Constant Reader discussion

As you have all probably read, our convention this year is St. Louis, Missouri, and Lynn Isvik is the host. For next year, we'd like suggestions, and a little help. Please consider hosting the meeting in your area. Whether you've ever come to a meeting or not, we can help you with the arrangements. There needs to be a reasonably-priced hotel for our home base. We prefer hotels with character, maybe on the older side. Then there's the eating. One of the advantages of arranging these things is you get to go test restaurants. We enjoy museums, book stores, libraries, theater, nature, just about anything, really. Cities we haven't visited are: Philadelphia, Baltimore, Toronto, Paris (well, a girl can dream). Don't be shy. It's fun!

New Orleans has made a marvelous comeback since 2005. :)
We live just north of N.O.

I was thinking that also ,Cateline

Plus, October is one of the nicest months, weather wise to visit N.O. Not so humid, and it's beginning to cool off.

We're due to another visit to New Orleans. It would be wonderful. It was my first convention in 1995. We were supposed to go ten years later, the third week of September, but a little something held us up. (I was hoping you would speak up, Cateline.)

Does anyone have another city they would like to nominate and host?

I'd be willing to host in Atlanta.

Thanks, Deborah. We might have to have a run-off.

:). I believe someone mentioned on one of the St. Louis threads the possibility of San Diego as well?

I did, but I don't want to be a host, because I would not be able to participate in activities that require lots of walking.

We don't have too many participants in the St. Louis one. Why don't some of you who are thinking of hosting, come to St. Louis and see what it's like?

Hmmm good point about the walking. Lots of walking and my hip don't jive too well. I thought about something like bus tours...loads of that around here. And the FQ is pretty small.

Omaha has more to offer than most people think and it's centrally located. Joslyn art museum, riverfront, Old Market area with a walking bridge over the Missouri. Home of the college world series, an amazing zoo.

Margaret wrote: "Omaha has more to offer than most people think and it's centrally located. Joslyn art museum, riverfront, Old Market area with a walking bridge over the Missouri. Home of the college world series, ..."

Are you volunteering?

I think so. Might need a bit more info, but the job doesn't seem too overwhelming.

Audubon Zoo has a river cruise between itself and the rest of the Nature Institute (at the end of Canal St at the river). That'd be one day for sure. http://www.travelsmith.com/washed-lin...

There are bus tours down to different plantations, and around different areas. http://www.graylineneworleans.com/pla...

New Orleans looking good, but Omaha sounds interesting as does Atlanta. I am a big history buff.

Oh, you've made me remember...WWII Museum and the Chalmette Battlefield. http://www.nps.gov/jela/chalmette-bat....
There are several very nice second Hand bookstores in the FQ, and The Faulkner Book Shop as well.

Bay St. Louis, Ms is only an hour and half away, a great beach town. http://www.baystlouisoldtown.com I wonder about transportation all the way around. N.O. Is not the best on public transport. How do y'all manage in cities, usually?

Margaret wrote: "Omaha has more to offer than most people think and it's centrally located. Joslyn art museum, riverfront, Old Market area with a walking bridge over the Missouri. Home of the college world series, ..."

Found this. http://www.omahazoo.com. Looks great!

Atlanta probably wins on the transportation front. It's very easy to fly into, and once in the city, the MARTA rail system goes everywhere. We also now have Segway tours in downtown; I've never tried one, but they look fun and I'm told they're fairly easy to ride.

Cateline wrote: "Oh, you've made me remember...WWII Museum and the Chalmette Battlefield. http://www.nps.gov/jela/chalmette-bat....
There are several very nice second Hand bookstores in the FQ, and The F..."

As far as transportation, usually we have one or two people with a car if it's needed. But we try to make everything within walking or cab distance.

All these sound like wonderful choices. Maybe when it gets closer, I'll put it to a kind of vote. We usually chose the next venue at the conventions. We'll certainly talk about it, but we won't make any decisions until we hear from more people.

The Other Portland -- Maine. Best pub crawling west of Ireland. Museums. Oceans and the smell of salt riding the air. Local color (esp. in the fall). Longfellow. Winslow Homer's home and art. Incredible restaurants with top-notch chefs. Old Port district. Small shops. Intimate but memorable.

Just saying.

Newengland wrote: "The Other Portland -- Maine. Best pub crawling west of Ireland. Museums. Oceans and the smell of salt riding the air. Local color (esp. in the fall). Longfellow. Winslow Homer's home and art. Incre..."

