Think Tank

A friend once asked if I ever stopped into Think Tank during my First Friday Art Walk travels about town. I never had, because I guess I never realized that Maine’s largest co-​working space was open to the public… an hour later, I found myself enjoying complimentary red wine, PBR, Trader José, and hummus with crostini while enjoying not only the extremely interesting and unique art in a relaxed non-​pretentious, non-​judgmental, non-​over-​eager-​to-​please settings, but great conversation with others there — including the visionary behind Think Tank, Patrick Roche.
Many moons later I had the chance to take a tour of Think Tank and fell in love with the entire concept. As a person who works from home I’d say the number one thing I’m missing from my day to day life is social interaction, specifically the hard-​to-​define energy that fosters, nurtures, and compels the individual and collective creative process when imaginative, forward-​thinking, open-​minded, thought-​leading people are in the same room. That’s one of things I instantly appreciated about Think Tank — it’s dozens upon dozens of people working on their own projects in their own nook of the building… yet there’s a buzz in the air that makes you feel like you belong — or want to belong — and could at any given moment ask someone for advice or their thoughts on something… and get an amazing response you never would have thought of back.
The space itself is gorgeous: warm, comfortable, inviting. From the front, open area with the couches and tall windows (great for sun puddles and people watching), to the quieter more intimate spaces/​rooms/​telephone booths in back, and the desks that overlook the entire lay-​out of the room on the second floor… I don’t think there’s a single bad seat int he house!
Think Tank has super reasonable prices if you’re looking for a locale to work outside of a coffee shop or in your PJ’s from bed. And, they do have LOADS of opportunity to visit them for non-​work reasons: from First Friday Art Walk exhibits to, as their website states, book launches, campaign fundraisers, film festival screenings, match-​making events, business pitch events, etc. Want to see Portland in an entirely new light? Do yourself a favor and find a reason to explore this incredible spot in town.