JJ2ers West Coast Meeting in Mid-August

[Trafton]

We've narrowed it down to specifically August 16th-20th. Public transportation and hotel costs will be aided for those who need it, although if you don't, please consider donating to the community pot. <strike>I am destitute.</strike>

Be there or be sort of this weird, unpleasant rectangular shape that no one likes.

Well, as you know, we American Jazzers are in a perpetual state of jealousy about the organization skills of our European counterparts. So, on August 8th-20th (sometime during then, of course - not the entire time or we'd be at eachother's flag-waving, country-bombing throats,) we're going to meet in the capital of fried fish goods, San Francisco, California!

Of course, the northern Canucks are welcome too, and even people who aren't from the West Coast can come. Just be aware that you'll have to pay your own fare. I'd recommend train travel; it takes about three days to get across the country, unless you can afford the plane ticket, in which case STOP MAKING MONEY!!!

Here is the list of people that may be able to come:

Definite
iCeD (CA) - Confirmed.
Monolith (CA) - Confirmed.
Trafton (WA) - Confirmed.
VelKasha (CA) - Confirmed.
Violet CLM (CA) - Confirmed.
Elliot (CA) - Confirmed.
Black Ninja (WA) - Confirmed.
Spotty (BC) - Confirmed.
EvilMike (BC) - Confirmed.
Jill (WA) - Confirmed.
FireSworD (NM) - Confirmed.
Mephisto (BC) - Confirmed.

[Ninja]

i'm coming, trafton. you can't stop me.

[Risp_old]

Put me on the confirmed no list.

[Tik]

I can't come, too short of notice. Perhaps next year, or if those of us in the mad east have a meeting, maybe in Chicago. Or mcatis's apartment. I'm sure he'd be into that.

Next year, maybe. I'll have money then probably. I'm still happy I got to meet DS and Noveh last week. We have meetings, they are just small scale.

And hey, don't forget about Dethman! Ha.

[VashTheStampede]

i might come depending if im at berklee (in boston) or not.

[KRSplat]

No. I am Eastside, not Westside, (playa.)

And I have no reasonable way of getting there.

[Blackraptor]

Im going up to a cottage in august so no. D=

[Tubz]

Put me on some chance. I might be getting this job, and I might be starting soon.

[Spotty]

I'm still undecided ;D

[Radium]

Lucky for us East-Coasters, I have created a giant catapult capable of transporting us to the west coast in RECORD TIME.

[EvilMike]

I have a few suggestions.

<ol>
<li>Quickly throw together a website with all information on it. Update it frequently.
<li>Find a hotel and contact them about this. See if you can get a special discount for a "convention" or something else that sounds important.
<li>Make day by day plans so that no arguements occur as to what should be done.
<li>Give me money.</ol>

I really want to go to this thing, but there is a reasonable chance that I will not be able/allowed to. But since I want to be supportive, I will try to give as much help as I can regarding this.

[cooba]

Find a hotel and contact them about this. See if you can get a special discount for a "convention" or something else that sounds important.

Five Golden Star! =D

[FQuist]

Indeed Mike. To add: make up *backup* plans. If you go to some place and it rains, or if it's suddenly closed etc, have an alternative idea of what to do.

[KRSplat]

Or you could just hang out.

[Tubz]

Trafton I'm from Delaware, that's DE.

[KJAZZ]

Ah, I doubt I'll be able to go, even if I wanted to. That goes for Hugela as well. It would be cool to attend, however. ;P

Nice of you to think of me, or whatever.

BUT WHO TOLD YOU WHERE I LIVE?! :O

[GuMmYBeAr!]

i vote for mcatis' appartment in a future eastcoast meeting.

[Violet CLM]

The 16th-20th seems a free time period here. I await more information on times and locations, especially as Elliot says he will probably come along (unless something comes up).

[Shorty]

Wait, we actually set a date? Someone gimme the info, maybe?

..I could have done it all summer but Aug 16-20. I have college starting on Aug 18, so I'll be in MS...maybe we should start planning for next year so this doesn't happen again. Still, I want the info just in case.

[VelKa]

Wait, we actually set a date? Someone gimme the info, maybe?

