Green Tortoise 2009: Sorry for missing you all.

Asiina · January 2009

Well I could be drinking it up this weekend, or last weekend, or any weekend over the last 5 years (6 if I wanted to make the hop over to Quebec).

Aydr · January 2009

Yes, let's all mock how Aydr isn't 21 yet. Of course, Aydr can also hop over a border.

And yeah. That's also true. This way the pub crawl is a viable option. I was just pumped because turning 21 at PAX was an uncharacteristic stroke of luck... meaning I should have assumed it wasn't actually going to happen. But I can have just as much fun anyway.

eye-shuh · January 2009

Wow! I was thinking of hitting up a place downtown this year instead of going home, but the hotels sounded too expensive. This, however, sounds excellent.

Does it cost more if you reserve individually?

That_Guy · January 2009

I have not been able to meet with the folks over at GT. I came down with food poisoning this week and just could not do it. Next week, though, I should be able to get plans worked out.

ULTRAMURDERSAM · January 2009

if i were to reserve a room with my credit card on their site but cant go and cancel and all that, i wont get charged, correct? just making sure what im reading on their site is correct

That_Spoony_Bard · January 2009

AFAIK that is correct.

That_Guy · January 2009

ULTRAMURDERSAM wrote: »

if i were to reserve a room with my credit card on their site but cant go and cancel and all that, i wont get charged, correct? just making sure what im reading on their site is correct

Yup. The card is not charged until your stay. You can just call to cancel/chnage the rez no problem.

That_Guy · January 2009

Big update: I just got home from me meeting with the GT management. Within a month or 2 they will be implementing a new reservation system to allow us to be grouped together this year. Please hold off on making any more reservations until than. Not only will be get PAX grouping, we will be able to get a group rate and therefor a discount each night. For those who already made reservations, make sure you call in after the new system is in place so you can get the PAX rate on your room and be grouped with other PAX attendees.

A word on the planned party. Last year they ended up spending more money than planned so this year we have a solid budget of $150 towards beer and whatnot. The rest will be left up to us to collect. I am thinking of going with another 2 kegs of a local microbrew. If anyone has suggestions, I am open to them. I think a fun theme for the party would be in order as well. Also, we are going to be able to get an entire corner of the common area for gaming and whatnot. I am envisioning a videogame themed party with beer, liquor, and a gaming corner. With my new 32in HD TV, Wii and 360 we should have quite a good time. I even am hoping to be able to pick up the latest Rockband beforehand.

Blain · January 2009

He leads us from jail. Well done, sir.

That_Guy · January 2009

Blain wrote: »

He leads us from jail. Well done, sir.

When I get unjailed I will edit the OP with the new info and throw up a donation link. I am in 'till march so it will be a little while from now, but we will still have plenty of time.

PikaPuff · January 2009

This is a tough choice. I go to my hotel room multiple times a day, so this year I'd like to go to the hilton. But the prices at GT are soooo nice. As is the party atmosphere.

cafeganesha · January 2009

I booked a private 8-bed room at the GT which might get filled up with my friends who are coming this year

However, if we end up having any empty beds in our room, a month or so before PAX I'll see if any forumers want to stay with us... then we don't have to pay extra for beds we don't use, and we can get more PAXers in the GT in the super likely event that it's totally booked up by then. Apparently at this time their policy is that I can't just un-reserve free beds in a private room =[ But anyway, I love this place and even if I had the money for a fancy hotel, I would still stay here for sure.

I'll call back in once they've set up the discounts, I hope they'll let me in on that even though I've booked a private room ; ;

Moe Fwacky · January 2009

That_Guy wrote: »

Blain wrote: »

He leads us from jail. Well done, sir.

When I get unjailed I will edit the OP with the new info and throw up a donation link. I am in 'till march so it will be a little while from now, but we will still have plenty of time.

You know, if it's necessary, I can edit the OP for you, right?

That_Guy · January 2009

Minor update: So last year we didn't have Rock Band until some brave soul took a hella long cab ride to go buy it. To avoid it this year I planned to pick up RB2 to bring with me. I saw it at Freddie's for $189 this weekend so I thought I would pick it up. That means that this year I will be bringing it with me.

Qs23 · February 2009

Anything new with this? Since it's looking like this is where I'm going to be staying this year.

That_Guy · February 2009

I am still waiting to hear on the discounts. I will call over at the end of the week to see if everything has been set up.

eye-shuh · February 2009

Excellent! I'm waiting on this too. I think I've decided to stay there for sure. I'm so excited!

SergeantAuberie · February 2009

That_Guy wrote: »

Big update: I just got home from me meeting with the GT management. Within a month or 2 they will be implementing a new reservation system to allow us to be grouped together this year. Please hold off on making any more reservations until than. Not only will be get PAX grouping, we will be able to get a group rate and therefor a discount each night. For those who already made reservations, make sure you call in after the new system is in place so you can get the PAX rate on your room and be grouped with other PAX attendees.

A word on the planned party. Last year they ended up spending more money than planned so this year we have a solid budget of $150 towards beer and whatnot. The rest will be left up to us to collect. I am thinking of going with another 2 kegs of a local microbrew. If anyone has suggestions, I am open to them. I think a fun theme for the party would be in order as well. Also, we are going to be able to get an entire corner of the common area for gaming and whatnot. I am envisioning a videogame themed party with beer, liquor, and a gaming corner. With my new 32in HD TV, Wii and 360 we should have quite a good time. I even am hoping to be able to pick up the latest Rockband beforehand.

