It may sound like bad sci fi, but it's everyday life in 2002. Heck, it's even kind of fun! [Well, except for that bit about the worms....grumble, grumble...] If you'd like to add a little sci fi to your reality, please read on. This issue contains news about upcoming MarsCon-related events, updated hotel information, programming news, and some other miscellaneous news. As always, thank you for your past support & hope to see you at MarsCon!
Music News: The Nick Atoms Destroy Small Bar! - On Saturday, that is! The Nick Atoms, the band that plays your favorite Sci-Fi theme songs will be on the loose, Saturday, 9:30 P.M. on Sept 21st at Christensen's Big V's! How do you get there? It's at 1567 University Ave W off of Snelling in St. Paul: directions.
Who or what are The Nick Atoms? Check out www.thenickatoms.com for the answer. They'll be Playing with Matt Marka and B-Line. If you know The Nick Atoms, come hear Televison theme songs get atomized as well as some old Sci-fi/cult favorites! Never heard them? Now's your chance to get a sample of a MarsCon favorite! Hope to see you there and thanks again for your support! (Please note this an over 21 show, due to it being at a bar. Sorry Jr. fans of The Nick Atoms! They promise to make it up to ya!)
Movie Nights - MarsCon Movie Nights take place at the Plaza Maplewood on the fourth weekend of each month. For September, ALIENS will be showing! Show times are Friday & Saturday, September 27 & 28, at 11:30 p.m. The Plaza Maplewood is just off White Bear Avenue on Larpenteur Avenue (south of Hwy 36) in Maplewood, Minnesota.
Admission price is $4, and ticket sales help us put on a great convention with a reasonable membership rate. Concessions help out the theater, so don't forget your Dots. Have some fun, kick back with popcorn & pop, see a good movie, and hang with other friendly folks!
Coming Attractions:
For Farscape Fans - A massive "Save Farscape" campaign has been launched, and you can become a part of it. For anyone who has not heard the news, Sci-Fi Channel announced earlier this month that the award-winning SF series Farscape is being canceled. If you would like to learn more or get involved, check out farscape.wdsection.com/
Hotel Info - Our home for 2003, the Holiday Inn Select is by I-494 & 34th Ave South in Bloomington, Minnesota, conveniently near the Mpls/St. Paul Airport and the Mall of America. Here's a link to their site.
Sleeping room rates at the Holiday Inn Select for MarsCon weekend will be $89.95 + tax per day for a regular room or $99.95 + tax per day for a suite. To reserve a sleeping room at the Holiday Inn Select, call 952-854-9000 or 1-800-HOLIDAY, and make sure to mention "MarsCon" in order to get the reduced rates. Renting a room at the hotel is a wonderful way to enhance your convention experience. It gives you a home base, a place to park your stuff, entertain friends, and land whenever you finish with partying throughout the convention weekend...not to mention it makes the host hotel very happy with the convention.
The thirteenth floor of the Holiday Inn Select will be our party floor for 2003. Party floor rooms are $109.95 + tax per day, and must be booked through MarsCon. Party rooms will be assigned on a first come, first served basis. To reserve a party room, please contact MarsCon directly via Email 2003info@marscon.org, phone 612-724-0687, or snail mail at P.O. Box 21213, Eagan, MN 55121. A map of the parties floor has been posted on the MarsCon web site. We are always looking for new, fun groups to party with us, so if you haven't thrown a party at MarsCon before, don't be shy. We will happily answer any questions.
Passion For Programming? - Wonderful! You're in the right place. Gargantuan hugs and thanks to all the clubs, writers, artists, guests, and fans who contributed to programming for MarsCon last March. As usual, programming's goal for 2003 will be to embrace and celebrate all facets of science fiction, fantasy, gaming and fandom. That includes costuming, hard sciences, the music of fandom, television, movies, radio, comic books, fan fic, poetry, novels, sf/fantasy art, and the usual fannish zaniness... the list goes on. We're planning to have Opening/Closing Ceremonies, Masquerade, Fan Show, concerts, drum jams, comedic/dramatic performances, panel/roundtable discussions, and programming featuring Guests of Honor. In addition, we're looking for NEW ideas... things we haven't even thought of before... for programming. If you are planning to host an event at MarsCon, if you have an idea for programming, or if you'd like to volunteer to put up signs or be a room czar, please get in touch with our Programming Chair Christine. You will make her day. Christine can be contacted via email at 2003info@marscon.org or through the MarsCon phone or snail mail address.
