Labor Day looms.
In short order, the outdoor tables and patio chairs, one by one, will beginto vanish. Kayaks will tuck in under weatherproof tarps, and every schooner on the water will nestle in for a long winter slumber.
But not just yet.
Right now, the summer still lingers, having fought off days of downpours andcloudy skies so that we might appreciate the season's dwindling days. If"shoulder burn" tops your list of summer highlights, it's time to get busy.
Make up for your warm-weather procrastination with this end-of-summer bucket list.
DRIVE-INS
Drive-ins are a classic summer fixture for a reason. Indoor theaters will bea welcome enclosure come wintertime. But while the balmy evening air ishere, roll down the windows, recline the driver's seat and catch a flick onan outdoor screen. The snack shop offers hot dogs and nachos to enhance the old-school drive-inexperience. Or, you can pack a front-seat picnic with the edibles of yourchoice. Pack a few camping chairs, a small table and a couple of auxiliaryspeakers while you're at it.
Saco Drive-in, 969 Portland Road (U.S. Route 1), Saco; 284-1016Pride's Corner Drive-in, 651 Bridgeton Road, Westbrook; 797-3154Bridgton Twin Drive-In, Route 302, Bridgton; 647-8666
L.L. BEAN WALK-ON ADVENTURES
Tackling a new outdoor sport typically requires upfront funds and a longattention span. But it's summer. You don't want to be tied down by aone-sport commitment.
L.L. Bean's Walk-On Adventures enable an untroubled summer fling with arange of summer sports. Take a kayak out for the morning and then spend theafternoon getting to know fly casting. Didn't mesh well with archery? Maybeclay shooting is a better match. The $15 fee won't break your heart, either.L.L. Bean, 95 Main St., Freeport. Sessions daily through Sept. 7, thenweekends through Oct. 11. Cost: $15, includes everything. (877) 755-2326;www.llbean.com
SCARBOROUGH MARSH CANOE TOURS
A solid evening paddle can be the perfect cap to a full summer day. Duringthe sunset canoe tours at Scarborough Marsh, spy on ducks and shorebirdsreturning to their roosting spots for the night, or experience the marshnightlife during a full moon canoe tour. Hobnob with harbor seals and nightherons during the 1.5-hour excursion.Maine Audubon, Scarborough Marsh, Pine Point Road, Scarborough. Sunset tour7 to 8:30 p.m. today; full moon tours at 3, 4, and 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 2.$12; $10 for children. 883-5100; www.maineaudubon.org
BLUEBERRY PICKING
Relive those childhood summer breaks you spent filtching blueberries fromthe neighbor's bushes. Except this year, there's no need to flee theproperty with a hostile homeowner on your tail.
Payeur's Farm in Sanford makes the picking easy, with buckets available toprevent shirt and finger staining. And if you're paranoid about questionablefreshness dates at the grocers, picking them yourself should settle yourtroubled mind. Blueberries sell at $2.20 a pound, cash only. Bring a fewdollars extra for a pint of Payeur's blueberry ice cream.
Payeur's Farm, Otis Allen Road, Sanford. 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday throughFriday; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday through the end of August.324-3200.
OUTDOOR YOGA
If how you start your day is any indication of how the rest of it will go,it makes sense to begin with a good stretch, a scenic view and maybe somepositive self-talk.
Assuming the weather continues to accommodate, head to the Eastern Prom foroutdoor yoga courtesy of the Awake Collective. The early-morning sessionsinclude gentle yoga on Thursdays, kundalini yoga on Tuesdays and qigong onFridays. The yoga begins at 7 a.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. Saturdayand Sunday. Check online or call ahead to confirm the schedule.Meet at the corner of Quebec Street and Eastern Prom, Portland. Pay bydonation....
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