EC2005 date and location announced! [EDIT June 23: Now has hotel and activites info]

[iCeD]

EDIT: Important information on hotel and activities information, see below



Following the incredibly successful WC2004 meeting, it seemed inevitable that a follow-up be planned. And for the follow up, we chose to hold it on the east coast of North America. And now, we've got some final details on the meeting for you, including the location, date, and who will be coming.

Location: Toronto, ON, Canada.
Date: August 4th-8th.
(For people that want to stay from the beginning/to the end, the 3rd will probably be an "arrival day" and the 9th a "departure day")

Definitely Coming
iCeD (CA) (staying the whole time)
Trafton (WA) (staying the whole time)
Axie (ON) (most likely around for the last few days)
Disguise (UK) (staying the whole time)
VeggieMan (ON) (staying the whole time, mostly)
FireClaw (CA) (staying the whole time)
Magoo (ON) (staying the whole time)
FoD (WA) (staying the whole time)
Cobra (ID) (staying until the 8th)
Link (AB) (staying the whole time)
Ducky (NH) (staying Aug 4-7)
Violet (CA) (staying the whole time?)
Elliot (CA) (staying the whole time?)
Tachyon (CA) (staying the whole time?)
Monolith (CA) (staying the whole time?)
Blackraptor (ON) (staying at least some of the time)
EvilMike (BC) (staying the whole time)
Gummi (QC) (staying until the 8th)

HOTEL INFORMATION
The Primrose Best Western Hotel
111 Carlton Street
Toronto, Ontario
Canada, M5B 2G3
site (http://www.torontoprimrosehotel.com/) - mapquest link (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?searchtype=address&country=US&addtohistory=&searchtab=home&address=111+Carlton+St&city=Toronto&state=ON&zipcode=M5B+2G3)
Please note that YOU WILL NEED TO RESERVE YOUR OWN ROOMS. Coordinate who you will room with ahead of time if you are planning on staying with someone else. Reservations can be made by calling 1-800-268-8082. Be sure to mention that hotels.com offers you a 25% discount - they *should* give it to you. Failing that, you can order through hotels.com (that's what I did).
Price per room is about $153 CDN ($112 USD) per night. I'd recommend you guys get your reservations fast, as we need to make the most of the availability.

EC2005 Itinerary (big thanks to Link for this) (http://www.jazz2online.com/EC2005/index.html) for those still unclear about the schedule. For a more abridged version, see the post below.
Who's staying with who at the hotel? (incomplete right now - if your info isn't complete there let me know and I'll correct it) (http://www.jazz2online.com/EC2005/EC2005Att.html)

If you have some plans on coming, let us know about your chances of showing up. This meeting will be open to all, not even just people from North America. In addition, no one is obliged to stay the whole 5 days, though spending as much time as you can at EC2005 would certainly be great. Have any suggestions for the meeting? Post them here too. This thread will be continuously updated with new information on who's coming/what we'll do when we get there, and other details, so stay tuned. Oh yeah, and if you are very unlikely to come and/or have nothing worthwhile to suggest, don't post in this thread. Thank you.

[Black Ninja]

Mark me as likely to come.

[Tik]

I'm also likely to come. I'll post sometime later with suggestions for activites.

[Blackraptor]

Well, I have a chance of coming, since its in my own city..

[Tik]

Put me for likely to be there for most events.

I probably won't be able to be there for everything seeing as I will be working full time during the summer.. It all depends how many projects I will be working on at that time.

the "what" part is pretty simple.. A large group event seeing as this has been done at every jj2 meeting.. Theme Park. There are a couple to choose from in Toronto. The mostly likely one to go to is Canada's Wonderland.

http://www.canadas-wonderland.com/

If you do plan on staying downtown as I recommended you can get to this via public transit. It's north of Toronto.. but all you have to do is take the subway north to YorkMills Station then change over to another for of public transit known as GO transit. They have buses out of there during the summer that go to Canada's Wonderland.

http://www.toronto.ca/ttc/ for the main form of public transit

http://www.gotransit.com/publicroot/default.htm for the one time you may need to use it.

Canada's Wonderland can be expensive but since you all have American dollars you can laugh at Canadian prices.

