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Holy Sh*t! - Convergence!
Jul. 2nd, 2010 01:40 pmConvergence has become GINORMOUS!! I went over on Thursday evening after work, thinking it might be a good idea to get registered before it got really crowded. Too late - at 7pm on Thursday evening the hotel was pretty much packed and there wasn't a single empty spot in the Radisson parking lot. I finally parked in the Sofitel lot, as everyone else seemed to be doing at that point (bet the Sofitel loves that). The registration lines weren't too busy as it turned out, but everything else sure was. Almost half of the cabana party rooms were open. And there was programming going on until after midnight! On Thursday night! And it seemed to be reasonably well attended, along the lines of 30 or so audience members.
Having just intended a quick stop by to get registered and check out the locations of things, I was totally overwhelmed by the crowds. I stopped at the first quiet oasis I encountered - Krushenko's - to mellow down a little bit and get some alcohol into my system (I cope with crowds WAY better after a drink or two.) Not to say that Krushenko's was empty, just relaxed. I chatted with Eric and a few others whose names I didn't get about programming items and local politics and this and that while downing a Blue Moon. This gave me strength to forge on to the consuite, which was busier than it usually is at Convergence. Talked to a bearded craftsman adorned with hand made silver jewelry while waiting in line for salad and he told me an entertaining story about the necklace he was wearing that put me in mind of Isildur's ring. After the salad line I managed to make one pass through all 4 of the party hallways without freaking out from claustrophobia. Most of the parties were the type with elaborate decor, plastic all over the floor, and nowhere comfortable to sit. I still don't quite get the point of this type of party. They seem designed for people to walk in and out of like museum rooms, but not to linger. There are a few interesting exceptions to this rule on the far side of the 2nd floor: notably the Japanese Tea Room and something called Skeptachick, which features big comfy white pillowed beds and an inscrutable premise. Maybe I'll figure it out on my next visit.
Worn out by one circuit around the con, I started to consider going home. I did have to work on Friday, after all. But I ran into Joe and Andrew about that time and Andrew was moderating a panel in a few minutes that sounded interesting ("The Gay Pill") so I decided to go to it. It was an intriguing premise and a pretty decent panel, although not intensely exciting. The panelists kept thanking the audience for being so respectful, leaving me to wonder if perhaps a teeny bit less restrained respectfulness might have made the discussions a little livelier. But on the whole a good choice for a first programming item.
It was by then 11pm and I was still heading home. I went out the back door and found myself smack in the middle of the Outdoor Smoking Consuite. Inconvenient as this venue may be for the smokers it works out really well for people like me who can't tolerate smoky air but have to admit that the smokers always seem to have the best party suite. I was greeted excitedly as "Amber's Mom" by a variety of people I vaguely recognized, stopped to chat a bit, then started for my car one more time. Then I heard a group of voices actually calling me by my given name. It turned out to be Sue and Chris and a couple of Brusts (Aliera and, surprisingly, Steve)! Couldn't pass up that good company, so I hung out for another hour or so before that little party finally broke up. I think this was the best part of my evening. I eventually made it home about 1:30. A slightly intimidating start to the con, but ultimately a pleasant time.
Tonight will probably be a lot like last night, except I'll arrive on the scene even later. Not only am I (allegedly) working today, I have no intention of giving up my Friday night skating session in Eden Prairie, which ends at 8:45.
How's everybody else doing? Having fun?
Having just intended a quick stop by to get registered and check out the locations of things, I was totally overwhelmed by the crowds. I stopped at the first quiet oasis I encountered - Krushenko's - to mellow down a little bit and get some alcohol into my system (I cope with crowds WAY better after a drink or two.) Not to say that Krushenko's was empty, just relaxed. I chatted with Eric and a few others whose names I didn't get about programming items and local politics and this and that while downing a Blue Moon. This gave me strength to forge on to the consuite, which was busier than it usually is at Convergence. Talked to a bearded craftsman adorned with hand made silver jewelry while waiting in line for salad and he told me an entertaining story about the necklace he was wearing that put me in mind of Isildur's ring. After the salad line I managed to make one pass through all 4 of the party hallways without freaking out from claustrophobia. Most of the parties were the type with elaborate decor, plastic all over the floor, and nowhere comfortable to sit. I still don't quite get the point of this type of party. They seem designed for people to walk in and out of like museum rooms, but not to linger. There are a few interesting exceptions to this rule on the far side of the 2nd floor: notably the Japanese Tea Room and something called Skeptachick, which features big comfy white pillowed beds and an inscrutable premise. Maybe I'll figure it out on my next visit.
Worn out by one circuit around the con, I started to consider going home. I did have to work on Friday, after all. But I ran into Joe and Andrew about that time and Andrew was moderating a panel in a few minutes that sounded interesting ("The Gay Pill") so I decided to go to it. It was an intriguing premise and a pretty decent panel, although not intensely exciting. The panelists kept thanking the audience for being so respectful, leaving me to wonder if perhaps a teeny bit less restrained respectfulness might have made the discussions a little livelier. But on the whole a good choice for a first programming item.
It was by then 11pm and I was still heading home. I went out the back door and found myself smack in the middle of the Outdoor Smoking Consuite. Inconvenient as this venue may be for the smokers it works out really well for people like me who can't tolerate smoky air but have to admit that the smokers always seem to have the best party suite. I was greeted excitedly as "Amber's Mom" by a variety of people I vaguely recognized, stopped to chat a bit, then started for my car one more time. Then I heard a group of voices actually calling me by my given name. It turned out to be Sue and Chris and a couple of Brusts (Aliera and, surprisingly, Steve)! Couldn't pass up that good company, so I hung out for another hour or so before that little party finally broke up. I think this was the best part of my evening. I eventually made it home about 1:30. A slightly intimidating start to the con, but ultimately a pleasant time.
Tonight will probably be a lot like last night, except I'll arrive on the scene even later. Not only am I (allegedly) working today, I have no intention of giving up my Friday night skating session in Eden Prairie, which ends at 8:45.
How's everybody else doing? Having fun?
