Since two other people like the idea of New Orleans, I thought a bit of research and insight might sway a few more. The city would be great for August, which is what we're leaning for because of everyone's schooling and Gio's healing, because the worst of the heat will be gone(well, I don't know how well Northerners may like it, who knows). Now, the nitty-gritty!

The two best options as far as hotels are the Holiday Inn Chateau deMoyne and the Royal St. Charles Hotel. Royal St. Charles is $59 a night and Chateau deMoyne is $88, but deMoyne is about as close as you're going to get to the French Quarter without handing the clerk at the front desk your firstborn child. It's literally a block away from Bourbon Street, and you're about five blocks away from the central French Quarter attractions. The Royal St. Charles is a couple blocks more, and that may not seem like much, but your feet are going to want to DIE after a day traipsing around New Orleans. The plus is that nearly everything that MUST be seen is within walking distance, but you don't have much of a choice since the streets aren't very accommodating to vehicles to begin with.

It's possible to get off-season ticket prices at the independent hotels(of which there are a LOT), but there's about a million of them and I have no idea what they consider off-season to begin with since New Orleans has a totally different tourist schedule(Louisiana has more festivals than stars in the sky). That's a project for only if we have a set date. There are super-cheap hotels across town(I found one for $44 a night), but keep in mind that parking is a royal bitch if you decide to go by car. And I don't have much experience with public transportation since I've never done it alone, but it seems like New Orleans has buses and trolley cars a-plenty(especially the trolleys; you see those everywhere).
http://www.norta.com/routes/

As for what exactly would be done, there's a ridiculous amount of things to do that are not only within walking distance from these hotels but contribute to the city's overall atmosphere of decadent decay that you have to admit is a bit appropriate for Utena. Breakfast of Cafe du Monde's famous beignets, watching the buskers and fortunetellers, going through shops and the giant open air flea market, museums, voodoo parlors, horse and buggy tours for when your feet get tired, and walking history, ghost, and vampire tours. Also, believe me, you don't have to have expensive gourmet food to eat well and authentically; the state's known for cheap yet mind-blowing food. Also, perhaps you have heard of the famous bars, stripclubs, and drive-thru daiquiri shops, but did you know that New Orleans has liquor stores that deliver? Let how AWESOME that is sink in for a moment.

Here's my very basic Google Map to give you an idea of walking distances and such:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&a … fdc1a7e134

Edit: Haha, it's all good. The forum's been screwy with me lately. Just glad it didn't happen again since this one originally double-posted as well. :dance

Last edited by Frau Eva (01-10-2010 09:21:23 PM)

I selfishly endorse the New Orleans venue, for it would be extremely easy for me to get there. Hell, I could drive there. It's about six hours by car from where I am. That would be great.

I'm voting for either Boston or New Orleans...or basically anywhere on the East Coast, as my experience of the States is limited to the South-West and Washington state. My vote may not count for much, mind you, considering I'm not entirely sure I can go yet...as I said, for me it's not a money issue, it's more about where I'm living at the time and what I'm doing for a job. If nothing changes between now and then, I'm cool, but if I go to Japan it'll be in August, so...yeah. But I'll know about that in a couple of months time, so...yeah! Thanks so much to all of you who are throwing in suggestions and costings and things though, it's so wonderful.

satyreyes wrote:

Clarice, it's worth noting that the other candidate cities are also not in the Southwest or Washington State, unless you count Denver as Southwestern, which is culturally iffy.  This is a very big country, and all of these cities are very different from the American cities you've visited so far. 

Ha ha, I probably lean towards the East Coast rather than the more central or mid-west States because if I come over, I'll be wandering over to Orlando and/or New York and possibly D.C. as well, depending on time constraints and how much money I can get away with spending. Also, if my parents move to Montreal, I'll likely stay as long as I can... I can always run to them in Canada and cry if I spend all my money...

I doubt I could make either one unless my tax refund is extra double-plus good, but New Orleans would be a billion times more likely for me than Boston.

Just to add to what Frau Eva said, tourist season in New Orleans is totally random. Any sort of vaguely major event will cause hotel prices to go up. Mardi Gras is even worse.

The good news is that nothing major tends to go on in August. Mardi Gras and Jazzfest will have passed, and Voodoo won't be until October, so you might be okay.

Yeah, to be honest, it is hot and humid and miserable down here in August. ):

This doesn't seem like it'll be in Minneapolis, though.
Oh, woe is me. I'll never make it to Rosecon.









I probably wasn't going to finish my costume in time any way.

I'm probably in the same boat as Aya and Anthiena.  But I'm going god knows where for grad school this fall, so maybe if it's late in the year I'll be able to make it somehow.

satyreyes wrote:

New Orleans... to be clear, Frau Eva, are you offering to organize it?  I'd love to go, if so.  I've never been there, and it scares me for no reason, which is all the reason I need to look for an excuse to drive there or hop on a plane!

If we do decide on New Orleans, I'd be willing to organize. I've been there a few times and am close enough that I can scope it out even more for a weekend if I wanted(as well as foodie relatives who know way too much about it), and I know I will definitely be going if it will be held there(the other cities depends on money, proximity, luck, etc). And if I can get a bunch of completely nutball anime fans to not lose themselves in Washington DC when I had pneumonia, I think this would be a piece of cake. Whatever we do is up to the forum though, but I would do whatever I could to make sure everyone has a fun and pretty affordable time in NO.

Well hey all~

I haven't checked in here for a long time... things get side tracked, and life keeps one busy. I never forgot about the site or anything, and I meant to check in on a bi-weekly basis, but somehow it just didn't happen....

I had a ton of fun back in '08 (that seems so long ago... time sure goes by), so I know I'd try to make it. Whether I could depends on where/when, of course, and I don't know my summer schedule yet by a long shot anyways.

I don't know how many of you have/haven't been to DC. I know Sexing Touga's from around here, and I am too. There's plenty of fun stuff to do, and I'd probably be up for organizing it here/coorganizing it here if I find out my summer schedule is relatively free. The Kenedy Center, Museums, Monuments (if that's your thing), good restaurants, awful sports teams... DC's got a bunch going for it. It's kind of half way between north and south too (although it'd be no fun for all you guys on the other coast).

Ps: I was going to post in the "reasons to be happy thread" before I saw this, but I finally got the "OHTORI" plates for my convertible. That's got to count as a reason to have it in DC too ^.~.

Last edited by Valeli (01-13-2010 07:11:25 PM)

We seem to be discovering that we need some way of making a decision   If no one wants to say "dammit I am holding a convention and here's when," like Gio did in '08, I guess the fallback is democracy!  I vote Boston, FWIW, but I'd come to any of the beautiful cities that have been presented as long as the time agrees with my schedule.

Mmm hmm, I think that makes sense.  That way we can choose an event rather than just a city.  So I guess... is the end of the month an okay deadline?  We need to give people time to make travel arrangements by August or so.  If you want to pitch your city, do it soon!  I outlined here some of the things that travelers are going to care about in a proposal.  Remember that most of us are budget-sensitive and like having stuff to do that gives us the opportunity to hang out together.  I'm totally stoked that it looks like this may actually happen!!!