for concerned citizens to find out what their government is up to.

By JEFF INGLIS | March 17, 2010

Hog wild on the farm

Going green
Perhaps because it's more difficult to do at home, perhaps because for some it's a question of ethics or squeamishness, perhaps because eating less meat is one of the top things we all could do to help the environment, but we don't talk as often about organic, eco-friendly livestock farming.

By DEIRDRE FULTON | March 17, 2010

Re-structuring

A Frederick Lynch introspective at the PMA
Three large oil paintings overwhelm the lobby at the Portland Museum of Art, introducing the show "Division and Discovery: Recent Works by Frederick Lynch," a beautiful and meditative collection found on the fourth floor of the museum.

By ANNIE LARMON | March 17, 2010

By the Grace of Ralph

A debut that is Lying Down Looking Up
As debut records go, it's rare to find one as textured and fully realized as what Marion Grace have put together in the 10-song Lying Down Looking Up , an arty, smart, folk-rock affair that shows songwriting creativity with some genuinely great ideas.

By SAM PFEIFLE | March 17, 2010

Hearty and sweet

Sonny's finds the right mix of flavors and textures
America's war on obesity is going nowhere.

By BRIAN DUFF | March 17, 2010

Hidden in plain sight

The Maine Jewish Film Festival explores identity
In a larger new home and with its most impressive roster in years, the Maine Jewish Film Festival can already boast a successful 2010.

By CHRISTOPHER GRAY + DEIRDRE FULTON | March 17, 2010

Educated Advocates

Music Seen
At the Big Easy, February 16

By SONYA TOMLINSON | March 17, 2010

Home and away

Zach Jones's diasporic Fading Flowers
For many songwriters, home is where the art is.

By SAM PFEIFLE | March 17, 2010

Lovely luxury

Good Theater's rich, colorful Earnest
"In matters of great importance," observes young Gwendolyn, "style, not sincerity, is the vital thing."

By MEGAN GRUMBLING | March 17, 2010

Tanked

A few guppies short
The term "think tank" looks as if it signifies something impressive.

By AL DIAMON | March 17, 2010

Political Blind Items

Big Fat Whale
Touchin' dinks and slippin' nipples

By BRIAN MCFADDEN | March 17, 2010

The Lame Beggar

Failure
Whimper whimper whimper

By KARL STEVENS | March 17, 2010

Cabin Fever 2010

Hoopleville
Bait and twitch

By DAVID KISH | March 18, 2010

Review: Our Family Wedding

Milks the unfunny from any and all black and Latino stereotypes
Mock high jinks ensue when an interracial couple (America Ferrera and Lance Gross) travel home to inform their families of their engagement.

By MICHAEL C. WALSH | March 17, 2010

Review: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

... Is a drag
In recent screen-adapted crime fiction, detectives are heroes and children are victims. In the trilogy by the late Stieg Larsson, the child victim is the hero.

By PETER KEOUGH | March 17, 2010

Review: Green Zone

Follow the yellowcake road to the Emerald City
Paul Greengrass's Green Zone takes us on a frenetic trip down memory lane — back to the beginning of the Iraq War.

By SHAULA CLARK | March 17, 2010

Review: The Secret Of Kells

Celtic crossover
It's early-ninth-century Ireland, and young, flame-haired Brendan is agog over the arrival of Iona refugee Aidan and his white cat, Pangur Bán, at the Abbey of Kells.

By JEFFREY GANTZ | March 17, 2010

Review: A Matter Of Size

One big charmer
Director duo Sharon Maymon and Erez Tadmor have fashioned a look at a group of blue-collar Israeli men and how they came to accept who they are.

By BRETT MICHEL | March 17, 2010

Review: Neil Young Trunk Show

Traveling down no "No Hidden Path"
If a Neil Young neophyte can find himself rocking in a cinema seat to the spirited, soulful music performed in this second of a rumored triptych of Demme-directed, Young-starring concert documentaries, long-time fans are bound to break their armrests.

By BRETT MICHEL | March 17, 2010