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a side and personal note to the community/those of you who know me:
After BrickFest 2006 I was energized and encouraged by others to get back to work and refocus the event on the fans. Bigger does not mean better. Micro MOC's are a great example of that! After talking with many of you who attended, I was eager to get the ball rolling. So, I've visited several cities and talked with numerous convention and visitor bureaus as well as over 15 different hotels. Maybe my standards are too high, but finding a good accessible venue really isn't easy. Finding enough space and at a price that is reasonable is an even bigger challenge. Also when planning an event, it is important to take into consideration other community events like national and regional events and related events like the NMRA National Train Show. Surely NMRA/NTS is a very theme specific event, unlike BrickFest which celebrates all aspects of the hobby, but it is something that many clubs participate in, so taking the timing of it into account makes sense. But I digress.
I've had long talks with both family and friends, and have had to make some
tough choices about the BrickFest schedule for 2007. Unfortunately, I can’t say
the same for BrickFest in the summer. I do not have the sufficient resources to
pull the summer BrickFest event together in a way I would be happy about. Those
of you who know me know that I put 110% into making BrickFest a great event, and
you also know that BrickFest is not about one person, it is about the community
coming together, pooling its resources both creative talents and personal time,
so that everyone goes home with a sense of fulfillment, but I nevertheless think
it can't be achieved this year.
I feel like I am letting the east coast community down, and this has been a tough choice. However, I can't encourage you all enough to consider attending BrickFest PDX in Portland. I have to say that BrickFest PDX is going to be great! Those of you who have been around for a while will remember BrickFest 2001-2003 as great years, where new friendships and partnerships were established. There's something about Portland that seems to foster the same things. The space is ideal for a huge display as well as a BrickBazzar. Steve, Kelly and I have talked about how PDX will be a reunion of sorts, and we are really looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new people. We have a great venue with over 30,000 square feet of play/display space, not including the session rooms. We are going back to a schedule that seemed to work well for everyone; meaning that BrickFest will be open to the general public for only one day (Sunday). Thus the focus will be on fan camaraderie, not on the public.
Christina
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At 03:18 PM 1/9/07, Christina Hitchcock wrote:
> I've had long talks with both family and friends, and have had to make some
> tough choices about the BrickFest schedule for 2007. Unfortunately,
> I can't say
> the same for BrickFest in the summer. I do not have the sufficient
> resources to
> pull the summer BrickFest event together in a way I would be happy about. • ...
> so that everyone goes home with a sense of fulfillment, but I
> nevertheless think
> it can't be achieved this year.
So, are you saying there will not be a BrickFest in DC in 2007? (or
elsewhere on the east coast)
Sorry to hear that.
So, it sounds like a good time to have an event in Chicago...
Steve
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In lugnet.events.brickfest, Christina Hitchcock wrote:
> a side and personal note to the community/those of you who know me:
>
> After BrickFest 2006 I was energized and encouraged by others to get back to work and refocus the event on the fans. Bigger does not mean better. Micro MOC's are a great example of that! After talking with many of you who attended, I was eager to get the ball rolling. So, I've visited several cities and talked with numerous convention and visitor bureaus as well as over 15 different hotels. Maybe my standards are too high, but finding a good accessible venue really isn't easy. Finding enough space and at a price that is reasonable is an even bigger challenge. Also when planning an event, it is important to take into consideration other community events like national and regional events and related events like the NMRA National Train Show. Surely NMRA/NTS is a very theme specific event, unlike BrickFest which celebrates all aspects of the hobby, but it is something that many clubs participate in, so taking the timing of it into account makes sense. But I digress.
>
> I've had long talks with both family and friends, and have had to make some
> tough choices about the BrickFest schedule for 2007. Unfortunately, I can’t say
> the same for BrickFest in the summer. I do not have the sufficient resources to
> pull the summer BrickFest event together in a way I would be happy about. Those
> of you who know me know that I put 110% into making BrickFest a great event, and
> you also know that BrickFest is not about one person, it is about the community
> coming together, pooling its resources both creative talents and personal time,
> so that everyone goes home with a sense of fulfillment, but I nevertheless think
> it can't be achieved this year.
