PLA Blog

Recently, reader Sean Aragon wrote in and asked “Where are some good places to eat around the Conference Center?” If you’re heading to ALA yourself, you might be thinking the same thing.

I’ve never been to Anaheim, so I don’t *personally* know what’s good, but here are a few places you can check out to help plan your food itinerary.

• The ALA 2008 Conference Wiki does have a page on eating options, and I think they are mostly taken straight from the recent conference preview issue of American Libraries.
• If you don’t want to eat alone, check out the Dine-Around program, also listed in the conference wiki. Several restaurants are listed for each night in varying cuisines, and interested parties can sign up to be a part of the big table experience. These dinners are not free, but there is the added benefit of a) not having to make your own group dinner plans, and b) being able to share big dishes with colleagues.
• Need more than a map of restaurants in the area? Check out reviews on Yelp for restaurants near the convention center, and filter the results to suit your cost, cuisine, or rating needs. Not near the convention center? No problem. Just enter what you’re looking for (Yelp offers reviews of more than just restaurants), and put your address in the “Near” field to really get super local to you (especially if your accommodations are not so close to the convention center). If you need more personalized advice for all things local, post your queries to the Food Talk section of the site. Don’t forget to post reviews, too!

Happy eating!

What are your food plans? Any recommendations or must-tries on your list?

This is my first: blog, PLA Conference, time in Minnesota…

First I would like to thank all those kind people who keep making me feel so welcome! I am new to Meridian Idaho having joined their team as Youth Services Coordinator on the 4th of February. I feel privileged to be here at PLA.

We, four of us are here, flew in on Tuesday and joined some others I’ve heard of who were wandering the streets with their luggage after climbing off the Light Rail. Thanks be we at least had the sense to wear coats but I for one have been delighted with todays lovely weather. I took pictures so it can go ahead and do its worst tomorrow. To start at the end of the day I held my breath and took the elevator to the 50th floor to attend the Ingram reception and catch the view from way up there! I even got my picture taken with two of the authors who spoke eloquently and then gave us signed copies of their books - yep more goodies to cart home! Where is the nearest post office?

Ingram’s was my second meet-and-greet supper snacking session as I also went to First timers reception and snapped a picture of our president. Someone is going to have to explain to me how to upload my pictures. (A picture is worh a thousand words so I wouldn’t have to write so much!) I can’t find any directions, I brought the wires for the camera but hey I’m new to this eh! (Had to get that is somewhere so you know I really am Canadian - eh!) I did a fast tour of the exibitors but honest I only ate a little and drank a bottle of water - very much appreciated. I thought John Wood was incredible and am sorry for anyone who missed him - he said he lost a girlfriend and our president said he might be able to rectify that problem here? I found it humbling to realize what one person can do. How many of you decided they would contact him and send money for more books for kids? Or did you want to take a sabatical and go and help others learn to be librarians and change the world for kids!

We came early to attend the preconferences. I went to “Who said, “Management Can’t be Fun?” Pam and Gail were inspirational and amusing with an example of management being a circus with a tent held up by the poles of communication, accountability, staff development, empowerment and influence. They also warned us that we would always face a few of the worlds clowns! The good news was that if we followed their advice we too could have a positive impact - but it doesn’t always work as one skit drove home rather graphically. Lunch was hosted by EBSCO - it was awesome and the information given was terrific - NoveList Plus has readers advisory for non-fiction as well as fiction!
EBSCO databases are getting a whole new look so check them out at the exhibits if you missed their presentation.

If your day was as busy as mine you’ll know why I am signing off to prepare for tomorrow.

As I linger with the people staying on a bit at the NMRT social who ordered dnner, I feel compelled to talk about food.

It is said that paying for food at a conference is simply criminal. The trick is to find out where and when all the big vendor and committee receptions are, and treat yourself to your own smorgasborg… no expense receipts to worry about, no group checks to fuss and bother over.

However, if you really like to scout out the local fare, and you don’t mind spending a little money, it’s nice to know where to look. You could go with the old standbys of say, Zagat’s or the restaurant section of Fodor’s. However, if you want the real skinny and the local dirt on good eats, and a fun way to avoid tourist trap restaurants, I would recommend Yelp.

For instance, this morning I wanted tea, and because I’m a tea freak, I wanted good tea. I whipped out my Blackberry, hit the Yelp site, and searched for “tea” in “Philadelphia, PA.” I spent all morning in a lovely tea shop called Tbar, far from the tourist traps, enjoying tea and free wifi.

Yelp is foodie (and everything else, really) social networking at it’s finest. While I was there, I wrote up a review on the Tbar’s Yelp listing, waxing poetic about how wonderful it was for future customers to read. You should consider posting your reviews of the different restaurants and other places you visit while at conference, or anywhere you travel, and especially your favorite hometown haunts.

So, if you’re looking for good tea, hit Tbar on South 12th Street, about a block and a half south of Market St. And be sure to have some fun on Yelp!