In a story appearing in Maine Biz, author Doug Packard coined the term “Coopetition” to describe how competitors can work together to boost revenues.  The Historic Inns of Rockland offer the ideal example of “Coopetition” and the ultimate benefactor is the community of Rockland, Maine.

The Historic Inns of Rockland are four luxury inns that might otherwise see each other as competitors if they weren’t so closely aligned through their marketing consortium.  For more than fifteen years, this group of luxury inns, all located in Rockland’s historic district, have collectively worked together not only to expand their reach but to put Rockland on the map, with the last ten years including an active local, regional and national PR campaign.  The outcome?  In the last three years of an economic downturn, tourism in Rockland has grown.

The four inns serve as a mini chamber of commerce, at one time assisting the local Rockland Chamber and now the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber and Main Street Maine organizations with PR and marketing efforts.  Yet in their case, the Historic Inns of Rockland defy the norm.  Trusting in the spirit of cooperative competitiveness, the participating innkeepers spend more marketing on the consortium than they do their own businesses.  Over the tenure of the association, an average of 10-percent of the four inns’ combined gross revenues has been invested in putting Rockland on the map first then heads in beds.  Collectively more than 12,000 hours of participating innkeepers’ time has been devoted to marketing Rockland and the Midcoast Maine region.

Through their efforts more than 150 travel writers, TV producers and website content providers have been hosted at the four inns and created stories about Rockland.  This has resulted in coverage from The Today Show to New York Times, NY Daily News, Boston Globe, Woman’s Day, Cooking Light and Coastal Living Magazines. The Food Network’s Throw Down with Bobby Flay, World’s Dirtiest Jobs, Rachael Raye and NBC News have all made trips to Rockland.  Why? Because this corner of Maine is on their radar screen via the marketing and media outreach from the Historic Inns of Rockland.   With their efforts, Rockland was named among the Coolest Small Towns by Budget Travel Magazine , among the Best Adventure Towns by National Geographic and one of the top 9 Foodie Towns in the U.S. by TheDailyMeal.com.   These are the kinds of national kudos that garner the attention of travelers who might not otherwise visit.

The Historic Inns of Rockland have reached out into the community to develop a network of PR partners, working with restaurants, shops, attractions, museums and more to help entertain and feed the many travel writers coming to the community. This has in turn resulted in coverage for many small businesses that do not have the resources on their own, but are delighted to take part in hosting media. With the help of the PR Partners, Historic Inns of Rockland have created a town with a reputation for being exceedingly media-friendly and all businesses – whether a PR Partner or not – have benefitted.

Nearly $100,000 has been given to non-profit organizations in cash and in-kind donations from the Historic Inns of Rockland in their 15-year legacy. Over the nine-year tenure of the annual January Pies on Parade Tour the Historic Inns of Rockland have donated more than $63,000 to the Area Interfaith Outreach Food Pantry and Fuel Assistance Program, making this the largest fundraising effort of the year for the food pantry. Every cent of money raised by the Historic Inns of Rockland’s Pies on Parade event is donated to the Food Pantry.  Each innkeeper and business owner spends hundreds of dollars on pie-ingredients and collectively more than 750 hours of time are spent on this event.  For many years the Historic Inns of Rockland donated a portion of each room stay to eco-projects like Project Puffin to support sustainable travel.  Hundreds of room nights have been donated as prizes to local and regional non-profit organizations who seek help from the Historic Inns of Rockland since their beginnings.  Last year, when supply-and-demand drove the price of lobsters to a historic low, the Historic Inns of Rockland created a week-long Lobsterpalooza promotion to encourage visitors and residents alike to consume lobster caught by local fishermen.  Lobsterpalooza will return even bigger this year. The donations add up.

The result?  The Historic Inns of Rockland have been lauded by the tourism community and the B&B industry.  In January, 2013, the organization received the Champion Award from the Professional Association of Innkeepers International for their work in cooperative marketing.  In 2011 GrowSmart Maine, an organization chartered to direct future growth in Maine while preserving its resources, worked with the world-renowned Brookings Institution, a respected think tank, to follow up a 2006 Report on Charting Maine’s Future.  The organization sought out business success stories in Maine and identified Historic Inns of Rockland as THE tourism success story to spotlight in a follow up report that was announced today.  According to the report, “Working together to market the Rockland vacation experience, members of Historic Inns of Rockland, Maine, have put many of their individual marketing priorities aside to cooperatively attract attention to Rockland’s premier inns and vacation experiences… This collaborative effort has helped many of the local businesses involved in tourism thrive during the turbulent past few years.”  Also quoted in the Grow Smart Report, Kerry Altiero, chef and owner at Rockland’s Café Miranda calls the Historic Inns of Rockland’s marketing initiative “brilliant, selfless and absolutely one of the best things that’s happened to my business.”

