Help a PAX newbie experience the expo right

aragorn18

So, a friend and I are flying out to Seattle for PAX. We've never been before. I hadn't even been to a gaming con before I went to GenCon in Indianapolis last weekend. We're staying downtown on Thursday night and then at the Hilton for the Expo.

My question is, what should I do at the event? What are the can't miss items? I want to make sure I don't miss anything important. Are there any out-of-the-way things that we should see? Anything in Bellevue or Seattle that aren't part of the Expo that are interesting? This will also be our first trip to Washington state.

Basically, any guidance you can give would be appreciated.

P.S. Have they announced who all will be at the Exhibitor's hall?

BigRed

aragorn18 wrote:

P.S. Have they announced who all will be at the Exhibitor's hall?

Yes.

www.pennyarcadeexpo.com

look at the graphic on the right.

Also theres not really many hidden things there. If you are just checking out the expo hall then you cant miss anything. If you are doing some gaming, basically all of freeplay videogaming is on 2nd and 4th floors. (arcade on 2nd, everything else on 4th). If tabletop stuff is the cut of your jib, thats over at the red lion, there will be regular shuttles.

tannin

Most of this has been well covered in other threads, but as for non-PAX things-to-see, the Experience Music Project (http://www.emplive.org/) and it's attached scifi museum are a must. You can also search the board for "Game On" which might interest some.

groovechild

As an enforcer, I'll be working for the Microsoft booth, stop by and say hi!

The Geek

tannin wrote:

You can also search the board for "Game On" which might interest some.

http://www.penny-arcade.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1073828220

BigRed

groovechild wrote:

As an enforcer, I'll be working for the Microsoft booth, stop by and say hi!

Hey groove: nobody cares :P

ElectricTurtle

aragorn18 wrote:

Anything in Bellevue or Seattle that aren't part of the Expo that are interesting? This will also be our first trip to Washington state.

Oooo a first timer. As a third generation native I might be able to help with that. I'd recommend walking around the International District during the day if you can find the time, many interesting shops in there and Uwajimaya is the epicenter of Asian foods for Seattle (and there are some excellent restaurants in there like Shanghai Garden and Bush Garden or Fuji Sushi for dinner or China Gate or House of Hong for dim sum earlier in the day). The main branch of the Seattle Public Library was finished just a couple years ago and its quite an architectural curiosity. Of course there are always the tourist traps of the waterfront and Pike Place Market, but there are some things in Pike Place worth one's time (including the Crumpet Shop and the Greek place and the Mee Sum Bakery's crab rangoon).

Fremont and Ballard offer some very good antique and vintage shops if that's of any interest.

If you need some time off outside I'd recommend Discovery Park or the Washington Park Arboretum (within which is a Japanese garden which does charge admission but it's worth it to see their koi, turtles, and Japanese maples).

Chapel bar in Capitol Hill has the best martinis in the area.

(All locations listed are neighborhoods in Seattle.)

b0wser

I get off of a ten-hour graveyard shift at 7am Thursday, so I don't really know how much time I'll have available to do the downtown adventuring-- but I'll do a bit for sure.

aragorn18

Wow, thanks for all of the ideas. I think I'll definitely have to check out Game On and the Internation District.

The Geek

Step 1: Show up.

Step 2: Do stuff.

Step 3: Have fun.

Jaiden

BigRed wrote:

groovechild wrote:

As an enforcer, I'll be working for the Microsoft booth, stop by and say hi!

Hey groove: nobody cares :P

QFT.