Constant Reader discussion

It's time to decide on our next get-together. Mary Anne has suggeted Cincinnati: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...

A few others have suggested Chicago. Frankly, I would vote for Cincinnati, since I've never been there. Lynn has looked at prices for Chicago downtown hotels and says they are pretty steep.

I'd like to do a head count of who would be likely to go to our meeting at either city.

Chicago would be easier for me (just a couple hours drive)

I'm definitely planning to go to either city. I love Chicago but I've been there a number of times. I would vote for Cincinnati too.

I was born near Cincinnati. I love the zoo and the river. It has been many years (50 odd years)since I have been there. Don’t know if I would make either city. I would like to see everyone again.

We'd love to see you, too, Carol. Do you not fly? I'll probably drive it's Cincinnati. It's only about six hours from Asheville, and Tom would help with the driving. I wouldn't consider driving to Chicago.

I'd vote for Cincinnati, mostly because it would be new territory for me (except for a couple of work trips). I plan to attend and would be happy to help with planning.

I would be interested in visiting Cincinnati. We have never been there, and would enjoy seeing everyone. Conflicts prevented us from going to the last few meetings, but this looks like a good possibility. We too would probably drive.

I'd love to see you again, Katy! I hope you can make it.

We haven't mentioned dates yet, but from what I see of hotel availability in Cincinnati, the best weekend would probably be Sept. 26-29, since there is a home baseball game the weekend of the 19th-22nd. I don't know if that makes a difference to anyone, but I figured I should put it out there. I haven't looked at dates in October, but we have done that occasionally in the past too.

I would have to fly with needles and that is a big hassle. It would be about 5 days drive time for either place.

Katy, I would love to see the two of you again! Hope you can make it.

Just realized that I almost duplicated Lynne's sentiments. Great minds?

How funny, Barb! :)

Carol wrote: "I would have to fly with needles and that is a big hassle. It would be about 5 days drive time for either place."

My husband flies with those little thin needles and he never gets hassled, even when they're in his carry-on. Yours may be different, though. If you call TSA ahead of time, they may tell you the best way to proceed.

Carol wrote: "I would have to fly with needles and that is a big hassle. It would be about 5 days drive time for either place."

Carol, you may find this article helpful, unless you're talking about knitting needles :)

http://trip.ustia.org/health/articles...

Sherry wrote: "Carol wrote: "I would have to fly with needles and that is a big hassle. It would be about 5 days drive time for either place."

Carol, you may find this article helpful, unless you're talking abou..."

Airlines isn’t the problem homeland security check points are.

Carol wrote: "Sherry wrote: "Carol wrote: "I would have to fly with needles and that is a big hassle. It would be about 5 days drive time for either place."

Carol, you may find this article helpful, unless you'..."

You can call them, too, can't you? I called them when I was dealing with sending my father back home to Baltimore. They were very helpful.

I’ll send you a message.

Book Concierge wrote: "Chicago would be easier for me (just a couple hours drive)"

Would you consider Cincinnati? I'd love to meet you.

Any other year, yes, I'd consider Cincinnati ...

But we've got a trip coming up for graduations and then another big trip being planned for December.

Will see if I can squeeze one more in.

Some years ago we had planned a getaway to the Hocking HIlls (more southwestern Ohio) that we had to cancel due to a family emergency. We said we would reschedule and never have. Maybe this would be the excuse prod we need to do it ...

Oh, I hope you can make it work, BC. Meeting CRs face-to-face for the first time is always a highlight of the convention for me and I'd love meet you.

I'm so sorry we will have to miss the convention this year. We are babysitting for our grandkids while our son and daughter-in-law take a big trip. We really enjoyed the last two meetings and look forward to coming to another one in the future.

I was wondering about you and Tom, Ann. I'm so sorry you won't be able to make it! Hope you can join us again next year.

Ann D wrote: "I'm so sorry we will have to miss the convention this year. We are babysitting for our grandkids while our son and daughter-in-law take a big trip. We really enjoyed the last two meetings and look ..."

Oh, shoot.

Oh no, Ann! I will miss spending time with you and Tom! But, I know that you will be having a great time with your grandkids.