Ask any of the innkeepers in the group and they will tell you they are “cooperatively competitive”.  They marvel at the fact that they spend more money marketing the organization than they do on their own inns.  Frank Isganitis, co-owner of the LimeRock Inn, will tell you “if you’d asked me 10 years ago if I’d spend more money marketing my competitors than my own business, I’d have told you you’re nuts!”  Yet, the financial support, esprit de corps and the unique set of skills each innkeeper brings to the table is the key to their successful “coopetition”.  One innkeeper is a graphic designer, another is a skilled photographer and yet another is an astute organizer and a fourth is a copy writer.  Together they employ the assistance of a recognized PR professional in the B&B industry; something they could never afford to do on their own.

Next time you think about who’s contributed to the community of Rockland, Maine, make sure the Historic Inns of Rockland is on the list.  Their contribution to the community has been offered quietly and tenaciously and the results are in the pockets of businesses throughout Midcoast Maine.

Historic Inns of Rockland partnered with Maine Windjammers to host the New England Travel Writers Network: Cheryl Michaelsen from the Berry Manor Inn accepts the Champion Award from the Professional Association of Innkeepers International for work done on behalf of the industry.

At Historic Inns of Rockland, IRS means incredibly romantic setting!

Rockland, Maine – If you view your tax refund as a windfall, why not treat yourself to a personal exemption from everyday stress?  At Historic Inns of Rockland,  IRS means Incredibly Romantic Setting!  The return on your tax refund investment in a Midcoast Maine getaway will be delivered in rest and romance, curing the accelerated depreciation of your energy reserves!

Book your IRS Getaway to Rockland Maine by April 15^th and use your tax return to stay at any of the four Historic Inns of Rockland anytime in April or May.  You’ll not only be assured of an exemption from the everyday routine, you’ll also find a true capital gain for you and your travel mate!

Your Historic Inns of Rockland tax return getaway includes:

• A two-night stay at Captain Lindsey House, Granite Inn, Berry Manor Inn or LimeRock Inn
• Breakfast each morning to rev the energy credits
• $50 in credit for qualified dining at your choice of local restaurants accepting Midcoast Money
• Personal Energy Savings Credit with 10% discount on massages at Synergy Massage and Bodyworks
• Lifetime Learning credit with two tickets to the Farnsworth Art Museum
• Historic Preservation credit with two tickets to Owl’s Head Transportation Museum
• Reusable shopping bag to start saving tax receipts for next year
• An itemized bill at check out.

All this starting at $300.00 per couple (plus tax). Rate varies by inn and days booked.  Act now as the “Deadline to File is 4/15/13” no extensions (getaways may be taken anytime in April or May but simply must be booked by 4-15-13).   Be sure to use the promo code 1040 when booking online or ask for the IRS Getaway when you call to book individually with your choice of inns.

About Historic Inns of Rockland, ME

Historic Inns of Rockland is comprised of four distinctive inns located in Rockland, Maine’s historic district.  Each offering a unique experience and décor from modern urban chic to Victorian or European styled, the four Historic Inns of Rockland offer haute hospitality within easy strolling distance of Rockland’s thriving downtown restaurant, shopping and museum district and waterfront.  From luxury to pet and kid-friendly, Historic Inns of Rockland are the ideal home base for exploring all that Midcoast Maine has to offer.  Simply put, it’s the Rockland Way To Stay.  For more information, visit www.HistoricInnsofRockland.com or call 1-877-ROC-INNS (877-762-4667) or consult each participating inn’s website for more specific pricing and details of special  packages: LimeRock Inn (www.LimeRockinn.com), Captain Lindsey House (www.lindseyhouse.com), Berry Manor Inn (www.BerryManorInn.com), or Granite Inn (www.oldgraniteinn.com ).

