Head To These Hotels On The Coast Of Maine This Sumer
Inn by the Sea
Inn by the Sea
The coast of Maine is my idea of what summertime is all about, from clambakes on the rocky shore to falling asleep to the sound of seagulls. Here are three of my favorite resorts.
Just seven miles from Portland's Old Port, Inn by the Sea gets my vote for the best example of understated luxury on the Maine coast. The property, bathed in sea breezes and wisps of morning fog, overlooks Crescent Beach, a mile-long stretch of coastline. You reach the beach via a boardwalk through a wooded grove and discover a strand that's perfect for shelling, long walks, and yes, swimming when the cold waters warm up a bit. I love the rooms here, which are bright, artfully decorated, and elegantly appointed. There are 62 of them, as well as Garden Suites, Loft Suites, Beach Suites, and Cove Suites, many of them offering ocean views. Inn by the Sea is renowned for being both kid-friendly and dog-friendly, and the Inn's restaurant, Sea Glass, has long been one of the state's top restaurants, continuing to uphold its culinary excellence under its new chef, Ramiz Jasic. If wandering through the property's extensive perennial gardens isn't calming enough, there's a pool and a spa for deep relaxation. A short drive away is Portland Head Light, the state's best-known lighthouse, famously depicted by Edward Hopper.
Bluebird Ocean Point Inn
Bluebird Ocean Point Inn
Set in Boothbay Harbor's Ocean Point community overlooking Card Cove, The Bluebird Ocean Point Inn is a good base for exploring Midcoast Maine. The interiors of the Bluebird Ocean Point Inn were designed by Elder & Ash. Accommodations include king and double queen rooms in the nine cottages, as well as suites and multi-bedroom suites. There's plenty of dining in town, but the hotel offers the Ocean Point Kitchen and OPK Bar on-site. Boothbay is the essence of the Maine coast and the heart of the Midcoast Region, a haven for sailors and the gateway to Monhegan Island, which lies about 10 miles offshore. The town is filled with shops, boutiques, and restaurants, and offers the Maine State Aquarium and the nationally acclaimed Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.
Chebeague island Inn
Chebeague island Inn
Chebeague Island lies off the coast of Yarmouth, which is located just north of Portland. Accessible via a 20-minute ferry ride, Chebeague is about three and a half miles long and about half that wide at its widest point. The home of about 400 year-round residents, who include fishermen and lobstermen, it's long been a haven for those seeking peace, quiet and an escape from the heat, a world away from Portland. The Chebeague Island Inn dates back to the 1920s and has one of the most inviting porches you will find anywhere on the Atlantic seaboard. The lawn has Adirondack chairs and slopes down to Casco Bay. There is the nine-hole Great Chebeague Golf Course, clay tennis courts, lawn games, and a fire pit. Hamilton Beach is a 10-minute stroll away. Now affiliated with two of Portland's best restaurants, Twelve and Evo Kitchen + Bar, the food at the hotel restaurant is a high point of any stay. As for the guest rooms, they're painted white, flooded with light, and very simply designed. There's WiFi, but no TVs or phones. Nor is there any air conditioning. You just leave your windows open for the cool sea breezes.
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New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Somehow, Guardians star José Ramírez remains MLB's best-kept secret
NEW YORK — The last time the Cleveland Guardians visited Yankee Stadium, during the ALCS in October, the customary José Ramírez prompt surfaced in a press conference with New York manager Aaron Boone. Why is Cleveland's six-time All-Star third baseman so underrated? Boone dismissed the notion altogether, saying the suggestion that Ramírez isn't appreciated made him 'want to rip my arms off and throw (them) at the TV.' Advertisement There's at least something to it, though. Ramírez hides from the spotlight in Cleveland. He puts up sparkling numbers, but he hasn't won an MVP award, delivered a signature postseason moment or set a bunch of records, like behemoths Aaron Judge or Shohei Ohtani. No matter the reason, even after six All-Star Game nods and six top-six MVP finishes, he's routinely mentioned as one of the sport's underrated stars. For years, Ramírez has shrugged off the idea. He's never craved attention. 'He's one of the best, and we think, in here (the clubhouse), the best in the league,' said teammate David Fry. 