2013 IPMS convention is.....

Coming from Michigan. Looking forward to a great road trip and even greater Nats convention. I'm sure the folks from the great state of Colorado will do a FINE job as our hosts. Can't wait to get there.

An informational tidbit: Everyone who has plans to attend this show needs to be aware that although the show will happen in Loveland, CO, the hosting club is actually out of Colorado Springs. The clubs closest to the location of the show (including ours) pretty much have little idea what is going on.  Please make sure you are directing your questions or complaints to the correct outfit.

  On another note, folks, if you intend to partake of any outdoor activities in Colorado while you are here, please PLEASE be prepared. Even in August, inclement weather can be a real concern and weather in the mountains can change in minutes:

       www.9news.com/.../Body-found-near-Bear-Lake-in-Rocky-Mountain-National-Park-believed-to-be-missing-Texas-man-

Edit: turns out the guy in the link above was actually a suicide, but my advice still stands.

There are a few places I can think of. The closest to the event would be Nordy's, which is pretty good BBQ. There is also the Bonefish Grille off Hwy 34, but it's a little more spendy. I think there is a Spicy Pickle near the Bonefish too. On the west side of I-25  there are a few fast food options and I think there's a Cracker Barrel there too. If you go farther west into Loveland proper, you can find other options, but I can't think of any offhand as I don't get down there much.

   If you are a foodie and REALLY want to submerse yourself in dining options, I would recommend coming north to Fort Collins. There is a ton of good eats here, everything from Japanese steakhouse to high end steakhouse to Middle Eastern to Asian fusion to good old truck stop comfort food.  There are also tons of pub options. Coopersmith's has great fish & chips. The Crown Pub is a traditional British pub. Snooze (not a pub) is a breakfast joint that has good chow and a nice little patio out front to eat on. I know of a gal who runs a website called www.feastingfortcollins.com. She's a food reviewer. On the right side of the website is a drop-down menu where you can find her reviews on pretty much everything in town. You should be able to get a pretty good idea from that.

   So far as I know, I'm the only northern Colorado guy on the forums here. I don't know anything about what's going on with the show, but if it's food and beer and outdoorsy stuff , hit me up. I can probably help.

--Chris

Where would be some good places to go out to eat in Loveland while we're out there covering the show?

Colorado is emerging I suppose bit by bit politically on the scene. We have lots of folks that build for the sake of having fun and learning something new. I think the older rivet counters are still there as a Legacy component to the whole modelling matrix but they do not weave all of us together.

I can only speak for myself but we come from all disciplines and walks of life with old War horses, accomplished craftsmen and women and a very savy cadre of modellers that create as well as assemble.

I am pretty sure the talents of the combined folks in Colorado represent a very rich group in terms of talent and with a great deal of depth as well. Going from a figure model, to paper model or a ship or automobile is not uncommon. No one is locked into one genre here.

We have two good hobby stores in Colorado Springs and One in Denver that I am aware of, but then there are the railroad stores,etc, that still fill the need. I can already tell it will be one heck of a party with a good crowd so I hope everyone will attend that can, I certainly will try. 

Cool. Seems there are so few Colorado guys on here. Always nice to meet another one. 

Yes I am.

Fallanger, are you a club member down there?

I have observed how this will evolve over some time now and its going to be great, with the crew working on it, clearly wanting to "raise the bar" from previous IPMS conventions.

Colorado IPMS members, accustomed to taking home trophies and awards will do their best and add another chapter to a proud tradition.

I look forward to it, even as a fly on a wall for this one.

Just keep a couple of open bottles of lacquer and paint thinner around! ha ha

Ken

I think since they enacted stricter regulations the infamous "Greeley stench" has all but disappeared. Or I've lived there so long I've gotten used to it. I'd be more worried about the gangs.

Ah yes, the eau de Greeley. Fond memories, those ... not. Rocky Mountain Oysters, yes. Monfort Foods, no.

That's a short ride up from my humble Abode.  Loveland's a nice place though lets hope the meat processing and rendering plant down the road at Greeley takes some time off during the event.  That funk has a way of wafting all over Loveland and Fort Collins.  I remember it well from my college days at CSU

I for one and looking forward to the Loveland show. I am not able to attend the Orlando convention this year. They're about the same distance away from my home in Central Arkansas.

Yes, if you do any camping in the mountains, bear spray can be useful.  Also keep your campsite clear of all food stuff.  The bears will break into a car, or house for a snack.

And to clarify, the site is near the city of Loveland, not the ski area, which although nice at 11,000 ft elevation, doesn't have a convention site.  I only mention this because I had at least one person tell me that the ski area was his impression of where it was to be held.

Doug

Can' wait to explore that Rocky Mountain area.   I'll have my models, mountain bike, hiking boots, and bear repellant ready

Those located in the Mid-Atlantic area tend to draw the largest crowds...eg: Richmond, VA... 

waynec

yes we will. just got in from omaha. will get caught up with work, finish some projects and figure out what to build that is too big to take on the airplane to orlando.

I know that Ordlando is a mecca for conventions probably because of all the things one can do in that area.  Yet I cannot help wonder if the IPMS convention will loose attendance next year due its locations being out of "drivable" reach.   Myself and a couple other folks I've spoken to about next year's conventions will not be attending for that very reason. Flying is just too expensive.

I would like to know from anyone in the know if past centrally-located IPMS conversions had bigger turnouts in comparison to east or west coast venues.

Wow... reading over this I believe I just answered my own question.  The east and west coasts have a larger populations than most drivable central locations.  I'll post this anyway.  I am still curious.

jschlechty

Where is 2012 going to be?

 

Edit - oops, I see it now - Orlando. Please disregard!

Where is 2012 going to be?

Thanks Doug.

As part of the Colorado National Convention Committee (CNCC), I can tell you that we are ecstatic with IPMS USA's decision to let us host the 2013 Convention in Loveland, CO.

The floorplan is identical to Omaha and we've got lots planned. Don't worry - we'll be reaching out to all of the Front Range chapters for help with this one!

Rob

Iwata Padawan

yes we will. just got in from omaha. will get caught up with work, finish some projects and figure out what to build that is too big to take on the airplane to orlando.