WHAT TO WEAR
Attire at the conference is business casual with comfortable clothing for the late-night Open Mic events. Please wear comfortable shoes. Also bring a sweater and a rain coat plus an umbrella as it can get chilly and blustery outside in San Francisco this time of year. (In fact, bring a sweater for indoors too as it might be chilly in some of the meeting rooms.)
WHAT TO BRING
Make sure you bring a pen and notebook for taking notes during the sessions, and business cards to share with agents, editors, and attendees.
Please bring your nonfiction proposal or as much of your manuscript as you’re ready to share. You can bring a sample chapter, synopsis, outline or even your entire manuscript. However, agents and editors don’t usually read an author’s work on the spot or at an interview, or take submissions home with them. But some might be willing to look at the first page of a proposal or novel. You will also have the chance to get feedback on your work from independent editors and perhaps other writers. And if an agent or editor gets excited enough about your work, he or she may want to read some of it immediately.
Presenters don’t give writers feedback on their work at conferences, but there are other opportunities to get feedback, and you can share your work with other attendees, and the independent editors, and perhaps start a critique group with others you meet at the conference.
WHAT TO EAT
San Francisco is foody heaven. Click here to download a guide to some of the city’s great local restaurants, prepared by Michael and Elizabeth–two experienced San Francisco foodies! Remember that breakfast, lunch and a cocktail reception with light hors d’oeuvres on Friday as well as a continental breakfast and lunch on Saturday and a sit-down breakfast on Sunday are provided to all attendees.
SPECIAL THINGS TO SEE AND DO
Stop by the Beat Museum on Broadway off Columbus. Check out this celebration of the Beat culture. Also visit the one-and-only City Lights Bookstore at Columbus and Broadway. And Cafe Puccini on Columbus off Vallejo is a wonderful place for coffee while listening to Mozart on the jukebox. Of course there is also Chinatown, North Beach, Coit Tower, the waterfront, and other places that help make San Francisco so special.
TRAVEL DIRECTIONS TO THE INTERCONTINENTAL MARK HOPKINS HOTEL
It’s never been easier to get to our conference. You can drive or take a bus, ferry, BART, cable car, or taxi. You can even combine several modes of transportation. If you have any questions or get lost, please call the Mark Hopkins Concierge at: 415-616-6908.
Driving:
From the Bay Bridge / Highway #80 / Oakland Airport
* Follow signs to San Francisco / Bay Bridge
* From the two right lanes on the bridge, take the first exit to Fremont Street
* Stay on Fremont Street until it crosses Market Street (three blocks)
* Fremont then turns into Front Street
* Go two blocks and turn left on California Street
* Continue eight blocks up the hill
* The InterContinental Mark Hopkins is located on the left side at California and Mason Streets
From San Francisco Airport / The Peninsula
* From 101 North into San Francisco, take the 9th Street exit
* Continue on 9th Street crossing Market Street
* Stay in the two right lanes
* After you cross Market Street, 9th Street turns into Larkin Street
* Continue 13 blocks on Larkin Street and turn right on California Street
* Continue five blocks
* The InterContinental Mark Hopkins is on the right side at Mason Street
From Golden Gate Bridge / Highway 101 / Napa / Sonoma
* Take the Golden Gate Bridge to the Lombard Street exit
* Follow Lombard Street approximately 14 blocks
* Turn right on Van Ness Street (still Highway #101)
* Continue ten blocks, turn left on Clay Street
* Continue six blocks, turn right on Taylor Street
* Continue two blocks and turn left on California Street
* The InterContinental Mark Hopkins is one block on the right side at Mason Street
By Airport Taxi
Taxis are available from the lower level of each terminal at SFO. Travel time is generally 30 minutes. Cost is around $50.00.
By Airport Bus
Shared-ride shuttle vans are available from the upper level of each terminal at SFO. Transportation time is generally 30 to 45 minutes. Cost is $10.00 to $12.00.
By BART
You have two choices. Either take BART to the Powell Street station and catch the Powell Street cable car up the hill to California Street. The hotel is located one block up the hill on the left at Mason Street. Or take BART to the Embarcadero station and catch the California Street cable car. Get off at Mason Street, the front entrance to the Mark.
All BART stations with parking facilities offer Extended Weekend parking, which allows BARTriders to park their vehicle from the start of train service on Friday to 2:00 am Monday (2:00 am Tuesday, since President’s Day is considered an official holiday by BART). BARTriders at stations where there is a daily fee requirement (currently Daly City and Colma stations) must pay the daily fee for Friday.
For schedules and station information, visit www.bart.gov. Prices vary, but for example a one-way ticket from the San Francisco International Airport to the Powell Street Station is $8.10.
By Cable Car
The hotel is accessible by both the California Street and Powell Street cable car lines. What a delightful way to travel to and from the InterContinental Mark Hopkins Hotel. The cable cars stop right outside the hotel’s front door. The cost of a single ride on a cable car is $5.00. Visit http://www.sfmuni.com/cms/mms/fares/fareinfo.htm#cable for further fare information.
By Bus
The nearest bus stop is on the 1 California line at Sacramento and Powell. From the stop, walk one block to California Street. Turn right and walk one block up the hill to Mason Street. Bus fare is $2.00 for adults, but there are many options. For further information about schedules and fares visit http://www.sfmuni.com.
By Ferry
From the Ferry Building, walk across the Embarcadero one block up to the foot of California Street at Embarcadero Center. Take the California Street Cable Car up the hill to Mason, the front entrance to the Mark.
PARKING OPTIONS
* The Mark Hopkins garage is $57.00 for overnight parking.
* The Masonic parking garage at California and Taylor streets has a maximum fee of $30 for each 24-hour period.
* Parking at Grace Cathedral on Taylor Street has an early bird rate of $11 if you enter between 6:30 and 10 am (11 am on Sunday) and are out by 6 pm. Otherwise their day rate is $27 for a 24-hour period.
* Crocker Parking on California between Taylor and Mason is $45 a day. The Sutter Stockton garage on Bush between Stockton Street and Grant Avenue charges $34.00 for Friday or Saturday from 7 am-6 pm. Sundays from 7 am-6 pm are a bargain at $8.00.
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