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Photos available upon request or visit the online photo library at http://www.historicinnsofrockland.com/photos.aspx

March 17, 2013 kicks off American Chocolate Week, celebrated each year during the third week in March.  The Historic Inns of Rockland innkeepers love chocolate as much as you do.  If you’re planning a Rockland winter adventure this March, plan to stay at the Berry Manor Inn, Granite Inn, LimeRock Inn or Captain Lindsey House where chocolate is sure to be part of your stay.

How much do Americans love chocolate?  Enough to name a full week around the celebration of it!  According to the National Confectioners Association/Chocolate Manufacturers Association if Americans are offered a free piece of candy out of a whole grouping of flavors the majority, will choose the chocolate piece. There is something special about this substance — so special that the average person in the United States eats 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of chocolate every year!  However, the older we are, the better we like it! Older children are significantly more likely to prefer chocolate than younger children (59 percent of 9-11 year-olds prefer chocolate vs. 46 percent of 6-8 year-olds), according to a recent survey reported on the Gone ta pott blog. And Americans over 18 years of age consume 65 percent of the candy that’s produced each year.

For all you choco-loving travelers, make your first choice a romantic getaway to one of the Historic Inns of Rockland during American Chocolate Week.  If travel simply isn’t in your plans for that week, here are a few tastes of chocolate from Historic Inns of Rockland inns which you can make at home.

Chocolate Amaretto Cake from Berry Manor Inn

Ingredients
2 cups flour
3 cups sugar
¼ cup cocoa
5 large eggs
¼ heaping tsp. baking powder
¼ cup Amaretto
1 tsp. salt
1 cup buttermilk
3 sticks butter, softened
Confectioners’ sugar for topping

Method
Preheat the oven to 325°. Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt, then set aside.  In the large bowl of an electric mixer cream the butter. Add the sugar and eggs and mix thoroughly. Add the Amaretto. Add the dry ingredients and the buttermilk to the bowl and mix on low speed until blended evenly.  Pour into prepared Bundt pan. Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let stand for 20 minutes then remove from pan to rack and cool completely.  Cover with confectioners’ sugar and serve. Makes one 10” Bundt cake. You can garnish with whipped cream, mint and raspberries for a truly decadent treat!

Barbara’s Walnut Chocolate Chip Pie from Granite Inn

Ingredients
1 9” deep pie shell
3 eggs
½ cup English walnuts, chopped
¾ cup white corn syrup
2 tsp. bourbon
¼ tsp. salt
¼ cup butter, melted
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup sugar
½ cup chocolate chips

Method
Preheat oven to 375°.  Soak the nuts in the bourbon. Set aside. Combine the butter, sugar, syrup, salt and vanilla.  Add the chocolate chips and nuts, drained.  Combine and add to pie shell.  Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until center is firm.  Serve at room temperature with or without whipped cream or topping.  Pie freezes well.  Makes 8 servings.

Note:  According to Ed Hantz, innkeeper at the Granite Inn, “Some of our best recipes come from guests. We thank Barbara’s son Dominic Schmitt, a guest of the inn for this recipe. Barbara won a red ribbon with this ‘Run for the Roses’ pie at the 1977 Kentucky State Fear, the year Seattle Slew won the Derby!”.

It’s not too late to make you reservations to visit the Historic Inns of Rockland this winter. There’s plenty of outdoor adventure in and around Midcoast Maine to enjoy by day and burn off all that choco-energy you have stored from American Chocolate Week.

The four Historic Inns of Rockland are not the only New England inns and B&Bs counting down to the start of National Chocolate Week starting March 17^th.  Squidoo.com has set up a count-down to chocolate clock for all the fellow chocoholics to launch a chocolate eating frenzy with wild abandon.  At the Captain Lindsey House, Granite Inn, LimeRock Inn and Berry Manor Inn, American Chocolate Week offers the perfect reason to enjoy America’s favorite health food. As we pointed out last year on the Historic Inns of Rockland’s blog post entitled “For the Love of Chocolate” chocolate (especially the dark and more pure kind) is often included on the top ten lists of healthy foods.

Yet, according to the  blog “gone ta pott” and the National Confectioners Association/Chocolate Manufacturers Association Americans pale in chocolate consumption compared to other countries.  Denmark has the highest per capita consumption of candy in the world at 29.5 pounds. The Swiss eat 22 pounds each compared to 11 pounds per person in the United States.  The Historic Inns of Rockland are out to change that!  During American Chocolate Week enjoy some of these signature recipes from Rockland’s best inns.  You’ll find even more Chocolate recipes in INNDULGENCES: Recipes from Historic Inns of Rockland, with everything from chocolate breakfast treats to evening sweets.   Try a few of these for the love of chocolate during National Chocolate Week.

