Main con information post 2014!
Happy Year Of BP 2014!
Here is the ginormous, one-stop-shopping con information post, including registration, hotel, con schedule, travel, tourist, and concomm contact information, to be updated as we go.
General Information:
When is Pacificon 2014?
April 12 and 13, 2014, with some unofficial activities on the evening of April 11.
Where will it take place?
At the Issaquah Hilton Garden Inn near Seattle, Washington.
How do I sign up?
The registration post-including detailed registration and payment information-is here. Membership is $85, and is limited to 100 attendees. You must be at least 18 years old to attend. The current list of attendees is here.
"Bitchin' Party"? Seriously?
"Bitchin' Party" became the unofficial name of the con after some of the concomm had the misfortune of watching a gloriously bad TV show called Dante's Cove. Don't worry, we're not using it unironically.*
*except that some of us totally are
Hotel Information:
The hotel is the Issaquah Hilton Garden Inn, located at 1800 Gilman Blvd, Issaquah, WA (here on Google Maps). The front desk number is 1-425-837-3600, and the fax number is 1-425-837-3635.
How much does it cost?
The con rate is $114/night for a single king bed, and $134 for up to four people (two queen beds), plus tax (currently about 12.4%). A small number of cots will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis upon check-in.
How do I reserve a room?
You must reserve your room by March 13, 2014 in order to receive the con rate and be in the room block with all the other cool kids con attendees. If you're looking for a roommate, check out the thread here.
To reserve a room online:
1. Go here.
2. Select your arrival/departure dates, and your number of rooms and guests.
3. Select your preferred bed configuration (one king or two queens).
4. Click “Continue.”
5. Enter the rest of your info, then “Book Now,” and you should be good to go!
NOTE: If you have ANY question or problem with the reservation process (for example, if you did not get the correct rate quoted to you, or it says it doesn't have your preferred bed configuration available), PLEASE call the toll-free number at 1-877-STAY-HGI and talk to a real person (tell them you're reserving for the Pacific Writers' Conference). If for some reason that still doesn't resolve things, contact me (Brynn) at brynnmck [at] gmail [dot] com and I will contact the hotel myself. (If you are outside the US and can't contact the hotel without being charged long-distance rates, I'd also be happy to contact the hotel for you and save you the money.)
To reserve over the phone:
Call the main reservation line at 1-877-STAY-HGI and tell them you're reserving for the Pacific Writers' Conference (that is our sekkrit spy codename to civilians!). Make sure you specify whether you'd like a king room or two queens. Again, if you have any trouble-if they tell you our block is full or that the con rate isn't available-contact me at brynnmck [at] gmail and I will contact the hotel myself.
Hotel Amenities
Room amenities include:
- mini fridge
- microwave
- 25-inch flatscreen HD TV (and yes, you are welcome to hook up a DVD player if you have one--the TVs have component cable [red/yellow/white] inputs and S-Video inputs)
- CD/MP3 capable alarm clocks
- FREE wireless high-speed internet throughout the hotel
Hotel amenities include:
- on-site restaurant (including a bar)
- room service
- pool and hot tub
- fitness center
- free parking
- complimentary shuttle available for transport within a five-mile radius of the hotel
Check-in starts at 3 p.m., check-out is at noon. The con will be providing hors d’ouvres and a cash bar on Saturday night, a full breakfast on Sunday morning, and some snacks and beverages throughout both days. We'll post a complete menu in late March/early April. NOTE: We are NOT allowed to bring our own outside snacks into the meeting room. You are, however, welcome to eat or drink whatever you like in your own room.
Area Amenities
Within walking distance of the hotel, you'll find several fast food options, a couple of restaurants, a grocery store, a Starbucks (of course), and a liquor store.
Within easy driving distance and within the range of the complimentary hotel shuttle, you'll find practically anything else you might need, including lots of food options, Costco, drugstores, Target, various banks, an organic grocery store, etc.
Maps will be included with your welcome packet when you arrive. If you want to check out the lay of the land before then, Google Maps is your friend (see the hotel link above).
Con events
The con will officially run from 9 a.m. on April 12th until 5 p.m. on April 13th, which some unofficial activities to get the ball rolling on the evening of April 11th.
Panels
Panels are being organized by the lovely me_maneuver. We will start planning those very soon!
