A question for the hivemind

[la_marquise]

So, Oh LJ, if I were to go to one convention in the US this year, which one should it be and why? (Caveat, I am on the committee of this year's Eastercon, so any con before early May isn't really possible.)

Comments

[galdrin.livejournal.com]

Before May 2013? Too bad - that lets AggieCon out.

Oh well - pick somewhere you've never been - just as long as it's *NOT* DragonCon.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

I think DragonCon sounds too big for me. And while Eastercon is technically over on 2nd April, we're going to have post-con stuff to sort and laundry and just plain lying down in a darkened room time. But I will put Aggiecon on the list for another year.

[xenaclone.livejournal.com]

Personally I *love* Dragon Con. Been three times and counting! More costumes than you can probably imagine and lots of themed tracks. Some of the small panels are often the best!

Avoid San Diego if you don't like crowds. 160 odd thousand people in one place at one time. It's INSANE!

I've heard good things about New York Comic Con as well.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Fourth Street (end of June) or Sirens (October)

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Sirens is one I really want to go to.

[kateelliott.livejournal.com]

Sirens. Sirens. Sirens.

I'm planning to go to Sirens.

Sirens.

OH PLEASE GOD MAKE IT SIRENS.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

You make your case strangely convincing :-) I do want to go to Sirens, I have to say.

[kateelliott.livejournal.com]

It's small. Congenial. And you can submit programming ideas from panels to papers to small discussions on basically any topic that fits within the larger "theme" of the conference. Also the Columbia River Gorge is truly beautiful, and at that time of year it can be lovely weather.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

It's a con that really appeals, I have to say, and I really liked Portland when I was there and wanted to see more of the surrounding area. And their programming philosophy is really innovative and appealing. I will speak to the marquis and see whether he likes the sound of it, too (I am really bad at going to cons without him. Sad, but true.)

[saare-snowqueen.livejournal.com]

From Portland, you could also train down to San Francisco and visit the not-so-longer newlyweds. Or go wine touring in Norther California. All that & getting to hang out with Katie - sounds good to me.

[kateelliott.livejournal.com]

*cough* *cough* we could hang out for a few days before or after the con and go sightseeing etc.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Now that is a thought. I drive perfectly safely on the right, if that's germane (and have driven in most weather conditions and on all kinds of very antisocial roads, due to Someone's castle-hunting habits.) I will look at my finances.

[kateelliott.livejournal.com]

Also, I can easily rent a car as I did last year when my daughter and I attended Sirens.

[hrj.livejournal.com]

If you were to want to drive from Portland to the SF Bay Area, let me recommend strongly the route involving:

* East on I-84 to The Dalles
* South on 97 through the Cascades mountain range (occasional roadside viewpoints with mountain peak finder charts)
* including a minor side trip to check out Crater Lake
* and down past Klamath Lake to join I-5 at Mount Shasta

It is, in my extremely biased opinion, the most breathtaking road trip in the western United States ... and can only be improved by taking the trouble to backtrack a little NW from Redding on 277 to pick up 101 at Arcata and then following 101 south, deviating at any bypass labelled "Avenue of the Giants".

It should be noted that a straight-shot drive from Portland to SF on I-5 takes less than 12 hours, but the scenic route detailed above could easily take 3 days, depending on your distractability.

[joycemocha.livejournal.com]

If you hang out a few days before or after the con, we could meet up and go to Timberline to gaze at Cascades....not planning to do Sirens because of the timing and the day jobbe. Unless day jobbe changes, that's poor con timing for me.

[jennygadget.livejournal.com]

Ditto. I have no idea how I am going to afford it, but this is my plan.

[saare-snowqueen.livejournal.com]

What about WIS con?

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

I might be a bit scared of Wiscon. Also, I think it's quite close to Easter, so it wouldn't be practical this year.

[pennski.livejournal.com]

Last weekend in May.
We'll be there and there are many non-scary people there.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Ah, okay, that's a better date. I'm not hugely comfortable with going to Wisconsin, though, since the recent legal changes to the status of women.

[lagilman]

DragonCon can be a lot of fun but it's...overwhelming at first.

If the timing were better, my vote would be for Capclave (you' like it) but thats right before WFC.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Capclave is another one like Sirens that I want to get to (also Mythcon) but just before WFC might be a bit hard this year.
Dragoncon sounds a bit alarming.

[inflectionpoint.livejournal.com]

Westercon!

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Oh, now that is an interesting idea: thank you :-)

[difrancis.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness! That's in Sacramento this year. Maybe I'll go. Hmmm. Might be a good plan.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

Westercon is always a good con, plus it's near us this year so we may go as well.

[shana.livejournal.com]

Well, it's in Canada, but the last Farthing Party is the one I'd go to, if I only went to one.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

I do love Canada, for sure.

when is Wiscon?

[scifiwritir.livejournal.com]

I think you might like that one.

Re: when is Wiscon?

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Sadly, Wiscon is a bit too close to Easter for this year, but another year it would be a good one.

[yendi]

Readercon!

[yendi]

(Noting that my first criterion was, "which con will I be at that also takes place after May?")

Readercon has a very laid-back feel, incredible guests, and most of the good elements of an academic conference. It's also exclusively book-focused, which is either a plus or minus depending on your interests.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Books are good with me (my other major thing is Hong Kong film, which seldom overlaps hugely with sff cons). And Readercon is a con I've looked at with interest.

[barbarienne.livejournal.com]

I second third (apparently) the Readercon rec, for precisely the same reasons.

Also, less travel time from the UK. Boston is the nearest major US city to you.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

I second Readercon, using the same criterion.

[difrancis.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping to have moved and be at Orycon this year. It's a good con in Portland in November I think. http://35.orycon.org/ Though I may try for Westercon, specially if you go.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

I do like Oregon, it has to be said, which gives Orycon a certain appeal, too.

[joycemocha.livejournal.com]

Yes! Come to Orycon! We might even have snow up on Hood and I'll take you to Timberline.

[miintikwa.livejournal.com]

I would have said Wiscon (I'm going!) but it is close.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Now that would be a serious incentive to go. Alas, though, this year the fates just don't work. Boo!

[miintikwa.livejournal.com]

*squees a little, despite the boo* Perhaps next year! :)

[al-zorra.livejournal.com]

You'd like the International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts (http://iafa.highpoint.edu/) (ICFA), in Boca Raton, Florida. Alas, its annual meeting is right before Easter. You would fit in very well with the attendees and the focus.

Love, C.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

I've thought about going to ICFA in the past, but there are two things that give me pause. Well, two and half. The first is that it's partly an academic event and I am still not 100% sanguine about going to one of those and getting through it without problems. The saga of why I am retired from my academic career is long and complex but it involved me going through a major breakdown, and well... It might be too unnerving.
The second reason is the climate. I have form on fainting in humidity, especially when it combines with jetlag, and have twice ended up in the emergency room, because I have a heart arrhytmnia and can get weird stuff happening with my breathing if I do faint.
The half reason is alligators. I'm scared of alligators. I've seen film of them turning up in people's swimming pools in Florida. fjm tells me one lives behind the hotel. You would never get me on the ground floor, let alone outside :-)

[mindyklasky.livejournal.com]

I would have tossed in my two cents for Capclave, but I see the scheduling challenge for this year. You'll just have to plan on visiting us next year, then :-)

[gwyneira.livejournal.com]

Seconding (or thirding) Sirens!

[coth.livejournal.com]

I wish I had the problem!
I'd never heard of Sirens, but it sounds fun. I've wanted Readercon and Wiscon for years...Maybe next decade.
I'm sure you'll enjoy whichever you choose.