The Pacific doesn't have a lock on surfing, and Maine has more breaks than any other state in the northeast (check the current surfcast). Maine surfers are a determined lot, donning wetsuits in the face of oncoming storms, with a taste for hand-made wooden surfboards. Entrepreneur Tyler Briggs saw the scene, decided it needed a retail/gallery/social presence in Portland and started Corduroy Boutique. Named after particularly auspicious surf conditions when the waves are lined up like wales of corduroy all the way to the horizon, the boutique has gallery exhibitions of art and photography (often only tangentially surf-related) and sells t-shirts, hats and, of course, hand-made surfboards by "featured shapers." Their next show, Rainbowlogical, Seven Artists + Seven Colors, opens Friday at 6pm (59 Market St.) The photo above shows scrap cedar from Grain Surfboards painted with 9 colors of spray paint by artist Katrine Hildebrandt, from the show. Corduroy has the reputation for hosting the semi-official after party for First Friday Art Walk, so stop by for drinks and see the show.

Tags: arts, design, entrepreneurs, people to watch, sports, work in portland