Convention dates and hotels......lets go girls

[Diceman]

If ya don't get your ass in gear, you will miss out.
Here are 3 relatively priced hotels within blocks of the water at the inner harbor area.
I like the first one, looks quaint. Witht eh football game on sun nite things will go fast. We need to reserve our rooms now the rest can be figgered out later......got it??
So check these out and seems the date is set for Sept 9-10-11.
Some of the low rates are non-refundable so ya might better off paying a few bucks more, just in case.

http://www.hotels.com/property.do?mtnHotelID=6081&page=info&numadults=2&numchildren=0&numrooms=1&CIDay=9&CIMonth=9&CIYear=2005&CODay=11&COMonth=9&COYear=2005&z_property=ALL&gds=3&thisPageNumber=1&roomOccupancyString=1||2|0|0&qKey=null&roomTypeCode=002

http://www.hotels.com/property.do?mtnHotelID=46534&page=info&numadults=2&numchildren=0&numrooms=1&CIDay=9&CIMonth=9&CIYear=2005&CODay=11&COMonth=9&COYear=2005&z_property=ALL&gds=3&thisPageNumber=1&roomOccupancyString=1||2|0|0&qKey=null&roomTypeCode=002

http://www.hotels.com/property.do?mtnHotelID=5990&page=info&numadults=2&numchildren=0&numrooms=1&CIDay=9&CIMonth=9&CIYear=2005&CODay=11&COMonth=9&COYear=2005&z_property=ALL&gds=3&thisPageNumber=1&roomOccupancyString=1||2|0|0&qKey=null&roomTypeCode=002

[Diceman]

I vote on the Brookshire, closer, good rates, older for that historic feel......

[Diceman]

We are going to a Penn State game on the 10th of Sept.....
Have to change the date for the convention and since that is also a Baltimore Ravens home game..it might work out anyway..we need to change the date for later in Sept.
I'M SO SORRY GUYS......

[refrtech]

Knowing the area and where all 3 hotels are I would recommend #2 The Days Inn. It is the easiest of the 3 to get to off of 95 and is only 3 blocks to The Harbour, Camden Yards , or for you Squeelers fans Ravens Stadium depending on which way you walk. Whatever that may be lets get it set IN STONE !! :)

[dhvac]

ok there should not be a problem changing the date at this point in the game but yes lets get it set.
if you change it to a weekend when there is not a home game at least the straglers will be able to get a room and attend rather than saying too bad you didnt sign up 4 months ago.

who cares what hotel until there is a date set so lets get that down then move on.

[Green Mountain]

Where is Chairman Robo? Sounds like we need a "ruleing"

[selfemployed]

She says we are comming! Long as it's a weekend. All I can say is she is in banking sooooo I guess she knows where the $$$ is. Liz said she will have a working voice too. Dice is Claire comming?

[RoBoTeq]

Sorry guys. Been up to my ears with the new job and finding a house for Lisa and I to rent that is in a decent location for both our workplaces.

I want to first make certain that whatever hotel we decide on is not one frequented by the local hourly patrons.

As for the date; the weekend before is Labor Day weekend, which is fine by me but others might object. So, do we back up to August or hit the 16th of September?

I don't follow sports and don't know how to get baseball schedules.

[selfemployed]

Originally posted by RoBoTeq
I want to first make certain that whatever hotel we decide on is not one frequented by the local hourly patrons.
So are you going to call the Hotels and ask ?

[RoBoTeq]

If I'm reading the schedule correctly it looks like the Orioles have home games every weeken BUT the 9-11th. Labor Day weekend they are only home on Labor Day Monday.

ALSO; WHOEVER HAS MADE THIS PAGE SO DAMNED WIDE.....FIX IT!

[RoBoTeq]

Originally posted by selfemployed

Originally posted by RoBoTeq
I want to first make certain that whatever hotel we decide on is not one frequented by the local hourly patrons.
So are you going to call the Hotels and ask ?

Of course not. I may just have to do some investigations :D

[dhvac]

One thing to consider is that kids will be going back to school in august.

I will be there... just let me know when

As far as Labor Day it doesn’t matter to me either way

And if the ball games are a problem then is there a way to move to an area that would not be so packed

I think Annapolis was mentioned would that still be in the “hot zone"?

