Convivial 4 Programming Plan:

11 a.m.- Field Trip to the Minnesota Zoo. - Check at your metro area library during the week before to see if you can check out a free Museum Adventure Pass for two to the Zoo. If not, you will have to pay admission ($16 adults). Parking is $5, so you may want to carpool. Meet at 11 a.m. inside the main entrance to the zoo. If you will be coming late, ask Laura or Dean for their cell phone numbers ahead of time. You may want to bring a bag lunch, camera, etc.

4 p.m.- “Crafty Time” - Bring your art or craft projects to work on. If you want, bring craft materials to exchange or give away. (We can also have spontaneous crafty gatherings at various times and places throughout the con.) Coordinated by Laura Krentz. [Programming Room] You could make something for the…

5 p.m. “Mini Art Fair/Fannish Flea Market” -- Bring vaguely sf-related stuff to sell, trade, or give away. Who knows? You might find that rare treasure you always wanted. (This can continue for most of the con. People can find the seller to make arrangements for purchase or trade. Or leave a moneybox if you're okay with that. Items should be clearly marked with price and seller's name. Bring your own change, and maybe a card table for your stuff. Don't leave extremely valuable items unattended. Clear out everything by noon on Sunday.) Coordinated by Laura Krentz [Programming Room, possibly also Overflow Consuite]

5:30 p.m. Talk to Lisa Sanders or Eric Forste to put in your order for pizza by 5:30 p.m. If you will arrive later, have a friend put in your order for you. Be flexible—let them know what options you will accept and if there's anything you absolutely can't have. We need to agree on three or four kinds of pizza for the group order. [Overflow Consuite]

6 p.m. - Dinner Break - “Pizza Party and Conversation with Lois McMaster Bujold.” We will coordinate a group order of pizza (see above), and you'll have a chance to talk with Lois (Hugo-winning author of the Miles Vorkosigan books), ask questions, and get a book signed if you bring one. Lois McMaster Bujold [Overflow Consuite]

8 p.m. - Opening Ceremonies. Greetings, announcements, etc. Beth Friedman, Laura Krentz, Dean Gahlon, Tim Cooper, Seven Anderson. [Programming Room]

8:30 p.m. - “Wizard of Oz Theme Party” -- Celebrate the classic story and film with costumes (make one now for the party and you can wear it for Halloween!), games, trivia contest, theme-related drink contest (bring your special ingredients), prizes, etc. [Programming Room and Overflow Consuite]

10 p.m. (or possibly later) - “Fall Astronomy” -- Weather permitting, come out to the parking deck and see M31 (the Andromeda Galaxy), M57 (the Ring Nebula), M45 (the Pleiades), M42 (the Orion Nebula), Jupiter and many other beautiful things, and get to play with Rachel's new 20 mW green laser and Ctein's iPad astronomy apps! (Possibly both Friday and Saturday nights, weather permitting) Rachel Kronick, Ctein

10:30 p.m. - “Home Brewing” - How to do it, with samples. Dorf, Gregg Parmentier [Programming Room]

Morning - Bagels, juice, possibly other food that could resemble breakfast. [Consuite]

11 a.m. - MnStf Board Meeting . This is an open meeting, so you're welcome to attend if you'd like to see the board inaction. MnStf Board [Programming Room]

Noon --. “Adventures Down Under” -- fans who went to Aussiecon 4 talk about and show pictures of their adventures. Dean Gahlon, Laura Krentz, Jeanne Mealy, John Stanley, Elise Matthesen [Programming Room]

1 p.m. - “How to Take Good Nature Photos” - Photographers give tips and show examples of their work. Ctein, David Dyer-Bennet, Dave Romm, Tim Cooper [Programming Room]

2:30 p.m. - Nature Walk in MN Valley Wildlife Preserve - (May go to Mall of America instead if weather is bad.) Bring camera, sunglasses, hiking shoes, walking stick, water bottle, sunscreen, etc. Share digital photos afterward? [Meet in hallway outside Consuite]

5:30 p.m. - “What to Read and What to Read It On” - Let's talk about good books we've read recently, as well as the many kinds of e-book readers now available. If you have one, bring it to show people and discuss advantages and disadvantages. What are the best sources of e-books? Dean Gahlon, Laura Krentz, Magenta Griffith, Beth Friedman, Mark Richards, Laurel Krahn [Programming Room]

7 p.m. - Dinner Break - Get together with some friends and go out to dinner, or make your own arrangements for ordering in or sending someone for take-out. (You are welcome to volunteer to coordinate ordering in.)

7-10 p.m. “Minnesota Astronomical Society Star Party” - Linda Lounsbury will coordinate this trip to Onan Observatory. Talk to Linda about details and carpooling. http://www.mnastro.org/

9:00 p.m. - “Live Music Concert: Adam Stemple” -- Enjoy music by this talented local songwriter, musician, and author. Adam Stemple. [Overflow Consuite]

10:30 p.m. “Animation Festival and Pajama Party” - Animation Festival of short animated films on DVD that we think are cool. People are invited to bring copies of their favorites to share also. We'll provide milk and cookies; you're also welcome to bring food/drink from the Consuite to this room. Folks are encouraged to wear cool pajamas; we may have prizes for our favorite pajama ensembles. Dean Gahlon, Laura Krentz. [Programming Room]

12 noon - “How to Write Fannish Songs, Poetry, Fanfic, Etc.” -- Participants will share examples, and we may have a mini-writing workshop if people are interested. Peggy O'Neill, Beth Friedman, Elise Matthesen [Programming Room]

1-2:30 p.m. Memorial for Reen Brust. Bring food or drink to share if you want. [Programming Room]

3 p.m.- “Now It's Time to Say Goodbye” - Should we do this again next year? Will you help? Tell us your favorite memory of Conjecture. Peggy O'Neill will lead a group sing-along, ending with “Good Night, Irene.” Please bring your copy of “Rise Up Singing” if you have one. Beth Friedman, Laura Krentz, Peggy O'Neill [Programming Room]

6 p.m. - Dinner at Khan's Mongolian Barbeque. Sign up by 2 p.m. (sign-up sheet will be located on the bar in the Overflow Consuite until it closes at Noon on Sunday, after that it will be in the main Consuite). Please indicate on the sign-up sheet whether you intend to meet us at the restaurant or meet in the hotel lobby at 5:45 p.m. to carpool to the restaurant.

Note: Subject to change, of course. We'll announce and post changes at the convention. Locations for these events are listed in [brackets]. Program participant names are listed in italics.

All convention events are located on the Concierge (13th) floor. The Consuite & Overflow Consuite are across the hall from each other, the programming and gaming rooms are in rooms located between the consuite and the elevators. There will be signs on the doors as well as a sign directing you in the right direction from the elevators.

The gaming room will be open throughout the convention (from 2 p.m. on Friday until 2 p.m. on Sunday); we'll provide tables and chairs and some games. Feel free to bring your favorite board game, card game, or other game.

When events are not scheduled in the programming room, it is available for impromptu (or not-so-impromptu) discussions or the showing of videos. If you come up with an idea during the convention for an event that you'd like to share with the rest of us, talk to Laura Krentz or Dean Gahlon. We're also open to adding excursions (even if they're just down to the pool).

If you don't want to or can't do the Nature Walk, note that on Saturday, there will be a:

The 10th annual Twin Cities Book Festival is a celebration of books and reading that is free and open to the general public. Many special guests will be in attendance, including M. T. Anderson, Jeffrey Zaslow, Jean Valentine, and more! http://www.raintaxi.com/bookfest/