And again I ask, are you volunteering?

I cast a vote for Omaha--mostly because I have some very good friends there.

It just occurred to me to suggest Washington, D.C.
A great town, and a very interesting Book Sale out of the State Dept. Two weekends in October.......

Sherry wrote: "Newengland wrote: "The Other Portland -- Maine. Best pub crawling west of Ireland. Museums. Oceans and the smell of salt riding the air. Local color (esp. in the fall). Longfellow. Winslow Homer's ..."

I volunteer to visit. Does that cut it? ;-)

(I keep forgetting that these threads are as much bids for volunteer hosts as they are for city suggestions. I guess it's too long between threads and my memory's too short.)

Ok. So, is there always a local host? Almost everything can be accomplished online, yes?

There's not always a local host (twice we didn't have one, I think), but we do find it helpful, especially when going to look at hotel accommodations or restaurants. And it's nice having someone with hands-on experience of the area.

To make up for missing this year's get-together, I'm volunteering to at least help organize a Portland, Maine event. We've only done New England once, so you could say we're due for a revisit. I know lots of people with local knowledge, and I'm sure I could get some family members to participate, too.

Submitted for your consideration....

Hmmm, that sounds interesting , Allen.

Allen, what a great idea! I love Maine.

I say great idea as well--I've never been to Maine.

Maine must be beautiful at that time of year!

I've never been able to join Goodreads for their annual get togethers, and I'd love to. Maine sounds wonderful, and while I'm not yet retired, I'm working half time, so I might be able to swing it.

Jane wrote: "I've never been able to join Goodreads for their annual get togethers, and I'd love to. Maine sounds wonderful, and while I'm not yet retired, I'm working half time, so I might be able to swing it."

That would be wonderful, Jane. Sounds more and more like Maine to me. If our Founder (Allen) calls, I think we should come.

If you build it they will come. I would love to go next year. I always plan on trying to go , but other things get in the way.

Carol, make it your top priority! I'd love to see you again.

I just looked at prices for Portland hotels this time of year, and they are quite high, leaf-peeping season and all. Everything over $200 a night. Of course, we managed to go to NYC where prices were even higher. I'm sure if we start looking way ahead of time with a group rate we can manage it. Lynn and I always room together, which is fun, so I would recommend finding a room-buddy.

Sherry wrote: "Carol, make it your top priority! I'd love to see you again."

I would love to see you again also. I have informed my husband he needs to plan on it. He has a nephew in Vermont too. I told my daughter , and she wants to go as well, so we will see.

If it's Portland, Maine, in 2015, I hope it's DC in 2016, as I have many great reasons to visit and would love to see the CR crew again as well.

Yulia wrote: "If it's Portland, Maine, in 2015, I hope it's DC in 2016, as I have many great reasons to visit and would love to see the CR crew again as well."

DC would be wonderful for another convention, and my son lives in the outskirts, in Falls Church, VA. You would never run out of things to do there.

DC is nice also.

We love DC!

If it's Maine, I can visit on a weekend in October (I'm working otherwise). I have an aunt in Scarborough, right outside of Portland, and her leaf-peeping price is eye-poppingly cheap. What can I say. I'm her favorite nephew (and I'm not many people's favorite anything).

I can help Allen with suggestions on restaurants, sights to see, etc. Not sure if the boat cruises to Casco Bay islands are still operating. Probably, though you'd best bundle up!

Carol, we might actually meet! Now you have to stowaway Ruth, too (So Cal contingent, don't you know...).

Newengland wrote: "If it's Maine, I can visit on a weekend in October (I'm working otherwise). I have an aunt in Scarborough, right outside of Portland, and her leaf-peeping price is eye-poppingly cheap. What can I s..."

That would be nice, and yes I would stowaway Ruth and Leif.

Omaha would be a central location and maybe more appealing for the price conscious.

consider hosting Asheville Sherry. fun town with lite to Do.Tim and atom could ride bikes...

Anne wrote: "consider hosting Asheville Sherry. fun town with lite to Do.Tim and atom could ride bikes..."

I would love to host it again here, Anne. I did it in 2007 and thought it might be too soon to suggest it again.

If it's Portland, at least you'll eat well...

http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/...

We were in Portland just a few years ago, NE. It was wonderful.

Maybe I could find a way to get to Maine, at least for a day. There's always the Northeaster out of Boston.