As to smoking, well much as we may not like it, smoking is Not prohibited in the Airventure grounds.
As a matter of fact, if you look on the small folded Visitors Map the was available at many places, there are even designated smoking areas, at warbirds, near the Fed pavillion, vintage hangar, camp store, etc.. It is right there the last item on the key list, and shows a picture of a lit cigarette.
Why doesn't EAA prohibit smoking anywhere on the grounds?
I guess because there are a lot of foreign visitors and in some of these countries they are still about 1940 when it comes to smoking. There are a few places where we are actually ahead of much of the rest of the world. The last time I was in London there was still smoking even in nice hotels.Of course the U S is not all good about this, if you go to a casino hotel in Reno or Las Vegas, there are still addicts puffing away indoors. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Fon du Lac which is non smoking inside, but you have to walk a gauntlet of all the addicts puffing away just outside the front door. One day I tried to get an early dinner over at the Charcoal Broiler just outside the north 40 and their whole patio was filled with smokers. It was like going back in time 50 years. I ffelt sorry for those folks, they look so desperate.
Here in Colorado, it is illegal to smoke in virtually all restaurants, bars and hotels, schools and even some outfoor malls. Only about 10 % are still smoking and I am glad that I am not trying to break that addiction. Thankfully chocolate chip cookies only make you fat, they don't poison your lungs.
As for knowing where and when the fourms and other events are it is pretty easy, if you bother to look.
And it doesn't take any email or ipod or wi fi or online hocus pocus. There as a small booklet, a guide for visitors, perhaps 6x8 inches put out by EAA that list all or almost all the events and time and location. It is free, small enough to carry in a pocket and I get one the first day I arrive. I then go through and see if there are forums that I want to see. I mark the prime one on each day and some back ups if it works out that way. I look at the map and mostly plan each eve what I want to do the next day. Some days a couple of forums, some days none.
If you don't have or you loose this booklet, there is also a free newspaper on boxes all around the grounds as well as at many hotels that show the events for just that day.
If none of this suits you, you can often ask to see some one else's copy at a forum or when eating at a food table. Most people will share. The time and tittle of the forums are also posted on boards outside the various locations.
I have been coming to EAA for over 30 years, and have attended many forums and even given some as I did this year.
I may have had trouble finding time to do it all, but have never had a hard time finding the info on them, and I have never needed a cell phone to find them.