..I could have done it all summer but Aug 16-20. I have college starting on Aug 18, so I'll be in MS...maybe we should start planning for next year so this doesn't happen again. Still, I want the info just in case.
Awwww geez. I would have loved to have ya come... unfortunately, this meeting was kind of spontaneous, actually. Also, I'm unable to meet anytime during July/early August, so we had to move the occasion to mid-late August. Maybe you could attend the US East meeting <s>if the Mad Easterners aren't going to be impressively lazy about everything</s>.

[Shorty]

Like the Easterners will plan anything. :P

[iCeD]

Alright, here's the fun part: Where we actually start listing off addresses of the places we're (at the moment) planning to go to. I suggest Trafton add this to his post when he can, it's pretty vital.

The San Jose Executive Inn (where we're planning on staying and such)
3930 Monterey Highway
San Jose, CA 95111
mapquest link (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?country=US&countryid=US&addtohistory=&searchtype=address&cat=&address=3930%20Monterey%20Hwy&city=San%20Jose&state=CA&zipcode=95111%2d3402&search=%20%20Search%20%20&searchtab=address)

The Exploratorium (most likely one of the first places we visit in SF)
at the Palace of Fine Arts
3601 Lyon Street
San Francisco, CA 94123
mapquest link (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?country=US&countryid=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=address&searchtype=address&address=3601+Lyon+Street&city=San+Francisco&state=CA&zipcode=94123&search=++Search++) website's directions (http://www.exploratorium.edu/visit/directions.html)

Japanese Tea Gardens
Tea Garden Drive
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, CA
mapquest link (http://yp.mapquest.com/main.adp?_dirskip=0&_dirsview=distance&_dirnamesearch=Japanese+Tea+Gardens&_dlc=1&_dis=0&_dgid=0%2c100953708&_dgskip=0%2c1&_diraction=map&_dircid=100953708&_diradid=0&_dircity=San+Francisco&_dirstate=CA&_dirlat=377750&_dirlong=%2d1224183&_dirzip=&_dby=&_dircat=&_diraddress=&_dirdma=4&_dirpid=)

Great America
[4100-4104] Great America Pkwy
Santa Clara, CA 95054
mapquest link (http://yp.mapquest.com/main.adp?_dirskip=0&_dirsview=distance&_dirnamesearch=Great+America&_dlc=17&_dis=0&_dgid=0%2c113823526&_dgskip=0%2c9&_diraction=map&_dircid=113823526&_diradid=0&_dircity=San+Jose&_dirstate=CA&_dirlat=373394&_dirlong=%2d1218939&_dirzip=&_dby=&_dircat=&_diraddress=&_dirdma=4&_dirpid=)

I doubt we will even need most of these, sans the hotel address. (we will probably have the directions ready on-hand) But I'll just put them here for reference.

While we don't have a finalized format for the trip, I suggest this:

August 16: Early birds, people flying in, etc. show up in the afternoon, make the hotel reservations, etc.
August 17: Day 1. Commute to San Francisco before noon, and just spend the day walking around, seeing various things, eating, etc. We would return to our hotel shortly after 5-6 PM.
August 18: Undecided day. We might see a movie or browse Silicon Valley. (or both, who knows) Same times for departing/returning to the hotel, I assume.
August 19: Great America day. We spend the morning (earlier this time, I'm thinking around 10 AM) and possibly the afternoon just hanging around the park, depending on how we feel. We'll return and possibly have a big dinner, that's up to discussion.
August 20: We eat breakfast, say our goodbyes and head back on the road. (or to other parts of the area, for those of you who have more to do)

I dunno. What do you guys think?

[Ducky]

What happens if someone can like...randomly show up, but hasn't told anyone? Like is miraculously able to come out to CA and happens to be there that weekend?

(BTW, as for the "mad" Eastern convention, if Paul and Sheep and I can have a LAN, I think we can pull together something bigger. Anytime someone drops a clue as to their wanting one, I'm in. Not to mention we've got Boston in our backyards.)

[VelKa]

What happens if someone can like...randomly show up, but hasn't told anyone? Like is miraculously able to come out to CA and happens to be there that weekend?
It would be rather nice, but a serious inconvenience. I wouldn't suggest it because we'd have to pick them up somehow, and the extra costs would kill me (and probably Trafton also). We're going to Great America, and I depend entirely on people telling me beforehand so I can buy tickets (they're normally fifty dollars, but I can get discounts if we buy them ahead of time). Furthermore, people who randomly show up will freak my parents out, I would imagine.

