This will actually be my very first trip to ALA Midwinter, and I’m looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones. With my job covering the exhibit hall for American Libraries, I suspect that I’ll be spending more time at the exhibit hall than I’ve spent at the three Annuals I’ve been to combined. I’m very excited that the conference is in Philly, because I love shoofly pie and I know of few places other than PA where I can get it. My schedule for meals is pretty loose so if you want to grab lunch, dinner, shoofly pie, etc. let me know — mgfarkas(at)gmail(dot)com. I also wouldn’t mind company walking around the exhibits (especially if you know more about vendors than I do!). 🙂
Friday January 11
9:00 am – Arrive in Philly, hopefully get my hotel room (more likely drop off my bag)
Lunch – No plans yet
2:00 – 5:00 pm – RMG Consultants’ 18th Annual Presidents’ Seminar
5:30 pm – Pop in at Exhibits Reception to visit a few vendors.
Dinner – No plans yet
Saturday January 12
9:00 – 10:30 am – Walk the exhibit hall
10:30 am – Meeting with vendor
11:15 – 12:00 pm – Walk the exhibit hall
Lunch – May go to EBSCO’s Academic Library Database Luncheon, may do something a little more quiet.
1:30 – Back to the exhibits
2:30 pm – 5:00 pm – Meet with a number of vendors; run from one end of the exhibit hall to the other and back a few times.
5:30 pm – Cocktail party
7:30 – May pop in at the ALA Publishing Reception, may just grab dinner.
Sunday January 13
8:00 – 10:00 am – Top Technology Trends Committee
Lunch – No plans yet
1:30 pm – Meet with vendor
2:30 pm – Meet with vendor
3:00ish – 5:00pm – Walk the exhibit hall
5:00 – May I please have a little nap, please?
6:00 – 8:00 pm – Jim Rettig Presidential Planning Task Force Meeting
After 8:00 – No plans
Monday January 14
10:00 – 11:30 am – ACRL Virtual Conference Subcommittee Meeting
1:50 pm – Head home for my night reference shift (will the students mind if I fall asleep at the desk?)
Meredith —
I can’t make it to Midwinter, but I do have a suggestion for a really nice lunch/dinner place that is close to the Convention Center: Vintage Wine Bar.
(Ignore the chi-chi-ness of the website. It’s a really nice, friendly place.)
Beau Monde is also wonderful for brunch and worth the trip.
Hope you have a great time!
Thanks so much for the recommendations, Stacey! They both sound really great (even without shoofly pie)!
I am definitely heading to Monk’s for dinner either Thursday or Saturday night for some Belgium goodness. We need to meet up some time that weekend. My schedule is really open with the exception of Friday.
Any chance you’ll be able to take a break from the exhibits long enough to see Aaron Swartz’s presentation on Saturday, January 12 from 1:30-3:30 p.m in the Philadelphia Convention Center (PCC), Room 108A? He’s our guest discussion leader for this year’s University Libraries Section Current Topics discussion group.
The talk will be on “picking winners,” the idea being that there are far too many new technologies out there for each person to try them all, but there are certain characteristics to look for in a new technology that can help you figure out whether its likely to be useful for you and your constituents. Aaron’s put together an amazing track record, and he’s very excited about this presentation. It would be great if you could attend, and perhaps even ask a question or two.
When you go to the cocktail party, will we see you drinking a martini? I just love those cute little drinks! Can I buy one for you?
Perkily yours,
Annie
I’ll second Mary Carmen’s endorsement of Monk’s. There’s also Eulogy Tavern at 2nd and Chestnut that’s a good Belgian place with a great beer selection.
I’m not 100% sure of my schedule right now, but I hope we cross paths. I’m sure I’ll see you at the exhibits at least.
I can’t believe you’re flying home and doing a reference shift. It’s a short flight, but still…
Sweet! Thanks Tom! I hope we see each other as well! 🙂