Just like that… the year is over! It’s hard to put into words all the incredible shared experiences we have had this year with our team, clients, and vendors! Like most, our year had a bit of a rocky start. The pandemic continued to disrupt and dismantle so many lives around us. We were unsure of what the future of our industry was going to look like. Thankfully our team continued to remain positive and adapt quickly to the ever-changing terrain of this industry. Then, as the world started to open again, our calendars started filling up quickly! The summer of 2021 was one of the most incredible experiences we have had thus far in our new company. It lit a fire within us that reminded us just how much we love what we do! Our clients and their guests embarked on stunning sunset sails in Portland, hiked Mount Agamenticus, indulged in lobster and a New England Clambake overlooking Nubble Lighthouse, and much more!
As we reflect on the year, our team wanted to share some of their most cherished moments of 2021:
“Creating thoughtful and themed experiences is something that I am very passionate about, and when we had the incredible opportunity to create those live moments with our clients it truly meant the world! My favorite thing about this year was developing relationships with our local vendors. Maine is filled with creative artists, passionate storytellers, and enthusiastic chefs. We are lucky enough to have been able to work with so many of them this year! I am also so thankful to work in such a stunning location, where my drive to work entails windy coastal roads with the waves crashing just yards away!” – Kim McCarthy, Director of Creative Services
“Support. It’s my favorite thing about 2021. We were able to support family, friends, old schoolmates, and new friends during this time. The community where we live and work is so important and it was my honor to help support our new community of Southern Maine. Our valued partnership with the Cliff House resort and our new partnership with HOSTS Global are two relationships that we look forward to continuing in 2022. For me, laughter is the best medicine, and we all needed a little comic relief during these times, so I am happy that we can laugh through this now!” – Kathy Landry, President
“I have always loved working collaboratively, so it was such a blessing to be able to get back into the office and work face to face with my colleagues this year. Our new office was a project that we got to work collaboratively on, and it’s been a lot of fun to create a space that works for everyone. The energy surrounding the live events and in the office is infectious and I was happy to be a part of that energy again.” – Burt Hartford, Operations Manager
We are excited to see where 2022 takes us! We want to thank all of our past and present clients for giving us the opportunity to show you just what Portfire Events can do!
Let’s take a look back at some of our favorite events!
Restaurant Buyout with custom decor Fall Evenings at the Cliff HouseIntimate Ballroom DinnerOutdoor ClambakeCoastal Restaurant Buyout with Custom DecorFarm ClambakeKim putting the final touches together
Portfire Events kicked off the summer event season by elevating this stunning terrace with the perfect mix of coastal and luxury. We wanted the event to have an understated nautical feel but still wanted to capture the beauty of the wild waters of Maine’s rocky coast fr-libido.com/. We used a blend of rich wood tones and natural greenery, paired with a specialty tablescape and a mix of high-end linens to enhance this corporate dinner. Our design was anchored by the stunning farm table runner, which represented an interlocking chain link. Representing the interconnectedness of everything, we complemented this pattern with simple greenery and luminous candles on the table. We ignited the drama by adding stunning glass chargers and a knotted napkin.
The clambake is a honored New England tradition. Rhode Island claims proudly that it is the original home of the traditional New England clambake, full of lobsters, clams, fish, native sausage, corn, and of course a bowl of clam chowder – and believe us… no one leaves hungry after that feast! While Rhode Island might have dibs on the rightful home of the Downeast Feast, the Maine lobster is on another level!
Clambakes have been enjoyed by thousands, all year long. However, there is something about a summer cookout with mouth-watering lobster and a cold beer. Our perfect day would be a morning hike, afternoon soak, and a lobster dinner with friends.
If you think about the classic Clambake, you might be thinking red and white checkered linens, lobster bibs, chowder, and a seaside spot. While we work to find a “new normal” in events, we wanted to reimagine how this classic festivity would look in the wake of COVID19 restrictions.