CHOCOLATE CHIP SHORTBREAD FROM LIMEROCK INN

Ingredients
1 cup plus 2 tsp. flour
¼ cup mini chocolate chips
¼ cup sugar
1 dash vanilla
½ cup salted butter.

Method
Preheat oven to 325°. In a food processor, combine all ingredients except chocolate chips.  Spin the blade until dough begins to form.  Remove dough from food processor and combine with chocolate chips.  On a piece of parchment paper, press the dough into a circle approximately 8” to 9” in diameter. Score the dough about half way through into 16 cookies using a sharp knife to cut across the dough.  Place dough and parchment paper on cookie sheet. Bake for 25 minutes.  Immediately cut the dough following the scoring lines after removing from the oven.  Makes 16 cookies.

FRENCH SILK PIE FROM CAPTAIN LINDSEY HOUSE

Ingredients
2 pastry shells, baked and cooled
4 oz semisweet chocolate
1 cup butter, softened
4 large eggs
1 ½ cups sugar
whipped cream
1 oz. bittersweet chocolate
chocolate shavings

Method
Have your cooled pie shells ready to go.  In a stand mixer or with a hand mixer, cream butter and sugar until fluffy.  Melt the bittersweet and semi-sweet chocolate in a double boiler and beat into butter and sugar mixture.  Add eggs one at a time beating 5 minutes after each addition.  Pour mixture into the pie shells and chill for at least 4 hours.  Cover with whipped cream and garnish with chocolate.

Stay tuned to the Historic Inns of Rockland’s blog for more chocolate recipes as we celebrate America’s favorite flavor throughout the month!

There were plenty of weary innkeepers, restaurant owners and workers, AIO Food bank volunteers and pie eaters after the 9^th Annual Pies on Parade event.  More than 650 people ventured through the doors of the Maine Lighthouse Museum and we estimate somewhere in the range of 12,000 pieces of pie were served and consumed at the 9^th Annual Pies on Parade Tour.  More than 30 businesses donated to the silent auction and 19 restaurants, inns and businesses served up pies of all flavors.  It’s one huge community effort and every single bit of the time, ingredients and effort is donated by those involved. The founders of the event, Historic Inns of Rockland, donated $15,235 to the AIO Food providing enough to serve35,000 meals to hungry Maine families in the coming months.  This represents the largest donation total from any of the previous pie tours and brings the total funds donated during the legacy of this event to more than $62,000.

At the height of the pre-tour pie-baking activity, Cheryl Michaelsen of the Berry Manor Inn penned this inspirational message to those participating two days before the Pie Tour.  It offers wonderful insight into the motivation and the generosity of every person and business involved in this event and the economic impact for all businesses in Rockland and beyond.

Why am I doing this and what is in this for me?

By Cheryl Michaelsen

I know personally about now when I look at how much I have spent on supplies, how much baking time I have in front of me for the next two days and how tired I am already feeling, I wonder if all the work behind Pies on Parade is all worth it.  I think it is probably fair to say that there are a few of us feeling this about now.  Yet, it’s a fleeting thought.

The positive economic opportunity for downtown Rockland is that 500 people will fill the streets of Rockland on a cold January Sunday, spotlighted by media coverage that highlights Rockland. A portion of these people will have filled the inns and local motels and hotels and will be eating at least one or two dinners and some breakfasts and lunches in downtown Rockland.  Others will be coming in for the day so they will probably grab a light lunch before the event or a latte or hot chocolate while they wait for the event to start or even during the Pie Tour.  They may pop into some of the shops or enjoy the Lighthouse Museum which is opening on Sunday just for the event. Many will fill up their cars with gas before they go and grab something to eat for the ride home.  All of the guests that are staying at the inns are given Midcoast Money vouchers (chamber currency) to use for dinner in town.  This means that they will stay in Rockland to eat their meals.  Based on feedback from past events and the fact that many of these people both local and from away come back year after year – everyone will enjoy the day and our community pie party.

