YK08 - The Discussion Continues

There has been some great discussion on where Yearly Kos might go next year, but I would like to see some in depth as to the highs and lows of the spots that keep coming up.

I have already seen two diaries about where we would like to have YearlyKos 2008, so yeah I know that we have already seen some discussion.  As a disclaimer, I live on the west coast, have a very expensive teenager, so I am looking for something within my budget for next year.  I attended the Las Vegas event, but had to bow out of the Chicago event due to cost.

After reading the other diaries, I saw names come up over and over as suggested venues and thought that a discussion of the relative merits might be in order.  Things like cost, travel, unionization, weather, and hell, good restaurants and bars.

If you so choose, feel free to vote and discuss why your choice should be picked.  I liked the earlier discussion, but hontestly didn't think the poll represented the favorite places.

•  It's simple...

  Let's put our money where our mouths are and hold the darn thing in DC.  That will make it easiest to attract the kind of people we want to influence the most.  Barring that, it's cheap to fly to Las Vegas from just about anywhere.

  by Mannabass on Tue Aug 07, 2007 at 09:49:48 AM PDT

  •  I would love to Vacation in DC

    What are the costs like once I get there?  I think that one can fly into the neighboring city for a decent price, but I have no idea how expensive a room in DC is going to be, that said, it would be nice to tour the Smithsonians on an extra day.

    by Sychotic1 on Tue Aug 07, 2007 at 09:52:39 AM PDT

    •  With DCMetro

      it's pretty easy to find reasonable lodging in outlying areas, as long as the convention site is near a Metro station. The spouse and I were in DC back in 1990, and stayed out in Silver Spring at an EconoLodge a moderate walk from the Metro station.

      Good point about availability of the political folks -- there could even be an option for folks to stay over an extra day or two for "lobby day" training and practice...

      by Cali Scribe on Tue Aug 07, 2007 at 10:08:08 AM PDT

    •  Forgive my ignorance...

      Do DKos community members bring their kids to YearlyKos with them?  If so, I would certainly love to bring them to DC, what an educational experience.  Obviously, Las Vegas leaves a lot to be desired in that department.

      by Mannabass on Tue Aug 07, 2007 at 01:33:52 PM PDT

  •  I remember Kos making a comment...

    ... back a ways saying he didn't want to make it so easy for the politicos to drop in, tell us they love us, and leave to finish the rest of the day at the office... that is a summary of the gist of his comment, not close to verbatim, BTW.

    He made a good point, better than I did in my remembered version ;-)

    [This is not necessarily my opinion, just me chiming in with some info]

    by highacidity on Tue Aug 07, 2007 at 10:16:48 AM PDT

•  Oklahoma City, where I live nt

  by Churchill on Tue Aug 07, 2007 at 09:50:36 AM PDT

  •  Okay, is there an airport hub?

    Is it easy to get from the airport to the convention district?  How are the rates?  I am open to suggestions, but I honestly want a place that is convenient and reasonable OR I want a place that is truly fabulous so that I know that my thousand dollars (yes that is pretty much what I can expect to spend with airfar) is well spent.

    by Sychotic1 on Tue Aug 07, 2007 at 09:55:01 AM PDT

  •  Kansas City

    Southwest and Midwest both use it extensively, and are some of the most comfortable, competent, and on-time airlines out there.  Also really cheap.  It is easy to drive to, as it is where I-70 and I-35 intersect.  And it is in between two really interesting states politically.  There are a lot of big hotels, and really good restaurants (the NYTimes actually had an article in their food section a couple of weeks ago about the good food scene in KC).  I vote for KC.  But I hear rumours that Philly has already been chosen.  Cheaper for the east coast than NY or DC or Boston, but still difficult to get to at times (have you TRIED to fly USAir recently?  They cancelled the last three flights I was booked on with them).

    by annetteboardman on Tue Aug 07, 2007 at 10:26:39 AM PDT

    •  i like KC alot

      convenient to some of the future battlegrounds: Kansas, rural MO, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, southern/western/central Illinois

      kinda like Memphis too

      but i still like St. Louis more (selfish reason: it's a shorter roadtrip) (non-selfish reason: bigger media center)

      i understand the desire for east coast: both convenience to those out that way, and the bigger media focus

      real key? not so much where, as when ... we don't want to be too damned close to the national convention's date in Denver, else the reverberations will become muffled

      by wystler on Tue Aug 07, 2007 at 11:09:46 AM PDT

•  Baltimore

  easy in-and-out with cheap carriers (Southwest), close to DC and Philly, cheap and really nice convention sites on the harbor.

  Plus, Camden Yards is a must-see for anyone who even remotely enjoys the game of baseball.

  by zenbowl on Tue Aug 07, 2007 at 10:01:12 AM PDT

•  saint louis

  great town

  fine facilities

  easily accessible

  slam dunk

  by wystler on Tue Aug 07, 2007 at 10:01:16 AM PDT

•  As a Left Coaster,

  I think it's only fair that the East Coast Kossacks get the opportunity to stay close to home.

  I missed Vegas due to the spouse's 50th birthday (figured that took a little more priority), but made it to Chicago. Wherever it is next year, I hope to be there and bring the spouse along with me -- if it's Philly we could make it a two week swing and head up to NYC where we have friends and relatives.