If you have not experienced the Maine Clambake yet, come on up and we will roll up our sleeves with you and get to work.
Setting the Scene
We have opted out those tired red and white checks for something a little more modern. Introducing our Black and White Clambake vision. This look has a touch a elegance, while remaining casual and comfortable. We have incorporated copper chargers, bistro napkins, and specialty smoked glassware to the tablescapes. Instead of highboys and cocktail tables, how about lounge seating? Guests can mingle with each other from a safe distance.
The clambake is a honored New England tradition. Rhode Island claims proudly that it is the original home of the traditional New England clambake, full of lobsters, clams, fish, native sausage, corn, and of course a bowl of clam chowder – and believe us… no one leaves hungry after that feast! While Rhode Island might have dibs on the rightful home of the Downeast Feast, the Maine lobster is on another level!
Clambakes have been enjoyed by thousands, all year long. However, there is something about a summer cookout with mouth-watering lobster and a cold beer. Our perfect day would be a morning hike, afternoon soak, and a lobster dinner with friends.
If you think about the classic Clambake, you might be thinking red and white checkered linens, lobster bibs, chowder, and a seaside spot. While we work to find a “new normal” in events, we wanted to reimagine how this classic festivity would look in the wake of COVID19 restrictions.
If you have not experienced the Maine Clambake yet, come on up and we will roll up our sleeves with you and get to work.
Setting the Scene
We have opted out those tired red and white checks for something a little more modern. Introducing our Black and White Clambake vision. This look has a touch a elegance, while remaining casual and comfortable. We have incorporated copper chargers, bistro napkins, and specialty smoked glassware to the tablescapes. Instead of highboys and cocktail tables, how about lounge seating? Guests can mingle with each other from a safe distance.
Your venue space may be a bit larger and cavernous due to the social distancing and gathering size guidelines. We don’t want guests to feel lost in the space, so why not add some open-sided cabanas to the space. This will create a beachfront vibe, and along with low strung bistro lights and hanging lanterns, it will be a more intimate dining experience.
The Menu
We may have changed the look of the event, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find our own way of celebrating this traditional menu. Traditionally guests would be served family-style, however with the help of our expert staff members, we will be providing each guest with their own plated feast! Craving something delectable… this is the menu for you.
We are all managing changes to our lives, events, gatherings, and plans for the rest of the year, but we want to help your team celebrate and enjoy friends and food in Maine.
Shortly, the constraints of the COVID19 virus will be lifted. Life will return to a new normal with meetings, tours and events with transportation included. At Portfire, we recognize the importance of the health and safety issues involved when it comes to transportation. We are taking extra precautions with our vehicles, staff, and safety precautions. Our trained staff will be onsite to coordinate and to ensure all precautionary procedures required will be adhered to. We know your guests aren’t coming to Maine to see the inside of a motor coach, so our new policies will be as non intrusive as possible. That way your guests can actually enjoy Maine!
Portland has the perfect blend of past and present and is a cauldron of varied attractions. There’s something for everyone! Museums, quaint shops, mansions, microbreweries, waterfront scenery, galleries, historic homes and a variety of diverse restaurants catering to every taste. But how is you’re your group going to get there from the hotel?
The Old Port is dotted with quaint streets, cobblestone alleys, and one ways. The best way to see this area is by foot, the oldest form of transportation! One of our friendly, expert guides will escort your group down these enchanting streets. As they amble through town and down to the waterfront guests will learn of its historic past, its present and its future plans to keep Portlandas one of our nation’s top and fastest growing destinations for tourism, meetings and events!
If walking is out of the questions, we have plenty of other modes of transportation for your group. We offer both traditional and nontraditional modes of transportation. Whether that be on luxury coaches, bicycles, trolleys,to horse drawn carriage, we have something to please everyone. Larger groups can sit back and relax in a luxury motor coach as one of our local knowledgeable guides informs them of local facts, legends and folklore. Perhaps a step into the past via a ride in an open-window trolley enjoying the warmth of the sun, the inviting sounds of the city and distinct fragrances of the coast.
