OPS MANUAL · CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASS
TAB · FIELD MANUAL
Day 1 in the Penn District
Hour by hour. Optimized for foot traffic, coffee cadence, and the moment you realize your afternoon has vanished into a hallway conversation with someone you can't remember meeting.
- 07:30Coffee at Moynihan Train Hall. Not the queued-up cart on 33rd.
- 08:45Badge pickup at Penn 1. Aim for the desk to the right; the left has the line.
- 09:00Opening keynote at Great Minds. Sit stage-left, closer to power outlets.
- 10:30Coffee refill. Skip vendor lounge coffee — it's brand-activation coffee.
- 11:00Choose one panel. Do NOT panel-hop, you'll lose 20 min per switch.
- 12:30Lunch: Chelsea Market via A/C/E to 14th, walk back. Or the hot bar in Penn Plaza.
- 14:00Afternoon peak. Battery check. Charge at the Insights Stage side room.
- 16:00The 'must-attend' will run 8 min over. Leave at Q3 to catch the next one.
- 18:30Coat check at Manhattan Center. Get in line NOW, not after the drinks.
- 20:00Rooftop or the 9th venue. Uber surge; take the 1 or walk.
LOADOUT
Your kit
Portable battery
≥ 20,000 mAh. Two cables. One for you, one for a favor.
Comfortable shoes
You'll walk 4–7 miles/day. Penn to Chelsea is a mile.
Layers
Overcooled ballrooms, overheated hallways, October wind on 8th Ave.
A physical business card
Yes, still. Give it, don't get it.
Water bottle
The Javits fountains work. Nowhere else does.
Bandages
For blisters and for arguments.
Cash
For the coat check tip you'll regret not tipping.