One of the many great things about Portsmouth is the abundance of delicious options to eat & drink.  This spring/summer, Congress Street welcomed a new establishment in the Worth Block – The Portsmouth Baking Company.  It took me a while to finally make it inside, but once I did – I instantly knew this place was something special. The design inside is simply beautiful.  I had peeked inside a couple times this past week, and was surprised to see a flat screen TV with a live feed to the bakery visible from the street.  It’s a neat feature that allows people to see what’s going on in the kitchen as the staff makes the delicious bread.

The massive wooden table at center in the shot above is a sight to behold.  The seating along the wall towards the front is comfy with a unique patterned fabric.  Every little detail has been carefully thought through.  To top it all off, there is an overhead train that brings fresh bread samples from the kitchen in the back to the massive cupboard in the front, so that patrons can try the multitude of offerings.  The fact that their cupcakes are delicious and ridiculously tempting solidifies this as a must visit location, so head on over and see for yourself.

The Press Room is one of Portsmouth’s most longstanding establishments – and is unquestionably the destination for live music in Portsmouth.  The place has a phenomenal vibe, and live music every night of the week…with rustic exposed wooden beams, a cozy bar, and a friendly atmosphere. Next time you’ve got a hankering for music and a pint…head over to Daniel Street. The architect of the institution’s rich music history and culture, Bruce Pingree, was recently interviewed by Gossip Lady over at SeacoastOnline.com.

It was trash day downtown…the recycling bins and trash cans sit out on the sidewalk after Public Works did their thing.  It brings a real tangible dynamic to the otherwise picturesque storefront.

Portsmouth has no shortage of places to eat and drink, ranking as the city with the most bars per capita in the State of New Hampshire.  The Coat of Arms Pub on Fleet Street is a pretty unique spot, with a distinct feel and look inside and a great menu featuring traditional English items – and the Seacoast’s only snooker table. Check it out sometime…but in case you don’t get there for a while, today’s shot gives you a feel for it.  This visit was spent with two fellow photographers who happen to be great at what they do – and also hilarious and a blast to hang out with…check out their work at Brian Matiash or Chris Lazzery.

The first decent snow in the seacoast finally arrived on Monday night.  Here is a glimpse of The Old Ferry Landing closed for the season, yet festively decorated, and freshly adorned with some light snow.

Literally…this shot was inside The Red Door on State Street.  A tucked away spot in Portsmouth that you should try and check out for yourself sometime….I’ve previously featured the venue’s interior as well as its notorious door for which it’s named.  Here’s a bit of a different shot from the recent bridge and cityscapes…will return back to those on Sunday and next week!  I’ve also made an investment in a new toy, a Carl Zeiss 21mm….so far the clarity and the colors look to be promising and inspiring, eager to put it through its paces.

The season for The Decks is drawing to a close.  The Old Ferry Landing has closed for the year…I haven’t seen many folks down at the River House lately, I’ve seen a few folks at Poco’s in their new covered deck and a few die hards at Harpoon Willy’s still venture out (and rumor has it they’re hoping to stay open through Halloween).

I wanted to take a minute to reflect at the past spring/summer/fall season that saw a lot of changes to the Decks.  The new pavers were put in throughout the alleyway, and looked pristine for a while (now you wouldn’t guess they’re only a year old with all of the grease and traffic they’ve seen), The River House constructed a second story deck and saw another successful year…and probably the most noteworthy change was the shift of Poco’s deck from on the water to against the building.  I’ll always miss the old configuration, but there’s something to be said for eating/drinking in a warmer spot against the building.  It’s opened the area up significantly….check out the shots below, which was taken last September just before the old structure came down. Quite an evolution for this little part of town.

It’s no secret that I work very close to the intersection at State and Pleasant Street.  I don’t spend too much time wandering this area during the warmer months, as I tend to roam a bit further and head towards the waterfront….but these days when light retreats quickly and the temperatures are a bit cooler, I tend to walk a little closer to the car and drive further out.  I decided to see what the new lens would do on a nearby favorite restaurant of mine, Brazo.  As far as photography goes, I love the evening light on the building and the interesting archways along with the colorful signage.  The contrast of the bright blue Marple & James building next door and the brick mansion behind it adds to the depth and character of the shot.

I’ve had several great meals at Brazo – and while I definitely can’t afford to include it as a regular spot, I always look forward to returning.  Rumor has it that the band that plays on Latin night (on the 1st & 3rd Friday of each month) is fantastic and worth making the trip.  I’ll have to investigate at some point -but in the meantime I hope you enjoy today’s post.