Eating Well: An end-of-summer dinner party

Here’s a whale of a way to wow people who have entertained you this summer: invite them to an end-of-the-season party featuring this fantastic fish and shellfish minestrone with pesto.

Serve a large salad with the soup and, if you like baking, make the bacon-studded French Provencal flat bread to go with it. Everyone will love it. For dessert, fill a large trifle bowl with melon balls — pink (watermelon) and green (honeydew) look very festive.

Fish and Shellfish Minestrone with Pesto

The Great Outdoors: Exploring the Bowdoin College Coastal Studies Center trails on Orr's Island

If you are looking for a bit of an Acadia National Park, Monhegan Island, and Norwegian fjords experience all rolled into one, consider a visit to the spectacular trail system at the Bowdoin College Coastal Studies Center on the northwestern tip of Orr's Island.

This off the beaten path parcel of land gets little publicity and little visitation. The 118 acres of peaceful meadows, secluded evergreen forests, and steep ridge lines and cliffs were a gift to the college from William and Irma Thalheimer, with the desire to create a world-class coastal studies program.

Arts and Entertainment Calendar: Aug. 18 - 29

Greater Portland

Auditions, Calls for Art

Acorn Productions is accepting submissions for annual Phyzgig festival, seeking variety entertainers in any family-oriented genre for vaudeville festival in Portland from Christmas to New Year’s, Sept. 15 deadline, applications at acorn-productions.org/pages/Phyzgig.html.

Out & About: ‘Shout!,' ‘Luv’ top theater choices

Summer stock theater is in full swing this week, with excellent offerings in two of the region’s classic venues.

“Shout!” is a jukebox musical that’s currently running at Arundel Barn Playhouse. On its surface, “Shout!” is simply a very clever compilation of 30 songs from the 1960s-era “British Invasion,” but it’s got a superior story line.