Conjecture 2 Programming Plan:

1 p.m.—“Optional Pre-Con 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, admission is $18 for adults (unless you have a membership): http://www.mnzoo.com/ Parking is $5, so you may want to carpool. Meet at 1 p.m. inside the main entrance to the zoo. Bring a water bottle, camera, sunglasses, bag lunch, etc. Let Laura Krentz know ahead of time that you plan to attend (first initial, last name at visi dot com). If no one responds, this will be cancelled.

2 p.m.—Gaming opens. The gaming room will be open throughout the convention (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. Run by Thorin and Richard Tatge [Gaming Room]

3 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…

4 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 [or FREE] and seller's name. Bring your own change and a card table for your stuff. Don't leave extremely valuable items unattended. You must clear out everything remaining by noon on Sunday.) Coordinated by Laura Krentz [Programming Room, possibly also Overflow Consuite]

Up to 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. Lisa Sanders, Eric Forste [Overflow Consuite]

6 p.m.—“Dinner Break: Pizza Party”—We will coordinate a group order of pizza (see above). [Overflow Consuite]

8 p.m.—“Opening Ceremonies”—Greetings, announcements, etc. Beth Friedman, Laura Krentz, Dean Gahlon, others? [Programming Room]

8:30 p.m.—“Daiquiris and Dessert Soiree Featuring a Reading by Pamela Dean”—Enjoy some fine libations and comestibles while listening to Pamela read (out loud) from unpublished works. Please bring dessert, fruit, or cheese if possible (vegan desserts especially appreciated!). As a special treat, David Dyer-Bennet will be making daiquiris. Optional fancy dress—dig out your favorite dressy duds, cool costume, or elegant Elise-ian necklace to wear. Pamela Dean, David Dyer-Bennet [Reading in Programming Room, daiquiris in 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. You may get to play with Rachel's 20 mW green laser, Ctein's iPad astronomy apps, and Rachel's Linux apps! This event will happen on the first night the weather is good, and if the weather is bad both nights, we will talk about astronomy in the programming room on Saturday night. Rachel Kronick, Ctein, Eric Forste

11 p.m.—“Late Night Music Circle”—Bring instruments and a copy of Rise Up Singing if you want. (This could start earlier if Astronomy has to be postponed.) [Overflow Consuite]

The 11th annual Twin Cities Book Festival is a celebration of books and reading that is free and open to the general public. http://www.raintaxi.com/bookfest/

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 in action. MnStf Board [Programming Room]

12 noon—“Joia All Natural Soda Tasting”—Sample different flavors of Joia soda and vote for your favorite. (Website: http://www.joialife.com/) [Overflow Consuite]

1 p.m.—“How to Take Good Nature Photos”—Photographers give tips and show examples of their work. We may also talk about how to improve your digital photos using various computer programs. Ctein, David Dyer-Bennet, Geof Stone, Josh More [Programming Room]

2:30 p.m.—“Nature Walk in MN Valley Wildlife Refuge”—Bring camera, sunglasses, hiking shoes, walking stick, water bottle, sunscreen, etc. Website: http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=32590 [Meet in hallway outside Consuite]

2:30 p.m.—“Let's Talk About Books”-- What was your favorite SF/F book you read this year? What books did you think were overrated? What would you recommend (or not)? For those who are not going on the Nature Walk. This will also serve as an alternate activity if the weather does not cooperate for the Nature Walk. Discussion led by Magenta Griffith [Programming Room]

4:00 p.m.—“Minicon Programming Brainstorming Session” — This meeting will be held in the hotel bar. It is not an official, badged Conjecture event. Anyone is welcome to attend.

5:30 p.m.—“Pop-Up Books”—See some examples of cool pop-up books and then try your hand at making a simple pop-up card or book. Bring scissors if possible and pictures from magazines, calendars, etc., if you want to use them in your project. Some materials will be provided. Laura Krentz, Bonnie Somdahl [Programming Room]

Up to 6 p.m.—Talk to Scott or Irene Raun to put in your order for food from Famous Dave's for dinner. Scott Raun, Irene Raun [Overflow Consuite]

7 p.m.—“Dinner Break”—We will coordinate a group order of food (see above) [Overflow Consuite]

9:00 p.m.—“Live Music Concert: Riverfolk”—Enjoy music by some of our favorite local fannish musicians: http://www.riverfolk.net/ Chas Somdahl, Becca Leathers [Overflow Consuite]

10 p.m. (or later)—“Fall Astronomy”—If postponed from Friday night. [Parking Deck, or Programming Room if weather is bad]

11 p.m. (may start earlier if there is no astronomy)—“Late Night Music Circle”—See Friday night for description. [Overflow Consuite]

Noon—“Computer/Tech Roundtable”—Since we tend to gather around the Consuite table with our laptops/netbooks/tablets/smartphones/steam-powered ballistic algorithmatons/etc., let's make it an official programming item! We can compare devices, show off recent purchases, play with each other's toys and generally geek out about computers. Hosted by Rachel Kronick [Consuite]

1:30 p.m.—“Closing Ceremonies”—Should we do this again? Do you have ideas for next year? How can you help make things happen? Tell us your favorite memory of Conjecture 2. Beth Friedman, Laura Krentz, others? [Consuite]

Immediately following Closing Ceremonies—“Optional Apple Orchard Expedition”—Carpool with other fans to visit Applewood Orchard in Lakeville. Pick your own apples or pick out a pumpkin. The corn maze is $7 for adults. (Website: http://applewoodorchard.com/applewood1/) We will provide a map and directions. [Meet in hallway outside Consuite]

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.

8 p.m. to whenever: Dead Dog Party—We have the Consuite all night, so come back to the hotel after dinner at Khan's and hang around, chat, play games, and eat leftovers. (Warning: if you hang around long enough, you'll probably be asked to help with final cleanup. Many hands make light work.)

Talk to Laura to volunteer to help with program items, either before (first initial, last name at visi dot com) or in person during the con. If possible, please let her know what you plan to bring to the dessert soiree Friday night so we know we will have a reasonable quantity and variety.

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 and 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.

When events are not scheduled in the programming room, it is available for impromptu (or not-so-impromptu) discussions or the showing of DVDs. (We will bring some DVDs.) 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).