PIUG 2012 Biotechnology Meeting

Competitive Intelligence - Meeting Current Challenges in Biotechnology

Networking While in Boston

Networks of people develop with time and energy, involving face-to-face interaction and qualitative, shared experience in-the-field and in-the-moment. These professional relationships go well beyond incidental acquaintanceship or e-chat rooms and can result in life-long professional opportunity.

Every February, we proudly participate in the PIUG Biotechnology Meeting, which brings together a tightly focused group of highly competent information professionals. Since 2007, the Boston Biotech “dinner gang” has periodically met at one among an ever increasing list of popular dinner venues to discuss during the evening various professional interests and culinary delights. These events provide a valuable yet relaxed forum for discussion of patent-related issues of immediate impact to our community of practice. Beliefs, learnings, and assumptions are vetted among enthusiastic industry colleagues, and truly the best among so many great Boston restaurants are sampled. Our intent is to develop exemplary networking opportunities consistent with the highest goals of PIUG. Whenever you plan to travel in eastern Massachusetts, know that you have an extended professional network at whose table you are always welcome.

Monday, February 6

Following the workshops on Monday, those who wish to network over dinner are encouraged to examine the following venues

... convenient to Hotel Commonwealth (500 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston):

• Eastern Standard, 528 Commonwealth Avenue (adjacent to the hotel)
• Petit Robert, 468 Commonwealth Ave (1 block east of the hotel)
• Elephant Walk, 900 Beacon Street (5 blocks west of the hotel)

... convenient to Compuworks (263 Summer Street, Boston):

• Papagayo, 283 Summer Street (same block, walk)
• Legal Test Kitchen, 225 Northern Avenue (long walk or cab)
• Del Frisco's, 250 Northern Avenue
• Legal Harborside, 270 Northern Avenue
• Les Zygomates, 129 South Street (long walk or cab; walk past South Station, turn left, go1 block and right onto Essex, go 1 block and left onto South Street)
• O Ya, 9 East Street (just around the corner from Les Zygomates)

Tuesday, February 7: Conference Networking Event

A networking dinner is scheduled for the evening of Tuesday, February 7, 2012, following the conference plenary sessions. If you plan to attend the conference and also will be in Boston throughout Tuesday evening. please consider attending the dinner.

We welcome our PIUG colleagues who are visiting Boston for the conference and, perhaps, for the first time. Local members attending this event should feel free to "adopt a visitor", so that all feel welcome in Boston. The dinner is "Dutch treat." Transportation options include taxicab (~$15 at rush hour) and mass transit ($2 1-way), or some combination of these. Driving is possible, although parking is challenging at best.

Due to logistical considerations that exist for a dinner group this large, please R.S.V.P. by 4:30pm ET, Friday, February 3, 2012. Contact Rick Williams and indicate number the of adults in your party (spouses and significant others are, of course, welcome). We cannot accept additions after the lunch break of the conference (Tuesday, 12:00pm), due to the anticipated size of our dinner group. Marliave is able to accommodate up to ~50 people upstairs.

 If traveling by T (recommended; allow ~30 minutes during rush hour)

... from the hotel:

• Depart from Kenmore Station, inbound. Take the Green "D Line - Government Center" to Park St Station.
• Exit to street (on the Boston Common).
• Walk up the hill on Tremont Street past Park Street Church 1 block to Bromfield Street and turn right onto Bromfield.
• Walk down the hill 1 block to Province Street and arrive at Marliave, on the left.
• Enter on Province Street.

... from Merck (33 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston):

• Return to the hotel and follow directions above, or...
  
• Depart from Longwood Medical Station, inbound. Take the Green ("E Line - Lechmere) to Park St Station.
• Exit to street (on the Boston Common).
• Walk up the hill on Tremont Street past Park Street Church 1 block to Bromfield Street and turn right onto Bromfield.
• Walk down the hill 1 block to Province Street and arrive at Marliave, on the left.
• Enter on Province Street.

Wednesday, February 8

Following the workshops on Wednesday, those who wish to network locally over dinner are encouraged to examine the venues listed above, especially for Monday evening.

Additional Networking Opportunities

In addition to the networking events mentioned above, opportunities of a less formal nature always exist. If you are unfamiliar with Boston but wish to arrange your own networking events Monday or Wednesday evening, please feel free to contact us. We are happy to assist in suggesting or arranging an appropriate venue.