Every day we're inspired by the ways downtown businesses have pivoted in response to the pandemic. Even is the midst of great uncertainty, they've found innovative and meaningful ways to stay connected to and engaged with our community. Today we'd like to share how two of Portland Downtown's board members, Krista Cole of Sur Lie and Michael Erickson of Holiday Inn By The Bay, are making the most of these challenging times. Thank you, Krista and Michael, for leading by example!

With the onset of COVID-19 in March, Sur Lie, a tapas bar & restaurant on Free Street, was forced to close its doors to dine-in customers. Fortunately, owner Krista Cole was able to retain two full-time cooks so that the restaurant could offer take-out and curbside pick-up. The team also made it a priority to give back to their friends & neighbors, providing over 200 meals to the healthcare heroes at Maine Medical Center and the Maine Cancer Children's Program.

In mid-April, Sur Lie launched an exciting new service that safely connects customers with delicious & nutritious food while supporting more than 8 local businesses. The Sur Lie Farmer’s Basket offers a weekly, rotating selection of vegetables and meats from local farmers at  Stonecipher Farm  and L&P Bisson . There are two options: a Vegetable Farmer's Basket or a Meat & Vegetable Farmer's Basket. The baskets provide several meals per person along with a rotating selection of local cheese from  Spring Day Creamery  and a loaf of bread from  Standard Baking Co.  How cool is that? Check out Sur Lie's website for more info (they're also offering Meal Kits and Virtual Wine Dinners in collaboration with Wine Wise!)

At this time, we all need messages of hope and inspiration. Thank you to Michael Erickson and his team at Holiday Inn By The Bay for sharing these message loud and clear. The stunning projections on the facade of the hotel – made possible through a partnership with Headlight Audio Visual – are a beautiful reminder that we'll get through this together, one day at a time.

All photos courtesy of Sur Lie and Holiday Inn By The Bay.