I'm Not Attending the ACA Convention in DC Because...

[dogofwar]

Yes - online registration is closed, so you'll need to check in at the registration tables at the convention. Rachel (msjinkzd) will be running the operation, I believe...

One of the key reasons we chose Downtown Silver Spring is BECAUSE there's so much to do in the area...Too often these events have been in the middle of nowhere to get cheap hotel rates (the Cinci one was halfway to Middletown...). We got a great hotel rate at a great hotel...in the center of a great area.

There will be no shortage of evening (and daytime) festivities. Registered attendees will have access to the hospitality suite each night (free beer, wine, munchies, etc.)...but there will be no shortage of fun to be had.

Take care,
Matt

ok so I registered for the auction but there was no place to buy a bidder's card. I'm assuming this will be available at the convention?

also, I tried to register for the convention, but alas, I guess I missed the deadline. I'll be off at around 330pm everyday but saturday (and sunday off sunday), and saturday i may try to drop by before work (330pm start of shift). Can I just jump in on anything going on? The crown plaza is about 15 minutes from work and literally across the street from my old apartment building so I should be able to drop in.

Will there be nighttime festivities? My favorite bar in the area (Quarry house tavern) is about 2 blocks away and features a nice selection of trappist ales and rockabilly/punkabilly bands.

 

[DrownedFishonFire]

location, location, and location

Don't want to knock on DC but its not one of the cities I want to tour at this time when politics just pisses me off. In addition to being there several times, its not a new town that would tempt me to come out for.

 

[DrownedFishonFire]

AND I am shocked that none of the options even have ECONOMY- not just registration costs... many families are trying to cut down costs etc etc or even can't simply afford to make the trip

 

[dogofwar]

Sounds like this option to me: Geography (it's too far/costs too much for me to travel)

Matt

AND I am shocked that none of the options even have ECONOMY- not just registration costs... many families are trying to cut down costs etc etc or even can't simply afford to make the trip

 

[Diogenes]

I guess that's why most of the ACA conventions are on the east coast. There's more population density. not as far for people to travel, and I think more cichlid keepers in general. If people aren't willing to travel a long way for fish i guess it just makes sense to do it somewhere on the I-95 corridor.

 

[dogofwar]

DC has a lot more than politics. Just read Diogenes's post above about the music scene. I live near DC and constantly go to the new exhibits that they have at the various museums: National gallery of art, Air and space museum, natural history museum, national zoo, etc. Oh and they're free...and accessible from Metro.

Seems like a place that has a lot to offer for most people...

Matt

location, location, and location

Don't want to knock on DC but its not one of the cities I want to tour at this time when politics just pisses me off. In addition to being there several times, its not a new town that would tempt me to come out for.

 

[dogofwar]

A lot are in the mid-west, too. Lots of cichlid folks in OH, MI, Chicago, etc.

I'm just trying to get a feel for whether people (who don't go every year, no matter where it is) will travel - at all - for a convention.

Matt

I guess that's why most of the ACA conventions are on the east coast. There's more population density. not as far for people to travel, and I think more cichlid keepers in general. If people aren't willing to travel a long way for fish i guess it just makes sense to do it somewhere on the I-95 corridor.

 

[Pharaoh]

A lot are in the mid-west, too. Lots of cichlid folks in OH, MI, Chicago, etc.

I'm just trying to get a feel for whether people (who don't go every year, no matter where it is) will travel - at all - for a convention.

Matt

Don't forget Indy!

 

[Diogenes]

DC's an interesting area. DC itself is at least 3 different cities in one. You have the hill and the mall which is populated mostly by 20 something staffers doing their 2-4 year bits before returning to other states (the majority of which are single women), the college/ long term residents/ government employee set in NW (emo kids and dudes in lycra pants on fixed gear bikes...lawyers etc), and then the native "washingtonians" who I have it on good authority would never refer to themselves as "washingtonians" who mostly live in NE and SE. Of these three populations generally only the first third pay much attention to national politics. The other 2/3 do spend a lot of time on local politics which I seriously doubt is the source of your angst unless you just really despise Marion Barry or Eleanor Holmes Norton.

Outside DC maryland and virginia are separate states unto themselves. There's the crab culture in MD, the orioles, the ravens, beaches and Bmore has an awesome aquarium all within 45 minutes of the crown plaza. Northern VA has a national park, sailing/boating on the potomac, civil war battlefields, Arlington cemetery etc. Also if anybody is in to fishing I might be willing to share the location of my super secret fishing spot in Alexandria where your guaranteed to catch massive snakeheads, and I've personally sighted oscars and jaguar cichlids. It's truly the line where the north and south are divided. Very interesting cultural differences.

It's a place where you can really do anything. If your into history you can't walk down the street without stumbling into something historical. gettysberg, antietam, bull run, are all within about 1-2 hours by car. Edgar allen poe's house is in Baltimore. Not one but two huge professional aquariums one in DC and one in Bmore. It's about 5 hours and a 30 dollar bus ticket from NYC, like 3 hours or less by Amtrak from Philly. Ocean city, rehoboth DE, NJ beaches are all pretty good. GREAT wreck scuba diving in OBX, NC. Adams morgan might be the coolest entertainment district in the mid atlantic. You can walk down the street and hear people from 20 different countries speaking 15 different languages. Embassy row is cool. Georgetown is awesome. Dupont circle has a lot of cool private art galleries, and good restaurants. U street cordoza is a really cool bar district and also is the home of Ben's chili bowl. Eastern market has the oldest operating grocery store in the country. H street corridor has an indoor skeet ball/ miniature golf/ bar and a 7 day a week side show featuring freaks, burlesque shows, and live art + drinks.

So much more than politics...

AND did I mention the Capital Cichlid Association and a bunch of insane fish enthusiasts?

<--- CCA member

DC has a lot more than politics. Just read Diogenes's post above about the music scene. I live near DC and constantly go to the new exhibits that they have at the various museums: National gallery of art, Air and space museum, natural history museum, national zoo, etc. Oh and they're free...and accessible from Metro.

Seems like a place that has a lot to offer for most people...

Matt

 

[dogofwar]

Well said, Matt...

Matt