Maybe it was a concert, a convention, a trade show—for many of us, it’s a sporting event (especially a basketball tournament)—but for many of us who live in Maine, the Augusta Civic Center is the scene of countless memories.
The thing is, and I say this with love… you can tell.
Midcoast resident Heather D. Martin wants to know what’s on your mind. Email her at [email protected].
I was recently at the Civic Center for a multi-day event and have some notes.
First of all, the staff was very nice. They were kind, helpful, polite and always willing to lend a hand. The lighting was decent and the sound quality was pretty good.
Also, the food was good. Surprisingly good. I’m a seasoned participant of many convention dining experiences, and what I got at the Civic Center was truly delicious. They made sure the all-day offerings looked fresh and appealing, and the lunches were both plentiful and well prepared.
I notice that I’m rambling a bit about the food. Partly it’s because I’m still kind of amazed by how delicious it was, and partly I’m rambling because I’d rather talk about what went well, and I know I’m running out of time for that soon. Because it’s time to address the, shall we say, aesthetics of the place?
Since I’m even older than the building, I’m a little hesitant to comment on its appearance. When you live life to the fullest, you’re bound to get a few wrinkles here and there. It’s a sign of stability and longevity. It makes us look classy, doesn’t it? Right.
But, darling, we need to talk. Time leaves its mark, and then there’s letting go.
I started listing the things I felt needed my attention, but it felt gross and unkind, so I deleted the list. Let’s just say it was pretty depressing overall.
Well, the event itself was great, especially because the staff I mentioned earlier really made up for all the other stuff. And if you look at it from one side, there’s a certain charm to the whole thing. A sort of “Alaska of all places” vibe that fits our brand.
But wouldn’t it be time for a little overhaul?
I’d like to suggest that it’s time, yes, high time, to invest a little love and more than a little money into the story. The 1973 origin story is very fashionable at the moment. There’s a retro nostalgia that’s gaining momentum. Look around you. Fashion references the 70s, Polaroid is back in style; the architecture of the period has a straightforward simplicity that still stands out. So it’s not like it needs to be torn down or anything (unless there are things I don’t know about). It just needs a new shine.
We can do that, right?
I know there is a need everywhere. Given the dire situation, it may seem frivolous to spend money on renovating a city building. But I would argue that it actually makes quite a difference. How we present ourselves determines how we understand ourselves.
Maine is such a cool state. History, art, literature, and cutting-edge science are all here. Who we are and what we do should be accurately represented by the public buildings of our capital city so that our state is properly presented to the world that visits it.
In the meantime, I thank all the people who put so much effort into making sure events run on time and smoothly every day, regardless of everything I’ve mentioned. You are truly the best example of why our state is so special.
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