Today I'm headed to Chicago to attend my very first ALA conference. I've been to BEA a number of times and have heard from other bloggers that ALA (at least ALA Midwinter) is a bit lower key than the BEA monster, so I'm excited to see how the two compare. I do have one bone to pick already with the ALA organizers however, and it's with the cities they choose for their conferences.
I love Chicago, it's an amazing city, but I do NOT love Chicago in Jan/Feb and I love traveling in Jan/Feb even less. Why, oh why, is ALA Midwinter mostly in cities with notoriously harsh winters (I'm looking at you Philadelphia and Boston) while regular
ALA, in June, is in beautifully warm cities like San Francisco? I propose a switch
ALA team :)
Despite my lack of enthusiasm for traveling to Chicago and back, I'm greatly looking forward to the event itself and I hope I to see some of you there!
I'll have an interview with Lanie Bross about her newest release Chaos on the blog tomorrow so be sure and check that out, and then I'll be returning on Tuesday with a review of a graphic novel all about Ares and his fellow Olympian gods.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
Oh have a wonderful time Jenny!
ReplyDeleteHave fun!
ReplyDeleteOMG ahh I'm jelly! I hope you have a blast, Jenny <33
ReplyDeleteHave a blast Jenny! Chicago in winter must be harsh, because it was already quite freaking cold in late October when I was there!
ReplyDeleteI hope we can meet in BEA this year btw!! =D
Have an awesome time, Jenny! I have never been, but I would have to agree..Chicago in January? Whhhhatt? They need to move that to California, Arizona or Florida. Seriously. I love Chicago too, but not in the dead of winter. Nonetheless, have a great time. Can't wait to hear all about it!
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous time, Jenny and keep warm! :D
ReplyDeleteOh how exciting! I can't wait for your report!
ReplyDeletegood luck and have a wonderful time Jenny :D
ReplyDeleteOMG How exciting!!!!! Hope you have a fantastic time, Jenny!! Stay warm! :)
ReplyDeleteRachel has been able to attend ALA a few times, and I know she had a blast, I know quite a few bloggers attending this time, so I hope you get to meet a lot of them. I look forward to hearing all about it when you get back :)
ReplyDeleteI am so excited for you Jenny! I hope you have a fabulous time!!
ReplyDeleteI went to ALAMW into Seattle a couple years ago. I've never been to BEA so I can't compare but it was really great! It was pretty laid back but I think it's all about how you handle it all. I wasn't there for the moment the doors opened like some people and I wasn't always rushing to try to get one thing or another. I just browsed through and got what I got. I still ended up with over 200 ARC's so it's not like I didn't get anything! I'll be anxious to hear about your experience!
ReplyDeleteOnce my kids are a little older and can care for themselves when I go places I will definitely be hitting up ALA each year. :)
Have fun Jenny and don't forget to take bunch of pics ;)
ReplyDeleteCOME TO MINNESOTA! WE HAVE... Wait. No. Never mind. Same issues. =P
ReplyDeleteHave lots of fun in Chicago!
That's true. It only make sense to have midwinter ALAs in southern states. Anyway, have fun!!!
ReplyDeleteHave a terrific trip Jenny and keep warm!! :)
ReplyDeleteI love Chicago too! Hope you have a great time at the conference. I have to head to Big Sky, Montana for a psych conference where it will be even colder and I'm bitching already. :-)
ReplyDeleteHow fun! Yeah, why wouldn't they hold it somewhere with milder weather. Have a good time, though, Jenny.
ReplyDeleteHope you have fun! I love ALA, it's so lovely to hang out with librarians and authors, and it's not nearly as stressful as BEA. Stay warm! :-)
ReplyDeleteOh wow, you lucky thing! I hope you have an awesome time there in Chicago and you enjoy the event. I am looking forward to hearing all about it when you get back.
ReplyDeleteThere's a reason I moved away from Chicago...
ReplyDeleteDrat! I wish I knew you were going -- I'd thought about it but just didn't get my act together enough to go. NEXT YEAR. It's on the list.
JENNY! Are you in Chicago right now? Because if you are, I'm sorry. ._. This blizzard BLOWS, but I hope you had fun at ALA! :)
ReplyDelete<3
YOU MUST WRITE ME AND TELL ME ALL ABOUT THIS TRIP!!! I want to know how it compared to everything I told you and how long it took you to get home. xo
ReplyDeleteI went to ALA on Chicago too! I loved it. :) And I totally agree about the choice of locations. In 2017, ALA annual will be in Chicago so maybe they agree too. After that 20" of snow I would hope so!
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoyed yourself as much as I did. It was SO much fun!