Another thing we could do is go to a CFL game but you the dates make it so that you just miss two opportunities to do that. (Games are on the 1st and 12th)

http://www.argonauts.ca/

So we could always go watch a baseball game. I don't really like baseball but it's cheap as (-)(-)(-)(-) to go to.. because like me.. most Canadians don't care about baseball.. Unles it's 1992 and 1993 when we won two years in a row. Well those days are gone. The Jays have home games during that time for Aug. 5 to the 11th.

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/schedule/index.jsp?c_id=tor&m=8&y=2005
- click here for the teams they're playing. There is a mini series between the Jays and everyones fav. team to hate the Yankees. from the 5th to the 7th.

I will come up with more stuff later.. I gotta go to class.<b><i></b></i>

[MaGoo]

Put me down as very very very likely. ;(

[BlazinDragon]

put me down as most likely to go. Ive never ever seen an active jj2 player before which is sad. I want to see and meet all of ya and say a hi and challenge you to a duel knowing how much of a tool you look like ;]

PWNZORZ THE TORONTO MEETING IS COMMIN! YAYAYA

[Monolith]

put me down as most likely to go. Ive never ever seen an active jj2 player before which is sad. I want to see and meet all of ya and say a hi and challenge you to a duel knowing how much of a tool you look like ;]
I sort of doubt there will be all that many "active" JJ2 players. :P

[Shorty]

Put me down as a maybe...I need to see when college starts and if I'll have enough money...plus, I gotta check with my parents.

Hopefully, I'll be able to come...

[KRSplat]

Put me down as the guy who everyone wants to come, but won't. Just to make me happy.

[Marine1969]

(-)(-)(-)(-), I really want to come, but I ship out abck to afghanistan on the 1st July, 2 days befor my birthday on the 3rd.

Sign me up for the next one though.

[Violet CLM]

I'm currently a maybe at best. I'll have to do some research into Toronto plus figure out if I actually want to go, which I'm presently not sure about.

[Spotty]

I might be able to come now. I still won't be able to confirm anything yet though.

[iCeD]

My plane tickets are ordered. I'll be flying out of San Jose on the 2nd of August to Buffalo, NY, where I'll just get a bus ride to Toronto. Anyone else going to be arriving early? (or better yet, anyone else going to be arriving early and flying out of San Jose?)

[Lie]

Put me down as a maybe...I really don't know. Besides, I don't know exactly WHERE in Toronto it's gonna be held, like as far as what building/area/whatever and stuff, and I don't wanna just run around searching all day.

[Disguise]

I would just like to add that I will definitley be coming to this meeting.

For obvious reasons I haven't really been participating in the polls and stuff, and have neglected posting for the same reason...but yeah, I'll be there for sure :p

Well, ok, maybe not 00% sure, I mean I might get attacked by killed sharks with laser beams attached to the tops of their heads, these things are kinda unpredictable. I can safely say though, that if the above event does not occur I will be there :p

I still need to book my plane tickets, which I will do soon (looking around atm to see where I could get it for the cheapest).

[FoD]

Mark me as somewhat likely to come, I guess. There are a lot of factors I gotta know before I can say I can come..

Edit: I got my tickets, so I'll definitely be there.

[iCeD]

(EDIT June 15: We've encountered some minor issues with the hotel (see below) so we'll get those sorted out soon. Expect an update within a day. DO NOT reserve any rooms yet.) The hotel we will be staying at will be Days Hotel Toronto. (http://www.dayshoteltoronto.ca/) It's located on 30 Carlton Street. Reservations can be made by calling (416) 977-6655. We're going to try to get as many people as we can to stay there as possible, so please avoid getting reservations for another hotel if you can. And if you live in the area, do whatever you can to try to stay at the hotel. The more at the hotel, the better.

As for activities, here's a basic rundown of things. Slightly subject to change:
Wed, August 3: Early arrivals, meeting up.
Thu, August 4: Ontario Science Center
Fri, August 5: Shopping, CN tower, LAN party
Sat, August 6: Museum
Sun, August 7: Playdium Arcade
Mon, August 8: Canada's Wonderland
Tue, August 9: Departures and stuff.
Of course no one has to attend all of these. You're free to come and go as you please.
Oh, and I'm open to suggestions! This schedule is by no means final.

