Future dates. Mark your calendar!
An organization the size of Anthrocon has to reserve its dates way, way in advance. Some folks likewise enjoy planning ahead, so here are the dates for which future Anthrocons are scheduled.
(Please note that we had to schedule around the availability of the convention center. We are not their only customer, and not the only one who makes reservations years in advance. Some groups have their dates set as far ahead as 2015!)
JULY 2-5, 2009 (Note: Omni is unavailable this year)
JUNE 24-27, 2010 (Omni WILL be available this year)
We're still negotiating a date for 2011.
Woooohoooo!!!
Now I can go ask off from my boss and watch that expression on her face that says 'go away when they make a calendar for that year"
Thanks Uncle Kage!!!
Tiger kitty ready for AC, at your service,
Verdauga
LOL! I did that to my boss. It was such a priceless look too.
There is no truth
Doesn't matter what dates you pick I will be there.
I wonder if it is possible to book hotel rooms a few years in advance...
Wow - people are mentioning '07 con being so close to July 4th... and here we 'look into the future' and see in 2009 - AC is going to be held on July 4th ... hmmmm - gee - I might not make that one - unless I can blow up fireworks too 
Hello Kage,
Can I make a small little suggestion for 2010?
I was going to attend Anthrocon this year. However, due to the fact that it was basically the July 4th weekend, there were dozens of people who had requested that entire week off for their vacation at work.
If the con this year was a week later, I would have absolutely no problem getting time off for the convention, not to mention the fact that airfare during that period is sky high. There are a lot of professionals in the furry community who love the fact that the furry cons tend to avoid major holidays so that they can take vacation time without having to fight with the ones who want the "traditional holiday time off".
Next year's AC is a definite due to when it is. 2009 is a maybe.....because I'll be able to request as early as possible, however again, flight cost flight cost flight cost. *sigh*
-Gray Coyote
*patpat* Trust me, they're trying. Last poll the AC staff conducted showed that only about 15% of the furry population liked having AC during 4th of july week. Folks were about evenly split about whether before the 4th or after the 4th was better, and our beloved AC staff are eager to give us what we want whenever they can. *pause* Well, unless what we want is their credit card numbers; then we can go hang. *grin*
But i'm sure the AC team will get a 2010 date off the 4th if they can; i've been keeping my talons crossed for months that they'll get a good slot. If they don't, it won't be for lack of trying.
--dester'edra, still hoping she can finagle her schedule so she can come at least part time in '08.
If we were sitting in a vacuum, things might have been different. However, we have to schedule around the availability of both the Westin Hotel and the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, each of which are separate entities and have other customers who also schedule things years in advance. Some groups actually have reservations as far ahead as 2015!
That being said, we try out best to accommodate our membership when scheduling convention dates.
Hey, I figure that I'll just have an easier time getting that weekend off, as most everyone has it off anyway!
I for one, thank the AC scheduling team for making it that much easier. Though, I hope I get a room on the top floor again to see some fireworks!
Has the AC staff ever looked at the Hershey Lodge and convention center for the site of AC? I wasn't sure since it is not in a major city. I went to Chocolate fest there and it looked like the Convention center may be big enough. I am not sure about the Lodge. And with close access to HIA, it may be a good location.
Yes, they wanted $200 a night for hotel rooms.
Other than that, it was a fine venue.
Dang thems some greedy buggers. Then don't know what they are missing.
Thanks, giza. Also, DuncanDaHusky explained in my own personal journal the reasons why.
I look forward to seeing all of you in 2008.
I'm also glad that it won't be July 4th week next year as it's tough for me to get that week off. As it is this year I may have to call in sick one day to make it, and fly in and out
with little time to spare (maybe even having to go directly to work from the airport on the Monday with no time to stop back
at home...)
rar...
Gee I wonder what ever the theme for 09 could possibly be? Seriously man that's gonna be an interesting year, some fur's bound to lose a little of their fuzz
As an ironclad check, same places where it is now (2007)? As a group of us are road tripping it out from California, cross country all the way!
Yes indeed, we are at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh for the foreseeable future!
And same with the hotel?
JUNE 26-29, 2008
JULY 2-5, 2009
Sheesh, I think it's a good thing I've decided to change careers. This year I've already pretty much lost a day at AC thanks to adding a concert on the 5th of July. I don't even know if I can come on Friday. (I have asked, but the word so far is "No way can you get the 5th off...MAYBE the 6th")
The next two years would be completely out for me if I stay in the Army.
So where in Pittsburgh are the best places to see the fireworks?
After a little googling, it looks like the largest fireworks display in Pittsburgh is the one in conjunction with the Three Rivers Regatta (they still haven't updated their site from 2006), held in Point State Park, which is only a mile from the Westin.
---
Tom Brady/Duncan da Husky
Artists Alley and Con Store Manager
For fastest replies to questions about Artists Alley, e-mail me at
Hmm. Think we could See the fireworks from the hotel? -head tilt-
SunShadow
Mrow-a-purr
Good question! I thought about it a bit and realized that there is actually a way to figure out approximately what the view would be like: Google Earth! A little searching and manipulating the settings yielded this view:
This is a view looking over the Westin (foreground left) and the David L. Lawrence Convention Center (foreground right) towards Point State Park (top center). What do we see from this? Well first off, if you're not looking out the front of the hotel (over the front entrance) you're not going to see much. Also, judging from the taller buildings closer to the park, if you're not near the top of the hotel you probably won't see a whole lot, either.
Hope that helps!
---
Tom Brady/Duncan da Husky
Artists Alley and Con Store Manager
For fastest replies to questions about Artists Alley, e-mail me at
I did see SOME fireworks from the hotel this past year!
On Thu., I went to the afternoon Pirates game and I thought they said something on the radio about "fireworks after the game tomorrow night". So the next night I make a quick
stop in my room and I looked down at PNC Park, where the game
was ending (I was on the 23rd floor I think). Suddenly all the
stadium lights got turned off and I remembered--ah! Had a good view...
also you could see them from the windows near the elevators on
that side of the building.
Whereas I was down in Hall C, smiling weakly and trying to appear as though I was cognitively functioning, when from the corner of my eye I saw a bright orange flash and heard a tremendous explosion. My very first reaction, as those standing nearby can attest, was to shout, "F*****G AL QAEDA! Don't you dare!"
lucky me its not to close to Nascar time 4 me i know if i miss a race it would kill me cuz i ben going to Michigan International Speedway for 15yr.