If there is any 3 or 4 XL tees from the past few Minicons I'd like to buy one for each year. TIA.

Tony von Krag
612 703 6573
vonkrag at gmail dot com

Tomorrow, vanaabegra and I will be hosting the MnStf meeting/party. There will be conversation, card games, board games, maybe a bonfire, and definitely some beer. Everyone is welcome. We are at 2829 Alabama Avenue South in Saint Louis Park, MN 55416. Park on either side of the street. The festivities start at 2:00PM, though many people do not arrive until about 4:00PM. We will probably go until latish.

Here are the informings:
1) Those of you with allergies should be aware that the house contains two cats. vanaabegra vacuumed today, but there is always more cat hair. Additionally, it's shedding season.

2) There will be beverages, though maybe not the exact beverage that you want. There will be beer, wine, Kool-Aid, Crystal Light, water, and a limited amount of soda pop. I'll pick up a small assortment of sweetened and "diet" soda pop, but I assure you, I'll get what's on sale and it's probably going to be the wrong ones. If you have a strong preference for a brand, please feel free to bring your own.

3) Please do not bring guns or pets.

Register today (or tomorrow) for Minicon 48 (the one in 2013) and get the lowest pre-registration rate. Minicon 48 Registration. It's our "at the con" rate, but you can register online too.

[Info snagged from the pocket program with details on locations of Consuite & Bar based on my own observation.]

Registration is located on the first floor in the north/short tower atrium area. Not sure where that is? Follow hotel signs to the coffee shop and you should be able to see a bunch of big tables from there. That's also where you should go to Volunteer or ask questions. Registration will be open 10am - 10pm on Friday, 9:30am - 8pm on Saturday, 9:30am - 4pm on Sunday.

The consuite is located on the 8th floor in the North/short tower (accessible from the elevators near the coffee shop, not the ones near the front desk & hotel bar). When you emerge from those elevators on the 8th floor, you'll want to head down the long corridor on the right side of the atrium, all the way down the hall to what is essentially room 882 (a.k.a. Manager's Apartment). The consuite opens at 4pm on Friday and will remain open for the rest of the con.

The Bar (a.k.a. The Singularity) is located on the 7th floor of the north/short tower. As you get off the elevator on the 7th floor, it is located immediately to your right. The Bar will open at 5pm on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and stay open "until we drop."

The Art Show is located in Atrium 4. Hours are: 3-7pm Friday; with a Reception and "How to Draw a Dragon" from 5:30-6:30pm. 10am - 6pm on Saturday with Live Model Drawing from 1-2pm. Art Show pickup is from 11am-4pm on Sunday.

The Dealers' & Science Room is in Plaza 5 & 6. Hours are 3-7pm on Friday, 10am-6pm on Saturday, 11am-4pm on Sunday.

The first panels listed on the programming grid are at 4pm. Opening Ceremonies at 7pm in the Edina Room. Closing Ceremony 4pm on Sunday in Edina Room.

First Kid-Friendly programming item starts at 1pm on Friday. You'll find children's programming in Plaza 3.

Film Room is in Plaza 4, first films scheduled to start on Friday at 6pm, Saturday at 10:30am, Sunday at 10pm.

Music Stage is in Plaza 2 with performances starting at 8pm on Friday, 2pm on Saturday. Late night music circles in Atrium 8 starting at 8pm on Friday, 9pm on Saturday (or whenever people show up).

There's space for gaming in an open area between Atrium 4 & Atrium 5; there's also a gaming room in Plaza 1 with scheduled games.

Everything is subject to change, of course, and the most current schedule (and map) can be found posted at the con. With changes listed in the con newsletter and posted at the con.

I guess internet access is still free, but they were having some technical difficulties yesterday or something like that.

I know that Ctein & Peer each have some info on it so if you spot them at the hotel you might ask them what's what. Or other folks who seem connected. Or just go to the front desk or call down to the front desk and ask how to get access.

gerisullivan reports: "Yes, internet access is free and working today. The passcode(s) for guest rooms and programming space are on a sheet of paper near the program books at Minicon Registration."

I've made a version of the Minicon program schedule for my iPhone app (pSchedule). Just start the app (downloading it first if you have to (it's free in the App Store)), then go to Prefs (the button at the bottom of the screen), Check for Data Updates, Check for Data Update, and select Minicon47. The data's been updated to match the pocket program.

COMMENTS MAY INCLUDE CORRECTIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT PARTIES

W.T. Goddesses’ Birthday Party
Room: 681
Hosts: Sarah Richard
Hours: Fri and Sat, 8PM to 11:30PM

We are celebrating Goddess Gaia’s birthday, as well as the 4th year of the WTG party at Minicon! Relax with the Goddesses and enjoy a bit of birthday cake! (while supplies last…)

Terry Pratchett’s Seamstresses
Room: 682
Hosts: Missy Hayes and Matthew Gress
Hours: TBD

The Seamstresses are once again bringing their genteel… revelry and... negotiated hospitality… to Minicon! Join us as we further celebrate Terry Pratchett and his work.

Anime Twin Cities
Room: 678
Hosts: Erick Hofer and Matt Paulson
Hours: Fri, 5PM - 1AM and Sat, 5PM - 1AM

Ever wonder what the people behind Anime Detour are cooking up now? Just come down to the ATC Room Party and have a chat, eat some snacks, watch some AMV's, Anime, Old Cartoons from the 80's or have a nice conversation.