Oh, and IF YOU CAN, PLEASE CONFIRM RATHER YOU ARE COMING OR NOT WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO. We are trying to get everything weeded down. So if you can, please confirm whether you are coming. It will make things easier for all of us.

[Blackraptor]

(-). This really makes me want to go, but I'm still undecided. If anything, hopefully I'll come to at least one of the events (Most likely wonderland) if I can't come for the full time.

[Cobra]

count the cobbi in.

[GuMmYBeAr!]

Put me in very likely to come... I still need to see who I'll be going with, since I don't really want to travel alone (and my parents probably wouldn't agree with that.)

I'll be going with either my sister or my friend Maude. She has relatives in ON, and we'd be going by train probably along with our friend stephanie because she's sent on some sort of student exchange program thing over the summer.

I don't know where we'd stay at. Probably at Maude's relatives... even though I have no idea where they live. And how we'd get around. Perhaps I should drive there. That could be cool. I would get lost, but that's even more cool.

Otherwise we could like, get a room in the same hotel as you guys.

I'll have a laptop anyway within the next few weeks. So that could be helpful.

I can't wait to meet all of you. omg.

[Monolith]

I don't know where we'd stay at. Probably at Maude's relatives... even though I have no idea where they live. And how we'd get around. Perhaps I should drive there. That could be cool. I would get lost, but that's even more cool.

Otherwise we could like, get a room in the same hotel as you guys.
Preferably mostly everyone will be staying in the same hotel. That makes getting together for things a lot easier.


I still can't confirm I'm coming until I actally have my plane tickets, and I don't know when that's going to happen. I might even need to fly out of a different state as I don't know where I'll be come August. But I'm still very much hoping I'll be able to come somehow.

[MaGoo]

Well it turns out that I'll likely be staying at a place near the hotel, so I probably won't have a need to stay in one.

[GuMmYBeAr!]

Preferably mostly everyone will be staying in the same hotel. That makes getting together for things a lot easier.

I know that. But my friend Maude knows none of you, aaand i'm not sure if she'd want to stay for a very long time. I have no idea how she's seeing our little trip. I know she wanted us to go to Owensound though. I have no idea where that is. But it's near Toronto, apparently.

I will talk to her about the hotel thing. I'm sure she'd enjoy staying a few days in a hotel room.


By the way, how many persons can be in the same room? Are you guys like, four per room, or two?

[Link]

Add me as very likely to come. I haven't confirmed anything yet, but I'm free during that time and my parents will allow me to (and will probably pay for most of it).

I'm wondering about hotel arrangements though. I'd be going on my own, so I would want to share a room with others. How are other people arranging this?

[iCeD]

By the way, how many persons can be in the same room? Are you guys like, four per room, or two?
Some people will be staying in two, others more. I don't really have a preference about how many/who I room with, so I'm gonna find that out later.

A slight announcement: The hotel thing is on a temporary hold pending some availability issues with the current selection, as we may be very confined when it comes to room options. I'm going to investigate it tomorrow morning (June 15th) and I'll post on this thread after I get some results on it. We *may* be forced to switch hotels. We'll see.

[Link]

If changing hotels becomes necessary, I might suggest this (http://www.choicehotels.com/ires/en-US/html/HotelInfo?hotel=CN311) or this (http://www.choicehotels.com/ires/en-US/html/HotelInfo?hotel=CN312), which are both in the city centre, and are comparable in price and have more availability than the Days Hotel.

[GuMmYBeAr!]

