Open event in Columbus, Ohio: Sat. Oct. 30th

[ellenkushner]

A week from right now, I trust to be arriving in Columbus, Ohio for the peripatetic World Fantasy Convention.  I've been attending it pretty much since I started in this business, as a junior editor fresh out of university.  So it's really a giant family reunion for me - we've already scheduled our annual catch-up dinner with Pat McKillip & her husband, poet David Lunde, planned (a tradition since we took them out about, what, 10 years ago? to celebrate the news of their engagement), and a date with Suzy McKee Charnas . . . We always meet new people, too, and are looking forward to hanging out in comfy chairs in the bar to see who joins the conversation.

Some people don't attend WFC because it's pricey, and has a not-entirely-undeserved reputation for being a bit of an insiders' business event. But for anyone in spitting distance of Columbus, this year there is a big bookstore event that's open to all.   I hope you'll come - & tell your friends!   The remarkably thoughtful & organized C. L. Wilson (whom I've never met, but love more with every passing e-mail) has put together a big group author talk/signing on:

Saturday, October 30th, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
at
Barnes & Noble
OSU Campus Bookstore
1598 N. High Street, Columbus, OH, 43201

Delia Sherman & I will be there, with many more great fantasists, including Cat Valente, Ari Berk, Mary Robinette Kowal, swantower , Beth Bernobich, Joe Haldeman. . . .  the list is here on the event's Facebook page.  They are going to have 3-4 of my paperback titles on hand, and I can even bring a few "Man with the Knives" to sell you under the table, as Barnes & Noble doesn't carry it.  Let me know if you'll be there - and wear your special LJ green carnation/ribbon/earring/toothpick!

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Would Delia like some more cheddar? I can pack some for her quite easily.

[tylik.livejournal.com]

Oh, oh, oh!

...not that I can go. I can't believe I didn't even realize it would be so close, though.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Oh, how kind! No, we're fine on cheese for now, thanks. But if I think of anything else smallish & UKish, I will make so bold as to ask.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

We leave early on Sat, so tomorrow is my last shopping day.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Are you going somewhere nice on your way to Ohio? See you there!

[lareinenoire.livejournal.com]

Oooh, so weird to see my old hometown pop up on your LJ. ;) Want any restaurant recommendations?

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Oh! Yes! Please!! We probably won't want to stray too terribly far from the Hyatt Regency on North High Street (anything decent in that neighb?) - but if there's somewhere exceptional, I'll get my wheels out for it.

I'm glad to know there are restau's to suggest. Only other time I was there, I flew into airport & was driven to outer suburbs to do "Klezmer Nutcracker" at JCC - and there was NOTHING but CHAIN RESTAURANTS as far as the eye could see. Literally. I had to beg my friend to feed me, and the best she could do for local color was Max & Erma's. Gad.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Chicago, to visit a good friend whom I haven't seen for several years.
See you very soon.

[lareinenoire.livejournal.com]

Oh, nice, you're downtown. You can walk to the Short North from there, although I'd probably recommend either the #2 bus (which runs North-South along High Street until fairly late, I think...)* or a cab if you're going to be late.

The Short North has all kinds of great places, most of which are right on High Street. Some of my favourites are:

- The Burgundy Room (wine & tapas bar)
- Lemongrass (Thai food that at least used to be at surprisingly reasonable prices)
- Zen Cha Tea Salon (if you have a few hours to spare during the day; they do lovely cakes and have a marvellous selection of tea)
- Jeni's Ice Cream (All made on-site, and the flavours change either daily or weekly)
- North Market (across the street from the Convention Center and full of great stuff)

If you're willing to stray to the other side of downtown, which is a bit harder to manage sans car or cab, you can get excellent German food and beer at Schmidt's in German Village. And I do know a fantastic Japanese restaurant (my housemate introduced it to me as the place where the entire OSU Japanese department ate), but it's a little more complicated and would definitely require a car. If you'd like directions, I can e-mail them to you or Delia.

* All my information is somewhat out of date, but I know for a fact that the restaurants are still there, even if my memory of bus schedules is dimmed with time.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Many thanks! I will actually have a car, so if you want to send directions - or even just a name & address, so I can look it up online - that woudl be swell.