Back to previous post: Cutting a great road through the truth to get to the Devil

Go to Making Light's front page.

Forward to next post: How to have a problem with fannish things

Subscribe (via RSS) to this post's comment thread. (What does this mean? Here's a quick introduction.)

July 21, 2012

Chicon Plans
Posted by Abi Sutherland at 05:14 PM * 370 comments

So it’s just over a month to Chicon, and plans are starting to be made in the Open Thread. But it occurs to me that not everyone who might be interested reads the Open Thread, and I thought we’d pull the discussion into its own space..

So who’s going? Are people planning any get-togethers? Is anyone looking for a rommate, or a room? Rides?

(I, alas, am not on the continent and can only attend vicariously. Or, perhaps, virtually.)

Comments on Chicon Plans:
#1 ::: Jeremy Preacher ::: (view all by) ::: July 21, 2012, 05:37 PM:

I am going, and would be absolutely delighted to meet people in person. It's my first Worldcon (although not my first big con) so I will be happier following instructions than planning an event, but I'm happy to help if I can.

#2 ::: Charlie Stross ::: (view all by) ::: July 21, 2012, 05:53 PM:

I'll be there (as will Feorag). Just got to do some work on last-minute travel arrangements and amend my hotel reservation dates ...

#3 ::: Em ::: (view all by) ::: July 21, 2012, 06:10 PM:

I'm very much a lurker, but I'll be at Worldcon. Look for blue hair. (Usually it's purple, but as the main Chicon logo colour looks to be blue, blue it is!) I'm not great at organizing things, but I'm an enthusiastic participant.

#4 ::: Steven desJardins ::: (view all by) ::: July 21, 2012, 06:11 PM:

I'll be there, and would be happy to meet anyone I haven't already met.

#5 ::: Jo Walton ::: (view all by) ::: July 21, 2012, 06:17 PM:

I'll be there.

#6 ::: Fragano Ledgister ::: (view all by) ::: July 21, 2012, 06:33 PM:

I'll be there. Hair becoming exiguous. Features bland. Spouse much better-looking than me.

#7 ::: David Weingart ::: (view all by) ::: July 21, 2012, 07:28 PM:

I'll be there, and it looks like this is the first Worldcon is quite some time where I have no actual duties; I don't seem to be on anyone's staff and I'm not, AFAIK, on program.

(I'd volunteered to help out with the Hugo ceremony but I've not heard anything, so I'm assuming that I'm not doing anything but watching it)

#8 ::: fidelio ::: (view all by) ::: July 21, 2012, 07:44 PM:

I'll be there, along with the lurker known as Stringwoman. We need to get on the stick and sort out lodging.

#9 ::: janetl ::: (view all by) ::: July 21, 2012, 08:42 PM:

I'll be there, with my DH

#10 ::: William Donohue ::: (view all by) ::: July 21, 2012, 09:20 PM:

The housemates and I will be attending, but we'll be taking the train in from Geneva, so don't look for us at late night events. Hoping for some sort of bar-centric tweet-up. Thinking that just walking into the hotel bar and putting my location up on Twitter might be all that's necessary.

#11 ::: Mea ::: (view all by) ::: July 21, 2012, 09:54 PM:

Still figuring out if I will be there, and if I do go it is more likely to be for a day rather than the whole shebang. If there is a planned in advance meeting of florospherians, that might swing my decision to delurk. In person. Would love to meet some of the folks who make Making Light a community.

#12 ::: Allan Beatty ::: (view all by) ::: July 21, 2012, 10:01 PM:

It's remotely possible that I'll be there. Finances will be no problem unless something goes wrong with the pending sale of my old house. Finding a place to stay at this late date would be another matter.

#13 ::: Xopher HalfTongue ::: (view all by) ::: July 21, 2012, 10:04 PM:

Miraculously, I'll be there too. You'll know me by the fact that I'm the disfigured hemiglossic freak.

#14 ::: roach ::: (view all by) ::: July 21, 2012, 10:44 PM:

I'll be there, most of the time manning the booth in the vendor's room. Look for the pink hair.

#15 ::: Magenta Griffith ::: (view all by) ::: July 21, 2012, 11:08 PM:

I'll be there, along with my sweetie Martin.

Is a worldcon qualitatively different from, say, World Fantasy or other large cons?

#16 ::: Cally Soukup ::: (view all by) ::: July 21, 2012, 11:42 PM:

William @10

I looked at doing the heavy rail commuting thing, but the last train out on Sundays and holidays (including Labor Day) is 12:40 am, and the hotel is a mile and a third from the train station, so you really have to plan on leaving at midnight, like Cinderella.

As I understand it, besides the hotel bar(s) (I think there are four?) there will be a bar in the consuite (staffed by hotel staff). This was a passing mention, and I Could Be Wrong. Soda pop and other soft drinks will, of course, be freely available in the consuite.

#17 ::: Karen ::: (view all by) ::: July 21, 2012, 11:52 PM:

I'll be there, with some blue shading.
Magenta@10, for me it is quantitatively different, in that there are more things scheduled at once than I can go to.

#18 ::: Cally Soukup ::: (view all by) ::: July 21, 2012, 11:53 PM:

For people worried about rooms, the Hyatt Regency is basically full, but Chicon has negotiated an overflow hotel, the Sheraton, two blocks away across the river.

There will be no parties or programming at the Sheraton; all parties and programming will be under one roof (or two if you count the towers as separate roofs, being across the street from each other as they are).

The two towers of the Hyatt are connected on three different levels; one above the street, one by crossing the street, and one below ground. So if there's a massive storm, or you're worried about an elaborate costume being wind damaged or something, you can cross between the towers of the Hyatt without going outside.

Unfortunately, as it's across the river, there's no pedestrian tunnel to the Sheridan. You'll have to brave the two blocks in the Big Blue Room.

Note that the cutoff date for room reservations is August 10; you might get the convention rate after that, but Chicon can't guarantee it.

#19 ::: Tom Whitmore ::: (view all by) ::: July 22, 2012, 12:24 AM:

I shan't be coming this year, but hope to see lots of people in Texas next year.

#20 ::: Geri Sullivan ::: (view all by) ::: July 22, 2012, 02:18 AM:

Chicon 7 marks my 30th Fanniversary. I'll be hosting a party late Thursday night in the Minnesota Magpies Suite, tagging onto the Minn-StF/Minicon/Minneapolis in 2073 party running that night. I'll be starting up after the first night festivities at the Adler Planetarium and running into the wee hours.

You're all invited, hear?

#21 ::: Tracey C ::: (view all by) ::: July 22, 2012, 02:45 AM:

Chicon 7 marks my 12th fanniversary (the last Chicon was my first convention). Jeff and I will be there, and I'll be liaising for Mr. Liebergot (my first liaison position). I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone we left behind when we moved to NC!

#22 ::: Paula Helm Murray ::: (view all by) ::: July 22, 2012, 02:57 AM:

I am doing my best to be there, not sure at this point circumstances will allow more than the weekend. This is causing much anxiety on my part (it is currently 1:56 a.m. here...) and I hope to nail down some stuff Monday or Tuesday.

More later. I want to meet more of you alls,

#23 ::: Brother Guy ::: (view all by) ::: July 22, 2012, 03:51 AM:

I'll be there; it will be my 40th Fanniversary. (My first convention was Boskone in 1972; first Worldcon, Torcon 73.) I will be severely jet lagged, however, since I am flying in on Thursday from the International Astronomical Union General Assembly in Beijing.

Is anyone else in this group also going to be at the IAU? I have met a number of fans in years past at such gatherings. Presumably we won't be demoting any planets this year...

#24 ::: Serge Broom ::: (view all by) ::: July 22, 2012, 08:43 AM:

I'll be there, for the 30th anniversary of my 3rd-worldcon.

#25 ::: Michael I ::: (view all by) ::: July 22, 2012, 10:31 AM:

I'm going to be there.

First Worldcon for me.

#26 ::: Cassy B ::: (view all by) ::: July 22, 2012, 11:52 AM:

Brother Guy @23, PLEASE tell me you're doing a panel.... (I fondly remember your talk on Antarctican meteorite hunting.)

Cassy (who will be attending)

#27 ::: Michael Walsh ::: (view all by) ::: July 22, 2012, 12:32 PM:

During the day I'll be in the dealer room with books, including copies of my reprint of Keith Roberts PAVANE. Come on down and chat!

First Worldcon attended was 1974 and have missed just three: the first two Aussiecons and Nippon. First con I attended was back in the Jurassic of 1969.

#28 ::: Serge Broom ::: (view all by) ::: July 22, 2012, 12:36 PM:

Cassie B @ 26... Ask Brother Guy to show you that photo of the Pope kissing his ring. Actually, that was an MIT ring, but he wanted to take a close look because he'd never seen one. :-)

#29 ::: Phiala ::: (view all by) ::: July 22, 2012, 01:25 PM:

I'll be there; it's my first Worldcon.

#30 ::: Henry Troup ::: (view all by) ::: July 22, 2012, 02:06 PM:

Expecting to be there; have attending membership and hotel room reservation. Roughly the 32nd anniversary of my first Worldcon, Noreascon II, 1980.

I've been to one previous Chicon (and a weaving convention in the same hotel.) What was that epigram about down an escalator and up an elevator? It relates to changing between towers.

#31 ::: Marian ::: (view all by) ::: July 22, 2012, 02:49 PM:

Not attending, even though it is only a train ride away. Just finished online voting; access to the most of the nominees was a great experience. No way I could afford to subscribe to all of magazines and buy all of the works represented.

#32 ::: affreca ::: (view all by) ::: July 22, 2012, 02:57 PM:

I'm another lurker who intends to attend. I'm excitedly planning to take the train up as it should take about the same time to drive or fly (after all the hassle of security) there. It will be my second WorldCon.

#33 ::: Michael I ::: (view all by) ::: July 22, 2012, 07:02 PM:

Question about attending Worldcon panels.

Can you usually line up for a specific panel and be reasonably confident of getting into the room?

(As opposed to, for example, San Diego Comic-con where you generally want to line up for the previous panel in order to ensure getting into the panel you're actually interested in. Unless the panel you're interested in is in one of the two biggest rooms. In which case you line up at 6 am. Or the previous night.)

#34 ::: David Goldfarb ::: (view all by) ::: July 22, 2012, 07:20 PM:

Michael I: I've been to about half a dozen Worldcons, and the answer to that is yes. Panels where you have to line up are themselves rare -- usually that's reserved for the stuff much of the con will want to go to, like the Masquerade and the Hugo ceremony.

#35 ::: Cally Soukup ::: (view all by) ::: July 22, 2012, 07:23 PM:

Repeated information from the Open Thread.

The consuite will have "sandwich fixings, pasta salads and regular salads, tuna salads and chicken salads, egg salads. Cheeses, meats, pb n j, candy chips n bars, those kind of things. Nothing hot except coffee." (I'm guessing there will be "hot" water for tea, too, but there will not be a kettle. Sorry, tea drinkers, it's beyond our control.) Of course, there will be lots of soft drinks.

And, I'm told, "there will be more". Whatever that means.

There will be free wifi in all public spaces. I believe you do have to pay for internet in your room. Charge your devices in your (or a friend's) room, though; there won't be any accessible plugs in the public spaces. It's a convention center thing.

#36 ::: David Perry ::: (view all by) ::: July 22, 2012, 10:36 PM:

Hanging out with my wife and children at the con in my hometown. Hooray!

Eating at the Purple Pig while the kids are with a babysitter. Hooray!

Playing a concert with my fiddle playing goddess of a bandmate! Hooray!

Not that I'm excited or anything.

#37 ::: Lisa Padol ::: (view all by) ::: July 22, 2012, 11:01 PM:

Josh and I plan to attend.

@33: There's usually no line for panels at WorldCon. Sometimes, a room turns out to be too small for everyone who wants to attend, but this is the exception, not the rule.

#38 ::: elise ::: (view all by) ::: July 23, 2012, 01:30 AM:

I'll be there, participating in the usual benevolent conspiracies.

Cally, are you bringing the Zar deck, or should I?

#39 ::: Serge Broom ::: (view all by) ::: July 23, 2012, 03:50 AM:

Cally Soukup @ 35... There will be free wifi in all public spaces. I believe you do have to pay for internet in your room.

I never got the logic of that, at the 2009 worldcon in Montreal. I still don't.

#40 ::: Cassy B ::: (view all by) ::: July 23, 2012, 08:22 AM:

Elise @38, in my experience, Cally never travels ANYWHERE without her Zar deck....

#41 ::: Jo Walton ::: (view all by) ::: July 23, 2012, 08:31 AM:

It's Chicago, the train hub of the US, it's only a train ride from *anywhere* in North America that has trains. Everyone should consider going by Amtrak, it's slower than flying but very comfortable, way better value for money and a lot less hassle.

Affreca, where are you coming from, and which day? We'll be getting on the Lake Shore Limited from Schenectady on Tuesday evening and coming home on it on the following Tuesday. If we have enough fans we can have a party in the dining car!

#42 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: July 23, 2012, 08:54 AM:

As a Designated Local, I'll reiterate my open-thread offer of custom downtown-chicago walking tours (with commentary on historical, architectural, or political points of interest) and my willingness to play Native Guide on expotitions away from conspace for out-of-towners who want to, say, go up the Red Line to some shopping destination on the north side but are hesitant to trust their own orienteering skills.

#43 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: July 23, 2012, 09:02 AM:

Oh, and I should probably note that I will (almost certainly) have with me all con an object I didn't know existed till last week and now find amazing: a live-action physical Tetris game. Not scored like regular Tetris, more like Connect Four, but still! I keep playing with it in wonder. My toddler likes it too. And I have the 'travel' edition, which is nicely compact and robust. :->

#44 ::: Cally Soukup ::: (view all by) ::: July 23, 2012, 12:17 PM:

Elise: I will absolutely have my Zar deck. Also my Corsari deck (and/or my "I Go" deck, a new cardgame with colorblind-friendly cards which are perfectly designed for playing Corsari with.) And, besides the "gaming room" in a different bit of the hotel, I know it's the intention of the consuite head to have gaming-friendly space in the consuite itself.

#45 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: July 23, 2012, 12:36 PM:

Cally: If there is any table near the consuite gaming-friendly space where such things can be left, I can definitely airlift in a milkcrate-plus of (labeled with my name for later retrieval) various games and gaming-type equipment for general use.

#46 ::: Jacque ::: (view all by) ::: July 23, 2012, 12:40 PM:

I wanna go ::whinge:: but give a shortage of spoons as well as funds. I wanna know when I can rent one of these to attend.

#47 ::: Cally Soukup ::: (view all by) ::: July 23, 2012, 12:50 PM:

Elliott @ 45

I don't know if Consuite will want to take responsibility for them. Going by Minicon experience, however, if you don't mind leaving them at your own risk, I don't think Joel or Hospitality in general will object. Worst case, you can stash them in your (or my, if you're not getting one) room or something.

#48 ::: Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey ::: (view all by) ::: July 23, 2012, 02:59 PM:

I'll be there, as will Kelley. I expect to give at least one talk (my week among the SETI people), and the concom will probably stick me on some panels as well.

We'll have a hotel room Thursday through Sunday, but I'll commute in Wednesday the 29th and Tuesday the 4th if there is socializing to be done. Can easily take more time off, if someone gives me a reason.

If there is not a Fluorospherian party planned at this time, is there a social event we might agree upon as a convenient gathering-spot? Preferably during the early part of the Worldcon-- so that small groups, dinner conversations, walking tours, special-interest groups, and secret projects might precipitate in the days to follow...

Geri's party Thursday might do very well. And any excuse to see Geri is a good excuse.

#49 ::: Wendy Bradley ::: (view all by) ::: July 23, 2012, 03:37 PM:

Hmmmm. I decided at the start of the year that I could only afford to go to one US con this year and flipped a mental coin for Wiscon or Worldcon. I had a great time at Wiscon, of course, but I have to stop reading this thread now because it's making me think I should have picked "heads". But have a great time, all of you.

#50 ::: elise ::: (view all by) ::: July 23, 2012, 03:47 PM:

And any excuse to see Geri is a good excuse.

True that.

#51 ::: brother guy ::: (view all by) ::: July 23, 2012, 04:55 PM:

Cassie @ 26: Yes, I have volunteered for the program; I've no idea if they'll us me, as I haven't heard anything about the program yet. But in any event I look forward to meeting up with the fluorosphere again... especially since it looks like I won't make it to worldcon next year.

#52 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: July 23, 2012, 05:59 PM:

I volunteered for program too, and still haven't heard back. I was assuming that meant I wasn't on anything, but if Br. Guy hasn't heard either, that makes me very curious?

#53 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: July 23, 2012, 06:25 PM:

In re meeting up at Geri's thing -- she's not starting till after the other thing that ends at 10:30. I really, seriously doubt I'm going to be able to be awake that late.

Anyone want to club onto a Thursday night dinner run of some kind?

#54 ::: Mary Aileen ::: (view all by) ::: July 23, 2012, 06:47 PM:

I'll be there and would love to meet up with people. I don't usually do late nights, but if there's a party planned, I could stop in during the early part of it. I'm a low-level flunky on the art show staff, mainly helping with set-up before the con.

Jo Walton (41): We'll be getting on the Lake Shore Limited ... coming home on it on the following Tuesday.

Do you mean you're leaving Chicago on Tuesday? I'm taking the Lake Shore Limited, too, but I'm going out the day before you are (arriving on Tuesday, not Wednesday), and leaving again on Monday evening.

#55 ::: affreca ::: (view all by) ::: July 23, 2012, 06:51 PM:

Jo, I'm coming in the other direction on the Southwest Chief up from Kansas on Friday. I suspect it will just be me on that train, but I'd love to hang out with anyone if I'm wrong.

#56 ::: Cally Soukup ::: (view all by) ::: July 23, 2012, 07:06 PM:

Elliott

I could be interested in a Thursday dinner run. The only problem is that I don't know what my schedule will be like. But I do know that you have my phone number...

