A whole new addition to entertainment on the Midcoast has arrived in Damariscotta this spring – Dine & Dance events at Schooner Landing Restaurant and Marina. The Dine & Dance Season Premier will be on Sat., May 22 at 8 p.m. with the New Rangers, an acoustic and vocals group.
The changes go on from there — in order to accommodate the Dine & Dance events, Schooner Landing has done a complete re-design and renovation of the restaurant interior and kitchen. Walls have been knocked down and a pool table removed to create a better view for diners of a new stage built for entertainers. Floors and tables have been re-arranged and resurfaced, and improvements have been made to the kitchen.
It’s all part of wide-ranging plan from Schooner Landing co-owners Charlie Herrick and Scott Folsom that will not only re-make the interior of Schooner Landing, but will re-invent the whole concept of the venue as well.
“Charlie and I have been working since we got here 11 years ago to improve Schooner Landing without losing it’s unique ambiance of comfort, great food and service and outstanding entertainment,” said Folsom. “We wanted that change to reflect our values… We wanted to create a place that we would not only enjoy owning, but would also be the kind of place we would enjoy visiting as customers.”
Hours will also be affected on Dine & Dance Nights, with music starting earlier. Dine & Dance events will have an emphasis on table service, with floor staff serving dinner and continuing their table service through the evening, so that patrons won’t have to leave their table to go to the bar.
Creative dinner specials will give guests fresh new choices in their entrée selections on Dine & Dance nights, as will themed cocktails. The kitchen will be staying open later on Dine & Dance nights to accommodate late evening diners.
The Dine & Dance Season premier band, The New Rangers, is an acoustic offshoot of the popular local group, The Round Pond Rangers.
The New Rangers feature Jim Nelson on guitar, bass and vocals; John Reny on guitar and vocals; and newcomer John Riley on guitar, vocals and tambourine. Jim Nelson was a past member of The Round Pond Rangers, as well as Innervisions and Power Loom. John Reny was an original Ranger, circa 1971 and now continues to be a Ranger in this era as well. John Riley comes to the band by way of Sarasota, Fla. and Bremen, Maine. All three are very talented musicians and vocalists who know how to engage and please a crowd with a combination of acoustics and vocals.
The New Rangers are playing songs from yesteryear as well as current tunes developed over the last three years though constant practicing in the “Ranger Station,” which is “located deep in the woods in Round Pond, Maine” according to the group. They cover artists like Bob Dylan, New Riders of the Purple Sage, The Byrds The Band, John Prine, Grateful Dead, Steve Earl, and Slaid Cleaves (Cleaves is a former New Harbor resident).
The full summer schedule for Dine & Dance events at Schooner Landing is still under development, but dates for two shows have been set.
On Sat., June 19 there will be Dine & Dance Cuban Night with the band Primo Cubana, complete with Cuban specials on the menu and Cuban themed cocktails.
Coming Fri., July 16 there will be a Dine & Dance Jazz Night with the ever-popular local group the Jazz Babies.
Also in the works are Dine & Laugh nights featuring popular comedians.
“We’re hoping that folks will find all of these changes a great new addition to our venue, and we invite everybody to come inside and look around – we think you’ll like what you see,” Folsom said.
Schooner Landing Restaurant and Marina is located on the bank of the Damariscotta River next to the Newcastle/Damariscotta Bridge in Damariscotta. They have a full menu from sandwiches to full dinners and are known for their fresh local seafood. For further information, contact Schooner Landing Restaurant and Marina at 563-7447 or check them online at www.schoonerlandingmaine.com.
