2009 Boston Regional

[Kims Robot]

Originally Posted by EricVanWyk

The first four bullet points could be chalked up to bad luck - listing them first lures the reader into a false sense of righteousness (Of course we were renovating, we do that once a year - what is your problem?) and may cause people to skip over the last two. However, listing them after the pizza would completely rob them of meaning by contrast. As point of caution, it could be that a non-FIRST team was also staying with you in the Hyatt, causing this catastrophe.

Eric, I definitely agree that it could have been bad timing/bad luck (and hopefully NOT a FIRST team), and to be honest, I have worked in the service industry and I give all establishments the understanding that they cannot always be responsible for every thing that happens... but if they want me to come back, I want them to at least acknowledge and perhaps try and make up for any issues... they did nothing. When I let the front desk know about the bathroom, they didnt seem to care, and certainly didnt get it clean in the next hour, when I talked to the staff after our stay, they did nothing to try and compensate us, and when I contacted Hyatt's main corporate office, they never responded or acknowledged our issues. After two years in a row of issues with them, we will never stay there again, and if we can help it, never stay in another Hyatt again.

P.S. This is JUST a warning about the paticular hotel. We absolutely LOVED the Boston Regional the two years we went... and in my opinion its one of the best regionals out there!! The Committee does a great job pulling in everything from colleges to free food to great entertainment. We loved the event, the teams there, the high profile judges and everything about it... definitely go if you get the chance... just dont stay at the Hyatt!! lol

[Adam Y.]

Originally Posted by EricVanWyk

Thanks for the heads up. I wish I had a team traveling to Boston so we could boycott them as well.

I remember staying at that hotel and I didn't have a problem with them at all. Then again they also had a lot more money to loose if they were inept because it was for a conference.

[smurfgirl]

Has anyone gotten their volunteer assignments for Boston yet? I got one for CT about a month ago, so I was just wondering. (I know that the regional volunteer coordinators are probably super busy, so I'm not trying to be whiny or anything. They're awesome, and they deserve great thanks for everything they do!)

[manyhats]

Dear Doug,

Congratulations on picking an awesome Regional. We are from CT and this will be our second Regional in Boston. We loved it last year. There is so much to do. I read many of the suggestions from other people and agree with them. Our students love Faneuil Hall Marketplace. We do not have subways near where we live, so our students love taking the subway over to Faneuil Hall. I have heard similar complaints about the Hyatt. We stay in a smaller quieter hotel in Cambridge. Where are you planning to stay?

We are planning to go up on Wed. Some of our students use the day to visit colleges and the Duck Tour is a great overview. I lived in Boston for 3 years and loved it. If you have time and the weather cooperates, walk the Freedom Trail. It is a red line painted down the sidewalk that takes you past so many historical places in Boston. Boston is a very compact and walkable city.

Feel free to contact us, if you have any more questions.

Manyhats
Team 1099 Co-Founder and Co-Advisor for FRC Team 1099 in Brookfield, CT

[smurfgirl]

Originally Posted by Roger

Search ChiefDelphi and you'll find info from past years. I found this thread at the bottom of this thread. I'm sure there are others. Here are some random places --

Museum of Science -- Though last year FIRST splurged and got us all in for free on the Friday evening. But a couple of hours (plus everyone jamming the food court) is never enough for the MOS. IMAX and planetarium is extra. Make sure you see the Van de Graaff generator demonstration! Boom! Pow!

MIT Museum -- Never been there but hey, it is MIT.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace is one large food court -- or used to be. I haven't been in there for years.

I'm going to second these. I've been to all of them recently, some more than once (Faneuil Hall is amazing, and so is the Museum of Science.) Also, if you want to explore the city and it's history, consider going on a Duck Tour.

[Waynep]

For more information on the 2009 Boston Regional, please visit the event's website: http://bostonfirst.org/

There you might find the confirmed info that Blue Man Group will once again be putting on a special performance for the spirited Boston crowd. Also stay tuned, as you never know what tricks the planning committee, which always strides to up the ante and levels of fun, has up its sleeves.

