ConDFW in Richardson, TX: Feb 20-22, 2009

[Gman]

I'll have to look into that.

The price just went up to $58 on Hotels.com 
Best Western Dallas Hotel and Conference Center
Star rating: 3.0 of 5
8051 Lyndon B Johnson Fwy
Dallas, TX, 75251
866-539-8430
There are a couple of other hotels in the area.

[Wolfhowls]

The price just went up to $58 on Hotels.com 
Best Western Dallas Hotel and Conference Center
Star rating: 3.0 of 5
8051 Lyndon B Johnson Fwy
Dallas, TX, 75251
866-539-8430
There are a couple of other hotels in the area.

Thank you.

[Mickey Finn]

I think it will be, but it may be a bigger room this time.  To be honest, this'll be the first room party I've helped out with, so I'm pretty much just going with the flow.

Yet another incentive to lose 100 pounds before the con!

[Gman]

I plan on going to the Con for 1 day (on my day off) and spend a good portion of the day there. I have not been to Cons before. The main thing is to meet the two authors Butcher and Weber. Is there a listing of a specific time each will be available to talk and to and sign stuff? What is Filking? I don't expect them to do a 16 hour shift at a desk. It will also be great to meet others who love the books and discuss them. The Hotel is pretty nice with a big open atrium area with a very high ceiling and the suites are large. They do have some meeting rooms also. I live in the area and know some good restaurants nearby, so I can help some out of towners hit something other than McDonalds or Dennys to eat at. There is an OK chinese buffet down the block from the hotel and Pappasito's TEX-MEX Rest is great and Bone Daddy's House of Smoke BBQ is great, both a couple miles away, and A decent Bennihana's Japanese Stakehouse nearby.

[Wolfhowls]

I plan on going to the Con for 1 day (on my day off) and spend a good portion of the day there. I have not been to Cons before. The main thing is to meet the two authors Butcher and Weber. Is there a listing of a specific time each will be available to talk and to and sign stuff? What is Filking? I don't expect them to do a 16 hour shift at a desk. It will also be great to meet others who love the books and discuss them. The Hotel is pretty nice with a big open atrium area with a very high ceiling and the suites are large. They do have some meeting rooms also. I live in the area and know some good restaurants nearby, so I can help some out of towners hit something other than McDonalds or Dennys to eat at. There is an OK chinese buffet down the block from the hotel and Pappasito's TEX-MEX Rest is great and Bone Daddy's House of Smoke BBQ is great, both a couple miles away, and A decent Bennihana's Japanese Stakehouse nearby.

Thats pretty my plan expect with less words and stuff.

[The Dread Pharaoh Roberts]

There will be a program book with a schedule, more than likely.  I've never been to ConDFW, but I'd assume the guests will be giving talks and participating in panel discussions along with the autographing.

[Mickey Finn]

Ayep. Filking is like Weird Al on ludes.

[The Dread Pharaoh Roberts]

Ah, yes, filking.  The term was coined at a con where "Folk Singing" was on the program, but with a fortuitous typo.  Filking often involves familiar melodies and impressively incorrect lyrics, though there are many original filk tunes that are quite good as well - just with geeky subject matter.

[Mickey Finn]

This year will be an odd one. Bob Asprin was not only a master filker, he was a regular guest at the con.

[Gman]

Thanks for the info. I figured the basic schedule would be posted on the DFWcon web site. I guess you have to attend or buy a pass in advance to get the schedule.

[Gman]

Thanks for the info. I figured the basic schedule would be posted on the DFWcon web site. I guess you have to attend or buy a pass in advance to get the schedule.
I have a really bad singing voice, I guess that goes well with filking.

[David one Mutts Friend]

I plan on going to the Con for 1 day (on my day off) and spend a good portion of the day there. I have not been to Cons before. The main thing is to meet the two authors Butcher and Weber. Is there a listing of a specific time each will be available to talk and to and sign stuff? What is Filking? I don't expect them to do a 16 hour shift at a desk. It will also be great to meet others who love the books and discuss them. The Hotel is pretty nice with a big open atrium area with a very high ceiling and the suites are large. They do have some meeting rooms also. I live in the area and know some good restaurants nearby, so I can help some out of towners hit something other than McDonalds or Dennys to eat at. There is an OK chinese buffet down the block from the hotel and Pappasito's TEX-MEX Rest is great and Bone Daddy's House of Smoke BBQ is great, both a couple miles away, and A decent Bennihana's Japanese Stakehouse nearby.

But is there a Market nearby? I have found that a Stop and Rob (7/11 or something like that) just does not do it for Con vittles! And we will not even consider the hotel gift shop, do not even want to think about that one.

David

[Gman]

But is there a Market nearby? I have found that a Stop and Rob (7/11 or something like that) just does not do it for Con vittles! And we will not even consider the hotel gift shop, do not even want to think about that one.

David

There are a several supermarkets within a few miles such as:
Kroger
9140 Forest Lane
Dallas TX 75243
Store Phone: (214) 221-0939

This store is around 2 miles away (South East).

Wal-Mart Store #2427
9301 Forest Ln.
Dallas, TX 75243
(972) 437-9146

This store is around 2 1/2 miles away (South East).

[lady55]

Gman, thank you for the information on restaurants and stores. That is handy for us out-of-towners.

My husband and I will be attending our first convention and I'm really looking forward to it. I hope I get to meet Jim and get an autograph. He is the reason I'm coming. I also have my tickets to attend the King Tut exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art. I am sooo excited. Just think, King Tut and Jim Butcher on the same weekend!! It doesn't get any better than that.

[Gman]

Gman, thank you for the information on restaurants and stores. That is handy for us out-of-towners.

My husband and I will be attending our first convention and I'm really looking forward to it. I hope I get to meet Jim and get an autograph. He is the reason I'm coming. I also have my tickets to attend the King Tut exhibit at the Dallas Museum of Art. I am sooo excited. Just think, King Tut and Jim Butcher on the same weekend!! It doesn't get any better than that.

My pleasure, I live about 8 miles away from the Con. There's lots of stuff not too far away. The problem is not much walking distance. Texas Instruments HQ is across the Hwy with lots of office bldgs and a lower middle class neighborhood nearby. Within 5 or so miles there are tons of stuff to do. The Dallas Museum of Art is less than 10 miles away. They have a cool dive Drive In that's been there since the 50's called Keller's on Northwest Hwy near Abrams. It has great burgers, onion rings, cokes, tater tots and you can drink beer in your car while parked. The burgers and the beer are really cheap. You can even order a 6 pack. They have old classic cars and bikers hang out on Friday and Saturday night. The place is a dive and a rough clientele but everyone is mellow and friendly. Lower Greenville is very cool (South part of Greenville Ave) lots of neighborhood bars, clubs and restaurants. Uptown has lots of great restaurants and bars, very nice classy places to see and been seen. Two great malls around 5 miles away: The Galleria Mall very nice 4 level mall with an ice skating rink and a large childrens playground on the top floor (very scenic with some areas where the husbands can sit down on a comfortable chair while the ladies shop) and Northpark Mall (2 levels) also very nice with a park in the middle and a small duck and turtle pond in the mall.