I work just up the street from the event (Central and Thomas), and my wife and I make it a habit to eat out downtown once per month. That being said I’ve been to nearly every restaurant that was mentioned, if you’d like some serious insider information.
Well I just purchased a cell phone and a laptop for the convention, this should make it easier for us to keep in touch and decide where to meet on Saturday. I have been jonesing for a laptop for a long time, and the writers workshop was just the thing to push me into getting one.
I guess we can PM phone numbers to each other before the convention so we can network. I am sure you don’t want them plastered here on the forum for just anyone to stumble upon.
And as for the resturaunt… Well we wont know until that day which ones are being sieged by fans and Otaku, and we also will not know until then what we are in the mood for. So scout around and make calls right before the appointed time?
The best way to communicate at a con is texting or Twitter. Are we all on Twitter? Let’s make sure about that and Follow each other.
The walk to Old Spaghetti Factory might long from where we’ll be. All the other places mentioned are fine by me.
I for one am not a TWIT, sorry… But my new phone can text so that is an option.
That’s quitter talk.
Considering it’s graduation week for ConnerAZ and I’m already exhausted, I’ll own the quitter title.
Let’s all PM cell numbers then, since not all are on Twitter. Looking forward to seeing everyone!
My phone number has been PM’d to everyone in the thread. Shoot me a text with your forum name so that I can add it to me contacts!
I’ll be at PCC on Friday afternoon for a couple of hours, but then have to go home for graduation parties. Saturday I’m planning to get there by 7:30 to get in line for the Ballroom because I really want to see Nimoy.
Where is everyone starting their day on Saturday? Sunday is the same spot for me. Let’s make sure and text each when we arrive on site.
So excited!!!
Here’s the schedule for myself and The Lady Venona:
Thursday:
6:30 - Sci-Fi Tube Talk
8:00 - 400 Years of Jupiter Exploration
10:00 - 1011 Horror Film Trailer Preview
Friday:
10:30 - Steampunk 101
1:30 - Spotlight on Paul McGillion
1:30 - The Writer’s Room*
3:00 - Star Trek Lives Again
3:00 - Being a Newbie Writer*
4:30 - TNG’s The Inner Light - Behind the Scenes
6:30 - Zombie Walk
7:30 - Storytime with Wil Wheaton
Saturday:
1:30 - Leonard Nimoy (I don’t have my photo op schedule yet)
3:00 - Stan Lee
4:30 - Jamie Paglia’s Eureka
7:30 - Art Auction
Sunday:
10:30 - George Takei
1:30 - Chuck panel (Adam Baldwin and Robert Duncan McNiel)
3:00 - Aaron Douglass
*Denotes an event that The Lady Venona will be attending separately from me.
We’ll also be doing a lot of open gaming. I’m a member of the Star Trek CCG Continuing Committee, so I’ll be playing a lot of Star Trek at the Con, too.
This is mine so far, it could change once I get there of course and see new ads or displays or get updates from you all on stuff going on-
Sat
Dealers room 10-11:30
Nom noms 11:30-12
Building a Collection 12-1
Urban Fantasy Authors 1:30-2:30
Coloring and Toning 3-4*
How to draw any style 3-4*
Eat and Meet w GWCrs 4-6
Durarara Movie 6pm
The Girl who leapt through Space 7:30
Watch cosplay and music events and mingle… rest of the night
*Conflict! AAArrrgh!
Sun
Writers Workshop w Michael A. Stackpole 10:30-1 (This I cannot miss)
nom noms & dealers room 1-3
Advice for beginning writers 3-4
The rules of writing magic 4:30-5
Here is my schedule so far…
Thursday
6:30-7:30 - SF Tube Talk
8:00-9:00 - 400 Years of Jupiter Exploration
Exhibitor room the rest of the night
Friday
10:30-11:30 - Thinking Beyond the Book
12:00-1:00 - Lunch
1:30-2:30 - The Writers Room
3:00-4:00 - Adapting Myths and Folklore
4:30-5:30 - Zombie Creators Reveal Their Secrets
After 5:30 - Red Cross Blood Drive & Dinner
7:30-8:30 - Storytime With Wil Wheaton
Saturday
10:30-11:30 - Bruce Boxleitner
12:00-1:00 - Max Brooks
1:30-2:30 - Leonard Nimoy
2:30-3:30 - Real World Robotics and Computing
After that I am free for the GWC meetup
7:30 - Whenever - The Art Auction
Sunday
10:30-11:30 - Spotlight on George Takei
1:30-2:30 - Chuck panel
3:00-4:00 - Aaron Douglas and Paul McGillion
What are y’all planning to do for parking?
AZ Center parking garage for Thursday and Friday. Saturday and Sunday I might do the Camelback Park and Ride and take the light rail to the convention center just so I don’t have to hassle with traffic. Knowing me though, I’ll probably drive all 4 days anyway.
I’m arriving early on Sat/Sun , so parking close. Friday afternoon might be a problem.
I might skip Friday if I’m too tired from graduation the night before.
I work 2.5 miles away from the PCC/HRH, so I’ll be parking my work lot and taking the light rail to the CC. It’s a two block walk from the metro stop to the Con, so I think that will work out just fine.
What will they be charging for parking near the Con? I’m thinking that the $10.50 per head price on a 3-day metro pass and walking two blocks may be better, depending on parking prices near the Con.
I’ve never been to an event like this before, so I’m assuming that it will be ~$10 per day for parking like it would be for a sporting event?
There is a map here that shows all of the parking around the convention center.
http://www.aanp.org/AANPCMS2/Conferences/NationalConference/PhoenixConventionCtrPking.htm
Saturday I will use the convention centers parking, it will be 12 dollars for an all day ticket, but it will be close so I dont mind. Sunday I will use the Arizona Center parking garage and if there are one of those rickshaws around I have then pedel me to the event. I will simply either have dinner at Mi Amigos and have them validate my parking or go see a movie at the AMC theater there, they also validate parking. :groucho:
So if we are eating at the Arizona Center Saturday, maybe you all should park there, and when we go to eat later there you can have your parking tickets validated… huh…huh… am I clever or what? 
here is my schedule for Friday and Saturday
Friday:
10:30-11:30 Steampunk 101
12:00-1:00 iPad influences on the Comic Book World
1:00-3:00 walk the dealer room and eat
3:00-4:00 Star Trek lives again
4:30-5:30 TNG’s The Inner Light: Behind the Scenes
Saturday:
12:00-1:00 Steampunk weapons
1:30-2:30 Leonard Nimoy
3:00-4:00 Stan Lee
4:30-5:30 Mandalorian Armor and Prop building
6:00-7:00 Prop building R2-D2 Replicas
Against my better judgment, I’m going to give up this lurking thing I do and try to be more social. Here goes:
As it happens I will be in attendance, so If you see a big tall guy with long black hair and glasses next to pregnant chick, feel free to say "Hi’. It should totally freak her out… me too probably.
hrmmm… “big tall guy with long black hair and glasses.” Yeah, that should stand out nicely at a Comicon.
I’m going to jovially say “hi” to every tall dude with black hair and pregnant chick. Even if they’re not together.
Welcome aboard!