Rocky Mountain High Jinks News

March 5, 2025

We are looking forward to seeing you all in about a week! Here are some last minute notes:

The Altitude

For those of you coming from sea level, remember this is the Mile-High City, and oxygen is in shorter supply than you are used to. Walking and talking at the same time can be a challenge until you acclimatize, especially when climbing a flight of stairs or hill. If you feel short of breath, and/or get a headache, sit down and rest and read a book. There should be plenty of those around! Drink plenty of water and take care when drinking alcohol, which makes it harder to adjust to the altitude.
 

The Weather

The one thing guaranteed about Spring weather in Denver is that it is changeable! Bring a coat for outdoor explorations and check your favorite weather app as you pack. Temperature inside the hotel can also fluctuate and you will more than likely be too hot in some rooms and too cold in others. Wear layers!
 

Out and About

We hope you have a wonderful time at the convention, and also exploring outside the hotel. The mile-long pedestrian-friendly 16th Street Mall is right outside the hotel. Larimer Square, a picturesque city block of restaurants and shops, is only a couple of blocks away.

Here are a few suggestions for you to consider from the locals.
  • Ultreia (inside Union Station 0.5 mi from the hotel)- Spanish/Portugese known for their cocktails (their gin list is amazing) and tapas.
  • Jinya Ramen Bar (inside Union Station 0.5 mi from the hotel)- classic house-made ramen (great broth,) sushi and fast service.
  • Wynkoop Brewing Company (0.7 miles from the hotel)- craft beers and American fare.
  • Sakura Square: A square city block of Japanese history and culture located just a 5 minute walk from the Westin (two blocks up on Lawrence). Some hightghts:
    Sakura House: restaurant featuring Japanese cuisine, open for lunch Monday through Saturday from 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM
     JJ Bistro: restaurant featuring Chinese cuisine, open for lunch and dinner (dine in or take out) Monday through Saturday from 11:00 AM - 8:30 PM, and dinner on Sunday from 4:00 - 8:30PM.
    Pacific Mercantile Company: Japanese grocery store that has been in business for more than 80 years, and is a great place to pick up snacks, drinks, and imported goods.


Convention Events


Author-Reader Connections

Some of the Author-Reader Connections are full (sold out) but many still have openings. Visit our Author-Reader Connections page and click the links to learn more about each Connection (scroll down) and to sign up.
  • Only registered attendees may sign up for Author-Reader Connections. 
  • Individuals may sign up for no more than two Connections and no more than one per Author.

Sign ups for Connections will automatically close at 6:00 PM MT on Sunday, March 9th. Authors, you will receive your lists soon after.

NOTE: Because of the way EventBrite works, all the Connections are listed as “online” even though they obviously are not. We are not allowed to specify individual locations for each Connection so each location is “To Be Announced.” The real location is listed in the details.


Author Speed-Dating

Author Speed-Dating will take place Thursday, March 13, from 9:00–11:00 AM in Platte River, before the panel programming begins, and is a fun way for authors to connect to a new set of readers. The time frame and setup allows 40 authors to circulate in pairs and 144 fans to relax and enjoy the 2-minute pitches. Confirmations to authors have been sent by Speed Dating Hosts Les and Leslie Blatt. Questions? Email lccspeeddate@gmail.com.
 

Meet the New Authors Breakfast, sponsored by Sisters in Crime

All LCC registrants are welcome to attend the breakfast and hear the New Authors talk abut their debuts in Platte River, beginning at 7:30 AM.


Lefty Award Banquet Author-Hosted Tables

After you pick up your registration materials, look for the Author-Hosted Table nearby to sign up to sit with an pair of authors for the Banquet. You must show your convention name badge. First come, first served! There will also be some open (un-hosted) tables at the banquet.
 

Hospitality Sponsors

Visit the Hospitality / Silent Auction Room (Tabor-Brown) on Saturday from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM to meet authors from Rocky Mountain MWA, and then from 2:00–3:00 PM to meet authors from Sibylline Press.
 