#57 ::: Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey ::: (view all by) ::: July 23, 2012, 08:31 PM:

Elliott in #52 responds to Brother Guy in #51:

I volunteered for program too, and still haven't heard back. I was assuming that meant I wasn't on anything, but if Br. Guy hasn't heard either, that makes me very curious?

Nobody I know has heard. I have reason to believe that the program staff is busy inventing the program, so for the moment, relax.

#58 ::: Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little ::: (view all by) ::: July 23, 2012, 08:55 PM:

I'll be coming in from Denver on Amtrak's California Zephyr (train 6) for arrival on Wednesday; leaving on the westbound version of same Tuesday after lunch.

If anyone else is taking the train from that direction, say hi! I'll be in whatever coach car they put Denver people going to Chicago on (and vice versa).

(I'd say, "Look for the short gal with the very long braid who's probably on her laptop or knitting," but that sounds fairly non-unique both for trains and WorldCons. I'll probably be wearing a red or black Rush concert T-shirt, how's that? And my chatelaine necklace with the pentagram, third-eye, and fleur-de-lis, if I actually remember it. I don't really wear it except for cons and the like, so I may forget.)

I'm rooming in the Hyatt with an acquaintance from Codex.

#59 ::: Lori Coulson ::: (view all by) ::: July 24, 2012, 09:37 AM:

Re: Programming -- They don't have it nailed down with little over a month to go?! Urk...

That's not encouraging. I've been hearing rumors that there were problems,* but up until now I hadn't paid much attention to them.

*It seems to me that every year I hear about problems with Worldcons/Nasfics, so I tend to take them with a shaker of salt...

#60 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: July 24, 2012, 10:02 AM:

Having been on a Worldcon concom before, I would have expected their pubs deadline to either be darned close or to have passed already, so yeah, not having finalized panels yet ... especially since you need to 'finalize' your panels, tell your panelists, and give them a couple weeks to tell you if something really won't work for them, so you can print the ADJUSTED schedule.

#61 ::: Cassy B. ::: (view all by) ::: July 24, 2012, 10:03 AM:

Jacque @46,

They're making telepresence robots commercially now: http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/24/irobot-intouch-health-unveil-rp-vita-telepresence-robot/

Of course, it'd still be cheaper to attend in person. {wry}

#62 ::: Serge Broom ::: (view all by) ::: July 24, 2012, 11:18 AM:

Lori Coulson @ 59... I wouldn't be unduly surprised to find that this last-minute approach is the norm. We *are* talking about fandom, after all. :-)

#63 ::: Mary Aileen ::: (view all by) ::: July 24, 2012, 12:09 PM:

I believe they're aiming to get the preliminary program schedule on the web on/by August 1. I don't know if that includes pre-notification to participants. I also don't know if they're on-track to make that deadline.

#64 ::: Tom Whitmore ::: (view all by) ::: July 24, 2012, 12:18 PM:

There's always a conflict with programming: talking about what's actually current conflicts with setting up a program well enough in advance to print it. Yes, there is some stuff we know we can talk about six months in advance; and there's going to be stuff that really wants an item that won't turn up until the week before the convention.

I'm not involved with program on this convention at all. I just know the competing parameters. 1 August is a pretty good deadline for having a final program for a convention that starts on the 31st. And yes, that's time enough to print everything.

#65 ::: Michael I ::: (view all by) ::: July 24, 2012, 01:10 PM:

Mary Aileen@63, Tom Whitmore@64

For comparison, this year's San Diego Comic-Con preliminary program went up on the web from June 28 (July 11 Preview Night and July 12 programming) to July 1 (July 15 programming).

#66 ::: Jacque ::: (view all by) ::: July 24, 2012, 01:25 PM:

Michael I @65: SDCC is not a fan-run production, though, is it? Makes a lot of difference when you can throw money at the problem.

#67 ::: Michael I ::: (view all by) ::: July 24, 2012, 01:44 PM:

Jacque@66

Assuming Chicon actually makes the August 1 date, they'll beat SD Comic-con in terms of promptness by more than two weeks.

(SD Comic-con's program went up two weeks before the start of the convention, August 1 is just over four weeks before the start of Chicon.)

Of course, Comic-con is a much larger convention.

#68 ::: roach ::: (view all by) ::: July 24, 2012, 02:17 PM:

AFAIK information about loading/unloading, hours, etc. hasn't been sent out to vendors yet. (At least I haven't received anything.) Nor has the list of confirmed dealers been updated in several months. This makes it difficult to plan the rest of the convention, but I'm keeping myself busy so I don't fret too much.

This will be my first Worldcon in a few years, my second Chicon (the last one was my first Worldcon). I'm excited to get there.

#69 ::: Cally Soukup ::: (view all by) ::: July 24, 2012, 02:30 PM:

I asked Programming, and they say that they're "nose down and scheduling" and the schedules will be out "this week".

#70 ::: Geri Sullivan ::: (view all by) ::: July 24, 2012, 02:40 PM:

#64 - Confirming what Tom wrote, yes, there's plenty of time for printing. Deb Geisler and I sent the perfect bound Souvenir Book to print 22 days before Renovation last year, and Rosy Lillian is on a similar schedule with this year's book. I'm helping her a bit with some of the production technicalities, specifically image processing. So I'm getting to look at lots of neat art and read some mighty fine articles, too. Just call it a flip of the fannish tradition of reading the Souvenir Book after the convention.

Program schedule information typically doesn't go in the Souvenir Book because the 3-week turnaround on pre-press, printing, and perfect binding is too lengthy for the Worldcon's needs. The pocket program/convention guide/readme has gone to print much closer to the convention on the Worldcons I've worked on or known the publications schedule for.

In 2004, we sent the convention guide with the program info to print 9 days before the official Thursday opening of Noreascon 4. The printer delivered it 1-3 days before that, basically a week after we handed them the files.

#71 ::: Tom Whitmore ::: (view all by) ::: July 24, 2012, 03:00 PM:

Geri Sullivan @70: the printer delivered the books 3 days before you sent them the info? Now that's fast!

#72 ::: Michael I ::: (view all by) ::: July 24, 2012, 03:15 PM:

Tom Whitmore@71

It WAS an SF convention. The publisher probably had access to a TARDIS.

:-)

#73 ::: Jo Walton ::: (view all by) ::: July 24, 2012, 06:21 PM:

Cally: They can't possibly have the schedules out this week. It's Tuesday evening, and they haven't sent anything to program participants yet. They have to send stuff to participants, wait to hear if things are OK, and then reorganize and reshuffle. August 1st (as mentioned upthread) seems more plausible, if they start emailing participants pretty much immediately -- but that's still barely a week from now, which is really pushing it to send, hear back, and reorganize.

#74 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: July 24, 2012, 07:13 PM:

Sokay, I'm going to step up to bat and get all specific and stuff. :->

Who wants to go to dinner with me (and whoever else) on Thursday night of Chicon at, for first approximations, Giordano's? It's a pizza joint, makes both standard thin-crust and Chicago-style deep dish (read: casserole), plus various pastas and salads. Reasonably good on many dietary-limits axes; less good on gluten-free.

Time TBA, but let's say I'll be aiming to get to the restaurant sometime between 5PM and 7:30? With further granularity to be negotiated (between attendees' needs and the specific programming available).

#75 ::: Jacque ::: (view all by) ::: July 24, 2012, 07:20 PM:

Elliott Mason: I wanna go!

Oh, you meant people who are actually going to go? Oh.

Sorry.

::sulk::

:)

#76 ::: Mary Aileen ::: (view all by) ::: July 24, 2012, 07:29 PM:

Elliott Mason (74): Sounds good! I'll be there, barring major schedule conflicts or unforeseen catastrophes.

#77 ::: Paula Helm Murray ::: (view all by) ::: July 24, 2012, 08:00 PM:

I CAN GO FOR THE WHOLE TIME!!!!! Well, I have to fly home Monday to be back at work Tuesday after, but that is better than what i expected. We will be leaving Friday the 24th to stop in ST. Louis and participate in a friend's annual Goodwill Tour. (rental bus, list of thrift shops, convivial group to shop with.)

And there is an even chance, if things work out well, that i will be able to walk fairly adequately at the convention, though I have rented a scooter.

I go for a test fitting tomorrow if my foot arrives at the prosthetist's. Double WOOT. If we get a good fitting, it will likely be a week or so before i get my temporary leg. Then i can start the process/program of learning to use it, building up the amount of time i can wear it at one time, and learning to determine all the odd bobs and bits of wearing one.

#78 ::: Serge Broom ::: (view all by) ::: July 24, 2012, 08:09 PM:

Paula Helm Murray @ 77... I go for a test fitting tomorrow if my foot arrives at the prosthetist's

If I may say so, this is an appropriate comment in a post about SF.

#79 ::: Michael I ::: (view all by) ::: July 24, 2012, 08:10 PM:

Elliot Mason@74

Might be just a bit too early for me, although I might be able to make it by 7:30 if my plane arrives on time. My plane is scheduled to get into Midway airport at 6:10. If I'm reading the timetables correctly, 30-40 minutes (plus walking time from the terminal) from the airport to the train stop. A bit more time to the hotel. And a bit of time to check in, etc.


#80 ::: Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little ::: (view all by) ::: July 24, 2012, 08:13 PM:

Elliot Mason @74 - I think I could be there. I have nothing on my agenda for that period yet, but then, like everyone else, I haven't seen the programming schedule yet.

#81 ::: Allan Beatty ::: (view all by) ::: July 24, 2012, 08:33 PM:

And... it seems I have tempted the great ghod Murphy, because it seems the FHA is not going to approve the buyers until after the scheduled closing date of the house I am selling. My credit cards are too close to maxed out to justify attending a Worldcon until I get the sale proceeds. :-(

#82 ::: elise ::: (view all by) ::: July 24, 2012, 08:43 PM:

Depends on exactly when I get in, but it looks likely that I can be there.

#83 ::: janetl ::: (view all by) ::: July 24, 2012, 09:54 PM:

Elliott Mason @ 74: I can make it to dinner on Thursday. Thanks for stepping up to bat!

#84 ::: elise ::: (view all by) ::: July 24, 2012, 10:04 PM:

It is annoying that taking the train to Chicon appears to cost twice what flying would cost.

Feh.

Shall have to consider this decision carefully.

#85 ::: Geri Sullivan ::: (view all by) ::: July 24, 2012, 10:07 PM:

Abi, there's free wifi in the Chicon function areas. I trust Fluorospherians can come up with entertaining ways for you to attend virtually.

#86 ::: Cassy B ::: (view all by) ::: July 24, 2012, 10:16 PM:

Elliot Mason @74: sounds great, and I'm even local... but I won't be at the con until Friday. Still, I'm sure I'll see you around.

#87 ::: Paula Helm Murray ::: (view all by) ::: July 24, 2012, 10:28 PM:

Serge, yes it is. This whole experience (well, after the hospital part and some of the painful parts like a couple of falls) has had a surreal air to it that borders very near the terrain in a Twilight Zone episode.

I will watch for plans, and I plan to help with the bid table for a soon-to-be-rolled-out Worldcon bid (we are not the primary forces in this one thank ghu) so our table will be near the site selection area.

#88 ::: Christopher Davis ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 12:54 AM:

I will be there (having finally had time to arrange the on-call schedule tweak, the vacation time, and the airplane tickets). I'd certainly be up for dinner on Thursday -- I'm scheduled to arrive at MDW early that afternoon, so timing should be quite doable.

As for for-pay Internet in some or all of the hotel, that's why I have a phone that doubles as a hotspot. It worked great at Readercon, and may well have been faster than the $14/day paid connection....

#89 ::: Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 01:18 AM:

If the Hyatt has free wi-fi in the lobby, but not in the rooms...

Sometimes, in hotels with that sort of set-up, I've discovered that if I sign onto the 24 hour free wi-fi session in the lobby, that session will "follow" me up to my room. It was a pretty reliable workaround at one of the hotels in Gen Con Indy, for instance.

Not a thing to count on, but something to try.

#90 ::: Cally Soukup ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 02:12 AM:

It depends on how strong the leg-irons are that tie me to the consuite, but I'll do Thursday dinner if I can.

#91 ::: Jennifer Barber ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 05:17 AM:

Another mostly-lurker who'll be there. Dinner Thursday sounds good.

elise:

It is annoying that taking the train to Chicon appears to cost twice what flying would cost.

Yes, twice the cost and, in my case, something like five times the travel time. Needless to say, I'm not doing the train even though I'd prefer to. It was hard enough getting enough days off work in a row to attend at all.

(...and now I'm trying to remember which email address I used back when I wasn't just lurking here. I think it was this one...)

#92 ::: elise ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 09:03 AM:

Jennifer Barber @91: Yes, twice the cost and, in my case, something like five times the travel time.

Yeah. It's about eight times the travel time, in my case. I am supremely grumpy about the situation, because I very much like trains and would strongly prefer taking one to taking a plane.

#93 ::: Jo Walton ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 09:15 AM:

Elise: You got a flight for $100?

The train from MSP to CHI, return, for the Worldcon dates, would be $204 return. And it's only 8 hours each way. I just checked this on the Amtrak website, because I was going to say you should look at the railpass, but then I remembered how close Minneapolis is to Chicago.

$204. That can't be twice the price of flying. It isn't possible.

#94 ::: elise ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 10:02 AM:

Jo, Spirit Airlines is offering a non-stop round-trip for $97.60.

$204. That can't be twice the price of flying. It isn't possible. I know. Something seems extremely wrong about the whole situation.

I don't want to fly. I want to take the train and sit there with my tools and make shiny things as I watch the scenery go by. Doing so is a great joy. I want to be able to walk around now and then so as to ease the various sitting-still-induced pains in my hip and knee and so forth. I'm just not sure those reasons will prevail against double the price. And I'm very grumpy indeed about that.

#95 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 10:20 AM:

Jennifer Barber @91: I used to try to take Amtrak to various conventions, because I LIVE IN CHICAGO and in theory that ought to be simple? And much more civilized than flying.

However. I gave up after trying to get to one con (in Atlanta) and discovering that I can only go Chicago -> Atlanta via either New Orleans or DC, and that either train trip takes appx 32h ON THE TRAIN, not counting layovers in changes.

Then I tried to go to an NYC con ... NYC, Chicago, should be a shoo-in? Except I'd have to change trains in Albany (I think it was Albany; upstate NY somewhere) and have a 23-hour layover, because the train to NYC is scheduled to leave one hour before the train from Chicago arrives. WTFBBQALPACA? Seriously. Setting up schedules to drive passengers and revenue: Ur Doin It Rong, Amtrak!

#96 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 10:25 AM:

Thursday Dinner

I am all for attending non-Thursday Fluorospherian-involved dinner runs, I just don't want to set myself up as the tinpot god of ML coordination this con. My punch bowl is too small. :->

I think there's enough interest in my proposed Thursday one to pencil it in. :-> I think latecomers could probably show up at the restaurant if they discover after the 'start time' that they can come; I can certainly pass out my cellphone number (in less-public ways than here; my account at Google's mail is '2ells2tees', drop me a line) for on-site coordination.

As we get closer, I'll call Giordano's a week out or so with a rough headcount so they can give us a big enough table. By then we should know timing with greater granularity.

Also, it occurs to me that the dinner can devolve into a giant walking pod of people headed up to Geri's party, given the timings. :->

Provisionally yes:
Cally Soukup
Christopher Davis
janetl
Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little

Provisionally maybe:
Michael I
Paula Helm Murray

#97 ::: elise ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 10:26 AM:

Ah. I have found the sting in the tail of the plane fare offer, and will be taking the train.

I prefer to travel with my tools, mostly in budgetary self-defense: if I go somewhere without my tools, I get twitchy in a day or so and more often than not wind up buying more tools. While it's handy to have extra pliers and suchlike for teaching purposes or for sending to people who could use them, it's not a sound ongoing practice, particularly when the tools I can acquire when traveling aren't usually the ones that are kind to my arthritic hands.

Tool digression: Lindstrom Rx line are my tools of choice, if anyone's a fellow tool geek. They make a very good flush cutter, round nose, chain nose, and bent nose. These four are my standard working set of tools. They tend to cost about $160 or so for the quartet. Buying an extra set is not by any stretch of the imagination a tolerable impulse purchase. Buying significantly less comfortable, less well designed and less well made tools, even at a quarter or a fifth of the price, does not really sit right with me, though those kinds of tools are what I've bought when I've been traveling and gripped by the rigors of tool withdrawal. (For a number of years I've had a second set of tools that lives in Brooklyn, which means I can travel sans checked baggage when I come to New York. This has long since paid for itself in checked baggage fees, and is a great comfort to me.)

Anyhow, if I read their website aright, Spirit Airlines has a checked bag fee of $28 for the first bag. Each way. That makes the actual cost of air travel to me $153.60. A $51 dollar difference makes the decision between plane and train considerably different. The real kicker, though, is that (again, if I read the website aright) Spirit Airlines charges for carry on bags too. From their website:

"Each passenger is allowed to carry on one bag and one personal item such as a purse or briefcase. Please note that Spirit Airlines charges a fee of up to $45 for the one carry-on bag – see the Baggage Fee section below for a list of applicable fees. Each passenger is also allowed one personal item such as a purse, small backpack or briefcase at no charge. Assistive devices, outer garments and infant diaper bags do not count towards carry on allowance and can be brought free of charge. All carry-on luggage must fit in the overhead bin and the personal item must fit under the seat in front of you and adhere to the following requirements:" [et cetera, blah blah blah, selah.]

Well. That seals it. The table for fees says the usual carry on fee is $30. Each way. Which raises the total cost of traveling by plane to $213.60, and that's probably before any other fees the airline or airports add on.

Screw 'em. I'm taking the train.

#98 ::: Lee ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 11:24 AM:

elise, #97: Cheap Flights. I think this was RyanAir, but the principle is the same.

Crap like this is why I fly Southwest whenever possible, and also why I don't use travel-aggregator websites. I want to know up front what I'll be paying, including taxes and fees, and what the fees are for. $28 for a checked bag is extortionate.

