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ajtaylor (1283)

ajtaylor
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http://www.drewtaylor.com/

Journal of ajtaylor (1283)

Wednesday April 09, 2003
04:49 PM

To OSCon or not to OSCon

[ #11557 ]
I'm trying to figure out how much it would cost me to go to OSCon. I don't need to stay at the Marriott for $129/night, so I'm wondering what are some good alternatives. Important considerations: transportation to conference (may or may not rent a car), cost, food, and amenities. I don't need anything fancy, just a decent place to sleep.

Also, I would be going alone so I'd also be interested in a roommate. I noticed on the OSCon page there is a roommate list, so perhaps I'll subscribe to that as well. Any one going that wants to bunk w/ a boring non-smoker/drinker like me? (I'm really not boring, I just abstain from a lot of things. :-)

Also, I know I'm going to be hitting Powell's Books. What other attractions are "Must See" in Portland? How much spending money will I need? I'm planning on $50-100 for the bookstores (my wife will kill me)...


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  • Be aware that Powell's City of Books (the mothership) is about 4 blocks from Powell's Technical Books. Don't go into one confusing it with the other. {grin}

    And only $50? Maybe you'll make it out for only that much. {grin}

    --
    • Randal L. Schwartz
    • Stonehenge
    • Well, in my defense I mentioned a range for my book budget.

      So you're telling me I'm going to have to stay away from 2 great bookstores? Why did you have to go and tell me that? Did I say only $50? I meant to say $150. My wife is REALLY gonna kill me. If the extra weight from the books doesn't do me in first. :-)

      --
      "Perl users are the Greatful Dead fans of computer science." --slashdot comment

  • You can get away without a car pretty easily. The MAX [tri-met.org] runs from the airport right by the hotel and all the way out to blissful suburbia in the west and less-blissful suburbia in the east. There's a stop just a few blocks from Powell's and Powell's Technical, and they're in the free downtown zone. (To and from the airport isn't free, but $1.55 or so each way is cheaper than a taxi or a rental car.)

    This town's nice to pedestrians.

    • A few corrections.

      MAX's closest approach to the conference hotel is about six blocks (and I don't call that "right by"). If you're rolling your roll-a-board, it's probably OK, but if you have checked luggage without wheels, it might be a bit of a drag. (Note to chromatic: were you confusing the Marriot Marquis on Broadway with the waterfront "downtown" Marriott? The conference hotel is the latter, and less centrally located, unfortunately.)

      MAX doesn't go close to either of the Powell's. However, onc

      --
      • Randal L. Schwartz
      • Stonehenge

      • Yeah, I had confused the two hotels.

        I do count Powell's as fairly close to MAX, though. It's a five-minute walk from the station at 9th -- that's my preferred stop!

  • The 24-hour Church of Elvis used to be a short walk from Powell's technical bookstore. I believe that it's moved somewhere nearby.
  • I mentioned in my journal [perl.org] a week or two back that I had negotiated a group hotel rate at a nearby hotel within 1 mile of the Marriot. It's $79/night for a room, there's free wireless, and it's near Powell's. I haven't sent them back the final paperwork I need to send, but I will do so soon and post an update in my journal.
    • Ah ha! I thought I had read a journal entry that mentioned this. I'll take a look.

      (reads journal entry)

      Great info. Thanks! I like the wireless access, but I'd have to swipe my wife's windows laptop for a few days & buy her a wifi card. Oh wait, I wanted to get one anyway. :-) Now I have a couple more months to make her see the light of OS X so she can have access to a computer while I'm away...

      --
      "Perl users are the Greatful Dead fans of computer science." --slashdot comment
      • The hotel does rent out wireless cards, apparently. But they're damn cheap, so buying one might be worth it.

        Anyway, $79/night is a really good deal for a downtown Portland hotel, whether or not you use the free wireless.
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