Photos by Ruth Anderson (but we do not yet have the photos for the online version).
This piece originally appeared, in substantially this form, in the Minicon 30 program book.
Bhigg House337 Oxford Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. BaggieCon headquarters. Home to Decadent Dave Clement, Elizabeth Clement, Ruth Anderson, Sharyl Leis, and Mike MacKinnon. Site of fannish parties and plots too numerous to remember let alone mention.Let us begin with the House itself: it is big, it is gray, and it has a red door. Beyond these obvious attractions it is possessed of a lovely sun room with a view of the resident turtles portable pond. The big, friendly living room is home to a swarm of balloons and an amazing light fixture; considered purely as sculpture it could be referred to as the launch of the intergalactic sperm. The dining room comes equipped with a big table and stacks of jigsaw puzzles. The second floor has a big music room, suitable for parties and band practice, with book-lined walls in the best fannish fashion. The third floor has a closet big enough to serve as a guest bedroom. The brass plaque over the door reads, Steve Brust slept here.
In 1990 several Canadian fans (Dave, Elizabeth, Ruth, Sharyl, and Don Bindas) were inspired by fannish households of Minneapolis (such as Toad Hall and the Bozo Bus building) and created a group home of their own in Winnipeg. Thus began Bhigg House. Their home allows each of the them to follow their Muse, so that it is a place of many, many friends.
Some of them gather every summer at BaggieCon, which is all Dave's fault. Each year he enjoyed the music and camaraderie of the group of friends gathered at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. Realizing that the warmth and happiness of good friends, good talk, and good music was the essence of a convention he made it official. Thus was born BaggieCon: an annual gathering of souls united by their love of music, enormous campsites, and desire to stay dry (hence the giant baggies). Like all good conventions it has been commemorated in song, story, and T-shirt. There may even be a few BaggieCon T-shirts left -- just ask.
The defining characteristic of the Bhigg House is hospitality, and last year's BaggieCon was a prime example. The Winnipeg Folk Festival ended early, to the strains of tornado warnings and a spectacular thunderstorm, rather than the usual Mary Ellen Carter and Ripple. After the worst of the storm was over, 16 BaggieCon campers fled the disaster site and followed Ruth to the Bhigg House. They arrived at 2:30 a.m., drenched and dripping. Mike, Sharyl, and Elizabeth gave them a warm welcome, hot showers, dry clothes, places to sleep, and a chance to sing Ripple anyway. By morning, Elizabeth had all of their wet clothes washed and dried and was acclaimed as the patron saint of the BaggieCon campers.
As you might expect with such a friendly group, they are not coming to Minicon alone. Look for the rest of Dandelion Wine, other musicians, family, and friends. Of course they can't bring the house with them (they just had the foundation redone and they can't do a thing with it), but the spirit of the Bhigg House is with them, and you can experience Bhigg House hospitality for yourself. Look for the Red Door on the 16th floor. (See the pocket program for places and times).
Rambling the Galaxy Dodeka (Tape)
Cheap Hooch Dandelion Wine (CD)