'I think it's the fact that he doesn't talk a whole lot and we're not a big market. If he were a Yankee, he'd probably be talked about 24/7 on TV. But because he's in Cleveland and doesn't want the spotlight, it doesn't get talked about as much.' For anyone unfamiliar with how Ramírez became an unheralded star — or for anyone itching for a reminder — here's a primer on baseball's best-kept secret: Ramírez will spend most or all of his career in Cleveland, a David in a land of big-market Goliaths. No New York or Los Angeles circus, no mind-bending contract figures, no commercials or ad campaigns. No attention, which fuels the persistent chatter about him flying under the radar. He did once have his own salsa brand, plus a medium-roast coffee blend (with notes of cocoa and hints of nuts and citrus). Ramírez only ever cared about being noticed when he ran amok on donkey-filled baseball diamonds in the Dominican Republic, with scouts fixated on everyone else, not the runt of the teenage prospect corps. Ramón Peña discovered him in 2009 — almost by accident. Peña coveted catcher Jorge Alfaro, but he became enamored with the 140-pound slap hitter. Even with flashy batting averages and stolen-base totals, Ramírez was never considered a can't-miss prospect in the minor leagues. He was usually the smallest guy on the field, which led Cleveland's evaluators to forecast him as the successor to utility man Mike Aviles. Instead, he's tracking to carve out space between Tim Raines and Pee Wee Reese in the Baseball Hall of Fame directory. And in Cleveland, for a franchise that dates to 1901, he could wind up on the Mount Rushmore of performers, in large part because of his longevity with the club, a rarity for a franchise that tends to ship out stars before they achieve generational wealth. Advertisement Ramírez woke up on the final day of spring training in 2022 and directed his agent to end several weeks of choppy negotiations with the Guardians' front office and strike a deal. The Guardians were prepared to trade him to the San Diego Padres or Toronto Blue Jays if they couldn't agree to terms that afternoon. The team had split-squad duties in Arizona, so the necessary parties were spread across the valley — and the country. General manager Mike Chernoff was flying back to Cleveland. Ramírez finished a five-inning assignment at Chase Field, and convened with president Chris Antonetti and assistant GM Matt Forman in the manager's office to exchange final offers. Agustín Rivero, the team interpreter and Ramírez's lifeline, left his post as first-base coach in Scottsdale and, in his navy uniform, hailed a Lyft to Chase Field. Owner Paul Dolan, in Cleveland, and agent Rafa Nieves, in California, joined on the phone. Chernoff landed in Cleveland and convinced his Uber driver to keep private the franchise-altering conversation he was about to overhear. 'Five stars and an extra tip,' Chernoff said. With everyone present in one form and one time zone or another, they hammered out the details, which guaranteed Ramírez $141 million over seven seasons, plus a no-trade clause. They sped through the process so DeMarlo Hale, the manager that day at Chase Field, could shower and change in his office, the most inconceivable negotiating room imaginable. Ramírez is tethered to Cleveland through the 2028 season, when he'll be 36 years old — 19 years after he signed with the franchise. 'So many guys in this game are about building their brand,' Fry said. 'He just wants to win.' Ramírez's 13th big-league season is tracking to be one of his most prolific. He is batting a career-best .330 with a .939 OPS. He has exhibited no signs of slowing down, even at 32. He snapped a 21-game hitting streak, his longest as a big-leaguer, on Friday, but he has since rattled off three consecutive multi-hit games. He's on pace for 30 homers, 36 doubles and 44 stolen bases. Advertisement After a couple of rocky seasons at the plate, Ramírez blossomed in 2016, with a .312 average, 46 doubles and 22 stolen bases. The following season, he added power to his repertoire, as he totaled 91 extra-base hits, including 29 homers. The year after that, he drew 106 walks, racked up 81 extra-base hits (with 39 homers) and swiped 34 bases. Those gaudy totals have since become the standard, not the surprise. He has two third-place finishes in the MVP balloting and one second-place finish since the start of 2017. Ramírez is adept at yanking fastballs into the outfield seats, and pitchers often find themselves without a choice but to challenge him with precisely the pitch he craves, because he refuses to chase or whiff at anything else. That's how a guy who gives up eight inches and about 60 pounds to Jim Thome could threaten Thome's franchise home run record (337) as soon as the 2027 season. 