The reply I got from the Ryerson place concerning the fees:


International Living Learning Centre (ILLC) Residence features 252
single and double occupancy guestrooms with hotel style amenities and
services. We offer full service restaurant, bar lounge, meeting rooms
and banquet facilities. We are pleased to confirm the following special
net, non-commissionable meeting/convention rates:

$71.00 per person per night plus applicable taxes

Pitman Hall Residence contains 555 single dorm-style accommodation
rooms with shared washroom facilities, as well as paired mini suites, 4
and 5 bedroom suites all with in room telephones, 24-hour front desk,
and individual climate control rooms. Community kitchenettes as well as
in room, laundry facilities, and lounges with cable TV are located on
every floor. Local calls are free also continental Breakfast is
included. We are pleased to confirm the following special net,
non-commissionable meeting/convention/group rates:

$39.50 per person per room per night plus applicable taxes

As an added feature both buildings have hotel style services, as well
we have a fully licensed lounge and restaurant. Please note that the
ILLC will be undergoing some renovation and there will be some noise
between the hours of 9am- 5pm, as well there will be some renovation in
Pitman Hall also between the hours of 9am-5pm.
If you need anymore information please don't hesitate to call me or
email meeting@ryerson.ca or you can visit our website at
www.ryerson.ca/conference . I hope to be of service to you and your
groups this summer.

[iCeD]

Okay, I called another potential hotel, the Best Western in Toronto. They look alright, and are fairly close to the Days Inn. The thing I am a little wary about is price. From what I gathered, the typical room is about $150-160 CDN a night. That's somewhere around $120-$130 USD, which is higher than I'd have hoped. I think if we were to economize our rooms a lot, and have 3 or so people stay in one room, we could cut down costs. But other than that they have everything we need, including non-smoking rooms, internet access, etc. I'd be interested to hear what you guys think about this.
Additionally, is anyone here familiar with hotels.com? They listed a deal of $112 a night, but I'm not sure if that's USD or CDN, nor am I sure how to get it. (ie: would we need to reserve online?)

Gummi, those rates look okay, but I'm curious as to rather they explicitly charge by person, or what. Because having 2 people staying in one room be double the cost seems a bit much for me.

[Link]

I think that we're not going to get a decent hotel in downtown Toronto for much less than that. $160 per night isn't a lot if it's split between people. Including 15% sales tax, it's $1104 for 6 nights. If three people share a room that would be $368 per person for the whole trip. If four people share it would be $276.

People from outside of Canada might also be able to get a tax refund.

The ILLC rates seem a bit strange, though since only two people can stay in a room $142 would be comparable to other hotels. The residence rate is low (actually not really once you get up to 4 people), though it wouldn't be as nice as a normal hotel, and single rooms (presumably quite small) would be inconvenient for us. 4- or 5-bedroom suites might work though.

[iCeD]

We've finalized the hotel: The Best Western Primrose Toronto. See the first post for details. You'll want to get reservations and report back here after you do, so we can coordinate roommates.

Also see the link in the first post for a nicely prepared itinerary by Link, which includes times and prices of things.

[Link]

The itinerary is still a draft, and information might be added or changed. I'd especially like some Toronto people to provide more insight on the transit system, because it seems a bit confusing when I look at the web site (http://www.ttc.ca).

iCeD said that we should make reservations and then coordinate roommates - it might be better to do the latter first, so we don't reserve too many or too few rooms, and so we can decide who will reserve them. This hotel also requires one person in the room (or at least to check in) to be 19 or older, and that person's name must generally be provided for the reservation (but doesn't have to be the person making the reservation).

Update: Changed aged to 19.

[Ducky]

You can put me down. I'll be able to get there on the 4th and will be leaving on the 7th.

(Hey, I have to do my part to represent the female face of JJ2.)

[Link]

I will be away on vacation until about July 17th. I'm not sure what my computer status will be while I'm away, so I've put the itinerary on J2O. This will also allow iCeD and possibly others to edit it.

EC2005 Itinerary (http://www.jazz2online.com/EC2005/index.html)

[Kaz]

Edit: Plane ticket relationships fell in on themselves :|

<S>But I will be there dead in spirit.</S>

[Violet CLM]

<i>k coming</i>

[Monolith]

I bought my plane tickets yesterday, so I'm definitely coming.

[Monolith]

Will anybody have roommates leaving on or before the 8th so that you will have fewer people to split the room with? Wisety and I have this situation, so we're looking for either people to room with us on that last night, or people who would have a room opening.

[Ducky]

I will be leaving early, if perhaps the individuals I am rooming with with care to confer with you guys. Maybe chat with FoD about this.

Ooh, I didn't know Spaztic was coming.
Actually, I didn't know that half the people that are coming, were coming.
Actually, I don't know half that people that are coming.