I remember the first year when we opened the event up beyond the Historic Inns of Rockland Café Miranda Chef and owner, Kerry Altiero, commented afterward that he could not believe how many people asked him if he was a new restaurant because they had never heard of him even though he had been in business over 15 years at that point. Many of the Pie Tour goers have since become regular customers for him since then.

All of this energy is the positive economic benefit to Rockland and to each of our businesses. But perhaps the most compelling reason for me and the one that I remind myself about the more my feet ache and my back hurts from rolling pie dough for hours is that “we” collectively are going to be able to raise $12,000 to $14,000 to help feed and put oil in the tanks for our neighbors and community. This has become one of the largest operational fund-raisers for AIO. Five hundred tickets translates to more than 15,000 meals for the people around us in need of a helping hand.  For me personally this is the reason why I participate and I believe I can speak on behalf of my other innkeeper colleagues that this is why we all spend the hours and monies that we do to create this event.  The efforts each of us are taking to pay it forward are saying Rockland businesses know we can collectively help solve hunger in this country one pie at a time!

Cheryl speaks for the four Historic Inns of Rockland who share her sentiments on the importance of feeding the hungry one pie at a time.  Thanks to every business and individual who helped make the 9^th Annual Pies on Parade event such a success.

Hat’s off to Those who served pie…

Maine Light House Museum & Bartlett Woods

Berry Manor Inn

Bricks Restaurant

Café Miranda

Captain Lindsey House

Clan MacLaren Restaurant

FIORE Artisan Olive Oils & Vinegars

Granite Inn

In Good Company

LimeRock Inn

L&H Burgers

Park Street Grill

Maine Audubon Puffin Center

Rock City Café

Rockland Café

Sweets & Meats

Thorndike Creamery

Waterworks Restaurant

Kudos to all those who provided goods and services for the Pie Tour

Rheal Day Spa

All Aboard Trolley

Jess’s Market

Linda Bean Seafood Co.

All the AIO Volunteers

And a big thank you to all those who provided gift certificates and experiences for the Silent Auction and raffle

All Aboard Trolley

Archer’s on the Pier

Atlantic Baking Co.

Brass Compass Café

Brown Bag Bakery

Café MirandaCape Air

Eastern Tire, Inc.

FIORE Olive Oils & Vinegars

Four Historic Inns of Rockland

Home Kitchen Café

Owl’s Head Transportation Museum

Planet Toys

Primo Restaurant

Rheal Day Spa

Rock City Café

Rock HarborRockland Café

Ship to Shore Lobster Co.

Skin Klinic Day Spa

Storybook Village

Dept 56.

Susie Barnes Massage Sweets & Meats Market

Synergy Massage & Bodywork

Thorndike Creamery

Trackside Station

Wine Seller

Start getting psyched for the 10^th Annual Pies on Parade event. We’re planning a pie-extravaganza like no other!

Admit it. Flowers and chocolates are overdone on Valentine’s Day.  This year take Valentine’s Day to the next level and really show the one you love how much they mean. The way to truly impress your Valentine is with romantic experiences.  After all, actions speak louder than words. For those with everything but time for relaxation and romance, a dreamy getaway to one of the four Historic Inns of Rockland is the answer to the perfect Valentine’s Day gift.

Yet this year, Valentine’s Day falls in the middle of the week.  For that reason Historic Inns of Rockland have declared the month of February is for lovers.  Visit one of the four Historic Inns of Rockland anytime in February and you can rest assured that Midcoast Maine romance will be served in large helpings.

Four ways to find romance at one of the Historic Inns of Rockland in February and beyond

Quiet dinners

Rockland is Maine’s up-and-coming foodie town. Whether you choose Café Miranda’s adventurous menu with bold, flaming tastes or something more nouveau and locally sourced from In Good Company, your culinary adventure will take you to romantic and spirited dining rooms featuring local cuisine.  Go Italian at Rustica or casual at their sister restaurant, L&M Burgers.  Seafood at Archer’s on the Pier or homemade at Home Kitchen Café. You’ll enjoy quiet tete-a-tetes while you partake in an epicurean escape with the one you love during your Historic Inns of Rockland winter escape. Your innkeeper is happy to make dining reservations for you.  Better yet, book the Savor the Flavor package, and enjoy a progressive tasting tour of three Rockland Restaurants combined with an overnight stay.