'When he's struggling, he's hitting, like, .250, .260, which, for everybody else is a great year,' Fry said. 'And then he has a switch where he's like, 'I'm going to go be the best player in the world. I'm just going to steal every base. Now I'm going to hit doubles and homers.' He's incredible.' José Ramírez blasts his 10th home run of the year, giving him his 10th straight season with 10+ homers 💪 — MLB (@MLB) May 31, 2025 In the summer of 2015, Ramírez was demoted to Triple-A Columbus, where Rouglas Odor served as both the hitting coach and first-base coach. Ramírez reached first one day and was nearly picked off by a right-handed pitcher. He stood up, brushed the dirt off his jersey and took an even larger lead off the bag. 'I'm like, 'What are you doing?'' Odor recalled. Then, Ramírez stole second. The close call, Ramírez later told Odor, only motivated him more to swipe second base. Advertisement 'I thought, 'Man, this kid is special,'' Odor said. Through the years, Ramírez has consistently registered above-average sprint speed, but nothing that would suggest he's a threat to steal 30-plus bases. 'It's his intelligence,' Odor said. Ramírez routinely ranks at or near the top of the leaderboard for FanGraphs' base running metric. Even at the age of 31 last year, he piled up a career-high 41 steals. He's always searching for a way to gain an extra 90 feet, either when an outfielder takes a circuitous route to a single or when an infielder leaves a base unattended or, simply, whenever he pleases. 'He hustles every day,' said Guardians pitcher Tanner Bibee. 'He doesn't dog it down the line. He's looking for an extra 90 feet at all times. And he brings the best out of everyone else. There's a reason everyone respects him. I hope he knows that. But everyone in here respects him so much, because of all that.' In late May, Ramírez stood on third base with one out and the Guardians trailing the Tigers by one in the eighth inning. Odor, now the Guardians' third-base coach, told him that on any hard-hit grounder, he would stand no chance to score, so he needed to get caught in a rundown so the club still had a scoring threat. Angel Martínez socked a grounder to first base, where Spencer Torkelson charged and threw home. Ramírez never hesitated, dashing down the line 'before contact,' Odor said. A nifty plunge into the plate evened the score. 'There are just very few people in the game who score on that ball,' said Guardians manager Stephen Vogt. 'The jump he gets, the slide, you name it. He's one of the best baserunners, if not the best baserunner, in baseball.' Ramírez fell one homer short of a 40/40 season last year, and he would have been the second player ever (along with Alfonso Soriano) with 40 homers, 40 steals and 40 doubles in a season. The storyline was buried beneath coverage of Ohtani's pursuit of 50/50, and Ramírez officially missed the milestone when rain washed away the Guardians' regular season finale. Advertisement Ramírez claimed he didn't care too much about the statistical feat, but he admitted in March that he used it as motivation to trim fat and add muscle over the winter. He has joked at times about aiming for a 50/50 season, or an 80/80 season or, even, a 100/100 season, and with his dry sense of humor, it can be difficult to decipher what he actually deems attainable, especially since he followed up his 80/80 proclamation with, 'Nothing's impossible.' He needs 34 homers and 41 steals to become the ninth player in league history with 300 of each. He needs 84 homers and 91 steals to join Barry Bonds as the only players with 350 of each. No one would have predicted such an ascent. And, as Judge and Ohtani ambush the record books and, understandably, hog the headlines, many are still learning how a stocky, long-overlooked, 5-foot-8 infielder has charted a path that could lead to Cooperstown. 'It's the beauty of baseball,' Vogt said. 'It doesn't matter what size you are, what you look like, where you're from. If you can hit, you can hit. If you can field, you can field. If you can pitch, you can pitch. That's the beauty of baseball. Size does give you some advantage sometimes, but it's all about the skill, the art. And José just continues to amaze me every single day, getting to watch him play. He's right up there with (Judge and Ohtani).'
CNET
an hour ago
- CNET
Carbon-Plated Running Shoes: What Brands Does an Expert Recommend?
