Books on the Nightstand discussion
Booktopia 2012
>
Booktopia: Manchester VT, April 20-22, 2012
message 1:
by
Ann
(new)
Sep 30, 2011 06:53am
Discussions about the Manchester retreat. Figure out ride-shares, roommates, ask questions, whatever!
reply
|
flag
*
This could be very doable for me... do we know which authors will be there yet? Probably not for awhile? Forgive my ignorance... I'm just a few steps behind lately.
Hi Su,We won't know which authors will be part of the festivities yet. That will happen in dribs and drabs throughout the year. Last year, we didn't announce any authors until registration had closed; I'm not sure how it will go this year. Depends on how quickly we confirm authors. It's kind of a moving target. But I think that if you ask anyone who attended the 2011 retreat, some of the best authors were those that nobody had heard of!
Good to know. So I assume you'll be informing us of how to sign up and all the lodging details and stuff? I signed up for emails... so I'll be awaiting info as it comes. Thanks so much. I have a serious book addiction. I'm still recovering from The Last Werewolf episode you inspired me with. I haven't read it YET but I DID have to make sure I got the edition with red pages! LOL
Su - most of what you need (and all that we know so far) is here: http://booktopia.booksonthenightstand...Hope we see you somewhere along the way!
Whee ha! :-) I'm asking a friend if she'd like to come with me. You are most kind and I'm working out possibilities. Thanks for your personalized service.
Registered! I can't wait! Last year's retreat was so good, I know this year's will be just as great.
Ann wrote: "Hi Su,We won't know which authors will be part of the festivities yet. That will happen in dribs and drabs throughout the year. Last year, we didn't announce any authors until registration had clo..."
I agree - I had heard of few of the 2011 authors, and I now have wonderful favorites...I know you "ya'll" will do an awesome job of finding great ones this years, as well.
I have registered!!!! I'm very excited!!! The retreat last year was the weekend I didn't want to end. :)Thank you, Ann and Michael for the hard work you both have put into planning this. You are the best!
I'm registered and booked at the Inn at Manchester. I loved that place, such yummy breakfast!!I'm thinking about one of the other locations too.
Donna, let me know -- I haven't spoken to Frank and Julie, and I have no idea how many people booked the Inn or elsewhere.
I am in the process of booking @ the Palmer House. I am familiar w/Manchester and wanted to be closer to town. By the way, I highly recommend Ye Olde Tavern for a nice dinner - we were just there in August. And my favorite Manchester place - Up for Breakfast.
Booked! I'm looking forward to another great retreat. Thanks Ann and Michael for putting this together again this year.
Booked retreat on Friday and foolishly waited until today for accommodations! Inn at Manchester already booked solid. Happily, the other excellent choices still have rooms but FYI...I think there is only one more $149 room left at the Reluctant Panther.Can't wait!!!
Ann wrote: "Donna, let me know -- I haven't spoken to Frank and Julie, and I have no idea how many people booked the Inn or elsewhere."All set!!! They are full...
Booked @ Reluctant Panther tonight, they have 2 of the 149 rooms left.I am also bringing 2 friends- Katrina, who came last year, and James, another friend from college. I wish it were April now!
So wish I could join everyone again in Vermont! By next April, though, I'll have a 4-month-old baby, so my solo traveling will be a bit limited for a while. :-)
Maureen wrote: "So wish I could join everyone again in Vermont! By next April, though, I'll have a 4-month-old baby, so my solo traveling will be a bit limited for a while. :-)"sorry you can't make it, but congratulations!!
Thanks, Ann and Michael! This is baby #1 for us, so we're pretty darn excited. Scared silly, too, but, ya know, also excited. :-) We're doing our best to raise a little reader. First piece of furniture purchased for the nursery? A bookcase, of course.I'll be with y'all in spirit in April!
Eric wrote: "This seems like the one we're likely to do."Yay! Please book soon, though. 54 of the 75 spots are filled right now, and we are going to talk about the retreats on Wed's podcast, so we may see another rush of registrations from people who are not on the email list.
I'm booked and squeaked into the Inn (different room). I was quite surprised that you decided to do three retreats this year--what a lot of work.I'm hoping to get to know some of the people that I have been following for the last year, though I only vaguely remember them from the retreat. And I'll miss the mid-West and west coast attendees that decide not to travel quite as far!
I'm coming on Thursday so I can do a bit of shopping and browsing before entering the whirlwind of the weekend. If anyone else is there early, maybe we can meet up for dinner.
Okay, I am officially in! My wife Amy-Anne and I will arrive on the 19th and we'll be at the Palmer House! Now we're in the process of clearing court schedule (me) and school schedule (Amy--she's a Montessori school principal).Yay!
Eric wrote: "Okay, I am officially in! My wife Amy-Anne and I will arrive on the 19th and we'll be at the Palmer House! Now we're in the process of clearing court schedule (me) and school schedule (Amy--she's a..."Eric, I am so excited that we will finally get to meet you! In addition to lots of book conversations, let's plan on some comic book conversations!
Holy Moley, this is incredible - just phoned "The Inn" in Manchester, and they told me that they were fully booked within a couple of days. I rang the next place on the list, Palmer House, and they still have rooms available and were very friendly and accommodating.... except for the fact that they will not have children in their hotel. I don't think I have EVER come across a hotel that doesn't accept any children under the age of 12. Incredible.So, I suppose that means I will be coming solo, leaving children and husband in Europe.... and spending their flight fares on books and other shopping instead! Talking about flights - still need to work on that one; would Boston be my best choice for an international flight (from Zurich, Switzerland)?