Krushenko’s Annex
Room: 672
Host: Eric Heideman
Hours: Fri, Sat and Sun evenings as shown below

Fri, 8:00PM – 1:00AM: Tales of the Unanticipated Party
Come and get acquainted/reacquainted with this Twin Cities speculative fiction anthology, published by MN-StF from 1986-2002, by TOTU Ink from 2003-2011, and by SF Minnesota from 2011. Hang out with TOTU contributors and staff, past and present, and hear about #31, our Silver Anniversary Issue, due out this summer.

Sat, 8:30PM - 2:00AM: Bandana Square Cons Party
Hosted by three cons to be held at Best Western, Bandana Square, St Paul this year: Con-Sarnit Five, a Western convention celebrating Western Icon Randolph Scott (1898-1976) and author Frederick Manfred (1912-19994), June 1 & 2; Diversicon 20, a multicultural speculative fiction convention, August 3-5, With Guests of Honor Steven Barnes and Tananarive Due; and Arcana 42, a horror fiction-and-film convention, October 19-21, with Guest of Honor S.T. Joshi.

Sun, 7:30PM - late: A Party for Readers and Viewers
Sponsored by Second Foundation, a Twin Cities speculative fiction book discussion group that has met regularly since January 1983, whose members are also film buffs. The party will probably combine conversation with a couple of viewers’ choice films, and probably some gaming.

Brit-Con MN
Room: 677
Host: Patricia Taylor
Hours: Fri and Sat, 9PM – 12AM

Brit-Con MN is a new convention focused on British SF and Folklore coming later this year. Please come to our British themed party for tea and to get information about our convention.

The Geek Partnership Society
Room: 674
Host: Ted Berquim
Hours: Fri, 7PM - 12AM and Sat, 6PM - 1AM

Hey! We are back; bringing with us all that which is Geeky. Join us for fun, games, and Mini-Cupcakes!

KCin2016
Room: 675
Host: Jeff Orth
Hours: TBD – so come on over!

See what’s great in Kansas City (the people, the place, the food) as they offer the KCin2016 Worldcon bid!

LiveJournal Party
Room: Probably 671 and 669
Hosts: Dean Gahlon, Laura Krentz and Scott and Irene Raun
Hours: Sat, 8PM until…?

The LiveJournal Party provides an opportunity for members (and potential members) of this online social network community to meet and talk in person.

Sewing Circle
Room: Probably 671
Hosts: Laura Krentz
Hours: Sun, 2PM until…?

The Ladies Sewing Circle meets monthly in the Twin Cities. This gathering is open to anyone who wants to work on crafty projects such as knitting, crocheting, sewing, etc.

Baron Dave’s Triple Birthday Bash
Room: 673
Host: Dave Romm
Hours: Fri, TBD and Sat, 7PM until closing

Ethel, Dave and Carole all have birthdays around Minicon – even in the Mayan calendar! Help us celebrate our last birthday in this b’ak’tun.

Gaylaxians
Room: 676
Host: Jason Tucker
Hours: Fri, 8PM – 10PM and Sat, 7PM - 10PM

Join the North Country Gaylaxians as they prepare for the coming Gayocalypse! Get your Gaydiation levels checked and register for Gaylaxicon 2012 at a discounted rate!

fmsv & cowfan & iraunink & I will be hosting a LiveJournal party at Minicon on Saturday night starting around 8 p.m. in our adjacent rooms on the 6th floor of the short tower. We will have various food and drink - chocolate, other sweet, fruit, cheese, sausage, and beverages. You are welcome to bring additional food and drink to share or to make a donation to the "kitty" toward party expenses if you want. We will have a sign-in sheet where you can list your real name and LJ handle so we can get to know people better.

Musicians are invited to come and make music. Hope to see you there!

I know it's been mentioned as part of other longer posts about different topics, but figured it worth spelling this out loud and clear as it's a big change . . .

The Pool Area at the hotel is being remodeled so Minicon won't have use of any of the rooms surrounding the pool (and if you reserved a room down there, you'll need to move to a different room). As I understand it, Minicon didn't learn about the remodeling and changes until quite recently (a couple of weeks ago).

If I read things right (and someone from the concom please correct me ASAP if I'm wrong), almost all Minicon activities will now be in the North/short tower, though we'll also still have the Bloomington and Edina Rooms (which are located more or less between the north and south towers).

As I understand it, the consuite will be on the 8th floor of the North tower, in the "Manager's Apartment" space that was used as the Minneapolis in '73 party suite at least a couple of times during the "big Minicon" era.

The bar will be on the 7th floor of the North Tower.

Room parties will be on the 6th floor of the North tower.

Art show, dealer's room, most programming, all that good stuff will be located in the Atrium and Plaza rooms on the two lowest levels of the North Tower. I'm assuming Registration will be in that open atrium area space down there (as it was a few years back).

If you've reserved a room in the big/South tower (the tower accessed via the elevators closest to the front desk), I'm assuming the hotel staff will be nice about letting you change your reservation to somewhere in the North tower if you'd like to be closer to the con.

quadong's post about volunteering and the programming grids that mle292 posted about have more specifics on what's where.

cowfan and I and iraunink and sraun will be hosting a LiveJournal party at Minicon on Saturday night starting around 8 p.m. in rooms 669 and 671 in the short tower. We will have various food and drink. You are welcome to bring additional food and drink to share or to make a donation to the "kitty" toward party expenses if you want. We will have a sign-in sheet where you can list your real name and LJ handle so we can get to know people better. Hope to see you there!