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Cyburbans 🧐 NPC26 Detroit

Wondering if we should start a group chat here to exchange numbers, etc. like we have in the past so we can get together.

Will there be puppies and kitties again?

= = =

Officially registering tomorrow. I have reserved the city credit card for tomorrow morning, and the use has been allocated.
 
MD Planner said:
I didn't see it either. And yet the cost continues to climb. I mean WTF? Nothing like reinforcing the stereotype that planners are all dull, boring people.
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Wife is already asking what kind of swag we'll get.

Honestly, I leave most of it behind but always have room for more pens and notepads.
 
I'll bring my passports with me in case any of the tours go across the border. I don't think they do, but just in case . . .

I see there is a FlixBus option that has several runs a day. Maybe I will head over there for lunch one day so I can add Ontario to my "been in" list. (That is where my family is from, after all, but nowhere near Windsor. Or go the other way and hit Ohio, where the other side of my family is from.)
 
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jumbach said:
what kind of swag we'll get
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If you are lucky

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jumbach said:
I'll bring my passports with me in case any of the tours go across the border. I don't think they do, but just in case . . .

I see there is a FlixBus option that has several runs a day. Maybe I will head over there for lunch one day so I can add Ontario to my "been in" list. (That is where my family is from, after all, but nowhere near Windsor. Or go the other way and hit Ohio, where the other side of my family is from.)
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The new bridge from Detroit to Windsor is set to open in "early 2026" and will include a pedestrian crossing across the river. "Early 2026" is pretty vague but maybe it will be open in time for the conference. I don't know what all is on the Canadian side right there near the crossing but the terminus on the American side is near Mexicantown where there are a lot of restaurants and little shops and bakeries.
 
WSU MUP Student said:
The new bridge from Detroit to Windsor is set to open in "early 2026" and will include a pedestrian crossing across the river. "Early 2026" is pretty vague but maybe it will be open in time for the conference. I don't know what all is on the Canadian side right there near the crossing but the terminus on the American side is near Mexicantown where there are a lot of restaurants and little shops and bakeries.
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I'd do that if the weather is decent.
 
Officially registered, Airfare booked, accommodation made.

Signed up for the 9:00 Sunday bus orientation tour. Thinking about the Henry Ford tour, but $90 seems a bit steep. Wifey really wants me to go to that, but she'll be thousands of miles away.
 
jumbach said:
what kind of swag we'll get.
Honestly, I leave most of it behind but always have room for more pens and notepads.
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We had a thread back in 2005 - "Rating planning conference exhibitor swag"
cyburbia.org

Rating planning conference exhibitor swag

Notepad Free notepads are good to keep by the phone at home, but that's about it. Notepads add to clutter, in a way, because what are you going to do with all those notes you make with them? If the corporate logo is too large, or the paper is dark, it's not too useful. 4 Post-it notes Some...
cyburbia.org cyburbia.org

Has it changed since then ?
 
I land at 1639; I figure it'll be about 5:30 before I am off the plane and have my bag. I will likely Uber right to the hotel from there. A lot depends on express bus timing.
 
I have not made flight reservations yet. Need to see if I can use my Delta Amex. Looks like I will for with the 6:00 AM as there are good seats available and I hate showing up in the afternoon. Need some time to decompress.
 
We know NPC27 is in Houston.

Any thoughts on where 28 will be? I am thinking Boston, since they got robbed in 2021 (as Houston did in 2020).
 
SlaveToTheGrind said:
I have not made flight reservations yet. Need to see if I can use my Delta Amex. Looks like I will for with the 6:00 AM as there are good seats available and I hate showing up in the afternoon. Need some time to decompress.
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I am the same way. I will get into the City around 9:30 am. I plan on dropping off my luggage with the hotel and then go exploring. A buddy from College works for GM at the Ren-Cen so we plan on meeting up for lunch.

The trip back my the flight leaves at 4:00 pm.
 
michaelskis said:
I am the same way. I will get into the City around 9:30 am. I plan on dropping off my luggage with the hotel and then go exploring. A buddy from College works for GM at the Ren-Cen so we plan on meeting up for lunch.

The trip back my the flight leaves at 4:00 pm.
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Is your buddy still at the Ren Cen? Just in the past few weeks they began their move from the Ren Cen to the new Hudson's building. From what I recall reading, it sounds like they're planning to be out of the Ren Cen completely by some time in April.
 
jumbach said:
I thought "The D" referred to Dallas . . .
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unless you are from Michigan...


WSU MUP Student said:
Is your buddy still at the Ren Cen? Just in the past few weeks they began their move from the Ren Cen to the new Hudson's building. From what I recall reading, it sounds like they're planning to be out of the Ren Cen completely by some time in April.
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I thought he was still there, but I will have to get clarification.
 
I plan on just driving in as it's only about a 6 hour drive and I can stop and say HI to @Maister along the way to and/or from.
 
mendelman said:
I plan on just driving in as it's only about a 6 hour drive and I can stop and say HI to @Maister along the way to and/or from.
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That is the nice thing about the midwest and the east. You can drive to another major city. How many big cities are you passing just to get there? Out here it's 6 hours just to get to another city with nothing inbetween.
 
Maister said:
When will you be driving through?
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Likely 4/24 afternoon and 4/28 afternoon.

Are you planning to attend NPC?

DVD said:
That is the nice thing about the midwest and the east. You can drive to another major city. How many big cities are you passing just to get there? Out here it's 6 hours just to get to another city with nothing inbetween.
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Well, there's Gary, IN and then several of the MI mid-size cities (Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Jackson, Ann Arbor) then all of the metro Detroit west suburbs.

Plus once in Detroit we can see another country from the conference venue.
 
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Phoenix to LA, 6 hours not counting the time to get where you're going in LA
Phoenix to Vegas, 5 hours, no interstate. All state roads because there's this canyon thing in the way.
Phoenix to Albuquerque (make a right not a left) 7 hours.
If I wanted to go see my friend Ursus that's 11 hours and my Texas friends even longer.
There's just no quick drive and stop to see friends from here.
Sure you can stop in Flagstaff or Tucson, but who the hell wants to go there?
 
Maister said:

Cool! Tuesday afternoon. Let me know if you need directions (it could hardly be easier off the expressway).
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I've visited once before about 20 years ago, when I interviewed with Ann Arbor for a Planner position and stopped in on my way back to Chicagoland when both you and "that other Cyburbian" ( ;) ) were still working together.

It's very easy.
 
Booked my flight and room at the Westin Cadillac. Seriously thinking of upgrading to first class for $400 although I did get the first row of "Comfort Classic" which used to be called "Comfort+" which has more legroom. Return flight is 4 hours - just may be worth it.
 
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