Yay.

[iCeD]

I've added a list of hotel rooms and who's staying there. Check the first post for it.

Also, there is one thing that's important, especially for people planning to go to the LAN party: Bring as many games with LAN play as you can. I haven't talked to Veg or Axie about the exact details on organizing the LAN party, but I plan to soon.

[Disguise]

...Bring as many games with LAN play as you can...}> 8D

Edit: For great justice, claim every page!

[Monolith]

I think for the lan party we're going to some gaming cyber cafe. They already have games there and it would probably take too much time to install new things (even if they let us)... so I'm not too sure about the recommendation to bring LAN games.

It sounds like several people will have laptops though, but those aren't really made for gaming.

[iCeD]

I think for the lan party we're going to some gaming cyber cafe. They already have games there and it would probably take too much time to install new things (even if they let us)... so I'm not too sure about the recommendation to bring LAN games.

It sounds like several people will have laptops though, but those aren't really made for gaming.
Well, it's not like we have anything to lose by bringing games, plus playing some rounds of JJ2 on a LAN might actually be enjoyable, along with some other games they might not have. It's mostly as a precaution.

[GuMmYBeAr!]

Oh my god. Meeting you all. <3<3

[Tik]

I spoke with mcatis, and it looks like neither of us are capable of going, especially not the entire trip. We're discussing coming up on just one or maybe a couple days.. we'll see.

[EvilMike]

This puts iCeD and I out of a room. If ANYONE is able to take us, please say. This is quite an urgent matter, since I'm pretty sure there's a rule which says a hotel room needs to have at least someone 19 years of age. I'm 18, and iCeD is either 17 or 18.

This is a pretty big problem for us, and if we can't find a room to stay in I'm not sure what we are going to do.

[Link]

This puts iCeD and I out of a room. If ANYONE is able to take us, please say. This is quite an urgent matter, since I'm pretty sure there's a rule which says a hotel room needs to have at least someone 19 years of age. I'm 18, and iCeD is either 17 or 18.

This is a pretty big problem for us, and if we can't find a room to stay in I'm not sure what we are going to do.

FireClaw and I are willing to share our room with you. I think it was only reserved for two people, but the hotel probably won't notice and in the worst case we'll only have to pay an extra fee. I don't know how you feel about sharing beds, so we'll try to get a rollaway bed from the hotel and I can bring an air mattress.

[EvilMike]

Alright, and violet has also said he might be able to have an extra person. I'm still going to see if iCeD and I can just reserve a smaller room though. It really depends on how that 19+ law works. Trafton said something that seemed to indicate it might be possible, but he was sort of cryptic about it.

[EvilMike]

Okay, it looks like everything has been sorted out. That 19 or older rule is apparently irrelevant if you just phone them and talk nicely.

[..::Goldy::..]

Have fun you guys :)))))

[Link]

I have updated the itinerary page (http://www.jazz2online.com/EC2005/) with important airport transportation information, as well as a list of people attending and some other stuff. You should read it, and possibly print a copy to take with you. Also, if you are planning to take a mobile phone and are comfortable placing the number on the page, post it here or send me a private message so I can add it.

[Ducky]

Hey I called the hotel a couple weeks ago to get some info.
The limit for people in a three-person room is SIX people, meaning you can have three extra pull-outs($10 per night for an extra bed.). I would assume that this applies accordingly to smaller and larger rooms.
Just for the record.

Oh, and I'm going to be there the evening of the 3rd, and wearing my screenname. (:

[Vegito]

have fun 8D

[GuMmYBeAr!]

aidhgakjhgdskdjgha one day left <3<3<<3<33

[VeggieMan]

I know I left the JCF a long time ago, and said I would never be back. Well, I'm not back but I felt there is information I need to share with those of you coming to EC2005!

........

If you get lost or need some help finding your way to the hotel or anything or you have a simple question please call me. Find a pay phone (costs 25 cents) and call my cell phone number <b>647-294-2282</b>. If it goes directly to my voice mail it's because I am on the subway with no cell phone connection. So try again later. I will try to be available on my cell phone all day on Wednesday should anyone need help.