#99 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 11:29 AM:

Lee @98: For a long time, Southwest's seats' stated width was significantly narrower than the span of my hips. So far, I have never flown them, because the cheap flights weren't worth the risk of potentially being told UPON SITTING DOWN that I would be liable for paying for a second seat, with no way to know ahead of time and no chance of appeal (aside from abandoning the paid-for seat and the flight entirely).

This October, I will be taking a Southwest flight to a family gathering (I didn't get to buy the tickets). Because of mergers/buying other airlines' planes, they now have some diversity in seat width, and the wider seats are sufficient to accomodate my ass. I'm hoping to get one of those planes in my random-dip this fall; if not, it's not my money on the line for the second seat.

#100 ::: Paul A. ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 11:37 AM:

Lee @ #98:

Ah, you beat me to it.

(Though I feel I should note that I probably would have got my link in first if I hadn't had to stop in the middle of writing the comment to swordfight a couple of pirates. The perils of multitasking on the internet.)

#101 ::: elise ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 11:43 AM:

Lee @98: The one* time I've flown Southwest, they've been excellent. I should fly them again.

*Literally one time, as it was a one-way trip. I was at World Fantasy this past year, and there was a music party in our room that was a thing of great goodness and a balm to my soul, and the assembled parties expressed an intent to do the same the next night. I was scheduled to leave that day, late afternoon, but the lure of such a music party was strong. When the airline I had my return ticket on had no seats available on any later flight for 36 hours, I called Southwest and bought a one-way ticket. Yes, it was a completely ridiculous and unjustifiable extravagance, and I did very bad things to the budget by doing it, but I've never regretted it, because being at that music party healed something in my soul. (Bear, Kelly, Patrick, Emma, and everybody else in it, you are in my gratitude list forevermore.)

The fact that the Southwest gate crew and flight crew were having such a blast celebrating Halloween, all the while being entirely professional about getting the job done and taking good care of us and the airplane, really really impressed me too. It was the kind of workplace silliness that happens in healthy work situations, and that gets my attention every time. I'd rather give my business to that kind of business, when I can.

#102 ::: elise ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 11:49 AM:

Oh, forgot to say:

THANK YOU, LEE! A video with captions is so very much appreciated. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.

#103 ::: Mary Aileen ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 01:54 PM:

Elliott Mason (96): You missed me on the "Provisionally Yes"* list.

*aka the "God willing and the creek don't rise" list

#104 ::: Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 02:19 PM:

Paul A. @ 100: (Though I feel I should note that I probably would have got my link in first if I hadn't had to stop in the middle of writing the comment to swordfight a couple of pirates. The perils of multitasking on the internet.)

You mean like this?

#105 ::: Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little has been gnomed ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 02:21 PM:

Ah, the gnomes found my URL crunchy and good with ketchup. I am currently hidden away in their kitchen, hoping to catch a look at their secret 57-ingredient recipe.

#106 ::: Jennifer Barber ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 03:57 PM:

Elliott Mason: However. I gave up after trying to get to one con (in Atlanta) and discovering that I can only go Chicago -> Atlanta via either New Orleans or DC, and that either train trip takes appx 32h ON THE TRAIN, not counting layovers in changes.

Yep, that's basically the trip I'd have to make, though I'm no longer coming from Atlanta. Same trains, same layover in DC, same ridiculous travel time. Thus, flying. *sigh*

Also, you can add me to the "yes" list for Thursday.

#107 ::: elise ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 03:58 PM:

Elliott? I should be on that provisionally yes list too, please.

Thank you.

#108 ::: GlendaP ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 05:07 PM:

Elliott @99: Although I'm an infrequent flyer, when I do, it's almost always Southwest. I'm both tall and overweight. At my largest, women's pant size 22/24. I've never been told to pay for a second seat

#109 ::: Geri Sullivan ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 05:12 PM:

Elliott @96: With stars in my eyes, I strongly recommend the group head over to Opening Night at the Adler Planetarium between dinner and my party. The planetarium is ours, ours, ours (for "Chicon members" value of "ours") from 6:30-10:30pm. That's why I'm starting my 30th Fanniversary party so late. There's no way I'm going to miss being at the Adler that night!

A great big gronking huge WELCOME to everyone coming to their first Worldcon!

#110 ::: Fragano Ledgister ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 08:06 PM:

Elliot Mason No. 74 We're definitely interested, but have questions about mobility (Gail does not walk very well).

#111 ::: Serge Broom ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 08:28 PM:

Elliot Mason @ 74... That sounds like a good idea.

#112 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 08:34 PM:

Geri @109: I have no cash, and no real urge to commute entirely across downtown for a setpiece cocktail-party type thing when I could be having a quiet dinner with people I care about ... maybe I'm misunderstanding the purpose of the Adler thing, but the whole thing is giving me massive hives in anticipation.

Especially before an entire weekend of not-enough-sleep, toddler care, and trying desperately to have a con AROUND toddler care.

#113 ::: fidelio ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 08:37 PM:

Elliott @96--I need to discuss travel plants with my companion for the trip, but please list us as tentative as well.

#114 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 08:42 PM:

Having read the linked page, and so on, I'm now open to wiggling the dinner such that it is within striking distance of the Museum Campus (there's a Giordano's down there too, as well as many other restaurants) and aiming towards the earlier end of the window so there's at least an hour or two of museuming for those who wish to continue there.

#115 ::: Tom Whitmore ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 08:44 PM:

fidelio @113 -- are those travel plants triffids? If so, we'd better watch out for green meteor showers at the planetarium.

#116 ::: iamnothing ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 09:31 PM:

Elliott @96: I guess I'm a 'provisionally maybe' as well, at least for the latter part. I'm also not sure about getting there and back to the hotel, since I don't know Chicago.

Cally @35: Thanks for the detailed info.

#117 ::: Paula Helm Murray ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 10:40 PM:

Elliott, provisionally a yes. Am penciling it in on my calendar, details can be sent to my email.

The main delay in my prosthetic may be the healing of the final small patch of my incision, it's a shallow scabby bit that is worrying the prosthetist. I had an orthopedic appointment after the test fit (which went perfect AND I walked a few steps without holding on, WOOT), my surgeon referred me to a wound care specialist who I will be seeing Friday.

So things progress here. I'm looking forward to meeting many of you in a coherent fashion. (I am only HELPING with something around the edges where needed, not a main participant in the proceedings... plus I am writing and will be making that a concentration in the future.)

#118 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 11:00 PM:

Re Thursday Dinner:

Nobody's going to be abandoned to orienteer alone, that's not cool. I hope everyone coming will gmail me (name: 2ells2tees) so I can pass on my cellphone for last-minute base-touching and custom directions if we don't successfully make a crocodile leaving the hotel, Madeline-style.

After dinner I'm quite happy to squire around out-of-towners to be certain they don't get lost in the howling wastes of downtown. :->

If you think you might make other out-of-the-hotel expeditions during the con, you might want to procure refillable fare media; there are places down near the hotel to do that (and the concierge can direct you). The farecard fare is cheaper than the cash fare (which is $2.25 for a single ride, plus a quarter for a transfer or if you're going on the train).

Updated list, so I don't have to keep scrolling around (and can keep a mental 'how big is this shindig, anyway' marker). If you aren't on it and should be, I blame lack of sleep (and will fix later). :->

Provisionally yes:

Cally Soukup

Christopher Davis

janetl

Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little
elise
Mary Aileen
Fragano Ledgister
Paula Helm Murray

Provisionally maybe:

Michael I

Paula Helm Murray
iamnothing
fidelio

#119 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 11:15 PM:

Grist for our mill: there's a Lou Malnati's location (link shows menu, including prices) further down museum-wards than the Giordano's right near the hotel.

Lou's is a Chicago institution, with a range of pizzas (and a lot of breaded/fried appetizers, plus some others), plus pastas and salads. They're very gluten-free-friendly, including an amazing sausage-crust pizza I enjoy eating just because it's yummy. :-> I'm pretty sure someone in the founder's family (my sister went to high school with his grandkids; he still runs the restaurant) is gluten-intolerant, and others are dairy-intolerant, because the menu and servers are written to expect food-specific requests.

#120 ::: Serge Broom ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 11:15 PM:

Elliott Mason @ 118... Provisionaly yes, me too.

#121 ::: Cassy B ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 11:24 PM:

Elliott, frankly, I prefer Lou Malnotti's to Giordano's. They have a better crust. (Not that I'll be going to the Thursday Night Pizza Party, but still, I thought I'd mention it.) Oh, and if you CAN eat gluten and dairy, the Three Cheese Bread is really, really good.

#122 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 11:33 PM:

Cassy B @121: Not to prematurely launch into my "why 'pizza' in Chicago is a religious argument" canned spiel, very few people of my acquaintance, if you were to ask them to list their top 3 pizza joints in order of preference, would put Giordano's first -- but it would be on almost everyone's list. It's acceptable median-good pizza, by Chicago standards.

Lou's has vehement adorers, but there are also some people who dislike it for the same reasons it is adored.

(Is it bad that I particularly like to order their Lou's Special, which is vegetarian, on the sausage crust?)

#123 ::: Cally Soukup ::: (view all by) ::: July 25, 2012, 11:41 PM:

I know we've got at least two (and quite likely more) people who are likely to be mobility impaired. Chicon does have a disability services department, through which one can rent an electric scooter, if that's economically viable. "The rental price for both regular and heavy-duty scooters is $200 for the run of the convention. The rental price for wheelchairs is $125 for the run of the convention."

Various other accessibility issues, such as large print programs and ASL interpreters, are also addressed on that page, as one would expect.

#124 ::: Mea ::: (view all by) ::: July 26, 2012, 01:47 AM:

Elliot at 118 - add me to the provisional yes group.

Now must contemplate logistics....

#125 ::: Paul A. ::: (view all by) ::: July 26, 2012, 05:54 AM:

Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little @ #104:

Heh. No, kittens that know kung fu were not involved, alas.

It was more like this, though on this occasion it was a series of duels instead of an all-in brawl.

#126 ::: Cassy B ::: (view all by) ::: July 26, 2012, 08:32 AM:

Elliott @122, I've never heard of the Sausage Crust. (Our local Lou Malnotti's is a take-out only place; perhaps their menu is smaller....)

#127 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: July 26, 2012, 08:53 AM:

Cassy B @126: The menu from the website only says 'gluten-free crustless' in tiny letters, but it sure looks like a crust made of sausage when you get it. :-> We have GF friends who order quite cheerfully from Lou's on a regular basis, so I've seen it that way. Maybe you'd never notice it if you weren't already getting it?

#128 ::: Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little ::: (view all by) ::: July 26, 2012, 11:18 AM:

Paul A. @ 125: It was more like this, though on this occasion it was a series of duels instead of an all-in brawl.

I salute you. I can't move my 1v1 SF stats to save my life nor yet my reputation. Which is very unfair, because there's no way for hiring officers to know I in fact rock the multiplayer version.

Insert obligatory "who do you play as, and on which ocean, so I can hearty you?" interrogation.

(Your previous description was so apt for that lolcat, I was wondering if you were in fact describing it and I was going to look silly. It seemed too coincidenty even for coincidence.)

#129 ::: Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little ::: (view all by) ::: July 26, 2012, 11:35 AM:

Oh crap.

I wish I'd known about this. Heck, I wish ChiCon organizers had. The boycott may be new, but the worker treatment spurring the boycott appears to have been pretty standard for the Hyatt hotel chain for quite some time:

National Hyatt Boycott Unites Workers, Feminists, LGBQT Activists, and More

#130 ::: David Weingart ::: (view all by) ::: July 26, 2012, 01:11 PM:

Biil @ 57, that's...not reassuring.

I'm definitely flying in, though. (Delta because that's where I have status so I won't pay any checked bag fees).

Still need to see about pre-con hotels

#131 ::: Jeremy Preacher ::: (view all by) ::: July 26, 2012, 05:27 PM:

If we're talking Malnati's, I am religiously obligated to attend. (And, waitaminute, they have GLUTEN FREE PIZZA? I may have to re-up my annual birthday shipment.) I am by God going to the Adler function for at least part of the evening, though, because I haven't been to the Adler since I was ten and it is pretty awesome. So mark me down as a provisonal yes, will you? Thanks for organizing!

#132 ::: Michael I ::: (view all by) ::: July 26, 2012, 06:58 PM:

If I decide I want to attend the Adler reception, what are the options for getting from the hotel to the planetarium?

Note that my flight gets into Midway at 6:10 pm, so assuming an on time landing, the earliest I could reasonably get to the hotel is around 7:00.

#133 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: July 26, 2012, 08:58 PM:

Michael I: There are busses that run down Michigan that go straight out all the way to the planetarium.

If you go to Google Maps and ask for directions from "Hyatt Regency Chicago" to "Adler Planetarium" and click transit rather than car, it will give you trip times at various days of the week and times of the day, plus detailed instructions.

#134 ::: elise ::: (view all by) ::: July 26, 2012, 09:33 PM:

Nicole @129: Thank you for that info, dismaying though it is to get.

Hmm. Well, I'm pretty much stuck with staying in the hotel, because traveling back and forth between a satellite hotel and the convention would make the convention not physically supportable for me. So I'm going to have to figure out what to do about things. (Tip the housekeeping staff like mad, and tell them why, for one thing. Eat as few things in the hotel as possible, for another. Elliott, Cally, and other locals, are there any food options within two block of the hotel? I have a limited range.)

#135 ::: Mary Aileen ::: (view all by) ::: July 26, 2012, 09:33 PM:

Michael I (132): According to PR4, there are also going to be shuttle buses all evening from the Hyatt to the Adler.

#136 ::: Cally Soukup ::: (view all by) ::: July 26, 2012, 11:25 PM:

elise:

There's a tunnel to the Illinois Center, and it's got about 20 small restaurants (mostly of the fast food variety: Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Baskin Robins ice cream, a few cafe type places) without having to venture into the Big Blue Room (unless you can't handle stairs that day, in which case you have to take the surface street).

For real restaurants nearby, I defer to El; I'm a suburbanite, and don't know the area well. I'm planning on grabbing my GPS from my car Just In Case, even though I'm taking the train in.

#137 ::: Cally Soukup ::: (view all by) ::: July 26, 2012, 11:41 PM:

I should add that Chicon will be notifying the local restaurants (and the little grocery store down the street) about Fannish Appetites, and asking them to extend their hours. Whether they believe us or not is, of course, beyond Chicon's control (cue anecdotes about restaurants running out of food, and British cons drinking breweries dry).

#138 ::: Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little ::: (view all by) ::: July 26, 2012, 11:46 PM:

elise, I like your strategy. I am currently wondering myself whether I should agitate at my roommate for jumping ship to the Sheraton or whether I should leave well enough alone at this stage in the game and follow a strategy similar to yours for mitigating the damage. I could do the overflow hotel with no hardship, but I can't assume my roommate is similarly able-bodied and energetic. And besides, it would feel like such a drop in the bucket considering existing Con plans have already concentrated the greater bulk of membership there.

I'm dismayed that these things go on so below the radar that con organizers unknowingly end up pointing attendees' wallets in unsavory directions. But I'm glad for the boycott and the press & support it's getting, because now we *do* know.

#139 ::: Tom Whitmore ::: (view all by) ::: July 27, 2012, 01:43 AM:

Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little @138: Every big hotel chain (and therefore every convention center) is doing something that some people will find difficult. If anyone finds an exception and posts it here, I'll be happy to be proved wrong (after I've done a bit of Google searching to see if the poster is actually correct). Being big enough to host a Worldcon (which is really not that big) means that someone has a grudge about you.

The problems with Hilton are real. I'm not saying they aren't. I'm just saying they are endemic to the system, rather than specific.

#140 ::: Paul A. ::: (view all by) ::: July 27, 2012, 12:24 PM:

Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little @ #128:

Rumbustifer, currently active on the Emerald ocean.

I should mention that I too am much better in a melee than in 1-on-1, and my official swordfight standing only recently reached the dizzying height of Proficient.

#141 ::: Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey ::: (view all by) ::: July 27, 2012, 02:31 PM:

For Chicon 2000, which I stubbornly insist on calling Chicon VI,* I recall that Leah Zeldes Smith and Dick Smith produced a fairly heroic Dining Guide.

Can't find it online at the moment, but it might be a good starting point to contemplate options for dining during this year's Worldcon.
 
 
 

*I think everyone is tired of having me refer to Chicons as "Hog-Butcher-For-The-Worldcon."

#142 ::: Melissa Singer ::: (view all by) ::: July 27, 2012, 09:12 PM:

Regarding tipping:

I'm willing to bet most people here know this, but I'm tossing it in anyway, for those who may not: tip housekeeping every day.

The odds are that a different person will clean/make-up your room every day; tipping at the end of your stay often means that only the person who cleans your room on the day you check out gets any money. Tipping every day means that the person who cleaned your room that day gets the tip.

Have fun in Chicago!

#143 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: July 28, 2012, 01:06 AM:

Bill Higgins: it is epic in scope, but kind of useless for "I am too broke for the hotel restaurant and want to eat within walking distance". They prioritized 'interesting' restaurants, even if they were halfway to Wisconsin, and their '$' price range went all the way to, if I recall correctly 12 years later, something like $12/person for the meal.

You don't WANT to know what price range was denoted by their '$$$$$' category.

Very useful guide to people who like to eat like the Smiths like to eat; very nearly a waste of paper to me (I asked the concierge for guidance).

#144 ::: Zelda ::: (view all by) ::: July 28, 2012, 02:14 AM:

I will be there, although not until Friday morning. Hope there will be more opportunities for Gatherings of Light.

My experience thus far in assembling a restaurant guide for MuseCon leads me to say that a guide assembled twelve years ago would be all but useless, no matter how constituted. Restaurants change hands and close up all the darned time.

Crikey, I have to figure out what to do with the car, as Metra only has daily parking. May have to rustle up a cab to the train station, which is surreal for a 10-minute trip in my own neighborhood.

#145 ::: Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little ::: (view all by) ::: July 28, 2012, 03:48 PM:

Tom Whitmore @139 - While I'm aware that the hotel industry is no bed of roses, the article I cited appears to make the point that the Hyatt (not Hilton) chain is bad even by standards of the hotel industry. Hence the boycott.

