Summer Nationals in '10?

[Cerian]

Yup, public transportation from SJ to SF would require taking the VTA from the convention center (it runs right in front of the convention center) to Mountain View, hop off, get on CalTrain in Mountain View (Castro St station, I believe is the stop) and go to Millbrae. Then get off CalTrain, go over to BART. BART then goes through the airport (or not, some trains skip SFO) and into the city. Best stop would be Civic Center or Embarcadero Center. Glen Park, Balboa Park stations would put you in an almost inhospitable location. Inhospitable for tourists, in any case.

You can also just stay on Caltrain and get off at 4th and King. Not really where anyone would want to go for any reason other than the train, but there are cabs, a few bus lines, and I think the N Judah runs right by...

[KD5MDK]

When I went to the WorldCon (World Science Fiction Convention) in San Jose I took a light rail of some sort direct from the San Jose airport to a block or so from the hotel, which was itself a block or two from the convention center.

[edew]

That is so NOT TRUE!!!! I don't live in Glen Park, but it is about a mile down the hill from my house. I know many families that live there, including the head of the Biology dept at San Francisco State, and his wife (who is the head of the English dept at San Francisco University). Their daughter is a grad student at Penn.

Glen Park is an family community. I use that Bart station coming in from the airport. Then I call a cab to take me home (when I have my fencing bag). When I have no luggage I take the bus up the hill to my house.

It's annoying when people who don't live in San Francisco speak as if they know about the city when they don't!

Let me correct myself. I think "inhospitable" is the wrong word. My intent was to say that Glen Park area is not tourist friendly. You're not going to find any top restaurants there listed in any Michelin guide. If you (a tourist) take BART and get off at Glen Park, you're not going to get to Fishermen's Wharf or Civic Center or Presidio or the Marina or Russian Hill or any number of major scenic points by walking from the station.

I apologize to all the Glen/Balboa Park residents, as I'm sure it's quite hospitable there. What I meant to say is that tourists don't come to San Francisco to visit Glen Park or Balboa Park. And it's not easy to get from those places to main tourist destinations (other than by getting back on BART...). There's hills and winding roads and all such convolutions. (I once tried to take a short cut around there to get to a gas station. Almost ran out of gas driving around in circles. It was at night, so that's a partial excuse.)

It's annoying when people who don't know how often I go into San Francisco speak as if they know how often I do, when they don't.

[edew]

You can also just stay on Caltrain and get off at 4th and King. Not really where anyone would want to go for any reason other than the train, but there are cabs, a few bus lines, and I think the N Judah runs right by...

The CalTrain terminus in San Francisco is close to various SoMA areas including the Metreon, AT&T Park, plenty of sports bars and restaurants that cater to AT&T Park goers, SFMOMA and plenty of interesting places to go. I often to CalTrain into the city because it's easier and cheaper than taking a car and pay the parking rates at the various garages.

Can't tell you which bus to take, since I usually take either BART or CalTrain into the city and walk the rest of the time. It's 7 miles by 7 miles (hilly, of course) so the worst is maybe 5 miles of walking in any one direction before you get to somewhere where you're tired and not close to something interesting.

[jjefferies]

...Oakland to see crime happening first-hand (just kidding, Oaklanders)...the peninsula for nothing but boredom...

It was you who suggested "Poking in Oakland" as a name for "Duel d'Abdul" wasn't it/?

It's no longer my locale but I think there are a couple of places on the peninsula worth eating at, "El Paso" for Tex/Mex and La Cantina??, the burrito place at the corner of Rengstorf and Old Middlefield in Mtn View, makes the best burrito's to be found.

[jjefferies]

I totally agree with your ranking, darius.

1. Austin (2000, 2003)
2. Miami BEACH (2007)
3. Sacramento (2001, 2005)
4. Atlanta (2006)
5. Greenville (2002)
6. Charlotte (2004)

My expectation is that San Jose will be between Sacramento and Atlanta.

I'll agree with the selection of the top three although not the order. I was rather pleasantly surprised that "Suck'A'Tomato" has been as good as it was. I don't expect as much of San Jose and you will need a car unless you want just the hotel<->venue experience.

Miami Beach though was an enjoyable adventure mainly because I didn't stay at the host hotel. The little place we found was a five minute walk from the venue, semi-reasonable ($82/night), reasonably clean, and quiet. One of what is referred to as Art Deco Hotels. Those were all its good attributes. But then I was hanging with a bunch of VETS and not kids. We were on Washington and only a half block from the action. And the action didn't let up while I was awake. Had I known I would have booked for a couple of days. Main error was to suggest the place to my friends. Their most telling comment was that the hotel would be four stars in almost any third world country. But for me it added flavor. And then you could get a REAL Cuban food very cheaply just a block away. Or you could pay three times as much for less if you were so inclined. So I'll go with Miami Beach being in the top three and I've been to all of the SN's listed above.

