Multi-Group Meetings Week
Stata Center, MIT, Cambridge, MA USA
22-26 January 2007

Background

Due to the long gap between Technical Plenary meetings and at the request of chairs, W3C/MIT has made arrangements to provide rooms at the Stata Center for W3C groups to hold meetings from 22-26 January 2007 during MIT's winter break.

This week is an opportunity for Working Groups (WG) and Interest Groups (IG) to hold their face to face meetings in one place and have the opportunity to meet and liaise with participants from other groups on a much more limited basis.

The next full W3C Technical Plenary Meeting will happen from 4-10 November 2007 in conjunction with the W3C AC meeting on 6-8 November 2007 at the Cambridge Hyatt, in Cambridge, MA, USA

Participation

Space is very limited. We have access to several smaller conference rooms. Meeting rooms are located on different floors and in different towers of the Stata building. The building is on an automatic locking system so we encourage groups to meet between 9am and 5pm if possible.

For all meetings, participation and observation is subject to space and each group's policy. Please contact the WG or IG Chair for information about participation policy.

Consult the list of Working Group Chairs (Member-only).

Registration

All meeting participants are expected to register for each meeting they plan to attend as either a group participant or an observer (some groups may not permit observers).

ONLINE REGISTRATION is now CLOSED.

List of registrations by group for Chairs.

Schedule

Meeting rooms have been reserved to accommodate W3C face to face meetings. There will be no Technical Plenary day. Groups will be in charge of their own break and lunch food (see below for more information).

All rooms will be available from 9am to 5pm. There will be no official registration though blank badges will be available for each group. Info sheets with floorplans will also be available in the rooms and at the Information Center in the Gates Tower. Each group should take care of providing their exact daily agenda (start time, end time, break time) to their participants.

There will be a reception on Wednesday 24 January 20007 on the 4th floor R&D foyer area of the Stata Center from 5:30-8PM. The elevator doors to the 4th floor will be open from 5-8PM. . It should not be considered a full meal.

Related: W3C Events Calendar (Member-only)

Room Allocation and Schedule

Meeting Room Allocations:

See the link to CSAIL maps from the room numbers or a downloadable annotated PDF map for locations.

Key: In the first column, the first number underneath the room name indicates the number of chairs around the table in the room, the number in parentheses indicates the number of chairs around the perimeter of the room.In the following columns, the first number indicates the number of group registrants and the number in parentheses indicates the number of observer requests,.

off site:

Wednesday Joint meeting requests:

WAI joint
MWI DD/DI/UAWG?
VB/MMI joint AM

Venue - Stata Center, MIT, Cambridge, MA USA

Local organizers:

W3C/MIT

Meetings location:

Ray and Maria Stata Center, MIT
Gates and Dreyfoos Towers
32 Vassar Street
Cambridge, MA 02139

Meeting details:

• The Stata Center is a bit of a confusing building. There are two towers, the Gates and Dreyfood Tower. Meeting rooms are located on different floors and in different towers (see the maps linked at the room allocation table or download the pdf of annotated maps).

• The building is on an automatic locking system so we encourage groups to meet between 9am and 5pm. Doors to the elevator foyers will close at 5pm. Attendees will be able to get out of but not back into the building. The stairwells also lock at 5pm and the only unlocked door to any floor is on the first floor to the outside.

• W3C will provide rooms with network connectivity, LCD projector, screen and white boards. If your group will want to use a speakerphone, please let us know (and send a bridge request to <adminreq@w3.org>) by Friday 12 January.

• Groups will be on their own for all refreshments, meals, entertainment, etc. (we provide information to help with making those arrangements below).

• We received permission from CSAIL to use the conference rooms but unlike a hotel, there is no cleaning crew set aside for picking up the rooms at night so please be considerate and throw away all trash, food, etc. every night that might accumulate.

• There will be an IRC channel #MGM on the w3c server if to make plans, exchange notes, ask questions etc.

How to get to the Stata Center:

The MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory It is at the northeastern edge of the MIT campus on Vassar Street near the intersection with Main Street. The building we are in is known as the Stata Center and also MIT Building number 32.

http://www.csail.mit.edu/contact/contact.html

Our location on the MIT campus map :

Floorplans of the Stata Center are also available.