Vidshow
There will be a vidshow on Saturday night, coordinated by the most excellent
fiercynn and
scribe.
Room parties
Room parties are totally encouraged! Please note, however: NO alcohol is allowed in the main con ballroom (except via the cash bar on Saturday night). Feel free to drink/eat whatever you want in your sleeping rooms.
A list of things we will not have, because we are all casual and stuff:
No celebrity guests (y'all are rockstars enough for us)
No art show
No dealers
No free meals besides hors d’ouvres on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday
What we do have is LOVE, people. SO MUCH LOVE. And bacon!
Getting to the con: By air
Airport
You'll probably want to fly into Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) International Airport.
Getting from the airport to the hotel
The hotel is about 20 miles from Sea-Tac. The most affordable option is to take the light rail and connect to a bus; the light rail will get you from the airport to downtown Seattle for $2.50, and from downtown, there are several buses to Issaquah (average $2.50 fare) that will drop you off at the Issaquah Transit Center on 17th Ave NW, less than half a mile from the hotel (see the Metro Online site here for more info). Otherwise:
- Taxi (in the vicinity of $55-$65 plus tip); the Seattle area also has Uber and Lyft, if you're looking for taxi-like alternatives
- Shuttle service ($27 each way for one person in a shared van, $125 for an exclusive van service for up to 10 people, $102 for an SUV for up to 5 passengers, etc.)
- In the past, we've done our best to coordinate airport trips between local drivers and out-of-town attendees. However, every time we've done this, it's ended up meaning that at least one or two drivers have missed significant portions of the con due to a large number of airport runs, and that doesn't seem fair. So this year, we're opening up a thread where attendees can work out cab/shuttle-shares amongst themselves. That will be posted as the con gets closer.
- Rent a car (see below for driving directions)
Getting to the con: Not by air
The thread for roadtrip coordination (NOT including transportation from the airport) is here.
By train or bus
Amtrak and Greyhound both have stations in downtown Seattle. From there, you're about a 20-minute drive away from Issaquah. See below for driving directions. Local bus service is, as I said, not all that comprehensive, but it is pretty easy from downtown--the Metro Online site is here if you'd like to check out your options.
By car: driving directions
- As long as you are not east of Issaquah (including from Sea-Tac airport), take (as applicable) I-5 N, I-5 S, I-405 N, or I-405 S to I-90 E (toward Spokane). If you're east of Issaquah, take I-90 W.
- From I-90, take exit 15 (WA-900 / 17th Ave NW).
- Turn right at the light onto 17th Ave NW.
- About a block down, turn right onto Gilman Blvd (by the Burger King).
- The hotel will be about a block ahead of you on your right, behind the John L. Scott building. The hotel is here on Google Maps.
Getting to the con: Other
Travel by Bifrost, tour bus, dog sled, Goat Van, stargate, wormhole, battlestar, firefly, TARDIS, Leviathan, Chevy Impala, or similar to be arranged by individual attendees.
Roommates, rideshares, and airport transportation coordination
Roommate thread is here.
Rideshare thread is here.
A thread to coordinate cab/shuttle-share from the airport will be posted as the con gets closer.
Weather
It does not, in fact, rain ALL the time in Seattle. However, in the springtime, it tends to rain quite a bit. Bring a waterproof jacket if you have one, and maybe an umbrella if you plan to be out and about. Temperatures will probably be in the 50s. Basically, layers are highly recommended-not only is Seattle weather changeable (it snowed at our first BP; MADNESS), but so are hotel temperatures (especially in meeting spaces, where they tend to crank the air conditioning), so being able to take off/add clothes as necessary is your best bet.
Tourist information
Downtown Seattle is about a 20-minute drive from Issaquah. For information about tourist activities available in the area, you can visit this site.
Who's flying this thing?
General questions/concerns/etc. should go to brynnmck at either pacificon08 [at] gmail or brynnmck [at] gmail (or via LJ PM). This insanity was my idea, so I am totally here for you if you need anything.
Questions about registration should go to brynnmck, as well.
Questions about panels should go to me_maneuver.
Questions about the vidshow should go to
fiercynn or
scribe.
We're trying to tag posts as much as possible for ease of navigation. To view all the tags for the community, go here.