Couples Massages

Partake in a couples massage either at one of Rockland’s day spas.  Some DINE inns can make arrangements for in-room massages too. A couples massage offers the ultimate pampered pastime, while leaving you both glowing and positively relaxed for the first time in a long time.  Doesn’t that sound worth the splurge for Valentine’s day?  Rheal Day Spa, Skin Klinic, Synergy Massage are all within an easy stroll of any of the four Historic Inns of Rockland.

Private breakfast

Each of the Historic Inns of Rockland offer private tables for breakfasts.  And all dietary restrictions and preferences are gladly honored; just tell your innkeeper in advance. Rest assured that innkeepers know the way to a fabulous getaway with the one you love starts with the most important meal of the day.

Outdoor Adventure

Midcoast Maine abounds with winter fun.  From skiing at the nearby Camden Snowbowl to quiet strolls along the water or a self guided winter lighthouse photo tour, you can do it together close to one of the four Historic Inns of Rockland.  Looking for more soft adventure?  Visit the renowned Farnsworth Art Museum, strolling hand in hand by familiar masterpieces or learn about the history of planes, trains and autos at the Owl’s Head Transportation Museum and lighthouse lore at the Maine Lighthouse Museum.

For a complete list of romantic packages at Historic inns of Rockland, click here.  To learn more about the  four Historic Inns of Rockland, visit www.HistoricInnsofRockland.com.

Note: Since February is for lovers, weekends tend to fill up quicker.  Book your Valentine’s Day escape soon so you won’t be HEARTbroken with little availability.

Nicknamed “Pie Town USA” by the Food Network after Bobby Flay visited for a pie throwdown, Rockland is living up to its name with the 9^th Annual Pies on Parade Pie Tour to celebrate National Pie Day (National Pie Day is celebrated each year on Jan 23^rd).   On January 27, 2013 Rockland, Maine will go pie-crazy from 1:00 – 5:00pm when founders of the event, Historic Inns of Rockland are joined by 15 other Rockland businesses and restaurants to welcome hungry pie eaters to the town for the annual pie-a-thon to benefit the Area Interfaith Outreach (AIO) Food Pantry.  January 27, 2013 is the day to enjoy pie with wild abandon as nearly 40 different pies are served up from one end of Main Street to the other.  Tickets are now on sale, but if history holds true, they will sell out before the event.  Purchase tickets now from the Historic Inns of Rockland by calling 877-ROC-INNS (877-762-4667) or 207- 596-6611 to assure your pie place on the tour.

This is not your average pie-in-the-sky tour. Move aside Mom’s apple pie; Rockland’s inns, businesses and restaurants will serve up everything from Shepherd’s Pie and a number of gourmet pizza pies to sweet and savory Italian galettes, seafood pies,  whoopie pies and Lemon Curd tarts topped with blueberries and a lemon orange crust from the Granite Inn. While Berry Manor Inn will feature their signature Raspberry and Blueberry pies along with two egg pies, Captain Lindsey House will serve up Sweet Potato Pies, plus a Seafood Pie.  Each of the participating venues will serve both a savory and sweet pie.  Imagine sinking your teeth into a Key Lime Tartlet with a Mango Coulis and Pecan Brittle at Park Street Grill or Kale, Yukon Gold, Onion Pizzetta Pie with 3Cheeses from In Good Company.  Bricks Pizza will bring back their crowd pleasing Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie and Clan MacLaren will bring back their inimitable PIE-ninnis.  And don’t worry; Waterworks will once again serve up a hearty Shepard’s Pie too.

It’s not just inns and restaurants getting in on the donations.  Bartlett Woods Retirement Community will be serving up the Lemon Meringue Pies being served at the Maine Lighthouse Museum and featured on the Pies on Parade Poster. For the weary pie traveler Rheal Day Spa will offer a 10 minute seated massage or foot soaks at $1 per minute with all proceeds to benefit the AIO Food Pantry. Plus while walking between venues helps to burn calories, All Aboard Trolley will provide transportation at designated stops, making it more efficient to hit as many pie stops as possible. All of these businesses will donate their services to get in on the pie action of giving.