>
> I feel like I am letting the east coast community down, and this has been a tough choice. However, I can't encourage you all enough to consider attending BrickFest PDX in Portland. I have to say that BrickFest PDX is going to be great! Those of you who have been around for a while will remember BrickFest 2001-2003 as great years, where new friendships and partnerships were established. There's something about Portland that seems to foster the same things. The space is ideal for a huge display as well as a BrickBazzar. Steve, Kelly and I have talked about how PDX will be a reunion of sorts, and we are really looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new people. We have a great venue with over 30,000 square feet of play/display space, not including the session rooms. We are going back to a schedule that seemed to work well for everyone; meaning that BrickFest will be open to the general public for only one day (Sunday). Thus the focus will be on fan camaraderie, not on the public.
>
> Christina
Somewhat sad, but understandable. And I definitely think that BrickFest is
better off being a 'GREAT' event than being a 'YEARLY' event. Time to start
planning for 2008!
I am especially glad to hear of the one-day public expo. Personally, I prefer
the comraderie and round-table banter of fellow hobbyists over the showmanship
of public expo.
Oh, and if Brickfest Southern Arizona is in the works, I can get you venue space
for cheap!
Aaron
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In lugnet.events.brickfest, Steve Hassenplug wrote:
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At 03:18 PM 1/9/07, Christina Hitchcock wrote:
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I’ve had long talks with both family and friends, and have had to make some
tough choices about the BrickFest schedule for 2007. Unfortunately,
I can’t say
the same for BrickFest in the summer. I do not have the sufficient
resources to
pull the summer BrickFest event together in a way I would be happy about. ...
so that everyone goes home with a sense of fulfillment, but I
nevertheless think
it can’t be achieved this year.
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So, are you saying there will not be a BrickFest in DC in 2007? (or
elsewhere on the east coast)
Sorry to hear that.
So, it sounds like a good time to have an event in Chicago...
Steve
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I have been concerned that I can only afford to attend one LEGO event each year
and was going to have to choose between BrickFest (the largest, best-known
event) or the new BrickWorld (which is much closer to my home and more
convenient for me to bring lots of stuff). If BrickFest in D.C. won’t happen
this year I won’t have to choose (good) but it is also unfortunate the East
Coast misses out (bad). OTOH with BrickFest PDX the event is still around, but
on the West Coast.
This reminds me of the discussion we had
regarding the ideal BrickFest location. It will be interesting to see what
happens.
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Just to be sure...
BrickFest PDX 2007 (Portland, OR) is still a go, it is ‘not’ cancelled.
However, BrickFest 2007 (Wash. DC. area) as if right I don’t know.
Knowing it can be confusing with mentioning two BrickFest events in the same
year. There is a difference BrickFest PDX 2007 and BrickFest 2007 a small
one.
-Abner
p.s. If BrickFest 2007 happens...might as well add BrickFest DCA 2007 or
BrickFest IAD 2007. ;-)
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In lugnet.events.brickfest, Abner Finley wrote:
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Just to be sure...
BrickFest PDX 2007 (Portland, OR) is still a go, it is ‘not’ cancelled.
However, BrickFest 2007 (Wash. DC. area) as if right I don’t know.
Knowing it can be confusing with mentioning two BrickFest events in the same
year. There is a difference BrickFest PDX 2007 and BrickFest 2007 a
small one.
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BrickFest = BrickFest... Since there will only be one BrickFest event in 2007,
“BrickFest PDX ‘07” is the same as “BrickFest 2007”. Hope this clears up the
confusion.
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p.s. If BrickFest 2007 happens...might as well add BrickFest DCA 2007 or
BrickFest IAD 2007. ;-)
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See Christina’s earlier post
regarding a Summer 2007 event.
Kelly
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In lugnet.events.brickfest, Kelly McKiernan wrote:
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BrickFest = BrickFest... Since there will only be one BrickFest event in
2007, “BrickFest PDX ‘07” is the same as “BrickFest 2007”. Hope this clears
up the confusion.
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I am just wondering if the sudden emergence of another event (BrickWorld) in
close temporal proximity to the usual BrickFest time had anything to do with
Christina’s decision.
JOHN
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In lugnet.events.brickfest, Christina Hitchcock wrote:
Snipped
Christina (and Kelly and Steve) best of luck with BrickFest this March. I bet
its going to be amazing, and I hope that even with all the work and planning and
endless details, that the three of you get to kick back a bit and enjoy
yourself.
Oh yeah, have a whiskey (or insert your fav. drink here) for me.
Janey "Red Brick"
General curse in the southern direction, blasted passports!
