The Sheraton Hotel and Covention Center, South Portland, ME
PortCon Maine is a small, but growing, anime and gaming convention held annually near Portland, Maine. Taking up residence at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center in South Portland, the fan-based convention consisted of panels, contests, gaming events, performances, and cosplay activities. Like other smaller cons in the Northeast, PortCon Maine has a relaxed, low-key atmosphere which focuses on promoting socialization among attendees as opposed to organizing nonstop events. As a result, I had a wonderful time getting better aquatinted with my fellow costumers and just hanging out -- a luxury not afforded at larger cons. However, for its sixth year, PortCon did make an effort to take its cosplayers more seriously; for the first time, craftsmanship judging took place for masquerade contestants -- an important step towards creating a more sophisticated competition. Also, I was pleased to see cosplay playing a role in other events around the con, including counting for part of participants' scores in the karaoke (J-Pop Idol) contest. The convention center itself was lovely; the main open foyer in the middle of the convention space and the comfy hotel lobby allowed attendees plenty of spaces to chat, and the modest gardens outside the hotel were surprisingly beautiful. However, despite its modest size, PortCon is slowly outgrowing the available space at the Sheraton. The narrow halls were busy with constant traffic while the moderately-sized dealer's room and artists' alley were crammed with people. Popular panels, including J-Pop Idol and the AMV contest became downright claustrophobic as standing-room-only crowds squeezed into the tiny conference rooms. Events held in the main ballroom, such as the Masquerade, were much more comfortable, although the green room for Masquerade participants was stifling. If current trends continue, PortCon's attendance could swell to over 2,000 in the next two years; hopefully, the con will be able to expand to comfortably accomodate its newfound popularity. Regardless, I had a delightful time, and hope to attend again next year.
