CU’17 Survival Kit
Holy smokes! You’re going to Create Upstate this year!
So now what?
Each year, we put together a “survival kit” because heck, we want you to get the most out of your time at Create Upstate. Why this dissertation? Some of us like to plan a bit more than others. And hey, Ithaca might be a new frontier for more than a few of us, too.
Before CU
What to do
Review our Code of Conduct
Above all, we want to make sure everyone feels safe and respected at CU. Please, take a few moments to read our expectations in our Code of Conduct.
Sign Up for Cropped Tournament (Presented by MyFonts)
We’re on the hunt for a few more teams to throw their hat in the Cropped ring this year. And boy, do we have some awesome prizes, including Wacom tablets, Adobe CC subscriptions, Mohawk Field Notes, books by Michael Bierut and Andy J. Miller, Ugmonk prints… You’re coming to the Kickoff Party. You’ll be at the After Party. Go home with the title of Cropped Champions!
Sign Up for Office Hours with Cap Watkins!
Talk about an incredible opportunity: Cap is open for Office Hours Thursday afternoon. He has 6 half-hour slots open. Get feedback and advice from a guy whose worked on (and ran) some big-time and big-name design teams.
What to Bring
ID
Might need it to verify your Event Pass in the case of a mix up, or to purchase a round of adult beverages with your newfound friends.
Spending Cash
The Street Fair is calling and you must go.
Transportation for Saturday
We’d love if you joined us for Satur-Yay. Getting around Ithaca is going to take four wheels and some friends. If you’re able to provide a car for poolin’, you’ll be everyone’s hero.
What Not to Bring
Printed Ticket
Save some paper; we have other ways of verifying your Event Pass.
Getting to & Staying in Ithaca
We wrote up some helpful tips re: Ithaca logistics. Whether by Hotel or AirBnb, Ithaca has some great options for lodging.
At CU
Schedule
We highly recommend taking another look at the schedule. The big picture stuff: Thursday is Upstate Discussions and the Kickoff Party. Friday is the State Theatre, Street Fair, and After Party. Saturday is Satur-Yay.
Map
Parking
If you’re not keeping your vehicle at a hotel, your best bets for parking are the Green Street Garage, the 301 Cayuga Street Garage or the Seneca Street Garage. They’re all well within walking distance.
Registration
We’ll have our Registration table set up Thursday from 11:30–4 at Upstate Discussions and all day Friday at the State Theatre. That’s your chance to check in and grab a swag bag. If your first CU activity is the Kickoff Party, make sure you still stop by the Registration table Friday morning to collect your badge and swag.
Good news: everyone gets a t-shirt! They’re awesome, too. However, we had to order them a while back, so it’s possible we’ll run out or don’t have enough of your size. If you have any t-shirt related problems, tell our Registration volunteers. We’ll make sure to send you a shirt in the mail after CU’17.
Food
We’ll hook you up with a more-than-adequate amount of caffeine, snacks, and creative culinary creations during your stint:
Thursday
- Upstate Discussions: Caffeine & Snacks (thanks Ithaca Coffee!)
- Dinner is on your own
- Kickoff Party: Beer, wine & light fare
Friday
- Registration, AM & PM Breaks: Caffeine & Snacks
- Lunch: Food Trucks! The Good Truck, Silo, On The Street Pitas
- After Party: Drinks & light fare
Saturday
- On your own, but we’ll be brunching at the Ithaca Farmers Market!
If the food trucks cannot accommodate any dietary restrictions you have, we’d be more than happy to reimburse your lunch elsewhere. Let us know!
Tips
Wear your badge
Your badge is your entry in to all facets of our events, including the parties. More importantly, some vendor tables, local shop discounts, maker stations, and food trucks are only available to CU attendees, so wear your badge proudly at all times!
Coffee with Creatives
AIGA Upstate New York is hosting a meetup at Waffle Frolic at 7AM on Friday morning for those of us who couldn’t sleep the night before because we were far too excited. Register to let them know how many are coming.
Keep an eye on the weather
It’s Upstate New York, after all. Let’s hope the cooler temps and rain inhabit Northern Pennsylvania instead. If they don’t, we’ll still try to get you outside on Friday so pack accordingly!
BONUS: Take Advantage of Local Promotions!
Downtown Ithaca could not be more excited that we’re about to take over next week. Many businesses have opened up their doors to our attendees and are offering some discounts and opportunities. Have these places on your radar!
Contact Info
If you need anything, you can get a hold of us at info@createupstate.com. When you’re in Ithaca, track down our volunteers, who will be wearing red t-shirts.
So, hey. We’ll see you in a week!
