The Welcome Banner from the Visitors Bureau

More SIGCSE 2009 Events Since Early Registration Deadline

If the last time you looked at the SIGCSE 2009 events was when you did early registration (and thank you for that!), you may have missed some additional activities to participate in.

Sun and Pearson are teaming up for a Pre-Symposium Event on Wednesday on Java Technology. They'll be presenting new curriculum that's part of the Sun Academic Advantage Program. See http://www.cs.arizona.edu/groups/sigcse09/presymposium.html for updates on this and all pre-symposium activities.

The Alice 3 workshop (#16) was overwhelmingly popular -- the wait list was large enough to fill another workshop. Wanda Dann and Steve Cooper have kindly agreed to offer a second Alice 3 workshop on Saturday evening from 6-9 pm. You can register for Workshop #37 on the SIGCSE 2009 Registration Website.

Chattanooga picked as a Top 5 break destination on a budget

The Atlanta paper, Atlanta Journal Constitution, has just picked Chattanooga as its number one pick for a Spring break destination on a budget.

Read more at http://www.ajc.com/travel/content/travel/otherdestinations/us_stories/2009/02/22/spring_break_southeast_cheap.html

SIGCSE coverage in Chattanooga paper!

http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_145016.asp

Menu for the Reception

Food and drink at the reception will be scattered throughout the two buildings. Each person will get ONE drink ticket, which is good for a single beer or wine, or two soft drinks. (Your bartender will tear your ticket in half, so that you can use the other half to get your second soft drink.) You may purchase additional drinks at any bar, which are located near the food.

In the main lobby of River Journey

Baby Black Bean Burgers

Provencal White Bean Soup Shots

Tenderloin of Beef Canapes

Samosas (beef and vegetarian)

By the Seahorses in River Journey

Carved: Pork Tenderloin-mini rolls, blackberry marmalade, grain mustard

Baby Steak and Mushroom Kabobs

Roasted Turkey-cranberry mustard, red pepper aioli

Twice Baked Baby Potatoes

Fresh Vegetable Display-spinach dip, hummus

Top of Escalator in River Journey

Fried Green Tomato Canapes -local corn relish and goat cheese

Little Grits Bites with Onion and Mushroom Ragout

Black Eye Pea Cakes, Collard Green Pesto

Pecan Crusted Chicken Tenders-honey drizzle

Fresh Seasonal Fruit Display

"Rivers of the World" in River Journey

Peel and Eat Shrimp

Baby Crab Cake

Grilled Fresh Salmon; capers, onion, baguettes

Marinated Crab Claws

Smoked Trout Canapes

Lobster and Artichoke Dip

Mezzanine Level in Ocean Journey

Spicy Thai Noodles-served in baby Chinese togo boxes with chopsticks

Assorted garnishes and sauces

Chicken Satay Plates-peanut sauce and marinated cucumbers

Vietnamese Pork Meatballs, Currant Sauce

Vegetarian Spring Rolls

Assorted Sushi Rolls-some vegan

Butterfly Area in Ocean Journey

An Assortment of housemade “bites” of dessert including crème brulee, toffee brownies, chocolate cups with peanut butter mousse, dipped berries, lemon squares, tea cakes and more

Locally Roasted Stone Cup Coffee Station

How to Find the Tennessee Aquarium

The SIGCSE 2009 reception will be at the Tennessee Aquarium, an amazing two building aquarium with both wonderful fish and other animals from both fresh and salt water.

The reception begins at 7 pm and lasts until 10 pm. You have three choices on how to get there.

MOST IMPORTANT: You MUST wear your badge to enter the Aquarium and Reception!

• We will have four buses on a continuous loop from Carter Street, in front of the Conference Center and Marriott. They will start at 7 pm and run until 11 pm. On the return trip from the Aquarium after 8:30 pm, the buses will stop at the Sheraton, Marriott, and Chattanooga Choo-Choo so that attendees can get off right at their hotel.
  
  
• The Electric Shuttle that picks up on 11th Street next to the Marriott will have extra shuttles running during the times of the reception. Just pick one up and get off at the Aquarium.
  
  
• Your third option is simply to walk. It's less than a mile (around 15 minutes) to walk from the Conference Center down to the Tennessee Aquarium.

For those who choose to walk:

1. Walk out of the Conference Center or Marriott lobby and take a right on Carter Street. (You're at the blue marker at the bottom of the map on the right.)
   
2. At MLK Blvd., hang a right.
3. At Broad Street, hang a left. Keep walking until you reach the Aquarium. (Indicated by the orange marker at the top of the map on the right.)

All three sets of directions (bus, Electric Shuttle, or walking) take you to the same place.









The building on the left (green arrow) is River's Journey, a five story freshwater aquarium. The building on the right (red arrow, obscured by trees) is Ocean's Journey, a three story saltwater aquarium. The spot where this picture is taken is approximately where you will be dropped off by the buses, and where you will pick up the buses to return

To enter the aquarium for the receptions, walk between the two buildings. You will reach a plaza where you will have a choice.


















You can enter River's Journey to the left through the Member's Entrance.


Or you can cross back over the bridge and go to the Member's Entrance in Ocean's Journey.


You may go back and forth between the two buildings as much as you'd like. You may not carry any alcoholic beverage between the buildings, though. (Strangely enough, the bridge is state property, and you cannot have open alcohol on state property!)

Travel issues for International Visitors

Allison Young reports:

As of 12JAN09 it is mandatory that anyone travelling to or via the USA, as part of the Visa Waiver program, must apply for a travel authorisation online prior to departure. Please refer to the following website for more details http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/esta/"

It is for countries that have the visa waiver program which NZ does, I have copied the countries from the website.

Which countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program?

Andorra	France	Luxembourg	Singapore	Czech Republic
Austria	Germany	Monaco	Slovenia	Estonia
Australia	Iceland	Netherlands	Spain	Hungary
Belgium	Ireland	New Zealand	Sweden	Latvia
Brunei	Italy	Norway	Switzerland	Lithuania
Denmark	Japan	Portugal	United Kingdom	Slovakia
Finland	Liechtenstein	San Marino	Republic of Malta	South Korea

I have filled in the form and got a number which I assume I give to the immigration officer when I arrive in the US. It is also very important now to give the immigration people a street address so delegates will have to have the street address of the hotel they are staying at ready at immigration

Thanks, Alison!