The folks at Popular Woodworking just announced they will have two Woodworking in America conferences in 2012: Cincinatti, OH and Pasadena, CA. Read more here. Initially I thought this would be a tough choice for me since I can bet most of my woodworking buds would be hitting the Cincinatti show. But Pasadena is just too good to pass up. Not only is it driving distance (I hate flying!), but it is also the home of the Gamble house. Not to mention, other Greene & Greene and Maloof destinations are nearby. What I’m thinking is perhaps we can schedule a special group tour of the Gamble House or maybe we can even put together a tour of several notable woodworking locations in the area. Sounds like a killer way to spend a few days!
So if you’re going, I’m curious which location you prefer. And if you are planning on Pasadena, hopefully I’ll see ya there!
It’s a no-brainer for me – CA is much easier for me to get to from Sydney than the mid-west. I just need to save up the airfares….
If I can get away from the 3 small kids and wife for a couple nights, I’m up for either location as its a flight either way. Wherever more folks are headed and more interesting activities. We’ll see if I can pull it off ;)
I am totally in for a group tour of all those great places. My wife and Hayden will likely go too, if I can figure out some kid friendly activities. Disneyland is 40 miles away. Will Nicole and Mateo be coming? Does Mateo want a crush on my 4 year-old?
Great ! 30 min from the house! See you then
Pasadena that is……
O-H!
I’m a Michigan fan, so I can’t finish that. See you in Cinci!
I-O!
Pasadena! Nice driving distance for me. I may be able to sneek out for a few days.
CA all the way. I’m with you, driving distance trumps all…well that and the thought of hitting up some serious woodworking shrines.
I think it’s great news! Cali is much more doable for me than Cincy and I’ve always wanted to tour the Maloof museum. It’d be silly not to, being that close to it. In a perfect world, I’d go to both but that’s not likely this year. I’d really like to meet the east coast woodworkers I’ve been talking to for so long, but maybe that’ll have to wait another year…
Ditto! I was just about to decide not to go when the announcement came out that its in California! Excellent!
Unfortunately, I think Cinci is the more likely option for me… relatively quick drive from Memphis TN to Louisville KY for a visit with family (and I can drop off my wife & dog with my mother) then off to a guilt-free woodworking weekend.
On the other hand, I wouldn’t mind spending my bday in CA.
Since I can walk to the Gamble House a Pasadena group will be great.
My decision will boil down to package price. I know I’ll meet new people and see those I’ve already met either way. The group tours would be very cool, too!
Maybe I can actually make it.
Pasadena – 5 hours of flying. Cinci – day and a half of travel each way. Nuff said. Yeah me.
My wife’s from the Pasadena area (Sierra Madre) and since were only a few hours away, we’ll be there. Put the Huntington Library on the tour list—some great G&G pieces there. Any chance they’ll put us up in the Blacker House?
Well, seeing that I’m 3 miles from the Gamble House, I’m saying OMG I’m in heaven!!!!!
I hope this turns into a CA landslide instead of a west coast split. I’m excited it’s so close and would love to tour the Gamble House. I, however, would be sad if we end up dividing the online community between the two shows. The best part about last year was getting to meet everyone face to face.
If it happens for me it will have to be Cincinnati. Drivable makes it the place I pick.
Pasadena is afew hrs from me!
I live on the west coast with relatives along the route in Portland so CA is the likely one for me.
Hoping I can make it to Pasadena!
The Ohio location is about an hour drive for me, so most likely I will be going to the Ohio show.
Pasadena works for me I have family there.
I guess being only an 1 1/2 hrs from Cinci, I must take advantage of being so close and attend the show. Last couple years I was not been able to attend. I have never been before.
And I’m only an 1 1/2 hours from “Marc Adams school of woodworking”. What is wrong with me?? Having all this so close and taking it for granted..
I plan on going to the Pasadena for the show and would be fun to tour with you and others. Was planing going back east but this is much closer. I live up in Northern California so not far at all.
Just checked flight costs. Definitely going to Pasadena.
yippeee!
Pasadena
Cinci for me. Wisconsinite and all. As much as I would love to go to CA for the first time, see the gamble house, be able to experience a new location for WIA…there is no way I will be able to convince my wife and two kids that I’m going without them to Pasadena, CA….for woodworking. And no, flying out there as a family is out. WAY to much money for this household to swallow. It’ll be great at either location. I hope to hear a full report from the CA version of WIA.
