Hackathon Be Gone
In Austin, we started running an event called "Finish Up Weekend" or FU Weekend - <a href="http://fuweekend.com/" rel="nofollow">http://fuweekend.com/</a> ;)<p>We have some simple rules:<p>*  you can't start anything new;<p>*  you have to celebrate something being <i>done</i> - usually with a round of applause;<p>*  there are no prizes - only the satisfaction of being done.<p>While there is plenty of coding, we've had designers finish their portfolios, screenwriters finish pilots, an artist finish his display, and even saw a sewing project completed.<p>And to top it off, we charge a nominal $20 for the weekend - with 4 meals, a great deal - and sell out every time.<p>We're putting together a howto doc to franchise the idea.. just need to finish it. ;)