For the first year, a silent auction will be held at the Maine Lighthouse Museum in conjunction with the Pies on Parade Tour with all proceeds going to the AIO Food Pantry. A number of gift certificates from local restaurants and businesses will be available for bidding and a raffle for a two night stay at Historic Inns of Rockland, including round-trip two plane tickets from Boston to Rockland aboard Cape Air, plus two dinners, transportation and more will be also be on the table. Plenty of businesses including Eastern Tire, Archers on the Pier, Brass Compass, Planet Toys, Café Miranda, Ship to Shore, Home Kitchen Café, Rock Harbor, Synergy Massage, Skin Klinic, Atlantic Baking Co, Owl’s Head Transportation Museum  and more will get in on the action by offering services, admissions and meals.  All Aboard Trolley is donating eight tickets for the NAP-ah Wine Tour (nearly a $300 value) and Rheal Day Spa has donated a Miracle Mask Facial ($150 value).  You won’t want to miss it. The Silent Auction will take place from 11:00-4:30pm throughout the tour at the Maine Lighthouse Museum, so be sure to stop by and bid before or immediately after the tour.

Tickets for the Pies on Parade Tour are $25 for adults and $10 for children ten and under and all tickets sales go directly to the local food pantry.  Tickets sell out quickly, are available from participating inns only (not additional participating Rockland businesses). For more information, visit www.HistoricInnsofRockland.com. To purchase tickets, call 877-ROC-INNS (877-762-4667) or 207- 596-6611.

Hats off to all of those businesses contributing to the Silent Auction, with a special nod to Cape Air for the two round-trip tickets from Boston to Rockland donated (value: $556).

With less than three weeks left before the 9^th Annual Pies on Parade Tour in Rockland, Maine, the innkeepers at Historic Inns of Rockland are busy getting ready.  Each of the twenty or so businesses planning to participate, including the founding members Berry Manor Inn, LimeRock Inn, Captain Lindsey House and Granite Inn, will be serving a sweet and a savory pie sampling.  While you will still get your traditional favorites like Mom’s apple pie and good old American Cherry and Blueberry Pies, you’ll also get some other pies that may surprise you.  Shepherd’s Pie, Whoopie Pies, Pizza Pies, Meat, seafood and egg pies are all on the list.  For example, last year Fiore Artisan Olive Oils and Vinegars served up a beautiful pie with healthy olive oil defying all preconceived notions about “pie-ling” on calories from these delicious desserts! And there was even a Rueben Pizza Pie at Café Miranda that was simply delicious!

This is no pie-in-the-sky event. Beyond celebrating National Pie Day there’s a larger reason for the annual Pies on Parade Event.  One hundred percent of the proceeds from Pies on Parade go to helping hungry families put food on the table. All proceeds from ticket sales for Pies on Parade benefit the Area Interfaith Outreach (AIO) Food Pantry & Fuel Assistance Program. Over the past eight years, more than $50,000 has been donated to AIO’s Food Pantry from this event to help provide food for Midcoast families. With this year’s donation, Historic Inns of Rockland expect to make it to the $60,000 total donation mark over the tenure of this event.

Each $25 ticket follows the 3-4-5 formula: Each $25 ticket translates to 3 meals a day for a family of 4 for 5 days!  That’s 15 meals for Maine’s hungry families from each ticket sale. Since all proceeds from Pies on Parade are donated to the AIO Food Pantry, you can feel good knowing your day of pie-joyment will provide 15 meals to hungry families on Maine’s Midcoast.

And while we’re focusing in on the do-good from this event, let’s not forget about its sustainability. Recognized among the top ten eco-friendly inns in the U.S. by BedandBreakfast.com, and continuing their commitment as Certified Maine Hospitality Environmental Leaders, Historic Inns of Rockland (organizers and founders of Pies on Parade) will take the green theme beyond the Key LimeRock Pie.  Tour goers will enjoy pie served with totally natural and biodegradable, fully compostable plates made of all-natural sugar cane stalks and reusable silverware.  Waste from the event will be composted locally at participating inns.  Each tour goer receives their own metal fork to take from venue to venue, which is then collected and washed for use the following year. Wherever possible, pies will be made from locally purchased products.  This is an event that leaves as small a footprint on the environment as possible.

There you have it – two great causes achieved by one event.  Help feed Maine’s hungry with an environmentally conscious event, while enjoying 40+ variations of pie in one day! Tickets are on sale now and going fast.  Day tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children ten and under and all funds from tickets sales go directly to the local food pantry.  Tickets are available from participating inns only (not additional participating Rockland businesses) or by calling 877-ROC-INNS (877-762-4667) or locally 207- 596-6611 to reserve ahead. Get yours today while they’re still available.