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How could I forget about the Blue Mermaid (www.bluemermaid.com)? Perhaps it’s the mammoth Hilton that has grown up in front of the building it lives in. Or maybe it is that my new baby has kept me close to home. But last week, when Seacoast Connects visited the friendly little bar and restaurant on The Hill, I was reminded of all the good times I’ve had there: Warm summer nights on the back deck with Elroy (www.elroymusic.com) playing inside, a candy-cane-laden Christmas show with Dan Blakeslee (www.danblakeslee.com), after-work drinks at the bar, a packed New Year’s Eve during which I dropped not one, but two drinks on the floor and no one seemed to mind; hearing and loving Clown, The Molenes (www.themolenes.com) and Melvern Taylor (www.melverntaylor.com), all for the first time.

MULTIMEDIA Video:  Swim back to the Mermaid

While we spoke to Karen Logan (who owns the place with her husband, Scott), I got a kind of warm and fuzzy feeling (not just from the house margarita). Christmas music (of the inoffensive kind) played in the background, garland and shiny globes caught the eye in the air and, as always, the art of Dan Blakeslee lined the walls (they sell his work and it would make a great Christmas gift).

The Blue Mermaid has had a tough go of it recently. Construction of the new hotel, obscuring the restaurant, made it hard for tourists to wander in off the street. Parking spaces in the shared lot have been contested, making regulars think twice about coming in. Business struggled for awhile — but it looks like the sun has finally come out. The parking issue has been resolved — yellow spaces are now reserved for Mermaid patrons. Rachael Ray (www.rachaelray.com) recently brought her bubbly brand of food show to the Mermaid. Ray (a friend to small business in need) pushed up the broadcast date to give the Mermaid a boost, members of the crew bought Blakeslee’s art, and the ensuing local buzz gave the place a needed shot in the arm.

The Logans would probably be reluctant to hear it, but in the long run, the adversity might actually have helped foster some extra love for their little swimmer. Local regulars remain loyal (a friendly and attractive crowd of 20-40-somethings) and the hotel has begun to send guests, putting fresh bottoms on stools and chairs nightly. The Mermaid is an often-overlooked venue for live music. It has shows on Friday and Saturday nights and a fairly new open-mic night with host Duke Mandell on Wednesdays. As always, the Caribbean fare is tasty and affordable, and well-matched with signature drinks (crowd favorites are the “Painkiller” and that house margarita (to the quality of which I can personally attest)). I’ve really got to get there more often. So should everyone else:

Here’s what on the Blue Mermaid’s entertainment roster through New Year’s:

Every Wednesday: Open Mic with Duke Mandell, 8 to 11 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 13: Women and Wine presents Bubbles! Wine educator Carla Snow (www.agrapeaffair.com) will give lessons on sparkling wines. $35 includes wines, desserts and company. 6 to 8 p.m. RSVP: 427-2583.

Friday, Dec. 15: Wicked Automatic (www.myspace.com/wickedautomatic), 9 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 16: Andy Happel (www.andyhappel.com), 9 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 21: CD Release Party for Jake Roche (www.myspace.com/thejakerocheband), 9 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 22: Taylor River Band, 9 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 23: Johnny Angel, 9 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 29: Elsa Cross (www.myspace.com/elsaacross), 9 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 30: Shagbark (www.shagbark.info), 9 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve show: Slimpocket (www.slimpocket.com), Seth Gooby (www.myspace.com/sethgoobymusic) and Chad Verbeck Band (www.chadaverbeck.com), starts at 9 p.m.