The Obligatory Picture Out the Hotel Window, Boston Style (+ Boskone Schedule)
Posted on February 16, 2012 Posted by John Scalzi 31 Comments
There you have it.
In other news, here I am in Boston, a little early for the Boskone convention, which starts tomorrow. If you live in a hundred mile radius and are not there, we will have words.
Also, for those wondering what I’m doing with myself while I’m at Boskone, here’s my program schedule:
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- Reboots: Refreshing or Depressing? (Panel), Fri 19:00 – 20:00, Harbor I (Westin)
- SFWA Eastern Regional Meeting (Other), Sat 12:00 – 13:00, Carlton (Westin)
- Guest of Honor Interview and Portrait Painting (Panel), Sat 14:00 – 15:00, Harbor I (Westin)
- Release Party — New John Scalzi Book From NESFA Press (Other), Sat 15:00 – 16:00, Galleria-Demo (Westin)
- H. Beam Piper Retrospective (Panel), Sat 16:00 – 17:00, Burroughs (Westin)
- Kaffeeklatsche: John Scalzi (Kaffeeklatsche), Sat 17:00 – 18:00, Galleria-Kaffeeklatsch 1 (Westin)
- Boskone Saturday Night Award Event (Other), Sat 21:00 – 22:00, Harbor II&III (Westin)
- My Top Ten Tips for the Prospective Author (Panel), Sun 11:00 – 12:00, Harbor II (Westin)
- Reading: John Scalzi (Reading), Sun 13:00 – 14:00, Lewis (Westin)
Yes, they’re keeping me busy. I’ll also be doing an autographing in there somewhere. The new book listed in the schedule is 24 Frames Into the Future: Scalzi on Science Fiction Film, a collection of my AMC/FilmCritic.com columns. I’ll be posting a photo of it as soon as I get my grubby mitts on the thing, I assure you.
Anyway: Hello, Boston. You have to deal with me for a whole weekend.
Oh, stop screaming. It’s not that bad.
What’s that white thing in the foreground?
FYI, I nuked Boston in my sci-fi novel. But don’t worry, it’s self-published so word didn’t get around. :)
Any chances of the “Top Ten Tips for the Prospective Author” panel turning into a Whatever post at some point? It sounds interesting. (Unless of course it’s already on the site and I haven’t seen it yet).
I know where you’re staying… if you like clam-shack like ambiance, I recommend The Barking Crab (within walking distance) — anything fried is good, but don’t get the lobstah, I think they fish it from the harbor. Calimari app is yummy.
Chicago (or at least the northern environs) seems to have survived your extended presence, so I have hopes that Boston will do the same. (Have you and your knees reconciled yet?)
Since I live about 7mi away from the Westin I am sad I will not be there this weekend as I will be going up north to white(hopefully) northern NH. Enjoy Boston!
John, welcome to Boston! Hope to glimpse you tomorrow.
Farley: believe that white thing is the outthrust portico of the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC) across the street from the con hotel. The center is currently hosting the Boat Show.
They’ve got the boat show, we’ve got the show boat …
Crap. I thought Boskone was the weekend of the 26th. I’m going to be in NYC visiting family this weekend. !#^$@!!!
Google maps says 105 miles. Phew!
See you tomorrow! Coke Zero (and another little gift of appreciation) will be waiting for you at the Orlando in 2015 table.
I’m impressed. That’s the most times I’ve seen the word “Kaffeeklatsche” used in a single bullet point.
I’m over 2000 miles away, but I’m coming anyway. Looking forward to it.
Sweet, I can see my office from your window.
Man, I really wish I could make Boskone this year, but with the move a week ahead, it’s not really possible (time or money-wise). But my wife will be there, at least, so I hope to live vicariously through her, and am looking forward to good con stories.
@Bob Devney:
Thanks, Bob. I’ve never been to Boston, but hope to one day.
And if you live in more than a hundred-mile radius, you really need to lose weight.
I really wanted to go this year, but the combination of money and energy just wasn’t there to make it happen. Have a great time!
Sorry, man, 30 miles away, but can’t make it. My girlfriend is, however, reading you for the first time, if that makes up for it any. Please ignore that Boston tends to smell like pee, and don’t hold it against the state just to the north (we don’t like the smell much either).
I had hoped to attend on Sunday, but I’ve only just started working again & won’t really have the money to do so. I was at the Westin for Arisia, and can generally reccomend the quasi-Irish bar, especially if you get your food *at* the bar. Then again, I’m a sports fan, so a glass of Bass, fish & chips, and watching the Celtics worked just fine for me.
So where in there do we get a demonstration of your mad ukelele skills?
That looks like a nice schedule. I’ve always heard good things about Boskone. Have fun!!!
Will you be able to do autographing on Sunday? That’s the only day I’ll be there, and I may have two books for you to sign if you can.
Michael:
In fact it appears my autographing will be Sunday at 2.
Augh! I wanted to go so bad, but I just can’t afford it. And I live 30 minutes away. =|
Did you do something to that photo? Because it looks like it was taken in the 70s and spent the last 30 years fading and discoloring.
I’ve taken this photo myself.
I’ll be there by late afternoon today…
It’s amazing how often we end up in the same city at the same time. I almost came to see you in Germany, but business was in the way. I was in Boston yesterday too.
I’m about 120 miles away. And have to work and stuff. Maybe some year you could liven up the measly ConnectiCon in Hartford!
While in Boston and you have any free time (ha ha) between noon on Sunday and noon on Monday drop by the 24 hour Sci-Fi film marathon in Somerville. http://www.bostonsci-fi.com where the real sci-fi action is. :)
Alas, despite being well under the 100 mile radius, I cannot attend; so long as the words are had via e-mail or this forum I can participate but I don’t have time for either Boskone, the trip there, or a face-to-face. Poor planning on my part; maybe next year.
Farley on Feb 16 2:52pm inquired
< What’s that white thing in the foreground?
According to googoo. that is the mother of all Convention Centers in the northeastern US. geekcal.com has a nice page about Boskone, complete with map. If one turns on the sat view, you get something like this behemoth which looks large enough to accomodate a brace of barges (a few of which should be visible to right).