52 replies to this topic

[Xenobia]

OK....you have all read the posts and threads that have clued you into the fun that is a Bond Collector's Weekend and now Spyfest.

Well, the first hints at the new BCW and Spyfest are now out and about, and here are some key details, courtesy of the master of the event, Matt Sherman:

Some awesome ideas have been forwarded to us for an event for next year. We are playing about with dates and locations for May & June next year for a SpyFest II and for the seventh annual Bond Collectors' Weekend (two separate events) and are exploring accommodations for group trips in California, Washington, DC and Key West. There also seems to be interest in places like Huntsville, Alabama, the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and Houston, Texas to wed to a Live and Let Die/Moonraker/The Spy Who Loved Me rocket and space
theme weekend!

Keep those ideas coming. We are also helping to perform a market research survey regarding a *possible* James Bond Tour of Japan including Bond movie and novel sites:

Tour Highlights would include...

A 10 Day Trip limited to 30 guests

Dinner event with Akiko Wakabayashi & Raymond Benson

Visits to: You Only Live Twice film locations-- New Otani Hotel, Shinbashi & Ginza areas of Tokyo, see the Toyota 200GT from the film, Kobe seaport docks, Himeji Castle (ninja training center), Akime Village (the fishing village)

Visits to: The Man With the Red Tattoo locations-- Tsukiji Market (Tokyo), Shinjuku & Sinbuya areas, Sapporo & Sapporo Beer Garden, Noboribetsu & baths (w/ Hell Valley), Bear Farm, Naoshima Island & Benesse House

Price is land only with air travel extra (but at a reduced fare), includes
hotel accommodations, daily breakfast, 3 lunches, 4 dinners, and all
transportation.

Price: $4,500

If you are interested in the Japanese trip, please PM me with an email addy you can be reached at, and I forward your contact info to Matt.

-- Xenobia

[zencat]

Looks like he's talking about two separate things here. A BCW/Spyfest in April or May (location yet to be determined), and a possible second event trip to Japan.

Both are every exciting... All those BCW locales sound like great choices and I would be happy with any of them. But I am a touch disappointed to hear of a second Spyfest at the same time as the BCW. Even though I LOVED BCW6 in Long Beach (and for reasons above and beyond Bond ), I sort of felt like Spyfest made it into a more typical convention and not the "Rolls Royce" that was BCW5 (San Francisco). But we'll see. Matt is a master showman.

As far as Japan goes. Sound like my kind of trip but, woof, that's a steep price tag, especially as I'd want to bring Athena. Two people, air fare, we're looking at over $10,000. Yikes! I'll need to sell another script to pull that one off comfortably.

[Xenobia]

I really thought he meant two separate events...BCW first, and then Spyfest. I also think Japan is very tentative at this point.

-- Xen

[Bryce (003)]

Tell me about it.

With Flicka, the Irish Kitty and possibly 004, Japan would be a $20,000 trip!

I replied to Matt's email with a note or two.

Zencat, we could/should contact Tiger. He did offer his hospitality when we were in Chicago.

Flicka and I are headed down to Paladin's B-Day for a visit. A BCW in DC would be kind of cool though.....although I'm all for Key West;)

I've got a few "friends in low places" in DC though. You never know.

We'll see.

[Xenobia]

I would love DC too...if they do it after the WWII memorial opens.

Again, I am just glad it ain't NYC...and Bryce and Zencat know why.

-- Xen

[Bryce (003)]

"Hello Barbara?....Yes...Well you know how John, Sherman and I hate to trouble you, but we've ran into a spot of bother.....The driver is dead...."

[Blofeld's Cat]

Originally posted by Bryce (003)
I've got a few "friends in low places" in DC though. You never know.

Are there any other type in DC?

[Bryce (003)]

More than you know BC.....

...and I'm not just speaking of the Gentlemen's Clubs.

*ahem*

[Xenobia]

*hands over cough drops*

Poor dear...maybe if you weren't falling on the floor laughing so much, you wouldn't catch a cold.



-- Xenobia

[Joyce Carrington]

Hmmm...

*checks bank account*

15 euro's? :eek:

Ouch.

*checks savings account*

1900 euro's.

Hmm.

Maybe I should get a job.

*checks agenda*

May/June? Ooh... exams.

Hmmm.

[rafterman]

I'd love to get to a Bond event, but man that Japan trip sounds so expensive...I'd think for that price you'd get an around the world Bond trip...

[Bondian]

PHEW!. You could probably hire all the Bond Actors to come to your place for that sort of money!.

