by Stephen E. Abbott

Angus King is tapping his iPhone. “Some of the gizmos they make for these things are remarkable,” he says. “My kids showed me this one.” The distinctive sound of a Star Wars lightsaber suddenly fills the air as he waves the glowing phone over his head, a look of boyish delight spread across his face.

The Portland-based architect Richard Renner’s urban loft in our Nov/Dec issue was proof that you could “go green” with style. Renner, an award-winning architect, shared his insights with us the Nov/Dec feature “Taking His Own Advice.” But how will Renner fair under the unbridled stress of our infamous MH+D Questionnaire?

In our Nov/Dec Feast feature “Backyard Gourmets” we got you an invitation to the underground culinary party known as Deathmatch. Here, we’ve convinced Joe Ricchio, one of the event’s co-founders, to share his dish from the seven-course meal: Sweet Corn and Duck Soup with Smoked Chilies.

In our October issue we showcased eight Maine encaustic artists. Here we feature one more—Peaks Island artist Diane Wiencke. Her work is yet another example of how complex and beautiful this timeless art form can be.