April 21, 2025 – San Diego, CA
Welcome to VeeamON 2025! Day One kicked off in sunny San Diego, and as an IT professional attending this conference, I felt the perfect mix of excitement for tech insights and eagerness to explore the local scene. If you’re considering attending VeeamON in the future, here’s a rundown of my first day – from the arrival experience and must-see attractions to mouth-watering food stops and afternoon learning sessions – all wrapped up with a fun evening event.
Arriving at the Marriott Marquis San Diego
Stepping into the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina this morning, the atmosphere immediately struck me. The hotel is right on the waterfront, with views of sailboats bobbing in the marina and the downtown skyline behind us. Palm trees, a sprawling pool with little waterfalls, and the general “hey, it’s San Diego!” vibe made for a warm welcome. The lobby buzzed with fellow VeeamON attendees checking in, grabbing badges and swag. The Marriott Marquis is known for hosting big conferences, and it shows – everything is convenient. There’s an energy in the air (fueled by plenty of coffee) as IT pros from around the world gather and chat about what’s ahead. The location couldn’t be better: step outside and you’re minutes from San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, the Convention Center, and beautiful harbour-side walkways. In short, the arrival was smooth, and the setting is equal parts professional and paradise.
Must-See Sight: The USS Midway Museum
Before diving into sessions, I took a little detour to soak in a unique San Diego attraction: the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum. If you have time between conference activities, this is a must-see – it’s not every day you get to board a historic aircraft carrier! The USS Midway is a retired Navy ship turned museum, essentially a floating city full of history. Walking its decks, I saw dozens of restored fighter jets and helicopters on the flight deck, and even got to sit in the captain’s chair on the bridge. The sheer scale of the ship is jaw-dropping; you realize why they call it a city at sea as you tour the crew’s bunks, engine room, and hangar bay. There are interactive exhibits and flight simulators if you need (simulated) speed. What makes the Midway special is how hands-on it is – many docents are Navy veterans sharing personal stories, which connects you to the history. I spent an hour or two there and could easily have lost track of time. It was the perfect way to start the day with local flavour and awe before switching to conference mode.
Savouring San Diego Cuisine (aka Fuel for the IT Brain)
No conference trip is complete without enjoying the local food scene, and San Diego did not disappoint. From quick bites to upscale dining, I managed to sample a little of everything on Day One. Here are a few culinary highlights worth noting:
- L&M World Famous Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge (Lou & Mickey’s) – For dinner, I headed to this classic steakhouse right at the gate of the Gaslamp Quarter. Lou & Mickey’s has been around for decades and has a bit of a legendary status among locals – it’s named after the founders’ fathers, giving it a personal, old-school charm. The interior feels like a post-WWII supper club with dark wood, a jazzy 1940s playlist, and a bustling cocktail lounge. I started with their French onion soup, piping hot and loaded with melted Gruyère cheese – soul-soothing and rich with flavour. For the main course, the filet and lobster combo was the showstopper. Why not have both when you can’t decide between steak or seafood? The tender filet mignon (seared perfectly with a flavorful crust) paired with a buttery lobster tail made for a decadent surf-and-turf treat. It’s the meal that makes you wish every conference day ended with a steakhouse feast. Pro tip: come hungry and maybe loosen your belt a notch – it’s worth it.
- Roy’s – Conveniently located on the Marriott Marquis grounds overlooking the bay, Roy’s is a famous Hawaiian fusion restaurant that brings island vibes to San Diego. The atmosphere here is upbeat and tropical-modern. Think of an elegant dining room with a view of the water and a warm “Aloha” spirit from the staff. I took a quick bite to experience their celebrated Auntie Lei’s Roll. This sushi roll is a must-try: it’s a greatest-hits of sushi flavours wrapped into one. Spicy tuna, fresh yellowtail and salmon, avocado, and a drizzle of garlicky ponzu sauce – an outstanding blend of Pacific Rim flavours. The fish was incredibly fresh, and the roll had that perfect balance of heat and sweetness. Even if you stop by Roy’s bar during their “Aloha Hour” for a cocktail, the Auntie Lei’s Roll makes for an excellent shared appetizer. The whole vibe at Roy’s is relaxed but refined, a great spot to unwind midday or for a casual-luxe dinner with colleagues.