[Diceman]

Scott, Claire is definately comming to this whenever the hell it is.
Days Inn sounds good to me, I think it is best to avoid Labor Day weekend, I'm sure a lot of guys have plans for then. Sooooooo do we do middle August or middle September.
I think at this point September would be better. Many already have vaca plans for the summer.
Ya all agree?
The screen is wide from those hotel links.

[Jultzya]

tinyurl.com

Will fix the long link problem.

[Green Mountain]

For us Benningtonians Sept 2-3-4 is a no-go. Sept 30-Oct.1-2 is a no-go. The rest of the month is open "as we speak".

But like I said earlier dates fill up quickly for everyone with family.

[Diceman]

I think August is best, that's why I said to pick a date early, like we did last year, things come up.
How about August 27??

[Green Mountain]

Originally posted by Diceman
I think August is best, that's why I said to pick a date early, like we did last year, things come up.
How about August 27??

That works. (my birthday is the 31st just incase you want to bring me something :D)

[Diceman]

OK....lets vote, August is more like it I think.

[spotts]

No way on Labor Day. Thats amateur weekend, were PRO's. Any other time.......

[Diceman]

Maybe Beenie will get the crabs for his birthday...
So far that's 3 of us good for August 27th, Days Inn near the inner harbor.

[spotts]

that cool old Hotel? Must be booked aye?

[RoBoTeq]

The O's are playing Oakland at Raven Stadium every night the weekend of August 27. Since Oakland is some distance away and by the end of August the O's should be about out of the running we can hope for open hotel accomodations.

[RoBoTeq]

Judging by the rates at the hotels I would say that a lot of people are expected on the weekend of August 27

[Edited by RoBoTeq on 05-24-2005 at 01:52 PM]

[Diceman]

The Days Inn is still $132 a night for the Aug dates, the Brookshire went up some though, what else is going on there that weekend??
I think it will still work out.

[ozone drone]

Baltimore in August !!??

Hot n' Humid as Hell. You can smell those
crab shells in 120 degree garbage cans for miles.

Oh I remember... they made an invention called
something like Air Conditioning.

[RoBoTeq]

OK guys and gals, here's some of my thoughts. I would appreciate it if other Baltimorons chimed in if they think I may be overly cautious here.

The Days Inn is on the border of parts of Baltimore that I would not want to be exposed to if I were visiting. Baltimore is a relatively small city with some unsavory areas. Days Inn can also be a bit of a walk to get to all of the places that show off the "Best of Baltimore", one of our many slogans.

I have contacted the Renaisance Inner Harbor hotel which is right on the water and actually connected to the Inner Harbor shopping area by skywalk. The room cost is $189 a night based on 10-20 rooms and a Friday meeting room would be a base cost of $350. I think we could forego the meeting room and pick a restaurant of bar to invade instead.

If we stay at this hotel we will be so centrally located that there will not be a need for any public transportation other then maybe the double decker buses that run around the Inner Harbor or transportation to Fort McHenry for anyone who wishes to visit there.

For those driving, the parking is $21 a day in the hotel parking lot. With the Orioles games going on the traffic will be herendous and the cabs will be scarce. This will not matter if we can walk to anything.

Baltimore is not the kind of city you want to be joyriding around in. The Inner Harbor area has more then enough to do for a weekend and just walking around it is entertaining.

[RoBoTeq]

Bay cruises available. I would really like to see us do a crab feast sometime during the convention. It is a Baltimore tradition.
http://www.harborcruises.com/menu.htm

[spotts]

Now that sounds like one helluva plan!!!!! Book me in on your plan in case it sells out!

[Diceman]

Yeah Robo, book it, that hotel sounds good to me, lets go, so the date is the weekend of Aug 27th??
We are in, time to move.........
Great info Robin, I knew ya were good for something...:D

[dhvac]

sounds good to me too

[RoBoTeq]

I will contact the hotel again to let them know we will be calling in reservations. I will give then "HVAC Internet Forum Members" as the group name. Our contact at the hotel is Jim Keenan (sp?).

Now! Does the crab feast cruise sound like the way for us to get acquanted on Friday? Can everyone get settled in to get to the boat by 6:30 pm? The boat is definately within walking distance of the hotel. For those who desire to, we can get as trashed as we want without worrying about driving or even getting run over.

By the way, right in the same block is Baltimore's World Trade Center which is the tallest 5 sided building in the world. There is an observation deck overlooking the harbor.