Here are some dates to keep in mind if you are planning to host a programming event(s), help out with planning of a particular convention activity, or assist with coordinating the programming schedule:
| Sept. 2002 | - | First call for programming ideas (PR#1) |
| Oct. 21, 2002 | - | Prepare Main Stage & Guest of Honor schedules |
| Nov. 17, 2002 | - | Brainstorming, 3pm, Holiday Inn Select [Open to all!] |
| Dec. 16, 2002 | - | Last call for programming ideas (PR#2) |
| Jan. 18, 2003 | - | Programming descriptions in final form for publication |
| Feb. 15, 2003 | - | Last minute programming revisions due |
| Feb. 28-Mar. 2, 2003 | - | Convention happens! |
Thank you in advance for any contributions you make to MarsCon 2003 programming!!
How To Register For Marscon - Registration forms for MarsCon may be found at most local conventions, many comic/gaming stores, at our movie nights, and, yes, even on the MarsCon web site. If you're on the MarsCon mailing list, you'll receive progress reports which also contain registration forms. (If you're not on the mailing list or if your address has recently changed, let us know via one of the methods listed below, and we'll fix it.) Just fill out the form and mail it in to register for the convention. On-line registration through PayPal is also available via the web site.
Rates:
Adults $30 or Children (6-12) $15 until 10/31/02
Adults $40 or Children (6-12) $15 until 1/31/03
Adults $50 or Children (6-12) $25 At the Door
Supporting Memberships $15 before 1/31/03 + $25 when you arrive at con
Upcoming ConCom Meetings - MarsCon planning meetings (also known as ConCom
Meetings) are generally held on the third Sunday of each month, 1:00-4:00
p.m. Meetings are open to all, volunteers and spectators alike, and we
encourage you to attend if interested or even mildly curious. [It's a
little-known fact that these meetings can actually be fun. Shh...] Here is
the schedule for upcoming ConCom Meetings which will all be held at the
Holiday Inn Select, I-494 & 34th Ave S, Bloomington, MN:
October 20, 2002
November 17, 2002
December 15, 2002
January 19, 2003
February 16 & 23, 2003
February 28-March 2, 2003 - THE CONVENTION HAPPENS!!!
Directions: Driving EAST from Bloomington, etc: Take I-494 to the 34th Ave exit. Turn south -- away from the airport -- and drive to 80th Street, the first light. Turn east -- left -- and the hotel entrance will be immediately to your right.
Directions: Driving WEST from St. Paul, Wisconsin, etc: Take either Highway 5 (St. Paul) or I494 (Wisconsin) to the 34th Ave exit. In either case turn south -- away from the airport -- and drive to 80th Street, the first light. Turn east -- left -- and the hotel entrance will be immediately to your right.
THANKS AGAIN TO VOLUNTEERS! WE COULD NOT POSSIBLY DO THIS WITHOUT YOU!!! MORE VOLUNTEERS ALWAYS WELCOME AND NEEDED!
MarsCon 2003: "No One Here Is Exactly What He Appears"
Holiday Inn Select, I-494 & 34th Ave S, Bloomington, MN
Feb. 28-March 2, 2003 -- All Weekend Long!
HOW TO CONTACT MARSCON
E-Mail Address: 2003info@marscon.org
Snail Mail: MarsCon, P.O. Box 21213, Eagan, MN 55121
Web Site Address: http://www.marscon.org
Phone: 612-724-0687 (no collect calls, please)
© 2001, 2002 FenSF, Inc. All rights reserved.
See you there!
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This page last revised January 12, 2006 at 01:51 PM