Good Food, Great Tunes, Even Better Deeds: Side Street Café Launches ‘Amplify Good’

Carrie Jones

Nov 11, 2025

The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by The 1932 Criterion Theatre.

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BAR HARBOR—As the temperatures drop and Main Street grows quieter, Side Street Café is turning up the warmth. The downtown restaurant known for bright energy is launching a new way to keep the community connected this winter: a monthly music-and-giving series called Amplify Good.

Each month, The Annex at Side Street Café will host live music and donate part of the night’s proceeds to a local nonprofit. The first beneficiary? Open Table, a Mount Desert Island–based food-security organization.

“Jena and Jeff Young really wanted to focus extra hard this year on providing for our community throughout the entire year. It’s what built Side Street Café. Covid changed a lot of things, including our ability to be more year-round. But we’ve worked hard the past few years to build our core team, and to have the ability to serve year round,” said Director of Operations Bo Jennings.

That work building a dependable team and year-round rhythm has opened the door for something new. Side Street is not just staying open through the winter, but it’s giving back while doing so.

The six-month Amplify Good series kicks off November 14 with Open Table, a Mount Desert Island–based food security organization whose mission, according to its website, “is to inspire strong, loving, and inclusive communities by bringing people together to share in nourishing food. Our organization helps to alleviate hunger by feeding individuals and families on Mount Desert Island and beyond.”

The need is real. Maine ranks third in the nation for low food security, and in Hancock County, roughly one in eight households struggles to access enough food “to sustain a healthy lifestyle (a rate higher than the national average),” according to Open Table.

“It’s just going to be a fun night of live music,” Open Table board member Jean Sylvia said. “I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.” Open Table is something that goes on beyond that. It’s a place for people to gather.

Open Table’s goal is to raise some money for its organization this Friday. It hopes to be back to serving food in January and is currently interview chef applications.

“We will be handing out copies of the famous Mile High Tomato Pie recipe that the Burning Tree restaurant kindly shared with us and has become our guests late summer favorite,” Sylvia said. “We will also be selling raffle tickets for a $100 Side Street gift certificate.”

Dan Lorey will play from 4-6 p.m. Em & Company play from 6-8 p.m. On The Rocks will play from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Open Table board members will be there in shifts to hand out Mile High Tomato Pie recipes and hang out as well. They’ll be available to talk to anyone who wants to learn more about the nonprofit.

For Jennings and the Side Street team, it’s the perfect mix of what makes Bar Harbor special: food, music, and people who show up for one another.

Jennings said the restaurant was thrilled to help create an event that supports community connection while keeping the local music scene alive through the winter.

“We’ve worked really hard, the past few years, and growing are experiences, including the live music at The Annex. This past year, we had over 300 different live music sets. so as we discussed our year-round plans, we wanted to make sure to include events that featured live music, as well as the opportunity to make a positive impact on the community through supporting local nonprofits. This gives our musicians a chance to play throughout the winter, it gives the community a reason to get out of the house, and it gives all of us an opportunity to do good while having fun,” Jennings said.

The Jesup Library is also lending a hand, helping Open Table print posters and Open Table will add QR codes to make donations easier. Amplify Good events are open to all ages and free to attend.

During each Amplify Good night at The Annex, a portion of sales will go directly to that month’s nonprofit.

“Also, we have given each nonprofit the opportunity to do something at the door,” Jennings said. Attendees should enter via the Side Street entrance. “Amplify Good is free for everyone to attend, but the nonprofits may ask for additional donations that directly impact their organization. For example, in January, the YWCA is going to be asking for those that attend to bring toiletries, as that will have fill a huge need for their residents. Each nonprofit will pick what’s best for them!”

As the days grow shorter, Jennings said the goal is simple: to make Bar Harbor a little brighter.

“I think it’s gonna be incredible for Bar Harbor,” Jennings said. “As a year-round resident myself, I know how much locals yearn for things to do throughout the year. It’s exciting to have this opportunity, and I can’t wait to see everyone out!”

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LINKS TO LEARN MORE

You can follow Side Street, The Annex and Amplify Good on social media to learn about the next nonprofits and bands.

You can connect with Open Table here at its website.

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