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Having lived in Portland, Maine for several years, I've been ever more taken in by its charms.

A port city with an illustrious history, a working waterfront, a world-renown restaurant industry, an art scene that is breathtaking, there is not much lacking here.

In fact, people who live in Portland are getting used to getting national accolades from all directions. Frequently among the top ten livable cities in the US, recently designated the hippest city on the East Coast by Travel & Leisure magazine, Portland is really a city of superlatives.

I have often thought to myself, and mentioned to a few friends and family, that (despite the cold winters), Portland reminds me of San Francisco -- the charm, the sense of place, the art and music, and the water that surrounds the city all bring echoes of that West Coast city.

So, today it was mainly a point of confirmation -- not a surprise -- that a column appeared in the Chicago Times talking about the delights of Portland and in the course of discussion called it the "San Francisco of the East." Someone else has seen the parallels.

The bottom line -- Portland, Maine is a fantastic place and if you're reading this and have never visited, you owe it to yourself to make a trip here. Summer and early Fall are the best times, but the good food and welcoming people are here all year round.

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