The Percy is housed in an 1830 Federal-style brick rowhouse built 10 years after Maine became a state. In 1997, after years of decay, the building was acquired and a complete restoration begun. In late 1998 it opened as an inn.The two-year restoration project required a host of improvements beginning with a new roof, state-of-the-art windows, new heating system with individual room controls, entirely new plumbing and electrical service, new walls and ceilings and more. Twenty inches of sound insulation separates floors from ceilings. Dale Northrup, CTC, is currently contributing editor on Inside Hotels and Cruise Ships for syndicated travel radio. He is formerly contributing editor for Northstar Travel Media;s STAR service, a critical guide to hotels and cruise ships. The STAR Service critiques over 10,000 hotels in more than 100 countries for travel agents and corporate travel departments and Northrup has personally written over 23,000 hotel reviews in more than 70 countries during his 20 years at STAR Service. He has authored, co-authored, or contributed to nearly two dozen consumer travel guides for such names as Frommer's and Fodor's. Breakfast and Other Noshes. Breakfast is served in our second floor breakfast room between 8 and 10 a.m. Our Continental buffet consists of boiled eggs, a selection of hot and cold cereals, fresh cut fruit of the day, breads and muffins, yogurt, juices, and a choice of teas and coffee. The breakfast room is open all day for snacking and our pantry refrigerator is stocked with complimentary soft drinks, and juices for mixers. We offer seasonal drinks such as hot mulled cider or chilled lemonade afternoons and evenings. The Poet's Corner on the third floor features a choice of coffee, hot chocolate, and regular, herbal, and decaf teas 24 hours a day in an intimate nook with a collection of books on Maine and New England travel, and board games. Ice is also provided here. Besides the breakfast room and Poet's Corner, the inn offers a fireplaced living room with a collection of books and compact discs for your enjoyment. Compact disc players are also found in guest rooms. A library of 400 movie titles is kept in the armoire as well or enjoy our player grand piano. Our landscaped side and back yard provide spots for reading and enjoying Maine's all-too-brief good weather. In summer we have a side garden to enjoy and a sunny 560 square foot deck where you can sample the sun or shade with a cold libation. For adventuresome guests, we have a garage for storing bicycles, kayaks, canoes, or other sports equipment during your stay. The inn is located one hour from decent downhill skiing. The Percy Inn is a non-smoking inn. For your comfort, each room has its own temperature controls. Though air conditioning is seldom needed, save a few days each year, all our rooms have cooling systems. Ceiling fans and our eight foot windows provide ample circulation in summer. Check-in and Check-out. Check-in is 3 p.m. but we try to accommodate early arrivals by storing luggage and providing keys for your return later in the day. Check-out is 11 a.m. and we ask that you vacate rooms by then so we may prepare for the next guests. Luggage again may be stored until your departure. Special arrangements can be made for late arrivals and early morning departures. Parking in the West End is difficult but the Percy Inn has dedicated parking for all guests (one car per bedroom only) in our lighted and paved parking lot adjoining the inn. Good signage is posted and you may also park briefly on the street but be mindful of parking restrictions. From April through October the City of Portland bans parking on Mondays on the odd-numbered side of Pine Street and on Wednesdays for the even side. Snow bans are also enforced on the peninsula and downtown in winter so we sure to use our lots. The Percy Inn lies steps from numerous restaurants, coffeehouses, and galleries so your car isnt necessary much of the time. The Percy Inn is not suitable for families with young children because of the intimate nature of the historic building and the reserved atmosphere within. We have on rare occasion made an exception such as when the entire inn or a floor is booked by a family. Children are permitted in our satellite suites on a European Plan however. Parker, our resident Maine Coon Cat (14 pounds and four double paws, no less) prefers not to share the limelight with other pets. He knows how to work a crowd and hates competition. The Percy Inn is entirely non smoking. If you plan a day trip, we can help. Let us know a day before and we'll have a cooler, thermos, day pack, binoculars, picnic basket and blanket, beach towels, or maybe some back roads maps for you to use. Of course, all our rooms have two person umbrellas if you get caught in the rain. The moderately priced, gracious Percy Inn is a resounding success.