All the best,

Cheers,


Ian

[mccartney007]

Matt Sherman has nothing to do with the Japan trip. He was just asked to find out if anyone would be interested in that sort of thing.

[Bryce (003)]

Hmmm....

It did seem a little out of place in his email.

Thanks for the heads up Sir Paul.

*bows*

[Athena007]

The Japan thing, wowzers I could plan a cheeper trip than that (I think that plan is no good).

I say let's get the most Bond for the least buck. And from what I've heard from numerous BCW attenders Spyfest is not the way to go. I'd like to see what a real BCW is like.

[zencat]

Originally posted by mccartney007
Matt Sherman has nothing to do with the Japan trip.  He was just asked to find out if anyone would be interested in that sort of thing.

Oh, my mistake.

I would be interested in a trip like that, but not at the price. $2500 + airfare might be more like it. But I understand that may be impossible in a country as expensive as Japan.

[Blofeld's Cat]

Originally posted by rafterman
I'd love to get to a Bond event, but man that Japan trip sounds so expensive...I'd think for that price you'd get an around the world Bond trip...

Not too much of a worry for you Paul, being next door, so to speak. "Lucky bloody you," as Algenon in Never Say Never Again tells Bond.

[Loomis]

Originally posted by zencat

I would be interested in a trip like that, but not at the price. $2500 + airfare might be more like it. But I understand that may be impossible in a country as expensive as Japan.  

Japan is by no means a bargain basement destination, but neither is it anything like as shockingly expensive as is often supposed. In fact, I think it's quite a bit cheaper for the traveller than the UK.

Sure, if you want the height of luxury in Tokyo it'll set you back a huge amount (as it will anywhere), but you could, I reckon, enjoy a week or so of Bond-related sightseeing in and around Tokyo and come away having spent quite a bit less than you would have done having had the same sort of holiday in London.

Eating out is way cheaper, as are alcohol (except for things like non-Japanese beer, which is pricey, but, hey, who'd want to drink non-Japanese beer in Japan?), cigarettes (if memory serves, a packet of fags in Japan is less than half the price of a packet of fags in England), and even hotel rooms. Oh, yes, and sorting out a Japan Rail Pass before you go is a must.

The message: Japan can be done. You just gotta believe (and shop around a little prior to your trip to find reasonable rates).

[Athena007]

Originally posted by Loomis
Eating out is way cheaper...

My best friend was in Japan for a few months... the cost of taking care of herself hardly took anything out of her bank account.

I think a Japan trip of the like should be saved for the individual to make the trip on their own time. It just seems like too big of a hassle and a chuck out of the wallet to be a completely enjoyable BCW-007

[zencat]

Well, he's not talking about having BCW007 in Japan. I think someone else is thinking about arranging this event, Matt is just floating the idea for him.

[Blofeld's Cat]

Originally posted by zencat
....BCW007....

That's a double mouthful.

[Athena007]

Originally posted by Blofeld's Cat
That's a double mouthful.

Double the pleasure

[Blofeld's Cat]

Originally posted by Athena007
Double the pleasure

Thanks for the validation, darling.

[Athena007]

Originally posted by Blofeld's Cat
Thanks for the validation, darling.

I do what I can

[Blofeld's Cat]

Maybe I should start my own BCW (Blofeld's Cat Weekend) and stage it in Bali.

Who'd want to come along?

[Athena007]

Originally posted by Blofeld's Cat
Maybe I should start my own BCW (Blofeld's Cat Weekend) and stage it in Bali. -- Who'd want to come along?

I'll come along only if you'll sit on my lap and purrr for me

[Bryce (003)]

"Where all other Bond Conventions end, this one begins"

Sorry, had to throw in my bit.

We'll see how it plays out. I'm still all for DC, NYC or Florida.

Dammit, Zencat and I want to travel! We've had it pretty easy for the last two in terms of locale (San Francisco and Long Beach).

Part of the BCW experience (as with any true Bond adventure) has always been the travel.

[Blofeld's Cat]

Originally posted by Athena007
I'll come along only if you'll sit on my lap and purrr for me

Well, I am a purrrrrsian cat, you know.

Bryce, being down this neck of the woods before?

[Bryce (003)]

Not recently.

Used to drop in occasionally - Shoot in and out.

Ask 004.

[Bondian]

Originally posted by Blofeld's Cat
Maybe I should start my own BCW (Blofeld's Cat Weekend) and stage it in Bali.

Who'd want to come along?

Hi BC,

You supply the grass skirt and I'll talk to Carol. *W*


Cheers,


Ian