11:30a Took the T into town morning and registered at the Marriot. Registration was quick and painless, despite the massive crowds. I tried to prepare myself for high attendance, but it’s still pretty humbling to think just how many geographers actually come to this thing. At the registration desk, I got my own complimentary AAG “reading is fun” bag, which I’ll probably use to go grocery shopping from now on. I was also issued a program of the weeks events. The thing is as thick as a phone book. A suburban phone book, but a phone book nonetheless.
11:45a I had just a few minutes to peruse the phone boo – er, program – and settle on a session about Gentrification. I needed to walk to the Sheraton hotel, but I wasn’t sure just where to go. All of the hotels in Copley Place are connected by a network of shopping mall corridors and arcades. It’s easy to get lost, so I asked a mall security guard how to find the Sheraton. He replied… in a gloriously stereotypical Boston accent. I mean, I know there’s lots of people around here who talk that way, but still. When somebody opens their mouth and lets loose with a perfectly molded Boston accent, it’s pretty sweet. It makes me wonder if I sound “funny” to him. Freakin’ midwestern tourists.
12:10p I found the room at the Sheraton, which is about as far as you can get from Copley Place and still be considered in Copley Place. The session almost began when the presenter’s PowerPoint decided to bonk. As they were trying to deal with technical difficulties, I took the opportunity to browse through the program and – wouldn’t you know it – there’s another session about the Creative Economy going on at that exact moment. It’s being held in the Westin hotel, which is completely on the other side of Copley Place, but I decide to go for it. It didn’t look like the computer problems were going to get solved anytime soon.
12:40p Getting from the Sheraton to the Westin took longer than I thought. I skipped breakfast earlier, so decided to stop off for a bagel at Dunkin Donuts on the way. I know, a bagel at Dunkin Donuts. Sacrilege. Anyway, I opened the door and poked my head into the Creative Economy session and had one of those moments where everyone turns and looks at you simultaneously to see who’s being late/rude/clueless. Yeesh.
0 Responses to “Blogging the AAG”