Back in the 1990s, Reebok attempted to make carbon-plated running shoes, but the Nike Vaporfly 4% brought this technology to a wider audience when it appeared in the 2016 Olympics. Promising a 4% boost in performance, carbon-plated running shoes or "super shoes" became available to everyone beginning in 2017. Now, many companies produce carbon-plated running shoes that promise a lightweight, supportive feel. However, they can be expensive. To find out whether they're worth it and which brands you should consider, we asked three exercise and running experts for their thoughts. What are carbon-plated running shoes? Matt Dustin, a certified precision nutrition coach and NASM corrective exercise specialist, explains, "Carbon-plated running shoes have a stiff, thin carbon fiber plate in their midsole." He says the plate can help with energy return and make your strides more efficient. Put another way, says that a carbon plate "acts as a lever to effectively roll the foot forward through the force developed by the leg muscle." Carbon-plated shoes may also help runners run faster and experience less fatigue, according to Kaleigh Ray, staff writer at Treadmill Review Guru and certified exercise physiologist. Ray holds a master's degree in biomechanics from the University of Northern Colorado, where her research focus was on carbon-plated shoes and running shoe construction. Explaining the history of the shoe, she notes that carbon plates were first introduced to trail shoes to reduce the feel of rocks underfoot. However, she says, "The current trend of carbon-plated shoes comes from marathon racing shoes." The best carbon-plated running shoes Ray says most running shoe brands have a quality carbon-plated running shoe. Some are geared toward racing, while others are designed for daily training. Ray adds, "I've raced in the Altra Vanish Carbon, and I'm running the 2025 Boston Marathon in the New Balance SC Elite. These two shoes are really good for midfoot and forefoot runners." Ray also recommends the following shoes for racing: Benefits of carbon-plated running shoes The Altra Vanish Carbon Road Running Shoes Amazon Carbon-plated shoes can propel you forward, quickening your leg turnover, according to the Mayo Clinic. Their construction has several key benefits, which Mayo Clinic boils down to a "lower physiological burden" when compared to standard running shoes. More specifically, carbon-plated running shoes offer support, better energy return and speed. Support If your shoes only have a lot of bouncy foam, they might make you feel fast but a bit unstable. Ray contends that carbon plates add more stability to running shoes, at least for front-to-back movement. Meanwhile, Dustin explains that carbon-plated shoes could also improve joint support. He reports, "Carbon plates can lower the impact on your joints by improving your strides." Finally, Ray adds, "The shoe does a lot of the work your arch normally does, which helps reduce fatigue." Energy return Having a carbon plate in your shoes helps you conserve energy over long distances. In fact, this is one of the main reasons they're so popular among elite and distance runners. Ray adds that the shoes "also help direct the spring of the cushioning in the right direction." This could make each stride more efficient. Speed Coach Kelvin, a certified running coach via UK Athletics and online running coach for We Run, says carbon-plated shoes may help you achieve "faster race times for the same amount of effort." He adds that when wearing carbon-plated shoes, "a runner's legs get beaten up a little less in training, allowing a runner to add incremental gains over weeks and months." A study in the International Journal of Exercise Science found that runners see the most gains from carbon-plated shoes if they run 12 km (about 7.5 miles) per hour. Carbon-plated running shoes cons Carbon-plated running shoes may not be for everyone or every type of run. As Coach Kelvin put it, "Super shoes are designed for faster paces and often feel sloppy and unstable at slower paces." Not only are they more expensive than most regular running shoes, but they take some time to adjust to and may not last as long as other training shoes. Adjustment period The feel of carbon-plated shoes takes some getting used to. As Ray puts it, "Running in very responsive carbon-plated shoes can feel like wearing trampoline shoes. Runners may need time to adjust to this feel and sustain the higher energy return of these shoes." She points out that you may feel out of control when you're running in these shoes for the first time. Dustin adds, "The plate is pretty stiff and can be rough on your feet, especially for those who aren't used to them. They may also change your natural gait mechanics, which could make you uncomfortable or cause injury if used in the wrong way." Cost Most carbon-plated running shoes are priced over $200, with many coming in at over $250. Given that Ray tells us, "Many of these shoes don't lead to improved performance when running below a certain speed," they may not be the right investment for a casual runner. If you're running an 11-minute mile, you probably won't see the same performance improvements from carbon-plated shoes as fast-paced runners. Durability However, carbon-plated shoes often wear out more quickly than standard running shoes. The Mayo Clinic says their lack of durability "is why some runners only pull them out specifically in preparation for and during a race." Dustin agrees with this, saying simply, "Many models don't last as long as typical running shoes, which means you may have to buy new ones more often." Controversy There remains debate about whether shoes like the Nike Vaporfly shoes give runners an unfair advantage. In fact, they were nearly banned from the 2020 Olympics before the World Athletics decided to allow athletes to compete in them. Currently, the World Athletics rules for competitive running shoes say that soles can be no thicker than 40mm and may contain only one carbon fiber plate. The Nike Vaporfly 3 Amazon Who should wear carbon-plated running shoes? Carbon-plated shoes are most beneficial