How was your weekend in Bristol??
Too much going on here to report back. Food-wise, kinda lame-o because our favorite (Muscongus Lobster) was closed. I’ll try to report when I can.
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Dutifully reporting, albeit late and lame-o. Breakfasts and dinners all at our wonderful rental house.
Friday 10 Oct
We arrived in Bristol/New Harbor right around dinnertime. We’d made a reservation at The Contented Sole which had moved into fancy new digs since our last visit (in 2020 or 2021?). We were seated in the small ante-room (I can’t remember what they called it), which was quiet, dark, and candle-lit, with a view. The main areas are much more convivial, but maybe the host thought the ante-room would be better for my parents.
I shoulda split the clam pizza with B (which was tasty), and I don’t know why the hell I ordered the special fried whole-belly clam tacos (too soggy, too much going on). B helped me finish those. Spring Onion loved his pepperoni pizza, mom her poke bowl, and dad his short-rib tacos. Nice space, but we miss the old location.
Saturday 11 Oct
Hiking at La Verna Preserve, a favorite of ours, although it was a bit arduous for the 'rents. We took our time, but by the time we finished, everyone was famished. So, we made the bad choice of eating at Shaw’s in New Harbor, which I have avoided like the plague. And our meal (no photos) cemented that opinion, although everyone else seemed satisfied. At least it was a beautiful sunny warm day and sitting on the rooftop deck was nice. There was fish chowder, broiled haddock, crab cakes, haddock sandwich, bacon cheeseburger, and no one got sick afterwards. So that’s something. 
Spring Onion hit up New Harbor Ice Cream for a truly delightful cone of Maine blueberry. Later, we visited Pemaquid Point lighthouse.
Sunday 12 Oct
After breakfast, we made a stop at Granite Hall General Store, a favorite place. SO agonized at the penny candy counter and the young kid working was so patient. I directed SO to leave a nice tip. I bought some blueberry jam and pickles from Maine Homestead Market at Pemaquid Co-Op shop. I love the pickled asparagus spears and I got pickled carrots, too.
We headed to Pumpkinfest in Damariscotta. Decided to have an early lunch at an old standby, King Eider’s Pub because every place that we wanted to go to (Oysterhead, Shuck Station) was too crowded and I had people to feed. Firecracker green beans, seafood chowder, crab burger, overdone beef burgers, and bacon chicken ranch sandwich were consumed. We just beat the rush, with the line wrapping down the block (we had a comfy booth overlooking the front and could watch the crowd). Fun time at the fest, but we left before the pumpkin regatta. Mom and dad tire easily these days. We stopped by Rising Tide Coop for some dinner supplies (some rando pasta dish that I made). On our way home, we came across Walpole Barn, run by a delightful couple. The wine selection is excellent and we bought a few to take home. It was nice, eating at home, roaring firepit and SO made his famous roasted dates with dark chocolate over the open fire.
My favorite pumpkins.
Monday 13 Oct
We checked out and decided to stop in Kittery to charge the car. We ended up at Robert’s Maine Grill, which we’ve avoided all these years but we thought mom and dad would enjoy, and they did. We stayed simple - sandwiches, mussels for me, burgers. It was all fine. We probably should’ve just gone to the Clam Hut but that’s ok. No photos.
Some regrets: our favorite place, Muscongus Bay Lobster was already closed for the season and we didn’t make it to Glidden Point Oyster Farm for their end-of-season celebration because we would have had to endure the Pumpkinfest traffic through Damariscotta there-and-back (which would not have been trivial). It was nice for mom and dad to have a change of scenery. We will try to go back in September or maybe in the spring, when things have sprung back open.
Tuesday 14 Oct
Dropped mom and dad off at RT128 station to take the commuter rail back to Providence. I saw this in the lobby. I took a peek. The stuff looked decent. But maybe my bar was set even lower that weekend. 
ETA: Broad Arrow Farm, a favorite of mine and @GretchenS is still closed. And Dot sold her home/bakery and moved to PA. 
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Great report, sounds like a fun weekend!! When you were at the Granite Hall Store you were a 5 minute walk away from me (although I was up in Camden that day).
ETA:
The old location was destroyed in the terrible coastal storms we had in January 2024. I am happy for them they found a new location even though it is definitely not as good.
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Oh geez. Thanks for the info. When we visited Pemaquid Point Light, we watched the video about the damage to the bell house and the wonderful restoration that followed. SO felt sad for the old bell house but liked the new-and-improved one. He can be unexpectedly sensitive.
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