Vortex, I can go to dinner tonight. Metro accessible would be v. good, since I will need to hand over the keys, the car and the puppy to my DH before I can get there.

Epic, if you check in, I've been trying to call you, but your voicemail isn't set up, so I can't leave a message. Trying to figure out where you'll be this evening so I can pick a restaurant.

I'm totally keen on Minneapolis, Madison and Chicago.

Popping in to say that I would be good with any of these as well. I've been to Madison and Chicago but don't mind going back.

Would Houston count as central? I don't really have a horse in this race, since it's unlikely I'll be attending, but if people want another option, and Houston qualifies, I can write up some stuff.

I'd call Houston central. It certainly isn't east or west.

Is Erin too busy to put together a KC bid?

t batts eyes at Erin

Is Erin too busy to put together a KC bid?

If you keep batting your eyes at her she will be.

Vortex, Epic was planning on doing touristy things with her friend today, I think. She's also a late sleeper, so she might not be out and about, yet. I hope she'll be easier to reach on the phone this afternoon.

Houston in brief:

Pros:

• Fantastic food, with many different ethnic options available. Especially good Mexican and Vietnamese food, because of large resident populations, but also Indian, Japanese, Italian, Greek/Mediterranean, and so on. Lots of cost options.
• The Museum District -- Fine Arts, Contemporary Arts, and Natural Science are the big ones, but there are many other smaller museums both within the Museum District and outside of it. The Menil Collection includes a lot of excellent modern art, including the Rothko Chapel.
• The Galleria. Shop until you die.
• Likely affordable airfare. Both Continental and Southwest have hubs here.
• Me.
• The Johnson Space Center, which people might be interested in touring. You'd need a car, though.
• Culture! Houston has a symphony, an opera company, a ballet company, and the Alley theater, plus many smaller organizations. There are also clubs with live music, like the Mucky Duck.

Cons:

• Weather, maybe, depending on the date. It could well be hot and humid, depending on your tolerance.
• Hotels in the most likely area, the Galleria, would not be super-cheap, though there are a lot of options.
• I'm not sure how good public transportation is. There's a pretty extensive bus system, and there's a light rail line that runs from downtown to the Astrodome area, including the Museum District. I doubt people would want to stay downtown, though. Both downtown and the Galleria area have some walkability, but it depends what you want to see.

Um. Any questions?

ooh ... for Epic or anyone else who's interested - the National Portrait Gallery (9th and G Streets, NW, right at the Gallery Place Metro stop) has a picture of Steven Colbert hanging. It's temporary, it's one that was used as a prop on his show, but it might be worth checking on if you're in the area.

I have spoken to Epic!

She was on her way up the stairs of the National Archive.