Boskone - wrap up
After the con - Tuesday 18th Feb
Tuesday morning I got up and looked out at the snow everywhere, piled up several feet deep by the snowploughs, people digging their cars out all across town. I continued to strike an irritating (to Bostonians) Pollyanna attitude, first to the aforementioned cold snap and then to the slush. "Sure," I said when it was cold, "but at least the snow is crisp and not horribly grey and slushy" Now I was saying "Well at least it's warmer!"
I checked out of the Sheraton, then went for afternoon Dim Sum with Susan Murosako, Martin Hoare, and Vince Docherty. Poor Susan was a little overworked trying to coax from three hung-over Englishmen more enthusiasm for slimy noodles and unidentified sea creatures. She could really have used a bit more backup from fellow locals. I enjoyed it even if I did ask plaintively if it couldn't have waited 'til the evening (no, apparently, dim sum is a midday meal). On to the Pour House for a drink then to Victor and Sheila’s place in Harvard again to stay the night on their couch with the cats.
Sheila treated me to American home cooking, chicken and cornbread. I've never had cornbread before; when I saw it on the table I thought Sheila had made a sponge cake for dessert.
Wednesday 19th Feb
On Wednesday morning I packed for the airport and said goodbye to my hosts. Ellen picked me up in her car and took me to Harvard Yard, where we visited the Fogg Museum of Arts, with Italian Renaissance painting. No time for the Museum of Science, as I discovered I was late checking in at Logan, and no time for Ethiopian lunch in Central Square either, so I said goodbye to Ellen and took the T.
Awful flight back with noisy family and child behind, kicking and poking the seats. Landed at Heathrow 05:30, home by 07:30, jet lagged and with a cold. Noticing the yellow haze on the horizon over the Thames Valley the next day made me realise just how blue the sky over Boston had been.
Summary
The Sheraton was a great venue, right in the middle of Boston with great restaurants nearby. I kept hinting that I’d like to go eat at one of the Legal Sea Foods chain of restaurants, but all the Bostonians I was with declared it had gone downhill since the good old days, so I never got to try it for myself. One day when I’m back in Boston with some other new-in-town folks, perhaps. I’m strongly tempted to go back for Noreascon 4 next year, when the Worldcon takes the Sheraton, the Marriott, and the Hynes Convention Centre, with the very handy mall outside for fast food.
I had a fantastic time, great food, old friendships renewed and new friendships made. I enjoyed Boston as a city, and Boston fans were very friendly, although there seem to be so many of them that they don’t all know each other!
I’d especially like to thank Ellen Brody and Susan Murosako for encouraging me to come, and help finding accommodation, and acting as native guides in Boston; Mike Devney for offering emergency crash space; Victor and Sheila for their hospitality, and Gary Feldbaum for the room share. My extra special thanks to Ellen for driving me around Boston and showing me the city, even when I wasn't as gracious a guest as such a gracious host deserves.
Thanks to everyone else whose friendliness and generosity I’ve forgotten to mention, and I hope to see some of you again at Torcon.
Tuesday morning I got up and looked out at the snow everywhere, piled up several feet deep by the snowploughs, people digging their cars out all across town. I continued to strike an irritating (to Bostonians) Pollyanna attitude, first to the aforementioned cold snap and then to the slush. "Sure," I said when it was cold, "but at least the snow is crisp and not horribly grey and slushy" Now I was saying "Well at least it's warmer!"
I checked out of the Sheraton, then went for afternoon Dim Sum with Susan Murosako, Martin Hoare, and Vince Docherty. Poor Susan was a little overworked trying to coax from three hung-over Englishmen more enthusiasm for slimy noodles and unidentified sea creatures. She could really have used a bit more backup from fellow locals. I enjoyed it even if I did ask plaintively if it couldn't have waited 'til the evening (no, apparently, dim sum is a midday meal). On to the Pour House for a drink then to Victor and Sheila’s place in Harvard again to stay the night on their couch with the cats.
Sheila treated me to American home cooking, chicken and cornbread. I've never had cornbread before; when I saw it on the table I thought Sheila had made a sponge cake for dessert.
Wednesday 19th Feb
On Wednesday morning I packed for the airport and said goodbye to my hosts. Ellen picked me up in her car and took me to Harvard Yard, where we visited the Fogg Museum of Arts, with Italian Renaissance painting. No time for the Museum of Science, as I discovered I was late checking in at Logan, and no time for Ethiopian lunch in Central Square either, so I said goodbye to Ellen and took the T.
Awful flight back with noisy family and child behind, kicking and poking the seats. Landed at Heathrow 05:30, home by 07:30, jet lagged and with a cold. Noticing the yellow haze on the horizon over the Thames Valley the next day made me realise just how blue the sky over Boston had been.
Summary
The Sheraton was a great venue, right in the middle of Boston with great restaurants nearby. I kept hinting that I’d like to go eat at one of the Legal Sea Foods chain of restaurants, but all the Bostonians I was with declared it had gone downhill since the good old days, so I never got to try it for myself. One day when I’m back in Boston with some other new-in-town folks, perhaps. I’m strongly tempted to go back for Noreascon 4 next year, when the Worldcon takes the Sheraton, the Marriott, and the Hynes Convention Centre, with the very handy mall outside for fast food.
I had a fantastic time, great food, old friendships renewed and new friendships made. I enjoyed Boston as a city, and Boston fans were very friendly, although there seem to be so many of them that they don’t all know each other!
I’d especially like to thank Ellen Brody and Susan Murosako for encouraging me to come, and help finding accommodation, and acting as native guides in Boston; Mike Devney for offering emergency crash space; Victor and Sheila for their hospitality, and Gary Feldbaum for the room share. My extra special thanks to Ellen for driving me around Boston and showing me the city, even when I wasn't as gracious a guest as such a gracious host deserves.
Thanks to everyone else whose friendliness and generosity I’ve forgotten to mention, and I hope to see some of you again at Torcon.