See you in April!
Here is the ginormous, one-stop-shopping con information post, including registration, hotel, con schedule, travel, tourist, and concomm contact information, to be updated as we go.
General Information:
When is Pacificon 2014?
April 12 and 13, 2014, with some unofficial activities on the evening of April 11.
Where will it take place?
At the Issaquah Hilton Garden Inn near Seattle, Washington.
How do I sign up?
The registration post-including detailed registration and payment information-is here. Membership is $85, and is limited to 100 attendees. You must be at least 18 years old to attend. The current list of attendees is here.
"Bitchin' Party"? Seriously?
"Bitchin' Party" became the unofficial name of the con after some of the concomm had the misfortune of watching a gloriously bad TV show called Dante's Cove. Don't worry, we're not using it unironically.*
*except that some of us totally are
Hotel Information:
The hotel is the Issaquah Hilton Garden Inn, located at 1800 Gilman Blvd, Issaquah, WA (here on Google Maps). The front desk number is 1-425-837-3600, and the fax number is 1-425-837-3635.
How much does it cost?
The con rate is $114/night for a single king bed, and $134 for up to four people (two queen beds), plus tax (currently about 12.4%). A small number of cots will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis upon check-in.
How do I reserve a room?
You must reserve your room by March 13, 2014 in order to receive the con rate and be in the room block with all the other cool kids con attendees. If you're looking for a roommate, check out the thread here.
To reserve a room online:
1. Go here.
2. Select your arrival/departure dates, and your number of rooms and guests.
3. Select your preferred bed configuration (one king or two queens).
4. Click “Continue.”
5. Enter the rest of your info, then “Book Now,” and you should be good to go!
NOTE: If you have ANY question or problem with the reservation process (for example, if you did not get the correct rate quoted to you, or it says it doesn't have your preferred bed configuration available), PLEASE call the toll-free number at 1-877-STAY-HGI and talk to a real person (tell them you're reserving for the Pacific Writers' Conference). If for some reason that still doesn't resolve things, contact me (Brynn) at brynnmck [at] gmail [dot] com and I will contact the hotel myself. (If you are outside the US and can't contact the hotel without being charged long-distance rates, I'd also be happy to contact the hotel for you and save you the money.)
To reserve over the phone:
Call the main reservation line at 1-877-STAY-HGI and tell them you're reserving for the Pacific Writers' Conference (that is our sekkrit spy codename to civilians!). Make sure you specify whether you'd like a king room or two queens. Again, if you have any trouble-if they tell you our block is full or that the con rate isn't available-contact me at brynnmck [at] gmail and I will contact the hotel myself.
Hotel Amenities
Room amenities include:
- mini fridge
- microwave
- 25-inch flatscreen HD TV (and yes, you are welcome to hook up a DVD player if you have one--the TVs have component cable [red/yellow/white] inputs and S-Video inputs)
- CD/MP3 capable alarm clocks
- FREE wireless high-speed internet throughout the hotel
Hotel amenities include:
- on-site restaurant (including a bar)
- room service
- pool and hot tub
- fitness center
- free parking
- complimentary shuttle available for transport within a five-mile radius of the hotel
Check-in starts at 3 p.m., check-out is at noon. The con will be providing hors d’ouvres and a cash bar on Saturday night, a full breakfast on Sunday morning, and some snacks and beverages throughout both days. We'll post a complete menu in late March/early April. NOTE: We are NOT allowed to bring our own outside snacks into the meeting room. You are, however, welcome to eat or drink whatever you like in your own room.
Area Amenities
Within walking distance of the hotel, you'll find several fast food options, a couple of restaurants, a grocery store, a Starbucks (of course), and a liquor store.
Within easy driving distance and within the range of the complimentary hotel shuttle, you'll find practically anything else you might need, including lots of food options, Costco, drugstores, Target, various banks, an organic grocery store, etc.
Maps will be included with your welcome packet when you arrive. If you want to check out the lay of the land before then, Google Maps is your friend (see the hotel link above).
Con events
The con will officially run from 9 a.m. on April 12th until 5 p.m. on April 13th, which some unofficial activities to get the ball rolling on the evening of April 11th.
Panels
Panels are being organized by the lovely me_maneuver. We will start planning those very soon!
