New Mom Stephanie and Adam Peer, With Their Almost Eleven Month Old Son, Gabe, at the Food Truck Park Today.
The Food Truck Park off the Eastern Promenade Was a Busy Place on Mother’s ‘ Day Today.
Vanessa Smith, (M) With two of Her Three Daughters and a Son-in-Law at the Food Truck Park off the Eastern Promenade on a Sunny, Mild Day With STRONG Winds, Howeer.
Gladys and Raider Estrada, of Falmouth, with Their Three Children and Her Mother, Olga Rodriguez, at One of the Many Picnic Tables at the Food Truck Park today. Both Parents are Doctors in Southern Maine. Gladys is Front Seated at the Picnic Table. Her Husband Raider is Behind Her in Light Blue. Her Mother Olga is on the Right Dressed in Black.
Mothers and their families celebrated their day all over Portland – from the Old Port up to the two year-old Food Truck Park at the Cutter Street Parking Lot off the Eastern Promande on Munjoy HIll. The nearby playground was an attractiion for families with youngesters who planned to make that a final stop before leaving the Park today.
“I came to support the food trucks because when they moved down to this location last year, they lost a lot of business. My son loves the baby swings,” Stephanie said referring to her and husband Adam’s plan to stop there before leaving the Park today. Prior to last year, the food trucks had operated for years on the Eastern Promenade. However, a few neighbors complained about them and they were told to relocate down to the Cutter Street Parking Lot last year. The city’s mishandling of the process became very controversial as patrons from near and far learned the details of the changes to a very popular destination for many.
“It was my request to spend Mother’s Day at the Food Truck Park and be near the water,” said Gladys Estrada. She, her husband Raider, her Mother, Olga Rodriguez and the couple’s three children were enjoying pizza from the Cargo Pizza Company food truck.
Both Estradas are doctors. Raider is a heart doctor at Maine Medical Center, Gladys is a doctor at Greater Portland Health where she serves an underserved population. “I have always wanted to work with the underserved population. It’s a passion of mine,” Gladys said. Raider is from Los Angeles and Gladys is from New York City. They met at Georgetown University School of Medicine and have lived in Maine for seven years. (See below, right photo of the Estrada Family).
“Coming here was a planned surprise for our mother,” said Lorilye Smith as the family sat at a picnic table in front of the popular food truck Falafel Mafia. “We kept it a secret from mom until we got to the Eastern Promenade. “I figured it out when we got to the Eastern Prom,” said Vanessa Smith, mother of Lorilye.
“I first enjoyed Falafel Mafia food about ten or so years ago,” said Vanessa Smith with her three daughters, a son-in-law and three grandchildren beside her. “That was at the Fryeburg Fair. We’ve been following them since then.” Gladys continued: “Last year we wanted to come, but we weren’t sure they would be available, with everything going on here with city hall and all.” The family lives in Limerick about an hour drive away from Portland.
“I am visiting my daugher on Mother’s Day,” vowed Melissa Forbes this afternoon. She lives in Jay which is about a two hour dirve north of Portland. Her daugher Lexi Fryover, who lives in Portland said: “I’ve been here for about 5 years. I come to the Prom quite often. I have been to a lot of these food trucks all over the city. This collection of food trucks is one of the largest in the city. I try to support them. This was one of the first places I thought to come on Mother’s Day.” The mother and daughter pair were waiting for their pizza from the oh – so popular Cargo Pizza Company truck.
Another mother daughter pair were lined up in front of the Gelato Fiasco truck: “I have a secret for you. This is our lunch, not our dessert!”
The city provided more picnic tables, trash cans, more public parking spaces and more handicapped parking this year than last year. That is all partly due to fewer food trucks than last year in the Park. One food truck operator said he wished the city would provide power to the Park so “we can get rid of these noisy generators.” Food truck operators are required to pay the city a fee of over $3,000. for the season that began last month.