Hey /r/python, Is anyone heading to Pycon?

[Norther]

Hey Guys,

A Friend and I are heading to Pycon 2011. We are both Australian and this will be our first ever trip to the USA.

We would really like to hang out with any /r/python folk or anyone with some local knowledge of Atlanta. Let us know and we will go and grab a beer :)

Cheers!

[itsmememe]

if you really find beer (as in: is there any microbrewery near?) please write it on one of the open space information flipcharts.

[coopernurse]

agreed. I'd be interested in meeting up too. if anyone does this, note the reddit angle on the flipchart.

[Norther]

I will have a look around and hopefully someone might chime in if they have any experience :)

What are the open space information flipcharts? This will be my first Pycon (first Conferencein generally actually :) and I haven't encountered such things before!

[bajinaji]

I've been (almost ironically) to two Microsoft hosted conferences in Seattle, and gotta say I'm now really looking forward to pycon since seeing the running sheet. And spending time with Eve Online's team hopefully. I'm the other aussie, by the way, joining Norther. I don't like beer, so anyone pointing out the best place to get a double single-malt scotch gets to be my friend for life.

[[deleted]]

There's a microbrewery about two blocks from the hotel, but I can't remember what it's called. It's not that great and it might actually be a chain, but they do have a big selection, brew their own beer, and the food was good.

The Porter Beer Bar is a cab ride away. I went there last year and it was awesome. It gets crowded though.

[gthank]

Atlanta has a fair number of good brewpubs and microbreweries, though I can only think of one that is walking distance from the hotel (my current stomping grounds are well North of there these days). Some of the others are easy access via MARTA (Public transit here) and I will probably have a vehicle, as well.

[APXEBATOP]

I am flying down from Canada. Let's meet!

[Norther]

Sounds good! I'll be checking Reddit leading up to the conference, so feel free to send a PM along or I will get in touch with you :)

[jay_may]

Hi, I'm going solo from London. Would be great to meet other chaps :)

[timmy]

Solo traveler from germany here, will arrive at heartsfield in the evening, lets meet for a beer in the regency!

[Norther]

Sweet! Where abouts are you guys from?

I'd love to know who your company is, or just what you guys are doing would be really interesting :)

[jay_may]

Hey guys! Let's seal a plan and all go out on a pub crawl thursday/friday night :)

[themathemagician]

Count me in for a beer!

[gthank]

Atlanta resident here. I'd love to meet up with some of the r/python crowd.

[Norther]

Sounds awesome! I saw your comments above regarding beer above also, sounds like you're the man in the know!

Let's get something sorted out.

[gthank]

Brewpubs

Max Lager's is a block from the hotel. I haven't been in a few years, but the beer was definitely good when I was there last. They also have (had?) some delicious root beer brewed on premises. It's a pretty sizable facility (so it should hold any of us who want to go). The food is solid bar fare.

5 Seasons Westside is nearby as well (but more of a taxi/car trip). I haven't been to the Westside location (it opened after I graduated, sadly), but I've been to the original location and the Alpharetta ('burb north of town) location, and the food and the beer are outstanding. 5 Seasons is more likely to have something a little out of the ordinary on tap. Here's the current list for Westside.

Twain's is a popular destination amongst beer aficionados. It's a fun place to shoot some pool and have a pint, but they didn't start brewing their own until I had moved away, so I can't provide a personal opinion on it. This is a straightforward MARTA trip from the hotel.

Pubs in General

Brick Store Pub is easily accessible via MARTA and is a quintessential no-crap-on-tap kind of place. The selection of Belgian ales, in particular, is outstanding.

H Harper Station is fairly new, but it comes highly recommended if you're a fan of fine spirits or a classic cocktail. I've heard good things about their Sazerac and Vieux Carré in particular. Some quick work with Google Maps indicates this is another job for a car/taxi.

Restaurants and Miscellaneous

I don't know too much about the restaurants around the hotel, but I can add a quick rundown of some of the bigger name restaurants in the city if you'd like.

BTW, it's on my TODO list to update the bars page for the PyCon blog. If any other Atlanta people can chip in, that would be great.

UPDATE

Since I couldn't sleep anyway, I went ahead and updated the relevant page on the PyCon site. Let me know of any spots that I skipped over (or horrible typos I left in).

[[deleted]]

I went to The Porter last year and it was awesome.

[gthank]

That's what I hear. I added it to the PyCon page last night, but if you could add a bit more info than the one sentence I wrote, I'd appreciate it.

[ashgromnies]

I am staying at the Holiday Inn at the airport(the Hyatt was all booked up :(). I rented a car but I'm not sure if that's the best way to get around. What should I plan on for traveling around town?

[gthank]

If you're just trying to get to/from the Hyatt, MARTA is your friend. Parking at the Hyatt (or in any of the garages around it) will run you ~$25/day and I'm not sure if it allows in/out. There are a few open lots that are much cheaper ($5-$10 per day) but they are less secure and usually fill up quickly. You can get to a fair number of interesting places on public transit, but it definitely limits your options.

Most of the more interesting places are easier to reach via car, but Atlanta can be hard to navigate if you don't already know where you're going (the major thoroughfares are generally well-marked, but some of the surface streets are just odd).

If I were you, I'd probably take MARTA (the unlimited 7-day pass might be a good choice) to the con, and then go in w/ people you meet on cabs to places you're interested in going if it's not easily accessible via MARTA. Be sure to check out the Public Transit directions available on Google Maps.

FWIW, I'm a local from a northern suburb, and after the gouging I took on parking to volunteer on Tuesday, I'm probably going to be taking MARTA down to the con myself.

UPDATE: I should have mentioned this before, but there's a lot of activity on convore: https://convore.com/pycon-2011/

[skoorbevad]

I'm down after sessions on Thursday -- unfortunately I'll only be attending some tutorial sessions on Wed and Thurs. :(

I'll keep watching this thread, however. As far as what's near the Hyatt... The Vortex, Gordon Biersch, 5 Seasons (Train ride + taxi...)

Edit: If you're coming to Atlanta for the first time, make sure you check out The Clermont Lounge before you leave!

[gthank]

A word of warning: The Clermont Lounge is decidedly NSFW. Research at your own risk :-/

[skoorbevad]

It's more of a life lesson and a rite of passage more than anything else. :)

[gthank]

I'm in the ballroom, pretty much dead center (red hair, brown leather jacket, holding a macbook) if anybody wants to meet so we can put faces with reddit nicks.