The spacious lobby and soaring three-story atrium provide a sense of openness inviting guests to explore and view the environment from many vantage points, including the glass-walled stairway leading to the second- and third-floor balconies, which provide numerous opportunities to sit and compose or converse in small groups.

The Registration Table will open at 3 pm on Friday, April 30. An afternoon audience-participation program will be held under the theme, Favorite Poems Written by Other Poets. For this activity, members are asked to bring books or other printed copies of poems by other authors that they would like to share.

The official opening is scheduled for 7 pm, with anecdotes of the past to challenge the historians among us, followed naturally by the ever-popular read-arounds. Convention Chair Marjorie Voigt has her eye on a lovely spot on the third floor above the lobby, where there is plenty of room, a variety of types of seating, pleasant lighting, and an open atmosphere.

Saturday will begin with Meet the Authors in the book room, with sessions across the hall in one of the large ballroom salons, while upstairs a day-long Youth Poetry Festival will be underway.

The Poets’ Luncheon will be held in the 3-story Atrium of the Lobby, concluded with a program of piano music by Dr. Henry Sheng. Further sessions will be presented in the afternoon and evening, followed, of course, by a read-around.

The Annual Board Meeting will open the Sunday program, followed by a morning seminar. Winners in the Adult Contest will be presented beginning at 1 pm, and the Golden Pegasus Banquet will begin at 7 pm. Dr. Timothy Steele, poet and professor, will be the guest speaker. Truly committed participants will no doubt stay for one more session of read-arounds. In past years this informal session has sometimes been known to run into the wee hours.

Among those slated to present during the weekend are Dr. Jack Fulbeck, Ursula Gibson, Elaine Lazzeroni, Everett Ruess, Marie Searles, AnnaMae Johnson Terrell, and Keith Van Vliet.

Poets are encouraged to bring copies of their recent publications and place them for sale in the book room. Anyone needing a space reserved in the book room needs to contact Convention Chair Marjorie Voigt in advance to make the appropriate arrangements.

Check-in at the hotel is 3:00 pm; check-out is 12:00 noon. Each guestroom in the hotel is equipped with "The Room That Works" desk, remote control TV, two-line phones with speaker phone, voice mail and multiple data ports for high-speed internet access.

Other amenities include complimentary onsite parking; airport shuttle; refrigerator; complimentary in-room coffee; iron and ironing board; hairdryer; bathrobe, and fireplaces in some rooms.

The hotel offers a wide range of facilities & services, including an on-site restaurant; Pacific Express Deli; room service; coffee shop; cocktail lounge; laundry valet; child care services; concierge services; full-service health club; gift shop/newsstand; full business center including PC, printer and secretarial services; and a safe deposit box at the front desk.

Nearby restaurants & lounges: D Street Bar & Grill (American) open for dinner; Marie Callendar (American) open for breakfast, lunch, dinner; Pacific Grille (American) open for breakfast, lunch, dinner; Rosa's (Italian) open for lunch, dinner. Other restaurants are within easy driving distance.