The Pop!Tech conference, held annually in Camden, Maine, is rapidly expanding beyond a “big think” gathering of academics, journalists, scientists, and innovation gurus. It’s becoming a magnet for corporate executives, too, who are trying to answer questions such as those posed by Pop!Tech’s curator, Andrew Zolli, in his opening remarks: “Is reinvention possible? Can technology save us? What is the next social contract?”
Even in the downturn, when corporations are curbing travel budgets to trade shows, employees from such diverse companies as Genentech, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Nike, Microsoft, and AT&T were in attendance. There were more corporate sponsors than ever this year, including Nike and Microsoft, who were new to sponsorship this year.
Attendees listened to acoustic guitar and soulful songs sung by Malaysian musician Zee Avi, and watched while artist Chris Jordan showed disturbing photos of dead baby albatrosses whose corpses revealed stomachs full of plastic bottle caps—intended to motivate people to understand the consequences of pollution and garbage.
Michael Pollan who has fundamentally changed the way many of us understand what we eat, how it’s made, and how it gets to us, spoke on whether a vegan in a Hummer has a lighter carbon footprint than a beef eater in a Prius – it was fascinating.
Speaking of food, the preparation for the conference attendees was intense and interesting. If you didn’t attend this year’s conference, you can get the flavor of the conference and the food preparation by viewing the short video below.
Oysters, best known for their reputed aphrodisiac powers, have been a favorite of food lovers throughout the centuries, beginning with the Roman emperors who paid for them by their weight in gold.
Oysters have always been linked with love. When Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, sprang forth from the sea on an oyster shell and promptly gave birth to Eros, the word “aphrodisiac” was born. The dashing lover Casanova used to start a meal by eating a dozen or more oysters.
The Damariscotta River’s Pemaquid oyster beds are farm raised and produce what are considered some of the best tasting oysters in the world. To celebrate our valuable crop and to benefit the Edward A. Myers Marine Conservation Fund and Maine’s working waterfront, the community throws an annual fundraising event that shouldn’t be missed.
At the Pemaquid Oyster Festival visitors can enjoy food, music, historical displays, educational exhibits, and boat rides out to the oyster beds. If you’ve never been to the Oyster Festival and would like to get a feel for this annual event, just view the short video below.
To see the recent New York Times slide show entitled, “Maine on the Half Shell” click here.
To see the related NY Times article entitled, “Where Maine Comes Out of Its Other Shell” click here.
Voted one of the top 10 Great Streets in America for 2008, by the American Planning Association (APA), “Commercial Street stands out for its unique character, strong sense of place, and mixture of uses involving marine and fishing industries, tourism, retail trade, commercial offices, and residential housing.” The street “…blurs the distinctions among working waterfront, downtown Main Street, and historic tourist district. It is a place where moored fishing boats, lobster pots and fishing gear, and crying seagulls mix with downtown office employees going to work, residents living in dockside condominiums, and tourists visiting restaurants and boutique shops. It’s a dynamic yet precariously balanced amalgam crafted through years of debate and compromise.” For more on the APA’s review click here.
I live here, so it’s hard to maintain a detached perspective. The success of Commercial Street, the Old Port shopping district, and the cities reputation as one of the best cities for foodies in the northeast has made life in the warmer months seem a bit like living in DC, where I lived before returning to Maine. The difference is the exciting mix of sophistication and downeast authenticity, with it’s concomitant lack of pretense, makes this a wonderful and comfortable place to live, work, and vacation. All of this probably explains why Portland has been among the choicest ports of call for cruise lines. On the day I was filming the Queen Victoria (the newest of the Cunard liners) was in port. As you’ll see in the video below, she’s a great looking ship. For more on The Queen click here.
For a spectacular time jammin’ on the bay, join the crew of the Schooners Wendameen or Bagheera for a cruise on Casco Bay. These windjammers sail daily from May until late October. The day sails are two hours long, so bring a picnic and a bottle of wine or your favorite beverage.
To get a feel for what it’s like out on the bay, you can do a virtual sail in less than 9 minutes by viewing the video below.
Enjoy!
Where: Maine State Pier – out on the pier past the terminal for Casco Bay Lines. See directions here. When: Daily May – October (rain or shine) – For a schedule and more info click here.