Bittersweet Candy Bowl Forums

A new year, a new thread. And more information than in the old one.

This is a nomination for Boston as the city in which we have a meet-up of BCB readers. It is not a real con, it is just a few people hanging out and doing stuff, and anyone is welcome except if you're awful.

So, I decided to pick Boston as a CANDIDATE that I have come up with DETAILS FOR. If it turns out that everyone hates it, or that it's too hard to get to, or that there's some better place to have BCBcon, continue to make suggestions, and please, take the time to post some actual research into how it'd work! Otherwise, I want to give some direction to this all so hopefully by the end of the month we'll know where it will take place, have a list of dead-certain guests, and weed out those who expressed interest but really don't want to.

The main issue is always how expensive it is to get there. Here are my findings:

CHEAP TRAVEL: (all prices return)
TRI-STATERS: Boltbus drive from NYC for $30. Boltbus are great.
FLORIDIANS: I95Coach.com drive to NYC from Orlando for $90. Tack on the Boltbus fare and you'd pay $210 return. And waste almost a full day of your life on buses! How wonderful.
CHICAGOANS: JetBlue do a $250 fare from Chicago.
CALIFORNIANS: Boston's on the other side of the country, you should know the score for cross-country fares. $400-500, depending.
TEXANS: I don't know what your closet cities are, but Airtran do a $300 fare from Dallas.
THOSE IN FLYOVER COUNTRY: $350ish flights from Denver.
CANADIANS: $350ish flights from Toronto, $200 on Greyhound.

I also did a really quick and lazy search for accommodation:

At a Holiday Inn, booking in June, for three nights, for four rooms (two queen beds) divided by four people each: $105 per person. If we bend the rules and load in another person into each rooms, $85. I bet we could get a better deal, so let's go with $80.

SO: Work out your travel costs, add about $80 for the hotel, $100 for food, $50+ for various, and most people will need to spend $300-550. Can you all save that by June-July?

Is Boston an appealing city to you generally? Who is turned off by it? What is there to do in it? (Mouse had some ideas here.) AND SO ON. Please start to get serious now, so we can really get this in motion.

Guest List
Certain
Taeshi
SuitCase
Spacemouse
Carmen
Titanium Dragon
Lily
Zhan
Sue
ToastyJester
Pants

Probable
Kaxbe
La Commie
JHawkNH
Crossedeyefreak
Silentvelcro
Cappucino

Possibly Probable
Rukral
Volgrand
Ace
MiwAuturu
ClosetLucy
CaptainBaconMan
Frustrated_Writer
(nameless)
Lark
Lariat
Ved
Hentai13
Trev
Ninja
Junior Boomer
ChewySmokey
Naravine
Lvl 50 Fighter
Dark
Regulith
Sammy
Lark
Grass
Maverik

Improbable
Ubertoast
Kou
whf
TheLightorTheDark
SushiJaguar
Domafari
Aika

No
Mister Nikel
ILB
RickAstley
Kurokan
Oddguy
SkylineFaux
Hen Barrison
Pick Yer Poison
wacko

July, eh? Don't want to come up here with all the snow?

Okay so Boston's a great city for transit but a shitty driving city. I really think the Museum of Science Boston would be a really fun place to go. There's an OMNI theatre! And GIANT THUNDER MACHINES.

Yeah, do not drive in Boston. It's a much better city for walking. Follow the Freedom Trail, or go through the Commons. Hell, you could even hit up the bar that was the inspiration for Cheers. Hm, other things to do? Go to the Aquarium, or the U.S.S. Constitution.

Yeah, I loved Boston when I was there some years ago. Then again, history kinda appeals to me, and the two Red Sox games didn't hurt either.

I won't be going to BCBcon though. Money's not really an issue, but my vacation time is kinda taken up already, and I'm not an especially social person (think Amaya).

SuitCase said:

The thought of three people sharing a bed is hilarious. LARK WHERE ARE YOU

I knew I'd be on the improbable list. *sigh*
I wish everyone luck in their upcoming trip!

This looks good! Nothing is going in in June/July for me, so it's highly probable that I can go! Also, it's getting easier to save up money since I now have more work hours!

