Any other aussies attending? and some questions..
G'day all...
This is not only my first time attending AC, but also my first time outside of australia in any form.. I'm so excited and nervous at the same time *twists his tail in his forepaws* ..So I wanted to know if there's any other aussies attending?
And then there's the important questions:
Can I buy a nice cold Tooheys Extra Dry anywhere nearby?..
Is it true that chicks dig the aussie accent?..
EDIT:
ok I decided on booking a bus with greyhound, leaving on the 11th of june which gets me there at around 7:30-8:00pm on the 13th, where i intend to offer a paw with anything that still needs to be done for the next day.
I've also registered and paid for supersponsership. and booked an paid for my flights to LAX from brisbane..... there's no turning back now,, everything is a go except for a few things that need to be sorted out as the date gets closer.
*bounces off the walls in excitement*
Thanks
~Daimin
*blinks and gives you a few prods with his tail* You alright there?.. I didn't know it had such an effect on american sheilas.
Toohey's Extra Dry: maybe, but only if you're 21 years of age or older. (Pennsylvania law.)
Aussie accent: I'm male; can't help.
I can help a little with the LA to Pittsburgh question. The cheapest bus fare from LA to Pittsburgh round trip is $234 US, the cheapest equivalent flight I found is $385. BUT... The $234 fare is non-refundable: it jumps to $510 if you might want a refund. Then there's time. I priced both of these trps leaving LA on June 11 and returning to LA on June 18. The shortest bus trip will take 2 days and 6 hours, one way. The flight will take a minimum of 4.5 hours (longer depending on routes and plane switches). Unless you go way out of your way or have massive layovers between planes, it shouldn't take more than 8 hours to fly.
So there's the comparison: flight will take more money (usually) but a lot less time. And, of course, those prices will change upwards the closer you get to the con.
(Prices ganked from Kayak.com and Greyhound.com)
Cool, just wanted to make sure I could get a real beer while I was there *smirks* and I'm 23yrs so age isn't a problem, hahaha..
Thanks for all those details mate, I'm juggling the extra price of the plane fare, VS the chance to see more of the country in person, such as Las vagas (bus makes a transfer there) Perhaps I could fly up and bus my way back, that way there's now real rush, and I do wanna speand a few days in LA with my mates before heading up there.
I'm looking at getting into LA on the 9th and heading back down under on the 23rd.. though I could extend my stay a few days I guess..
Then there's the train. According to Amtrak's website, there's a few ways to get from
Los Angeles to Pittsburgh. Most of them involve several buses. One, however,
uses 2 trains to get him from Los Angeles to Pittsburgh.
(I checked the weekday schedule.)
He can take the SouthWest Chief its entire route from Los Angeles,CA (West Coast) to
Chicago, IL (Great Lakes.)
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=AM_Route_C&pagename=am%2FLayout&p=1237405732511&cid=1241245650447
I wouldn't consider it, but he's thinking of seeing some sites. Here's what their website says
on this route....
"Amtrak's Southwest Chief runs daily between Chicago and Los Angeles, through the vast expanse of the fabled American West.
You'll be mesmerized by this region's beauty and allure. We'll take you across the mighty Mississippi through eight states—past wheat fields and ranches, missions and pueblos, mountains and deserts. Carving through curving canyon passages only a few feet wider than the train itself, you'll see spectacular landscapes and pristine vistas not visible from interstate highways."
If he wants to leave the route, there's opportunities to make connections to other things.
However, if I were him, I'd consider this route enough of a view of the countryside.
(Otherwise, he can transfer and see the Grand Canyon before returning to the route a different
day to resume his journey to Pittsburgh.)
If he's willing to do so, he can ride the entire trip (40 hours) in a Coach seat, or pay more for a
"Roomette" or a bedroom. Either would offer a comfortable bed and a number of amenities
(meals are included as opposed to being a separate price), but the bedroom has the shower inside
the room and the Roomette has it shared in the same train-car.
For seeing a nice tour, and for comfort, this would be better than the bus (but more expensive),
and he'd see things he could not see from an airplane.
Once he reaches Chicago, he can take the Capitol Limited (Chicago to Washington DC with a stop at
Pittsburgh) to Pittsburgh. Since that's 9 1/2 hours, it's possible to manage that trip without a
roomette or bedroom- he can use a comfy Coach seat and go to the Dining car for a meal when he's
hungry. (Or he can use a roomette or bedroom.)