In any case, it's Hyatt that's targeted by a widely supported boycott at the same time that Chicon is directing a lot of revenue towards 'em, which I think is sufficient that I shouldn't have to defend my dismay in the face of what sounds like yet another instance of the Worldweary Fallacy.


Melissa singer @ 142 - thanks for pointing that out!


Paul A. @ 140 - My Emerald persona is the seemingly unpronounceable Nensieuisge. Maybe I'll see you on the high seas sometime.

#146 ::: Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey ::: (view all by) ::: July 28, 2012, 06:08 PM:

Elliott Mason writes in #143:

Bill Higgins: it is epic in scope, but kind of useless for "I am too broke for the hotel restaurant and want to eat within walking distance".

Oh. I am more your kind of diner than the Smiths' kind of diner (though I am always happy to join them, for they are good company).

#147 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: July 28, 2012, 06:21 PM:

A rather useful category in any worldcon restaurant guide (meaning, the 'long listings' are listed together, separately from the rest, ideally in front in a delineated section you can flip to easily) is "within 2-3 blocks of the hotel", and if I recall correctly the Smiths' guide also didn't do one. Their closest area covered most of the north loop. Same problem as '$' meaning 0-12 for a one-person meal price, really: insufficient low-end granularity.

If people want me to, I can try to skim Google Maps and give a quickie thumbnail description (from memory and knowing the chains) of that smallest area from the Hyatt?

#148 ::: Cally Soukup ::: (view all by) ::: July 28, 2012, 08:01 PM:

El @ 147

Speaking entirely unofficially, please do. I know there are people officially doing a restaurant guide, but I neither know who they are nor know when it will be done. Even if you end up duplicating effort, another take on the subject of "walkable food" has to be a plus. Sort of a "pocket program" of the restaurant guide, just focusing on Very Near and Reasonably Affordable would be excellent.

#149 ::: Mary Aileen ::: (view all by) ::: July 28, 2012, 08:36 PM:

Elliott Mason (147): I'd be very interested in seeing that, as well.

#150 ::: elise ::: (view all by) ::: July 28, 2012, 08:50 PM:

Elliott, that would be a great goodness and a useful thing. I sure could use it. Thank you for offering.

#151 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: July 29, 2012, 09:56 AM:

Well, it may not get done this week (because MuseCon is next weekend and I'm teaching three classes -- I'm minimally prepped as of right now, but I need to do the diagrams for my learn-to-make-netted-beadwork classes even if I don't iterate further on anything else). But after Muse things open up, and I bet people will read ML between then and Worldcon. :->

#152 ::: Cassy B. ::: (view all by) ::: July 30, 2012, 03:50 PM:

Elliot Mason @151: speaking of MuseCon, anyone else going? (I'll be there, too. Never been before. No idea what I'll be doing, but the idea of a crafting-con tickles my fancy...)

#153 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: July 30, 2012, 03:54 PM:

The most amazing thing about MuseCon (as someone who's gone both previous times and is enthusiastically happy to go again) is really what happens BESIDES classes -- a huge sloshing mass of really competent, really interesting, really skilled people ATTENDING the con.

Someone last year expressed upset that there was no beginning-knitting class. Those of us involved in running the Fiber Zoo (clubhouse for wide range of fiber arts) realized the reason we don't need one is that if you walk into the fiber zoo with two needles and some yarn and say, "I really want to learn to knit," eight people suddenly volunteer and you've got an impromptu workshop.

We maybe need to start putting up signage to the effect. :->

Similarly, people bringing an in-progress project can have instant collaborative community, if they want some, including tips, tricks, and troubleshooting. Just from the other attendees! I'm not counting the people there to teach classes, on the theory that we've self-selected as People Who Like To Help.

#154 ::: Cassy B. ::: (view all by) ::: July 30, 2012, 04:02 PM:

Elliot Mason @153: Cool. Definitely sounds promising. (I've only signed up for one panel, to make a stained glass piece. I've done stained glass before, but time and house-moves have lost all my stained-glass supplies and equipment (which is a pity, because I had a few really pretty panes of scrap glass I was planning to do something with) and I've not taken it up again partly because I've acquired two Inquisitive and Helpful Felines...).

#155 ::: Mary Aileen ::: (view all by) ::: July 30, 2012, 04:59 PM:

Oh, wow, MuseCon sounds awesome. Pity it's so far* from me, but that is definitely going on my list of future trips I want to make.

*I've semi-sworn off longer trips lately, Chicon notwithstanding

#156 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: July 30, 2012, 08:38 PM:

I think some present here will be amused if I relate the founding anecdote of MuseCon ...

So it's a running joke that OVFF (think filk-specific worldcon) isn't reeeeeally a music con, it's a crafting con with a strong music track. Some time ago, several absolute loonies looked at each other, looked at Chicago cons and congoers, and went, "Wait, we could DO a crafting con with a strong music track!"

And so MuseCon was born. There's open filk all night, and someday we may even have parties, if enough people who want to THROW parties start attending. :->

#157 ::: Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey ::: (view all by) ::: July 30, 2012, 09:59 PM:

Cassy B writes in #153:

Elliot Mason @151: speaking of MuseCon, anyone else going?

Musecon, near Chicago? I am. I'm participating in the Ukulele Summit next Saturday afternoon. Extra ukes will be available to borrow.

When the first draft of the schedule grid came out, I was surprised to see an hour entitled "Bill Higgins Presents." A touching expression of faith on the part of the concom.

This has evolved into an item next Sunday at 1:30:

Babbage's Favorite Picture, and Other Curiosities
When Charles Babbage began designing a mechanical computer in the 1830s, the Jacquard looms of the French silk-weaving trade played a key role in his plan. Bill Higgins tells the story of a fabulous silk portrait Babbage owned, the people and machines who created it, and the even more fabulous portrait that succeeded it-- all pointing the way to a future filled with punchcards, mathematically-encoded graphics, and thinking machines.
I'm not particularly good at making stuff. But I love to be around people who make stuff. And maybe I can tell stories that people who make stuff will enjoy.

#158 ::: Cassy B. ::: (view all by) ::: July 30, 2012, 10:25 PM:

Bill Higgins--Beam Jockey @157: Your talk sounds like fun; if I don't have something conflicting (or con crud; on a Sunday at a con that's about a 50-50 chance) I'll be there.

#159 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: July 30, 2012, 10:28 PM:

Bill Higgins @157: Oh, thank FSM -- the Sunday class I'm teaching is right before that, not contemporaneous! I always greatly enjoy your talks, and regret the ones I have to miss.

Cassy @157: I've found that bringing a humidifier and leaving it running in my sleeping room all con effectively prevents con crud. Your Crud May Vary, but it cain't hurt, right?

#160 ::: Tom Whitmore ::: (view all by) ::: July 30, 2012, 11:35 PM:

Adding to the vote for a humidifier. And there are little tiny ones that allow you to plug a bottle of water directly into them so you don't have to carry around a huge reservoir -- they run around $30 to $50 at BigSARiver, and around 3 inches cubical without the waterbottle (which is disposable). I get far fewer colds when I remember to use one at cons (hotels dry the air out incredibly).

#161 ::: Lee ::: (view all by) ::: July 30, 2012, 11:39 PM:

I would love to go to MuseCon sometime. But it's a little far for me to attend just as a fan, and not yet large enough to make attending as a dealer worthwhile, and it also tends to be up against other things on the schedule. Different other things from year to year -- apparently that's a popular weekend.

#162 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: July 31, 2012, 08:03 AM:

The thing about MuseCon's weekend is that it's a hole in the several-hours-drive-from-Chicago con schedule, not any nationwide schedule hole. There used to be a gap in Chicago cons between Duck and World (wherever it was), and Muse was put between them to fulfill the craving. However, it's pretty regularly up against Pennsic and other things that crafty people go to; this year it is very luckily the week BEFORE Stitches Midwest, which is a much bigger version but contains a lot of people Muse would like to recruit to attend.

#163 ::: Jo Walton ::: (view all by) ::: July 31, 2012, 08:37 AM:

Has anyone had program information now?

I still haven't heard anything, and I'm starting to get a little worried.

#164 ::: Cassy B. ::: (view all by) ::: July 31, 2012, 09:00 AM:

Jo Walton @164: Nothing on the ChiCon website, which I agree is worrying. (Oh, and a private "squee!" -- I voted for "Among Others". Twice. (My husband gave me his proxy; he's not had time to read novels....)

#165 ::: Cassy B. ::: (view all by) ::: July 31, 2012, 10:50 AM:

Addendum: All, please pardon my fan-girl moment; I know it's not particularly attractive in a middle-aged woman... {a little embarrassed, but still... "SQUEE!"}

#166 ::: Michael I ::: (view all by) ::: July 31, 2012, 11:54 AM:

Jo Walton@163, Cassy B@164

Up above@63 Mary Aileen said "I believe they're aiming to get the preliminary program schedule on the web on/by August 1"

Whether they meet this goal is another question. Presumably we'll find out soon.

(For comparison, DragonCon is at the same time as Chicon. If you look at the various DragonCon tracks, some of them have a full schedule including times, some of them have panel lists, and some of them have neither.)

(As another comparison, as I mention above, San Diego Comic-Con this year started posting its preliminary schedule on June 28. The main Comic-con programming started on July 12.)

#167 ::: Jo Walton ::: (view all by) ::: July 31, 2012, 12:33 PM:

Michael: What I'm asking is whether any other potential program participants have heard from the program people about what program they might be wanted to be on.

I know program isn't done, I know it won't be up tomorrow, this isn't a problem as long as they have it done by the time the con happens.

I'm just wondering if they've forgotten me, don't want me on program (which seems kind of unlikely, but whatever) or whether they are just really behind.

Cassy B: Well, that's two votes I can count on! I'm really glad you liked it.

#168 ::: David Goldfarb ::: (view all by) ::: July 31, 2012, 04:27 PM:

Jo: I voted for you too. In fact, as I posted here before, I bought a supporting membership just so I could vote for Among Others.

#169 ::: Cally Soukup ::: (view all by) ::: July 31, 2012, 07:41 PM:

Cassy @158

I've heard Bill Higgin's Babbage Picture talk, assuming it's the same one, and it's well worth going to!

#170 ::: Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey ::: (view all by) ::: July 31, 2012, 09:00 PM:

Cally:

Thank you. I don't have two Babbage Picture talks, and, as you probably know, once I have invented a talk, I usually give it in multiple places. Sort of amortizes the investment of effort in creating the talk.

Since it concerns 19th century art and manufacturing, this is another opportunity to bill myself by my steampunk name, W. Skeffington Higgins.

As for Worldcon, I have heard from the program people, I know they are working hard behind the scenes, I know they are not finished yet, and I understand they expect to contact participants within a few days.

#171 ::: Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little ::: (view all by) ::: July 31, 2012, 09:56 PM:

I DONE VOTED.

That is all.

#172 ::: Cassy B. ::: (view all by) ::: July 31, 2012, 10:41 PM:

Cally@169, Bill Higgens@170: Sounds fascinating, but I just looked at my calendar and I have an engagement at noon. Which means I have to clear out of the convention by 11:30 on Sunday morning at the very, very latest. I think you said it was an afternoon talk?

Darn.

#173 ::: Magenta Griffith ::: (view all by) ::: July 31, 2012, 10:45 PM:

Jo, another two votes for you here, from me and Martin. And two for Patrick, because he *is* Best Editor.

#174 ::: iamnothing ::: (view all by) ::: July 31, 2012, 11:46 PM:

I just had a look at the hotel map. It's very large, with 2 wings and multiple floors. I suppose that might have some impact on the scheduling process.

#175 ::: Lee ::: (view all by) ::: August 01, 2012, 12:08 AM:

Nicole, #171: I DONE VOTED too. My primary interest (and the only reason I sprung for a supporting membership) was to vote for Digger in the Graphic Works category and a filk album in the Related Works category, but I also voted for Jo and Patrick.

iamnothing, #174: After my first day at Chicon V (in the same hotel complex), I had a custom button made. It said "CHICON V - it's in the other tower and down another escalator." I wore it for the rest of the con, and it got a lot of laughs.

#176 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: August 01, 2012, 08:53 AM:

Lee @175: Quite a few of the Chicago convention hotels have what I call "mutually exclusive basements" -- two separate sub-first-floor areas that you can't move from one to the other without going up to the first floor.

During Chicon in 2000, there was one such; several years later, my FiL had a conference at the Hyatt Regency and I discovered they'd reflowed somewhat.

If I get on the ball I'll try to do an in-person walkthrough of the public areas to get the lay of the land a week or so before the con to get comfortable with it as it currently exists ...

#177 ::: Cally Soukup ::: (view all by) ::: August 01, 2012, 11:09 AM:

El @ 176

For what (little) it's worth, HERE's a PDF of the floorplans. It's a little hard to figure out how the floorplans relate to each other and to the real world, though.

Note that to to go underground in the west (consuite) tower by elevator, you must change elevators. There is an 8 elevator bank in the west ground level lobby: 6 go up and 2 go down. There is a 6 elevator bank in the east ground level lobby: 6 go up and one, count it, one, also goes down. There's also a two elevator bank in the east tower that only goes up. (cue jokes about having to keep buying new elevator cars because they never come down, yes, I know)

The consuite will be in the Gold Level West (two floors underground, I believe). The map makes it look like there's a tunnel between Gold Levels West and East, but there isn't; the tunnel is one level above, on Bronze Level (one floor underground). Access will be by escalator and by the two elevators that actually deign to visit the underworld.

It's not obvious from the map, but "Green Level" is street level. The hotel front desk is actually up a floor from street level, on Blue Level East. There is a hamster tube between Blue Levels East and West, so you can travel between towers three ways: Blue Level hamster tube, Green Level crossing the street, and Bronze Level tunnel.

The only handicap-inaccessible function space (stairs) is the Buckingham room on Bronze West. The tunnel to the Illinois Center, which will, at least on Friday and Saturday, provide various fast foods is also on Bronze West, but also has stairs. Non-stair-enabled people will have to go there via the Big Blue Room With Inadequate Air Conditioning.

Preliminary word is that the various stores in Illinois Center (I don't think they've talked to all of them yet, though) are unlikely to change their ordering patterns or hours; something was mentioned about their leases. Since these places cater primarily to office workers, their Sunday and Holiday hours are highly curtailed or even nonexistent. There are a few real restaurants in there, though, that will be open regardless.

Efforts are underway to lure food trucks to us, (frankly, I'd be astonished if they didn't succeed unless there's another large group of hungry people that will be in the area!) though they can only park for 2 hours at a time, so if you see one that looks interesting, don't dither too long. Food trucks may park at metered parking at least 200 feet from ground-level restaurants; I don't know if there are ground-level restaurants nearby that would mean they couldn't park. (They also have to find an open parking space, and good luck with that.) The brand-new Food Truck Ordinance now provides for special food truck parking areas, but there's no word yet on where they will be. My guess is near various parks.

There will also be food in the consuite, though it will be cold food and leaning heavily towards veggies, fruits, sandwich fixings, and what I think of as cold goopy salads. (Pasta, tuna, potato...)

I hope this is somewhat helpful.

#178 ::: Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little ::: (view all by) ::: August 01, 2012, 03:07 PM:

Lee @ 175: After my first day at Chicon V (in the same hotel complex), I had a custom button made. It said "CHICON V - it's in the other tower and down another escalator." I wore it for the rest of the con, and it got a lot of laughs.

Meanwhile, a custom button for Denvention 3 might have said, "Yes, this is the line for the elevator."

#179 ::: Mary Aileen ::: (view all by) ::: August 01, 2012, 03:24 PM:

Several of the dealers at the Winnipeg Worldcon started sporting buttons that said, "It's in this hotel. It's on this level. But you can't get there from here."

The Art Show and Dealers Room were in the same large hall, divided by a curtain. But their entrances were reached via different escalators on opposite sides of the building; there was no direct pass-through between the two areas, for Art Show security reasons.

#180 ::: Cally Soukup ::: (view all by) ::: August 01, 2012, 03:33 PM:

I've had a Thought, but not one I can personally easily follow up on.

Would it make sense to have a "Fluorosphere" ribbon made, to be passed out at Geri's party or wherever one lightmaker meets another?

I don't know the ins and outs of ribbon ordering, and I'll be busy this weekend and away for a week in the middle of August.

#181 ::: Mary Aileen ::: (view all by) ::: August 01, 2012, 03:50 PM:

Cally (180): I still have one of the Making Light buttons Lee was giving out at Denvention. It's yellow, with a drawing of a light bulb.

I'm bringing it but won't necessarily be wearing it all the time. It's...okay, this is my weird quirk, which is my own...I'm happy to be identifiable to other Fluorospherans, but don't want to have to be answering questions about it to random others. So I'll certainly wear the button when trying to meet up for dinner and such, but otherwise I'm not sure.

#182 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: August 01, 2012, 04:34 PM:

I might could (or someone) find some good clip art of a lightbulb and print it on adhesive Avery labels? Like a filk dandelion, sort of a little in-the-know code image one could stick on one's badge.

#183 ::: Mary Aileen ::: (view all by) ::: August 01, 2012, 05:28 PM:

Elliott (182): That sounds like a good idea.

#184 ::: Lee ::: (view all by) ::: August 01, 2012, 06:39 PM:

Elliott, #182: Excellent idea! If we weren't in the midst of a major pre-con thrash right now, I might have been able to offer to make more buttons, but it's just not possible. A discreet badge sticker would be a good alternative.

#185 ::: Jacque ::: (view all by) ::: August 01, 2012, 07:05 PM:

Elliott Mason @182: Print this onto a button.

#186 ::: Cassy B. ::: (view all by) ::: August 01, 2012, 07:21 PM:

Jacque @ 185: I can see my house from there!

#187 ::: Mary Aileen ::: (view all by) ::: August 01, 2012, 07:23 PM:

Jacque (185): I like that, but it would be too hard to identify at small sizes.

