Spring is tentatively making its way back to Maine. We’ve got four food/drink/art events that appeal to both men and women and will have you looking forward to longer, warmer days ahead. So get out there and enjoy Maine!

First Friday Veuve Cliquot Sip and Art Walk

Friday, April 6, Portland

Now, this is the way to do it. Kicking off Portland’s first Art Walk of the season, the elegant Jessica Johnson Beauty studio (15 Middle Street) is pouring a free glass of Veuve Cliquot champagne in bubbly style from 4-6 p.m. They'll have Veuve Cliquot swag, raffles, giveaways and specials on studio services, products and gift cards. FMI: Jessica Johnson Beauty studio.

Annual Rural Living Day

Saturday, April 7, Thorndike

Want to learn skills your forebears knew how to do? Annual Rural Living Day takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at Mount View High School, 577 Mount View Road, Thorndike. Workshops will be offered in three sessions. and topics will include adaptive gardening, Maine's native bees, identifying invasive plants, composting with worms, grafting apple trees, making cheese and cooking with seaweeds.The $20 fee includes three workshops and a lunch featuring locally sourced foods, which is an incredible deal! Preregistration is required; register online by April 5. Sponsored by University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Waldo County Extension Association. FMI: Rural Living Day

Baseball and Beer in the Garden

Tuesday, April 17, Portland

The Maine Historical Society is hosting a special “For the Love of the game: The History of Baseball in Maine” where a staff curator selects items from their collection and show them off a monthly Beer in the Garden events. The curator is on hand to answer questions. It’s all very fun, easygoing… and did we mention there’s beer? The Maine Brew Bus is sponsoring the beer portion of the event by getting bottled beer from local breweries donated. These are bottles, not just a tasting! This is a free event for members, and low-cost for non-members at $5. The event is 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. FMI: Beer in the Garden

Old Port Happy Hour Tour

Thursdays through Saturdays in April, Portland

Throughout April, join a lively group through Maine Foodie Tours as you walk through the streets of the Old Port learning rum-running stories that go back in the 1800s. As you sip craft beer and cocktails and nosh on appetizers from four establishments, you’ll learn how Mainers both smuggled in and made rum, so much so, that we needed prohibition way before the rest of the country. Learn the location of speakeasies which popped up all over town during this period of temperance, the story of Maine’s  own “rum riot” and tales of where naughty sailors had their fun when they came to port. For two hours, you’ll also get the local’s view on the current culinary and bar scene at one of the area’s newest establishments. $69 per person. For more info: Maine Foodie Tours

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com