Legion World Forums LEGION OUTPOST Mission Monitor Board Destination Chi-Town: Two Vast and Trunkless Legs of Stone

Rick, my sister lives in Charlotte so I might get to this one too.

Charlotte is an attractive, laid-back city. It has lots of art, the NASCAR Museum, and Carowinds amusement park, among other fun attractions.

Atlanta and Chicago are convenient cities for folks who will be flying. Doesn't every U.S. flight go to one or the other?

If we were to do Metropolis, Illinois, it would have to be during the Superman Celebration, which is held in June.

I also have little interest in theme parks. I am certainly not wedded to the idea of a con. I'd rather meet up in a large city.

Of course, Austin is close to me, as is New Orleans, but I'd rather fly into a place where I won't need to drive. I really don't like to drive--which explains how I've lived in Houston for 13 1/2 years and have never made it to Austin.

Washington, DC, would probably be my first choice, all things being equal.

I went to a wedding in Austin in July once. Unless we're all interested in melting, I think I'd recommend against a gathering there in the summer.

Texas in the summertime is best spent indoors in the air conditioning.

I'm so happy this thread is picking up steam.

Like I said, I'll put up the "Location" voting poll up next week, probably Monday afternoon. Looking over all the suggestions thus far, it looks like there are three categories of suggestions:


A. Locations with multiple nods of interest (these are the ones I'm currently intending on putting into the poll):

- Boston, Mass
- New York City
- Chicago, Illinois
- Metropolis, Illinois
- Washington, DC
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Carolina Coast (Outer Banks?)
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Orlando, Florida
- Florida Keys

B. Locations with either a single nod of interest or discussion that seems to eliminate them as viable (if anyone disagrees and would like any of them "promoted" to poll inclusion, let me know):

- Newark, New Jersey
- Montclair, New Jersey
- Wilmington, Delaware
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Nashville, Tennessee
- Austin, Texas
- Niagara Falls (personally, I think this one is funny because I imagine Canadian LWers on one side, Americans on the other, looking across at each other like some sort of Multiverse crossover. )

C. Locations that I'm assuming are just jokey (although I would totally be down for any of them if the lottery thing ever comes through):

- Perth, Western Australia
- Manilla, Philippines
- Bangkok
- Singapore
- Kuala Lumpur
- Seychelles
- Easter Island
- Isle of St. Helen


Look about right? Any group shifting required?

And, like I said, feel free to throw out any other ideas not mentioned yet.

I think I'd bump Metropolis IL down to list B, but otherwise I think that's an accurate assessment.

Well, I hadn't thought of it since it doesn't host a con that's notable (I think there's a show, but it's in the fetus stage) but there's Myrtle Beach.

Costal breezes, vacation resort... but unless you loaded, you'd probably need to stay inland some miles.

It's not the crazy town place, but there's clubs and entertainment.

Just a thought.

Ooh, I love Chicago. I wouldn't mind meeting there. Memphis would be fun, too.

Orlando could be great, but there are lots of people with kids or who are educators, and any time good for them is going to be busy and/or hellish hot.

Like Rocky said, Metropolis would be a trip for the Superman Celebration in June since it's so far off the beaten path.

I just had one other crazy thought. There's a resort town in Western Michigan called Saugatuck that's not a bad drive from Chicago if people would want to fly in there and carpool. There's a great downtown and lovely beaches and stuff like that. It's a good place if you want to bring a family. And there's a great B&B called the Kirby House where if we know far enough in advance, we could probably rent the whole place for a weekend. (That would probably go for many of the B&Bs there, but I've only ever stayed at Kirby House.)

Austin, while hot in the summer like anywhere in the U.S. South will be, is known for having lots of great music and food, which would be a fine backdrop for just hanging out. It's been quite a while since I've been there, but I loved the place.

I've heard good things about MB, but if its as pricey as you say, it might not be the best coastal locale.

no harm in tossing it around for discussion, though.

