This summer, Portland Pie has worked to raise money to benefit Portland Trails and the Maine Cancer Society through various fundraising events.

In May we  raised over $1000 to help Portland Trails build a network of multi-use trails in the greater Portland area. Here is what Portland Trails had to say about us:

Portland Pie Company’s commitment to trails and open space in greater Portland has a long history – they began donating pies to the Portland Trails’ “Trail to Ale” 10K Race back in 2005.  Portland Trails fans have always enjoyed Portland Pie’s pizza after the race (it is the best in Portland, after all), so we were  thrilled when they approached us about partnering for a benefit night.  Last Thursday, all three Portland Pie Company locations donated $1 from each pint of Shipyard Brewing Company’s Summer Ale and Export sold to our cause -building a network of multi-use trails in the greater Portland area.  And, we couldn’t miss the opportunity to promote the 10K – Portland Pie Company bought a beer for anyone who registered for the race that evening!  With proceeds from beer  sales and raffle tickets, we’ll receive almost $1000 to support our trail building efforts this year. It’s obvious that pizza, beer and getting outside are a great combination…we’re already talking about doing it again next year!

In addition to partnering up with Portland Trails at the beginning of May, we also worked with Tiffany Crawford to help her raise money for the Maine Cancer Society. Crawford is participating in Tri for a Cure, an annual women only triathlon that raises money for cancer research. Our fundraising event was held on May 20th and through a 50/50 raffle, a regular raffle for various prizes including homemade hoola hoops, a handpainted mailbox, whale watching tickets, and Sea Dogs tickets, and money raised by patrons drinking Sebago Hefeweizen, we raised over $1000. You can still donate directly to Tiffany Crawford’s cause by going to her donation page, http://triforacure.kintera.org.

Check our website and facebook page to find out when our next fundraiser is. We will be holding an event Thursday, August 5 to benefit Maine Handicapped Skiing. The event kicks off a 5pm and will be held at all three Portland Pie Maine locations. There will be live music and $3.00 pints. Stay tuned for more info.

When you see two tall guys walk into the pub area of Portland Pie on Thursday night, get ready to be musically educated. 

“We want to be known as a band that doesn’t always play the same songs. We try and make you a smarter listener by playing songs that you are going to like but that you might not know the lyrics to,” says Justin Labbe, lead vocals of The Dual.  

Ellis and Labbe play music that falls into the Indie Folk Rock genre and take inspiration from such acts as AC/DC, Ryan Adams, Wilco, Phish and Strangefolk. Justin Labbe and Shea Ellis have been playing together for 2+ years. Friends introduced the duo and their musical union came about because, as curly-haired Shea Ellis chuckles, “He’s a good singer and I’m a good guitar player.”

Ellis and Labbe are currently working on Old Abode’s first album, which also features a third bandmate, Graham Duval, who plays drums and sings.  Their 4-song demo will drop July 14 and will be a precursor to the complete 11 song album due out this fall. Labbe sings with a decidedly country twang and is the group’s lyrical master, although he makes sure to point out that Ellis helps write as well. It is a collaborative effort and Labbe  thinks of the music as “our songs, not my songs.”

Old Abode is pretty busy this summer, playing 2-3 gigs a week. Check our entertainment calendar to find out the next time they will be playing at Portland Pie.

Portland Pie owners Nat and Steve with Rudy Giuliani and Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas

“A New Yorker used to perhaps the best pizza in the world, Rudy Giuliani said he was “shocked” at how delicious the pizza was at the new Portland Pie in downtown Manchester,” wrote John DiStaso in his Union Leader column, “Granite Status.”

On our second day of being open in Manchester, New Hampshire, Portland Pie Company  hosted lunch for Rudy Giuliani and Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas.

Giuliani sampled a few of our specialty pies and enjoyed the Monhegan, our pizza topped with Montreal seasoned steak, sauteed peppers, onions and mushrooms with mozzarella and American cheeses. He also liked the Old Port, our pepperoni lovers pizza that is simply layers and layers of pepperoni topped with our three cheese blend.

“We’re really excited to be a part of Manchester and we are overwhelmed with how openly the city has embraced us,” said Nat Getchell, a co-owner.

