BERLIN: Status Update
We're on the ground in Berlin since yesterday, and things are coming together; the attendees are also coming around. Here's a few tidbits from the epicenter –
Weather
We had great weather all day today, with a bit of a shower for a couple of hours – and now the sun is back. It looks unlikely that we will have actual rain during the event, but it's possible that we'll have a bit of drizzle for an hour in the morning of Wednesday and in the afternoon of Thursday. We're keeping the sides on the tents, but we'll keep them open.
Relay Race's route
We've pinpointed the route for the Wednesday's Relay Race – a quiet place with zero traffic, and a 100-meter bridge as the starting and finishing point. The Tiergarten Park didn't work out as it's got cobblestones and sand and dust on the paths, which will not be kind to the runners.
Tomorrow we're going to get the 'batons' for the race, at the Computerspielemuseum – whatever plush toys they carry (my money's on them carrying at least one option from Minecraft).
🔥 1 room at KPM available
Because of the last-minute emergency, one of the attendees is no longer able to come and thus we have a room available at KPM Hotel & Residences from June 1 through June 6. If you would like to grab it, please email Alma ASAP – she'll connect you with the KPM's booking manager.
Playroom at KPM
If you're one of the 172 people staying at KPM, take note of the Playroom on Floor 4. It has a table tennis table, and a pretty great football table.
It's right across the main elevator when you get to floor 4; you'll need a room key to access it; also has a balcony (with an ashtray).
KPM's breakfast area now has outdoor space
It may not be obvious when you get into the breakfast area at KPM, but if you walk all the way in, toward the corner on the right, you can access the outdoor space shown on the photo above. It's good when the main space is full of people, or if you want to enjoy the fresh air.
The breakfast at KPM is from 06:30 Monday through Friday. The breakfast at the Summit is from 08:00 on Wednesday and Thursday.
Porto 2015
2015 is the year of the first edition of the Summit, and Porto is the city where we head with the next edition of the conference. To highlight this connection, we've brought in a case of porto, from several different makers – but all in 2015 vintage.
This case of port (as well as a double magnum from 2015, which we still need to extract from its wooden crate) will be offered to all of you during the Garden Dinner on Wednesday.
Voting ballots updated
Because 2 panels swapped their places after the ballots were already in print, you will see 2 stickers on them – it is as intended, and brings them up to date on the actual agenda. Please vote, and drop them into the box, at the end of the day – or whenever you leave the presentation area.
Another change: this year, instead of heart stickers, we've got the wolf on day one; and the bear on day two.
Bags, badges, IDs
The attendee bags are now ready, and the red plastic ID badges have your names on them. The registration desk opens at 16:00 on Tuesday in the courtyard of KPM.
Piano + guitar at KPM's Rooftop Space
For the informal 'Dinks on the Roof' gathering on Monday at KPM's Rooftop Space, we're moving up both the Roland piano and the Taylor guitar there. No pressure to make a show out of it, but if at some point someone feels like playing – the instruments will be next to a large TV screen not too far away from the penthouse studio's bar.
This morning, by the way, half of Berlin was walking around in Metallica t-shirts, because yesterday the band was playing at the Olympiastadion – for an audience of 95.000. Summit XI's 360 attendees are but a drop of water compared to that sea of people.
See some of you tomorrow, and the rest – later in the week!
– S|CO –
