Living in Maine
Were you to join our department, you would not only begin a career at Bates, but you would also begin making a life in Maine. It’s important to realize that there are a variety of ways to do that. The current faculty in Psychology parallel the broader college faculty in that some of us choose to live in Lewiston/Auburn, while others opt to commute in from other cities and towns in Maine.
LEWISTON/AUBURN
For those who choose to reside in Lewiston/Auburn, one benefit is proximity to campus. Indeed, some faculty have lived close enough to campus that their commute is a short walk. The college even maintains a limited number of rental properties that new faculty can make use of during their initial years, and they are within blocks of campus. No matter where one lives in L/A, the commute to campus is typically no more than a 10-15 minute drive or 20 minute bike ride.
Tactical urbanism project at the annual Build Maine conference, in Lewiston. (Photo: Emma Holder)
A fun moment from the 2018 annual member meeting of the Raise-Op housing cooperative of Lewiston. It includes one of our alums, Craig Saddlemire ’05, who manages the co-op. (Photo: Raise-Op)
L/A is also a comfortable, safe place to live. The market for single-family homes is relatively affordable, and crime rates are low. Traffic is rarely an issue, making it easily navigable. It’s also one of the most racially and ethnically diverse communities in the state, affording opportunities for contact among households from a variety of backgrounds. There are also multiple options for schools, including the Lewiston Public Schools and the Auburn School Department, as well as private options, such as St. Dominic Academy. There are also buses to Baxter Academy for Technology and Science, as well as Waynflete School, both in Portland.
For dining and nightlife, the local community has experienced significant growth in opportunities in recent years. Some dining spots frequented by Bates faculty, staff, and students include Forage Market for breakfast and lunch, She Doesn’t Like Guthries for sandwiches and burritos, Orchid for sushi and Thai, and Mother India for Indian cuisine. Another restaurant that’s doing well in its new downtown location is boba, whose chef and co-owner has the honor of having been a runner-up on the Food Network’s show Chopped. Finally, craft beer lovers can choose from multiple local establishments, including Baxter Brewing (which hosts the annual Great Falls Brewfest) and Craft Brew Underground (which also hosts trivia and comedy nights), while cocktail lovers can enjoy what’s on offer at Sonder & Dram.
Yet another benefit of L/A is its central location relative to multiple recreational activities. To the east, coastal towns and beaches are as nearby as a 45-minute drive. A 90-minute drive to the west brings you to the White Mountain National Forest, for hiking and other outdoor activities. The winter months turn the western half of the state into a snowy playground, with multiple areas where one can snowshoe and do both Alpine and Nordic skiing, including the Sunday River and Sugarloaf resorts. And for an even more urban feel than in L/A itself, Portland is about 45 minutes to the south.
PORTLAND
In fact, Portland is also home to many Bates faculty. The greater Portland area is the largest urban center in the state. It is home to many restaurants, including Duckfat, Fore Street, and Eventide Oyster, each of which has won a James Beard Award. The dining on offer in Portland ranges from tapas, to Vietnamese, to BBQ, to ramen, to New Orleans po’ boys, to Middle Eastern, and then some. For those who enjoy beer, wine, and cocktails, there are many bars, craft breweries, and craft distilleries. The Portland Museum of Art always offers multiple exhibitions, and many smaller galleries are located throughout the area. Live music can be found at many small venues, as well as larger venues that feature touring acts from around the world. Households with school age children may be interested in the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine. Families will have access to Portland and South Portland’s public school districts as well as such alternatives as Baxter Academy and Waynflete.
When it’s time to get away, whether to visit family, to vacation, or for professional travel, Portland’s International Jetport (PWM) is easy to manage, yet connects directly to such cities as New York, Charlotte, Atlanta, Washington DC, Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, and more. Portland also offers bus and train service to Boston.
Rooftop taco truck and solar panels at the Bayside Bowl, with Portland’s downtown in the distance. (Photo: Michael Sargent)
Atop Portland’s Munjoy Hill, a good boy anxiously waits for his human to get coffee. (Photo: Michael Sargent)
OTHER AREAS
There are many other, smaller communities in Maine, allowing for a more small town environment, or even a rural area, if you wish. We can tell you about them. Whether you are looking for new faculty housing in Lewiston, a single-family home in Auburn, an apartment in Portland, or a farmhouse in the countryside, we can help you learn about options, and answer your questions about making a life in Maine.
Note. The choice to name and link to specific businesses is simply to give examples of area establishments. It is not an endorsement. Also, for more information about the Lewiston/Auburn area, check out this page, maintained by the Bates Human Resources department.
See also:
Work In Lewiston/Auburn, and Beyond