Vidshow
There will be a vidshow on Saturday night, coordinated by the most excellent
fiercynn and
scribe.
Room parties
Room parties are totally encouraged! Please note, however: NO alcohol is allowed in the main con ballroom (except via the cash bar on Saturday night). Feel free to drink/eat whatever you want in your sleeping rooms.
A list of things we will not have, because we are all casual and stuff:
No celebrity guests (y'all are rockstars enough for us)
No art show
No dealers
No free meals besides hors d’ouvres on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday
What we do have is LOVE, people. SO MUCH LOVE. And bacon!
Getting to the con: By air
Airport
You'll probably want to fly into Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) International Airport.
Getting from the airport to the hotel
The hotel is about 20 miles from Sea-Tac. The most affordable option is to take the light rail and connect to a bus; the light rail will get you from the airport to downtown Seattle for $2.50, and from downtown, there are several buses to Issaquah (average $2.50 fare) that will drop you off at the Issaquah Transit Center on 17th Ave NW, less than half a mile from the hotel (see the Metro Online site here for more info). Otherwise:
- Taxi (in the vicinity of $55-$65 plus tip); the Seattle area also has Uber and Lyft, if you're looking for taxi-like alternatives
- Shuttle service ($27 each way for one person in a shared van, $125 for an exclusive van service for up to 10 people, $102 for an SUV for up to 5 passengers, etc.)
- In the past, we've done our best to coordinate airport trips between local drivers and out-of-town attendees. However, every time we've done this, it's ended up meaning that at least one or two drivers have missed significant portions of the con due to a large number of airport runs, and that doesn't seem fair. So this year, we're opening up a thread where attendees can work out cab/shuttle-shares amongst themselves. That will be posted as the con gets closer.
- Rent a car (see below for driving directions)
Getting to the con: Not by air
The thread for roadtrip coordination (NOT including transportation from the airport) is here.
By train or bus
Amtrak and Greyhound both have stations in downtown Seattle. From there, you're about a 20-minute drive away from Issaquah. See below for driving directions. Local bus service is, as I said, not all that comprehensive, but it is pretty easy from downtown--the Metro Online site is here if you'd like to check out your options.
By car: driving directions
- As long as you are not east of Issaquah (including from Sea-Tac airport), take (as applicable) I-5 N, I-5 S, I-405 N, or I-405 S to I-90 E (toward Spokane). If you're east of Issaquah, take I-90 W.
- From I-90, take exit 15 (WA-900 / 17th Ave NW).
- Turn right at the light onto 17th Ave NW.
- About a block down, turn right onto Gilman Blvd (by the Burger King).
- The hotel will be about a block ahead of you on your right, behind the John L. Scott building. The hotel is here on Google Maps.
Getting to the con: Other
Travel by Bifrost, tour bus, dog sled, Goat Van, stargate, wormhole, battlestar, firefly, TARDIS, Leviathan, Chevy Impala, or similar to be arranged by individual attendees.
Roommates, rideshares, and airport transportation coordination
Roommate thread is here.
Rideshare thread is here.
A thread to coordinate cab/shuttle-share from the airport will be posted as the con gets closer.
Weather
It does not, in fact, rain ALL the time in Seattle. However, in the springtime, it tends to rain quite a bit. Bring a waterproof jacket if you have one, and maybe an umbrella if you plan to be out and about. Temperatures will probably be in the 50s. Basically, layers are highly recommended-not only is Seattle weather changeable (it snowed at our first BP; MADNESS), but so are hotel temperatures (especially in meeting spaces, where they tend to crank the air conditioning), so being able to take off/add clothes as necessary is your best bet.
Tourist information
Downtown Seattle is about a 20-minute drive from Issaquah. For information about tourist activities available in the area, you can visit this site.
Who's flying this thing?
General questions/concerns/etc. should go to brynnmck at either pacificon08 [at] gmail or brynnmck [at] gmail (or via LJ PM). This insanity was my idea, so I am totally here for you if you need anything.
Questions about registration should go to brynnmck, as well.
Questions about panels should go to me_maneuver.
Questions about the vidshow should go to
fiercynn or
scribe.
We're trying to tag posts as much as possible for ease of navigation. To view all the tags for the community, go here.
See you in April!