By the way, for those who are attending, please make some efforts to send me a photo of yourself.

[Monolith]

If Ducky was to miraculously show up, I'd defenently try to help out. :P

One thing that would be particularly helpful and neccessary is a map and timetable of bus routes for the area, since we will be relying mostly on public transportation.

The schedule is looking good so far. I'll be arriving Monday (16) night and leaving Friday (20) morning.

Velk already has a pic of me. And I'll be bringing a couple cameras.

[Xeno]

Too bad I can't join in. Even if us East Coasters could set up a place, I probably wouldn't be able to go there either (unless it would be within the boundaries of south-central PA, which I doubt).

I got college and work, anyhow.

[Ducky]

Well, I actually meant like, if I were able to come out, would it be possible to get in touch with the lot of you, find out where you are, where I can meet you and stuff.
I wouldn't inconvenience you by having to get a room somewhere awkward or by needing a transport anywhere. Or at least, I'd probably be set up somewhere beforehand.
(Anyway, this is entirely theoretical. I've been hoping for a trip to California to meet someone and there was a possibility that it could coincide with your weekend. But more than likely we'll have to wait until the mad Eastern get-together.)

[Kaz]

My mom gave me permission, I have monies, and I have a cheap plane ticket first class at the cost of a railroad ticket. Hahahahaha



I'm so full of hate right now, School starts on the 18th. If you plan to do this again, can you make it July as most semesters seem to start in August? Kind of selfish to ask eh?

[Monolith]

So how are things going for this? We should probably be making hotel reservations if we've figured out how to arrange everybody.

[Trafton]

Also, make sure to mention hotels.com when you register and ask for a 30% discount. I've received reports that a 20% discount is the only possible amount, but ask for 30% anyway since there used to be a similar offer on the site.

[Monolith]

Already done.

[Monolith]

Hey, iCeD is rooming with me, however I'll be there Monday night and he won't be coming till Tuesday. That means I'm kind of looking for someone to room with for that first night. If anyone hasn't made reservations yet and maybe has the same situation as I, contact me.

[Violet CLM]

Yeah, so, we made a reservation. Ok. Page.

[Spotty]

I am arriving on the 17th in san francisco by airplane, at 9:25 am, I'm wondering where I should meet everyone since that's the day when the "walking tour of san fran is". Yes, so I need to know where I can meet everyone, tnx.

[Tachyon]

We'll be leaving around noon by Caltrain - it should give you some time to check in and stuff. We'll meet in the lobby at around 11:45.

Caltrain is great for getting back and forth from San Jose to San Francisco -- I've done it twice this month already, accompanied by two individuals mentioned in this thread -- but I want to ask if you know that hardly any trains go to the Caltrain station that's a few blocks away from the hotel. The last SF train that stops at that station leaves at 7:36 am, whereas the main San Jose station (not exactly walking distance from the hotel) has them going back and forth all the time.

See http://caltrain.org/timetable_effective_6_5_04.html#weekday-northbound for the schedule.

[!Tman!]

I'm poor... and to young to go. Plus my mom would go crazy if i went to Cali... she would be scared the girls would rap me cause of my good looks haha..im not that poor lol

[Violet CLM]

We believe you, Tman.

[Cyan_Blizzard]

I think me and Espio will avoid this meeting, though as much as I wanna meet you guys. Seriously I really would love to. I think we shouldn't go due to our horrid behavior on here and to prevent a possible ruining of the American JJ2 meeting. Though you all be sure to have fun for me ;) Enjoy it too! =)

[!Tman!]

aaa.... im not poor :(

[iCeD]

Okay, I think we have the train routes down for transportation. The only exception to this is the times and routes for day 1, which we've yet to decide on things to do yet. Velk (or anyone that knows more about the area than I) should pass some suggestions along, we need to finalize this. But for now, for both day 2 and 3, we'll be leaving from the Tamien Caltrain station at 10:32 AM. Said station is on 1355 Lick Avenue (QUICKLY! To the LICK STATION!) which is luckily 1 turn away from the hotel we're staying at, but it's 3.5 miles down. You can get there however you want from the hotel. I'm gonna be hardcore and walk. HOWEVER, in order to ensure we depart properly, you need to be at the station at 10:15, around 20 minutes early. This is to ensure we can all buy tickets and still catch the train. Try your hardest to make the time.