Amtrak's Pittsburgh station is across the street from the current Greyhound Bus Depot, and both
of those are basically behind the Westin, which means it's faster to walk to the Front Desk of
the Westin from either than it is to try to find a taxi to take you 3 blocks. (The other con
hotels are several blocks further, which is walkable with luggage if you packed reasonably.
(I've walked comfortably to the Doubletree from that station, with a large suitcase and a small bag,
if he has more and is going to the Doubletree or Omni from the Greyhound or Amtrak station,
I'd recommend a taxi.)
(If he adds a roomette to the first leg, the 40-hour trip, that adds $313 to his fare but it includes
meals. The bedroom would really be expensive.)
The entire trip by coach (not counting food or a room) would be $326, with reservations required.
A coach seat for the last leg with a roomette for the first leg would be a total for the trip
of about $639, not counting meals on the last train, nor any in Chicago waiting for the connection.
(There's a layover of almost exactly 3 hours.)
Me, I don't like planes. However, I'd fly there if traveling from Los Angeles. If I were traveling
from New York City, I'd prefer to take Amtrak's Pennsylvanian line (10 hours) or a Megabus (about
8 hours but very cheap if planned ahead.) Since he wants to see sights, I'd consider the train as
superior to the bus, even if more expensive than a plane. If he wants to cut his expenses as much
as possible, Greyhound for the entire run would be least comfortable, but the cheapest (if bought
more than a month in advance.)
That's alot for all this mate, I think I'm gonna fly up there and bus my way back, that way I can see the sights without much of a time restriction since I'm not booked to fly back home till the 23rd.
According to our registration database, we had 8 Aussies in our midst last year.
Sweet... I'll have to keep an eye out for them while I'm there, and try to convince some more of us to attend. Oh and G'day to you from a fellow man of science *offers a forepaw out to shake*
Can I buy a nice cold Tooheys Extra Dry anywhere nearby?..
Really, you're going to cross an ocean and most of a continent to drink the same beer you can get in Austrailia? None of that, sir! You're going to go out to August Henry's or Tonic or another local pub and get yourself a proper Yuengling, or an Iron City Brew, or at worst a Samuel Adams. Drink a local beer, the same way were I visiting Australia, I wouldn't dream of drinking a Bud or a Coors! (I wouldn't drink a Foster's either, but that's because I posess taste buds.)
--Chi
Hahahaha.. I guess you're right mate, but I would like to know it's there to fall back on, in case the rumor of how bad american beer turns out to be true, ..then again, I'm sure it's better than a Fosters.
I'll have to fine a bloke to take me bar hopping, so I can try a few of your ales.. I'm thinking my second day in the USA is gonna start with quite the hangover, but I'm sure it'll be worth it.
American beer is not known for being very high quality. I'm not a beer drinker so I can't really comment on specific brands, though I can say that Iron City is Pittsburgh's local brew. Yuengling is Philadelphia's. Both of them ought to be available nearby. As for bars, there's one right in the hotel, as well as Tonic across the street, and Images one block away.
So I've read, but I'm sure it's not as bad as it's portrayed over here. I'll be sure to try a few of the local brews and some of the common drops while I'm over there, I'm sure I'll find a poison I enjoy, if not.. there's always scotch.
What I need to know is how to order a drink over there, something tells me if I walk up to a beer and order a schooner or a middie of beer, the bartender is gonna look at me funny, or just stare blankly at me.
*flutters wings feebly, stirring out from her faint* Did he just call me a sheila? I may just swoon again...*shakes head, blinks, and pulls self together enough to talk again*
Sadly, Iron City is no longer made in Pittsburgh. The company was most recently bought by a New York City investment firm and is now being brewed in Latrobe (still pretty darn local but no longer actually in the "Iron City.") But, no big deal since IC Beer has always sucked anyway.
Rolling Rock was our other local beer; used to be brewed in Latrobe by a small private brewing company, but was sold to Anheiser-Busch and is now brewed in New Jersey. I liked the taste of Rolling Rock but it is your typical American "beer-flavored water" type of thing. It basically tastes like a Yuengling, in my opinion. Not being much of a beer-drinker myself, I rather like that light refreshing "beer-flavored sparkling water" thing. Beer connoiseurs tend to look down on it.
BUT we do have good microbrews made right here in Pittsburgh. You can get East End Brewery beers on tap downtown at August Henry's or at Braddock's American Brasserie. There's the Church Brew Works up in Lawrenceville, and Penn Brewery on the Northside. Both of those are pretty close to downtown, and you can probably get bottles of their brews in the downtown bars (don't know about on tap.)
