Check out the sand sculpture MPI logo in front of the Olympic torch holder by the convention center– tres cool, isn’t it? The sculptors from Sandemons said they thought it’d be finished by early afternoon. Every time I’ve gone by there have been flocks of tourists who probably have no idea what MPI is gathered around taking pics and videos of it. Registration seemed to be going pretty smoothly so far, but it was fairly sparse, too. It’ll probably get crazy later on.

So weird to have a little spare time this afternoon before the opening reception — that never happens. Should I work? Nah, too nice a day for that! Maybe I’ll rent a bike and take a ride around Stanley Park, or go explore some of the interesting neighborhoods we saw yesterday. Have to do something to burn off some of the incredible food I’ve been scarfing down since I got here (seriously, deep-fried sourdough bread that had been soaked in egg overnight, topped with maple syrup, plus scrambled egg with Dungeness crab for breakfast at The Market restaurant at the Shangri La hotel. And I don’t usually even eat breakfast).

Not to dwell on the food around here, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the Japadog hot dog stand that I hear draws huge lines of locals at lunch time. Yup, Japanese-style hot dogs, complete with seaweed, that are amazingly delicious, according to our hosts here. I’m not a big sausage person, but if anyone at MPI WEC tries it, let me know if it lives up to its reputation.

(Disclosure: I received a comp registration for MPI WEC 2010)

One good thing about really long plane rides (like the one yesterday from Boston to Vancouver via San Francisco) is that I had a chance to really take some time with one of my favorite magazines, Wired. I don’t think the story is available online yet, but the cover feature was about what ever happened to all those things we thought would have happened by now but haven’t, like laser guns, supersonic airlines, personalized pharmaceuticals, and designer babies. (And, if you’re like cover boy Will Ferrell, edible fake beards, ray guns that bring mannequins to life, and birthday cakes with a burrito inside — it’s worth buying the issue just for those little snippets — I think I scared my seatmate by literally LOLing. A taste of the last one: [Having a burrito inside a birthday cake] “would solve the age-old problem of finishing off an entire birthday cake only to end up ordering out for burritos an hour later. Annoying, right? You know what I’m talking about?” Snort.)

Anyway, it got me to wondering what we thought conferences would look like in 2010, back in, say, 1980. What were the meetings industry version of flying cars, or robot butlers, or a weight-loss pill that worked? (All of which I was sure we’d have by now back when I was 20. The Internet though? Nope, not a clue.) At that point, I was one of those people who thought meetings just sort of magically happened and didn’t think about the future in meeting terms.

But if I had, I would have guessed we’d be able to beam from session to session, or at least have flying shoes that felt like clouds on our feet, or something that would ease the pain of trotting miles in uncomfortable shoes that comes with pretty much all big conventions. Full sensory surround-sound and 3D projection immersion experiences in the story of what a session is trying to get across, rather than just the jazzed up overhead projectors and slides that constitute today’s PowerPoints. Or even cooler, something like a Star Trek: Next Generation holodeck, where you can walk around and interact with a situation to learn by doing? But like I said, I wasn’t thinking about it back then.

Were you? If you were, what did you think we’d have by now that hasn’t materialized? Anyone want to hazard a guess for the future, say five years out? Ten?

Just got into town for MPI WEC last night around 5 pm local time, and already I have fallen just a wee bit in love with the place. Of course our hosts from Tourism Vancouver and the Vancouver Convention Centre are showing us a most excellent time on a pre-fam press trip, from swaying over the Capilano suspension bridge to an unbelievable dining experience last night atop the Grouse Mountain Resort (the trip back down the mountain on the tram, with a partial moon glowing over the city lights, was downright magical).

Then today we got to check out the Coast Coal Harbour Hotel (you would not believe how green the place is — built to be zero waste, and achieving it), and the Fairmont Pacific Rim (oh, oh, oh, I want to stay there some day, and if you ever get the chance to eat at Oru, grab it!). We also go to hob nob with the critters at the Vancouver Aquarium, including tossing gobs of raw fish to two of the cutest sea otters ever, gawking at the beluga whales, and cooing over the dolphins. Then we took a quick spin through the new Klahowya Village attraction in Stanley Park, which I have to get back to and experience more fully. Like the aquarium — can you imagine breakfasting with Beluga whales? — it of course can be rented for group functions, including First Nation cuisine and interaction with aboriginal artisans, crafts people, and cultural tour guides.

This afternoon we did a quick spin through some of the cool neighborhoods and shopping areas, from Chinatown (second largest in North America after San Francisco, they told us) to Granville Island (must return and shop extensively). There are so many interesting venues our hosts kept pointing out as available for group functions that I’m almost wondering if there’s anywhere in the city that wouldn’t be amenable to a group event.

The most striking thing about Vancouver, well OK, one of the many most striking, is its relentless stalking of the green. The new convention center — pardon me, centre — is LEED Platinum-certified, for goodness sakes. Even its roof is green, literally, with local grasses and other plants. The food is locally sourced and made from scratch, the bits that jut into the water are designed to accommodate and encourage the water flora and fauna to flourish. I heard tonight that the aim is to get not just the city but the entire province to a state of environmental neutrality by the end of the year. It may take a bit of offsetting, but my money’s on them making it.

To the environmentally friendly meeting evangelists among us, prepare for a major green geek-out. For the foodies, you’re in for a treat (like gelato made with honey from the bee hives that live on the centre’s roof!). For scenery lovers, well, you’ll see for yourself. And I hear the weather is supposed to the current warm-but-not-hot temperature, low humidity, and clear skies we enjoyed today. Granted, we’ll be in the convention centre most of the time, but it’s nice to be able to peer at that gorgeous weather through the enormous expanses of glass and experience it vicariously.

OK, I’ll stop going on and on, but just have to mention this, because I’ve not never seen it or even heard of it before. When we were touring the new convention centre building late this afternoon, a wedding party had taken over one of the upper levels, which had an outdoor terrace overlooking the harbor, for a reception. Bridesmaids and groomsmen beaming and toasting. In a convention center. Really.

(Disclosure: I was attending a press pre-fam trip hosted by Tourism Vancouver, the Vancouver Convention Centre, and MPI)