Arisia 2007 wrap up

[guenpanther.livejournal.com]

Arisia was good this year. IMHO the change in venue precipitated a new look/feel to the con, which gave it a proverbial breath of fresh air. The only drawbacks were the lack of elevators and the high price / low quality food, both of which can be remedied by pre-planning for next year.

I'm debating whether or not to start the Arisia 2008 StairMasters Club - a dedicated stair-taker club consisting of Arisia 2008 convention-goers, friends, and family. We'd spend the next 51 weeks taking stairs when possible, so when we hit the con we'd blow through the floors regardless of elevator availability!
Ok who's in? :-)

Comments

[penk.livejournal.com]

I managed to not take the elevators at all from arrival on Thursday through departure on Sunday (I worked reg). Paid 1 visit to the dealers room and art show, but a good half dozen visits to the staff den (on the 10th floor).

I think i'm already in the groove!

[xdaemon.livejournal.com]

The commentary in the Staff Den was that we needed signage on the stairwells saying: "Welcome to the Arisia 2007 Fitness Program!"

[jasra]

I'd join that club! I took the stairs almost all weekend and went to the Art Show and Dealers Room multiple times. :)

Lisa @ reg

[woodwardiocom.livejournal.com]

I'm debating whether or not to start the Arisia 2008 StairMasters Club

-So long as the charter of the club makes it clear that we take the stairs in part to save the elevators for those who can't take the stairs (e.g., are in a wheelchair), I'm in.

[chainkill.livejournal.com]

Why is that an important distinction? Some people do not feel their enjoyment of a con lessened by lack of elevator availability. Some do. Why is it an important distinction to make between people who just don't want to take the stairs and people who can't?

[woodwardiocom.livejournal.com]

Why is it an important distinction to make between people who just don't want to take the stairs and people who can't?

-I think that question would be better answered by one of the people who can't.

-My concern, however, was that Club members not affect some sort of moral superiority over those who use the elevators, since that would be offensive to people who have no choice (some of whom are my friends).

[chainkill.livejournal.com]

I was the secretary of a club which fought for handicap access on campus in college, so you and I are in agreement on this issue, but we look at it from differing perspectives. The vice president of the club was a girl who could take stairs (and did if she was angry enough), but it caused her wracking pain. People on crutches, or people who are overweight, or people who have cerebral palsy, or people with flat feet, can take stairs, but they don't necessarily want to.

(I'm actually really proud of that club. We got three elevators installed in four years. That's pretty good, I'd say!)

[guenpanther.livejournal.com]

I second that, as I had to use the elevators Sunday when my ALC injury acted up.

I'm going in for surgery on March 1st for an allograft (they're putting in a cadaver tendon... so will that classify me forever more as partially undead? ;-), so will be on the 'There in Spirit' member list for however long it will take me to recover (brace for 6 weeks, full recovery in 6 months).

[candle-light.livejournal.com]

Hiya J. This is an old co-worker from the Fuzzy Toilet Paper days, married to an old boffer sword person. Anyways, good luck with the ACL replacement. I had my left ACL replaced with an allograft (and a meniscus repair done at the same time) at the end of August. I was climbing lots of stairs at the con this weekend, which I was pleased I could do. If you have any questions about the recovery, feel free to drop me a line.

[sweetmmeblue.livejournal.com]

Also there are kids. My two couldn't walk 10 flights of stairs so we did the 2-3 that we needed to between their stuff but had to take the elevators for long trips.

3 using oneset of feet

[bridgetminerva.livejournal.com]

I feel that a club would be a great thing. I couldn't take the stairs even one flight this year. at 36 weeks pregnant with twins it was a no go. Next year I will have a stroller. If someone would help, I could do one - 3 floors without too much problem. But I would also take the width of the stairs with a double stollers.

As I have been on restrictive mobility for 8 weeks now I would never feel someone trying to work up the stamina to do an elevaor free con was putting me down. More power to them. I hope to join them in '09.

[chainkill.livejournal.com]

Count me in. I did that this year too! :-)

[archangelbeth]

Low quality food? The veggie wrap I got at the "cafeteria" in front of the escalators (first floor) was as good as the ones I got from room service at the Park Plaza, and the breakfast buffet on Sunday (where we ate instead of at the overflow hotel, which had high prices and zip-all selection for an ovo-lacto vegetarian who is not really Miss Scrambled Eggs) was quite good!

The elevators and shuttle service were my main grumbles.

(Also, that front room before the art show -- could that be made a Bag Check next year, assuming that the art show and dealer's room aren't swapped?)

[tamidon.livejournal.com]

not to mention the food trucks and the very well priced concession stands:pizza or hot dogs for 1.50, wraps for 4$,including veggie wraps?

[tehuti.livejournal.com]

(Also, that front room before the art show -- could that be made a Bag Check next year, assuming that the art show and dealer's room aren't swapped?)

That is a great idea! I think keeping the art show on the top floor kinda works. Great views inside and outside from up there.

[cogitationitis.livejournal.com]

We deliberately asked the hotel to offer more vegetarian items than their usual.

[archangelbeth]

Oooo, and I thank both y'all and the hotel for doing so, then!

[quietann.livejournal.com]

I attempted to warn people pre-con about the elevators, and merely caused a minor flame war. However, I did do some extra stair climbing at work in the weeks before con, and found I could manage a few flights.

Hint for those who know they can't do ten or more flights: do what you can, then walk from one staircase to the next, repeat as necessary. I did this a couple of times and could manage the climb that way. The only problem with this method is that one has to pass the very tempting elevators along the way!

[bryttan.livejournal.com]

Um, I think you forgot the other problem: everytime you walk across a floor in the hotel you run into people you know & then you have to stop & talk to them.

I mean, really, all that social time is just a KILLER!!!!

:-P

[cogitationitis.livejournal.com]

I think we all knew the elevators were insufficient, but it's not something we can control. A con of more than 3 stories needs 8 elevators, and there's precious few hotels like that.

How about a Programming track for the Stairwell?

[cthulhia]

Considering the reverb, I'm thinking you could get some great sing-along, or just serenading, programming for the stairwell.

Re: How about a Programming track for the Stairwell?

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

I did hear the comment made, "Next year, World's Largest stairwell party!!!"

I think we should put couches on each landing, next to the doors, where they wouldn't be in the way. That would a) give people a place to rest when making the trek, and b) you could sit there and hang out with people.

Re: How about a Programming track for the Stairwell?

[mycroft.livejournal.com]

I hope you're joking. As someone who works load-in and load-out, I can tell you that adding 20+ couches -- and people were also asking for ones next to the elevators! -- is asking a lot.

Fold-up chairs might be practical, though. Costco has some padded ones that are pretty good.

Re: How about a Programming track for the Stairwell?

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

Yes, that was a joke. I mentioned this concept to someone on Security, and THEIR wince was enough. Security doesn't much like the idea of putting twenty-eight visually blocked public areas where people can hang out. . .

[cogitationitis.livejournal.com]

I would have loved to taken the stairs, and even did so a few times. However, like many people, my handicap is not immediately obvious: I have bad knees. On the level I'm fine, but sometimes even one step up can cause excruciating pain. (I can't ride a bike, either.)

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

Likewise... going down stairs is usually the worst.

[agharta75.livejournal.com]

You need to have the Health Club Ninjas at floor 15 with towels and water bottles. (I guess a shower would be impractical ... )