The Aquarium is alright, but you can get into the Museum of Fine Arts for the same price and that's probably a better value. I guess it would depend on what the group would prefer seeing. Public transportation in the city is a breeze, so I wouldn't really worry too much about how you're going to get around.

Also, I live in Boston. So, if you need help setting something up, let me know. I'd be glad to help out.

$350-550 is out of the question. I can't afford it.

My mother said she'd save as much as she could but I don't have any faith. If MrPants picks me up I may be able to go if she scrounges up enough money but I won't be able to do much.

I just realized that I'll be finishing up my B.A. degree during the summer, so it's unlikely I'll be able to go. Sounds fun though, I'm sure it'll be amazing I'll try for the next one since I'll be done with college soon.

I dunno if I should be marked down as Probable or Sounds like can come. I'ma try to get there however way I can, I just can't say for sure yet if I'll be able to.

$780+ for me...uhhh...I think I should be marked down as improbable I mean I'd love to come but, airfare is too much. I hope there will be another BCBcon but it seems unlikely OTL

This post has been edited by ClosetLucy: 11 January 2011 - 07:45 PM

I will try to come. Can you say the exact date? I have to save my vacation days for that date.

Hey, the BCB con will be a nice reason to meet the USA!

Boston would be awesome, given it's something that's actually within a decent range of where I am. However, i'm going to need some sort of source of income before i can consider going to any sort of con or whatever.

I guess i could get my brother to drive me there

Tri-Staters FTW

I've got the money, and I suppose I could try and fit it in with my travel year somehow. I was planning to go to Canada at some point, so I might be able to come.

This post has been edited by Sammy: 11 January 2011 - 08:33 PM

Kaxbe, on 11 January 2011 - 05:26 PM, said:

Dude, if you drive come pick me up. DO IT.

Canada is not Boston Sammy

I've already saved up a little bit! Going to talk all this new news over with the boifran and we'll go from there.
Boston seems lovely and I'm very pleased considering it's closer than Chicago haha. It'll be my first time that far up north!
Also June/July is great as well!

CaptainBaconMan, on 11 January 2011 - 08:36 PM, said:

I don't stop for hitchhikers

LOL JK

GUYS THIS MEANS LILY WILL BE COMING

YOU GET

TO MEET

TESS

come on NO EXCUSES *hit*

TheLightorTheDark, the list is just my attempt to consolidate posts where people say if they want to come. If you or anyone else has a correction, let me know.

Susan, how much money would be reasonable for you to save? Can you find out more about bus and train and carpool options?

My parents would say no. I know it. Maybe 1012? Pff.

Susan, on 11 January 2011 - 06:52 PM, said:

yeah, now were going from faaar west to faaaar east, which is very lame for that potential carpool now that i looked at a usa map :|

Cost wise at that point, it's actually cheaper to take a train all that distance. Gas for that trip would be rather depressing to look at.

Not that I'm going to kibosh anything right away, but my initial thoughts off the bat.

As for my personal ability for getting there, Boston in July isn't a problem. Weather i take my car or not is debatable though because of the distance, but meh.

This post has been edited by Pants: 12 January 2011 - 01:39 AM

SuitCase, on 11 January 2011 - 10:44 PM, said:

We could have maybe $200.

And if I am to look up a ticket for train/bus, I need a specific date in July during which this would take place.

Regardless, I need to show an ID to purchase tickets and being sixteen I do not own an ID nor can I legally get one until I am 18 as I am not getting a driver's license.

I take that back. On Amtrak, you can travel alone at age 15 or older without restrictions. But, a round trip is about $184 so...

This post has been edited by Susan: 12 January 2011 - 04:20 AM

Carmen, on 11 January 2011 - 10:36 PM, said:

Chicago isn't such a great city if you're not 21+, but that's probably just me being angsty about the bar-venue music scene as of late (or me just being in Chicago for too long in general).

Susan, we could buy tickets if you forwarded the money. Being 18 is not a big deal (nor 21, if we drink in our rooms.)

You can use random July dates, as I did.