#188 ::: Cassy B. ::: (view all by) ::: August 01, 2012, 07:29 PM:

Elliott Mason @182, Mary Aileen @187: I like the idea of a little lightbulb about the size of a thumbnail that sticks to the badger. Alternately, a badge ribbon would be nice....

#189 ::: Cassy B. ::: (view all by) ::: August 01, 2012, 07:30 PM:

Edit: "sticks to the badger" = "sticks to the badge". I don't think they'll let badgers into the hotel....

#190 ::: Cally Soukup ::: (view all by) ::: August 01, 2012, 07:36 PM:

El:

I (think I) have access to a hole punch that makes approx. 1 cm holes. That's not a horrible size for a badge sticker, though peeling them off the backing could be a bit annoying.

I could print out a whole bunch of THIS and punch them out. Or does someone have a better bit of clipart they'd like to propose? I was going for "will look ok at tiny size" and "is clearly lighted"

I won't know for sure that I know where the hole punch is until tomorrow at work. Back in the dark ages it used to be used to punch holes in plans to hang them from plan hanger racks. Plan hanger racks that the company no longer actually has....

#191 ::: Cally Soukup ::: (view all by) ::: August 01, 2012, 07:39 PM:

Cassy @ 189

Honey badger don't care. Honey badger ghosts.

#192 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: August 01, 2012, 07:59 PM:

Cally: If you print 'em, I volunteer to help punch 'em out. :->

#193 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: August 01, 2012, 08:04 PM:

Alternatively, I have (and even know WHERE IT IS!) a drop-knife paper cutter, which works well on sticky label sheets. We could cut squares.

#194 ::: Mary Aileen ::: (view all by) ::: August 01, 2012, 08:09 PM:

Cally (190): I like that one.

#195 ::: Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey ::: (view all by) ::: August 01, 2012, 08:17 PM:

Highly Local News: Area man receives "Draft Panelist Itinerary" from Chicon 7; sources indicate that other panelists will probably hear from concom by Thursday.

#196 ::: Cally Soukup ::: (view all by) ::: August 01, 2012, 08:51 PM:

I've found one other teensy lightbulb I like; THIS one. Lightbulb 2.

To remind you, THIS was Lightbulb 1.

Any preferences?

#197 ::: Mary Aileen ::: (view all by) ::: August 01, 2012, 08:55 PM:

Cally (196): I like the first one better. So does the friend sitting next to me.

#198 ::: Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey ::: (view all by) ::: August 02, 2012, 01:31 AM:

Cally writes in her extremely informative #177:

Efforts are underway to lure food trucks to us, (frankly, I'd be astonished if they didn't succeed unless there's another large group of hungry people that will be in the area!)...

Um, Chicago Jazz Festival?

(But the festival and all its food vendors will be a modest walk away, south of the hotel a few blocks. Yet the may be outside Elise's range, I fear.)

#199 ::: Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey ::: (view all by) ::: August 02, 2012, 01:41 AM:

For a symbol, I like Jacque's suggestion, in #185. I know it won't "read" as well as a simple line graphic. But I like the way it says "Making Light in Chicago" without using any words.

I'd rotate it to put north at the top, though.

I'd prefer Lightbulb 2 to Lightbulb 1. I think the tilt gives it slightly more character.

#200 ::: Cally Soukup ::: (view all by) ::: August 02, 2012, 08:39 AM:

Higgins @198

I completely forgot about the Jazz Festival! On the other hand, it looks like it stops quite early (for jazz), so if the vendors are willing to stay awake we might still get the trucks at 10 or 11 pm. And the 2 hour standing thing, if it applies to wherever they park for the Jazz Festival, might encourage them to mix it up by coming over to us.

Barring a strong response in favor of one lightbulb or the other, I'll print out each lightbulb at scale and see how they look. Lightbulb 1's lineweight might be a bit small for that scale. Or not.

#201 ::: Jacque ::: (view all by) ::: August 02, 2012, 12:16 PM:

Well, since it is the Fluorosphere, if you're gonna go with a lightbulb motif, it should really be something like one of these.

(Why, yes, I do know the meaning of the word "kibbitzing." Why do you ask?)

#202 ::: Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey ::: (view all by) ::: August 02, 2012, 12:30 PM:

Cassy B in #172:

Cally@169, Bill Higgens@170: Sounds fascinating, but I just looked at my calendar and I have an engagement at noon. Which means I have to clear out of the convention by 11:30 on Sunday morning at the very, very latest.

Corner me at an earlier time during the con and I'll show you the slides. Ipads make this easier now.

#203 ::: Cassy B. ::: (view all by) ::: August 02, 2012, 02:29 PM:

Bill Higgins @202: I'm gonna corner you if I need a net. {grin} Seriously, thanks for the offer; I'd really love to get even an abbreviated version of your talk.

#204 ::: Cally Soukup ::: (view all by) ::: August 02, 2012, 07:00 PM:

Jacque: I now have two different incandescents and two different cfls printed out on a piece of label paper: 90 of each design. Looking at the printout, I think we can rule out one of the cfls (it looks rather like an ice cream cone!), but the other might be ok. I'll consult with Elliott tomorrow at Musecon.

Oh, and I found the hole punch.

#205 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: August 02, 2012, 09:26 PM:

HEE HEE HEE doing crafts at a craft con. So appropriate. :->

And I even finished making my (rackafracka grawlix rhubarb rhubarb) diagrams, so I am now Minimally Prepared To Teach. At least, I was until I found out that one of the things I bought for my students to use is incompatible with another of the things I have, so I have to go buy more (of the right one) tomorrow. Argh.

Also, must put PDFs on thumb drive to bring with so can print at-con.

#206 ::: Naomi Kritzer ::: (view all by) ::: August 04, 2012, 12:00 AM:

I have a room reservation at the Hyatt but am looking for a roommate. (The room has two beds -- or it should, anyway, as that's what I requested.) I'm hoping to find a non-smoking, non-snoring (or at least not too loudly snoring) female roommate, if anyone's looking for a room-share...

I went to the MuseCon room party while at WisCon and it was awesome. My younger daughter heard the description of MuseCon and lit up like the homemade blinky I'd made at the party and brought home for her. "It's like someone designed a Con JUST FOR MEEEEEEEEEEEE," she said, ecstatically. Unfortunately, I wasn't really up for back-to-back Chicago trips this year. Maybe next year? (Although it's during the Minnesota Fringe Festival, which is one of my favorite local events. I suppose I could miss a few days of it without too much angst, though.)

#207 ::: Cally Soukup ::: (view all by) ::: August 05, 2012, 10:10 PM:

Despite being sick as a dog the whole Saturday of Musecon, I was able to consult with three Fluorospheans and a Lurker, and a unanimous decision was made on light bulbs. Now I just have to punch them all out....

#208 ::: Serge Broom ::: (view all by) ::: August 05, 2012, 10:31 PM:

I still have 3 lighbulb badges left from the Gathering at Denver's worldcon.

#209 ::: Xopher HalfTongue ::: (view all by) ::: August 05, 2012, 10:51 PM:

Cally, while I'm sorry you were sick and glad a decision was made, it's no excuse for punching out three Fluorospherans and a Lurker!

#210 ::: Serge Broom ::: (view all by) ::: August 06, 2012, 12:17 AM:

coughgagsplutter

#211 ::: Cally Soukup ::: (view all by) ::: August 06, 2012, 12:50 AM:

Oh, darn, you're on to me! My nefarious scheme has been discovered. I guess I have to put away the boxing gloves now....

#212 ::: Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey ::: (view all by) ::: August 06, 2012, 02:24 AM:

Curiosity is safe on Mars.

Which means that someone must start doing homework for a presentation at Chicon...

P.S. The Babbage picture talk was attended by an appreciative audience at Musecon.

#213 ::: Cassy B. ::: (view all by) ::: August 06, 2012, 07:23 AM:

Bill @212: I'm still sorry I missed it, and I promise to mug you for it at some future convention!

#214 ::: Lin Daniel ::: (view all by) ::: August 08, 2012, 09:03 PM:

Elliott @43
Live Action Tetris is also known as "packing to move." I just finished my fourth move in three years, this time 3000 miles away.

I will be at Chicon. I have masquerade duties, and 1632-track duties, but other than that...

#215 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: August 08, 2012, 09:41 PM:

I am on two pieces of programming, both Thursday: at 11:30, I'm hosting the Chicon-2000-songbook singalong, and at 1:30 I'm a panelist on a panel for helping newbies to cons/worldcons budget their time and get the most fun out of the week.

#216 ::: Magenta Griffith ::: (view all by) ::: August 08, 2012, 11:05 PM:

Elliott @215
Could I ask how much the newbie panel will be about cons in general, and how much about worldcons and chicon specifically? I've gone to 20 some Minicons and almost as many Wiscons. I've been to a few large cons, when Minicon got large, and to a couple of CONvergences. Worldcon, no. Should I plan on attending the newbie panel? Or is it for people who haven't been to cons before?

#217 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: August 09, 2012, 09:14 AM:

Magenta Griffith @216: If it were me alone in a room blathering, I'd probably see how much of the audience were con newbies and how many were go-to-cons-but-not-worldcons folks, then tailor appropriately. :-> Some of the advice works just as well for both, with the Worldcon recommendation turned all the way up to WE REALLY MEAN IT levels.

However, I am not the moderator and the other panelists have not communicated with me, so we'll have to see. :->

The main differences between a Worldcon and a CONvergence or Minicon are ones of scale -- which is kind of like saying the main differences between a chihuahua and a mastiff are ones of scale. It is accurate, but not sufficient, because when you scale something like that up far enough, the quantitative differences become qualitative.

For example, for a regional-con newbie panel, I might say, "Be sure to eat. No, really. At least one real-food hot meal each day, WITH vegetables. And budget in time for sleep. I know there's a lot of fun things all night, but if you stay up Friday night you won't be able to stay up Saturday night, so prioritize." Because it's just a weekend, if you're young or don't have to be anywhere the following week you CAN tap yourself completely out at a regular con and still survive.

Worldcons are not survivable on stay-up-all-night, eat-only-consuite-PBJs, run-run-run-run mode. Not. Also, sometimes there's so much programming it can be really heartwrenching to navigate if you're not primed properly with the Rule Of Worldcon:

You will miss something. You may even miss something you are heartbroken to miss. HowEVER, as long as what you were in INSTEAD is ALSO amazing and awesome, you are still having fun! Don't beat yourself up about not seeing two 3- or 4-star (on your personal awesome scale) things because you were in a sparkly rainbow 5-star item instead. You are GOING to miss something, it's Worldcon, you cannot possibly see all of it without a Time-Turner, and I have my doubts even if you're using one.

So, that said, Magenta, please do come to the newbie panel -- as long as you're not missing something else you'll enjoy significantly more to do so. :-> If all else fails, hit me up in the hallways for a private rundown on what was covered.

BTW, any Fluorospherian who anticipates wanting to at-con coordinate with me for any reason, email my gmail address (username: 2ells2tees ) and I will send you my cellphone; texts preferred, though I do voice as well at need.

#218 ::: Mary Aileen ::: (view all by) ::: August 09, 2012, 09:57 AM:

Elliott (217): Did you see my email with my cell number, or should I resend it?

#219 ::: Lori Coulson ::: (view all by) ::: August 09, 2012, 01:33 PM:

Best rule for Worldcon attendees, newbies or not:

Eat at least 2 meals per day, get at least 5 hours of sleep each 24 hours, and 1 shower per day.

I use the shower to wake up, and recommend that one of the meals be a "sit down/relax" type. Oh, and hydration -- hotels and conspace tend to be really dry.

Ways to increase humidity in your hotel room: fill tub with hot water before you go to sleep; place wet towel over the air vent(s); or get one of those nifty miniature cool air humidifiers -- they work off a 16-20 ounce bottle of water.

#220 ::: Lin Daniel ::: (view all by) ::: August 10, 2012, 08:59 PM:

I have it on good authority the "one shower a day" thing was instigated by, or certainly encouraged to be included by, gamers. Having been married to one for over 30 years (he did bathe daily), and thus being immersed in the culture (when I couldn't find some excuse not to), I can believe it.

On a panel at Libertycon, on how to messily destroy zombies, Sarah Hoyt suggested the zombies get covered in Cheeto dust and get tossed into the gamers' room. I haven't laughed that hard in years.

#221 ::: Jacque ::: (view all by) ::: August 13, 2012, 02:18 PM:

Lin Daniel: But doesn't that just spread the zombie virus and cause more zombies? Ones with, like, you know, strategies?

#222 ::: Paul A. ::: (view all by) ::: August 14, 2012, 11:17 AM:

Jacque @ #221:

The idea, as I understand it, is that the gamers will rise up en masse and destroy the zombies for breaching gamer-room etiquette (body odour, handling things with food-coated-hands) before the zombies have a chance to do any serious damage.

#223 ::: Cassy B. ::: (view all by) ::: August 14, 2012, 11:26 AM:

Paul A @ 222, Jacque @221:

I rather got the impression that the gamers would EAT the zombies. (As a gamer myself, I can totally see this...) If it's covered in powdered cheese, it'll be devoured.

Which then leaves Jacque's rather disturbing point....

#224 ::: iamnothing ::: (view all by) ::: August 14, 2012, 11:07 PM:

The program grid PDF has been posted on the Chicon site.

#225 ::: Dawno ::: (view all by) ::: August 14, 2012, 11:13 PM:

A friend of mine and I are taking Amtrak from Los Angeles. Our train leaves Monday and gets into Chicago Wednesday, so it's not the same one Nicole (@ 58) is on :-( Not my first long train trip, but my first out of state & overnight (make that two nights) one.

I would love to meet any other Fluorospherians and will be wearing my bright yellow badge, just in case. Please say hi if you see me! Elliott Mason, please add me to the Thursday dinner list!

#226 ::: elise ::: (view all by) ::: August 15, 2012, 12:55 AM:

Dawno, I'll be getting in on Wednesday as well, and my train is neither the one you're taking nor the one Nicole is on. (And I got a message yesterday that my particular train should expect delays between two and five hours -- but then, it's a notoriously bad stretch of track between Minneapolis and Chicago, and has been for a long time.)

I'd say "Let's see if we all maybe can rendezvous at the train station" but the uncertainties of arrival time make that unworkable. I'm just hoping to arrive on Wednesday, at this point, and get things squared away for a party in my room at some point. (Birthday, and shiny, and so forth.)

#227 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: August 15, 2012, 09:06 AM:

Mary Aileen @218: Sorry about that. Replies sent to everyone I knew had emailed me.

Anyone else wishing to 'rsvp' (ha ha) for the Thursday Night Dinner of Light and receive by return post my cellphone number, please leave a note on gmail's rock, pointed at '2ells2tees', which is me.

#228 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: August 15, 2012, 10:45 AM:

I'm available during the day on Wednesday, if anyone wants me anywhere particular. We could maybe do a walkover of conspace and the local area ... which reminds me, I need to get downtown and restaurant-scout this week. Argh. My in-laws are in town starting Friday; life is crazy.

So glancing at the grid, should we aim to gather (for the Thursday Night Dinner of Light) ca. 4-4:45PM in the hotel lobby (or the hamster tunnel, which is easier to find as there's only one of them) or somewhere, there to troop off south and dinnerwards to Lou Malnati's at 805 S State, and thence later to the Adler?

Current list of maybe-probably-attendings, as culled from this thread:

Provisionally yes:

Cally Soukup

Christopher Davis

janetl

Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little

elise

Mary Aileen

Fragano Ledgister

Paula Helm Murray
Serge Broom
Mea
Jeremy Preacher


Provisionally maybe:

Michael I

Paula Helm Murray

iamnothing

fidelio

If timing is close for people who want to go, I can acquire several spare preloaded-with-$5 CTA farecards for the to-dinner and dinner-to-Adler legs, so you don't have to find somewhere to buy one (or deal with cash fares, a serious PITA). Let me know. Similarly, if someone in the party has trouble walking a block or two (and won't be getting a scooter from Chicon), let me know and I can see if I can refigure things.

#229 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: August 15, 2012, 10:51 AM:

I'm available during the day on Wednesday, if anyone wants me anywhere particular. We could maybe do a walkover of conspace and the local area ... which reminds me, I need to get downtown and restaurant-scout this week. Argh. My in-laws are in town starting Friday; life is crazy.

So glancing at the grid, should we aim to gather (for the Thursday Night Dinner of Light) ca. 4-4:45PM in the hotel lobby (or the hamster tunnel, which is easier to find as there's only one of them) or somewhere, there to troop off south and dinnerwards to Lou Malnati's at 805 S State, and thence later to the Adler?

Current list of maybe-probably-attendings, as culled from this thread:

Provisionally yes:

Cally Soukup

Christopher Davis

janetl

Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little

elise

Mary Aileen

Fragano Ledgister

Paula Helm Murray
Serge Broom
Mea
Jeremy Preacher


Provisionally maybe:

Michael I

Paula Helm Murray

iamnothing

fidelio

If timing is close for people who want to go, I can acquire several spare preloaded-with-$5 CTA farecards for the to-dinner and dinner-to-Adler legs, so you don't have to find somewhere to buy one (or deal with cash fares, a serious PITA). Let me know. Similarly, if someone in the party has trouble walking a block or two (and won't be getting a scooter from Chicon), let me know and I can see if I can refigure things.

#230 ::: Cassy B. ::: (view all by) ::: August 15, 2012, 10:55 AM:

Elliott Mason @227: I'll be commuting to the con on Thursday, so I don't honestly know whether I'll be able to join the dinner or not. *IF* I do, there will be two of us; myself and my husband. (You know him; "Squirrel" with the beard.) I'm commuting Thursday and Monday to save money, but that means that how late I'll be there on Thursday (and Monday) is an open question.

#231 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: August 15, 2012, 11:02 AM:

I'm available during the day on Wednesday, if anyone wants me anywhere particular. We could maybe do a walkover of conspace and the local area ... which reminds me, I need to get downtown and restaurant-scout this week. Argh. My in-laws are in town starting Friday; life is crazy.

