questions about bags and events

I'm arriving by plane and relying on public transportation.

Will any of the hotels let me check a bag with them, even if I'm not staying there?  Anywhere to stash a bag for several hours?

If I'm not staying at a host hotel, are the parade and masquerade streamed live online?  On YouTube or the D*C website?

Any other way to watch these events if I can't survive the parade crush or can't get a seat at the Masquerade?

Is there a gathering place to photograph the Masquerade participants afterwards?

I'm confused about the Walk of Fame.  They may charge for autographs, but are you allowed to take pictures?  What about the Autograph Area, is photography allowed there?

Where's a good place to ship packages back to home?  I might need to buy the box and related shipping materials as well and many of the smaller hotel business centers don't sell boxes or packing tape.

Do any of the hotel or local bars allow you to bring in your own food?  Maybe I want to have a cold beer with a meal but don't want bar grub or they don't serve food anyway.

Not comprehensive and in no particular order:

i would expect most eateries will not let you bring in stuff from another eatery.

There is an overflow ballroom where they stream the masquerade; it's a lot more fun than being there live, since you can heckle and misbehave a bit. and i believe there is a place to photograph the masquerade participants; wait for Vay to weigh in, she was in it one year.

I always watch the parade from the step off block; i can get on the shady side of the street and the crowds usually aren't too bad there. Mostly parents with kids.  Last year they taped the parade, but i forget when/if they broadcast it.

No DCTV in non host hotels, sorry.

As for stashing a bag at a bell desk-- that's a good question.  People actually staying in the hotels do it all the time; outside of DC i have stashed things at hotels i wasn't staying at on business trips. I don't know if there are any public lockers nearby.

As for shipping: the hilton, at least, has a full service fedex office in it.  I think the marriott does too. They are very very used to boxing and shipping all sorts of weird things.

Not comprehensive and in no particular order:

i would expect most eateries will not let you bring in stuff from another eatery.

There is an overflow ballroom where they stream the masquerade; it's a lot more fun than being there live, since you can heckle and misbehave a bit. and i believe there is a place to photograph the masquerade participants; wait for Vay to weigh in, she was in it one year.

I always watch the parade from the step off block; i can get on the shady side of the street and the crowds usually aren't too bad there. Mostly parents with kids.  Last year they taped the parade, but i forget when/if they broadcast it.

No DCTV in non host hotels, sorry.

As for stashing a bag at a bell desk-- that's a good question.  People actually staying in the hotels do it all the time; outside of DC i have stashed things at hotels i wasn't staying at on business trips. I don't know if there are any public lockers nearby.

As for shipping: the hilton, at least, has a full service fedex office in it.  I think the marriott does too. They are very very used to boxing and shipping all sorts of weird things.

My friends that live in Atlanta watch the parade from near the starting point a few blocks away from the Con. Its mainly locals there and not as crowded.

The Marriot does have a Fedex or UPS store in the basement.

There is a Marta stop in Peachtree Center adjacent to all of the host hotels convenient from the airport.  It takes 20-30 minutes from the airport to Peachtree.

It may be easier to leave your luggage at your hotel.

Thanks, when I said bag, I meant my day pack, I should have specified.  I want to take lots of photos Saturday morning at the parade and Saturday night at the giant cosplay crush, but that's a lot more gear weight to carry around all day.

I'm seriously considering going to the parade with my "outside" photo gear & shlepping back to the hotel for a shower so I'll be not sweaty for 2 minutes, then coming back with the "interior" gear for the rest of the day.

Yes, I would imagine all sorts of giant red and green tentacles get packed up and shipped out of Atlanta,  either from D*C or the CDC.