Monday, September 1, 2008

Geno's or Pat's?

Oh, and other far less important questions, answers and such regarding Philadelphia, this year's site of the APA/AIA.

First rule: Don't Jaywalk!

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Anybody out there have suggestions for CHEAP lodging in Philadelphia? Something close enough to the convention to walk, but significantly less expensive than the Marriott.

Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Try Valley Forge. Worked for Washington and his men.

Anonymous said...

Valley Forge. Nice one. Way too far out. Camden is more like it.

Robin Mitchell-Boyask said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

I was making my reservations the other night and noticed that the cost of parking overnight at the conference hotel is $40. I'm used to something closer to $20-$25 at comparable hotels. Is this a Philadelphia thing? Does anyone know if there are parking garages close to the hotel?

Admittedly, it's a bit early to ask. But since I was thinking about it, why not?

Anonymous said...

Philadelphia, the city that loves you back (as long as you pay up)

Anonymous said...

$40 even when you are already paying good money for a room? Really?! That is crazy. I was thinking of driving, but now the train looks like a better option. Annoying........

Anonymous said...

All you need to know about parking in Philadelphia can be learned from the reality show "Parking Wars" on A&E, about the good folks of the Philadelphia Parking Authority.

Anonymous said...

Folks, these are typical urban overnight parking rates at a conference hotel. for comparison, the parking at the NYC Marriott connected to the Javits convention center is $55/night - in Boston at the Marriott Copley the parking is $35-$40, so this is just the cost of doing business ... if you are traveling to Philadelphia w/o a car, the commuter rail is workable, esp. from PHL airport to Center City, so take the train and save some green ...

Anonymous said...

Is there really no limit to the whining here? I am stunned to read that anyone would drive to this APA.

Driving is immoral, especially in a city well served by transit. As an urbanite, I applaud extortionate parking rates if they get people out of their cars.

The local trains go right into the belly of the Marriott. There is a direct connection from the Amtrak station. Lots of buses from all over the east coast.

As is said at the end of Repo Man, the more you drive, the dumber you get.

And that was before anyone really thought about global warming!

Anonymous said...

Well, actually, my darlin' judgmental uber-tree-hugging greenie, the current plane ticket prices make it much cheaper to drive than fly. So yes, plenty of folks could, theoretically, opt to save hundreds of dollars by driving to the APA, even if it is, as you say, oh so immoral. I will then be able to use the money I saved by driving in order to buy cat food next year, if I don't get a job.

Anonymous said...

If you're using your car to get into Philly but don't plan on using it while there, you can park on a residential street for free. You can find them to the south, south of Walnut St or to the west near UPenn. The latter might be better because trains run in that direction, rather than buses. I think you can also find parking to the north but I don't think it's as safe.

Anonymous said...

Folks, these are typical urban overnight parking rates at a conference hotel. for comparison, the parking at the NYC Marriott connected to the Javits convention center is $55/night - in Boston at the Marriott Copley the parking is $35-$40, so this is just the cost of doing business

Well... yeah. That's why I was asking about a nearby parking garage, which might be a bit cheaper.

Anonymous 8:46,
I at first thought your post was a joke, but then I realized you were serious. I have no choice but to drive, FYI. And frankly, if I flew it would be more harmful to the environment. And I'm sure as hell not going to suffer for countless hours on a bus out of some misplaced sense of guilt. So drive I shall, and just for you I plan to speed a little extra on I-95, since that way I can convert a bit more gasoline into CO2.

Anonymous said...

In answer to the original question, I don't know about cheap, but there are a number of hotels around the convention center that will be cheaper than the official hotel (a Marriott Courtyard, for instance). Look on a Google Business Map search. There is also a fairly decent mass transit system, so staying further out is a possibility,

Anonymous said...

Does anyone know why they don't have online abstracts for APA presentations this year? And why don't they have a schedule of presentations yet?

Anonymous said...

Because it takes a while to fire up the ole IBM 286 AT and upload with a 1200 baud modem. But before they even get there, someone has to figure out why the Prodigy ISP service isnt' working.

Anonymous said...

Source of possible cheapness:

http://philadelphiausa.travel/aia

Then scroll to bottom and click "Show Us Your Badge."

The expiration deadline on these offers has recently been updated to 12/31/2009

Anonymous said...

If you're flying into Philadelphia for the APA, be warned that a cab from the airport to Center City can get pretty expensive ($30 or so, not including tip). There's a cheaper way in: the R1 SEPTA line. It stops at every terminal in the airport at least twice an hour. (It is located across from the baggage claim for each terminal; look for signs.) I'm not sure what fares are these days, but I think around $9 one-way at peak travel times. The R1 stops at Market East, which is the station underneath the Convention Center, right next door to the hotel.

pindordas said...

I'm looking for a woman to share room at Philadelphia Marriott. pindordas@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

So we keep getting this Japanese spam here. I don't know Japanese, so I just Babel-Fished it and this is what the most recent comment translated to:
"For the woman it doesn't try doing the business trip delivery host with the manners sight? It is large amount part-time job of hourly wage 20,000 Yen. After doing no charge register, because it just waits for the call from the woman, also the trial register is welcome. Interest the one which leaned now immediately please"

Hey! There's a job out there for one of us (I think?)!

Anonymous said...

They are ads for an executive "escort" service. And yes, I have thought of sending in my CV!

Anonymous said...

an executive "escort" service

Hmm, memoirs of a tenure-track geisha