MarsCon 2012 -- Rockin' the Apocalypse!

Snarky pix

Mars Today

January 2012

Greetings from MarsCon!

We have barely over a month until the convention. Our latest Progress Report (to print and share with your friends) may be found on-line at: marscon.org/2012/PR_2.pdf. For more news, read on and check out our web site www.marscon.org for frequent updates as the convention approaches.

Rates Are Going Up Soon – Time To Register!

The MarsCon pre-registration rates increase on 1/31/12. Save up for the Dealers Room, Art Show and Charity Auction by registering now. Current rates are $45 for teens/adults, $20 for children (ages 6-12). Free admission for children under 6 years. Our Registration page may be found on the web at: marscon.org/2012/register.php.

About Marscon 2012

MarsCon is a fan-run science fiction convention for all ages held every March in the Twin Cities area. This is our 14th year! At MarsCon you’ll find panel discussions, parties, guest of honor presentations, music of many kinds, our art show, film/anime room, science room, dealers room, charity auction and Masquerade. The Dementia track is virtually a con in itself. Mix and mingle with a few hundred of your favorite fanish friends at MarsCon 2012. We’ll be Rockin’ the Apocalypse!

Guests of Honor:

Preliminary Programming & Parties Lists

Take a look at how Programming is shaping up at: marscon.org/2012/program_schedule.php. And, while you’re at it, you can also check out our preliminary list of Parties at: marscon.org/2012/parties.php Many thanks to Programming volunteers and Party hosts! You bring in the fun!

Gaming at MarsCon

Attention potential Gamemasters and Gamers: Please contact our Gaming Czars at games15d@marscon.org if you would like to run some games or if you have requests for particular games. Open gaming is much more fun if people know what is available. Also, Reaper Miniatures is returning to MarsCon! Reaper is going to give us product to host a Paint and Take event! People can come in, paint a mini, and take it home with them. Whatever happens, it will be cool!

New For MarsCon 2012: The End & The Dungeon

Are the rumors true? Will the Universe (and everything) end in 2012? True or not, you’ll want to visit The End Café, our new MarsCon coffeehouse. We’ll be conveniently located on the newly-smoke-free Crowne Plaza 12th floor. Enjoy a civilized cup of coffee, some personal buzz, and some good conversation… at The End.

If you love music and you love to dance, you will also love The Dungeon. DJs will be on hand to spin techno/dubstep type music and party the night away. The Dungeon is tucked away near the Fitness Center in the third floor Baldwin Room – open Friday and Saturday night for your listening and raving pleasure, and definitely worth discovering.

Hotel Rates & Parking Info

Our hotel is the Crowne Plaza Hotel & Suites (formerly Holiday Inn & Suites), 3 Appletree Square, Bloomington, MN. To reserve a room for MarsCon 2012, call 952-854-9000 or toll-free at 1-800-227-6963, and make sure to mention “MarsCon” in order to get the reduced rate. The room rates will be $95 + tax for a regular room and $115 + tax for suites.

The upper two levels of parking ramp, spaces without reserve signs, and underground levels of the ramp are for parking. Make sure to fill out a parking slip at the front desk to avoid the possibility of getting towed. Also, if you don’t mind taking steps, please consider parking in the underground levels so more spaces are left open on the top level for attendees who have difficulty taking stairs. Thank you for your consideration. See you at MarsCon!

Introducing BRIT CON MN:

Do you love all things British? Our new sister convention, Brit Con MN, is happening Labor Day weekend 2012 at the Hilton Bloomington Hotel on the southwest corner of 494 and France Ave. Brit Con MN is the Midwest’s premier convention for fans of British media, sci-fi, and fantasy. They will be featuring many of your favorites from television, film, and literature. Brit Con MN will have something for everyone: Monty Python, The Prisoner, Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Who, Red Dwarf, Harry Potter, Tolkien, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and much more! The AV room has a stellar line-up of your most-loved British TV and film. Look for tea, scones, and other British inspired fare at the Consuite.

Actor GOHs Sarah Douglas and Frazier Hines will delight and inform. Brit Con MN has also confirmed as guests Sam Stone, David Howe, Shawn van Briesen, Joan Verba, Eric Larson, and Master Dalek builders Dave Duca and Michael Glielmi. This promises to be a fun-filled weekend for all. You can still get in on the low membership rate of $35.00 until March 15, 2012. Room rates at the Hilton for the Brit Con MN room block are an affordable $89.00 per night. Go to www.britconmn.org for more information and a downloadable PDF registration form. For hotel location and information, go to: www.minneapolisbloomington.hilton.com.

This is a first-year convention, and they really need our support to get off the ground. If you would like to attend, please consider registering early. It would greatly help their bottom line. Thanks!

MarsCon 2012: Rockin’ the Apocalypse
March 9-11, 2012

Current email: info15d@marscon.org (Our email address changes often due to spam, spam, spam, wonderful spam. Surf to: http://marscon.org/talktous/index.php for how to contact us if ever an address is not working.)

MARS TODAY Subscriptions

To add yourself—or remove yourself—from our email list please surf to http://mail.marscon.org/mailman/listinfo/marstoday and scroll down to “Subscribing to Mars Today” (to add yourself to our list) or “Mars Today Subscribers” (to remove yourself). Follow the instructions and you’re in (or out). If you have any trouble at all with your Mars Today subscription tell the MarsCon webmaster (contact info).

Thanks once more to volunteers! We could not possibly do this without you! More volunteers are always welcome & needed!

Previous issues:

MarsCon 2012
March 9-11, 2012

Crowne Plaza Hotel and Suites

(Same hotel, different name)
3 Appletree Square
Bloomington, MN 55425

Questions about MarsCon: info15d@marscon.org

There’s more about MarsCon on Facebook and Twitter.

If you are searching for the Marscon in Williamsburg, VA click here. They are worried about a 2012 Apocalypse too.

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