Maybe a more intimate mode of transit is to their liking? Available for a very limited number of people at a time is a horse drawn carriage tour, rewarding guests with the sounds bird chirping while the horses’ hooves clip & clop along! Another slower paced option with the obvious health benefits of bicycle tour is an obvious choice. Your guests will enjoy access to smaller, less visited locations often overlooked from within a larger vehicle.
And what of transportation by sea you ask? Perhaps a group trip with an island excursion is in order. Portfire Events will charter a vessel suitable to the size of your group to one of the many islands for a one of a kind event.
Photo Courtesy of @PortsmouthDowntown and Visit Portland
There are many options available to get around Portland. Let Portfire Events get your guests where they need to be in memorable fashion.
Kim McCarthy | Professional Storyteller of Events/General Manager
She has always been THE planner in her personal life and in a professional setting. From the beaches of Endicott College to the mountains of Les Roches, she built her foundation and passion for the hospitality industry while receiving a Dual-Degree program with a Bachelor’s degree from Endicott College in Hospitality Management and Concentration in Event Management and also a Diploma in Hotel Management from Les Roches International School of Hotel Management in Switzerland. Over the past six years Kim has been designing, planning, managing, and executing corporate events for some of the country’s most notable brands and companies. She has worn many hats in the industry and has worked her way up from Intern to Director. Her friendly and can-do attitude around the office is infectious and she leads by example.
Her true passion lies in creativity and design. Kim has an eye for different aesthetics and loves customizing perfect themes for each event. She knows that not only does the event have to look beautiful, but it has to run smoothly. At Portfire, Kim fulfills her true role as “a professional storyteller of events” at Portfire as the Director of Creative Services. She composes and creates proposals driven by stories from her clients. Each client has a different story to tell. Their stories inspire her creativity, allowing the thoughtful detail to come together to truly capture the reason behind the event.
What does your regular day look like?
One things that I love about this industry is that every day is different. This means that my day-to-day work can vary a lot, but it requires me to have good time-management skills. I need to be able to handle the arrangement and organization of events that are happening now, while also simultaneously planning upcoming events and proposals. As Creative Director I also manage our digital and print materials as well as our social media accounts. Once, we get out of the COVID-19 quarantine, you also better believe, that I will be visiting as many networking events as I possibly can! I miss my industry friends!
What are your favorite things to do outside of work?
As a native New Englander, I love to be outside! I enjoy taking day trips to little towns all over New England, exploring new restaurants, boutique shopping, hiking through wildlife parks, paddling down rivers and on the ocean, and of course enjoying some cocktails on roof decks with my boyfriend, friends, and family.
What do you enjoy most about your day?
Our morning team meetings always put a smile on my face and really set the tone for the day! I also enjoy reading up on new trends, new local businesses and connecting with the Maine community.
What about the best part of your work?
The best part is that I am working with wonderful, talented people who are experts in their fields. Teamwork and team culture is crucial here. At Portfire we have created a work culture that is fun and educational. We promote asking a lot of questions and to always be true to yourself.
What advice would you give someone who’d like to work at Portfire?
Be who you are and take risks. We always say “you can’t teach personality, but you can teach new skills”. If you are a team player, have a good spirit, and a can-do attitude then you will fit right in at Portfire, and the rest will come! When you are in the office listen in on phone calls, participate in group meetings, and take a hands-on approach and we promise you will love this industry as much as we do!
Lastly, for those who want to know more about you, what are some of your favorite….
New England Foods: Lobster Rolls
Cocktails: Spicy Margarita in the Summer and Espresso Martinis in the Winter
Locations: Any place that has a view of the water, especially the Cliff House
Music: Country, Singer/Songwriter, and Indie/Alternative