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In lugnet.events.brickfest, C. L. GunningCook wrote:
> In lugnet.events.brickfest, Christina Hitchcock wrote:
>
> Snipped
>
> Christina (and Kelly and Steve) best of luck with BrickFest this March. I bet
> its going to be amazing, and I hope that even with all the work and planning and
> endless details, that the three of you get to kick back a bit and enjoy
> yourself.
>
> Oh yeah, have a whiskey (or insert your fav. drink here) for me.
>
> Janey "Red Brick"
>
> General curse in the southern direction, blasted passports!
ditto, best wishes for brickfest pdx! Wish I could be there.
Cheers-
Cyndi
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In lugnet.events.brickfest, C. L. GunningCook wrote:
> In lugnet.events.brickfest, Christina Hitchcock wrote:
>
> Snipped
>
> General curse in the southern direction, blasted passports!
Just for you: http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic
:)
--Mike.
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"...I do not have the sufficient resources to pull the summer BrickFest event
together in a way I would be happy about..."
I don't understand why you shot this down so completely?
First, let me say that I am personally disappointed, so my post may sound
unusually frustrated. I don't think I can spend the money to travel to a
distant event when there was one right here in my backyard. So I'm losing out.
But I am curious, why did your post so completely kill BrickFest 2007? It
sounds like you could not muster it up, but perhaps someone else could. No?
Why not post something like, "Hey guys, I can't make this happen. Does anyone
else care to try?" But in one swift move you shot the horse dead, and I really
don't understand it.
Now I'm not volunteering at all. I don't want the task and I'm not offering to
do it. But I'm sure *somebody* else could do it.
Can't find a venue? Last I heard, the same Sheraton Premier hotel in Tyson's
was thrilled to have us back, and even offered all convention space for *FREE*
if we simply filled the same number of beds. Christina, you told me that
yourself over dinner. It doesn't sound impossible to find a venue. There's
another place in Rockville that would love to have us, albeit far smaller than
last year (about 14,000 sq ft if I recall) -- and they're on the Metro line
(something I was rooting for -- for the sake of out-of-towners).
I am confident that I am not the only person who feels this way. I'm sure there
are many other AFOLs who won't be traveling halfway across the country to attend
an event.
Instead of reading Christina's post as a eulogy, perhaps we should all read it
as a passing of the torch? Would anybody else care to take a shot? I'm sure
the Sheraton Premier in Tyson's would be happy to hear from you.
Todd
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In lugnet.events.brickfest, Todd Webb wrote:
> "...I do not have the sufficient resources to pull the summer BrickFest event
> together in a way I would be happy about..."
>
> I don't understand why you shot this down so completely?
>
> First, let me say that I am personally disappointed, so my post may sound
> unusually frustrated. I don't think I can spend the money to travel to a
> distant event when there was one right here in my backyard. So I'm losing out.
>
> But I am curious, why did your post so completely kill BrickFest 2007? It
> sounds like you could not muster it up, but perhaps someone else could. No?
> Why not post something like, "Hey guys, I can't make this happen. Does anyone
> else care to try?" But in one swift move you shot the horse dead, and I really
> don't understand it.
>
> Now I'm not volunteering at all. I don't want the task and I'm not offering to
> do it. But I'm sure *somebody* else could do it.
>
> Can't find a venue? Last I heard, the same Sheraton Premier hotel in Tyson's
> was thrilled to have us back, and even offered all convention space for *FREE*
> if we simply filled the same number of beds. Christina, you told me that
> yourself over dinner. It doesn't sound impossible to find a venue. There's
> another place in Rockville that would love to have us, albeit far smaller than
> last year (about 14,000 sq ft if I recall) -- and they're on the Metro line
> (something I was rooting for -- for the sake of out-of-towners).
>
> I am confident that I am not the only person who feels this way. I'm sure there
> are many other AFOLs who won't be traveling halfway across the country to attend
> an event.
>
> Instead of reading Christina's post as a eulogy, perhaps we should all read it
> as a passing of the torch? Would anybody else care to take a shot? I'm sure
> the Sheraton Premier in Tyson's would be happy to hear from you.
>
> Todd
In the past, having watched Christina and Kevin Loch, and all the many others
dedicated to planning events, it seemed clear to me that the huge,
megaconventions like BF, take much more than 6 months to plan. I think she is
stating that no one has yet stepped up, and she's not going to be able to manage
it.
Meanwhile, I have heard rumor that a smaller event may be 'in the works' by Mr.
Dan Rubin. I have no further details, and I don't want to corner him into it.
It's simply a big 'maybe' he mentioned on Classic-Space forum...
Aaron
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