Help Needed

We need on-site help for registration & session chairs. Wednesday and Thursday evening, we'll have pizza for volunteers!

Badge Pickup & Registration

There are going to be a lot of people this year, so try to get to the registration desk early. It's open from 7:30 AM on Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday.

Time Change

In most of the US & Canada on March 8 the clocks will change to Daylight Saving Time. This means that Chicago will be UTC-05:00.

Chicago Weather

• Weather forecast (°F)
• Weather forecast (°C)

If you are planning to venture outdoors, bring layers so that you can de-layer when you get too warm. E.g. T-shirt, long sleeve shirt, sweater, jacket.

If it is ridiculously cold out, long silk underwear is nice to have beneath pants and shirts. This is probably more than people will need if it's near to above freezing.

During the conference, we recommend a light sweater for the tutorials and talks as well; hotels often keep the temperature lower than some people like it.

The Elegant Stitches booth will have Python sweatshirts for sale!

Hotel Amenities

The hotels have indoor pools and health centers with exercise equipment.

Network

We will have wireless internet access. Details to be announced.

Meals Served

Expect the following catering:

• Wednesday March 25 and Thursday March 26 (Tutorial Days):

  • morning and afternoon breaks
  • lunch

• Friday March 27 - Sunday March 29 (Conference Days):

  • morning & afternoon breaks
  • lunch

• Monday March 30 - Thursday April 2 (Development Sprints):

  To be determined.

Open Space

We will once again have Open Space available for attendees to hold their own events. Please consider posting an Open Space session on the board (location TBD).

Sprints

We're hoping for more participation in the development sprints than ever. Please join in!

Hotel Shuttle from O'Hare

For attendees arriving at O'Hare, you should use the "center exit 2" presumably from baggage claim, for ground transportation. Follow the arrows for Hotel Shuttles, to the building with the red awning, across from the Hilton. Look for the Hyatt Regency or Crowne Plaza (red) shuttle. They run every 15 minutes morning to evening, every 30 minutes overnight.

Hotel Parking and Driving Notes

Parking at the Hyatt Regency hotel is free for guests. The Crowne Plaza hotel's parking lot is run by a third party, and costs $18/day, even for guests staying at the hotel. The Rosemont Village parking garage is next door, and charges $11/day.

It's always a good idea to bring your car insurance certificate with you. In Illinois you may be required to provide it if pulled over.

Don't forget toll cash! In Illinois cash tolls are twice as expensive as tolls paid electronically via I-Pass or EZ-Pass transponders. The main interstates converging on the hotel from the north and south (I-294) and northwest (I-90) are toll roads. I-90 from Chicago is not a toll road.

Public Transportation to the Hotel

See http://us.pycon.org/2009/chicago/hotel/#public-transit

Sponsors and Vendors

We have a ballroom and a lounge full of sponsors & vendors. Our vendors will be selling Python-related merchandise and many of our sponsors will be hiring. If you're in the job market, bring business cards & résumés. Come prepared!

Social Software

The organizers have set up events for PyCon on several social-networking sites. Please see the 'Connect' page for details.

Something Missing?

Please list changes or additions to these notes on the Python wiki.

If you notice that something is missing from PyCon, or if you have a great idea, please step forward and get to work on it! If you don't, who will?