Now that I'm retiring, I hope to attend some more conventions. This year, however, my sister and her husband will be visiting from Florida for the month of September, and we already have tickets purchased to some events for when they'll be here.

Oh no, Melissa, one more year and I still haven't met you.

I will attend, and will do some of the planning with Lynn.

Mary Anne wrote: "I will attend, and will do some of the planning with Lynn."

Do you think Vic will come? I'm trying to get Tom to come with me.

Hubby and I are seriously considering joining in. Exact dates and some other possible family commitments pending ...

Oh, wonderful!

Hooray!!

Sherry wrote: "Mary Anne wrote: "I will attend, and will do some of the planning with Lynn."

Do you think Vic will come? I'm trying to get Tom to come with me."

Vic says he'd like to come! Yay!

BC, I will look forward to meeting you.

I'm so glad to hear that Vic and BC & hubby might be there! The more the merrier!

Lynn wrote: "I'd love to see you again, Katy! I hope you can make it.

We haven't mentioned dates yet, but from what I see of hotel availability in Cincinnati, the best weekend would probably be Sept. 26-29, si..."

The dates may be problematic for us.

Niece got accepted to and has decided on Univ of Chicago. The school is on a quarter basis and the incoming freshman will be arriving in late Sept. So we'll probably be in Chicago with my brother and his family helping his youngest settle in.

That's too bad (for us), BC, but I'm sure it will be fun to help your niece get started at college. That's such an exciting time for a young person who's just establishing themselves as an adult!

I finally have a link to our hotel block so you can book rooms for our convention in Cincinnati! We'll be staying at the Hampton Inn & Suites in the center of downtown. The rate will be $165 per night, including breakfast, for Sept. 26-29. I believe that you can extend that rate a day or two before and after the convention if you wish. The block has a mix of rooms with king beds and 2 queens.

Here's the link: https://secure3.hilton.com/en_US/hp/r.... I just used it to book a room for Sherry and me, so I know it should be working okay. Let me know if you run into any problems.

I look forward to seeing many CR friends in Cincinnati in the fall!

Yay! Thanks, Lynn.

Do we need a "Group Code"?

The group code is already applied if you use the link provided below, so you don't have to add anything else (just leave the code blanks empty). The group is called Constant Reader if you're calling to reserve over the phone instead of reserving online.

FYI - the block will be released on Aug. 26, so book your rooms before then to make sure you get one at the block rate!

Hooray!! Thank you, Lynne! Do you know if parking is included in that price?

Unfortunately, all the downtown hotels use valet parking, which is $30 a night at the Hampton. (It was even higher at some others I contacted.) The hotels don't have their own parking garages, though - they just use public parking garages nearby - so you are free to park on your own in those if you wish. There's one that's very close to the Hampton.

One hotel rep told me that the price can vary significantly in the public garages depending on what events are happening at the time. There aren't any baseball or football games in town the weekend we are going to be there, so maybe the garage rates won't be too high.

Thanks, Lynn. I thought, since it was right downtown, that might be the case but wanted to ask before I searched the website.

What do u do at CR conventions?

Eat, see the sights, try to visit a bookstore and of course discuss books and bring a favorite passage you would like to share, of poetry, novels etc and did I mention EAT.

Carol's nailed it... when we're at a convention we sometimes refer to ourselves as Constant Eaters :) We also spend a lot of time just talking with each other and catching up on things that aren't posted on the board.

Mary Anne is working on suggestions for activities and restaurants in Cincinnati. I know she's also busy getting ready to move soon, but I'm sure she will be providing some more details on that front in the near future. If you are familiar with the area and want to make suggestions, we'd be happy to hear them!

Often we visit museums, too. Or sites of literary interest.

Are you going Ruth?

holocaust museum Cincinnati
https://www.holocaustandhumanity.org

Thanks, Ann. That looks interesting. Another museum we've talked about is the Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

I've made our reservation!
Apparently, one must see area of Cincy is Over the Rhine (OTR) which is where many German immigrants settled. There's a food tour which sounds interesting, and in keeping with the Constant "eaters" method.
More info to come.