Did I hear someone say, "Cheap Parking"?

[giza]

Just to remind folks there are some VERY affordable places to park for this year's Anthrocon.

At 11th & Smallman, there is an outdoor parking lot with 450 spaces. The cost is $7.00 per day.

At 15th & Smallman, there is a gigantic lot with 1500 spaces, plus room for larger vehicles, such as buses, RVs, and even trucks! Their daily rate for cars if $5.00 per day, with a higher fee for busses, RVs, and trucks.

Here is a satellite view that shows the parking lots relative to The Westin Hotel and the Convention Center:



There is even MORE parking space to the NorthEast of that picture. A fully scrollable map is available on on Google Maps.


In addition to these two lots, there are several others available. For the complete list and additional details, please visit our parking page at: http://www.anthrocon.org/parking

Comments

Parking if you're staying at the Westin

[wildw0lf.livejournal.com]

Hi Giza,

I thought parking was free at the Westin if you were staying at the Westin. Is this not the case?

-WildWolf

Re: Parking if you're staying at the Westin

[wildw0lf.livejournal.com]

Nevermind, I read your parking page, which you so kindly posted, and got my answer :)

Thanks,

-WildWolf

Re: Parking if you're staying at the Westin

[wildw0lf.livejournal.com]

Classic RTFM case

[sirfox.livejournal.com]

does the no in-and-out priveledges policy apply to hotel guests for self-park, or just for non-guests? Since it's a flat $10 a day fee, i would *think* it'd be in and out often as you like, but i'm not sure.

[giza.livejournal.com]

> does the no in-and-out priveledges policy apply to hotel guests for self-park

Correct. The ONLY parking that we know of that offers in-and-out privs is valet parking.

However, our location is downtown this year, so there are plenty of places within walking distance.

Okay, what does the no In/Out policy mean?

[wildw0lf.livejournal.com]

So hypothetically speaking...

I'm staying at the Westin for the duration of the con.

I want to take my car out during my stay to go drive, eat somewhere, view the city, whatever?

Does this mean that I am not allowed to take my car out of its parked space until after I leave the hotel on the last day of the con?

-WildWolf

Re: Okay, what does the no In/Out policy mean?

[giza.livejournal.com]

No, it means you may take your car out at any time. You pay what's owed and you leave the garage. But when you get back, the clock "starts over".

So, by way of example, if I leave my car in the garage all day while you take your car out after 12 hours for 1 hour and then return for the rest of the day, you'll have to pay 2 days' worth of parking costs. One for the period before you took your car out, and one for the period after you returned it.

Re: Okay, what does the no In/Out policy mean?

[wildw0lf.livejournal.com]

Thanks Giza,

Well, I might as well pay for the Valet parking which is all of a whopping $2 more/day. Hell, when you're paying $100+ for a hotel room, what's another couple dollars? Even if I don't take my car out, at least it may not get dinged up. And if I did take my car out, even once, it would have practically paid for itself.

So is there anything I need to do to sign up for the Valet parking prior to getting there, or when I get to the hotel, do I just ask for it then?

I live in Western Mass, so it's going to be ~8 hours drive.

What goes on Thursday? Setup and stuff?

I'm expecting to be at the hotel ~12pm more or less. Please let me know if there's anything you'll need help with, and I'll also look around and find out what needs doing when I get there.

Take care,

-WildWolf

Re: Okay, what does the no In/Out policy mean?

[giza.livejournal.com]

Er, no. If you're staying at the Westin, parking is only $10/day.

Re: Okay, what does the no In/Out policy mean?

[giza.livejournal.com]

> What goes on Thursday? Setup and stuff?

Lots. See http://www.anthrocon.org/volunteer for information on what's done when, and what we'll need help with.

Re: Okay, what does the no In/Out policy mean?

[wildw0lf.livejournal.com]

Okay. I'll fill out the PDF form and bring it with me if it saves you a headache.

Pennsylvania Avenue?

[swift-fox.livejournal.com]

Giza,

Regarding the webpage listing directions, All the street signs in the city for Pennsylvania Avenue say Penn Avenue. In fact everyone calls it Penn Avenue here in "Da Burgh."

Adding to the correction of your "directions from the east" the interchange at 11th street often get's backed up. It might be more advisible to have guests turn left at the signal onto 7th Ave, go to the next light and make a left onto, Wm Penn Place. Go through the next light and the hotel is on the right. (This is similar to the directions for people coming in from the north on I-279S/I-579S)

Another note, for folks coming in from the north...there's a two way stop sign right at the bottom of the 7th Ave exit off of I-576S. Take your turn and stay in the right hand lane.

As for walking distances...A Pittsburgh City Block is about half the size of a normal city block. From the Westin or the Omni a ten minute walk in any of three directions, north, south or west, will put you at one of the rivers, Allegheny to the North, Monogahelia to the South and Ohio to the West. A ten minute walk up Penn Avenue will place you in the heart of Pittsburgh's Strip District, the cities fresh and ethinic food market place.

(Note: Against my better judgement I will mention for folks NOT to wear ears and tails to Primanti Brothers.)

I'll conclude by saying...your way into Pittsburgh will likely NOT be your way home from Pittsburgh. Pittburgh is a pizza slice of land wedged in a valley between two rivers and at the head of a third. The civil engineers who designed the road systems upon existing road systems did the best job they could given the topography. Please plan your routes home accordingly.

*Hugs*

Swift Fox

Re: Pennsylvania Avenue?

[wildw0lf.livejournal.com]

Oh man, I was waiting for another Darth Vader/Devil pun there :) On the other paw, I do have (thank god) a GPS system which hopefully will guide me in and out of the city.

[screwball420.livejournal.com]

Is that a chocolate river? :)

[giza.livejournal.com]

Only when it's flooded and the water turns brown. o.O

[thefoxes.livejournal.com]

Thanks for all the info. We're still going to park at the hotel though. Too much stuff to transport through the streets. Are you going to park at the hotel or at one of the cheaper lots?

and are you going to rent a car to get there again? :3

[giza.livejournal.com]

Neither. I'm riding out in the equipment truck!