SUMMER IN THE CITY
– by Ember
As I'm writing this, the snow is still falling, en route to a predicted two inches. By the time you read this, there will likely still be snow on the ground (California Krewe excepted). But, hard as it is to believe, it's time to start thinking about, breathlessly anticipating, and most of all, preparing to make reservations for the 2003 NPL Convention (Official Motto: “You can't spell Indianapolis without NPL!”).
This year's convention is July 10-13 at the Adam's Mark Hotel in downtown Indianapolis, conveniently located near many of Indy's best restaurants and most notable sights. Nearby White River State Park alone is home to the zoo, the botanical gardens, the Indiana State Museum, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and Western Art, the NCAA Hall of Champions, and Victory Field, home of the Indianapolis Indians. (Memo to Mets fans: the Indians play the Norfolk Tides at the Vic at 2pm on Wednesday, July 9.)
This year's convention fee is $194, and as always, includes Friday dinner, all Saturday meals, and Sunday breakfast. The Adam's Mark is offering the following special room rates:
- “Deluxe King” or “Deluxe Queen/Queen” Room: $110 a night. Your standard hotel room, with a choice between one king bed or two queen beds.
- Three types of suites priced at $120 a night. They break down as follows:
- “Junior” are slightly larger than a regular room, and include a queen-size sofa sleeper, a second vanity, and a sitting area.
- “Deluxe Suites” and “King II Suites” are a little larger yet. Each has a parlor area with an extra TV and a sofa sleeper, with a dividing wall separating that room from the bedroom. The King II, in addition to being a smidge larger than the Deluxe, has a wet bar, sink, and refrigerator in the parlor.
- “King I Suites” for $299 a night. Otherwise known as “Live in your own hospitality suite!” These are double-to-triple the size of a regular room, or about 50% larger than a King II Suite. In terms of what it has where, it's the same as the King II Suite, except the bedroom and parlor are separated by an actual door instead of a wall; the parlor is significantly larger; and the parlor includes an entertainment center and conference table.
All room rates are subject to 11% tax as follows:
- Regular room @ $110/night + tax = $122.10 per night
- Junior, deluxe or King II suite @$120/night + tax = $133.20 per night
- King I (“supercolossal”) suite @ $299/night + tax = $331.89 per night
The hotel's reservation deadline is June 8, but you will save your host incalculable angina if you reserve by May 1 (or at least advise him he can expect you). Please make out all checks to the National Puzzlers League, and mail them to me. (You could, of course, make your check payable to me, and next year's convention could then be held in a small island nation with no extradition treaty.) When you reserve, please include: your name, your nom, your arrival and departure dates, the type of room you're reserving, and the kind of tree you would like to be. That last one is optional.
If last summer is any guide, there should be some enticingly low airfares to the Circle City. As noted in last month's Enigma, Delta is the Official Airline of the NPL Convention. Generally speaking, that means a 10% discount on your airfare if you book at least 60 days in advance (i.e., by May 11), or a 5% discount if you book later than that. Be sure to give Delta the NPL file number.
Vis-à-vis Avis, you can use your Visa (or any other form of payment) to get some wheels from the Official Car Rental Agency of the NPL Convention. In this case, give the nice person on the phone or website the Avis Worldwide Discount number. In addition to the rental desk at the airport, Avis has a downtown office, about two blocks from the hotel.
Your ever-eager Indycon host committee is at your service to answer questions between now and convention time at IndyCon2003@puzzlers.org.
Hope to see all of you here!
Click here for an archive of all Official IndyCon Announcements to date – unedited, including NPL members-only info.1)
Click here for an IndyCon Information Summary Page – NPL members-only.
