In photo: Fly By Night and Eye of the Storm.
Welcome to 115 Elm Street in Camden, Maine!
"In this journey called life, we are all travelers. Our goal is to provide you with great tasting farm-to-table food to eat along the way. With produce locally sourced from Spear Spring Farm in Warren and Dandelion Spring Farm in Bowdoinham you can expect the freshest flavors possible. We also make our own distinctive doughs for pizza crusts and rolls with eggs from Bowden's Egg Farm in Waldoboro. To top it all off, our burgers, sausage and sauces are all made from scratch right here in our kitchen from recipes developed for maximum flavor and enjoyment!"
~~ GRT's Mission Statement
This post is a long time coming. I met Ean and Theresa this winter as they were renovating a colonial building by the Cedar Crest Inn which a million years ago (give or take) was the hotel's on-site restaurant to turn into awesomeness. This post is a long time coming, but it's primarily going to be a photodump with a few links thrown in for good measure. A cut-n-pasted article. A link to order some food if you've gotten hungry looking at pictures.
There are a million rooms here. And within each room are mini-rooms and conversation pits. When I make art deliveries all I really want to do is fall asleep on that couch.
Okay, so there's food, drink, tons of music, hangout space, games, art, tarot readings, and here's some food:
Hungry? You can order online, ya know...
Gypsy Rose Tavern hosts several local artists, as well. You probably knew this was coming.
I have an awful lot of paintings in here, they're all over the restaurant high and low, and I have semi-lost track of what's where at this point between GRT and The Senator, so my last blog entry was a mini-gallery with official price list. My business cards keep falling about like autumn leaves, and I put the wrong phone number on the old ones. [If anyone wants to manage me, I seriously could use an assistant.] The two you see up high there are "Tripartite" (Triple Goddess) and "Blue Angel." There are more.
That's "Fly By Night." I'm taking Him home next week
"Wyld Irish Rose" and "New Constellation" were over in the office, but they moved. These are old photos; sorry. Rose glows in the dark. I think they moved her to the music room. In case you can't tell, I haven't actually hung out here, yet. Camden's a long haul for someone who can't drive at night. Anyhoo...
I voted to take down "Winter Solstice," because here we are in June, right, and summer solstice is coming, but everyone likes her so she lives in the bar up on high, all spooky-like. This is her former spot by the front door. You can't tell from the photo, since I'm not a photographer, but the moon is gold leaf, and the poor li'l gal in the corner sprouting a birch tree from her head is lit up with gold oil paint. Very reflective.
For your reading pleasure, Daniel Dunkle's February article about Gypsy Rose, which was already A Thing even when just starting up. I was having trouble with a firewall on the Courier Gazette site, so cut-and-pasted in case you've used up your freebies. CAMDEN — Sometimes local musicians just show up and start playing. Bands booked to play the gig invite friends to join in. On Thursdays, the place is packed for open mic nights.Welcome to Camden’s new night hot spot, Gypsy Rose Tavern next to the Cedar Crest Inn on Elm Street.
“We pinch ourselves and say, ‘Is this really happening?’” said co-owner Ean Flannigan, who has combined his love of high-end cooking with his passion for live music. In the process, the business, which he partnered with Reade Brower to establish, has filled a need in the Camden area for a weekend nightlife scene catering to those looking to enjoy more than a quiet formal dinner.
Gypsy Rose features local musicians and bands, which they have scheduled into the summer, including Emmett Lalor and Company, The Roots Rock Ramblers, The Blind Albert Trio and Electric Bonfire. In the few months since it opened, it has attracted an eclectic crew of “regulars,” including those in the local music scene, young 20-somethings looking for something to do and even retirees from nearby Quarry Hill. Flannigan has worked to cultivate a “hang-out” atmosphere. Tables are close together and there are couches and comfy places to sit and talk with friends. “People will say to someone at the next table over, ‘How is that pizza?’ and they will say, ‘Here try a slice,’” he said. “It’s all about community.” “Musicians are playing; people show up and start playing; it feels like a friend’s living room,” he said. Asked about the name of the business, Flannigan said there was no one reason. In part it honors Gypsy Underhill, who owned the space at one point, and a cook named Rose who was a local character. Flannigan himself is a descendent of Irish Travelers and his nickname has been Gypsy. He also expressed admiration for burlesque entertainer Gypsy Rose Lee. The space is leased from the hotel, which is closed for the season. He said Gypsy Rose will be offering breakfast seven days per week in season.
Currently it is open for dinner Thursday through Monday, 4 – 10 p.m. and brunch on Sundays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The head chef is Jules Junget. Ean Flannigan is also a trained and experienced chef with a specialty in French cuisine.
He said the restaurant applies high-end cooking ideas to pub fare, and it specializes in wings, burgers and pizza. He grinds the meat for the burgers on-site and makes the sausage. The pizza features fermented dough, and the wings are prepared via duck fat confit.
The atmosphere and the quality of the food are of equal importance to the chefs. Flannigan adds that the place has a “Pagan Vibe” with Tarot cards on the bar and palm readers on Sundays telling fortunes. Local art, including Flannigan’s own, hangs on the walls and the business sells it, but all the proceeds go to the artists.
When it comes to the music, the lighting has been professionally set up with help from music video veteran Jack Churchill.
“We don’t want to shake up Camden too much,” Flannigan said, “but a lot of restaurants are formal. This is something a little different.”
He added, however, that there is a new spirit of cooperation among the new restaurant owners in Camden. He said they will send customers looking for quiet meals to his friend’s places and they will refer those looking for a music scene to the Rose. They can even help each other by lending staff members when needed.
Flannigan said he has been fortunate to be able to hire excellent staff while many local businesses are struggling to find workers.
The restaurant offers discounts to workers from the restaurant and hospitality industry one night each week, and the people from the industry enjoy a night of Cards Against Humanity. The business is also involved in giving back to the community. It recently held a spaghetti fundraiser for substance abuse awareness.
While it has an extensive beer list, it also offers low and no-alcohol beers and “mocktails” for those in recovery. He said the goal is to have a good time, not just do shots and get drunk.
“I talk to every table and every guest,” he said. “People say thank you, tonight was amazing. We needed this!”
Please note that the article is from February 23, so hours have expanded, as has the menu.
Also, please note that 100% of all creative expression go to their artists, musicians, readers, what have you. This is not standard, trust me. The lowest percentage I've had to lose is 20%, which really adds up when you're struggling. Gypsy Rose treats their people right, and we are beyond grateful. Thanks, you guys.
Oh, did I mention music? All music, all the time. Come on out!
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