For imports, the Sharp Edge Bistro has a well-regarded selection of Belgian and other European beers on tap and in bottles.
I really don't know if any bars in the area have a good selection of good Australian beers, but like previous posters said, try some of our good local beers!
As for ordering beers, I always just say the brand name and then "bottle" or "draft." If you order a draft, they may then ask you which size.
As for seeing the country, again previous posters have given good suggestions, especially the detailed one about the trains. But if you have the time and money and are so inclined, you might consider renting a car and making your own itinerary. Then you could get out and explore the sights you choose to, rather than riding by on the bus or train.
*offers you a glass of water* You alright there hun?... just take a few breaths and clam down.
Hmmm... isn't Rolling rock the beer that AVGN drinks in his videos?.. I'll be sure to down a few of them while I'm there, and anything else I can get my forepaws on..
I'll have to go out with someone local who can tell me what to buy and try. Something I'm really looking forward to doing, and right now I've set things in motion by applying for my Passport and activating my credit card so I can book flights and such.
I was thinking about it, but as an L plate driver here, I don't think I can drive at all in the states...
Here in Wisconsin, the biggest brands would be:
1. Miller Light
2. Miller Genuine Draft (64 Calories)
3. Bud Light
4. Coors Light
5. Budwiser (The King of Beers X])
6. Bush Light
(These were not placed in any specific order)
I'm not sure if all of these are served in Penn. though.... :\ I guess I never really thought of that...
*takes notes* I'll be sure to try what I can find. this is gonna be fun!
These are all national brews, to note. a Local brew from Wisconsin would be a Leinenkugel's or a Sprecher. (The former I'd recommend, the second... well, their non-acoholic microbrew sodas are great.) 
And while I'll happily drink a Budweiser on occasion. if you're after a more craft/premium/etc brew, you've got to go deeper. He can get some/most of those mentioned brands in Australia I'm sure.
--Chi
WE HAVE TO GO DEEPER!... BEERCEPTION!!
Sorry I had to, it was the first thing that came to mind when I read your post mate, hahaha, ..well that and what on earth is a non-alcoholic microbrew soda? I've never heard of such a thing, though the name intrigues me greatly.
Is it sorta like ginger ale/beer?
While it could be like ginger ale/beer, one example from Virginia. There's a micro-brewery here that calls itself Old Dominion. I believe that they do brew 'real beer', but they also make a non-alcoholic Root Beer. It's made in (relatively) small batches. It's quite different in taste and texture from other canned or bottled mass-produced sodas here in the US.
So, micro-brewerys can make non-alcoholic sodas, but they'll be non-trademarked names. Root Beer, Lemon-Lime, Ginger Ale or even very exotic flavors. There might even be micro-brew colas, although I haven't seen any.
http://www.sprecherbrewery.com/index.php for an example of Sprecher. Basically, you have a spectrum of soda operations, from Microbrew (like Sprecher) to local (Cott, Polar) to national (Dr. Pepper[*1], Solo) to International (Coca-Cola, Pepsi). Usually Microbrew sodas, like microbrew beers, have more specialized flavors, and are designed to appeal to a smaller, sometimes premium market.
[*1] Dr. Pepper being somewhat international, but as I recall, it's not Australia-available.
I've tried Dr.Pepper in the past, it used to be pretty common down here in the 90s, but it's since become pretty rare... though I do spy a bottle on the shelves every now and then. So microbrew sodas are another name for softdrinks, cool that's good to know mate, thanks.
Yeah, a 'soda' is a 'soft drink'. In certain regions of the USA it's a 'pop', at that! 
In western Pa.it`s called a " pop " PERIOD! 
Notice how quickly a thread on the topic of Australia became a thread on the topic of Beer.
In the original post, he asked about the possibility of getting a Toohey's Extra Dry in Pittsburgh. This series of posts started with both Australia and Beer; I don't think it fair to think that it shifted to beer... 
Are you trying to say Australia is primary about beer?.. It's not true at all *Opens a stubbie of XXXX gold* and frnkly I'm offended.. *Drinks half of it in one gulp*
frnkly I'm offended.. *Drinks half of it in one gulp*
o-o Dang... Come to Wisconsin and you'd fit right in!! X] The days I'm out at my farm, I find my cousins having drinking contests... They can gulp down a beer in like only 3 seconds... But, my cousins girlfriend, Sam, always wins the belching contest X]
Are you trying to say Australia is primary about beer?.. It's not true at all *Opens a stubbie of XXXX gold* and frnkly I'm offended.. *Drinks half of it in one gulp*
You mean the episode of the Simpsons where they went to Australia lied to me?
