I think Erin volunteered to plan KC.

I know I said I was rooting for Minneapolis, but ooh.

Jess, that appears to be an expired link.

As I said previously, I'll volunteer to be point person for Central Texas (Austin/San Antonio are only an hour or so apart so I could coordinate on the ground either place fairly easily.)

Also, to pimp Texas a bit further, there's a fantastic urban/country mix in Central Texas. It would, for example, be possible to stay in a fairly scenic spot for slounging and Buffista-intensive-activities, and be close to more urban delights like museums, shopping, and a hugely eclectic nightlife scene.

IJS.

Cereal to add:

I also endorse Java's RFP idea. I'm all for the apple/apple comparison.

I think a few the one she posted here is an excellent one to use as a foundation.

Toronto: John Sweden
Kansas City: Erin (?)
Minneapolis: Juliana
Austin/San Antonio: Astarte
New Orleans: Heather
Cleveland: Deena

Heather volunteered to plan NO, and (ahem) I've volunteered to plan Cleveland like 3 times now.

I love Austin. I would be distracted there by a large contingent of my friends who aren't Buffistas, but that's moot. It's a great little city, as is San Antonio. It will be quite hot, though, in May. I know some people were concerned about that.

I have always wanted to see NOLA, but again, I can see heat being an issue there as well beause, well, swamp. Kansas City intrigues me, Don't know enough about it to say much more...but isn't it also quite hot? I love the heat, but I don't want people to be miserable.

So I'm thinking my vote would be for a little bit north--I've never been to Minneapolis or Toronto or Cleveland and would be equally happy there.

I did want to say, though, that DC is not always as hot in May as it was this past weekend. (And, in a desperate bid for 2007, New England is gorgeous in May!)

There are a few people who could help with KC, including ND and Aurelia, plus isn't Gudanov near there?

If people are really interested in Nashville, I could be the point person. I don't live there now, but my family lives there and I go there five or six times a year. I could coordinate family visit with hotel inspections. I suspect that Nashville is not going to be cheaper, however, because it's both a convention and a tourist town. The cheapest hotel rates are usually in convention-oriented towns like Atlanta and even Vegas, because the hotels have rooms to fill on the weekends. There is a fair amount to do in Nashville and some great music, but there is effectively no public transportation.

still waiting for the rest of Beverly's report

Is Chicago off the list because we already went there? Because it was cheap and convenient to just about everybody. Plus things to do.