Options for Meals:

Groups will have to make their own arrangements for ordering and payment for any food. Below is information on food within and near the Stata Center.

Forbes Cafe:

The Forbes Cafe is located on the first floor of the Stata Center. The Cafe is 220-seat dining facility that serves continental breakfast and an extensive lunch menu with sandwiches made to order, pre-prepared sushi, hot meals and more. There is also a Starbucks coffee bar which serves light breakfast food and pastries.

The Cafe will be open from 7:30am - 5pm, Monday - Friday and is closed on weekends. Students and faculty will still use the Cafe, but because it's the January break it will be much less crowded.

The cafe does not accept credit cards but there is an ATM machine in the lobby of the Stata Center Gates tower near the information center (by the big question mark).

Restaurants and other options:

There are a number of restaurants within easy (depending on the weather) walking distance of the building: Cambridge Brewing Company, Tommy Doyle's Pub, Legal Seafood, Emma's Pizza, Royal East, Bertucci's, etc. .

For delivery, you may consult a list restaurants with delivery/menu information.

The Cambridge Center Food Court near the MIT Coop has Chinese food, Italian, sushi, sandwiches, salads, and many other options. The brave among you can try the famous MIT Trucks (located next to the East Lot parking lot).

After the meetings (nearby pubs and restaurants):

The R&D Pub is located in the center of the 4th floor of the Stata Center and is open to the public on Thursday and Friday from 4-10pm. They have a cash bar as well as snacks and appetizers.

Tommy Doyle's Pub is a classic Boston pub/restaurant located a few blocks from the Stata Center at 11 Hampshire Street at the 1 Kendall Square area.

Cambridge Brewing Company is located in Building 100 of the 1 Kendall Square area and offers a wide range of beers and casual food.

Flat Top Johnny's is also located in Building 200 in the 1 Kendall Square complex and while drinks and food are available, the real focus here is pool.

Boston and Cambridge have many other great restaurants and bars. Central Square which is within easy walking distance of the MIT area has several well known bars and Harvard Square which is only two T stops away on the Red Line is full of interesting places to eat and drink.

(Note: If anyone has suggestions for restaurants, meeting places, other sights to check out and would care to make something like the taxi wiki we've used for meeting in the past, or a combination of taxi/restaurant wiki I'd be very happy to link it here. Just let me know -- Amy)

Catering:

If you decide to order catering, here are some helpful tips:

1. Make sure to place your order at least three days before your meeting (this is a special reminder for those groups who have their meetings on the Monday). In order to avoid mistakes we recommend getting an email or fax confirmation of your order directly from the caterer.
2. You will need to have a credit card number to use from your company or the group sponsoring food for the meeting (if different).
3. You will need to give the address and room number. The address to the Stata Center is 32 Vassar Street. Depending on where your meeting is held it may be in the "G" (Gates) or "D" (Dreyfoss) tower. If there is no letter in front of your room number (eg: 261, 346, and 397) that means it's on a lower floor, before the towers divide. and should be adequate for the caterers to find you. Also, please give a room number only after 12 January when they have been confirmed.
4. You may give the main W3C/MIT phone number (617.253.2613) for the caterers in case they get lost delivering the food.
5. Remember to ask for paper supplies, utensiles, etc.
6. There is no food allowed in Classroom 124 or 144.

Caterers we often use:

• Rebecca's catering, Kendall Square
  617.494.6688

  Rebecca's Cafe offers breakfast food, snacks, sandwiches and hot lunches for a reasonable price

  A rough range of prices for simple orders would be:

  breakfast (coffee, tea, muffins): $5-$9/pp
  lunch (sandwiches, sodas, waters): $12-$16/pp
  PM break (coffee, sodas and cookies): $7-$10/pp

• Milk Street Cafe Milk Street, Boston
  617.542.3663

  Milk Street Cafe keeps a kosher kitchen and offer breakfast food, snacks, sandwiches and hot lunches for a slightly higher price

  A rough range of prices for simple orders would be:

  breakfast (coffee, tea, muffins): $6-$10/pp
  lunch (sandwiches, sodas, waters): $11-$17/pp
  PM break (coffee, sodas and cookies): $7-$8/pp

• Tech Catering
  617.253.2735
  techcatering@mit.edu

  Tech Catering is Stata Center's in-house caterer. They offer lower prices but don't have the same quality of food as Rebecca's or Milk Street.