Colorado Mystery Merge Carnival Extravaganza

Stop by Platte River on Friday from 7:30-9:30 PM for the Colorado Mystery Merge Carnival Extravaganza hosted by hosted by Sisters in Crime Colorado. (flyer)

 


Rocky Mountain High Jinks Notes


Convention Name Badge
Please wear your convention name badge at all times during the entire convention. It is your ticket into all LCC panels, interviews, and other events such as the Welcome Reception, breakfasts, and the Lefty Awards Banquet. Wearing your name tag also helps us all get to know each other.

Daily Schedule
Want to start planning your days before you arrive? Consult the Daily Schedule which includes panels, interviews, and other convention events.

Hotel Layout
The Westin Denver Downtown has three floors below the hotel rooms, with slightly confusing names. You will find a map in your Program Book.
  • Lower Level/Street Level
    This is where you will find the hotel check-in desk and the hotel lobby. Many Connections are meeting here before heading out of the hotel.
     
  • Lobby Level
    This was the site of the original hotel lobby. The elevator from the parking garage is on this level. Here you will find V’s Lounge (the hotel coffee shop/restaurant/bar), the Book Room and Author Signings in Augusta, Hospitality/Silent Auction in Tabor/Brown, and EP Ensley, where our Interviews will take place as well as some Sunday panels. The elevators to the sleeping rooms are across this foyer past V’s Lounge. The escalator in the middle connects to the Lower Lobby below and the Mezzanine Level above.
     
  • Mezzanine Level
    Here you will find the Convention Registration area (Registration, Volunteers, Author-Hosted Tables Sign-ups, etc), Platte River (Speed Dating, Breakfasts, Colorado Mystery Merge Carnival Extravaganza), and the panel rooms (Confluence A, Confluence B, Confluence C, Lawrence AB).
     



Rocky Mountain High Jinks Needs You!

 Thanks so much to everyone who has already signed up to volunteer at the convention. We still need:
  • Twelve Panel Room Timekeepers
  • Registration volunteers, especially on Saturday
  • Volunteers to help with Author-Hosted Table Signups on Thursday and Saturday
  • Author Signing volunteers, especially on Saturday and Sunday
  • Hospitality volunteers, especially on Thursday and Sunday
To volunteer for any of these volunteer opportunities, please email volunteer4lcc@gmail.com with the Volunteer Job(s) you would like along with some times you are available.
 


Book Bag Donations

Our thanks to these generous publishers and authors who have donated books for our book bags.


Sponsorship

Our thanks to our generous sponsors: Sisters in Crime, Rocky Mountain MWA, Sibylline Press


Silent Auction Donations

Each Left Coast Crime Convention raises money to support a local literacy organization with funds raised through a silent and live auction and the annual Quilt Raffle. The 2025 beneficiary is Brink Literacy Project which is devoted to utilizing the power of storytelling to positively affect the lives of people on the brink. All proceeds from our auctions go to Brink Literacy Project. Anyone — reader, writer, bookseller, librarian, blogger — may donate items to the silent auction. You can either mail your Silent Auction donations to yourself at the hotel or bring them with you. Silent Auction Co-Chairs Silent Auction Co-Chairs Linda Joffe Hull and Sandra Murphy will be accepting Silent Auction donations and preparing them for display on Wednesday afternoon and all day Thursday.

 

Union Station

For those of you coming in on the train or taking the A Line from the Denver Airport, here's a map showing the multiple Union Stations, serving both the railroad and the A Line.

 


Left Coast Crime 2026

San Francisco Schemin’, the 36th Left Coast Crime convention, will be held February 26 – March 1, 2026, in San Francisco, California, at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco.

Our Guests of Honor are authors Robin Burcell and Kwei Quartey. Randall Brandt is our Fan Guest of Honor and author Leslie Karst will be our Toastmaster.

The historic San Francisco Cable Car stops right outside the Hyatt, the Presidio Go Shuttle provides free trips to the Presidio National Park, and the Embarcadero BART station is steps away. The 1898 Ferry Building is right across the street from the Hyatt. The Ferry Building Marketplace is packed with restaurants and shops. From the Port of San Francisco you can catch a ferry to Treasure Island, Angel Island, Alcatraz, Jack London Square in Oakland, and many other destinations.

The Registration Price is $299 through March 17, 2025, the close of LCC Denver.

More information about LCC 2026 & Online Registration