Soulriders, THE GATHERING!

[odin]

Toronto and you could definitely count me in.  You'd want to do March at the earliest, though.  April would get you much better weather.

Ski slopes is optimistic.  It's really flat around Toronto.  If you want to ski and are looking at Canada, Montreal is a much better bet... it's also much further from just about everyone, though.

But there is *tons* to do in Toronto even without skiing.  Casa Loma (I believe it's the only real -- ie not built for novelty castle in English-speaking North America).  Queen and Yonge streets are great.  It has a Chinatown that's about 5x cooler than Chicago's *plus* another heavily Asian area up in Markham containing Pacific Mall.  There's Wonderland (theme park) if we want to do that, and Toronto Island.  Professional baseball, hockey, and basketball.  CN Tower, of course.  Priceline often has rooms at the Chelsea for $90-100/night, and that is a *NICE* hotel in an ideal location.

Much as I like the UK idea, if I'm going to the UK next year, it won't be to hang around with you guys, awesome though you all are. :-)

Chicago, I could do as well.  It's the exact same travel time as Toronto for Ricey, grey, and myself, and it's a fun city.  But again, I wouldn't do it in Feb just because of weather.  March is even pushing it a bit.  We might also lose grey on that one since we haven't pestered him enough yet to get a passport. :-P

[Carthrat]

If it's anywhere exotic I would consider it. Not the US or Canada, though, which likely shuts out most people.

[Carthrat]

(exotic, e.g. Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Israel...)

[Dracos]

Change of plans:

Vote for every location you'd like to go to.  One with the most popularity will get the nod.  

And yeah, I second rat that somewhere exotic would be fun, but I think that counts most folks out.

[Carthrat]

If I need to pay thousands of dollars to go see some people I know only by name, they should, too!

[Dracos]

Hah :)  Again, I at least don't mind.  But I think aside from yourself, cor, me, and odin, most don't have the money to do that at whimsy. 

[Ragnar]

Of the listed places (come back to the east coast you bastards ;_;) Chicago works best for me, followed by Toronto. I could probably get relatively cheap plane tickets for Chicago. It looks like Toronto is doable by Amtrack from where I am, but I'd have to be at the station at 3 AM apparently.

[Dracos]

It looks like Chicago and Toronto are currently leading.

[Iron Dragoon]

I still say Dallas, but Toronto would be okay. It won't cut into my tax-evasion time, either.

[Ginrai]

I'd go with Chicago if we meet up sometime in April. That way it'll be possible to see a Cubs game while there.

Otherwise, how about Boston?

[KLSymph]

I can make Chicago, and maybe-possibly Houston.

[Merc]

Anywhere I can drive to easily works for me, so Texas (Austin/Dallas/Houston) pretty much for me.

No budget for anywhere else now that I'm going back to school and still jobless.

If I can get a part-time job, I'd go for Chicago or Toronto, but that's about the only way.

[Dracos]

Okay,

Chicago - Philip, KLSymph, Ragnar, Odin, 007.

Toronto - Philip, Odin, Grey, Ragnar, Iron Dragoon, DY.

Our top runners.  I will do a recount of the above posts real quick, but please state below if you're able to make either place, that's what the above list is for.  I know, this doesn't really help with the texan crew, but it seems like the north east again is again the more concentrated spot.

And if chicago is to be there, I'm looking for an organizer/helper.  Someone who knows the area and has some starter ideas.  Odin has already stepped up for Toronto so if we go with that I'll tap him pretty quick to get us a starter itinerary of fun.  It looks to have a bit of a lead all of a sudden, but I'm also interested in us having a good time out there :)

[Iron Dragoon]

Toronto.

[DY]

I'm for Toronto.