::reminiscent smile::

I remember that elevator ride. The guy hesitating on the threshold, someone assuring him, "It's okay, we don't bite." Him stepping inside with an ingratiating grin. And as the doors slide shut, "Unless you ask nicely."

I'd like the chance to do that again. Can we actively seek a religious convention?

Cincinnati. July. Let's go. [link]

Him stepping inside with an ingratiating grin.

you forgot "trying not to stare at Vortex's breasteses on display"

That was definitely an elevator ride to remember.

I heard that story years ago, Matt, but in the version I heard, it was a Larry Niven/Old Time Religion filk, which started something like this:

Give me that pro Larry Niven,
Give me that pro Larry Niven,
Give me that pro Larry Niven,
He's good enough for me.

So the Ringworld is unstable,
So the Ringwold is unstable,
It's the best that he was able,
And it's good enough for me.

t / natter

Cincinnati. July. Let's go. [link]

I know what The Boy and I will be doing for fun that weekend.

somoene's filk version of "Old Time Religion"

I once sang that song on-stage as part of a group. My solo was the verse that rhymed "Aphrodite" with "see-through nightie."

And there are plenty of places near Madison where scandalizing people is like shooting fish in a barrel.

Then there's Club 5, which has, I believe, a weekly drag queen show. We also have a group of drag kings, but I'm not sure if they hang at Club 5, too, or somewhere else.

Okay, I'm shamelessly cribbing from my 2005 MSP proposal, just to throw something in the ring. If people want me to follow through and get more info, please let me know.

Minneapolis Update:

I've concentrated on the downtown area, as that is the place that has the best hotels with the most to do and the best public transport.

Hotels range from $109-159. I've put in a request for a group bid, but I've not gotten the information yet.

Public Transport

The Light Rail runs between the Mall of America/the airport and downtown Minneapolis. Light Rail and buses are the same fare - $1.25 for 2.5 hours ($1.75 weekday rush hour) - and go all over the Cities.

Taxi rates are reasonable, but taxis can be difficult to find once you're out of the Downtown area or the airport. They are all over Downtown.

Eating and Drinking

There are restaurants everywhere. All kinds of restaurants, from the hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese soup place to three Irish pubs within spitting distance of each other to good Tex-Mex to barbeque to Thai to chi-chi American to French.... I can easily go on. One of the best places to go for food is along Nicollet Aveune just out of Downtown. It's called "Eat Street", and it has, well, everything.

There are also bars everywhere. Prices are middle-of-the-road - bottled domestic beer, $3; vodka tonic, $5; specialty martini, $8. This will naturally go up or down, depending on where you go.

Shopping

Holy moley, is there shopping. Minnesotans love their shopping, especially at a discount (no sales tax on clothing!). Hence, I offer you:

The Mall of America and The Albertville Outlet Mall.

There is also a heck of a lot of shopping downtown, including the two-level Target.

But wait! There's more!

Other attractions include:

The most live theaters outside of New York City
A ton of galleries in downtown
The Foshay Tower
The Sculpture Garden
The Walker
Minnesota Zoo
Valleyfair
Ground Zero, home of Bondage A Go Go (meara's been there)
Psycho Suzi's - awesome tiki lounge
Ike's Food & Cocktails

St. Anthony Main, home to the historic mills (aka Pillsbury, Golden, etc.)
Mill City Museum
Fort Snelling
An extensive park system, with trails all around the city.
Steamboat rides along the Mississippi
Uptown
The Quest - the club formerly owned by Prince
Speaking of the Purple One, Paisley Park
Central Avenue

Airline Prices

Booking early is best, as NorthWest likes to screw people over if it can. Current prices are ranging from $200 - $400.

Weather: Average high for early May is 72 degress, average low is 50. It's generally pleasant late spring weather - mostly sunny, a few showers.

I will be happy to provide more in-depth information as requested.

DC was also the year I overheard the bartender on his cell phone. "No man, you should see this! There's tiaras--yeah, for real. And not just the women. And corsets--man you would NOT believe. And a guy in a skirt, and people running around in leather and those feather scarf things. I'm telling you."

I thanked him on his way out of Prom. He grinned, really wide. "No.Thank YOU."

Okay, is that enough appetite whettage for the moment?

DC - my first F2F! and the Buffistas came to ME! - was the one where we had people sticking their heads in and asking rather wistfully if they could join.