I've been to town hall meetings. They are long affairs, the type that value endurance almost over anything else.

Something tells me Friday's XXL social justice town hall meeting at the University of Southern Maine is going to demand some serious endurance.

Would you believe today is "Buy A Newspaper Day?"

The irony...it burns.

In times like this cheap and free are our friends, because even if you have money you don't necessarily want to part with it.

That may work out fine for most of us, but think about your favorite non-profit or community group. Are they going to make it?
The answer is maybe, and that could depend on you.

Hello, NXT readers. Justin is relaxing on a private island without Internet access (at least that's what he told me), so I'll be your host today. My name is Mary Phillips-Sandy. I recently returned to Portland after a few years in New York City; these days I live, write and drink too much coffee in the East End. I'm also the proprietor of a website called Ruined Music.

Luke Livingstone is a busy man thanks to his circle of blogs including Blog About Beer, which you can guess the focus, and Real World Really, a place for common sense advice for new college grads. But today he's got beer on the mind...again.

Sure Coors Light and P.B.R. cost 50 cents a can, and as a college student those prices couldn't be beat. But now that you're a little older, your palate is a little more mature, right?…right? Well, what better way to satisfy your new-found thirst for life's finer-things, your need for a new hobby -- you can only beat Guitar Hero so many times... -- and your ever-tightening budget than learning to brew your own beer!

Rob Landry asks why you wouldn't want to start up a web business here in Portland?

To begin a story about Web design in Portland, Maine, I'll start in the Atlanta airport.

That was where, while I was waiting to board the connecting flight that was to take me to the 2007 SXSW Interactive conference, that I found myself standing next to Andy Clarke. He isn't exactly a household name, but in the world of Web, Clarke - an expert on CSS and a member of the Web Standards Project - is a rock star (he even actually looks like a rock star, a cross between someone from the British Invasion and Austin Powers. You have to admit - he's got style).

Peter Eiermann and Sally Struever from Port City Studios get things started off this week by looking at how young business owners can retake Portland.

The next generation of small businesses can be found in some of the City's smallest storefronts. Take a walk around Portland, keep your eyes peeled, and you might stumble on a few of Portland's youngest and most creative entrepreneurs and artists busily building their future here in Maine.

Ally is a pretty strong word when you think about it. It's more than just friend or buddy. It summons images of people standing shoulder to shoulder and the hard fight of the "Greatest Generation." Then again, it could just make you think of the last time you played "Axis and Allies."

But it takes on a whole different meaning when you're a gay or lesbian kid.

There is probably only a short list of things more devastating than losing everything in a fire. That initial shock and fear from surviving a fire quickly fade into another awful reality - assessing what, if anything, you still have left.

In the case of Ryan Bubier and Kirsten Maki, the answer to that was not much.

This, of course, is where friends come in.

How many times do you remember hearing your parents, or someone else's parents say this phrase when you were younger:

"I wish I knew what was going on in that head of yours."

Or something like that.

It's possible the Telling Room and its growing army of young writers has an idea.

Many people like to talk a big game about alternative transportation and greener ways of getting around town. Bicyclist, skateboarders, walkers, bus riders, rider sharers all have their ways of getting around town, but the sad fact remains that for many people using your car remains one of the easiest and most effective ways of getting around.

So what if there was a way to have a car, cut the costs of having a ride, and possibly do a little more to help the environment?

Portland has no shortage of self-love, even though we sometimes may feel like we get no respect from outside Vacationland.

If you've ever supported a local business, band or artist tonight is shaping up to be a big ol' fashioned love fest with the Indie Biz Awards and the release party for the newest album in the "Greetings from Area Code 207" series.

And lucky for all of you both of these shindigs will be taking place within a Portland city block of each other.

Don't worry, this is not another shameless plug for the blogaversary and meet-up. I'll spare you that. Instead, it's a less shameless plug for a few local groups holding some sweet events in Portland tonight.

"Hello friends, welcome to the tea party."

With those words almost a year ago today, we started on a fantastic voyage into local music, graffiti, zombies, video games, Rick Astley, mustaches, pirates and bacon.

The NXT Desk is ready to celebrate its first birthday.

Spring is in bloom (in theory) and with the turning of the seasons comes an annual tradition...award season.

Local business, local artists and local musicians are all coming into focus this month and it's time to celebrate some of the things that make it pretty great to live and work in this community.

The best part is - you get to decide.

Quick note that came across the NXT desk we wanted to pass along.
Tonight over at the University of Southern Maine the Center for Sexualities and Gender Diversity is holding a discussion on race in the gay community.

USM is using Black History Months as a kickoff for what they hope is the first in a series of discussions this semester on the issue.

Tonight artist and activist Derek Jackson will be the speaker. The event begins at 6 p.m. at the Woodbury Amphitheater on the Portland campus. It's free and open to the public. Stick around for more details.

- The Tenacious D, "Rock Your Socks Off"

If only it was politics.
The debate I am talking about is not as far–reaching, but could be just as divisive.

I'm talking about Old Port vs. Congress Street.

The League of Young Voters billed Wednesday night's "Step Up To The Plate" awards as "not your typical awards ceremony. Which in some ways was true, but in others was only sort of true.