(no subject)

[rivka]

How crazy would it be to put in a bid to host a future alt.polycon in Baltimore?

Advantages:
(a) cheaper travel destination than Boston or San Francisco, respective sites of alt.polycons 9 and 11.
(b) attractive Inner Harbor area with lots of hotels and a wide range of restaurants.
(c) easy sightseeing distance from Washington DC and a bewildering array of American historical sites (e.g., Mount Vernon, various Civil War battlefields, Fort McHenry).
(d) optional harbor cruise.
(e) cream of crab soup for therealjae.
(f) good public transportation (water taxi to most major tourist sites = $5 for all day).
(g) your Con Chair, rivka.

Disadvantages:
(a) heroin and syphillis capital of the United States.
(b) not everyone likes crab cakes.
(c) it's not like the Orioles are exactly a draw.
(d) visitors from more civilized countries might be squicked by Baltimore's murder rate.
(e) your Con Chair, rivka.

Comments

[jinian.livejournal.com]

(a) I don't plan to run around screwing the natives.
(b) Er, there are other things to eat, right?
(c) I'm not afraid of being in the same city with the Orioles.
(d) True.
(e) You are not a disadvantage!

So, that's one. And lots of advantages. I kinda think we're due for a CA-area or midwestern one after the ones already planned, but I'd go to Baltimore.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

(a) I don't plan to run around screwing the natives.

Well, probably most people don't. But when I think "what makes Baltimore distinctive?", that's one of the first things that comes to mind. It's an occupational hazard, I guess.

(b) Er, there are other things to eat, right?

Sure. Crab soup, steamed crabs, crab imperial... *grin*

Actually, I think that the restaurant scene in Baltimore would be a definite draw. There are fantastic seafood restaurants, of course, but also Little Italy is within easy traveling distance from the Inner Harbor area where most of the hotels are. (Greektown is a bit further away, but Baltimore's Greek restaurants are worth the trip for sure.) And there's an International Food Court sort of thing right at the harbor, with dozens of booths selling various kinds of inexpensive, tasty carry-out - everything from raw oysters to Thai noodles to corn dogs to salads to ice cream.

(c) I'm not afraid of being in the same city with the Orioles.

You're a brave woman, then.

(d) True.

I mean, our current mayor's major campaign promise was that he was going to get the murder rate down below 300 per year. "Only 299 murders" is actually a viable civic goal around here. But probably most congoers would not have any reason to wander into the really dangerous areas of the city. The areas around the harbor and the restaurant districts are as safe as any other major U.S. city, I'd guess.

(e) You are not a disadvantage!

Well, you know. I listed myself as an advantage, too - I was trying to be even-handed.

I kinda think we're due for a CA-area or midwestern one after the ones already planned, but I'd go to Baltimore.

I think alt.polycon 11 is supposed to be in the Bay Area. It has been a while since there's been a midwestern con, though. I'm not sure how far in advance alt.polycons have been signed up for - I know there have been noises about an Australia or New Zealand bid for sometime in the future.

But cool, I'm glad you like the idea of a Baltimore con.

[jinian.livejournal.com]

I think both competing bids for the Bay Area were withdrawn, so it's still up in the air. (And I am not looking forward to seeing how that plays out, after Boston. Whee.) Probably 11 will be around there, though. I'd like to see midwest after that, but I'm not the one who gets to organize it there so it's not for me to say.

[jenett]

I'd go in a minute. (Well, erm, finances allowing, of course. But I hope by that point we'll not have problems with that.)

But I think Baltimore would be a cool place for one, personally.

[starstraf.livejournal.com]

depends on when. I'm out of convention circut for a few more years while sweetie is ABD. If it was after I moved there I would be there for sure, but if before that then probally wouldn't be able to go.

[geminigirl]

The Inner Harbor is absolutely gorgeous. There's the Aquarium too, always a bonus for me. It's easy to get to by train, bus or airplane. It's close to DC, which has other neat stuff to do.

Baltimore is kind of a neat city...I find the closeness of "good" and "bad" neighborhoods fascinating...how it's much closer than in other cities I've lived in or visited, not gradual shift where you can really see it, but much more sudden and dramatic.

Oh, and the cheap travel is a big bonus.

[chiefted]

Hmmm more advantages:

1. Able to spend some money at Modern Music (if it still exsists)
2. Able to spend money at favorite train hobby store.
3. A quick side trip south (to see family) or north (to see family)

Now since I have never been, when would you hold it...forgive me I can't remember with alt.polycon is.

Ted (sorta newbie)

[rivka.livejournal.com]

Now since I have never been, when would you hold it...forgive me I can't remember with alt.polycon is.

Nothing to forgive, given that there's not a set yearly date for alt.polycon. It's held approximately every nine months. apc7 was in April 2001, apc8 was in February 2002, apc9 will be in November 2002, apc10 is in July or August of 2003 (I don't remember if it's before or after the Toronto Worldcon), apc11 is in the spring of 2004. If alt.polycon 12 hasn't already been claimed, I guess we'd be talking about January of 2005, just over two years from now.

[chiefted]

So if it is every nine month or so, and by how you mapped it out, the one you would be looking to bid on, wouldn't that put it around winter time? I mean I don't mind Baltimore during the winter (having been in the area for 4 years) but wondering if that would be an up hill sell. Now comparing it to WorldCon, the bids are done three years out. This year was the selection for the 05 Con (Scotland). (OH if someone reads this from the local SF community and I goofed up the timing please let me know).

I guess my question would be now is, how are bids for alt.polycon done? Do you just raise your hand and say we would like to do it or is there a vote of sorts.