[evaluna]

Let me correct myself. I think "inhospitable" is the wrong word. My intent was to say that Glen Park area is not tourist friendly.

It's annoying when people who don't know how often I go into San Francisco speak as if they know how often I do, when they don't.

If you want to take Bart into San Francisco... you can get off at the Embarcadero, or Powell (if you want to ride the cable car), or get off at the Civic Center.

If you want to go directly from San Jose... Cal train seems like the best bet... because that will take you to 4th and King... which has a lot happening... and where you can catch the new muni 'T' line.

Sorry you feel annoyed.... but I suppose if you have to do the commute into the city everytime you want to visit instead of just waking up there everyday.... it must be tiring.

[evaluna]

The CalTrain terminus in San Francisco is close to various SoMA areas including the Metreon, AT&T Park, plenty of sports bars and restaurants that cater to AT&T Park goers, SFMOMA and plenty of interesting places to go. .

The Metreon is actually closer to downtown San Francisco. Your best bet would be to catch the 'T' line on King St. and take it into downtown... to the Montgomery or Powell St. Station.

There are lots of 'touristy' places to go... but the best bargain for great Thai food in town is at a place on the corner of Levenworth and Geary. It's worth seeking out those gems that aren't as frequented by the tourists.

Also, if you are younger (20-30s) and it's the weekend, the Mission district, around Valencia between 18th- 24th or so is getting really trendy. 16th St between Valencia & Guerrero has a great Sushi restaurant, crepe place, tapas, and Pakistani place... all in one block. Just a few blocks away is one of the best Italian restaurants around. Rivals some of the best North Beach has to offer.

Very cool restaurants and very cool shopping all around that area. On the weekend parking is awful because you have a lot of folks coming from the East Bay & the Peninsula to hang out.

I think Bruno's (jazz club & dinner house) has re-opened on Mission between 19th & 20th... and Savanah Jazz is south a few blocks between 25th & 26th.

[Cerian]

The CalTrain terminus in San Francisco is close to various SoMA areas including the Metreon, AT&T Park, plenty of sports bars and restaurants that cater to AT&T Park goers, SFMOMA and plenty of interesting places to go. I often to CalTrain into the city because it's easier and cheaper than taking a car and pay the parking rates at the various garages.

Can't tell you which bus to take, since I usually take either BART or CalTrain into the city and walk the rest of the time. It's 7 miles by 7 miles (hilly, of course) so the worst is maybe 5 miles of walking in any one direction before you get to somewhere where you're tired and not close to something interesting.

It is close to ATT park, I guess I just don't think of that since I don't really go there. But BART would put you closer to downtown or the more interesting parts of SOMA than Cal Train, I would think. Still, CalTrain doesn't require any transferring until you're in the city, that's the main point I wanted to bring up as an alternative to switching to BART from CalTrain as that move might be relatively unnecessary.

[edew]

That's true. The transferring from light rail to CalTrain to BART is a major hassle. And the schedules are not always coordinated.

[edew]

Went by San Jose downtown last Friday evening. Hey, it's a happening place! There's plenty of restaurants and bars and dance venues. Not too scary to walk around. It's almost as lively and crowded as Collins Ave in Miami Beach, but with significantly more clothing in San Jose (it's a bit colder, for one thing).

I think the 20+s and 30+s will enjoy the dining establishments and nightlife in San Jose and don't need to go to SF for such fix. And I do believe decent meals in SJ is significantly cheaper than what we got in Miami.

[fencerwallet]

I loved San Jose where the 2006 PCCs were held. The Fairmont (host hotel) is very nice at a pretty great rate for 2008 Nationals. It is just across a plaza from the convention center, too. If I recall, within a short walk, there are lots of regular (ie., non-hotel priced) restaurants, as well (A chinese place, Johnny Rockets, etc.).

[hello?]

I LOVED having Nationals in Miami. Of course, my family lives there so I was able to combine family and fencing. But I thought the convention center was good (except for the stupid mirrors -- Note: the bathroom outside the actual hall had bigger mirrors and, quite frankly, once I fence for five minutes I have no desire to catch my reflection anywhere...). There was plenty of room for spectators and not too much walking like in Atlanta. I loved that it was right next to Lincoln Road. I think a lot of the people who are complaining about their hotels stayed at bargain hotels on the beach and were paying for the proximity to water. I am sure there were 'nicer' hotels farther from the ocean. My only complain is that there were way too many 'host' hotels so there wasn't one centralized location for everybody. My favorite Nationals, I think, was Sacramento with that block-long hotel bar right by the venue which made every night seem like one big party!