As for how "serious" my suggestion is, it's just that--a suggestion. Lawrence is my favorite town in the whole wide world and I can't see anyone not enjoying it too. Have a look around the town's Web site if you like. I'm not offering my services for organizing because that would be a cruel, cruel thing to do to anyone, but I see it as being more comfy for Buffistas than KC; all KC does well is barbecue and jazz, and Lawrence has both of those too.

Holy crap! I can't believe Lawrence is being talked about for a possible F2F local. (I agree that Lawrence and KC are close enough that they would count as one location. It's about 35 minutes from Lawrence to downtown KC when traffic is non rush-y.) Meeeep. I have never met a Buffista but I would be very down with helping in anyway if Law/KC got chosen.

I could go on and on about how much Buffistas would like Lawrence and the very cool stuff there is to do in KC. But I'll just second what Mr. Broom said. Lawrence is an extremely cosmopolitan town that still has all the midwestern, uhm, charm, one would expect to find smack dab in the middle of the country. And KC is full of museums and cool touristy stuff to do (Negro Baseball League Hall of Fame, Jazz Museum at 18th and Vine, Science Museum at restored Union Station, Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, and a fantastic zoo and hey - more fountains than Rome - seriously). It's also pretty cheap food and hotel wise here.

Anyhoo. I'm excited. And excited in general that the F2F will be in the central U.S. even if it's not in KC/Lawrence.

t loves juliana, as usual

Here's a transcript of that sketch, on the right side. A Warm Welcome is the version I'd heard.

Hmm. I just thought of something. The projected date for 2005 F2F is the weekend of May 20, right?

If so, that is KU Graduation weekend - with commencement on May 22 (Sunday). Hotels will be jam-packed all weekend and going for their highest rates. Not to mention the town is like - well a town with a 4,000 college seniors and their parents all freaking out collectively. It's a fun atmosphere, for sure, but big crowds. And the hotel thing.

Believe me when I say I would love Lawrence to be considered for the F2F, but that is a bad weekend for semi-large group outings.

KC is not affected by KU graduation crazyness, though. Just thought I'd let ya'll know.

Ya know, I'll check those dates for NO colleges too- shouldn't be too much of an issue as far as availability (NO has plenty of accomodations) but may affect rates.

Good to know about Lawrence. Sounds like we should stick with KC. We could always get a group together for trip down to Lawrence from KC.

A Warm Welcome is the version I'd heard.

Me, too. I have it on video.

Minneapolis is much like NO in the college graduation issue. There's a reason why I'm concentrating on downtown.

UTSA commencement weekend weekend is May 14-15 2005.

UT in Austin is May 21-22.

If we decide on the Resort option, that won't effect too much as far as rates and availability, but it might effect airfares into Austin.

Astarte! Did you get to go see it?

Unfortunately, no. I suck.

Work ate me this weekend, starting with my bottom. I was going to try to take a break Saturday evening, but I was just fried by the time I was at a stopping point.

It's still gnawing on me, unfortunately, which means another late night tonight.

You do not suck. I just didn't get to go and I was wondering how the show was going. Perhaps next time she does something, I'll come down and take you out.