unforum

[krystyn]

The spread of the city is quite amazing. Additionally, the view of Lake Michigan is just gorgeous, especially when all the high-rollers take their sailboats out for a quick jaunt.

Seeing the Hancock Building and Marina Towers and Navy Pier and all ... it's just all really lovely. Even looking south and seeing some of the industrial stuff, and due west and northwest, with the crosstowns and expressways cutting into the land ...

It's all very, very cool. May's weather is so nice that I am fairly sure you'll have nice, clear weather for viewing for most of the weekend.

/me crosses her fingers.

[Atrophied]

[Clayfoot]

[The Watcher]

I've visited both and I'll give you that the CN tower is taller.

Chicago has a much better skyline though!

[water10]

I've visited both and I give the edge to the CN tower, just because of the glass floor.

[rufo]

So I think I want to head out to this one way or the other. I have two things I need to figure out, lodging and transportation.

Transportation is fairly simple; I think the airfare to Chicago from Rochester is rather overpriced, and while I could probably swing it, I'd rather save my funds for other things. That leaves either driving or the train. I don't think I want to drive there myself, so if anyone else in the upstate-NYish area feels like going (or hell, anyone driving by on I-90, in the southern tier, anyone who can get to Niagra Falls perhaps), maybe we can work some shift-driving in. Barring that, I'll probably take the train; $51 each way, and as it's overnight I don't have to entertain myself quite as much as a daytime train. I can put up with temporary hardship if it gets me a few days of fun.

Next up is lodging. Not sure what roomspace may or may not be up for grabs. While an actual bed would be nice, I am very flexible about sleeping arrangements - give me a patch of floor and I'll be in fine shape (after camping every night for six months straight on road trips the floor is quite nice!). Ideally I'd like something central to where many beekeepers are staying but I'm not picky by any means. I'll split the cost of the room with whomever, or if I wind up crashing in somebody's house, contribute a reasonable amount every night. All offers welcome, so PM me and we can discuss.

This is subject to change if any of my fellow Rochesterian beekeepers wind up going (c'mon, guys!). But I'd like to start exploring my options and at least get something temporary hammered out.

[thebruce]

[INCyr]

Quick request-

If you're planning on crashing at my hotel room, can you please PM me with the nights you're gonna be there, and how many?

I think I have everyone that's RSVP'd with me so far, but I want to make sure. If my count is correct, I may be able to extend the offer to more beekeepers, like theBruce, to help them be able to afford to come. But I need to make sure my numbers are correct for each night first.

Thanks!

Edit: Also, contact info would be appriciated, so we don't end up running circles around each other trying to find each other when you guys get here.

[VMVash]

[atdt1991]

Okay, what have I missed in 21 pages?

[water10]

I think it would be cool to have everybody close to each other. But I kinda asked the same thing and didn't get many answers. From what I gathered, only INCyr (O'Hare area) and Anton (Downtown) have hotels booked.

Yes, hotels near Michigan Av are expensive. But if you search through hotwire, you can get good deals. I think most people don't like the idea of using it, but I suggest people to do some googling around. You can get very good deals through them, and most people are satisfied with the service. The big problem with hotwire is that you don't know which hotel you're getting until you pay for it. But if you look at the link I posted before, you can pretty much identify the hotels, based on star ratings and amenities. I know I'll be using hotwire to book my stay in Chicago. I'm only watching the price fluctuation right now and waiting for the best time to get the deal. After I get my deal, I think more people will use hotwire ...

[atdt1991]

water10: How much longer do you think you'll wait? I don't want to get stuck in a hotel where there isn't -any- other beekeeper, and price is important to me and amenities aren't, so...

If you'll drop me a message when you pick yours up, and tell me what you used to select it, I'll hop on your coattails and get a room in the same place.

I figure I'll bring my hub, cabling, my x, and -maybe- a TV, so it'll barely be any difficulty at all for you to kick my haloin' butt!

[water10]

[VMVash]

Water... how is your cat, I love cats<caboose voice>

[Dorkmaster]

So can anyone tell me (I'm sorry, I don't have the patience to weed through the 21 page thread, and I tried search and nothing relevant came up) where the Hivemeet Dinner on Friday the 13th will be?