Portland's selection of restaurants is a varied and commendable one ranging from the most casual of outdoor eateries with a spectacular view to the more intimate with attentive service and memorable cuisine. All of Portland's restaurants are designated as non-smoking. In September 1999, restaurants statewide followed suit. A capsule of some of our favorites follows. Each is in Portland unless otherwise noted. Main Street, Freeport s perhaps the only place in Freeport with a history as notable as L.L. Bean. Sitting directly next to Bean's, this white clapboard house with a broad lawn in front and a large red barn in back was a one-time stage coach stop and the site of the signing to separate Maine from Massachusetts. New England fare is served in the main dining rooms in the front of the house while the tavern is reserved for those with less lofty expectations. The wonderful tavern exudes old-world atmosphere and there is an adjoining flagstone terrace overlooking Bean's and Main Street. Reservations accepted for the dining room. One of our longtime favorites. Located near the Old Port in a growing section of restaurants (Hugo's, Norm's, the Village Cafe). The decor is a little bit Caribbean (the giant oil drums acting as the bas for the bar look like they were snatched from the hands of a Crayola crayon meltdown) blended with the atmosphere of a a San Francisco coffeehouse. The menu is eclectic with items such as the Pepperburger made of organically grown beef served with wonderful red potatoes to more innovative dishes based on a vegetarian base with possibly scallops or salmon. They serve dinner only and do not take reservations. Arguably Portland's finest restaurant sharing top honors with Street Company as providing a memorable dining experience whether it is simply for a night out or a special occasion. The unassuming building, near the old Custom's House, offers no hint of the culinary delights within. A cozy and sophisticated bar is at the entrance and the warm atmosphere enhanced by flattering lighting, original old beams, exposed brick, and a sizeable exhibition kitchen proffer a soothing environment to enjoy a wide range of fish dishes, enticing beef choices inventively prepared, or perhaps a choice from the chef's specials. Priced accordingly, it is still well below big city prices. Reservations urged well in advance but one-third of space is left to walk-ins. Vying for top honors in Portland, Street Company is often neck and neck with Fore Street competing evenly with exemplary food in an atmosphere that makes guests feel part of the preparation with cooking close by and a retinue of staff that keeps guests in glowing spirit. Count on a good selection of meat and seafood dishes where attention to detail makes the difference and the chef's skill is tasted at every turn. Dining here can be a destination for the evening and not simply a pitstop enroute to a Sea Dogs or Pirates game. Priced accordingly, this top flight choice is always booked and reservations are a must. They do however keep one-third of the tables open for walk-ins who arrive beginning at 5:30 p.m. to score a last minute table. You're better making a dinner reservation when you book your room. A lovely New England inn in the shadows of L.L. Bean, is occupied in a white clapboard structure, in quintessential Yankee architecture. A warm, inviting Brunch, lunch, or dinner awaits in the Maine Dining Room or enjoy something more casual in the masculine-inspired Broad Arrow Tavern. Reservations suggested, especially for brunch. A fine choice in our own backyard - almost literally. Cafe Uffa on the square has been pleasing patrons with their breakfasts since they opened. Dinner Wed-Sun. soon followed along with a growing list of regulars who come for the primarily French cuisine. Reservations accepted. 1 Spring Point Drive, So. Portland. In the Spring Point Marina, this entry in the seafood market brings the outdoors inside with big windows, deck dining, and marina views tableside. The menu accents seafood appropriately and serves lunch and dinner, and is a choice selection for a cold libation on the deck. You don't have to sail into Portland Harbor or dock at the marina to appreciate the boathouse. This makes a fine stop going to or coming from Portland Headlight. Reservations accepted. The Boat Landing, Peaks Island. Jones Landing is a landmark on Peaks Island and the first impression arrivals are greeted with on the island. It's an ideal place to enjoy a beer on the deck or perhaps a casual seafood entre when you want to experience a short ferry ride in Portland Harbor. Boats leave from the Casco Bay Ferry Terminal (parking garage adjacent) frequently and the fee is a marginal one. Jones Landing offers superb views of the Portland skyline, passing boats and the Scotia Prince cruise ship (nightly about 7:45 and 9:15 p.m. April-Oct.). Reservations not accepted. Norm's Bar and Grill. 606 Congress Street 207 828-9944. The original Norm's was a barbecue place on the fringe of the Old Port with a handful of picnic tables indoors but they closed leaving their follow-up restaurant, near the inn, in the shadow of the Portland Museum of Art, and opposite the State Theater. The expanded menu has staples such as memorable chicken BBQ sandwiches, pulled pork sandwiches, and more. The tapas menu ever-changes. Try to get seated before 6 p.m. or you can expect to wait. Reservations not accepted. Owner Dale Northrup is a Portland native who has critiqued thousands of hotels for his work as a travel writer and definitely knows what he is doing Maine - An Explorer;s Guide