OK, for the "voting list" for Monday, based on the last couple comments, I'm going to drop Metropolis, Illinois, add Austin, TX, and sub out Myrtle Beach for the more general "Carolina Coast" giving us ten finalists:


- Boston, Mass
- New York City
- Chicago, Illinois
- Washington, DC
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Austin, Texas
- Orlando, Florida
- Florida Keys

... unless there are any other suggestions over tomorrow.


So... if Memphis winds up winning... are we all just crashing at Lash's house? I call the couch!

All right, everyone...

Our location poll is now up:

Here

Voting will run through next Monday evening... so, if you at all think you might be interested in getting together next year, hie thee on over and have your voice heard.

I've missed this thread 'til now, somehow... of course, Memphis is ideal for me and YES I know good BBQ places to eat as well as all other types of food! Also I love taking friends to my awesome comics shop (just ask Quis or Povvins).

We're only about 30 minutes away from the fab casinos of Tunica, MS too, if you're feeling like something along those lines!

I have TWO sleep-worthy fat loveseat couches and TONS of floorspace for any who don't mind a sleeping bag on top of blankets! Heck, let's build a space-fort!

I voted, and I am really looking forward to this. Anyone have any idea on about when this might take place? I am assuming sometime over the summer, and we are just talking about a weekend perhaps? Or were you guys thinking longer?

You can all move in as far as I'm concerned! (bring money)

I actually might be able to help out here a little. I work for Marriot, so I can get a "friends and family" rate for a gathering. The rates vary from hotel to hotel, and if a hotel is booked up, they might decline to participate. (Why rent a room for a cheap rate when they can rent if for full price?)

Still, the possibility exists for cheaper than usual hotel rates if we stay at a Marriot property.

NYC is great for me, I live in Midtown Manhattan.

I love the idea of Disney because I would go there anyway.

Washington DC I've also wanted to get back to and it's not that long a trip.

I guess to commit to anywhere else I'd be more comfortable having actually met some of you first.

well, Rhino and Cobie should be easy to meet, then. Get started! I've met 40+ of us. We're a good gang.

When I met up with the Legion World crew at SDCC in 2008, I had never met any before and I was sharing a hotel room with three of them! It turned out great. Everyone I've met from the board has been great.

The first time I roomed with a Legion Worlder was in NY in 2009. Mrs. Nihil was very concerned that I was going to be traveling to share a hotel room with somebody I never met, and literally demanded that when I get there I put Quislet on the phone to assure her that he wasn't an axe murderer.

Thankfully, he lied and told her he wasn't. Otherwise I never would have found out how cool axe murderers can be when they're off the clock.

Oddly enough, despite being a fairly private person, I've met tons of LWers (and some people from the LMBP/original DC boards who never made it over to LW). I think I held the record for most LWers met for a number of years.

Nearly all of those meet-ups were enjoyable -- but there was the one time that Cobie and I crashed at Pov's after the Boston meet-up...

There's a very slim chance I'll be able to go. I'm wondering if I should still vote, given how close the poll is getting.

I'd actually want something on the West Coast since it'd be the cheapest to get to from the SE Asia...

*sigh* ya gonna keep whining about this, IB? *snicker* Fine, let's move the thing to the Philippines. Ok, Ex, make a new poll for cities in southeast Asia.

Everybody ok with that? Maybe then I can buy ya that beer, and you can show me those olives that come in a box.

Actually, IB, I am in a way really sorry that Legion World is a global community. It means that many people just won't be able to make it.

For the record, I forgot to switch my keyboard before I started typing, and I typed:

*ышпр* нф пщттф лууз црштштп фищгер ерш

before I realized I had my keybord on Cyrillic mapping. Maybe we could throw St. Petersburg on the list too, huh?

If any of my comments DID make it seem like I'd want everyone to come all the way here to SE Asia, then I'm sorry.

I really have been considering which city on the poll would be easiest for me to reach. after all, isn't that why we're having the poll? Everyone has to vote for the city which would make the most sense for them.

Or maybe I'm coming across as flaky. But then, if I cast the deciding vote and turns out I can't manage to go, that'd be worse wouldn't it?

Or maybe I'm overthinking. I'll just keep quiet then.