Fee Structure

We have more or less intentionally cut the fees on this to the bone (as a comparison, I registered for a conference yesterday for which the fee was $567). But I'm worrying a bit, and so I'm making an announcement: prices will go up March 1.

After March 1: Friday night will be $40. Saturday Panels will be $35. Saturday Night will be $15. Sunday brunch will be $35. And there will be no discount for the group package.

So sign up now, ya louts!

REGISTRATION! (At Long Last...)

Sorry for the long silence, folks--you'd be amazed at how much negotiation there is to this sort of thing.

Here is our Registration Form. Copy it into an email and send here. Calculate payment and submit below. You will receive a confirmation email. I'm sorry this is so low-tech, but I really, really don't feel like we can wait any longer.


Name:

Address:

Online nym/nyms:

Email:


Which events are you interested in attending?
* Friday Night Atriot Meet-Up (7-9pm Lucy's Hat Shop, 247 Market Street) ($35) Two-hour open bar (beer, wine, and well drinks) and hors d’oeuvres in a private room. Music, mingling, and sparkling wit provided at no charge. A 1.4-mile walk from hotel, $5 cab ride, and a straight shot on the subway.

* Saturday Panel Events (8:30-5:00, Courtyard Philadelphia Downtown 21 N Juniper Street) ($30) on blogging and its discontents. Featuring Atrios, Jane Hamsher, Digby, John Amato, and many other brilliant, blogalicious babes and smartass sweaty lunks.

* Saturday Night Concert/Party (9pm -12am, Courtyard Philadelphia Downtown 21 N Juniper Street) ($10) We take over a ballroom and host an evening of music and laughs, featuring Ina Iansiti (whiskeygirl), Tom Smith (filkertom), and the Rude Pundit, plus special guests! Cash bar.

* Sunday Brunch ($32) Marathon Grill, 16th and Sansom.

* Whole Package ($87) Sign up for all the love and save twenty bucks!

(And no, I don't know where the extra spaces are coming from. But the buttons seem to work.)

Smokin'!

So we always overlook something: it's a rule of life. This time, the oversight was that the Marriott has gone nonsmoking since we last were there.

But our own adorable Uncle Smokes has done some research and found a spot not too far away with smoking rooms.

Travelodge Philadelphia Convention Center
1227 Race Street
Off Hwy 676
Philadelphia, PA, US 19107
Phone number: 215-564-2888

It's a little cheaper, too: $135 for a queen room.

So smoke 'em if ya got 'em.

Secret Passwords and the Like

Hello, Moonbats!

'Tis the Season, and I'm busy decking the halls with my own version of holly, so this post will be short and sweet. You may now make your reservations for EschaCon '08 on-line. Just go here, and under the "Check Rates and Availability" box on the right side of the screen, enter your arrival and departure dates (March 28 - 31 or any combination of those dates) and the number of rooms you'll need.

Special Group rate for this event is: $ 159.00 for both single and double rooms.

Next, under "Optional Information," in the dialogue box for "Group Codes," type in this code: ESCESCB. The special rate will be applied for our block of rooms. If you're phoning to make your room reservation, make sure you tell them you're with EschaCon 08.

Here's some miscellaneous hotel information, for your records:

Courtyard Philadelphia Downtown
21 N Juniper Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107 USA
Phone: 1-215-496-3200
Fax: 1-215-496-3696

Hotel Highlights:

• The hotel is non-smoking
• Near Philadelphia Convention Center, Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Kimmel Center, art & museums
• State-of-art Fitness Center & Swimming Pool
• 2 Restaurants, Lounge & Courtyard hotel Room Service

Trust this information is good to go. So go ahead, start reserving those rooms, and plan on an excellent time at the end of March, 2008!

Peace on Earth.

~Vicki, Who ♥ Al Gore (And I mean that, Al, I'd love to see you as president)

EschaCon Travel Fund

Look, we wouldn't be here if we weren't proud liberals. That means we donate all our money to sick puppies and quixotic campaigns. A surprisingly small number of us are hedge fund managers--though I guess that gig isn't quite the ride it used to be.

In order to allow those who may otherwise lack the means to attend EschaCon, we are establishing the EschaCon Travel Fund. Last time, we raised enough money to bring several people who might otherwise have had to miss, and we're hoping to do so again.

Should we (improbably) raise more money than we need, we will donate any remainder to a political candidate determined by an on-site poll.

So be a mensch--toss some sugar to the gang.

The Eagle Has Landed!

As with our speakers, hotel arrangements have been proceeding apace (with a big hug and kiss to Vicki, who did the bulk of the work).

After doing ample due diligence (as in: months of trying) we ended up at the same place we were last time: not bad, since we know the room and the neighborhood, and got a pretty good deal, considering we're DFHs.

And so, here is the hotel information.

Courtyard Philadelphia Downtown
21 N Juniper Street
Philadelphia, PA, 19107
(215)496-3200

Reservations can be made directly with Marriott reservations at 1(800)321-2211 or 1(215)496-3200.

Our rate is $159.00 a night, and we have reserved 50 rooms for Friday, 50 for Saturday, and 10 for Sunday. (Good news: this is a LOT LESS than we thought we were looking at. Whew!)

Reservations should be made sooner rather than later, but the deadline for the group rate is Wednesday March 5, 2008.

Plans!

Okay, some news for all you fine Atriots.

The humor panel is shaping up: Moderated by Thers, with watertiger, TRex, Gavin from Sadly, No! (or possibly one of his cobloggers), and maybe Attaturk and TBogg (depends on meatspace work schedule). Other invited but not confirmed panelists include Ted Rall and Tom Tomorrow.

The blogging as journalism panel is pretty set as well: moderated by Susie Madrak, and featuring Jane Hamsher, our own Athenae, and possibly Will Bunch.

The economics panel has Atrios, Echidne, and, quite possibly, the most Conscientious Liberal of them All, Paul F-ing Krugman! (waiting to hear back on that).

Digby, I figure, is a plenary speaker. Here's why. (Who's that sweaty lunk with the appalling posture? I'm telling his seventh-grade gym teacher!)

And soon I'll have news on a fabulous concert event of fabulous fabulousness!