What's not a tough concept is that there's another way to look at it.
For some people (and by that I mean me

) if you're in a city and there's a bar with a big laminated sign out front saying "WELCOME --insert convention/event name here-- PEOPLE!!!", that's the place you don't go. All it means is $1 dollar off all apps, or Hobo Chicken Chili, or whatever, in honor of the convention/event. And it'll be $1 dollar off again for next week's conventioners, and so on. It doesn't mean they've embraced you.
What I'm about to say is not an insult, I hope you don't take it that way -- I come from a small city, too -- but it's not like every place is Spicer, MN. "Say, I don't recognize you. You must be from out of town for the big event!" If it's a big enough city, everybody who's there is there for a reason. Family vacation, romantic getaway, sports finals, business trip, mookie's Shriners. It doesn't matter.
edit: Just saw what jen wrote. And yes, if everything's closed before the late Thursday game gets out, then yeah your city needs a little Embracing Training!