Where all four figures are so close, I'd say get prices for all weekends. There may not be any difference between the two north dates; and there may not be any difference between the two south dates, but it doesn't look like any of the proposed dates are too much of a factor, so why limit the organizers?

Very true. Sounds good to me!

That sounds good. OK, so people looking at planning, those are the dates. Is there anything else needed before people start putting together proposals? Should we say city proposals should be done by December 5? That gives about two and a half weeks to get hotel etc. quotes, which seems like enough time, but also gives enough time for voting before people start having too much holiday stuff to do.

Just to get an idea -- who's planning on putting together city proposals? Just wondering how much more deciding there'll be before we can get to actual planning.

I will do Durham. I'd love help.

I can help some with suggesting places and stuff like that in Durham, but since I've never been there, I probably won't be much more help than Google.

If whoever's planning Boston needs help, I can probably do a lot more there. My family goes to Boston a few times a year, and I know most of the hotels and stuff like that. (Well, not so many actually IN Boston, but all over the surrounding area. And a few in the city, too.)

Yeah, the help is more "hold my hand while I call this hotel" as well as "nag me so I actually call this hotel."

Heh. Yeah, I can do that.

I sort of volunteered to do Boston. I can organize like a demon, but I don't know the city very well, so your help would be great.

SFistas! I will be briefly in SF in a few weeks for work. I need a restaurant where I can invite maybe 20 people, do a brief presentation and have a (not too expensive) meal, something like Maggiano's. Can be in Oakland or SF. Suggestions?