So glancing at the grid, should we aim to gather (for the Thursday Night Dinner of Light) ca. 4-4:45PM in the hotel lobby (or the hamster tunnel, which is easier to find as there's only one of them) or somewhere, there to troop off south and dinnerwards to Lou Malnati's at 805 S State, and thence later to the Adler?

Current list of maybe-probably-attendings, as culled from this thread:

Provisionally yes:

Cally Soukup

Christopher Davis

janetl

Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little

elise

Mary Aileen

Fragano Ledgister

Paula Helm Murray
Serge Broom
Mea
Jeremy Preacher


Provisionally maybe:

Michael I

Paula Helm Murray

iamnothing

fidelio

If timing is close for people who want to go, I can acquire several spare preloaded-with-$5 CTA farecards for the to-dinner and dinner-to-Adler legs, so you don't have to find somewhere to buy one (or deal with cash fares, a serious PITA). Let me know. Similarly, if someone in the party has trouble walking a block or two (and won't be getting a scooter from Chicon), let me know and I can see if I can refigure things.

#232 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: August 15, 2012, 11:03 AM:

Cassy B.: You may as well aim to meet us at the restaurant if you can, then; you can call or text me closer to the exact moment. Or just go straight to the Adler for funtiems and we'll see you there?

#233 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: August 15, 2012, 11:04 AM:

WOW multiposts when I thought it hadn't posted even once. There was a doozy of an Internal Server Error after it hung for about ten minutes post-pressing-Post.

#234 ::: Cassy B. ::: (view all by) ::: August 15, 2012, 11:05 AM:

Elliott, sounds like a plan to me.

#235 ::: Elliott Mason got gnomed ::: (view all by) ::: August 15, 2012, 11:05 AM:

... while apologizing for multiple posts. Oh well. :->

[We gnomes look askance at any post that has WOW in all-caps. These are often from folks who are selling World of Warcraft Gold for folding cash. Morico Necnao, Duty Gnome]

#236 ::: Michael I ::: (view all by) ::: August 15, 2012, 12:44 PM:

Eliot Mason@231

Unfortunately I won't be able to make it at that time. My flight isn't scheduled to land until 6:10 pm.

#237 ::: Mary Aileen ::: (view all by) ::: August 15, 2012, 01:26 PM:

Elliott: Sounds good to me. We should specify which end of the hamster tunnel, if that's the meeting place. I vote for meeting somewhere that there is seating for people who get there early. Near hotel registration, in the upper lobby in the East tower?

Am I understanding correctly that the restaurant is not walking distance from the Hyatt? I'll need one of those fare cards, in that case.

I'll be helping set up the Art Show all day Wednesday (and Tuesday afternoon, and Thursday morning). Anyone else who's around then, feel free to come find me and maybe arrange lunch or dinner or whatever.

#238 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: August 15, 2012, 07:31 PM:

Repeating the thread to itself to acknowledge and crystallize: Gathering 'in front of' con registration sounds like a really, really good plan, orienteering-wise.

My current plan is to use CTA to get from the hotel to the restaurant, and then from the restaurant to the museum. Each leg is a single bus trip of 10-15 minutes (plus up to 15min waiting), max walk about two blocks (less than 1/4 mile), on flat even pavement with ramps.

Looks like 12 'yes, probably' respondents (including myself); I will probably pad when I call the restaurant the day before, so we have enough space set aside at a Huge Table in case a few congenial people turn up who hadn't RSVPed.

What is the policy for people whom I know personally to be good dinner companions, if I run across them on Thursday? Are people who don't actually read ML (but would probably like it if they did) addable, in penny numbers, or should we close off attendance?

Also, if anyone on the 'probably' list has programming in the to-4:30 block they really REALLY want to go to, we can wait till that's done; otherwise my preference would be trying to leave the hotel right about 4:30 to make sure we have time for a leisurely dinner AND a leisurely, fun perusal of planetarium goodness. Timing input gladly solicited.

#239 ::: Mary Aileen ::: (view all by) ::: August 15, 2012, 07:47 PM:

Elliott Mason (238): In front of con registration, or hotel registration? They're several floors apart; hotel registration is the one above ground near the hamster tunnel.

#240 ::: Paula Helm Murray ::: (view all by) ::: August 15, 2012, 07:50 PM:

Elliott, I will be using a scooter as I doubt I will have even received my prosthetic before I leave KC due to a pesky wound that is taking it's own sweet time to heal.

I may just meet and greet, then see y'all again at the planetarium. This whole thing is making the convention much more fraught with anxiety for me than originally planned (when I thought I was going to have had my leg for more than three weeks and using it as full time as possible.)

We'll see what plays out, I'm working things out day by day, and as needed. Thank you for all your planning though And see you all in what, 15 days?

#241 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: August 15, 2012, 08:04 PM:

Paula: If it helps any, all CTA busses are kneelable and capable of carrying scooters comfortably. I don't know about that Lou Malnati's location, but it's brand new construction and on the first floor, so I can ask when I make the reservation.

You can certainly decide on the day-of how you feel about it. :->

#242 ::: Paula Helm Murray ::: (view all by) ::: August 15, 2012, 08:27 PM:

Elliott, I had no idea. KC does not have every bus on every line that can accommodate anything, you're stuck with what comes to the bus stop.

If it is easier still, I WLL, because of all this, have my little 'regular' wheelchair, which I'm pretty confident with (I was using it at work, it will come with me to Chicago). I'm good for longer distances with that than with a walker....

Maybe we CAN do this. It is saving a dark mood, THANK YOU!!!

#243 ::: Michael I ::: (view all by) ::: August 16, 2012, 07:30 AM:

Does anyone know what time the con registration closes on Thursday evening?

#244 ::: Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey ::: (view all by) ::: August 16, 2012, 08:24 AM:

Michael I in #43:

According to internal documents I am allowed to see, registration will be open:

Noon to 4 PM on Tuesday, 28 August
8 AM to 5 PM Wednesday
8 AM to 8 PM the rest of the weekend
8 AM to noon on Monday, 3 September.

#245 ::: Lori Coulson ::: (view all by) ::: August 16, 2012, 11:04 AM:

Paula Helm Murray @240:

Noted you've got a wound that's not healing as quickly as you'd like -- look into Wound Honey.

I use it on cat scratches, as the local 'mese grow dagger-length claws. It cuts the healing time in half, and is supposed to be good against MRSA.

#246 ::: Lori Coulson ::: (view all by) ::: August 16, 2012, 11:07 AM:

Paula Helm Murray @240:

Noted you've got a wound that's not healing as quickly as you'd like -- look into Wound Honey.

I use it on cat scratches, as the local 'mese grow dagger-length claws. It cuts the healing time in half, and is supposed to be good against MRSA.

#247 ::: Paula Helm Murray ::: (view all by) ::: August 16, 2012, 11:28 AM:

Lori, Thanks. We are 99% healed (imagine a skinned knee, a really bad skinned knee). The problem is it has to be DRY to wear the prosthetic for various reasons, It's a process and I'm being impatient because I've been off the leg since May 14, when I was admitted to hospital.

I wanna be walking again. (and I did when we did the test socket for my leg, i was able to take strides without holding on!)

#248 ::: Magenta Griffith ::: (view all by) ::: August 16, 2012, 12:16 PM:

Elliott Mason @228 etc
I just looked at the restaurant website and they have gluten free pizza. Please put Martin Summerton and Magenta Griffith down as provisionally going.
We could use bus passes for this if you still have them; I plan to take lots of singles and change just in case. Singles are good for tipping the maids. (Not at all like cow-tipping)

#249 ::: Lori Coulson ::: (view all by) ::: August 16, 2012, 12:40 PM:

Paula -- I can sympathize with wanting to be mobile. I've only had to stay off a leg for 48 hours when I tore up my ankle ligaments, and that presented more challenges than I'd ever been aware of...hang in there.

But, yeah, with a prosthetic, you definitely have to be all healed up. Sending you positive energy that everything heals quickly!

I'm just impressed with the honey because I went from deep puncture to scab flaking off in 72 hours. Most of my cat scratches take at least a week to heal.

#250 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: August 16, 2012, 01:42 PM:

Thursday Night Gathering of Light periodic summary

Provisionally yes:


Cally Soukup


Christopher Davis


janetl


Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little


elise


Mary Aileen


Fragano Ledgister


Paula Helm Murray
Serge Broom
Mea
Jeremy Preacher
Martin Summerton
Magenta Griffith
(14, incl El)

Provisionally maybe:


Paula Helm Murray


iamnothing


fidelio

Passes needed:
Martin Summerton
Magenta Griffith
Mary Aileen

Gather near HOTEL registration (one level above ground, at one end of the Hamster Tunnel that crosses the street between the towers) after 4 but definitely before 5 -- further refining of time period is needed. Actual Departure-to-Bus-Stop Time remains to be determined.

We will proceed in a lovely crocodile/flock downstairs and out to the bus stop at Stetson and Wacker; bus to Lou Malnati's at 805 S State St. The maximum walk of the trip is between bus and restaurant (~2 blocks). Dinner ensues. Back out to the street for a bus to the Adler. Convention is running Adler -> Hyatt shuttles for return leg.

I will acquire as many preloaded bus passes as people pre-reg for ($5 each) plus a couple; a day or two ahead I will call the restaurant and make a reservation for, likewise, as many as are RSVP'ed plus some slosh room.

I need to examine the availables and decide what i'm going to bring to be Very Visible, in a tourguidey 'not losing anyone' kind of way. I have a rainbow-striped umbrella that would probably work, but might be cumbersome to carry about afterwards.

#251 ::: Elliott Mason got gnomed ::: (view all by) ::: August 16, 2012, 01:42 PM:

Not sure what I did; probably punctuational or something of the sort that sets off the automated watchdogs. Hello, sentient error-checkers! :->


[We gnomes get twitchy when we see the word I'm spelled without its capital letter. The word Hello followed by a comma is also a... thing with us. -- Emron M'Corno, Duty Gnome]

#252 ::: Elliott Mason got gnomed ::: (view all by) ::: August 16, 2012, 01:43 PM:

while reporting having been gnomed.

#253 ::: Dawno ::: (view all by) ::: August 16, 2012, 04:17 PM:

Elliott @ 250, please add Dawno to the list! Elise @ 226, our train is scheduled to arrive at 3:15, I'd be happy to hang out and go with you to the hotel if the timing is even slightly close.

#254 ::: iamnothing ::: (view all by) ::: August 16, 2012, 04:24 PM:

Elliott @250: There is a 4:30 panel I want to see. How late will you all be at Lou Malnati's? I could go on my own, given explicit directions (bus #, which way to go after getting off bus), if there's enough time.

#255 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: August 16, 2012, 04:56 PM:

I expect dinner to take at minimum two hours, given the givens of conversation and waiting for food to be prepared, etc.

I picked my bus route by going to Google Maps, asking it for directions (via transit) from the Hyatt Regency Chicago to 805 South State Street (note, SOUTH -- not North; you should be going south from the hotel), and told it when in the day I wanted to leave and on what day of the week. You can do the same, iamnothing, if online mapping works for you; if not, I can certainly talk you through it.

#256 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: August 16, 2012, 09:06 PM:

Adding to my accumulated WTFery about this convention, I just got PR#4 in the mail. It was mailed yesterday.

Internal evidence from the content implies that the BOOKLET thinks I should have gotten it in April or May -- is that when you guys got them, and I'm just weird, or did EVERYONE get something in mid-August telling us to fill out the included Hugo ballot and get it back before July 31st?

#257 ::: elise ::: (view all by) ::: August 16, 2012, 11:21 PM:

Dawno, my train is allegedly arriving at 3:55, but I'm betting heavily against it. They'll probably have something up on the board about it when you get there; my guess is three hours late, though I'd love to be wrong. If it's on time, that would be very cool to see you there, if you don't mind a forty minute wait. (Wouldn't blame you a bit if you did, after coming so far yourself and all, of course!)

Elliott, may I sign up for one of those preloaded bus passes, please?

#258 ::: Fragano Ledgister ::: (view all by) ::: August 17, 2012, 09:29 AM:

Elliott Mason #250: Just to note that I will be accompanied by my wife, Gail.

#259 ::: John A Arkansawyer ::: (view all by) ::: August 17, 2012, 10:34 AM:

So my brilliant and talented wife, who lurks here, is being sent to Chicon for her birthday. (It was a bit of a surprise to her till a few minutes ago, but now I'm coming clean.) She may be looking for a roommate. She's housebroken a non-smoker and snores very quietly. Or she might take your room off your hands if you can't attend. Let me know and I'll help you make the connection.

#260 ::: Lin Daniel ::: (view all by) ::: August 17, 2012, 06:10 PM:

Add 2 provisionally for dinner.
I'm looking forward to being part of the crocodile/flock!

#261 ::: Mary Aileen ::: (view all by) ::: August 17, 2012, 06:17 PM:

Elliott Mason (256): PR4 was supposed to be mailed in the spring (and I got mine then). I believe PR5 has just gone out, although I haven't seen it yet. Very odd.

#262 ::: Syd ::: (view all by) ::: August 17, 2012, 07:19 PM:

Lin Daniel @ 260, may I suggest...

Crocoflock?!

#263 ::: iamnothing ::: (view all by) ::: August 17, 2012, 08:12 PM:

Lin Daniel @260: Crocodile/flock sounds like a filk on an Elton John song.

#264 ::: Lin Daniel ::: (view all by) ::: August 17, 2012, 08:13 PM:

Syd #262
FlockedCroc?

#265 ::: Mary Aileen ::: (view all by) ::: August 17, 2012, 08:37 PM:

Now I'm trying to envision a flock of crocodiles.

#266 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: August 17, 2012, 10:11 PM:

I remember that Thursday night
When the Fluorosphere went and made light
Eating pizza and shooting the breeze
Heading south from Chicon down to Lou Malnati's!
But the biggest group we ever got
Left the hotel in a crocodile/flock ...

#267 ::: elise ::: (view all by) ::: August 17, 2012, 10:51 PM:

We met up between four and five o'clock
And went out for dinner in a crocodile flock

Well, crocodile flocking is something shocking
Where we go and catch a bus
We ride it down to a dinner joint where they are expecting us
Oh, the menu they have at Lou's
They got bruschetta, pizza too,
The only trouble we'll have is how to choooooooose....

#268 ::: Cally Soukup ::: (view all by) ::: August 19, 2012, 04:56 PM:

El:

I could use a CTA card too, please. While I haven't gotten confirmation that I'll be able to take Thursday evening off from the consuite, I'm going to plan as if I can.

#269 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: August 20, 2012, 06:33 PM:

Well, four of you pass-needers are going to luck out, because I got an online coupon offer to sell me CTA 3-day passes (good for 72 hours of as-many-rides-as-you-care-to-take) for $5 each, so four of the passes I'll have on hand will be those. The rest will contain $5 of transit value.

#270 ::: Michael I ::: (view all by) ::: August 20, 2012, 06:47 PM:

A question about getting from session to session at Chicon.

Suppose I'm planning to attend a specific session and am considering alternatives for the next session, should I restrict myself to:

1) The next session in the same room
2) Sessions in "nearby" rooms on the same floor
3) Sessions in any room on the same floor
4) Sessions in the same tower
5) Something else (please specify)

I want to be able to get to the next session without missing the beginning of the session.

(If it matters, my usual walking pace may be a little faster than average.)

#271 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: August 20, 2012, 07:09 PM:

Floors joined by escalators or stairs (at a distance you're willing to take the stairs for) should be considered 'closer' than floors you'd need to use an elevator for, because at conventions the elevators are ALWAYS full and slow, and I have yet to be at a con where at least one elevator didn't break down and need repair (being, of course, out of commission until then).

Anywhere you need to elevator to is 'farther' than the same distance via stairs or escalator.

#272 ::: Jacque ::: (view all by) ::: August 21, 2012, 11:49 AM:

Michael I @270: For cases where two panels you want to see occur at the same time.

#273 ::: Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey ::: (view all by) ::: August 21, 2012, 02:25 PM:

In #220, Michael I writes:

Suppose I'm planning to attend a specific session and am considering alternatives for the next session...

I might sidestep these questions by pointing out that most program items are scheduled to be 75 minutes long in 90-minute slots-- the concom has anticipated your question by leaving you time to travel to a distant room before the next event.

A more satisfactory answer might involve a look at both the Hyatt's standard map and Eemeli Aro's marvelous customized map of Chicon, the latter of which is more useful. It identifies the Riverside Center in faint letters, naming it "Dealers" in bolder letters; faint for the "Plaza Ballroom" but bold for "Filk," and so forth.

One can cross between the towers three ways: a skyway above the street on the blue level, a walk across Stetson Avenue on the green level, or a tunnel on the brown level. (Using the latter, as you enter the west tower, you see nothing but escalators; all the interesting west-tower destinations are either up or down from the brown level.)

Here are the HTML version of the program and an 8-page PDF of the program grid. All subject to change, of course-- two of my own items have already changed since this schedule was posted, and I've been dropped from a third.

Here's the 170-page pocket program PDF.

Another aid to navigation might be the Chicon 7 smartphone apps. The Android version is available free in the Google Play store, and I anticipate that the Iphone/Ipad versions will appear soon at the Apple app store. It's recommended that you use Wifi to download these, as there are big databases involved, upon which your cellphone data path might choke.

(I expect this post will come to the attention of the Gnomes shortly. Every link is worthwhile, I assure you.)

#274 ::: fidelio ::: (view all by) ::: August 21, 2012, 04:02 PM:

Elliott--Please put both me and the elusive Stringwoman down as definites; we'll be picking up transit passes on our own earlier in the day, I believe.

#275 ::: Cally Soukup ::: (view all by) ::: August 21, 2012, 09:09 PM:

1 cm diameter lightbulb stickers have now been punched out. 90 of them. I can't decide on whether or not to make some more; 90 will be more than enough, but not enough to give everyone a few to give to others they run into....

#276 ::: Paula Helm Murray ::: (view all by) ::: August 21, 2012, 09:31 PM:

I'm still being up in the air about dinner plans.

