I just sent a cranky email to the hotel that has totally ignored my previous emails.

Also, Salem could be a fun day trip for folks who are interested in checking it out. I'd definitely highly recommend that.

(It's on my list. Twice, actually.)

I have been woefully lax in nagging the NYC Visitors Bureau people, who promised to get back to me by the end of July, and have not.

There's a brand-spanking new Holiday Inn Express a few blocks from my apartment, which would be perfect (good rates, free wireless internet, free continental breakfast), except that it's an Express, and has no suites or meeting rooms. Sooo....nevermind. But I'm not giving up! Brooklyn is too cool a place not to be crawling with Buffistas.

we could stay at the Express and have the party someplace else, maybe?

I'm definitely looking into that, yeah. It's in a perfect location -- not right in the middle of everything the way the Marriott is, but (a) much cheaper, and (b) free wireless internet & breakfast. I have a few places in mind within easy walking distance that would make good Prom locations, if we can afford to rent them out.

serial: got off the phone with the second hotel. The hotels here are relatively small and May and June are just too busy with weddings and graduations to accomodate our group at the rates we want. Rooms would be more in the $140-150 range, and we'd likely need to split over 2 hotels. So, unless I hear a clamoring for more info despite this preliminary research, I am pulling Salem from the ring.

If we end up in Boston, though, I'll get back in and try to organize an outing up here.

I can talk to a bar owner I know, Jess.

I can talk to a bar owner I know, Jess.

Yay!

Go Boston! Choose Boston!

Oh, I suppose I need more than that. Well, let’s see what I can come up with. How’s this?

First off, Greater Boston is . . .
• America’s Walking City
• The Gateway to New England
• Food & Wine
• House & Gardens
• The setting for Ally McBeal, The Perfect Storm and Cheers!
• A leader in Technology, Medical and Academic Institutions
• The closest U.S. Destination from the United Kingdom and Ireland
• Friendly – Safe
• European in Style
• Cultural – Historical
• A Four-Season Destination
• A Shopping Mecca

So…

100 (Whoops! 50!) Reasons Why Boston and the Buffistas are the OTP for F2F 2007

1. Red Sox for Suzi (I tease, because I love)
2. Salem for Jilli
3. Jilli in Salem for everyone else
4. 5 bajillion hotels and locations to work with, and that’s just those close to public transportation
a. Ease of one-stop RFP sending on meetingpath, getting us absolutely the best deal (which, ok, maybe only exciting to me, but you all get to benefit from it)
5. Three airports people could fly into: Logan, Providence, Manchester. Plus Bus Station and Amtrak for even more travel options
6. Potential of no car rentals necessary (except for maybe a few big cars for group outings)
7. Lots of localistas for planning/helping
8. Lots of wonderful salons for a repeat of the mani/pedi trip
9. Most everything is walkable, but when it’s not, the public transportation is excellent
10. Mostly handicapped accessible, but would have to plan ahead a bit (some of the T stations stupidly don’t have elevators)

11. Great potential day trips:
12. The Freedom Trail
13. Hell, lots of historical sites…too many to list
14. Great historical cemeteries
15. Duck Tours
16. Museums galore
17. Mansion Tours
18. Plimoth Plantation (about an hour away)
19. Salem (filled with museums and all kinds of other fun things) (about an hour away)
20. The Cape (about three hours away)
21. Old Sturbridge Village (about an hour away)
22. New Hampshire tax-free shopping trip (about an hour away)
23. Crafters’ shop hop (would be customized based on interest, but could include yarn, fabric, beads, scrapbooking, etc.)
24. Shopping in general (Newbury Street is fun) (actually, could be combined with mani/pedi trip…great place on Newbury Street where they do your feet and hands at the same time)
25. Whale Watching
26. Sailing and other boating
27. And many more!

28. Beautiful sites to see and stroll (and FREE!):
29. Cambridge/Harvard
30. Arnold Arboretum
31. Charles River/Esplanade
32. Boston Common/Public Gardens/Swan Boats/Frog Pond
33. Walden Pond (about 35 minutes away)
34. Lexington/Concord/Minuteman Park
35. Waterfront
36. Boston Harbor Islands
37. And many more!

38. Great restaurants at all price ranges (REALLY fabulous seafood, but lots of other stuff too)
39. Great local coffee shops for early risers (well, and late-risers and those that need a pick-me-up later in the day)
40. Entertainment, if wanted (but, really, we’re our own entertainment)
41. Liberal environment
42. Great local bookstores that Buffistas could get lost in for hours
43. Beautiful architecture
44. New England weather (if you don’t like it, wait five minutes)
45. Everything is close. Including other states! It’s crazy.
46. Beautiful in general
47. Running out of time…
48. Not gonna make it to 100
49. Let’s try to make it to 50
50. Oh, look! 50! Go Boston! Choose Boston!