Pasadena is a definate possibility. The only thing that would guarentee me going would be Marc teaching a class. How about it Marc.
Well you can’t just invite yourself to teach at such an esteemed event, lol. Not to mention, I want to play…not work. :)
I’m planning on Pasadena. I was hoping Pop Wood would be setting up some tours/events. If you set something up, I’m in.
Mike
If I go it will be in the midwest given my location. I just wish they would do it earlier in the fall out here while the baseball season was still going on. Would love to double up a trip to see a Red’s game and the conference. Now I just need to decide what is a better use of “wood working education funds”, WWIA conference ticket or year long guild membership?
hehe…I’ll keep quiet. :)
I’ve been waiting for the right moment to tour the Gamble House –
this is it.
Count me in.
rob
And for anyone who lives nearby,
be sure to check out Sam Maloof exhibit at the Huntington.
http://huntington.org/huntingt.....px?id=9454
But hurry, it ends Jan 30.
rob
Pasadena! Embarrassed to say I grew up miles away from both Gamble house and Maloof estate and never been to either.
30 min from Pasadena! I plan on being there…
Wish I could make Cali but I live in Michigan so it’s Cinci or bust for me! I am jealous – talk about West coast treasure. I hope folks post pics if you do make the Gamble House &/or the Sam Maloof residence. How cool they are doing 2 locations this year!
Pasadena it is, an the group idea sound like a awesome plan.
Puts me in driving distance. Plus integrating a visit to the Gamble House, Green&Green plus Maloof is a great idea! I have to bring this up to our local guild – San Diego Fine Woodworkers.
Will be Pasadena for me as I am up the road and over a few mountains from Pasadena. Too bad Amtrak doesn’t get one near Pasadena. I am sure a Pasadena show will attract some good folk that haven’t been making the midwest shows, however, I have serious misgivings about splitting up our gang…I mean associates.
The other negative in my mind, is vendor burnout. I wonder how many small toolmakers will have trouble doing both shows. Or if they do, will their enthusiasm be as strong for the second show in less than a month.
Looking forward to seeing some friends from prior shows and meeting some for the first time. Actually not sure if I’ll do the sessions. In 2011 I was not in mood to sit through sessions. But definitely want to hang with Marc’s friends and maybe engage in some credit card abuse.
good points Tom. I wonder if like attendees, some tool-makers will
simply pick the closest show.
Bummed I’ll be missing meeting up with so many attending the west coast edition. Hoping we can still get a good gathering in Cinci.
I am between the two and won’t be able to go to either. Now instead of missing WIA I will miss TWO WIAs. Maybe someday. Sure would love to be touring all those wonderful WWing sites with everyone. Especially would love to see Sam Maloof’s place.
Don’t forget the Getty is near by. I will be there, for sure!
Finally in my back yard, I?m there 40 minutes from the house,
Ho! This is So Cal traffic make it 2 hours I?m there.
Wont be able to make it unfortunately,
bring it over here to Ireland and i’ll definitely go :D
I went to Ohio last year for WWIA but Pasadena is great. glad to see that us left coasters will finally get a good wood conferrence and show. It is worth going to.
YES! Pasadena it is! Only 50 min from my house. Any word on when they are doing reservations for this? I’m ready to get my hotel and ticket already!
This will be my first WWIA or for that matter woodworking show of any kind and I’m stoked to be hitting it with Marc and company. I’m fairly new at woodworking and doing all I can to learn all I can. I just finished a week long class at William Ng’s School of Fine Woodworking, I’m new member of the guild and now this opportunity to hang with the gang and spend some cash to build my shop. I wouldn’t miss it for the world and I would love to visit the Gamble House but I’m there for any location we decide on. See ya then!
Pasadena for me, much closer than Cincinatti.
I would love to see the Gamble House and maybe Maloof’s as well.
Made it to the WIA last year and had a great time. This might even top it!
I’m also relatively close to Pasadena (30min), so there’s my vote.
Marc, if you need someone local to help organize tours with various places let me know; I’d be glad to help.
Only a few hours flying away I’ll come from Brussels (Belgium) to Pasadena. Could somebody put me up for a couple of days? (michael.vrijsen@gmail.com)
Maloof hose is just up the street from our house and is well worth a visit.