I think you would be a great advantage, considering what you have gone through the past couple of weeks...that takes organization.

The disadvantages, easily (somewhat) delt with or have a spin put on them. I can't remember which one (wldrose, or any other SF fan) but a recent WorldCon was held in Baltimore, and probably faced the same "disadvantages" that you would be facing.

Probably way more than my 2 cents worth.

[chiefted]

Ok forget the first question on my earlier reply...you told me that it would be in January of 05...so (smacks forehead) yes T.R. that would be the winter time.

baltimore for alt.polycon

[pir-anha.livejournal.com]

(a) heroin and syphillis capital of the United States.
(b) not everyone likes crab cakes.
(c) it's not like the Orioles are exactly a draw.
(d) visitors from more civilized countries might be squicked by Baltimore's murder rate.
(e) your Con Chair, rivka.

(a) just pick a hotel off the local skid row(s)
(b) i am quite certain i've eaten other things when in baltimore :)
(c) who? does anyone actually care about major sports teams when going to an alt.polycon?
(d) if they're that easily squicked, visiting the US at all would be a no-no.
(e) you are being very silly. you are not one of the love/hate personalities in alt.poly, so take this one right off the list. :)

i don't go to alt.polycons, but i watch the proceedings, and baltimore would be a fine place to have one. cheaper is definitely a plus. and there's lots of cool stuff to do in baltimore, starting with the inner harbour. people who'd want to make a longer stay could also easily visit washington DC.

go for it.

Re: baltimore for alt.polycon

[rivka.livejournal.com]

(a) just pick a hotel off the local skid row(s)

Definitely "rows," plural. I'm figuring we'd go with the Inner Harbor area - lots of hotels there (e.g., competition), and by far the most attractive and convenient location.

(b) i am quite certain i've eaten other things when in baltimore :)

Baltimore has amazingly good food. It's one of the city's best points, from my perspective.

(c) who? does anyone actually care about major sports teams when going to an alt.polycon?

piranha, I am so impressed that you identified the Orioles as a major sports team! I had no idea you were that up on sports. *grin*

(e) you are being very silly. you are not one of the love/hate personalities in alt.poly, so take this one right off the list. :)

Well, I don't have a lot of conrunning experience - not compared to past chairs like elisem. I'm on the concom for apc9, though. And I've put together a weekend-long 65 person event before, although given that it was a wedding I'm not sure how much the experience will generalize. Probably an alt.polycon would need less in the way of flowers and chapel rentals and wine and so forth.

But mostly I was listing myself as both an advantage and a disadvantage to be even-handed. If I didn't think I could probably run a con I wouldn't be suggesting it.

and there's lots of cool stuff to do in baltimore, starting with the inner harbour. people who'd want to make a longer stay could also easily visit washington DC.

Yeah, I love Baltimore. The National Aquarium (widely regarded as the best in the U.S.), the American Visionary Arts Museum (http://www.avam.org/), the American Dime Museum (http://www.dimemuseum.com/info.html), Edgar Allen Poe's grave, H.L. Mencken's house, Babe Ruth's birthplace, the USS Constellation (http://www.constellation.org/)...

And on weekdays you can take the commuter rail from downtown Baltimore to Union Station in DC for around $10 round trip. So people could easily visit DC before or after the con without having to worry about renting a car or finding a place to stay in DC.

go for it.

I believe I shall.

[redbird]

You are in no sense a disadvantage, unless you mean that being con chair will give you less time to hang out. And they don't *have* to eat crab cakes--that'll be more for us.

[baratron.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was thinking she meant "rivka as conchair" being a disadvantage for her!

I hope to be at 10, and 11, and every one after that - even though I can't see myself going back to alt.poly anytime soon.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you won't be at 9, but just think - by the time 10 rolls around, you and I should both have our degrees, and we can call each other "Doctor" all weekend.

Well hellfire...

[curmudgn]

Even I might consider it at that point.

The drawbacks:

1. It's close to my in-laws (who all live in Harford County); if word got around I'd been "in the area" and hadn't gone to see them, I'd be in considerable shit. If I did go see them and they found out just why I was in the area, I'd be in considerably deeper shit.
2. I'm deathly allergic to all sorts and conditions of shellfish. This means a trip to Obrycki's is right out. Having a con-goer fall over dead after lunch would ruin the rest of the day.
3. Go Birds!
4. Haussner's isn't there any more. (OTOH, Chiapparelli's and Sabatino's both still are!)
5. I ain't silly enough to go in them neighborhoods, hon, and specially not after dark.

[therealjae.livejournal.com]

I *really* enjoyed being conchair, for what it's worth. It was less work, and more of the *fun* kind of work, than running programming, which I'd already done twice. I'd do conchair again. I wouldn't do programming again.

I'd come. :-)

-J

[kightp.livejournal.com]

My dear, I've hardly been delurked long enough to even *consider* attending - but if you were planning it, I'd put it on my calendar, no matter where or when. (-:

[kalmn.livejournal.com]

i'd get to see my college roommate who lives in baltimore, which would be a plus, by me!

[elisem.livejournal.com]

Day before yesterday, I found myself saying to Hanne Blank, "Baltimore, huh? I just might, because I've got some friends that live out that way." Synchronicity, yah?

Oh, and I think that most congoers would realize that heroin, syphilis, and/or crab cakes are completely optional. A la carte, in fact, even.

You do it, I'll be there. Deal?

[jilesa.livejournal.com]

My vote would be yes. Dunno when I'll be able to get to an APC, so having an APC come to me (sort of) would be a Very Good Thing. :)

(Yes, I'm moved, and so is all of my stuff, finally!)