Onsite Information

Attending RailsConf? Below are all the important onsite details about check-in, planning your time at the conference and having fun while in Portland.

CONFERENCE LOCATION

Oregon Convention Center
777 NE MLK Jr. Boulevard
Portland, Oregon 97232

The Oregon Convention Center is conveniently located within walking distance from the DoubleTree and Red Lion and is located right on the MAX "Red line".

GETTING TO THE OREGON CONVENTION CENTER

For affordable and convenient transportation from the Portland International Airport (PDX) to the Oregon Convention Center and conference hotels, hop aboard the Airport MAX light rail "Red Line". The Double Tree Hotel Lloyd Center (Lloyd Center MAX station), the Red Lion Portland Convention Center and the Oregon Convention Center (Convention Center MAX station) are located right on the MAX light rail line. For a minimal fee, (currently $1.95) MAX will transport guests from the Airport directly to the Hotels' doorsteps. Service runs every 15 minutes seven days a week between 4:30AM and 11:30PM.

REGISTRATION / CHECK-IN HOURS

Stop by RailsConf registration to pick up your badge, conference program, and other materials. Registration is located on the first floor of the Oregon Convention Center in the foyer outside Exhibit Hall D.

Registration Hours:
Thursday: 7:00AM – 5:00PM
Friday: 7:30AM – 5:30PM
Saturday: 8:00AM – 6:00PM
Sunday: 8:00AM - 4:00PM

SPEAKER LOUNGE

If you are speaking at RailsConf, please stop by the Speaker Lounge to collect your badge, get conference materials and check in with Shirley Bailes, Speaker Manager. The Speaker Lounge is located in room E147-148, first floor, Oregon Convention Center.

Speaker Lounge Hours:
Thursday: 7:00AM – 5:00PM
Friday: 7:30AM – 5:30PM
Saturday: 8:00AM – 6:00PM
Sunday: 8:00AM - 4:00PM

WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS

Wireless connectivity to the Internet will be available throughout the conference area of the Oregon Convention Center. Internet access in your hotel room is available through the hotels for an additional fee.

CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST / LUNCH

A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided for RailsConf attendees each day of the convention, in Exhibit Hall E on the first level of the convention center. Note: Meals on Thursday are available for tutorial attendees only.

Continental Breakfast Hours:
Thursday: 7:30AM - 8:30AM
Friday - Sunday: 8:00AM - 9:00AM

YOGA ON RAILS

Thursday - Sunday 7:00am - 7:45am
Each morning of the conference, a complimentary beginners yoga class will be offered in the OCC outside Exhibit Hall D (near the registration area). Programmers do a lot of sitting, so come refresh your body, mind, and spirit before you head into the day’s sessions. Yoga on Rails will be an easy beginners yoga session – so don’t be shy about coming out even if this will be your first yoga experience. All you need to do is wear comfortable clothes and bring a towel. Yoga on Rails will be taught by Kate Sanderson of Yoga Bhoga.

ONLINE PERSONAL SCHEDULER

New this year, we have an online personal scheduler to help you plan your time at RailsConf. Mark the tutorials, sessions, keynotes, and events you want to attend by clicking on the star next to each listing on the schedule page of the web site. Then click on "personal schedule" at the top of the page to generate your own customized schedule.

RATE THE SESSIONS YOU ATTEND

Give us your feedback about the sessions you attend by clicking on the "Evaluate this Session" link at the top of the online session description.

SPEAKER PRESENTATION FILES

Speaker presentation files are now available.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER SESSIONS

BoFs are informal conversations that you and other participants interested in the same projects and topics plan. See the pre-scheduled BoFs on the conference website or check out the BoF board onsite (in the registration area) to see the complete schedule or to sign-up to lead your own. BoFs are happening Thursday - Saturday in the convention center.

COMMUNITY PROJECT CODE DRIVE

Thursday 10:00am – 5:00pm
If you aren’t going to Thursdays tutorials, spend the day hacking with project leaders and like-minded developers. In the morning, project owners will pitch their projects and the work they hope to get done. For the rest of the day, groups will self-organize and write code to make it happen. If you have a project you'd like to work on collaboratively, if you need a bootstrapping session to get you started, or if you simply want to learn from collaborating with others, submit projects and check out those submitted on the Code Drive wiki page: www.railsconf.com/wiki. The code drive will take place in D135-136.

TAGS

Posting blogs and/or photos? Tag 'em with “RailsConf” and “RailsConf08”.

OFFICIAL WIKI

Visit the RailsConf Wiki to get the lowdown on who else is attending and where and what they'll be up to.

SEE, DO & EAT IN PORTLAND

Hopefully you'll have a chance to get out and see Portland while you're there. If you need suggestions on where to go and what to do, check out the RailsConf web site See & Do page for a list of Portland attractions, activities and restaurants.

GETTING AROUND PORTLAND

Portland's light rail system, the MAX, is an affordable and convenient way to get around the city. All the conference hotels as well as the Oregon Convention Center are within the MAX Fareless Square, where its free to ride, all day, every day. Fareless Square includes most of downtown Portland as well as MAX stations from the Rose Quarter to Lloyd Center and bus stops along NE Multnomah to 13th Avenue. Get a map and schedule of the MAX transport system .