Thursday night's opening reception at the Portland Art Museum: Mingle with other AAN-types while sipping Widmers, wine or 360 Vodka and munching on light hors d'oeuvres in the museum's outdoor sculpture garden. The big Rembrandt show is just a few steps away.

Friday's rooftop reception at Wieden + Kennedy: One of the world's top ad agencies will entertain conventioneers with Motown music and a transcendant view of the Pearl District, and AAN and Willamette Week will provide the drinks and light hors d'oeuvres.

Saturday’s "Dinner in the Sky" at Oregon Health & Science University's Kohler Pavillion: Take a streetcar to the Portland Aerial Tram, where a private car awaits convention delegates. During the three-minute ride that climbs 500 feet, you'll have birds' eye views of downtown Portland, the Willamette River and Mt. Hood. Up on top, you'll find a salmon dinner, with drinks and dessert.

Continue ReadingThe Big Evening Events: Booze! Food! Need We Say More?

Megan Wennberg was named winner of the Greg Clark Award by the Canadian Journalism Foundation on Wednesday night. The award is "designed to offer working journalists a chance to gain insight and meet key decision-makers on their beats." Wennberg will spend some time with newsmakers in Iqaluit, Nunavut, where "she will gain insight into understanding the daily realities in Canada's north and be better equipped to tell stories" about that community.

Continue ReadingThe Coast Writer Wins Canadian Journalism Award

Even the best-laid plans occasionally need tweaking, which is why AAN is using Twitter to send updates to convention attendees. (Wait, what's Twitter? You can read more about it at web.aan.org/twitter). We'll use it to send short text messages to mobile devices to remind folks about events or last-minute changes.
Just text "Follow Altweeklies" to 40404, and follow the instructions, or check our step-by-step pictorial on our community blog at Portland2007.AAN.org/twitter_help. If you already have a Twitter account, just add your mobile information to your account to receive updates. If you’d prefer to see the updates online only, you can check out our page, Twitter.com/AltWeeklies.

Continue ReadingSign Up For Twitter For Late-Breaking Convention News

AAN knows a few conference attendees get a little anxious when separated from their papers. Are your writers meeting deadline? Did the cover image turn out the way you wanted? Are your ad reps making their numbers this week? Fear not, nervous nelly: DesertNet has channeled the power of the internet so you can check in with your staff whenever the urge hits. The Tucson-based web developers are sponsoring free wifi in the Hilton meeting rooms, and for those who like a little privacy with their email, the Hilton provides complementary hi-speed lines in each guest room.

Continue ReadingWhile in Portland, DesertNet Will Help You Stay Connected

Yesterday, the Dallas City Council agreed in principle to ban news boxes in a few neighborhoods and will vote on a measure June 20, the Dallas Morning News reports. The council would replace freestanding boxes with standardized modular units that hold up to eight publications each. In order to get placement in the communal racks, publications "would enter a city-sponsored lottery weighted toward daily publications and those with an established downtown presence," according to the Morning News. Dallas mayor and former Dallas Observer columnist Laura Miller supports the measure. "We've worked with the publishers on this for more than a year," she says. "We've talked it to death. It's time to do this."

Continue ReadingCiting ‘Visual Blight,’ Dallas Moves to Ban News Boxes in Parts of City

Toyota's hybrid Prius is already a common sight in commuter heavy places like D.C. and L.A., but have you gotten to drive one yet? Toyota and a number of its hybrid, alternative fuel and future technology experts will be available to answer questions during the convention. Green and environmental reporters take note: The company's interactive exhibit will feature a full array of current model Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive vehicles -- the­ Prius, Camry and Highlander -- that can be taken for a test ride or drive. To sign up for the hybrid ride and drive experience, talk to the reps staffing the Toyota booth in the trade show.

Continue ReadingConfront Your Prius Envy