Proposal for RBMS Preconference Tuesday, June 25 – Friday, June 28, 2013 2013 Annual Conference, Chicago, IL: Thursday June, 27 – Tuesday July 2, 2013 St. Anthony Falls, Downtown Minneapolis See also: http://www1.umn.edu/wishyouwerehere/ Please note that much text contains links to organization and event websites. The Minneapolis-St. Paul area, collectively referred to as the Twin Cities, is renowned for its cultural and recreational opportunities and beautiful natural surroundings. The Twin Cities are best known for their rich natural environment. Each season offers ample opportunity to explore the natural world in a variety of contexts. Twin Cities' parks and lakes are extensive with 136,900 acres of parkland and 950 lakes in the metro area alone. Hiking, fishing, swimming, golfing, snow shoeing, boating, or evening walks around Lake Harriet are all popular and accessible activities for any visitor. Additionally, the metro area offers a wide selection of cultural and entertainment offerings. There are several public museums, private art galleries, music and arts festivals, historic theaters that offer drama, comedy and music, and a plethora of cuisine options suitable for even the most discerning pallet. If sports are your preferred form of recreation there are a variety of options. As a spectator you have it all. Each major professional sport is represented in the Twin Cities: Vikings, Timberwolves, Wild, Twins, Lynx and Thunder. The University of Minnesota teams are another possibility, and so is the St. Paul Saints, a minor league baseball team that is a local favorite for a summer evening of fun. The Twin Cities also offer extensive opportunities to shop for many uniquely Minnesotan goods and services. Downtown Minneapolis has two million square feet of retail, one of the highest concentrations of shops in any city its size. The Nicollet Mall and the Uptown area are two of the most popular and well known shopping districts. For pure shopping power, there is no better fit than the nation's largest shopping center, the Mall of America. In 2010 Minneapolis was named the best bicycling city in the US. June weather in Minneapolis/St. Paul In summer, June through September, visitors to Minneapolis will enjoy hot weather and a humid climate. July is the hottest month of the year in Minneapolis, with plenty of sunny weather and daytime temperatures of around 28°C / 83°F. Summer weather may be wet at times and heavy showers can occur. Proposed Schedule Note: the following represents a suggested base draft. At an August 2010 meeting, representatives from other academic and cultural-heritage organizations around the Twin Cities expressed interest partnering to support the preconference. These organizations are: the Minnesota Center for Book Arts, the Minnesota Historical Society, the University of St. Thomas, the College of St. Catherine, Carleton College, Rob Rulon-Miller Books, the Ampersand Club, the Bakken Library and Museum, and the Guthrie Theater. Both the Minnesota Historical Society and the Guthrie Theater have expressed interest in hosting a reception, with a special performance of some sort for our guests suggested by the latter. The proposal described here keeps programming and receptions located in downtown Minneapolis and on the nearby West Bank campus of the University of Minnesota. Possibilities do exist for programming in St. Paul and those may be considered. Tuesday June 25, 2013 Arrival day, registration, booksellers’ showcase, tours, workshops, opening reception (ABAA) Possible optional (organized) activities: Workshops at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts: In 2007 MCBA offered 4 optional, half-day workshops for attendees of the SHARP conference: Printing on the Iron Hand Press – Instructor, William Myers; Japanese Papermaking – Instructor, Jeff Rathermel; Paper Marbling – Instructor, Lin Lacy; Bookbinding– Instructor, Gary Frost. Workshops were all offered 10 am to 12 noon and repeated 2 pm – 4 pm, allowing for interested attendees to take two. Cost was $25 per workshop. Organized tours of local collections and museum, TBD Additional tour opportunities individuals can explore on their own, arrival day or throughout the week (walking distance from downtown hotels): Mississippi River Boat Tours The “Magical History Tour” – Segway tours of the Mississippi Riverfrom and Historic Mill City Ruins Mill City Museum James J. Hill House Hill Library at St. John's University Kierkegaard Collection at St. Olaf and Special Collections at Carleton College, Northfield, MN Conservation lab and storage facilities at Minnesota Historical Society Schubert Club Museum General Mills Archives Minnesota Public Radio Headquarters TPT – Twin Cities Public Television Many of these and others listed below under “Entertainment” Wednesday June 26, 2013 Full day of programming at hotel, evening reception at the Guthrie Theater Thursday, June 27, 2013 Full day of programming on the campus of the University of Minnesota or at the conference hotel. In either case, possible reception on