Maybe.. I don't recall seeing that episode. *uses his fangs to open a beer*
Is it true that chicks dig the aussie accent?..
Oh, yes. Aussie (and British) accents are just glorious to listen to. *sighs happily*
G'day there little birdie *pets*
Hahaha.. I'm glad to hear it, I look forward to using it as a weapon. *smirks*
I look forward to using it as a weapon. *smirks*
*chuckles* Not at me, i hope. I'm spoken for by a lovely British wolf who is also on Staff here. :-) But if'n you want to, say, volunteer or something, I think we'd be happy to hear you chattering away in Registration.
You'd know what, I'd love to do abit of Volunteer work... it'd be a great way to meet the people behind the scene and really see how the con works, while also lending a paw to help out.
Can you let me know how to do this?...
Just stop by the Operations Office (there'll be signs in the convention center) and tell us you want to help out. We'll put you to work, believe me!
I'll be sure to do that mate, bright and early on day one... working on a farm, I have experiance in herding animals, hahaha.
Thanks for letting me know.
*pounces on you*
congratulations, your'e pre-recruited.
If you're looking to help, and would further be curious to see the back end of some of the backstage workings of the Saturday Masquerade (Talent show) I'm responsible for coordinating and recruiting volunteers and escorts for those in fursuits perfomring. The very bare basic responsibilities will be to help shuttle the performing suiters from a green room/headless area across the hall, through a very concrete hallway and around to the proper back stage area, and then also lead and escort the group back again to the headless/greenroom area for cool down. Top it off with a short escort for curtain call at end of show as well, and you've fulfilled an excellent service and opportunity, and you may even get a glimpse or two from back stage for a couple of the acts on stage while you help escort back and forth, you'll have the best non-seat in the house.
Sound like your cup of tea? Do a quick pre-meet at Saturday Morning's dry rehearsal run, and then save some time for early saturday evening show time to help out!
Looking forward to your volunteer services,
Danruk Rooface.
AC Staff - Backstage Crew, Masquerade.
*thbbls* I saw him first! ;-)
Ah, one can volunteer wherever one would like, though.
Now now.. no fighting! *chuckles* I'm sure I can offer a paw to help with a couple of things without impeding on my con time too much. I had no idea us aussie's were so popular, hahaha. ..I should let you know I've heard of a plan for about 20 aussies to attend AC 2013.
Prepare for the aussieness!.. Now I'm off to send away for my passport and pay for my plane tickets, I know it's early but this is when you get good prices. ($1520 RT from brisbane to LAX)
Well, you still have to get from LAX to Pittsburgh (PIT). It's about as far as Melbourne is from Perth.
Yeah I know, the plan is to get the bus up to pittsburgh (see the sights) and fly back afterwards, or get the bus again, I haven't decided 100% yet.. it depends on a few things.
But while I have your attention mate, I'm really looking at getting the Supersponsor Membership for $200, is there a limit to how many people can get it before it's "full"?.. I thought if I'm spending this much to visit the worlds biggest con, I may as well go all out and have a blast.
Thanks mate.
We do not have a numberical cap on Supersponsors; the entire convention membership could Supersponsor if they wished.
And what a con that would be, hahahaha...
Cool, that's good to know mate, The other convention I attend FurDU in QLD, just opened for sponsership registration and the 25 spots went within 2-3 days, (I was one of the first) It's good that I don't have to rush and register using my credit card, I'll wait till the hotel opens up for bookings in Feb. I don't really wanna use it for more than my flights and accommodation.
To note, however: Memberships ccurrently cost $45 for Attending, $95 for Sponsor, and $195 for Supersponsor. On January 1st, they'll go up to $50, $100, and $200 respectively. So purchasing your registration earlier makes sense; though the difference is yet small. If you intend to Supersponsor, you _decidedly_ want to do it Pre-registration as well.
--Chi
Ah ok, good to know. I'll try and see if I can pay it before Jan if I can get the funds together. Do you get many supersponsers every year?
Yes. Yes, American chicks totally dig the Aussie accent. And a dragon with an Aussie accent?... *faints*