[Diceman]

That's up to the others, whether they can make it there in time. I was thinking on Fri just hang out close by at some trendy bar, that way we get everyones cell number and as people show up they can come and meet us.
As far as a planned boat thingy, Sat would be better for that...doncha think??
I am up for whatever.

[RoBoTeq]

Friday is the only night for the crabfeast cruise;


BALTIMORE’S BEST CRAB FEAST
Friday Sails 7-10PM, June-October $60.00

Caesar Salad, Maryland Crab Soup, Steamed Maryland Blue Crabs, Top Rounds of Beef with Gravy, Battered Fish Nuggets with Tartar Sauce, Crispy Maryland Fried Chicken, Eastern Shore Corn on the Cob, Pasta ala Chesapeake, Dinner Rolls and Butter, Fresh Watermelon, Neapolitan Iced Pound Cake, Unlimited Beer, Wine, Soft Drinks, Juices, Coffee, Tea and Decaf. Cash Bar available for Mixed Drinks.

I agree that Saturday evening would be more convenient. This would also be a good dinner cruise, just without the crabs;
[quote]ADMIRAL’S BUFFET
Saturday Sails 7-10PM $66.00

Hospitality Table to include Vegetables and Dip and Cheese and Crackers, Caesar Salad, Maryland Crab Soup, Chef-carved Roast Breast of Turkey with Honey Mustard, Chef-carved Top Rounds of Beef with Creamy Horseradish Sauce, Chesapeake Crab Balls, Breaded Delmarvalous Oysters, Battered Fish Nuggets with tartar sauce, Vegetable Fried Rice, Roasted Potatoes, Green Beans Almondine, Fresh Dinner Rolls and butter, Cheesecake, Seasonal Fruit, Coffee, Tea and Decaf, Cash Bar available.
[quote]

Then again, we could do dinner elsewhere and do a moonlight cruise;
[quote]
MOONLIGHT CRUISES
Fridays & Saturdays June-September 11:30PM-2:00AM $29.00

Light Hors D’oeuvres, dancing and Cash Bar. Must be 21 years or older.
{/quote]

I like the moonlight cruise because of not having kids around.

[RoBoTeq]

For those who have never had the pleasure (or odd experience) of eating steamed crabs, this is a good link;
http://www.southbaltimore.com/LPSteamers/pickcrabs.html

[ozone drone]

The menus have me droolin .... Damn I miss REAL seafood!

[bb]

I'm glad you all finally settled on a date.

Dice is getting antsy ! :D

http://www.imagewiz.net/usr/hvac1/8593_lmao2.gif

[Diceman]

Come to the convention and watch me dance like that.

[Green Mountain]

Originally posted by Diceman
Come to the convention and watch me dance like that.

Isn't it enough to watch you write like that?? :D

So we are diffinately in for the weekend of Aug. 27th? Wait until that boat get us on board. Unlimited beer! I bet they raise thier prices next year.

I can bring the kettle cookers in the back of the Expedition. I suppose you can get Old Bay at any 7-11 down there! That's if you want to do the state park thing. Hmmm....I wonder if Baltimore is closer to us then Pittsburgh. Hang on I'll be right back.

Okay, I'm back:
Bennington to Baltimore- 404 mi. 6.25 hrs.
Benninton to Pittsburgh- 562 mi 8.5 hrs.

Piece of Crab Cake.

[Edited by benncool on 05-24-2005 at 08:39 PM]

[selfemployed]

OK we are in.

[spotts]

Sat. Night. Some of us may have to come in late on Friday. I'd guess I'll be there early. Can't wait.

[bb]

Originally posted by Diceman
Come to the convention and watch me dance like that.

That would be one for the videocam for sure. :)

[RoBoTeq]

Resteraunt for crabs, then the "Booze Cruise"
Sat. Night. Some of us may have to come in late on Friday. I'd guess I'll be there early. Can't wait.



Sounds reasonable. I'll see what I can find for Friday night that won't be so time constraining.

[appltech1]

At this convention, do you guys hang up the HVAC and just have a good time in a party atmosphere? Do you actually have a meeting to discuss how to improve profits? Salesmanship discussions. I guess what i'm asking is, Is this a party or learning convention?

[RoBoTeq]

The main thing we all have in common is HVAC, so some HVAC is discussed informally. Mostly it is a party atmosphere though. I think the wives had as good a time as the forum members did. It was quite amazing. We are all pretty much very different types of people with HVAC being a common thread, yet we all really enjoyed each others company for the weekend.

