Making the Most of Your Time Outside of SOLIDWORKS World 2018

As you know by now, SOLIDWORKS World 2018 is headed back to the Los Angeles Convention Center. Before you get a Phil Connors Groundhog Day feeling, I’m here to tell you this will not be your run-of-the-mill Hollywood sequel. I’m going to use my experiences from 2017 to help you have the best possible time at SWW18.

Here we’re not going to focus as much on the event, but here’s a plug anyway. SOLIDWORKS World is the largest gathering of SOLIDWORKS users on the planet. With more than 5,000 of your peers in attendance, you’re certain to make great connections. Further, #SWW18 features hundreds of technical sessions to help you learn new skills and get hands-on with the latest SOLIDWORKS tools. It probably goes without saying, but SOLIDWORKS World is a lot of fun. You can check out fun gadgets created by fellow SOLIDWORKS users in the Product Showcase while walking the expo hall during the evening reception (featuring plenty of beer). The crown jewel of fun at SWW18 will be the special event on Tuesday night. A party so special, they won’t even tell me what it is yet. If you haven’t registered, there’s still time to save. Here’s a quick recap of last year’s event to give you a taste of things to come:

With the ad out of the way let’s get down to the business of what to do when you’re not at the convention center – namely, sports and food.

LA Sports:

The Staples Center will have a much different vibe this year. While last year it was quiet as the venue prepared for the Grammys (can’t anyone win those?), this year the Clippers, the Lakers, and the Kings will all have home games during the week of SWW18. The Clippers welcome the Bulls on Saturday, February 3, and the Mavericks on Monday, February 5. The Lakers host the Suns on Tuesday, February 6, (but you’ll have more fun at the special event) and the Thunder on Thursday, February 8. Lastly, the Kings are home to Edmonton on Wednesday, February 7.

Spicy Chicken World 2018:

When you think of LA dining, you probably have thoughts of small plates and clean eating. Yes, you can get that, but right down the street from the LACC you’ll find Birdies: a fast, casual restaurant featuring fresh made donuts, great coffee, and free-range fried chicken. The donuts are amazing, but the Birdies spicy, a fried chicken breast sandwich with ghost pepper mayo, is something you won’t find at home. You walk around this conference center enough, you deserve to indulge. https://birdiesla.com/

If spicy happens to be your thing, then there’s actually another fried chicken dish you should try while you’re in LA courtesy of Howlin’ Ray’s. You might not think you’d be able to find Nashville chicken in Los Angeles. I know I didn’t. This isn’t just some knock off. Howlin’ Rays is legit and it boasts LA’s hottest chicken to prove it. I can personally attest that the Howlin’, a combination of hot peppers, including the scorpion, is indeed fiery. I recommend you avoid playing with fire and order yourself the hot style. If you’re in town on Saturday or Sunday, you can order the chicken and waffles, which sounds like the greatest breakfast ever. Ray’s is located in a plaza in Chinatown, just a short drive from downtown. https://www.howlinrays.com/