Mid afternoon update
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Live from the DNC
My super hot & cool pal, Miss Tammy B, scored me some internet time at the Copley Plaza Hotel so I could file a report with a real computer, not just my celly. Thanks to the folks here, Pascal & Ann for being so accommodating.

More on the retail situation. Of all the shops I walked into, I was the only non-employee. Most of the stores in the mall were completely empty - and this at lunch time on a Wednesday.

A high end retail fashion store in Copley Place says that this week is not what they expected. It's much slower than last week. One of the women there had delayed her vacation in order to help out - only to find it's dead in the mall.

At one of the gourmet chocolate shops, the two employees said that it's "Much worse than expected. Very quiet." They're "usually slammed on rainy days - but today, nothing." There's no one left in the businesses around the mall to come in, they say. Everyone's gone.

At Watch World, the salesman said that things are "slow," and that people "are staying away from the mall." It was busy last week, but this week, nothing.

As for the restaurants in the Copley Square area, business is way down. They were expecting a big influx of customers from the delegations and other conventioneers in town, but it's been very disappointing. At one major seafood restaurant, where reservations are normally a must, you can walk in at any time of the day or night & get seated instantly. On Tuesday night, they only sold 15 dinners - that's not even an hour's worth of orders on a regular night.

At the Park Plaza Hotel, things are hoppin'! Frank Gallagher and Nilma Cannard, concierges at the Park Plaza, say the hotel is sold out until Friday - when over 2,000 guests will be checking out. When asked about the impact of the convention on thier jobs, Frank replied, "Boston Park Plaza, it's employees treat all guests and visitors as VIP's to our city. It's an honor to welcome the huge amount of delgates and DNC guests to this birthplace of freedom. They've posed some pleasant challenges and we're rewarded in assisting them. We'd be happy to host another convention in the future."

When asked about the differences of this group of guests, Nilma said that on a normal night, 50% of the reguests to her desk would be for dinner reservations, but now, that's only 5% - most every request is now for "Credentials, credentials, credentials. Everyone wants to get into the convention." They're also handling an increased number of requests for shipping & receiving of packages. She added, that the delegates, "are a nice group of people - patient and understanding. Often they stand in line for 20 minutes to get help. And, the line never ends."

Down the way a bit, one unnamed concierge had a different take - "They don't tip, they don't say thank you, they all think they're very important."

More later. I've had lunch & Tammy bought me a latte, sweetie that she is. Off to the con. I'll post more pics from the Copley stores in a few.