  A rough range of prices for simple orders would be:

  breakfast (coffee, tea, muffins): $5-$8/pp
  lunch (sandwiches, sodas, waters): $9-$16/pp
  PM break (coffee, sodas and cookies): $3-$5/pp

• Bertucci's. Main Street, Kendall Square
  617-661-8356

  Bertucci's offers pizza, salads and hot food.

  A rough range of prices for simple orders would be:

  large pizza: $18
  hot food: $7-10/pp
  salads: $5-$7/pp

Please note: no food is allowed in the 124 and 144 classrooms. If your group meets in those rooms you'll need to make alternate arrangements for breaks/lunches.

For all other conference rooms, if you do have food delivered to the meeting room, unlike a hotel, there is no cleaning crew so please be considerate and bear in mind that the rooms do tend to attract mice if things are left out, so clean up any food or garbage at the end of the night.

Local Hotels

We will not have a room block at one particular hotel but can suggest hotels at which there are a few rooms set aside with an "MIT" rate. The rates are first-come-first serve and the number of rooms available at the rates cited below is limited. It's also possible that there might be internet deals available so it's worth checking online as well.

The Kendall Hotel

The Kendall Hotel
350 Main Street, Cambridge MA 02142
Telephone: 617-577-1300
Fax: 617-577-1377
TOLL FREE: 1-866-566-130

• The MIT rate is now SOLD OUT (it was : $165 +tax/night for 14-31 January (and $144+ tax/night for 1-13 January)
• Price includes full American breakfast and FREE high speed internet access both wired and wi-fi
• One king or queen bed
• two blocks from the Stata Center

Cambridge Center Residence Inn by Marriott

Cambridge Center Residence Inn by Marriott
6 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02139
Phone: 617-349-0700
Fax: 617-547-8504
Toll Free: 800-331-3131

• The discount MIT rate is $199+tax for 1-4 nights; $173 for 5-11 nights and $142 for 12-29 nights
• Includes Free high speed internet access in all rooms
• Free complimentary hot breakfast buffet daily
• Complimentary evening social hour Monday-Thursday
• Studio Suites [Single or Double Occupancy
• two and a half blocks from the Stata Center

Boston Marriott Cambridge

Boston Marriott Cambridge
Two Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-494-6600
Fax: 617-494-0036
Toll Free: 800-228-9290

• Ask for the MIT rate, $195+tax/night
• One King, Queen or Double beds [Single or Double occupancy
• right across the street from the Kendall/MIT T stop
• a few blocks from the Stata Center

Hotel @ MIT

Hotel @ MIT
20 Sidney Street, Cambridge MA 02139
Telephone: 617-577-0200
Fax: 617-494-8366
Toll Free: 800-222-8733

• Ask for the MIT rate -- $179+tax/night
• Free wireless internet service in lobby,Complimentary T-1 AND wireless access in all guest rooms
• Complimentary Business Center and additional Complimentary PC Workstations
• Complimentary town car service within Cambridge, weekday mornings
• Deluxe/Superior [Single or Double Occupancy]
• 3 or 4 (short) blocks from MIT

Royal Sonesta Hotel

Royal Sonesta Hotel
5 Cambridge Parkway, Cambridge MA 02142
(Across the street from the Galleria Mall)
Reservations: 617-806-4255
Fax: 617-806-4232
Toll Free: 1-800-Sonesta

• Ask for the MIT rate - $159+tax/nght
• Complimentary on-site fitness center
• Complimentary internet access
• Complimentary Shuttle to MIT

Hotel Marlowe

Hotel Marlowe
25 Edwin H. Land Boulevard, Cambridge MA 02141
(Adjacent to the Galleria Mall)
Reservations: 617-395-2539
Fax: 617-395-2540
Toll Free: 800-825-7040