Oh and one more thing, we will need to know when you show up. This will be needed to coordinate things on day 1, when we do come up with things to do. Here's a quick list of arrival times we have so far, just for reference:

iCeD: Tuesday, 12-1 PM
Monolith: Monday, 9 PM

[VelKa]

Wait... on Day 3, aren't we going to Great America? We should be able to get there by bus, unless I'm mistaken. I'll consult my parents about transportation options. It also depends on where in SF we would like to go, AND when the train gets there. I'll have to talk to you about it later.

Furthermore, my mother has brought up the suggestion of me staying in the same hotel as you guys are in. It seems like no one is available to be a roommate, so if I'm really lucky I might be able to snag a room from the 17th-20th. It would be very convenient as I could go with the other hotel people to the train station (so we don't get lost). However, IF I can't get a room, then, well, we'll stick to the first option, which was for me to meet you guys at the hotel every morning. I'd like to find out if we can get a bus to the train station because I can't walk 3.5 miles without getting tired, thanks to my various health problems.

If someone needs to contact me (VelK) about anything, email me. (evilaquinas@hotmail.com)


EDIT: I'm showing up... anytime. ++Living in the area. ;-)

[Tachyon]

Okay, I think we have the train routes down for transportation. The only exception to this is the times and routes for day 1, which we've yet to decide on things to do yet. Velk (or anyone that knows more about the area than I) should pass some suggestions along, we need to finalize this. But for now, for both day 2 and 3, we'll be leaving from the Tamien Caltrain station at 10:32 AM. Said station is on 1355 Lick Avenue (QUICKLY! To the LICK STATION!) which is luckily 1 turn away from the hotel we're staying at, but it's 3.5 miles down. You can get there however you want from the hotel. I'm gonna be hardcore and walk. HOWEVER, in order to ensure we depart properly, you need to be at the station at 10:15, around 20 minutes early. This is to ensure we can all buy tickets and still catch the train. Try your hardest to make the time.

This is probably a stupid question, but is "day 1" Monday or Tuesday?

There's a great site called the TakeTransit Trip Planner (covering Silicon Valley , San Francisco, East Bay, etc.) where you can enter in the addresses you're coming from and going to, what time you'll be leaving or needing to get there, and it will tell you some buses and trains you can take.
http://transit.511.org/tripplanner/index.asp

Also, if anyone wants to take a bus from the hotel to Caltrain, it seems to be easier to do that with the main Caltrain station than the Tamien station -- you can walk down to the intersection of Monterey Hwy and Skyway and catch a bus that goes right to the main Caltrain station.

[VelKa]

Hmm, good question, Tachyon. From what I was originally thinking, Day One was supposedly August 17th. I'm not sure what the others were thinking, though. Some people aren't going to be coming until late morning/early afternoon on the 17th, so it's questionable whether or not we'll do much outdoors. Furthermore, it seemed like the newer schedule went as follows...

Day One (17th): Meet & introduce, maybe see a movie together, et cetera.
Day Two (18th): Go by train to San Francisco. We still have to make additional plans concerning where we'll visit.
Day Three (19th): Go to Great America. I'm not sure what else we'll be doing that day.

Thanks for the link! It will be very useful.


*
BTW: I have never been to San Francisco via public transportation (except for BART), and haven't actually been there recently (within the past one-two years). For that matter, I haven't travelled around the Bay Area that much lately, so I'm probably not going to be very helpful with transportation as navigation is my weak point. While we're in San Jose/Santa Clara, I can help with choosing bus routes and whatever, but once we leave the county, I'm really unfamiliar with the methods of transportation.

[iCeD]

Wait... on Day 3, aren't we going to Great America? We should be able to get there by bus, unless I'm mistaken. I'll consult my parents about transportation options. It also depends on where in SF we would like to go, AND when the train gets there. I'll have to talk to you about it later.
Yeah. A bus would be preferable for getting to GA on day 3 actually. Of course, I'm totally in the dark about good bus routes in the area. Anything anyone can contribute would be nice.

[Monolith]

This is probably a stupid question, but is "day 1" Monday or Tuesday?