Count me in. And maybe +1 or +5.

X3R0 9 · February 2009

I stayed at the Sheraton last year and that was a little hectic trying to get cash from everybody. This year I'm going to stay here so that I don't have to worry about who's paid. Less stress, more fun for PAX 09!

eye-shuh · February 2009

Any news yet on PAX accommodations?

MoreGrease · February 2009

I'm assuming that under-21s can get rooms at the GT, but will they be allowed into the party as long as they abstain from drinking?

cafeganesha · February 2009

MoreGrease wrote: »

I'm assuming that under-21s can get rooms at the GT, but will they be allowed into the party as long as they abstain from drinking?

Yep, should be fine.

tehnakki · February 2009

This may be a dumb question but I've never stayed in a hostel before so I'm gonna ask it. How safe is luggage during the day? Are their lockers or do you just go on faith nothing will be taken? Not that I'm assuming you lot are gonna steal my precious pikachu slippers, but I'm rather confused as to the setup of the hostel.

Moe Fwacky · February 2009

If memory serves correctly, I think somebody said something about there being footlockers.

Blain · February 2009

There are wooden compartments under the beds you can padlock.

S2000Gan · February 2009

It'd be awesome to hang out with you guys, but my mom is way too worried and paranoid, even though this is my 2nd year and I am 17...

hamburger helper · February 2009

S2000Gan wrote: »

It'd be awesome to hang out with you guys, but my mom is way too worried and paranoid, even though this is my 2nd year and I am 17...

Bring your mom

:winky:

S2000Gan · February 2009

Haha right.

That_Guy · February 2009

I am going to try to stop by GT today after work to get some more details.

makesfive · February 2009

I know that it's not gonna be super fancy or anything, but how clean is the place? Silly girly thing to ask I know, but I'm trying to figure out if the low price is worth it or not.

That_Spoony_Bard · February 2009

It's a pretty clean place. They maintain it well.

makesfive · February 2009

cool, thanks!

Qs23 · March 2009

So having money being really really tight this year, anybody who stayed last year, what's up with the free meals?

SergeantAuberie · March 2009

Qs23 wrote: »

So having money being really really tight this year, anybody who stayed last year, what's up with the free meals?

Not sure about the free meals at the Green Tortoise, BUT... One year I bought a loaf of bread at Pike and some stuff to put on it. It was around $5-6 total, the loaf of bread was huge, and it lasted for around a day/two.

Blain · March 2009

In the mornings they had fruit (apples and bananas), brownies, and make your own waffles. I think they had make your own toast and eggs in the kitchen, as well, but I was always in too much of a hurry.

I also generally wasn't around for the dinners, but the one I was around for (Sunday night) was pasta, salad, and bread. There might have been some cooked veggies, too. I forget. Also, they don't have dinners every night so you will need to do some SergeantAuberie style improvising.

I'm try to buy some kind of snack (trail mix, M&Ms, bread) to keep in my footlocker because by the time PAX lets out, almost every place you can buy food is closed.

Qs23 · March 2009

Blain wrote: »

In the mornings they had fruit (apples and bananas), brownies, and make your own waffles. I think they had make your own toast and eggs in the kitchen, as well, but I was always in too much of a hurry.

I also generally wasn't around for the dinners, but the one I was around for (Sunday night) was pasta, salad, and bread. There might have been some cooked veggies, too. I forget. Also, they don't have dinners every night so you will need to do some SergeantAuberie style improvising.

I'm try to buy some kind of snack (trail mix, M&Ms, bread) to keep in my footlocker because by the time PAX lets out, almost every place you can buy food is closed.

Ok, that's what I was wanting to hear.

SergeantAuberie · March 2009

Qs23 wrote: »

Blain wrote: »

In the mornings they had fruit (apples and bananas), brownies, and make your own waffles. I think they had make your own toast and eggs in the kitchen, as well, but I was always in too much of a hurry.

I also generally wasn't around for the dinners, but the one I was around for (Sunday night) was pasta, salad, and bread. There might have been some cooked veggies, too. I forget. Also, they don't have dinners every night so you will need to do some SergeantAuberie style improvising.

I'm try to buy some kind of snack (trail mix, M&Ms, bread) to keep in my footlocker because by the time PAX lets out, almost every place you can buy food is closed.

Ok, that's what I was wanting to hear.

And you could always find like-minded individuals, hit up Pike, and have one person buy bread, one person buy cheese, etc. for shared sandwiches. Or eat at Subway and get a $5 footlong and save half for later. Or eat at the crepe place b/c that was pretty well priced as well. I'm up for finding low-price food options.

PikaPuff · March 2009

So uh. That Guy suggested waiting to make a reservation. But I'm thinking if we wait much longer, all the spaces wil be taken.

Suggestions?

Moe Fwacky · March 2009

Maybe you should send him a PM and ask what's up.

That_Guy · March 2009

PikaPuff wrote: »

So uh. That Guy suggested waiting to make a reservation. But I'm thinking if we wait much longer, all the spaces wil be taken.

Suggestions?

They are going to have more than enough space. Last year we were less than 1/4th of the total number of people there. Coleen, the manager at GT, assured me we would have no problem getting beds. I need to remember to walk over there today after work and check to see if we can start calling. Someone remind me.

Penny Arcade

Quick Links

Green Tortoise 2009: Sorry for missing you all.

Posts