Old Port Nightlife

As a former nightclub owner for 14 years in Portland' Old Port I have had the opportunity to view Old Port issues as both an insider and now an outsider. In short, the attitudes, policies and reactions to Portland nightlife by policy makers is so out of place and out of step with mainstream thought that it boggles the mind.

As Portland becomes more hip, more urban and more reliant on young professionals it too needs a social scene that appeals to this demographic. Unfortunately classism, elitism and socialism come heavily into play with regards to Portland nightlife. Even commentators and pundits suffer from serious hypocrisy. What do I mean?

Never spoken but often followed:

"Nightlife is appropriate and allowable when it meets MY definition of fun and appropriate."

Older city councilors support restaurants and brewpubs but decry hard edge shows, loud bands, nightclubs and college bars. Hipsters and beatniks support live music venues and divebars but mock upscale joints. Club kids and college students support night spots and cheap dives but ignore the rest. No offense Chris, but you often take people to task for coming down on bars that you patronize and then you turn around and mock the bars that you don't. Your part of the same problem.

There are venues for all types of people--and in the end, the businesses that don't meet customer needs will fail. The governments job is to create frameworks via licensing, code and zoning ordinances. If a prospective business owner meets ALL those requirements then they can open. It's the fundamental pact between business and government. More than once the city has ignored that and played fast and loose to prohibit and otherwise legal business from opening. Headliners anyone? Just look at the recent license approval of Good Fellas. Legally, the city could not deny a new application but they threatened to do so unless the owner(Andrew Cole) agreed to some onerous and odd "rules". Over the years I've been a victim of these "special circumstances"--usually at the hand of Portland's "other" bureacracy: Portland Police Department. Unlike other city where police enforce laws, the PDD under Chief Chitwood took over broad powers of law making, policy creation and licensing.

Currently the Old Port is poised for massive change. Liquid Blue/Diggers/Plush(all one liquor license) has been denied by the City of Portland. Even if Tom appeals the decision the city can deny the bars their entertainment license which is issued by the municipality and not at the state level. Rumor has it that Iguana and Threeways will not be getting their leases renewed by the new property owner and Cake is not faring too well. With the Pavilion closed, Industry gone, Headliners gone, Alehouse gone, and the imminent loss of Iguana, Liquid Blue, Diggers, and perhaps Threeways and Cake not only will Wharf St undergo and substantial change but the overall nightlife scene in Portland will change.

Portland is a city, small in comparison nationally, but still Maine's largest urban area. A city needs to appreciate and accomodate a diversity of people and their needs, and a vibrant nightlife is an important part that. That nightlife should not be just made up of what decision makers deem "acceptable" entertainment, but what the market creates, is an important idea that needs to be examined.