No, it's fine Suitcase, I found out anyone 15+ can travel alone on Amtrak so I can purchase the tickets. This is also a good excuse to purchase a state ID just in case.

I chose July 3rd as a departure date and July 8th as a return date. I'd have to go a day before the actual convention, I guess, because the train would probably arrive the day it would start or something.

$184 round trip train ticket
$105 hotel cost
$100 misc. dollars
$389

I really should be saving up money for college and what-not, but should I have the extra cash at the time I'll definitely think about it. I only know a handful of you at the moment as well and of those people I don't really know any all that well, so hopefully when the time comes around that'll have changed too!

Will their be BCBcons in future years?

I might have the cash, but it really depends on the time, i need an exact date befor i can say anything. The only real way you'd get to know me Reg is by going to the RC. I'd really love to come and meet all the readers that show up, so i hope the date falls on a good time.

Time to get a job... sigh i would love to go to this if it wasnt for the cost... meh someone take pictures for those who can't go.

Put me on the Probable list. If i keep my grades up I MIGHT be able to come.
Probably.

Just a little tip for those who haven't been to cons or meet-ups before: you will need more money than you think. Seriously, all those little things add up pretty quickly. Metro card, admission fees, snacks, that toothbrush you forgot to bring, etc.

I already have about $5,000 in the bank, so I shouldn't have any issues with this.

So we are all definitely getting slammed right?

This post has been edited by CaptainBaconMan: 12 January 2011 - 10:31 AM

CaptainBaconMan, on 12 January 2011 - 08:34 AM, said:

Duh.

Titanium is paying for everybody's transport costs: confirmed

I updated the list. Please tell me if you object to any placements there.

Also, why are you guys so obsessed with specific dates? How about: 8-11 July. Meet in the city Friday morning, check out of the hotel Monday morning.

Are you guys going to do any sort of airport pickup if people fly? Or at least plan something so that people can split cab fair.

Boston ?
good luck getting robbed.

CaptainBaconMan, I guess so. What do you guys think of breakfast in the second morning? Do you like orange or apple juice, and as I'l likely want to make tea should I bring you back an extra bread roll from the counter?

CaptainBaconMan, on 12 January 2011 - 10:35 AM, said:

I don't mean to suggest I could ferry everyone coming into the city, but I could probably help out with this. Having to pay cab fare sucks, so if a few people are coming in at odd hours and would have no one to split their fare with, I could pick them up.

If only we had the monies!

If someone from here (Newforum.) tried to take us my stepmom would probably be scared, my dad would be protective, possibly, though I would be the happiest i've been in years!

Hmm. If that is the date I will have turned fifteen.
I wish we had more money or my stepmom weren't so nervous....

*Becomes depressed again.*

This post has been edited by TheLightorTheDark: 12 January 2011 - 02:18 PM

So is anyone here planning to hang around for longer than the specified BCB con time frame? I'm quite probably gonna attend, and I wanna bop around America for longer than just a few days, and it'd be kinda cool if there are others who wanna explore along with me.

I would like to know, SuitCase, why I was placed in 'Improbable' when I've said that any date after June 24^th works for me. Of course, I'm still discussing it with my family, but it seems likely I'd be able to make it.

This post has been edited by Cappuccino: 12 January 2011 - 08:51 PM

Maverik, on 12 January 2011 - 02:25 PM, said:

I was thinking the same, 3 days isn't much for me to travel all that distance.

I don't know. thats on a monday, i may be able to scheduale a vacation day then but we'll see

I will most hopefully be entertaining Girly here in Finland.
Also dirt poor from putting my life savings on my winter vacation.
So I'll have to tell you guys a no. But take pictures and share!

Cappucino, because there's like 50 names and it's hard to keep track of all of them. I corrected it now, but haven't put you in "certain" because "certain" denotes "book a room with me in mind, and regard me as a stupid douche if I pull out"

Karo, stop being a gay homosexual and work out how to come over.

ALSO SNOOTHS I'M CALLING YOU OUT

I should probably be moved from certain to probable at this current point .

You're certain because if you can't afford to come, we'll end up helping. Same for Susan.