As far as I know, there was not one personality clash...and we discussed politics!

For write off purposes there will be a business session. Last year I gave a 45 second seminar on something about HVAC and got pictures of everyone wearing Goodman hats so the entire convention is a write off.

[Diceman]

Ok Robo, so if we make reservations at that hotel, we tell em its for the H-tlk convention, right??
Cause I am gonna do that soon.
And if some of you want to stay in cheaper places, no problem we can still use the hotel Robo picked out as a meeting and gathering place. We won't need the party room either. I assume this is the place.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g60811-d89358-Reviews-Renaissance_Harborplace_Hotel-Baltimore_Maryland.html

[Diceman]

I made my reservation at that place, they don't charge ya till ya checkout and you can cancel, so no biggie if plans change.

[RoBoTeq]

I have just spoke to the sales manager, Jim Keanan, who is sending me a contract for the group rate. It is probably best to wait till we get the formal group name of H-Talk convention before booking. I have blocked 15 rooms so we have plenty of leeway.

[Diceman]

Let us know, I'll change my reservation then.

[Green Mountain]

Yes everyone got along great at the convention. If you start talking shop it could turn into a "Burning Man Festival". Dice is in charge of pyrotechnics.:) Also as a word of caution for you newbies----- Never mention the benefits of 'fluoridated drinking water' around the War Department (aka my wife.):D or you'll get her on the soapbox for an hour.

We are ready to make the reservations as soon as you give the word , Chairman Robo.

PS. Dice is the 2 min. seminar on superheat still on the agenda?

[Green Mountain]

Originally posted by appltech1
At this convention, do you guys hang up the HVAC and just have a good time in a party atmosphere? Do you actually have a meeting to discuss how to improve profits? Salesmanship discussions. I guess what i'm asking is, Is this a party or learning convention?

You'll learn how to party.

[RoBoTeq]

In leiu of croquet, howzabout we organize a game of water polo to be played from the paddle boats :D ?

[Diceman]

2 min on superheat is entirely too long, it takes away from the real activities.....how about we all just mention it in passing.
What the hell is it anyway?

[dhvac]

i think superheat is just when its really hot out :D

[condenseddave]

Originally posted by Diceman
2 min on superheat is entirely too long, it takes away from the real activities.....how about we all just mention it in passing.
What the hell is it anyway?


It feels like your beer can before you open it.

[Diceman]

Originally posted by condenseddave

Originally posted by Diceman
2 min on superheat is entirely too long, it takes away from the real activities.....how about we all just mention it in passing.
What the hell is it anyway?


It feels like your beer can before you open it.
I always thought that was subcooling?
I'm so confused.

[Diceman]

Originally posted by dhvac
i think superheat is just when its really hot out :D
OK, and here all along I thought it was the heat vision that superman used to melt things.......that is why this site is the best in the world.

[Dad]

Dice's Brother (http://www.wimp.com/super/)

[Diceman]

How did you get that pic? You just ruined his secret identity ya know. I hope you are happy.

[Dad]

RoBo gave it to me...


Said he was out goat watching for seconds. :)

[RoBoTeq]

http://hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthread.php?threadid=76982

Be sure to mention that Marriott's group sales rep, Jim Keenan, is aware of the "H-Talk Convention" so they will get used to our group name before the paperwork goes through.

[bldgcode1]

I skipped a few pages on this post, but picked up a convention in Baltimore sometime between August and September. Sorry for being too lazy, busy to read the whole thing, but this sounds interesting and I have to go to Baltimore every six months anyway, so can I get the shortcut on when and where?

By the way I always stay at the Days Inn (which I noticed someone else mentioned on page 1) it is a good facility, and I have never had any problems there, the restraunt is even pretty good, and the prices are reasonable.

[RoBoTeq]

August 26-28 is the date and the Renesaince on Pratt street is the hotel of choice due to it's central location to most places of interest at the Inner Harbor.

I had originally contacted the hotel group reservations thinking we could do well with group rates, but it seems that we can do better individually. I got the group rates down to $179 a night but the standard $199 a night with AAA, AARP or other discounts take the cost to about $159 a night.

Parking at the hotel is &21 a day.

[bldgcode1]

Thanks Robo!

I look forward to meeting several people in person.

[spotts]

What A Guy! Can you guys tell I'm ready to get on a plane already? I'm Joe Convention Poster today.