Victoria Cherney on thu 7 apr 05
Greetings,
I've never been to an NCECI conference and want to attend next year. What
hotel/s should I book a room at to have the best experience, and should I
book for any days before or after the conference? Do I need a car and if
so, why (and can I get away without a car, as $$ is very tight)?
Thanks.
Victoria Cherney
vacherney@yahoo.com
Ken Nowicki on thu 7 apr 05
Okay... I'll jump in on this one.
Victoria, in case you missed it, Mel just posted information about hotel
reservations for NCECA in Portland yesterday, here on the list. Take a peek in the
archives ( http://lsv.ceramics.org/archivedata/clayart.html ) if you don't
still have it on your computer.
In my humble opinion, if you want to stay at the hotel that is going to
provide you with "the best experience", bar none, hands down, it will be whatever
hotel is hosting the "Clayart Room", which is usually where most of the Clayart
members choose to stay for fun and convenience. For the 2006 NCECA conference
in Portland (as Mel mentioned yesterday), it will be The Red Lion Hotel
Portland - Convention Center.
This will be my sixth NCECA being involved with Clayart (eighth NCECA
conference total for me), and undoubtedly, Clayart has provided an experience like no
other during these conferences, and I probably wouldn't make such an effort
to attend each year if Clayart didn't exist at NCECA. I'm sure there are many
on this list that agree with that sentiment, as well as expound on the "Clayart
experience" at NCECA overall.
You mention that "$$ is very tight" for you... and you are not alone. Many
Clayart folks pool their resources together and share hotel rooms... sometimes
as many a 4 or 5 to a room! They all seem to have a blast doing this, and save
money in the process, and finding a roommate seems as simple as posting the
list with a request to find one. Clayart folks are some of the best people in
clay you'll find, and I doubt you will have a problem going this route if you
choose to try and save some money.
For me personally, this is the one time of the year that I get to do
something for "myself". It's sort of like a mini-vacation away from my "day to day
duties" as a stay-at-home-Dad (with two rambunctious little boys)... so I choose
to have a hotel room to myself... coming and going as I please... not having
to worry about waking anybody with my snoring (wife says I do anyway, I still
don't believe it! ), and generally just pampering myself for nearly a week.
So for me, this is "my time" for me while I'm away once a year.
As far as a rental car... well... I think you can certainly get by without
one in most instances. It seems especially easy to do in the coming conference
in Portland too, as I just discovered that you can take the "light rail" system
directly from the airport to the "convention center" stop (which is right
across the street from The Red Lion Hotel) for an unbelievably inexpensive price
of something like... $1.50!!! Cheap.
Additionally, the "light rail" can take you to and from downtown Portland on
a 10 minute ride from the convention center for FREE!!! I don't know how many
galleries, or ceramic exhibitions will be along this route just yet, but I
would imagine at least a few will undoubtedly be, maybe more.
That said, NCECA has had a notorious time with serious problems with their
"bus tour" system in the past, and if you are planning on going to see a great
deal of ceramic exhibitions, museums, and galleries using their buses... BE
FOREWARNED. (Search the archives to hear more about this topic) Many people are
beginning to choose to make alternate transportation plans to get around
NCECA's screwed up bus system, so that they can see all the events that they want to
see (without getting stranded!) ...myself included. Given that, I would say
that in most instances and most host cities for NCECA, I would plan to get
together with others who might have a car to get out to see some of the key
venues, share a cab, or get a rental car and drive yourself. Although, it appears
that in Portland's case, this might be alleviated by their "light rail" system,
but won't be sure until we see NCECA's planned exhibition routes.
As far as booking days before or after the conference, that is strictly up to
you. Sometimes, there are weekend workshops that are put together (usually
the weekend ahead) before or after the conference, and if you want to attend one
of those, then you'd need to plan for it.
For me, personally... I like to arrive at least a day before the conference
begins on Wednesday... to kind of get "settled in"... plan what I'm going to do
and where I'm going to go for the week... give myself some time to
familiarize myself with the "lay of the land" so-to-speak... plus... there is always the
"unofficial annual Clayart gathering" that takes place in the hotel's lobby
bar on Tuesday night... and a chance to meet & greet fellow Clayarters...
either old friends, or oftentimes making new ones. Look for those with "Clayart
shirts" and say "hello"... since most don't have their badges and telltale "red
dot" on them yet, identifying them as a member of Clayart. Mel usually makes
his rounds ceremoniously placing red dots (he says their "red" and I still tell
him, "no they are fluorescent orange!") on anyone that approaches him,
identifying themselves as a member of the list.
Many folks will hang around for the closing ceremonies on Saturday, and
taking in more exhibitions, galleries, museums, etc. throughout the weekend... many
leaving later on Saturday... some staying until Sunday... but by Monday...
most all have gone home. I myself will try to plan an extra day in Portland
though this conference to get some flyfishing in... as I hear that the steelhead
fishing on the Umpqua River is fabulous... so I'm packing my flyrod and reel
with me!
Hope this answers some of your questions Victoria, and I'm sure others will
offer their suggestions as well. Good luck!
PS - Book that hotel room at the Red Lion fast if you want to be in the
"thick of things"... those rooms will not last at the rate they are being booked!
Best wishes,
- Ken
Ken Nowicki
Port Washington, NY
RakuArtist@aol.com
Potters Council - Charter Member
............................................................................
I've never been to an NCECI conference and want to attend next year. What
hotel/s should I book a room at to have the best experience, and should I
book for any days before or after the conference? Do I need a car and if
so, why (and can I get away without a car, as $$ is very tight)?
Thanks.
Victoria Cherney
vacherney@yahoo.com
Susan Nebeker on thu 7 apr 05
Ken, we here in Oregon/Washington are so excited about next year! Yay!
Just a little caveat though about our light rail. It is a jewel in Portland's crown, but a project in the works. The routes are not as extensive as in some cities yet. However, the connections you mentioned between the airport and downtown and in downtown itself are in place. Portland's bus system is very good too.
Wanted to pass on a "heads up" on the fly fishing on our great Umpqua River....... indeed fantastic, BUT- a 4-5 hour drive south from Portland.
Research the winter-spring steelhead and salmon runs here on the nearby Sandy and Clackamas Rivers, or the Cowlitz in Washington. All easy to find within an hour's drive.
Can't wait to meet everybody in Portland, 2006!
Susan Nebeker
Canby, Oregon
www.pollywogpottery.com
Ken Nowicki wrote:
Given that, I would say
that in most instances and most host cities for NCECA, I would plan to get
together with others who might have a car to get out to see some of the key
venues, share a cab, or get a rental car and drive yourself. Although, it appears
that in Portland's case, this might be alleviated by their "light rail" system,
but won't be sure until we see NCECA's planned exhibition routes.
Many folks will hang around for the closing ceremonies on Saturday, and
taking in more exhibitions, galleries, museums, etc. throughout the weekend... many
leaving later on Saturday... some staying until Sunday... but by Monday...
most all have gone home. I myself will try to plan an extra day in Portland
though this conference to get some flyfishing in... as I hear that the steelhead
fishing on the Umpqua River is fabulous... so I'm packing my flyrod and reel
with me!
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