- Crack Taco Shop – Sometimes you need a quick, delicious bite between activities, and Crack Taco Shop hits the spot. It’s only a five-minute walk from the pier (near Seaport Village along the harbour), so I strolled over around lunchtime. This little taco spot is unassuming and fast-casual, but it packs some serious flavour – the place where the line moves fast and everyone’s got a smile once they dig into their food. The atmosphere is beachy and laid-back, with a walk-up counter and outdoor seating perfect for enjoying that ocean breeze. I grabbed a couple of their famed “crack” tacos (the name comes from how addictive they are, I suspect!) featuring juicy carne asada and the works. They were as tasty as promised – fresh ingredients, a good kick of spice, and just messy enough to remind you it’s authentic street food. This shop holds its own in a city known for great Mexican cuisine. I can see why it’s a local favourite for a quick taco fix by the bay.
After indulging in San Diego’s flavours, I felt refuelled and ready to tackle the rest of the day. Good food does wonders for keeping the brain sharp during a conference (that’s my excuse for eating a lot, and I’m sticking to it!).
Afternoon Tech Session: Diving into Veeam Recovery Orchestrator
With lunch behind me and caffeine in hand, it was time to get down to the IT business. The afternoon’s highlight was a deep dive session on Veeam Recovery Orchestrator. As an IT pro who regularly deals with backup and recovery strategies, I found this particularly relevant and engaging. The session was a mix of demo and discussion, focusing on how Veeam’s orchestration tool can simplify disaster recovery (DR) planning and execution.
Here’s the gist: Veeam Recovery Orchestrator is all about automating and streamlining recovery processes so that when things go wrong, you can get back online ASAP with minimal stress. We learned how to build comprehensive recovery plans for critical applications and VMS beforehand. The cool part is these plans aren’t just static documents – the orchestrator will automate the steps when you need to do a recovery or a DR failover. For example, it can spin up VMS from backups or replicas in the correct order, execute custom scripts to verify applications come up properly, and even pause for approvals where necessary. It’s like having a contingency playbook that runs itself when you press the “go” button.
One feature that stood out to me was the automated testing capability. You can schedule non-disruptive test failovers to an isolated environment, so you’re not just crossing fingers that your DR plan works – you’re regularly validating it. It even generates dynamic documentation (major brownie points for those of us who need to provide auditors or management with proof that our DR plans are up to date and tested). The presenter threw around terms like RTO (Recovery Time Objective) and RPO (Recovery Point Objective), and showed how the orchestrator helps ensure we meet those targets by coordinating all the moving parts of a recovery. For the security-conscious, there was talk of how it can scan backups for malware before restoring, which is huge in the age of ransomware. This session made me feel more confident that tools like this can take a lot of manual, error-prone work off our plates during a crisis scenario. I nodded vigorously as someone who has been through a few 3:00 am disaster recovery drills. I’ll be looking into this for our environment after the conference.
Wrapping Up Day One: Veeam 100 Underground Event
The formal agenda wound down by late afternoon, but the day was far from over. At 5 PM, VeeamON had a special event lined up: the Veeam 100 Underground party, hosted by Wasabi. If you’re not familiar with it, Wasabi is a cloud storage company.
Final Thoughts on Day One
As Day One comes to a close, I’m both energized and a little exhausted (in a good way). From the moment I arrived at the Marriott Marquis and took in that San Diego sun, to the fascinating walk through naval history on the USS Midway, to the fantastic food and the valuable Veeam training – it’s been a full day to say the least. The takeaway for any IT professional considering coming to VeeamON is that you get a perfect blend of learning and leisure. You’ll deepen your technical know-how (shout-out to the Veeam Recovery Orchestrator for blowing my mind) and enjoy the local culture and networking. The conference organizers have done a great job balancing content with fun.
If this is what Day One looks like, I can’t wait to see what the rest of the conference has in store. I’m signing off to enjoy the Veeam 100 Underground party and catch up with some peers over a cold drink. Stay tuned for Day Two – and if you’re considering VeeamON in the future, know that they’ve set the bar high from day one. San Diego and VeeamON have welcomed us with open arms, and it’s clear we’re in for both an educational and enjoyable ride this week! Cheers to that.
Thanks,
Dave Kawula – Microsoft MVP / Veeam Vanguard