There's a great site called the TakeTransit Trip Planner (covering Silicon Valley , San Francisco, East Bay, etc.) where you can enter in the addresses you're coming from and going to, what time you'll be leaving or needing to get there, and it will tell you some buses and trains you can take.
http://transit.511.org/tripplanner/index.asp

Also, if anyone wants to take a bus from the hotel to Caltrain, it seems to be easier to do that with the main Caltrain station than the Tamien station -- you can walk down to the intersection of Monterey Hwy and Skyway and catch a bus that goes right to the main Caltrain station.
Day 1 is Tuesday.

Thanks for mentioning that site, as well as the path between the Caltrain station and the hotel. I believe that's the path I need to take when I first arrive in San Jose.

[Spotty]

0.o well my dad will have all the hotel stuff so I wouldn't beable to book in or anything if I went from san fran to the hotel early in the morning. So, maybe it's possible for me to go somewher in san fran and meet you guys? Like your first stop 0.o?

[VelKa]

This is a rough draft of the schedule.

August 16th: Arrive.
August 17th: WE NEED YOUR INPUT. We probably won't leave the San Jose area, though.
August 18th: Take bus to Cahill Train Station. Take train to San Francisco. Go to Exploratorium, Japanese Tea Gardens @ Golden Gate Park, and possibly Japan Centre.
August 19th: Great America day.


About Great America: I'm not going to buy your tickets, even though I can get a significant discount, unless you tell me. The people on WC2004's planning committee decided that we're not handling expenses for people who don't provide suggestions and/or input because it's so much trouble when we don't get enough help. Please, give us some input; you are part of this meeting as well, and we can't be the only ones who are suggesting things.

[Brian]

Aww too bad I didn't see this earlier. Maybe I could have suggested a better time/location? Like.... hmm... August 18th through the 21st in sandusky Ohio.

Captain spam and I are having our official yearly meeting there then. :-) And it's closer to central US so that everyone can come!

'cept all the hotels in the area are dives. We should know, we've tried just about all of them out!

[Spotty]

I would provide input on what to do on the 17th.. but I don't know the San Jose area ;D.
I'll assume there are theatres tho, maybe we can see a movie 0.o

[Black Ninja]

We should figure out some way of identifying each other. I suggest we do it the corny way and hold signs with our JJ2 names on them.

[iCeD]

Okay, some changes to our transportation schedule as per some things that have been shuffled around.

For SF, we'll be leaving at the Monterey and Senter bus stop (which is pretty close to our hotel if I'm not mistaken) at 9:04 AM, which should get us to the main San Jose Caltrain station. After that, we'll be taking the train northbound to SF to spend the day there. After we're done with that, we'll be heading back from the 4th and King SF Caltrain station at 6:37 PM. (I recommend we get there at around 6:15 PM) After we get back to SJ, we should be able to board the bus at 7:59 and get back near our hotel shortly after 8.

GA is a bit messier. Right now we don't have a definite plan (it'll be done soon though, maybe on day 1) We're going to take the lightrail station near our hotel (around 2 miles away from it, roughly) then going to the Baypointe-Mountain View line until we get to GA.

You should keep around $20 with you for transportation, most of which you probably won't need but is "emergency money."

[Spotty]

We should figure out some way of identifying each other. I suggest we do it the corny way and hold signs with our JJ2 names on them.

or just wear name tags with them = P

[Black Ninja]

I will be arriving at the San Jose airport at 3:17 PM on the 16th.

Also, as a suggestion for something to do in the San Jose area, I have heard that Winchester Castle is cool. It's just a couple miles away from the hotel, so if we are looking for something to do in that area, that could be fun. There is also the Tech Museum of Innovation, which my brother (who used to live in the area) says is kind of cool. Maybe someone who lives in the area knows if these are worth going to?

And, of course, if we get bored in the San Fransisco area, we could stop at the Ghirardelli chocolate factory, which is not far from the exploratorium. There is also supposed to be a lot to do around the nearby area.

Hopefully some of that is helpful - I don't know what plans we currently have.

[Violet CLM]

The Tech Museum is always good. I am not particularly interested in the chocolate factory, having been there twice in the last RecentTimes, and not really liking chocolate anyway.

[Monolith]

Pictures!

http://jazz.madskills.org/wc2004/

[Spotty]

My pictures are at
www.fooproducts.com/WC2004.shtml
and videos are at
www.fooproducts.com/WC2004b.shtml

Monolith has links to these anyway ... so why am I doing this.. dunno ;P

[Monolith]

The videos are awesome :P