LSA 2008

It's that time of year again—time to organize the fourth (!) annual language-blogger get-together at the upcoming LSA meeting in Chicago.  In previous years, we've had trouble finding a time that works for everybody, though we do seem to end up with a pretty big group nonetheless.  I think Grant Barrett's suggestion from last year—that we pick a corner of the hotel bar, designate it The Spot, and meet there casually as we're available in the evenings—worked out great, so I'll try to scout out a good spot again this year.

Do we want to get ambitious and try to schedule a dinner?  It'll be hard.  Thursday not everyone will be there, Friday is the business meeting and the grad student social, and Saturday is the conference reception.  Furthermore, the ADS Word of the Year vote is on Friday.  What say you all?

Comments

[Grant Barrett]

I'll do my best to see everyone this year, since ADS duties have kept me over-busy two years in a row. Meet-ups let me tick off a whole bunch of names on my blogger-birding life list. But I think I'm going to have to go to the UK to get Lynne Murphy, who is is the "big get" on my list (not "big git"!).

[Claire]

Do we know that not everyone will be there on Thursday? There seems to be more stuff on thursday afternoon this year.

[Russell]

That sounds fine to me, though I will indeed be there all day every day of the conference.

[Lance]

Are we allowed to come even if we're only really really occasional in our posting?

[Neal]

I'll be there on Thursday. Perhaps after the plenary symposium we could meet in the hotel bar, or do a late supper someplace if people feel like it. (The LSA website says there aren't many good places to eat nearby, but maybe there's a bad one.) Friday and Saturday nights are also fine with me, or lunch on Saturday, 11:00-12:30.

I'm happy to see really really occasional posters there. AFA I'm concerned, even people who are just thinking about linguistic blogging are welcome.

[The Tensor]

Are we allowed to come even if we're only really really occasional in our posting?

I hope so, otherwise I won't be able to attend either—note my Oct. 24 to Nov. 29 gap between posts this year, for example. In previous years, the rule has basically been, "if you've heard that we're gathering, you're invited".

It sounds like we should plan on at least drinks and maybe dinner on Thursday, at which time we can plan further. I'm fine with the hotel bar and restaurants, until and unless we find someplace else that works better.

[Claire]

Cool, see you there. I'll put a note at registration along the lines of "linguabloggers, after the plenary tonight, in the bar".

[The Tensor]

Excellent! It looks like the bar in the Hilton Chicago is called the Lakeside Green Lounge -- we'll have to ask the staff whether that's [[Lakeside Green] Lounge] or [Lakeside [Green Lounge]]. I'm reliably informed by the hotel's web site that the Lounge "by night...evolves into the hip meeting place in the South Loop for cocktails." That sounds promising, and hopefully they won't kick us out for being distinctly unhip language scientists.

[lynneguist]

I've just found out, a few years too late, that I was Grant Barrett's 'big get'. Awwww.....