| Issue 107 | March 24th 2011 | Contact the Editor | How to Contribute |
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Dolce Hayes Venue Report So.. it's that time again when I need to pack my bags and head off to sunnier (and warmer) climates.. in the name of research and RunRevLive! Well, that's how I would start if I were writing this 2 weeks ago. I have now been & returned and am free to tell you all about my travels. RunRevLive.11 is being held in San Jose, California at the stunning Dolce Hayes Mansion (referred to as the Hayes Mansion by those in the know). I arrived late afternoon on Thursday to a wonderfully warm greeting inside a Colonial Style Victorian Hybrid Mansion House. Super fast, efficient check in and I am whisked to my room to drop off my bags, freshen up and peruse my surroundings with a chilled glass of local wine.
Everything about the property screams understated comfort. It is effortless in its style and elegance and discreetly offers every mod-con required to pamper even the most VIP of guests which is a good thing because we have confirmations from some very interesting people including Bill Atkinson (of HyperCard fame), Mike Markkula (yes, the one who was CEO of Apple for a time), Robert Cailliau (co-developer of the WWW) and of course our guest speaker from Forrester, Mike Gualtieri. I can't wait to meet them all! Sadly it is not all wine and wandering and after a light meal I retire to my room for some much needed rest and preparation for Friday's Meetings. I have already organised the running of the conference itself, booked your hotel rooms, found suitable rooms for conference Tracks and Kitchens, but I really need to pin down some more details to ensure everything runs as smoothly as I plan it too. Friday's meetings begin over breakfast, (an ample array of fruits, cereals, cooked & continental selection awaits me, you are certainly not going to starve at the Dolce Hayes) as I rub my eyes and wander through the sunlit grounds to the Silver Creek Dining Room and immediately I am introduced to the departmental managers I will work with in April. Talking to each, their passion for their role and desire to make this the most amazing event for us is evident and I am confident in our ability to deliver a truly polished experience to you, our attendees, for our largest conference to date!
Tracks organised, facilities suitably vetted and changed into flat shoes, I am ready to investigate a little further afield and confirm how easy it is to get around. The Mansion's Courtesy Bus drops me at the light rail station armed with a map, local information and the front desk speed dial number in case I get lost (Thank You guys!). The light rail is easy to navigate and runs on tracks - like a tram cross train - is super cheap at $6 for a day pass and stops at frequent, convenient locations. My mission is to get to & from Pier 39 so I alight (after one change) at the Diridon Station, which allows me to transfer to the CalTrain. Now, I love the CalTrain.. for those that don't know, it is a Double Decker, High Speed Train that gets you into San Francisco in an hour and is only $19 for a day pass. From the train station in San Francisco there are various options; Taxi, Bus, Walking or my favourite a Cable Car. Just a heads up, you hail it en route, usually around a traffic light/junction and jump on the BACK.. Then, hold on! Its good fun, you get to see amazing views of the city and if you're not in a hurry a great mode of transport.
'Last Stop' is 2 minute walk from Fishermans wharf with its Historic Boatyard (and Wharf!!) where you can see some amazing old boats & ships and chat to some lovely suffragettes in local re-enactments of a working dock yard. Pier 39, is a fabulous place to people watch. It's a ten minute walk from Fishermans wharf and is a complex of boat rides, shops and restaurants, cinema's and bicycle hire. There is plenty here to keep even the most restless occupied. I chose to dine at "The Crab House". A friendly warm (and very busy) place that boasts award winning crab and an extensive start menu - Crab Cakes, Chowder and Calamari were my choice with a glass of local wine. I was left to stare across the bay in comfort, was served without being rushed and all for the bargain price of $30 including Tip & Taxes.
San Jose offers a selection for those who like technology. As well as home to some of the largest names in the industry, it also has the Tech Museum and Computer Science Museum. The former is an interactive educational world, aimed more towards children and a less formal style of learning, investigating and gauging your knowledge. Here I was able to investigate more of Silicon Valley and its origins, experience an Earthquake, and even cooler - make bright fluorescent green jellyfish protein. The Computer Science Museum has recently undergone a $19million makeover and houses the journey of the computer from the humble abacus through to modern day game systems. Officially closed on a Monday, I was handed a Map and advised to 'enjoy the museum at my leisure'.. oh yes, talk about VIP! The exhibit includes fabulous pieces both in and out of use, as well as an Enigma Machine and working Babbage. Hmm.. Things for non-technical people - there is an abundance! Wine Tours, Day Trips, Theatre and of course - shopping! As usual I have mapped out such events so I am able to help spouses and partners occupy their time whilst you learn and code away. Now I am over my jetlag and having written this article I am even more excited about RunRevLive.11 and look forward to seeing you all there in April! Don't have your ticket yet? <Tut, Tut> Book them here before they sell out!
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