Farewell to Bouchercon 2019

DEBORAH CROMBIE: As of noon today, another Bouchercon will be over. The end of Bouchercon is always a bit like the last day of summer camp. You've had a great time, made lots of memories, but you're sad because you know you won't see many friends for another year. It was especially hard to say goodbye to fellow REDs!!! It was so wonderful to all be together!

I hope everyone who came to Dallas enjoyed the conference as much as I did! Here are just a few of my highlights.

Bouchercon logo on the Hyatt fountain

Drop Dead Red

Debs GOH interview with Lucy

Lucy and Hallie vie for flatbread!

Lunch at Bolsa

My publisher's lovely luncheon for me

Anthony winners' covers

Downtown Dallas from North Italia

Huge thanks to the organizers for putting on a terrific conference, and to the Hyatt Regency Dallas for their hospitality!

Who's up for next year in Sacramento?!!

Miss You, Wish You Were Here

DEBORAH CROMBIE: It has been a big couple of days for the REDS at Bouchercon in Dallas! Wednesday night we got together for the Jungle Reds dinner that we had literally been planning for months. This was the first time that we had all seven been together at the same time!!

And it was the first time that Jenn and Julia had actually met in person! Can you believe that? Although of course they said they felt like they had know each other forever--which only seems natural, as we are all together every day on the blog. We had a terrific time, as you can see. (Sorry you got washed out with the flash, Julia.)

Yesterday was filled with interviews and signings and Bouchercon activities, and then--drumroll-- our reknowned Jungle Red game show. This year it was Who Wants to Be a Mystery-aire (we are nothing if not original!)

Here we are in our two competing teams: Rhys, Jenn, and Hank as the Tangerines; Hallie, Lucy, and Debs as the Greens; and Julia as moderator. Nikki Bonanni served as timekeeper, while Dru Ann Love and Gigi Sherrell Norwood kept score.

We had a full house!

And lots of participation from the audience, although I'm sorry to say that the Tangerines beat the Greens by a smidgen.

From there we went to our official Jungle Reds group photo shoot, which was great fun. The photographers were very patient with us--imagine getting seven women to agree on the most flattering shot... But we did (eventually) and then we had some fun posing with the ARC of Julia's upcoming book.

And after that it was off to the bar for very well-deserved drinks, especially as the official cocktail the Hyatt has created for Bouchercon is called Drop Dead Red.

It has been wonderful to put faces to so many of our readers, and, please, if you follow the blog and are here at Bouchercon, come up and say hi. We want to meet you! 

And those of you who are sharing long distance, well, we miss you!

Your Bouchercon Concierge

DEBORAH CROMBIE: Hi, ya'll, I'm Debs, and although Bouchercon 19 in Dallas doesn't officially begin until Thursday, I thought, it being my city, that I would give you a head start.

First, we've had what we call a Blue Norther, so if you haven't already packed, add some sweaters. It's cold, and will be raining through Thursday.

Second, the Hyatt Regency has great views and a huge bar, but it is offset from the rest of downtown so restaurants and other attractions outside the hotel are not easily walkable. Uber or Lyft are the best options, are very reasonable, and very available.

Now, for food! Here are some restaurant suggestions.

The Henry 
Near the Perot Museum, casual American eclectic, nice atmosphere.

Flora Street Cafe

Near the Dallas Museum of Art. Chef Stephen Pyles is a big name in Texas dining.

Savor Gastropub

  This is a gorgeous restaurant! (I would not call it a gastropub!) In Klyde Warren Park, across from the DMA and the Arts District, it's one of the highlights of eating downtown.

North Italia Near The Henry, casual Italian, gets good reviews, and not quite as expensive as some of the other options. 

Homewood For the foodies among us. New restaurant from our biggest star Dallas chef. Absolutely amazing food, but comfortable atmosphere. Just a bit north of downtown, should be just a few minutes Uber ride.

Wolfgang Puck Five-Sixty
Wolfgang Puck restaurant in Reunion Tower, next to the hotel. I haven't eaten here, but my daughter has and says it's very good. She also says if you want to see the view from the tower, you're better off having a drink in the bar than paying for the observation deck. (And it's cold. Did I mention that?)

Mesomaya Downtown Mexican food. I haven't eaten here but it's really well-reviewed.

The Woolworth

Fun bar and restaurant in the old Woolworth building. Good food, fabulous smoking tequila drink!

Here are More good suggestions from Eater.

 

  Also, anything in Bishop Arts (lots of suggestions in the Bon Appetit issue), West Village, Uptown, or Deep Ellum will be very doable by Uber from downtown.

Now, if you want to catch up with the REDS at the conference, here are our schedules, all in one convenient spot!

DEBS:

Thursday

9:30 GOH interview by Lucy Burdette

2:30 Jungle Reds game panel

7:00 Harper Limited Book Giveaway and signing,

Friday

9:30 MWA Table signing, 9:30

Saturday

9:30 Show Me the Evidence panel

1:00Three Goddesses panel, with Rhys Bowen and Caroline Todd

2:00-4:00 Librarian’s Tea (introducing the Royal Chef)

RHYS:

Wednesday

SinC into Great Writing workshop

Thursday

2:30 Thursday, Jungle Reds panel

Saturday

11:00 Moderator History panel

1:00 Goddesses chat  

Librarians Tea 2-4 Saturday

Presenter at Anthony Awards Saturday evening.

JENN:

Thursday

2:30  Jungle Reds Panel

HALLIE:

Thursday

11:00 Moderate WAYS TO KILL panel (Tori Eldridge, Tracey S. Phillips, Ingrid Thoft, Carl Vondereau, and SG Wong)

2:30 Jungle Reds game show panel

7:00 Book signing/limited givewaway for HarperCollins in Landmark D

Friday

9:30 Signing with Jungle Reds at the MWA table in the bookroom

Saturday 

7:00 Speed dating

1:00 Interview Elizabeth George

HANK:

Thursday

 8:00 Guest of Honor introductions, receiving GOH award

11:00 am  Interviewing James Patterson

2:30 Jungle Reds panel

3:30 signing

6:00 pm Opening Ceremonies

Friday

7:30 SINC breakfast

REDS signing? Is this when it is?

11:00 Emcee of the The Bill Crider Awards

2:00  Signing for Forge Books 

Saturday

 9:30 AM .  Hank's GOH interview-- Interviewed by Lisa Unger

10:30 signing

2:00 Librarians Tea  Opening speaker 

4:30 signing after the Tea

PM Anthony Awards

LUCY:

Thursday 

930: Interview Deb!

230: jungle red game show panel followed by signing

Friday 

7:30 sisters in crime breakfast

930: signing at the MWA booth in the book room

JULIA:

Thursday 

2:30 Jungle Reds panel

Friday  

9:30 MWA Table signing

And as a bonus, we thought it was a nice touch that the Hyatt has named their special conference cocktail

DROP DEAD RED

-Campari
-Vodka
-Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice
-House-made Simple Syrup
-Blanc de Blanc
-Luxardo Cherry Garnish

We hope to see all of you who are attending, and we'll do our best to share the fun with those who can't be here this year! 

Welcome to Dallas!!