  I can foresee this as being a 5 year rotation: Western US the first year, Midwest the 2nd, East the 3rd, South the 4th, then back to the West for year 5...

  by Cali Scribe on Tue Aug 07, 2007 at 10:04:33 AM PDT

•  I say lets hit NOLA

  It would make a statement as to what our true beliefs are, and we could highlight Republican ineptitude.

  by Irish Patti on Tue Aug 07, 2007 at 10:06:32 AM PDT

  •  I second this ...

    And I just have to say it was so great meeting you Irish Patti! You are so nice and hilarious to boot, and man you have a lot of energy! You put this college student to shame, lol!

    by SundayHighway on Tue Aug 07, 2007 at 10:18:45 AM PDT

    •  it was great to meet you too

      After the vast amount of damage that I did to my liver on the patio, I am considering starting a Living Liberally Chapter in my town. That has a possibility of being very interesting.

      by Irish Patti on Tue Aug 07, 2007 at 10:22:25 AM PDT

      •  I told the spouse

        the story you related about how Bill O'Reilly would love you, and after seeing your photo he heartily agreed... ;)

        I'm dragging him along next year! :)

        by Cali Scribe on Tue Aug 07, 2007 at 11:00:42 AM PDT

        •  YAY I can't wait to meet him :-)

          by Irish Patti on Tue Aug 07, 2007 at 11:06:39 AM PDT

  •  NOLA?

    was under serious consideration for YK2 ... and also for DNC08 ... but there were problems regarding non-union labor ... if that cannot be resolved, no way we should be there in an election year

    (i can't do the hot/humid complaint, because i'm gonna stump for st. louis)

    by wystler on Tue Aug 07, 2007 at 11:00:37 AM PDT

•  I think Philly makes the most sense logistically,

  Convention center is downtown. Lots of hotels, restaurants and bars in walking distance and it would be nice to give us eastcoasters a shot at this.  Plus just think of the headlines, "Reclaiming American democracy in the birthplace of American democracy."

  NOLA is a close second.  I like the idea of giving them the business.  And I've always wanted to go.  It would also be great to get a contingent of kossacks netroot nation delegates to do some charity work.

  The message would feel more like an anti-Bush thing than an American Democracy thing.  I think I prefer the democracy theme.

  Either way I'm there.

  by ArgusRun on Tue Aug 07, 2007 at 10:16:00 AM PDT

•  New Orleans

  I say we have it in New Orleans, and I'm saying that not just because I'm from there, lol!

  First off, come help our economy by sending your money down here. You have no idea how much that would be appreciated. Second of all, I was talking with a friend of mine, and we were discussing the possibility of organizing a little something where if Kossacks can come in a day early or stay a day late and help out a little down here. It wouldn't be that difficult to organize at all. Also, if the presidential candidate comes to the convention next year, what better way to ask if they are willing to immediatly start rebuilding NOLA when they get in office.

  And fourth, no other place can hold a party like New Orleans does. Sorry, but even after the hurricane, no one parties like us, lol!

  Man, I should really just write a diary on this, lol!

  by SundayHighway on Tue Aug 07, 2007 at 10:16:28 AM PDT

•  East Coast

  I have yet to attend the yearly event. Why? Because I have the added cost of having to fly to the U.S. mainland from the Caribbean, which I do annually to visit my family. But, my family is on the East Coast.

  A rotation system for the venue makes the most sense to me. East Coasters need a break, financially, for these events.

  I already pay $600 to fly round-trip to New York City. Put air travel to a convention, plus hotel and registration on the tab and it's just prohibitive.

  New York City or DC are fine with me, even Boston, but I left my heart in Philly many years ago. Any one of these cities would have great significance in an election year.

  I don't doubt New Orleans would be significant, too, but the East Coasters get hit in the pocketbook, deeply, again.

  by Caneel on Tue Aug 07, 2007 at 10:28:29 AM PDT

  •  Chicago isn't cheap for me and the hotels

    are hella expensive.  I would like to think that Chicago was fairly cheap from the East Coast, but I will bet nowhere was cheap from the South....just my .03 (including inflation).

    by Sychotic1 on Tue Aug 07, 2007 at 10:41:13 AM PDT

    •  if you thought Chicago wasn't cheap

      ... then your gonna find anywhere on the east coast north of the VA/NC line really pricey too

      by wystler on Tue Aug 07, 2007 at 11:11:33 AM PDT

      •  The numbers of people

        who live on the East Coast or have family or friends there is quite high.

        For instance, I would not have to stay in a hotel if it were in NYC or DC, and a probability that I would not have to pay for a hotel in Philly.

        These sort of arrangements would cut down on the numbers of people who would have to get a hotel room.

        Plus, I have already seen offers of a place to stay, i.e., Philly. Again, the numbers of people who live in the area have a bearing.

        Also, as pointed out re: DC. It is possible to stay in a motel in Silver Spring and take the metro to convention site.  I have chatted with tourists who drove close to DC, got a motel in Silver Spring and took the Metro into downtown DC daily, and in one case took Amtrak into NYC.

        by Caneel on Tue Aug 07, 2007 at 11:58:38 AM PDT

  •  Rotation Makes Sense

    West, Center, East and then back to the West all with some North-South variation.

    by global citizen on Tue Aug 07, 2007 at 10:59:29 AM PDT