campus; restaurant night, organized evening tours or events. Alternate reception venue: the Mill City Museum. Possible U of M Site Options Plenary session in 3M auditorium or other campus theater Day of small sessions, possibly Blegen Hall Reception and exhibit viewing in Andersen Library Friday, June 28, 2013 Half day of programming at hotel, leave for Chicago; additional tours 1. Conference Venue Downtown Minneapolis offers a large number of hotels and easy walking and public transportation to a wide array of restaurants, museums, parks, and the Mississippi Riverfront. The preconference meetings would take place at the hotel selected and attendees will be allowed to spend their evening time exploring the city’s dining and entertainment options with perhaps some group dining or outings planned as optional events. The second full day of the preconference could possibly take place on the Minneapolis campus of the University of Minnesota, approximately 1 mile from the main downtown hotel district and serviced by a good bus system, though shuttles would likely be recommend for timely and comfortable transportation for preconference registrants. Andersen Library has a room that could serve one to three small sessions. For any plenary sessions we would likely want to look at the theater located in the Carlson School of Management, located near Andersen Library on the West Bank of the Mississippi River. Other buildings on the West bank could provide rooms for other sessions, or we could consider rooms in Coffman Memorial Union, a short walk across the Washington Avenue Bridge and past the Weisman Art Museum. Weisman Art Museum, on the East Bank of the University of Minnesota –Twin Cities campus, designed by Frank Gehry (addition, also designed by Gehry, currently under construction) Possible venues on U of M Campus: Elmer L. Andersen Library (reception): http://andersen.lib.umn.edu/policies.html 3M Auditorium, Carlson School of Management: http://www.csom.umn.edu/page4983.aspx Blegen Hall Classrooms (page includes map of West bank): http://www1.umn.edu/twincities/maps/BlegH/ Coffman Union Theater: http://www.sua.umn.edu/reservations/coffman/spaces/theater “Block E” entertainment complex (near Target Center and Target Field) seen in the middle. Graves 601 Hotel to the right. 2. Accommodations Hotels While most attendees will stay in the conference hotel, there are also a number of convenient higher- and lower-cost options available, depending on individuals’ preference for cost or amenities. Please see attached list. Dormitories Dormitory accommodations may be available on the Minneapolis Campus of the University of Minnesota. University of Minnesota Conference & Event Services: http://www.uces.umn.edu/ 3. Transportation to and from Minneapolis Airport The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) is not part of any city but is nestled among several. The airport is surrounded by Minneapolis, St. Paul and the suburban cities of Bloomington, Eagan, Mendota Heights and Richfield. MSP has one airfield with four runways and two terminal buildings - theTerminal 1- Lindbergh and Terminal 2-Humphrey -each with adjoining parking ramp facilities. Travelers who need to transfer from one terminal to the other use the light rail transit service. There is no pedestrian access between the buildings. One-way airfares between Minneapolis and Chicago have come down significantly in recent years. By plane the trip is approximately 356 miles and takes about 1 hour. One-way airfares on Southwest (researched June 2010) were about $160.00 with some fares as low as $69.00. Train Travel, Minneapolis to Chicago Amtrak Passage on the Empire Builder from the Amtrak Station in St. Paul to Chicago’s Union Station depart at 7:50 am and arrive at 3:55 pm. (8 hr. 5 min.). Fares researched June 2010 were $99.00 and $128.00. Bus Travel, Minneapolis to Chicago Megabus Megabus to Chicago service picks passengers up in downtown Minneapolis, near to preconference hotels. Travel times and fares researched June 2010 were: Departs 7:00 AM Minneapolis, South 3rd St. & Chicago Ave. Arrives 3:00 PM Chicago, Union Station S Canal St south of Jackson Blvd. $24.00 Departs 11:30 AM Minneapolis, South 3rd St. & Chicago Ave. Arrives 7:30 PM Chicago, Union Station S Canal St south of Jackson Blvd. $15.00 Departs 5:00 PM Minneapolis, South 3rd St. & Chicago Ave. Arrives 1:15 AM Chicago, Union Station S Canal St south of Jackson Blvd. $20.00 Departs 10:30 PM Minneapolis, South 3rd St. & Chicago Ave. Arrives 6:30 AM Chicago, Union Station S Canal St south of Jackson Blvd. $15.00 Greyhound Research conducted June 2010 show that bus trips via Greyhound, bus terminal also downtown Minneapolis, were between 8-1/2 and 10 hours in duration and cost $28.00 (web only), $30.00 (advanced purchase) and $63.00 (standard fare). 4. Local Transportation from the Airport Light Rail Transit Light Rail Transit offers service directly to downtown Minneapolis. Trains run every 7 or 8 minutes during peak hours and every 10 to 15 minutes at other times of the day.