The Republican former New York mayor, visited the state yesterday to accept a New Hampshire Primary Award tonight at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at St. Anselm College.

Portland Pie is excited to help Britney Morton reach her fundraising goal. Here is a letter she wrote:

My reason to relay is to raise money for a cure towards cancer. Please make a donation to me or join my team. I have taken part in Relay For Life for several years now. This year is more special than ever because it is in honor of my father. My father was diagnosed with kidney cancer in July 2009 and passed away on October 3, 2009. Although it has been very hard and sad I would like to help raise money to find a cure for cancer. My father was 55 years old and not only was he too young to die but I am too young to lose my dad. I hope I can help other children by raising money and maybe fewer children will lose their parents to cancer. Please donate to this wonderful cause, and please know it means so much to me and my family, we thank you in advance. You can be sure your donation will be put to good use!

Sincerely,
Britney Morton

P.S. I LOVE YOU DADDY!!!

To donate online, go to http://main.acsevents.org/goto.britney.morton.

The party kicks off in Portland at 5pm and will feature live music by the Duel, a New Hampshire based acoustic duo. We will be raffling off Sea Dogs Tickets, Sebago schwag, whale watch tickets, movie passes, a hand painted mailbox, homemade hoola hoops, a round of golf for 2 at the Woodlands, gift card to Minott’s flowers, dinner for 2 at Holiday Inn By the Bay, indoor golf at Mulligan’s and much, much more! The raffle will be held in Portland at 8:30.

Go to Tiffany’s page to donate now! http://triforacure.kintera.org

The 4100 square-foot restaurant has 25 tables, as well as a 15-seat, fully stocked bar, complete with high definition televisions. Like the other Portland Pie locations in Portland, Westbrook and Scarborough, it features a large fireplace and walls that are festooned with a great deal of old-time New England memorabilia.

Have you heard about our mug club?

It might just be the best kept secret in town.

Not only is it the most affordable Mug Club in Portland, but the first 100 hundred people who sign up will get a lifetime membership! So if you like beer AND a good deal, head down to Portland Pie Company right now and sign up to be part of our Mug Club.

When you sign up you also get a Portland Pie T-shirt of your choice, a free large pizza, and we will start pouring all of your beers in a 20 ounce mug—that’s an extra 4 ounces of beer for free! You will also get the opportunity to personalize your mug and pick a unique number for your mug that will lock it in as yours and yours alone.

And just like our Frequent Pie-er program, Mug Club members get all those same perks as well. Every time you spend $300.00 at Portland Pie, you will get a $25.00 credit on your mug club card. You also get $10.00 off on your birthday and you become eligible for all our special Frequent Pie-er only specials, like our half price wine bottles on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. And don’t forget that we offer $3.00 mugs all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday. That’s 20 ounces of any draft beer for only $3.00.

Have you heard about our mug club?

It might just be the best kept secret in town.

When you sign up you get a Portland Pie T-shirt of your choice, a free large pizza, and we will start pouring all of your beers in a 20 ounce mug—that’s an extra 4 ounces of beer for free! You will also get the opportunity to personalize your mug and pick a unique number for your mug that will lock it in as yours and yours alone.

And just like our Frequent Pie-er program, Mug Club members get all those same perks as well. Every time you spend $300.00 at Portland Pie, you will get a $25.00 credit on your mug club card. You also get $10.00 off on your birthday and you become eligible for all our special Frequent Pie-er only specials, like our half price wine bottles on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. And don’t forget that we offer $3.00 mugs all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday. That’s 20 ounces of any draft beer for only $3.00.

Acoustic Thursday Nights

Is there a better way to spend a Thursday night than sidled up to the bar at Portland Pie Company, enjoying a slice of Noreaster and a nice, cold refreshing beverage while enjoying live acoustic music? We didn’t think so.
Every Thursday night at both the Portland and Scarborough Portland Pie locations we feature the musical stylings of local live bands. Past performers have included Alive Duo, Kirk Underwood, Chronic Funk, The Duel, Ryan Haliburton and Sly Tyler. Check our events calendar to get the scoop on who is playing at each location.
Not only is there great live music to listen to, but we also offer great specials during the live entertainment. Shipyard drafts (Export, Seasonal and IPA) are $3.00 all night and you can get select appetizers for half price.