• Ask for the MIT rate - $180+tax/night
• complimentary in-room high speed internet access
• complimentary morning coffee and tea service, evening wine hour
• usage of fitness center
• daily newspaper delivery
• morning shuttle to local offices

Hyatt Regency Cambridge

Hyatt Regency Cambridge
575 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02139
(Overlooking the Charles River)
Reservations: 617-492-1234 x4205
Fax: 617-491-6906
Toll Free: 800-233-1234

• Ask for the MIT rate -- $149+tax/night (use the MIT Corporate code 33395)
• Complimentary use of health club including indoor pool
• Complimentary Internet Access
• Complimentary shuttle to MIT

John Jefferies House

John Jefferies House
14 David G. Mugar Way, Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 617-367-1866
Fax: 617-742-0313
Email: info@johnjeffrieshouse.com

• Room rates are $139+ tax for a Standard Room
• A Complimentary American Continental Breakfast is included with all rates.
• Located across the bridge from MIT at the Charles/MGH Red Line stop

Transportation Details

Boston Logan International Airport is the closest international airport to the meeting site. The travel time between the airport and hotels in Cambridge will vary between 30 minutes to one hour depending on traffic conditions. Taxi from the airport are plentiful and fares will range between $18.00-$28.00.

The Stata Center is located a few blocks away from the MBTA Red line Kendall/MIT stop (directions). We strongly suggest that visitors use public transportation. Alternately, several of the the hotels provide shuttle service to MIT.

Parking

The MIT Parking and Transportation Office does not offer pay lots for visitors. They note: "Because the number of visitor parking spaces on campus is limited, it may not be possible to accommodate every visitor who wishes to park at MIT.... We strongly recommend using public transportation when visiting the MIT campus."

There is hourly on-street parking available around the Stata Center though Cambridge is a busy area and parking may be difficult to find, especially in inclement weather.

If you do want to drive to MIT for the meetings, pay lots near MIT include:

MIT Mass Ave and Vassar St. Lot
139 Massachusetts Ave.
617-258-6510
1 hour: $3; 2 hours: $6; 3 hours: $9; after 3 hours: $12

*You must make prior arrangements for parking in this lot by calling the number above and paying in advance. Arrangements are made through the MIT Parking and Transportation Office which is open Monday - Friday from 9am-5pm.*
This is an outdoor lot.

Network Park (formerly University Park)
Green and Sidney Streets
617-621-8023
1 hour: $6; 4 hours: $15; 12 hours: $18; 18-24 hours: $25

Payment with cash, MasterCard or Visa (but not Discover or American Express) is collected at the end. This is a covered garage.

Kinney System
Entrance on Ames St. or Broadway
617-225-0830
1 hour: $8; 1-3 hours: $15; over 3 hours to 24 hours: $20

Payment with cash, MasterCard, Visa or American Expres .is collected at the end. This is a covered garage.

Kinney System, North Garage
Binney St. off Broadway
617-225-0830
1 hour: $8; 3 hours: $15; over 3 hours to 24 hours: $20

Payment with cash, MasterCard, Visa or American Expres .is collected at the end. This is a covered garage.

Connectivity

• Network: A wireless connection will be provided in all the meeting rooms. Attendees should bring a 802.11b compliant (aka WiFi) wireless card. No wired connections will be available.
• Power: 110 V, 60Hz, US standard outlets. Power outlets will be provided in the meeting rooms.

Contacts

Local Host -

W3C/MIT

Since meeting rooms in the Stata Center are spread throughout the building, we'll use the W3C/MIT offices as the main point for questions, etc. If you want to get to the W3C offices take the elevator in the Gates Tower (near the big white question mark "?" sign at the information center on the first floor), go to the 5th floor and turn left.

You can call the main line at 617.253.2613 (though not all mobile phones work equally well in the building).

We will have an #MGM IRC channel available for questions, arrangements with other groups, etc.

Send questions and queries to w3t-tpregister@w3.org

Appendix: Group Responses

See the results of the request for information (W3C Member-only link) about participating group