Oh no, Kats ... I'm so sorry -- Palmer House said no kids??Let us look into that. Don't despair. We'll get back to you.
Re: international flightsYou can do it any number of ways.
The closest airport to Manchester, Vermont is Albany, NY. You can get a connecting flight on any of the major airlines -- the specific airline will determine which city has the connection.
If you want to rent a car and drive, you can fly into Boston -- it's a lovely 4 hour drive once you get out of Boston proper.
You can also drive from New York City if those flights are better for you, but the first hour or two of the drive is kind of tough if you're not used to NYC traffic.
Ann wrote: "Oh no, Kats ... I'm so sorry -- Palmer House said no kids??Let us look into that. Don't despair. We'll get back to you."
Yeah, The Palmer House is a No Kids place. Really, Manchester, VT overall isn't exactly a kids idea of heaven either. It's shopping outlets, the bookstore and scenery; but not much in the way of specifically child-oriented venues.
Hi Kats-I just spoke with the Palmer House and they are checking with the owners to see if this "rule" can be bent for the weekend. It seems that one major reason for the rule is their year-round indoor pool which does not have lifeguards. It's possible that you'll just have to avoid the pool.
In any case, they will get back to you via your email as soon as they have a definitive answer.
Also, it's certainly not a requirement to stay in one of the places we listed. If you still want to bring the whole family, let me know and I can find you someplace else to stay in the area (I think!)
best,
Michael
Eric wrote: "Okay, I am officially in! My wife Amy-Anne and I will arrive on the 19th and we'll be at the Palmer House! Now we're in the process of clearing court schedule (me) and school schedule (Amy--she's a..."My family & I will also be at the Palmer House (provided they decide to come with me). They won't be attending any of the book events though, although I know my son & daughter could spend most of a day at the Northshire themselves.
Eric- I don't read graphic novels or comic books at all, maybe you will have to convert me.
I just snagged the last $149 room at the Reluctant Panther and registered my husband and I for the weekend. Now the hard part: breaking the news to him that he will be spending three days in VT talking about books! My husband has always been a reluctant reader but over the past year he's been reading more and checking out different types of books. My hope is that meeting authors and other book-loving people will inspire him even more. If not...he can hang out over at Orvis I guess.
I'm super excited!
Michael wrote: "Hi Kats-I just spoke with the Palmer House and they are checking with the owners to see if this "rule" can be bent for the weekend. It seems that one major reason for the rule is their year-round..."
There are more motels not far from Manchester proper (too far to walk, but doable with a car), right up Depot / Rte. 11 heading towards Bromley & Stratton. And of course, more hotels in Manchester Center proper. We stay a week near Stratton most summers so I have a bit of Manchester knowledge - probably just enough to be dangerous. :-)
I just got a confirmation from the Palmer House for my room reservation, and I am registered for the retreat. I can't wait! I have read so many positive reviews regarding last year retreat so my expectations are that much higher...
Helen wrote: "I just snagged the last $149 room at the Reluctant Panther and registered my husband and I for the weekend. Now the hard part: breaking the news to him that he will be spending three days in VT ..."
You will love the Reluctant Panther!
(I'm already starting to regret not registering for Vermont...)
Karen
Hi Kats,There is a Holiday Inn in Rutland (25 minutes north of Manchester). I believe they have a pool (the kids might like that).
While you are doing "book things" the kids and husband might be able to go to Bromley http://www.bromley.com/. I'm not sure when they open, but they have lots of fun things to do in the summer. Burlington VT is 1 1/2 hours north of Rutland and the Echo Museum, Shelburne Farms, and Shelburne Museum are all great attractions, along with Church Street and the waterfront.
I'm from the Burlington area. Let me know if you need a few more ideas.
I've just registered, and have a room at the Palmer House - woo hoo!Ann - when I submitted my registration, I got a message stating, "Sorry - your last action could not be completed." But when I went back to do it again, I got a message saying it seemed to be a duplicate. I don't want to register twice, but I certainly want to be registered ONCE! :) Can you possibly check that for me?
Eric - I'm REALLY looking forward to seeing you and Amy-Anne again; it's been far too long, and who could have imagined we'd meet up in Vermont?
Looking forward to April in Vermont, greeting fellow booklovers in person, and FINALLY meeting Michael!!!!!
Nan wrote: "Hi Kats,There is a Holiday Inn in Rutland (25 minutes north of Manchester). I believe they have a pool (the kids might like that).
While you are doing "book things" the kids and husband might be..."
Thanks, Nan, for your suggestions of alternative accommodation and things to do for the kids; this is very much appreciated! However, in the meantime, I've had a message from Michael saying that Palmer House have agreed to bending their 'no children rule' for the week-end (they obviously have no idea what they're in for with my boisterous boys and will seriously regret that - ha!), so I think I will stay put with PH for now.
My husband is a bit overwhelmed with all my excited forward planning (April 2012 is another lifetime for him, not the foreseeable future), so I need to tread carefully now and get him on board first before going crazy with flight bookings etc. He's not keen on long-distance travel for a "bookworms convention" (his words). However, if - or rather when - he agrees to the whole caboodle going over, I will be in touch again for kids' stuff. Thank you so much for your input already! Can't wait to meet all you kind people in person!
Katharina (Kats)
Just got my great friend, Mary Scott, registered. Thanks, Ann, for the heads up this was filling so quickly.
Books on the Nightstand
Books mentioned in this topic
The Sense of an Ending (other topics)The Night Circus (other topics)
Learning to Swim (other topics)
Swamplandia! (other topics)
Fifty Shades of Grey (other topics)
More...