BUT I am also hoping to ghu or FSM or something that the elevators hold out because I cannot take stairs right now.

#277 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: August 22, 2012, 01:33 PM:

Bill Higgins @273: That fan-made custom map is indeed wonderful, but it only prints worth a darn if you save it as an image (not a pdf) and pump the saturation to the max so you can see what color all those pale parts are. Also I turned 'highlights' all the way down in Preview; I'm not sure what that is in a real image editor, but it made it much easier to see. My resulting higher-contrast, more-polychrome .jpg is about 800K; if anyone wants a copy, ask via the gmails, addressed to 2ells2tees.

Periodic Thursday Night Dinner summary/echo:

Provisionally yes:

Cally Soukup

Christopher Davis

janetl

Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little

elise

Mary Aileen

Fragano Ledgister
Gail

Paula Helm Murray
Serge Broom
Mea
Jeremy Preacher
Dawno
Lin Daniel (2)
fidelio
Stringwoman

Provisionally maybe:

Michael I

Paula Helm Murray

iamnothing


Passes needed:
Martin Summerton
Magenta Griffith
Mary Aileen
Cally Soukup

Meeting up on 30 Aug 2012 by 4:30 on the Blue Level of the East Tower of the Hyatt, right where the hamster-tunnel joins on -- this is the same side as the hotel front desk, the 'left' side in both maps linked by Bill Higgins. If anyone has a problem with a 4:35-ish step-off (well, step-down-to-street-level, whatever), chime in now so changes can still be communicated. Proceeding via CTA bus to Lou Malnati's at 805 S State Street (note: 'South' is important in that address), and after dinner continuing on to the Adler, also via CTA bus. Longest walk appx 1/4mi; all movement is flat and level or contains ramps.

Current (timey-wimey, approximate 'guidelines') counts: 17 dinner-ers, 4 CTA farecards needed.

If anyone wants my cellphone number for coordination at-con (either for this dinner or any other reason), inquire at the address mentioned above the list of participants.

#278 ::: Lin Daniel ::: (view all by) ::: August 22, 2012, 06:00 PM:

Elliott, my provisional second is The Wombat. Given that so many things we do depends on his health and energy levels, I should put us in the provisional maybe category. How soon would you need to know for reservations' sake?

#279 ::: Michael I ::: (view all by) ::: August 22, 2012, 08:19 PM:

Elliot Mason@277

I won't be able to attend Thursday night dinner. My plane isn't scheduled to arrive until 6:10 pm.

#280 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: August 22, 2012, 09:46 PM:

278-9: I'm being timey-wimey, so. I plan to call Lou's and make a reservation for 3-5 more people than I have in my 'provisionally yes' category, on say Tuesday of that week. If we end up several people lower than I told them, no problem; if we end up 15 over, that will be more problematic. :->

So for the purposes of these lists, 'provisionally yes' means you'd really like to but something might intervene (Lin and the Wombat's situation precisely), and 'provisionally maybe' means you're dubious of your ability to come but would like to if the stars align.

#281 ::: Mea ::: (view all by) ::: August 22, 2012, 10:08 PM:

My life is interfering with my ability to plan. I'm now a provisional maybe...

#282 ::: janetl ::: (view all by) ::: August 23, 2012, 01:24 AM:

Elliott Mason @ 280: My husband will be with me, so that's an additional count. Thanks!

#283 ::: Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey ::: (view all by) ::: August 23, 2012, 02:37 AM:

My Chicon schedule, illustrated.

Briefly:

Ozma Plus 50: My Week Among the Searchers for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
Kaffeeklatsch: Bill Higgins
Heinlein`s Ambassador to the Atom: Robert A. Cornog, Physicist
Curiosity: The Mars Science Laboratory
Inner Space vs. Outer Space

Yes, I have a kaffeeklatsch. Friday at 1:30.* Anyone want to converse with me? (Is it pathetic to ask?)

*The pocket program disagrees with this time, but it is already outdated.

#284 ::: Lin Daniel ::: (view all by) ::: August 23, 2012, 08:41 PM:

Elliott, then Wombat and I are provisionally yes. Even if I can't make it, I would like to see the flocked croc move out the door and down the street.

#285 ::: Jennifer Barber ::: (view all by) ::: August 25, 2012, 06:59 AM:

I keep going back and forth, since I've realised there's a good chance I won't be up to Dealing With People, but based on the definitions above, go ahead and put me down as provisionally yes. Maybe I'll at least be capable of sitting quietly in the corner and eating while everyone else does the social thing.

#286 ::: iamnothing ::: (view all by) ::: August 25, 2012, 05:55 PM:

Elliott @ 266: That's perfect.

I haven't been able to get google maps to work yet; I'll have to try the library computer on Monday. Assuming I can get to Lou Malnati's promptly (i.e. no long bus wait), you can count me as yes.

BTW, I sent you an email a while back, if I got the address right.

#287 ::: Kevin Riggle ::: (view all by) ::: August 25, 2012, 10:02 PM:

I find myself in possession of a spare double bed at the overflow hotel, Wednesday through Tuesday. I'm a nonsmoker and quiet except for the CPAP machine, which produces minor white noise. (I'm a cyborg; I need to be plugged in at night.)

If you or anyone you know is looking for a room to share, please ping me -- my e-mail address is available through my web site, linked above.

Reading back in the thread--- shoot, I have a panel at exactly the time of the dinner. Well, I'm sure I will see you all around the convention!

#288 ::: Fragano Ledgister ::: (view all by) ::: August 26, 2012, 12:08 AM:

Bill Higgins #283: Is that O130 or 1330?

#289 ::: Serge Broom ::: (view all by) ::: August 26, 2012, 08:30 AM:

Bill Higgins @ 283... 1:30pm on Friday? Good to know.

#290 ::: Mary Dell ::: (view all by) ::: August 27, 2012, 07:04 PM:

It looks like I will be able to do a couple of days of the con, yay, hopefully including the Thursday evening dinner (Elliot, I can be booted if there is no room - I work near the loop so it's not a problem for me to come and then go). Bill, I'm putting your kaffeeklatsch in my calendar. I expect I'll be at the con during the day on Friday and for day & evening Saturday.

#291 ::: Kathryn in Sunnyvale ::: (view all by) ::: August 27, 2012, 07:27 PM:

HLN: coincidentally, bayarea woman will be in Chicago on Wednesday afternoon- just for 2 hours at the airport, en-route onwards for a vacation. It was either Chicon and a short roadtrip, or a longer and more scenic roadtrip. We took the one we'd travel more on, and that made the difference.

#292 ::: elise ::: (view all by) ::: August 27, 2012, 08:32 PM:

I'm in the early stages of packing for Chicon, and am putting a note here to remind myself to pack the duck on a string that Bart Patton mailed to me before Fourth Street, and also to offer chances to anybody who wants to hold the duck on a string in a hallway at the convention. (As many no doubt recall, we had a topic that mentioned in passing the holding of ducks on strings at conventions a while back, written by our esteemed TNH, and apparently it got Bart all inspired. This kind of thing happens.)

I'm looking forward to the dinner expedition on Thursday, if all goes well.

Also, there's going to be a bit of a little get-together in my room on Saturday at 10 p.m. so that I can give certain shinies to some people who are picking them up at the convention. It's not going to be any great huge deal of a party or anything -- probably just an hour of sitting around amiably waiting for various folks to come by -- but if anybody's curious about seeing in person what I've been working on, throw me an email and I'll give you information on how to find me. There are a few of you I haven't seen in person for either far too long or, like, ever.

And I hope to see Bill Higgins at some point in the convention, whether it's at the kaffeklatch or whatever. A day with Bill Higgins' smile in it is a fine day; that's what I say.

#293 ::: Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey ::: (view all by) ::: August 27, 2012, 10:40 PM:

Announcement: As suggested in #273, the Chicon 7 app for Apple devices, a product of Viafo, Inc., has appeared in the App Store. (The Android version has been on the streets for a while.)

This hooks to a database that includes hotel maps, program schedule, and program participants. There are hooks to Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr. A "My Program" feature allows a user to build day-by-day lists of selected program items.

I understand that this app descends from one developed for Renovation last year.

Last year's version depended upon a real-time data link to function. This year's downloads the database once, then operates happily offline, which ought to be useful in the bowels of a hotel or in what I might call "WiFi cold spots." Presumably it downloads any program changes when it gets a good data link.

We are warned that the programs, pardon me, apps run slowly on some phones-- indeed, Chicon7 is downright sluggish on my LG Optimus S running Android 2.3.3. However, the IOS version seems quite satisfactory on my Ipad 2 (based on a brief exploration). Will have to try it out away from a signal.

It is a fine thing to make available, and a realization of a long-held techie daydream. Worldcon schedule, updated wirelessly, displayed dynamically in the palms of our hands! Egoboo to those who toiled to create it.

Now let's resume work on the Tucker Hotel.

#294 ::: Magenta Griffith ::: (view all by) ::: August 27, 2012, 10:43 PM:

Bill @293
Okay, what is the Tucker Hotel?

#295 ::: Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey ::: (view all by) ::: August 27, 2012, 10:56 PM:

Serge #289: That may solve my "when am I going to see Serge?" problem.

Mary #290: I'll be pleased to see you again if you are able to make it.

Elise #292: I blush to think that you singled me out. So many people to see at a Worldcon! I like your smile, too. One way or another, we will meet again, and soon.

#296 ::: Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey ::: (view all by) ::: August 27, 2012, 11:09 PM:

Magenta in #294: The Tucker Hotel is a faannish in-joke dating from before I was born. It remains a nice idea.

The scheme for a fannish hotel was hatched about 1952 when hotel prices began climbing after the expiration of price controls. A room that cost $5 last year suddenly jumped to $8 and then to $10 the next year. Fans were outraged of course because those rooms contained the same pictures and the same wallpaper as in years past. I began a campaign to build our own hotel and move it from city to city — wherever the next convention was being held. Rooms would remain at $5 per night and the hotel staff would have to pass inspection by the fans to obtain and keep their jobs. [...]
Some clever joker in Minneapolis fandom began a mail campaign to send me bricks — bricks to build the hotel and be responsible for its moving and storage. I had a post-office box at the time and over a period of a year or so I received about 60 bricks in parcel post packages. I stored them behind my garage for safekeeping. And then another joker in Minneapolis fandom capped the joke by denouncing me as a brick-hoarder — he urged fans to send me straw to make my own bricks. Many envelopes stuff with straw arrived in the mail. Fans are an inventive lot.

#297 ::: Steven desJardins ::: (view all by) ::: August 28, 2012, 06:30 AM:

Put me down as a Yes for the Thursday night dinner, and apologies for not catching up on the thread before this.

#298 ::: Jacque ::: (view all by) ::: August 28, 2012, 05:20 PM:

Bill Higgins @293: Now let's resume work on the Tucker Hotel.

And get the damn TeleCon portal up and running. (I would cheerfully pay the whole at the door attending membership to be able to Skype into panels and/or parties. Or even just hook up to streaming video.)

(Can you tell I have a bad case of nose-pressed-against-glass?)

#299 ::: Cassy B. ::: (view all by) ::: August 28, 2012, 05:25 PM:

I'll be commuting to the convention on Thursday and on Monday in a possibly futile attempt to save some money. My husband has bad knees and hips, so long walks are not particularly pleasant. Anyone have any parking advice?

#300 ::: janetl ::: (view all by) ::: August 28, 2012, 07:15 PM:

Argh! I won't be able to make it to the restaurant in time after all. Please take me off of the list. I'll look for you all at the con!

I just got the Final details for your trip email from Expedia, and the United flight on Thursday has changed and is now 2.5 hours later than I'd booked. I won't get to the airport until 5:15.

Hunting through my inbox, I find an email that Gmail categorized as a Notification that told me about this awhile ago. The email was unread. I probably messed up, but there is another possible explanation, dang it. Awhile ago, I noticed that I wasn't getting some newsletters that I usually did. After hunting, I figured out that Gmail had started categorizing mail and putting some categories directly into folders without ever displaying them in my inbox. I turned off the "move the email" step, and hunted around for things I missed...but I probably missed the "United has cancelled your 9:00 flight and put you on an 11:30 one" email back when it might have been possible to do something about it. Today, changing to another airline would be very expensive.

sigh

#301 ::: Serge Broom ::: (view all by) ::: August 28, 2012, 07:27 PM:

janetl @ 300... Curses!

#302 ::: Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little ::: (view all by) ::: August 28, 2012, 09:53 PM:

Waiting in Denver for my train to arrive, so I can get on it. Despite its nearly being 2 hours late arriving here, the ever-optimistic Amtrak.com estimates a 17-minute-early arrival into Chicago tomorrow.

I look forward to the Thursday dinner, the Saturday duck-on-string festivities, and ever so many other wonderful happy fun times.

(I am also bringing one extra bag, the one with all my skate stuff in it, out of yet more unrealistic optimism that I shall find a derby league to drop in on for a practice without, hopefully, sacrificing any WorldCon programming or partying that I'm attached to. The Chicago Outfit actually specifically welcome visitors from out of town, right there on their home page. I have sent them an email.)

#303 ::: Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little ::: (view all by) ::: August 28, 2012, 10:03 PM:

Speaking of 'em, I'm having trouble finding the process for signing up for Kaffeeklatsches -- "We will have complete information on how to sign-up on the Website closer to the convention" appears still to be the last word on the subject. That I can find, anyway. Is anyone in the know and cares to share?

#304 ::: Xopher HalfTongue ::: (view all by) ::: August 28, 2012, 10:38 PM:

I'm arriving late-ish Thursday.

#305 ::: David Goldfarb ::: (view all by) ::: August 29, 2012, 02:26 AM:

The traditional method of signing up for a kaffeeklatsch is that on the morning of the day, they put out a clipboard with a signup sheet somewhere, and you go put your name on.

#306 ::: Kevin Riggle ::: (view all by) ::: August 29, 2012, 02:39 AM:

Spare double bed still available, in case you or anyone you know is making last-minute plans.

#307 ::: Serge Broom ::: (view all by) ::: August 29, 2012, 10:08 AM:

At the risk of asking for something that's already been explained... What is the distance between the con center and Malnati's?

#308 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: August 29, 2012, 05:03 PM:

Serge #307: Lou Malnati's is at 805 S State, meaning it is 8 miles south of the cartesian zero/zero point for Chicago (the intersections of State and Madison). I forget what hundred north the river is right there, but I think it's on the order of .5 to 1 mile, so straight-line distance from the hotel to Lou's is on the order of 1.5-2mi, as the crow flies.

#309 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: August 29, 2012, 05:10 PM:

I was going to have already made the reservation. Since I have a timey-wimey 19 (minus janetl, plus MaryDell, etc), I'm going to make it a nice round 24, and if we disappoint them, we disappoint them; I'm pretty sure any 15+ dinner party already makes the whole night a win, as far as the restaurant is concerned.

... having now called them, they "don't take reservations." When I expressed worry that perhaps we might overwhelm them if we gave them no warning, she said I could call their manager at 11 tomorrow morning to give him an advance warning of incoming avalanche, so I shall do that. :-> I just need to remember to program the number into my phone before bed tonight.

#310 ::: Xopher HalfTongue ::: (view all by) ::: August 29, 2012, 05:46 PM:

Looks like Peter Sagal (of Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me fame) is planning to be at Chicon.

#311 ::: Xopher HalfTongue gnomed ::: (view all by) ::: August 29, 2012, 05:47 PM:

Twitter link. I forgot. Sorry, gnomes. I have some roasted red-pepper hummus if you want.

#312 ::: Cassy B. ::: (view all by) ::: August 29, 2012, 07:07 PM:

Xopher @310: Cool. I've been to a live show; it was hysterically funny. Two hours plus of hilarity somehow squeezed into a little less than an hour with clever editing. (Ok, well, all the hamster and gerbil jokes hit the cutting-room floor; it's a FAMILY show, after all....)

Bruce Campbell was the guest. Alas, by phone, not in person.

After Sagal did the opening-and-announcing-of-guest-stars, he looked out at us in the audience and said, straight-faced, "Now we sit around and do nothing for eight minutes while they do the news." (Maybe it was funnier in person....)

Cassy

#313 ::: Serge Broom ::: (view all by) ::: August 29, 2012, 07:44 PM:

Elliott Mason @ 308... Strange. I thought I had posted a response to that. Anyway... 1.5-2mi, as the crow flies, sounds reasonable, even though I don't fly unassisted. Or is it 8 miles as the crow walks? If I'm not at the rallying point at 4:30, I'll catch up eventually.

#314 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: August 29, 2012, 08:50 PM:

Serge Broom @313 and others (those not already incommunicado): Here are some documents that might help you find your way. Some google docs, specifically; I hope that's accessible enough. They should be 'publically viewable', even if you don't have a google identity.

Bus timetable, CTA route 6, southbound, Hyatt to restaurant
- Your starting stop is at Stetson and Wacker. Stetson is the street that bisects the two towers; the stop is on the far side of the street that makes the north border of the Hyatt (Wacker), right at the intersection with Stetson.
- Your 'get off' stop is Balbo and State. The busses talk, or you can ask the driver to keep an eye out for it. You will need to cross from the west side of the street (where you got off the bus) to the east, and walk south along the street the bus runs along (State) until you hit the address 805.

Bus timetable, CTA route 146, southbound, restaurant to planetarium
- Your starting stop is south of the restaurant, back on the west side of the street (far side from restaurant), at the intersection with 9th Street.
- I'm figuring we should be at the restaurant ca 5-5:20; we will probably still be there at 7:30, though we may no longer be at 8PM.

Screencap Google map of the Hyatt and environs

Screencap Google map of the restaurant and planetarium

I'll have them with me on paper.

#315 ::: Zelda ::: (view all by) ::: August 29, 2012, 10:49 PM:

I am in physical pain. I was prepared for the "you will miss stuff" dictum, but not this:

Bill Higgins and Brother Guy's talk about Mars Curiosity was a fixed point-- whatever else I had to juggle, certainly I was going to go to that. But now it's scheduled against a talk on microbiology, which I have both a professional obligation to attend, and a personal interest in, as one of the panelists is a biology professor from my college. Argh.