to competitive runners. As Dustin points out, "They're best for serious runners looking to improve speed and efficiency. If you race regularly or train at a high level, they can be helpful." While it probably won't hurt to wear them as a beginner runner, you're unlikely to notice a huge difference in your stride or speed during a short workout. The following groups of people may benefit from carbon-plated running shoes: Runners who want a fast-feeling race shoe Runners looking for a good recovery-day shoe Runners with plantar fasciitis Runners with a heel-striking gait In regards to the final point, Ray elaborates, "Some runners are also low responders to carbon-plated super shoes, which means they don't see improvements to their running performance from wearing them. Sometimes, this is due to footstrike. Midfoot/forefoot runners may not benefit as much from carbon-plated shoes." People with really flat feet may also want to avoid carbon-plated running shoes because they could put extra strain on their arches. Dustin warns, "Runners with a history of Achilles or calf issues should also be cautious, as the mechanics of these shoes can put extra strain on those areas." How do carbon-plated running shoes feel to run in? Despite the stiffness of the carbon plate, these shoes actually feel light and bouncy to run in. While they don't have springs inside, you might feel like they do. The exact feel of your shoes will depend on a few factors, like how much cushion surrounds the carbon fiber plate. "Generally, a carbon plate that is closer to the foot feels firmer," explains you run in carbon-plated running shoes all the time? Most experts don't recommend running in carbon-plated shoes all the time. Not only will you reduce their lifespan, but you may hinder some muscle development. Coach Kelvin explains it this way: "It's not recommended to wear a super shoe for every run because they offload and load the foot in a slightly different way than a daily trainer. Having a rotation of shoes allows a runner's feet to become strong in all areas." Instead, you'd be wise to use these shoes in conjunction with more traditional running shoes. Ray warns that it's not recommended to only wear carbon-plated shoes "because it's important to develop the intrinsic muscles of the foot." The bottom line Carbon-plated running shoes may be performance-enhancing for serious race runners, but don't feel pressured to splurge on a pair if you're a weekend warrior who likes to get in a few miles after brunch. If you do purchase a pair for a race, make sure they're compliant; carbon-plated shoes may be considered an unfair advantage by some race organizers.
News24
an hour ago
- News24
Stepping on toes: Steve Madden takes Adidas to court over stripe trademark
Footwear mogul Steve Madden has filed a lawsuit against Adidas, challenging the German sportswear giant's trademark on stripes. The legal battle comes after what Madden describes as years of Adidas preventing his company from selling sneakers with two bands on them. Filed in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, the lawsuit coincides with Madden's launch of two new sneakers, Viento, which has two stripes, and Janos, with two bands resembling the letter K. The 67-year-old founder and design chief of the multibillion-dollar Steve Madden Ltd (SHOO.O) brand claims Adidas' lawyers have demanded that Viento sales be stopped because the design is too similar to theirs and could confuse consumers. READ MORE | Motherhood after loss: grieving widow wins legal battle for late husband's sperm 'The use of band designs on footwear is ubiquitous in the fashion industry,' Madden said in court documents. 'Simply put, Adidas does not own all stripes and should not be allowed to claim that it has a monopoly on all footwear that includes stripes, bars, bands or any shape having four sides – parallel, straight or not.' This isn't the first clash between the two footwear companies. In 2002, Adidas sued the American shoe company twice for having shoes with two parallel stripes and four parallel stripes, resulting in a confidential settlement the following year. Now, 22 years later, Madden says he's 'tired' of Adidas' complaints. Adidas hasn't publicly addressed the lawsuit yet, but Madden is standing his ground. He recently gained new fans following a candid interview on The Cutting Room Floor podcast that went viral. During the interview, Madden reflected on his two-and-a-half-year prison sentence, served from 2002 to 2005, after being convicted of stock manipulation, money laundering and securities fraud. During this time, he also had to resign as CEO of Steve Madden Ltd (SHOO.O). 'It was as awful as you can imagine,' he said about prison. 'You're away from your loved ones, the food is awful and you sleep on cots with very little mattresses.' READ MORE | Brain-dead pregnant woman is kept alive until her baby can be delivered due to US abortion law The experience changed his perspective and led to unexpected connections – several friends he made in prison now work for his company. However, he shared that it's very easy to fall into old habits when becoming a free man again. 'In your mind, your fantasy [is], 'I'm gonna get out, I'm gonna read 100 books, I'm really gonna appreciate what I have',' he said. 'Human beings, we have a thing where we take s**t for granted. It goes away when you go to prison and it lasts for about a week. Then you're like, 'Where's my f*****g car?' You're back on your bulls**t.' During the Covid pandemic, Madden published his memoir, The Cobbler: How I Disrupted an Industry, Fell From Grace & Came Back Stronger Than Ever, which detailed his experiences of building his company, going to prison and recovering from drug addiction. 'People think my life is interesting because of prison, because of my success. I started a company with one shoe and now it's a multibillion-dollar company,' he reflected. 'The ups and downs, the disappointments, people being left behind, not going along for the entrepreneurial ride. It was hard work. It wasn't romantic. It was showing up. All that corny s**t. Keep going. Do the next thing.'
