Programming
Dean Gahlon and Laura Krentz are running programming for us again this year.
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.
Consuite = Presidential Suite (1321)
Overflow Consuite = Concierge Suite (1332)
Programming Room = Room 1340
Gaming Room = Room 1318
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, Dean Gahlon, or Laurel Krahn. We’re also open to adding excursions (even if they’re just down to the pool) or program items.
Schedule of Events
Here’s the schedule of events. Subject to change, of course, though this is getting close to being as final as it’s going to get. We’ll announce and post changes at the convention. Locations for these events are listed in [brackets]. Program participant names will be listed in italics.
Friday
10:30 a.m.- Field Trip to the Minnesota Zoo. Watch our zoo photography expert in action! Bring your camera and a bag lunch if you wish. Check at your metro area library the week before to see if you can get a free Museum Adventure Pass for two to the Zoo. If not, you will have to pay admission ($13 adults). Parking is $5, so you may want to carpool. Josh More. [Meet at 10:30 a.m. inside the main building in front of the Japanese Snow Monkeys. Leave whenever your carpool wants to get back to the con. If you will be coming late, ask Laura or another committee member for Josh’s cell phone number.]
2 p.m.- Consuite Opens. [Consuite]
2 p.m. – Registration Opens. [Consuite]
2 p.m. – Gaming Opens. [Gaming Room]
4 p.m. – “Crafty Geek Playtime” This is a craft materials exchange and a time to work on creative projects. Participants, please bring yarn, fabric, trims, glitzy stuff, beads, etc. to share, exchange, or give away. We will provide some craft glue, glue guns, needles and thread, scissors, etc. for assembling stuff. You might want to bring good scissors and something to decorate. Or you can work on your current project. We can also have spontaneous crafty gatherings at various times and places throughout the con, and crafters can teach others how to knit, crochet, etc. Coordinated by Laura Krentz. [Programming Room] Devolves into…
5:30 p.m. “Look What I Made!” Show off your best work. Artists/crafters — bring some things you’ve made that you’re especially proud of and answer questions about their creation. Or show us what you just made at Crafty Geek Playtime. [Programming Room]
6 p.m. – Dinner Break. A group order of food will be made for those who want to stay and eat at the hotel (and not in the bar or restaurant there). Actual ordering of food will begin earlier; if you aren’t going to be in public con space during the hour or two before the break, you might want to let someone know if you want to be part of the food order (and what you want). We’ll have a sign-up sheet for the group order located on the bar in the overflow consuite. We’re thinking of ordering pizza, so think about what you want/don’t want on it.
7 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies. Greetings, announcements, etc. Shouldn’t take very long at all. Laurel Krahn, Laura Krentz, Dean Gahlon. [Programming Room]
7:30 p.m. – “Geek Playground” A time to play with geeky toys such as Knex and Legos. Dean and Laura will bring toy vehicles that run on puzzle piece tracks and maybe some Legos. Mark Richards will bring some Knex. The Straits will bring a DDR-type game. Shaun Kelly will bring her robot. Other people are invited to bring geeky toys, too. [Overflow Consuite, with DDR-type stuff in Programming Room to use the TV screen.]
9:30 p.m.- Blog is served. [Consuite]
10:00 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]
Saturday
Morning – Saturday Morning TV. We’ll show some of our favorite Saturday morning TV shows. It’s also possible that we’ll show animated shorts or other TV if there is enough of a demand. Kevin G. Austin. [Programming Room]
Morning – Bagels, juice, possibly other food that could resemble breakfast. [Consuite]
Noon – “Apple Tasting Time”– We will provide a few varieties along with dipping caramel and peanut butter. Please bring some samples of your favorite apples or some interesting varieties of apples you’ve found. NO RED DELICIOUS ALLOWED! People planning to bring apples should contact Laura and Dean ahead of time if possible so we don’t end up with nothing but Harralsons. Magenta Griffith, Dean Gahlon, Laura Krentz. [Consuite]
1 p.m. – “How to Take Good Nature Photos” – Photographers give tips and show examples of their work. May devolve into general photography neep. Josh More, David Dyer-Bennet, Ctein. [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? Maybe upload to Flickr? [Meet in hallway outside Consuite]
5 p.m. – “Read Any Good Books Lately?” A chance for people to talk about books they’ve been reading that they would recommend to other fans. We may produce a list of titles discussed. Magenta Griffith & Laura Krentz will lead the discussion. [Programming Room]
6 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. We’ll have some menus from area establishments available in the overflow consuite; please feel free to add to our collection.
8 p.m. – “Show Me Yours” Geeks show off new/cool technology/devices they own and people can ask questions and have a chance to try them out if appropriate. Bring your devices to demonstrate. We may also talk about LiveJournal, Facebook, Second Life, Twitter, etc. Dean Gahlon, Kevin Austin, Scott Raun, etc. [Programming Room]
9:30 p.m. – “Live Music Concert: Brother Seamus” Enjoy our local Garage Folk band fresh from their gigs at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. Corwin Brust, Dee Brust, Nicole Emery. [Programming Room]
11 p.m.- Beer Tasting. We will provide some micro-brews to sample. You are welcome to bring your favorites to share. We will provide some root beer for those who can’t/don’t drink. Dean Gahlon, Laura Krentz. [Consuite]
Sunday
Morning – Saturday Morning TV. We’ll show some of our favorite Saturday morning TV shows. It’s also possible that we’ll show animated shorts or other TV if there is enough of a demand. Kevin G. Austin. [Programming Room]
Morning – Food that could resemble breakfast. [Consuite]
12 noon – “Give Me the Head of Hello Kitty: Waffles in the Consuite.” Enjoy Hello Kitty or regular waffles and experiment with toppings—various syrups, chocolate sauce, flavored honey, whipped cream, berries, peanut butter, jelly, etc. Dean Gahlon, Laura Krentz. [Consuite]
12:30 p.m. – “Collage Workshop – Make a Collage!” Using found images, create an assemblage that tells a story, depicts part of your life, or just amuses you. There are no rules to collaging, and everyone is welcome to come and play. Karen Cooper. [Programming Room]
2 p.m. – “Whither Convivial?” Should we do this again next year? Will you help? Or would someone else like to take over the fallcon for next year? What makes a good relaxacon? Laurel Krahn and others. [Consuite]
3 p.m.- Closing Ceremonies [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 if you intend to meet us at the restaurant or meet in the lobby at 5:45 p.m. to carpool to the restaurant.
