Is SAS Global Forum all work and no fun?
Definitely not! You could go to Seattle and easily spend 24 hours a day soaking in all that great SAS knowledge and networking with your peers. Papers, demos, mixers and tweetups are all great, but don’t forget you’re in Seattle. Carve out an hour or two on the weekend or one evening and get out to see the city.

What makes you a special Seattle “tour guide?”
Though I’m now based in San Francisco, I grew up in Seattle! So I do know the place, and I wanted to share a few ideas for things to do. There are the obvious attractions: the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, and the Experience Music Project. Those are all great, and if you haven’t seen them, you should.

Got any off-beat recommendations?
If you’d like to take a closer look at a real Seattle neighborhood, let me introduce a friend of mine, the Fremont Troll. He lives in a fun neighborhood called Fremont, with eclectic shops, great affordable restaurants, and friendly pubs.

How do we get there?
From the Convention Center:
• Driving: it’s about 10 minutes from downtown. Street parking and pay lots are available in the Fremont neighborhood.
• Transit: Metro buses 5, 16, and 26 all go from downtown to this area

Keep walking through Fremont to another fun bit of art: Waiting for the Interurban, to see how people have decorated the sculptures this week. And there’s one more piece of public art that you may find dressed up for some occasion: Vladimir Lenin.

Sounds cool, but is that all there is?
There’s more! In between these art works, you’ll find great food (Thai, sushi, or pizza are all good bets). And for pubs, try a:
• Northwest favorite, McMenamins’ Dad Watson
• Great English pub (but not very "Seattle"): the George & Dragon
• Dive bar: The Buckaroo Tavern