The Qcon tips/information thread! Got a question, just ask!

[flame]

You can fly into DFW or Love Field. Both are close, so choose the one with the cheaper flight.

Love field is very close and very easy to get in and out of.

[ab1tar]

Tips for Quakecon:

Hotel:

If getting a room in the Anatole, the Tower is the closest section. Rooms in the Atrium are on the other side of the hotel from the convention, so request the Tower. If at another hotel, I have no advice as I always stay at the Hilton.

Parking:

Assuming there is an agreement for $8 parking with the hotel again, parking is $8 every time you leave. So, if you park the whole time, it should just be $8 when you leave. If someone has a room, you can put parking on your room bill @ $8/day, but using your room you can come and go as you please. Since this is the case, when going out for food/events, and parked at the Anatole, try and have someone with a room key drive, or use the room key (may be a hanger) in a different car.

Food (broken down into meals/snacks):

Breakfast:
There is a Denny's across the street from the Hilton (Opposite side away from the convention), and a whataburger just a short drive. While these are options, I suggest bringing food for in your room (more on this later).

Lunch:
Denny's, Whataburger, and Subway are the closest chain's I know of. There are other places around (not really in walking distance) but I have no experience with those places. You can also have pizza chains deliver to the hotel.

Dinner:
Generally for dinner, we try and get at least one group going out somewhere a little further away. The West End isn't too far
and there are places there. Also, Denny's, Whataburger, pizza and Subway (warning, this subway closes very early, I think 7 or 8pm).

Snacks:
Go grocery shopping and bring snacks!

Food to bring:
I usually hit up the grochery store either the day before, or on my way (We went and stayed in line all night that year). I like to get poptarts (I eat a package for breakfast), and different snack foods, cheeze-it's, peanut butter crackers, ect. Also, I like to bring drinks, usually left in my room. You can bring drinks into the BYOC (NO GLASS) and even ice cheasts (NO ICE). If you want a supply of cold drinks in the BYOC, bring an ice cheast full of frozen water bottles and your drinks (NO OPEN BOOZE), so you have your drinks and also water. (I'm fairly certain this is fine, I know you can't have ice in ice cheasts, but I don't think ice chests alone are against the rules.)

Getting in to the BYOC:
I believe the BYOC will open at 9am on that Thursday. At this time, there will be a very long line, so there are a few options we have. I think it would be cool to get a bunch of people together to get in line a little early (6 - 7am?) so we can all hang out in line, and come and go a bit more freely since other TPGers will be there to help watch eachother's stuff. Also, it is a fair distance from the door to the BYOC, so I highly suggest bringing a cart of some kind to put your rig on, as you cannot keep a bell-hop's cart. I have a dolly that I can lay down, and I put my rig, monitor, and my buddy's rig and monitor on it.

Alcohol:
I highly suggest that if you have a room, hit up the liquor store before you come, and keep some there. Alcohol is against the rules IN the BYOC (really visible is against the rules...). Also, the bar's in the hotel are quite expensive, especially compared to bringing your own. I like bringing some rum or whiskey, have some of it in a container on my person, and then mixing it with a coke, or premix in a larger container and bring it with you (not clear bottle of some sort). If you want better mixed drinks or beer, there is a bar close to the BYOC, I hear the Tea's are the best bang for the buck.

[flame]

Yeah $50 in booze will go at lot further than $50 at the anatole bars. 4 drinks compared to 20 drinks.

[TexRyker]

Opps, guess I should have posted this here:

Affordable food places nearby:

Closest good (24h?) street tacos
1525 Inwood Rd, Dallas, TX 75247

Good nearby TexMex (+breakfast)
Los Lupes
1400 N. Riverfront Blvd., Dallas, TX 75207

Thai2Go (foods reasonable)
2222 Medical District Drive #205, Dallas, TX

Little Ceasars
2515 Inwood Road, Dallas, TX

Jakes Hamburgers
2702 McKinney Avenue, Dallas, TX

Grocery Stores:

El Rio Grande
5308 Maple Avenue, Dallas, TX

Kroger
4142 Cedar Springs Road, Dallas, TX

Whole Foods (expensive)
4100 Lomo Alto Drive, Highland Park, TX

Recommended Nearby Bars:

The Gingerman
2718 Boll Street, Dallas, TX 75204

Idle Rich (Parking mostly sucks)
2614 McKinney Avenue, Dallas, TX

Best nearby Liquor Store:

Goody Goody
3316 Oak Lawn Avenue, Dallas, TX

Closest drive through Starbucks (Parking ALWAYS sucks here)
1111 Mockingbird Lane Dallas, TX 75247

Closest place to bar hop:
McKinney Avenue near intersection of Routh St.

[Lady Death-Trekie]

Anyone got any tips for bringing a near six month old baby to the con? [This assumes I managed a ride to and from San Antonio]

[su-san]

Don't or hire a nanny

[moving-target]

Anyone got any tips for bringing a near six month old baby to the con? [This assumes I managed a ride to and from San Antonio]

an ID tag incase you forget her somewhere

[moving-target]

Don't or hire a nanny

sage advice although grandparents are cheaper if its an option

[Cojiro]

WTF am i bringing to quakecon.
1. money
2. laptop
3. ipod
4. nintendo 3ds
5. my good mouse
6. my wireless laptop mouse for the plane and airport
7. charging cables

the question. Should I bring the following
1. mouse pad
2. headset (concerned with fitting this in my bag and getting through airport)
3. iPad. not really necessary and probly wont be used
4. xbox controller for computer. I might bring it just for airport use if anything, would there be any use for it at QC? probly not.


I guess I should bring clothes too...

[idunn]

I would bring the mouse pad and headset, almost a must! the ipad and controller, not really necessary in my eyes. I flew my headset and pad down last year, wasn't a problem for me at least.