Once you get to your hotel room call me to let me know you have arrived, again if I don't pick up leave a message on my voice mail with your hotel phone number and I will call you back.

I will see everyone late Wednesday night when I help Gene make her way to the hotel from the bus station. Once I arrive I will have a welcome presentation for everyone and give you some pointers about being a tourist in Toronto.. The <i>do's and don'ts</i>

See you soon!

reg ;)

Gordon

x-posted to the lj-jj2 community

[GuMmYBeAr!]

Thank you a bunch for picking me up.


...and helping me with my luggage...

Hahaha I didn't choose the huge suitcase after all.

[EvilMike]

<font color="magenta">hey guys just so you know what I look like here is my picture :)
<center>
<table border="5" bordercolor="magenta"><tr><td><img src="http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/4953/helloladies8bc.jpg" width="400"></tr></td></table>
</center>

</font>

O+

[Violet CLM]

Hi, everyone. Quick update. We're in LA... the Toronto airport was completely closed earlier today after an Air France plane burnt up in a ditch and hurt the airport a bit. We now have a ticket for a 10:55 plane to Toronto by way of Dallas for tomorrow, hoping the airport will be open. With luck, we'll see some of you people tomorrow night.

[Black Ninja]

I've instructed several people to do this, but in case no one does:

I expect someone to print out a picture of me and carry it around. That way even though I'm not there you can all admire how amazing I am.

[VeggieMan]

Hi, everyone. Quick update. We're in LA... the Toronto airport was completely closed earlier today after an Air France plane burnt up in a ditch and hurt the airport a bit. We now have a ticket for a 10:55 plane to Toronto by way of Dallas for tomorrow, hoping the airport will be open. With luck, we'll see some of you people tomorrow night.

I'm glad to hear you weren't caught up in that event. That's unforunate about the delay. I look forward to seeing you once you arrive. Have a safe flight.

[VeggieMan]

Thank you a bunch for picking me up.


...and helping me with my luggage...

Hahaha I didn't choose the huge suitcase after all.

No problem Gene. Good thing you packed light!

[Violet CLM]

Toronto was apparently reopened about four hours ago, so it looks like we should get in without much difficulty tomorrow. *departs for bed*

[GuMmYBeAr!]

Only a few hours <3<3

I am going to Montreal in the next couple hours. And 3pm I will get on the bus. *_*

[MaGoo]

I'll be heading to Toronto in five hours. >D

[Tachyon]

Because of the crash my plane was detoured in mid-air to Windsor, Ontario (thank God no one was killed.) I took a five-hour bus to Toronto from there and am in the hotel now.

Call me in Room 1901 on your touchtone phone, children.

We are having still more travel problems -- Unknown Rabbit was able to get on a flight to Toronto earlier today (and should be landing any minute now), but Elliot/Me and myself spent a second day stuck at the Los Angeles airport (we now are scheduled for a flight to Toronto leaving tomorrow morning). Unknown Rabbit should still be able to check into the hotel, as the room is already paid for for tonight, but if they decide to pull a lot of crap because he's under 18, I will tell him to go to your room and see if he can spend the night on your or one of the other people's couches or something.

[Tachyon]

We are having still more travel problems -- Unknown Rabbit was able to get on a flight to Toronto earlier today (and should be landing any minute now), but Elliot/Me and myself spent a second day stuck at the Los Angeles airport (we now are scheduled for a flight to Toronto leaving tomorrow morning). Unknown Rabbit should still be able to check into the hotel, as the room is already paid for for tonight, but if they decide to pull a lot of crap because he's under 18, I will tell him to go to your room and see if he can spend the night on your or one of the other people's couches or something.

OK, he is now at the hotel in room 1014.

[Violet CLM]

The meeting is going well. We are healthy and alive and talking about abortion.
you are remembered, bn.

[GuMmYBeAr!]

and whiskey

[EvilMike]

just fyi I was faking it when it looked like I was enjoying myself





I hate you all :o

[GuMmYBeAr!]

You are such a liar.

<3

[NovaStar]

Dam. I wish they had this in Australia, I'm about the only Aussie fan and I miss out on all of the action....

[Darobi]

If only i learned of this earlier. I would have came. If any of you still remember me. I Live right in the downtown core near eaton center