Meanwhile, as I do laundry and throw things at a suitcase, I have a question for the assembled: If one wishes to attend the Hugo awards ceremony as a member of hoi polloi, how far ahead of time should one show up to get a seat? Would one look silly using it as an opportunity to dress up all spiffy?

#316 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: August 29, 2012, 10:55 PM:

Zelda: If I can find 'my' camera by then (and the panelists don't mind), I can video it for you? Not for General Distribution, just a few friends who Had To Miss the Curiosity panel (and of course, if the panelists want a copy ...)

This is all contingent on my good camera turning up before then. My kid was messing with it, so on the fly in the midst of other Parenting Tsuris, I put it "somewhere very safe". So frakking safe I still can't find it three weeks later, though at least I'm pretty sure it's in the living room!

#317 ::: Zelda ::: (view all by) ::: August 29, 2012, 11:54 PM:

Elliott: That would be eight kinds of awesome, if it works out. The rest of my contingent are highly likely to go, and I would pump them for a report, but that's not quite the same as actual Bill Higgins and actual Brother Guy.

#318 ::: Michael I ::: (view all by) ::: August 30, 2012, 10:32 AM:

Elliott Mason@314

Last minute change of plans. Was able to take earlier flight (Eye doctor appointment. Thought I was having eyes dilated. Didn't.). Assuming flight gets in at expected time, should be able to make the 4:30 meetup time for the dinner.

#319 ::: Jeremy preacher ::: (view all by) ::: August 30, 2012, 12:14 PM:

I have sound the kaffeeklatsch clipboard! It is past (west of) the con registration desks at the bottom of the east tower.

#320 ::: Terry Karney ::: (view all by) ::: August 30, 2012, 01:21 PM:

I am at the con. I will almost certainly be in a kilt and have my hair in a long red braid.

#321 ::: Mary Aileen ::: (view all by) ::: August 30, 2012, 04:57 PM:

I sighted Patrick and Teresa in the hallway outside Crystal Ballroom this morning, but they were talking to someone, so I didn't stop and introduce myself.

#322 ::: Serge Broom ::: (view all by) ::: August 30, 2012, 09:02 PM:

Back from the meal. Had a great time. Some drove back with Mary Dell. Some took the bus to the planetarium. Me, I burned calories and walked to the hotel.

#323 ::: Melissa Singer ::: (view all by) ::: August 30, 2012, 09:55 PM:

Serge, thanks for the report.

Glad to hear it was great!

#324 ::: Dawno ::: (view all by) ::: August 30, 2012, 11:44 PM:

Dinner was great, company at dinner even better! Thank you Mary Dell for the ride and Elise for letting me tag along all day. Thank you Elliott for organizing. And special thanks to Serge for much needed moral support.

#325 ::: Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little ::: (view all by) ::: August 30, 2012, 11:49 PM:

David Goldfarb @305, on Kaffeeklatches: I got my answer from Information last night, and it's slightly different from what you posted after all.

Turns out, morning sign-up is for that day's afternoon 'klatches (and literary bheers). Afternoon sign-up is for the next morning's 'klatches (and lit bheers). The sign-up list staffer this morning said that for the purposes of determining morning versus afternoon, "noon" is in fact the logical cut-off. (Naturally. But I hate to assume, so I asked.)

And of course when you get to the sign-up sheet you may sign up for ONE 'klatch/bheer. If you wish to sign up for more, go to the back of the line and wait through again.

I have successfully signed up for and attended one 'klatch (waves at Carrie V. from semi-afar) so apparently this thing works. Although I darn near didn't find the table, since it was in the fan lounge buried at the back of the dealer room, without benefit of signage. But all's well that ends well etc.

PS. Dinner was lovely. Would munch again.

#326 ::: Serge Broom ::: (view all by) ::: August 31, 2012, 09:06 AM:

Dawno @ 324...

You're welcome!
(Takes a bow, falls into the orchestra pit)

Oh, I'd also like to give my many thanks to Elliott Mason for the comments about the local architecture.

#327 ::: Mary Aileen ::: (view all by) ::: August 31, 2012, 07:22 PM:

Dinner was indeed lovely. Kudos to Elliott for organizing, and for architectural highlights (although one lady on the bus didn't appreciate the volume of said highlights).

It was generally agreed that the proper collective noun for Fluorosphereans is 'pendantry'. A pedantry of Fluorosphereans.

#328 ::: Serge Broom ::: (view all by) ::: August 31, 2012, 08:23 PM:

Mary Aileen @ 327... I say boohiss to that party pooper.

#329 ::: Serge Broom ::: (view all by) ::: August 31, 2012, 08:27 PM:

Bill Higgins... I'm bummed I couldn't make it to your kaffeeklatch, due to an engagement I couldn't be done with until yours was over. As a slight consolation... I was later complimented for my accent by Mary Anne Mohanraj. Not long after that, Catherynne Valente said I had a lovely name.

That being said, I'll be attending that panel you're doing tomorrow afternoon with Brother Guy.

#330 ::: Mary Dell ::: (view all by) ::: September 01, 2012, 02:53 PM:

Serge and Fragano both have lovely accents, and neither of them sounds at all like the accents they have in my head. Because in my head, everyone has my own accent, as well as my sloppy habits of speech...real life is much more melodious, at least where this crew is concerned.

It was delightful to meet everyone and to get to show a bit of the local scenery to those I managed to coax into my car. I even did a tiny bit of actual Worldcongoing, after first kidnapping Elise and taking her to the Field Museum for the day.

NB: If you ever need to kidnap Elise, the words of power are "there is a five-thousand-karat faceted topaz at the museum." Although as I learned in the course of seeing the exhibit through her eyes, the meteorites are even cooler than the gems so you could probably just say "pallasite"* and she'd come right along.

Thanks to the wonderful con art gallery, I also got to meet Donato Giancola's Eric Bright Eyes Triptych, which was beyond inspiring.


*this particular pallasite is not in the museum, sadly, but the smaller ones are also awesome.

#331 ::: Serge Broom ::: (view all by) ::: September 01, 2012, 04:57 PM:

Mary Dell @ 330... Do I sound like Christophe Lambert? (I blame Abi for that one.)

#332 ::: Serge Broom ::: (view all by) ::: September 01, 2012, 05:01 PM:

Mary Dell @ 330... Do I sound like Christophe Lambert? (I blame Abi for that one.)

#333 ::: Mary Dell ::: (view all by) ::: September 01, 2012, 09:02 PM:

Serge @#331:

Like Maurice Chevalier, surely? Honh, hohn, hohn...

#334 ::: Serge Broom ::: (view all by) ::: September 01, 2012, 10:04 PM:

Mary Dell... I'd prefer sounding like Charles Boyer, or his spiritual heir - Pépé le Pew.

#335 ::: Mary Dell ::: (view all by) ::: September 02, 2012, 01:05 AM:

Serge @ #334: Not a Brooks fan, hm? I think your voice has a lighter timbre than Boyer, Lambert, or Pew, though. I'm gonna say you sound like a non-villanous Vincent Cassel, who is one of my favorite actors.

#336 ::: Serge Broom ::: (view all by) ::: September 02, 2012, 08:31 AM:

Mary Dell... Cassel? I'll have to look him up. I'm always curious to know what I sound like to others.

#337 ::: Mary Dell ::: (view all by) ::: September 02, 2012, 09:06 PM:

Serge @ #336: Here he is making a speech in English, and there are a couple of little clips of him in this trailer (slightly NSFW) for Brotherhood of the Wolf, which is the best French pre-revolutionary Kung Fu monster movie ever.

#338 ::: Serge Broom ::: (view all by) ::: September 03, 2012, 12:54 AM:

Mary Dell.... Neat! Thanks!

#339 ::: elise ::: (view all by) ::: September 03, 2012, 10:52 AM:

Thank you to everybody who came to my shiny-looking-at party on Saturday night, and especially Nicole, withou whom it would not have been possible.


And hey, how about those Hugos? Much goodness, especially with seeing Jo win. YAY!

#340 ::: elise ::: (view all by) ::: September 03, 2012, 05:26 PM:

A friend just brought me a present from the Chicon art show: a plush sculpture he said reminded him of Mike. It is a spherical cow of uniform density. It is wicked amusing. Best of all, I think our own Mary Aileen made it.

It is just delightful. *snerk*

#341 ::: Mary Dell ::: (view all by) ::: September 03, 2012, 05:42 PM:

elise @#340: That is indeed one of Mary Aileen's. She also had a delightful Square of the Hippopotomus in the show.

#342 ::: Serge Broom ::: (view all by) ::: September 03, 2012, 06:42 PM:

"Look at Paul Cornell surrounded by that bevy of beautiful dames."
"Yeah, it's that fake British accent that gets them."

Teresa and I after the Hugo Ceremony as the cast of SF SqueeCast stood on stage for photos.

#343 ::: elise ::: (view all by) ::: September 04, 2012, 01:39 PM:

Bye bye, Chicon 7. Bye bye, magical view from the 32nd floor, where the river and harbor and lake stretch out like a book cover for something I'd like to read. Bye bye Riva restaurant; thanks for the lobster it took three people to eat. Bye bye wonderful and dearly loved people: Brenda and Bill and all the other music makers, Kelly and other Hugos-and-hallways friends, all my excellent Fellowship of the Shinies, blue sharks, far travelers, and too many dear ones to name.

The enchanted gates are going to close behind me soon, and I'll go meet Magenta and Martin and we'll get on the train for home.

See you at the next enchanted weekend-outside-time, maybe?

#344 ::: Mary Aileen ::: (view all by) ::: September 04, 2012, 11:13 PM:

elise (340): You wound up with my spherical cow? I am very pleased! That one was a lot of fun to design and make.

#345 ::: iamnothing ::: (view all by) ::: September 05, 2012, 12:03 AM:

My thanks to Elliott and especially to Mary Aileen and a couple other benefactors for an enjoyable dinner.

#346 ::: Paula Helm Murray ::: (view all by) ::: September 05, 2012, 02:00 AM:

I got to meet up briefly with Calley (thanks for the sticker!!!), actually meet Elise face to face (yaay, we both now have met, yaay) and speak briefly with Ms. Teresa.

I was not brave enough to try to go to the pizza event, but thanks Elliott for planning and etc, And I never met up with Serge, which is a minor disappointment, I an sure we will meet up somewhere,

I did not fall down once, I did find some weirdnesses with the hotel vis á vis the elevator vs. scooter wars (except for the distances and the f0king carpet in the hallways my regular wheelchair would have served better, it was there to get me around without the scooter). The FREAKING WOUND IS DRY, I have hopeful expectation of maybe (I'm trying not to be too optimistic) being able to pick up my prosthetic foot/lower leg and getting to start using it.

We finally got home and I'm trying to wind down. I had a great time and am looking forward to next year in Texas.

#347 ::: Serge Broom ::: (view all by) ::: September 05, 2012, 02:42 AM:

Paula Helm Murray @ 346... I never met up with Serge, which is a minor disappointment

The feeling is mutual.
Next year in Texas.

#348 ::: Lauren ::: (view all by) ::: September 05, 2012, 10:07 AM:

Delurking to say: I sat next to Cally at the Hugos, and she was wonderful and welcoming.

Cally, I so very much appreciated your company. Thank you for striking up a conversation!

#349 ::: Mary Aileen ::: (view all by) ::: September 05, 2012, 12:24 PM:

iamnothing (345): I enjoyed chatting with you at Lou Malnati's* and later at the Adler.

*which we all agreed sounds far too much like 'Illuminati's' to be a coincidence

#350 ::: Fragano Ledgister ::: (view all by) ::: September 05, 2012, 12:45 PM:

It was wonderful to meet everyone at the Gathering of Light. I'm glad Gail and I could make it.

I'm wondering, now, at whether Serge is truly an immortal...

#351 ::: Fragano Ledgister ::: (view all by) ::: September 05, 2012, 12:47 PM:

Elise #339: Those shinies were truly marvellous.

#352 ::: Steven desJardins ::: (view all by) ::: September 05, 2012, 12:49 PM:

I brought The Square of the Hippopotamus home with me. Didn't realize it was fluorospherical in nature.

#353 ::: Fragano Ledgister ::: (view all by) ::: September 05, 2012, 01:05 PM:

I, too, want to thank Elliot for comments on Chicago architecture.

#354 ::: Mary Aileen ::: (view all by) ::: September 05, 2012, 02:03 PM:

Steven desJardins (352): That's another that was fun to design and make.

For those who missed them:
The Square of the Hippopotamus
Spherical Cow

#355 ::: Serge Broom ::: (view all by) ::: September 05, 2012, 02:23 PM:

Fragano @ 350... Maybe not immortal, but definitely young at heart, and well preserved.

#356 ::: Elliott Mason ::: (view all by) ::: September 05, 2012, 03:06 PM:

For anyone anyone reading this thread who's behind on (or not following) the open thread, I'll repost here Installment 1 of my book-reccs pursuant to Chicon (some of things I've read recently; more of things recommended to me at-con by conventioneers or panelists).

#357 ::: fidelio ::: (view all by) ::: September 05, 2012, 04:36 PM:

Elliott, I'd like to join with everyone else in thanking you for organizing Thursday's dinner. It was good getting to see everyone.

#358 ::: Michael I ::: (view all by) ::: September 05, 2012, 07:39 PM:

Thank you to Elliot for organizing the dinner. And for serving as tour guide.

#359 ::: Cassy B. ::: (view all by) ::: September 05, 2012, 07:41 PM:

Mary Aileen @349: One of my best friends is a high school physics teacher. I *desperately* want to get him a Spherical Cow of Uniform Density for the Winter Holidays. Is there any chance at all I might purchase one from you....? (Failing that, a HippoCube would also be lovely....)(Failing the winter holidays, his birthday isn't until the spring....)

Even if this isn't possible, you've still brightened my day with those links....

#360 ::: Mary Aileen ::: (view all by) ::: September 05, 2012, 07:48 PM:

CassyB (359): I don't usually like to repeat myself, but shoot me an email (the address on the page linked in my name works), and we'll talk.

#361 ::: Mary Aileen is visiting the gnomes ::: (view all by) ::: September 05, 2012, 07:49 PM:

Hello, gnomes! Homemade eggrolls?

[Yes, please. Borozi Ticimos, Duty Gnome]

#362 ::: Mary Aileen is visiting the gnomes again ::: (view all by) ::: September 05, 2012, 07:50 PM:

My gnoming report was just gnomed.

#363 ::: Cassy B. ::: (view all by) ::: September 05, 2012, 08:38 PM:

Mary Eileen @349 addendum: In the unlikely-but-hoped-for-event that spherical cows or cubical hippos might be available, my email addy (rot-13ed) is pnffl (ng) obbxjlezr (qbg) pbz

#364 ::: Cally Soukup ::: (view all by) ::: September 06, 2012, 11:12 PM:

Lauren at 348

It was much fun sitting next to you and making odd comments back and forth. I'm glad you decided to delurk!

Thank you for allowing me to babble at you; I tend to do that when I'm tired, and I was very underslept....

#365 ::: Henry Troup ::: (view all by) ::: September 06, 2012, 11:23 PM:

I got to meet Fragano at the "Democracy is Terrible" panel. Always nice to share real space simultaneously.

BTW, I only learned tonight that all the panels listed for the "Stagg Field" room were fictitious, as was the room itself. I'd only caught one of them first time around.

#366 ::: elise ::: (view all by) ::: September 06, 2012, 11:52 PM:

Yes, THANK YOU, Elliott, for organizing the Dinner Expedition of Light!

#367 ::: Lin Daniel ::: (view all by) ::: September 07, 2012, 02:11 PM:

Thank you Elliott, for arranging the dinner I managed to miss. Between energy levels and event scheduling, I didn't get to see/meet any Fluorospherians. *sniff* I had a good time in spite of that lack.

#368 ::: Cally Soukup ::: (view all by) ::: September 09, 2012, 08:08 PM:

Hugo awards rebroadcast started a couple minutes ago here:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/hugo-awards

If memory serves, the actual Hugo presentations start about an hour in.

#369 ::: Cassy B. ::: (view all by) ::: September 10, 2012, 07:14 PM:

Cally @368: Someone said the Hugo ceremonies would also be available on-demand? Anyone know anything about that? (I was, alas, unavailable yesterday evening. Dammit.)

#370 ::: Cally Soukup ::: (view all by) ::: September 10, 2012, 10:37 PM:

Cassy:

All I know is "Ustream will also run the broadcast ad-free on the Worldcon Hugo Awards channel at www.ustream.tv/channel/hugo-awards, and provide additional marketing and promotional support to raise the profile of the event. The broadcast will subsequently be available from the same channel on an on-demand basis."

So I'd try that link, on the assumption that's the "channel" they're talking about, and see. If memory serves, the entire broadcast should take approximately two hours.

Welcome to Making Light's comment section. The moderators are Avram Grumer, Teresa & Patrick Nielsen Hayden, and Abi Sutherland. Abi is the moderator most frequently onsite. She's also the kindest. Teresa is the theoretician. Are you feeling lucky?

Comments containing more than seven URLs will be held for approval. If you want to comment on a thread that's been closed, please post to the most recent "Open Thread" discussion.

You can subscribe (via RSS) to this particular comment thread. (If this option is baffling, here's a quick introduction.)

Post a comment.
(Real e-mail addresses and URLs only, please.)

HTML Tags:
<strong>Strong</strong> = Strong
<em>Emphasized</em> = Emphasized
<a href="http://www.url.com">Linked text</a> = Linked text

Spelling reference:
Tolkien. Minuscule. Gandhi. Millennium. Delany. Embarrassment. Publishers Weekly. Occurrence. Asimov. Weird. Connoisseur. Accommodate. Hierarchy. Deity. Etiquette. Pharaoh. Teresa. Its. Macdonald. Nielsen Hayden. It's. Fluorosphere. Barack. More here.















(You must preview before posting.)

Dire legal notice
Making Light copyright 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 by Patrick & Teresa Nielsen Hayden. All rights reserved.