Tech Party Begins As Oracle OpenWorld Opens

Strip clubs are packed and Howard Street is closed off. Must be Oracle OpenWorld!

It's playtime for geeks.

It's Oracle OpenWorld.

Downtown San Francisco will be until Thursday "a playland" for "wonky technocrats"for the 60,000 people in town for the database giant's annual conference, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

There are speeches, there are workshops -- and there are after-parties, which are the focus for many attendees, the newspaper reported.

The conference is so big, San Francisco's population grows 7 percent for the week. The Korean tacos are so good and the bars are so open, remarks from Oracle CEO Larry Ellison can't compete (several thousand workers "sneaked" outside for the free food and booze during Ellison's opening welcome).

In other words, "it's Vegas for tech," a database manager told the newspaper.

Partying appears to be the center of attention for attendees, many of whom flew in from all around the world -- in some cases to meet with co-workers that until Oracle OpenWorld they had spoken with only via phone and computer.

And it's a party for local businesses: hotel rooms are going for $680 (plus $14.99 for Wi-Fi) and the Gold Club on Howard Street is packed, the newspaper reported.

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