If you, your friends or family members would like to volunteer for the event please encourage them to register in VIMS https://my.usfirst.org/vims/

We're looking forward to another great Boston Regional and having you all there!

-wayne

[smurfgirl]

Does anyone know what T stop is closer to Agganis Arena? Would that be BU East, BU Central, or BU West?

Edit: Nevermind, I finally found it on a map. For anyone else wondering, BU West is the answer.

Edit 2: Since I thought of this... anyone interested in trading team shirts? If so, PM me.

[Brandon Holley]

Originally Posted by smurfgirl

Does anyone know what T stop is closer to Agganis Arena? Would that be BU East, BU Central, or BU West?

Edit: Nevermind, I finally found it on a map. For anyone else wondering, BU West is the answer.

Just to be even more specific...BU West off of the B trolley on the Green line (there is a B, C, D and E trolley for the green line, make sure your on the B line aka the "Boston College" line)

[Roger]

Originally Posted by smurfgirl

Does anyone know what T stop is closer to Agganis Arena? Would that be BU East, BU Central, or BU West?

Edit: Nevermind, I finally found it on a map. For anyone else wondering, BU West is the answer.

Of those three stations, yes, BU West is the closest. But the closest station to the Agganis Arena is Pleasant Street, which is the second stop beyond BU West. Here's the MBTA station map of the Green line.

I work across the street from the Agganis, and once upon a time used to take the T. (Now I have a parking spot!) Mind you, any of those stations along Comm Ave and BU is walkable to the Agganis; students walk the length of Comm Ave every day. I've even walked to Pleasant St from Kenmore in a driving snowstorm.

And Blue Man Group!

[MOE]

Originally Posted by smurfgirl

Does anyone know what T stop is closer to Agganis Arena? Would that be BU East, BU Central, or BU West?

Edit: Nevermind, I finally found it on a map. For anyone else wondering, BU West is the answer.

Edit 2: Since I thought of this... anyone interested in trading team shirts? If so, PM me.

HELLOOoooo from the North East to the North East and anyone going to Boston TEAM 88 TJ2 will trade our team shirt with anyone,come see MOE in the pits.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL SEEeeee YEAHhhhhhh SOOOOooon
oh yeah ???? OH YEAH !!!! tye dye for ever .....
MOE and team 88 TJ2

[Mikell Taylor]

Howdy everyone,

Just a heads up: if anyone still needs to make hotel reservations, the Courtyard by Marriott in Brookline is only offering its FIRST rate through Monday the 16th. Give them a call and ask about the FIRST group discount if you're still looking for a place to stay. (That hotel is T-accessible to the Arena)

[kibbs425]

Originally Posted by manyhats

Dear Doug,

We are planning to go up on Wed. Some of our students use the day to visit colleges and the Duck Tour is a great overview.

Well lucky for you every Wednesday is Engineering Wednesday at Northeastern University. http://www.coe.neu.edu/coe/about/visitoptions.html

And if anyone wants something more personalized that happens to be our spring break. We'll be at BU helping to set up in the afternoon but if you PM or email me I'm sure we could arrange for a special tour, maybe even one with the NUTRONS lab in it, during the morning.

[ChristinaR]

Has anyone gotten their volunteer assignment yet? It's getting pretty close and I'm just curious.

EDIT- Coincidentally got it this morning, so disregard.


In other news, I hoping for some good media coverage for the regional this year. I'm almost sure the Boston Globe will run at least a blurb ahead of time promoting the event with (hopefully) a picture from NJ next week. When it gets a little closer, I'll see what other media outlets I can try and drag in. Last year I met with the editor of Boston.com and he seemed very interested/inspired by the program, so I'm hoping that they'll run something of reasonable size this year.

[Kim Masi]

On the radio driving to work this morning I heard a commercial for the blue man group and at the end it said "catch them at the FIRST Robotics competition at Agganis Arena, Saturday March 7th!"

needless to say I got excited...

[smurfgirl]

Originally Posted by Kim Masi

On the radio driving to work this morning I heard a commercial for the blue man group and at the end it said "catch them at the FIRST Robotics competition at Agganis Arena, Saturday March 5th!"

needless to say I got excited...

But Saturday is March 7th...