WordCamp Chicago – Info you can use (please read)

Heya WordCampers! We are TWO days away from WordCamp Chicago. Not that I’m complaining or anything — but, really??? Is it June, already? WOW – 2010 is a fast mover … but we’re happy to be sharing a few days in June with you and are really looking forward to this weekend!

I want to make this post for you with some helpful information you can use as you head into Chicago this weekend. Please, feel free to leave questions/comments and talk amongst yourselves in the comments section here with your own tips about Chicago and WordCamps. We’re a social bunch 🙂

Some Chicago Holiday Inn – Mart Plaza Facts:

• The Chicago Mart Plaza is the official venue of the event.  It is located at 350 West Mart Plaza Drive and the phone number is:  +1 312 8365000
• The Merchandise Mart is SO big, it has it’s own zip code (spans 4 city blocks and is as big as the Pentagon!).  It’s a beautiful piece of architectural art – for those of you who love Chicago for it’s architecture — THIS is the place to see!
• In the center of downtown Chicago’s exciting River North area close to the Loop financial district
• Atop the 350 West Mart Center Building connected to the Merchandise Mart and Shops at the Mart via sky bridge
• 13 miles from Chicago Midway Airport
• 18 miles from O’Hare International Airport
• Restaurant at the Mart Plaza: Italiasia – The flavors of Italy and Pan Asia
• Bar at the Mart Plaza: Cityscape Bar with expansive skyline view

Event details:

• WordCamp Chicago is located in the Sauganash Ballroom – – it is on the 14th Floor.  Follow the signs!
• The Mart Plaza is pretty big – – plan your time to include getting from the front door to the registration table!
• We are feeding you breakfast on Saturday and Sunday starting bright and early at 7:30 to 9:00 am  (bagels, danish, muffins, assorted pastries, coffee, tea, etc)
• You are on your own for lunch on both days – you have an hour and a half for lunch – – get out and ENJOY  beautiful downtown Chicago!  (Psst – there is a food court on the 2nd floor of the Merchandise Mart … also, see below for some restaurants/eateries nearby!)
• Registration starts at 7:30 AM – – in exchange for taking a peek at your ID, you get your WordCamp Chicago name badge and swag bag (with lots of goodies inside!) We have 500 people to check in – – please do your part to help us make it as orderly and quick as possible, thanks in advance!
• The event starts officially at 8:30 AM with opening remarks by yours truly
• This is where it gets tricky – – at 9:00 – 9:15 – everyone needs to get up and leave the room so the venue folks can close the electronic door that splits the ballroom into two rooms, one for our User Track the other for our Dev Track.  Kind of inconvenient, yea – – but it gives us all a chance to refresh our breakfast and coffee and chit chat a little.  So don’t get too comfy right away and I apologize in advance….it was the less expensive route! 🙂
• WiFi – in your swag bag, you will find the program schedule.  On the program schedule you will find the password for WiFi access.  We have THREE routers, each with three different passwords – – each router is locked down to a specific number of users…..so if the first password doesn’t work for you, move on to the second…or the third, until you find one that lets you in.   Keep in mind that this is hotel WiFi we’re talking about here – – the usual disclaimers apply!

THE MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION YOU CAN HAVE FOR THIS WEEKEND:
(Location and walking directions from The Chicago Mart Plaza (A) to the nearest Starbucks (B))

Restaurants near Merchandise Mart in Chicago (h/t Centerstage Chicago):

Bars and Nightclubs close to Merchandise Mart in Chicago (h/t Centerstage Chicago):

I hope this little guide helps you this weekend! Coming up a little later today…. information about parties and get togethers that I’ve heard about. If you have a gathering that you’d like people to know about – let me know, I’ll post it here!