Yesterday, my husband, Clif, and I went to Railroad Square Cinema in Waterville to see  White Material, a movie that is part of a mini-film festival called MIFF in the Morning. For six weeks this winter, on (mostly) alternating Saturday and Sunday mornings, an eclectic group of foreign and independent films are shown, and there is usually a discussion afterward.

Clif and I are part of the MIFF in the Morning committee, as are our friends Joel and Alice Johnson. We screen the movies and help choose them, as well as various other sundry tasks.

Because it is a morning event, Alice and Joel decided that bagels would be just the thing to accompany the movies. (Even for devoted popcorn lovers, 10:00 A.M. is a bit early for popcorn.) Alice and Joel got in touch with Bagel Mainea in Augusta, and they agreed to donate bagels. Bagel Mainea must be in the running for making the best bagels in Maine. I know I’m treading on thin ice here, but in fact I think their bagels are as good as most New York City bagels. (And I’ve eaten more than a few when I’ve visited my New York daughter.) Bagel Mainea’s bagels are everything a bagel should be—soft, chewy, and boiled as well as baked. In short, they are not just round bread.

Not content with just offering bagels, Alice and Joel decided that there should be toasted bagels as well, and somehow they scrounged a bagel toaster. Add cream cheese and butter to the mix, and you have yourself a pretty good morning film festival.