A Visitor's Guide to PaizoCon 2016

Thursday, April 21, 2016

PaizoCon 2016 is just a little over a month away, and we're all busy making preparations for our favorite convention of the year. Whether you're a first-time visitor to the Seattle area, or a PaizoCon veteran, here's a few things to do in the area before, during, and after the convention!

Movement Speed

If you are not renting a car, and you're not using an allied NPC boon for local travel, the DoubleTree Hotel is conveniently located right on the A Line Express of King County's Metro bus system. Just up the street is also the light rail which leads directly to downtown, which is going to be your best way to get to the sights of Seattle. The most affordable way for out-of-town visitors to view the area is to pick up a Regional Day Pass, which can be purchased at the light rail station for $8 for unlimited rides (for fares up to $3.50). The challenge rating of facing the local highway system is mighty—use public transportation and carpool as much as possible! For planning out your travels, Google Maps and One Bus Away has been the most reliable for public transportation arrival and departure times.

Photos courtesy of Liz Courts

Gazetteer of Seattle

When I first came to live on the moister side of the Pacific Northwest, I had an excellent guide to show me the way (thanks, Cosmo). Now I am passing on some of the locations that I enjoy in the area, and if you are arriving early for PaizoCon, see the sights of the Emerald City! A fair warning: Seattle is quite hilly, and some spots are very steep. PaizoCon Founder Tim Nightengale recommends that you visit Seattle Premier Attactions for a broader overview of what you can see, but here are my favorites.

• Pike Place Market: In operation since 1907, this is a multi-level market that you've probably seen on TV where the folks throwing the fish around. It is less busy during the week before noon, so keep that in mind, and that you'll want to bring cash here, as not all the places accept credit or debit card. If you're a foodie, don't miss Beecher's Handmade Cheese, Daily Dozen Doughnut Company, DeLaurenti, Ellenos Yogurt, Market Spice, Piroshky Piroshky, the "original" Starbucks, and World Spice. There are dozens of different stores in Pike Place, not to mention a comic book store—spend some time meandering!
• Pioneer Square: One of the oldest neighborhoods in Seattle, built in 1857, there is quite a bit of local history to discover here, including King Street Station and the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. Don't miss the Underground Tour!
• Seattle Aquarium: I have it on good authority from an enthusiastic three year old that this is the best. Jellyfish, octopi, otters, seals, tide pools and an underwater dome are some of the features here. Seagulls can be seen all around Seattle for free!
• Seattle Center: There are not one, but multiple things to do in this encounter. The EMP Museum is more than just music (though there is a lot of that too, and the guitar exhibit is quite stunning), and the Pacific Science Center has multiple attractions (including a LEGO® exhibit starting on May 28th), and the Seattle Center is also home to the iconic Space Needle. Whether or not Chihuly was contacted from Things Beyond Space and Time is a matter of some debate, but Chihuly Garden & Glass is full of inspirational mind-bending art. The easiest way to get to the Seattle Center is by the Monorail from Westlake. If you're planning on attending multiple museums at the Seattle Center or around town, check out the Citypass!

Other strong contenders for things to see and do in Seattle: the International District, Ivar's, Molly Moon's Ice Cream, Seattle Art Museum (check out the Roman glassware and Native American collections), Seattle Great Wheel, and probably at least a dozen other places that I'm forgetting. If you get lost, Pike and Pine streets are great fixtures to orient yourself, as is the Washington State Convention Center and Westlake Center. In a pinch, just head downhill towards the water.

Many have asked this question, but this is a good spot to say this again: we do not offer tours of the Paizo offices, sorry!

Staff Accountant Ashley Kaprielian loves a few things more than numbers. This is one of them.
Photo courtesy of Liz Courts

Local Eats

Besides the DoubleTree Hotel's coffee stand, breakfast buffet, and lounge, here are a few places to eat within walking distance (half a mile) of the convention space.

• 13 Coins Restaurant
• Dave's Diner & Brews
• Denny's
• Gregory's Bar & Grill
• Jack in the Box
• L&L Hawaiian Barbecue
• Mango Thai Cuisine & Bar
• Sharps RoastHouse
• Taco Bell

To the Market!

• Safeway, 21401 Pacific Highway South, Des Moines, WA 98198 (2.1 miles, open 5am to 1am)
• Safeway, 4011 S 164th St, Seattle, WA 98188, (2.3 miles, open 24 hours)
• QFC, 17847 1st Avenue South, Normandy Park, WA 98148 (2.5 miles, open 24 hours)

For other shopping needs, the Westfield Southcenter Mall is four miles away (2800 Southcenter Mall, Seattle, WA 98188), and is open 10am to 9pm, and includes a multiplex IMAX theater. If you need non-emergency medical care, Immediate Clinic Burien (15870 1st Avenue South, Burien, WA 98148; 8am to 8pm) and Concentra Urgent Care (545 Andover Park W, Tukwila, WA 98188; 24 hours) are the closest.

Photo courtesy of Cosmo Eisele

Photo courtesy of Chris Lambertz

3, 2, 1—Let's Jam!

Alright, it's convention time! I know you might not want to hear it, but give yourself a little bit of extra time to prepare yourself and get a bite and a cuppa joe in before your day starts. (And for all of the volunteers that arise to run at this hour, thank you!) A little bit of courtesy goes a long way, so please be kind to the hotel NPCs when gathering with your party. If this is your first convention ever, well, thank you for picking ours! Here's a few convention tips:

• Wear comfortable, broken-in shoes, and bring an extra pair. Your feet will thank you.
• Bring extra socks.
• Stay hydrated—there is no substitute for water.
• Bring a non-sugary snack to keep your energy levels up.
• A minimum of 3 hours of sleep, two real meals, and one shower. In the words of Erik Mona, "Man cannot survive on gaming, booze, and 5-Hour Energy alone (trust me, I've tried)."
• Don't completely fill your schedule—give yourself some downtime.
• Make new friends.
• For freelancers and would-be freelancers, bring a business card (and leave some room to write notes on).
• Don't forget the dice.

ConCrud

It happens—you know it, we know it. Wash your hands, cover your mouth, stay hydrated, eat proper meals, get some rest—these give you a bonus to your Fortitude save to help from spreading Urgathoa's touch.

Got any additional questions? Concerns? Musings? Want to know other favorite haunts that we like? Ask away in the the discussion thread!

Getting the dire ducklings in a row,

Liz Courts
Community Manager