Conference noted::sf

1257.0. "PR for ARISIA 95 JAN 13-15, Boston MA" by HOTLNE::WILLIS () Tue Jan 03 1995 19:45

A frind sent this to me so I've decided to share it with the group.
    
    jw
Subject: ARISIA '95 Progress Report (long)
Message-ID: <D1oGEp.yJ@world.std.com>
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Distribution: rec.arts.sf.fandom, alt.fandom.cons, rec.arts.sf.announce
Date: Sat, 31 Dec 1994 13:35:12 GMT
 
This is the text of the Arisia PR for Arisia '95,
January 13 - 15, at the Boston Park Plaza.
 
 
AT-CON REGISTRATION
     You must register to attend the 
convention!  Wear your badge at all 
times in the hotel.  Registration 
times are listed in the schedule at 
the end.  Bring a photo ID, or this 
packet plus any ID, with you when you 
register.  Registrations are 
transferable but non-refundable.  To 
transfer a membership, write a signed 
letter stating your name and the name 
of the person to whom you wish to 
transfer your membership; have them 
present the letter, along with your 
pre-registration packet and 
appropriate ID, at Registration.
     At-the-door memberships are 
available (until we reach our 
membership limit) at $40 for adults 
(over 12), $20 for 18 months to 7 
years, $25 for ages 8 to 12; one-day 
memberships may also be available.  
Kids-in-tow (with a registered adult 
at all times) are free.  Group 
memberships were only available in 
advance.
 
GENERAL BEHAVIOR
     Arisia expects its members to 
respect each other and behave in a 
generally civilized fashion.  Please 
report any incidents in which a member 
of the convention is abusive, 
insulting, intimidating or bothersome 
to Convention Security on the 
Mezzanine.  Arisia reserves the right 
to revoke,  without refund, the 
membership of anyone we feel is a 
major problem.  Persons violating 
state laws, such as using illicit 
drugs or serving alcohol to minors, 
will be turned over to the Boston 
Police or the hotel security force. 
 
WEAPONS POLICY
     ALL WEAPONS WORN BY MEMBERS MUST 
BE PEACE-BONDED BY SECURITY WHEN YOU 
REGISTER!  The Arisia Security Head 
will be the final arbiter of whether 
an item is a weapon.  Any item in a 
holster (even pistol-gripped screw 
guns), "boffers", or things liable to 
trip others are considered weapons.  
The following weapons are illegal in 
Massachusetts:  blackjacks, billy-
clubs, any sort of double-edged knife 
(symmetrical cross-section, even if 
one side is dull), nunchucks, shuriken 
(throwing stars).  Weapons worn solely 
for the Masquerade as part of an on-
stage costume need not be peace-
bonded, but must still be registered, 
and secured at other times.
 
OUR HOTEL
     Once again, Arisia will be in 
the:
 
     Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers
     64 Arlington Street
     Boston, MA  02116
     Phone (800)225-2008 or (617)426-
          2000
 
A hotel registration card is included 
in this packet.  Room rates are $78 
for a single or double, $88 for a 
triple and $98 for a quad.  Suites are 
$195 for a one-bedroom suite and $225 
for a two-bedroom suite.  
     When you register, you may ask 
for a "quiet" floor, or an "active" 
floor.  The hotel is currently limited 
to two "smoking room" floors; both are 
"active".  We will make every effort 
to block rooms according to requests.  
If you are renting a suite for party 
or hospitality reasons, you should 
also contact our Hotel Room Liaison:
 
     Joel Herda
     17 Creighton St.
     Cambridge, MA  02140
     e-mail:  joelll@cs.umb.edu
     Per order of the fire marshal, 
Smoking is only allowed in guest's
sleeping rooms on smoking room floors, 
and in the Main Lobby.  THERE IS NO 
SMOKING ALLOWED IN ANY OTHER AREA OF 
THE HOTEL.
     Valet parking is available 
through the hotel at $18/day.  There 
are independent garages in the area 
charging as low as $13/day, but they 
do not include free in-out privileges.  
We suggest that you use of the MBTA 
parking garages (at Alewife, Quincy, 
Riverside, Malden, and others) for 
$4/day and take the subway if you will 
not be needing your car.  Directions 
to the hotel are enclosed.
     If you plan to arrive after 4PM, 
you must guarantee your reservation 
with a major credit card or check (to 
be received by the hotel 7 days in 
advance).  If you plan to pay by cash 
or check, a $25 deposit is required to 
cover incidentals (e.g., phone, room 
service), and will be refunded if not 
used.  Boston charges a 9.7% tax on 
hotel rates, and Massachusetts has a 
5% sales and meals tax.  The Boston 
Park Plaza also adds an optional 
$1/day fee which may be removed by 
request at checkout, to support 
ecological programs.
 
PARTIES
     If you wish to have an *open* 
party in your room (one where your 
door is ajar, or that is publicized in 
any way), it must be on an "active" 
floor.  All open parties must register 
with Security beforehand by completing 
a form at the Information Desk.  They 
should also register with our Hotel 
Room Liaison, Joel Herda, in order to 
be properly blocked.  In exchange, we 
will "seed" your party with some 
goodies and advertise it on special 
party boards and in the convention 
newsletter (time permitting).  Posters 
and flyers can not be attached to 
hotel property with tape or tacks; use 
bulletin boards or "Static Mat" 
sheets.  We request there be NO 
SMOKING permitted at open parties.  
ALCOHOL IS NOT PERMITTED to be served 
(in any form) at open parties.  A 
*closed* party is one that is not 
publicized at the convention, has a 
closed door and a closed invitation 
list, and what occurs there is between 
the occupants of the room and the 
hotel.  
 
FOR YOUNGER FANS
     Arisia memberships for the 
children of attendees include:  Fans 
of the Future, a safe haven for 
children ages 18 months to 7 years 
(costs $20); and Fast Track, for 
children ages 8 to 12, which includes 
special panels and activities ( costs 
$25).  Bring your children, wearing 
badges, to the area coordinator to be 
introduced.  Space is limited in both 
programs, so advance arrangements with 
Suli Isaacs at (617) 924-1955 are 
suggested.
     For both programs, parents will 
be issued beepers for a $25 refundable 
deposit (or may bring their own).  
This is *not* daycare;  children must 
be picked up for meals.  We cannot 
accept any sick children, or those 
with needs we feel we are unable to 
meet.  Hours are listed in the 
schedule.
     Parents are asked to volunteer in 
the kids' programs for a few hours 
during the convention (extra gopher 
hours will be credited).  Contact the 
hotel in advance for professional 
baby-sitters at commercial rates.  
"Kids-in-tow" are those 12 and under, 
with their parent or guardian at all 
times, and not in kids' programs.
 
FRIDAY NIGHT SPECIAL
     Our spectacular Opening 
Ceremonies stars Marty Gear, and our 
Guests of Honor, plus a horde of 
questionable characters.  Stay for our 
Meet-The-Pros Reception, followed by 
the Chronol Cotillion.  This dance 
will time-trip from a turn of the 
century English Ball (all dances will 
be taught) through six decades of 
modern dance*and beyond.  Afterwards, 
don't miss our big-screen feature 
films, plus shorts you just can't get 
on video.
 
GUEST OF HONOR EVENTS
     Our Writer Guest of Honor, C. J. 
Cherryh, describes herself thus:  "I 
write full time; I travel; I try out 
things...".  She also keeps "a 
constantly updated list of wonders 
this planet has to see".  She will 
speak Saturday at 5PM.
     Our Artist Guest of Honor, JAEL, 
has had art work exhibited at many 
museums, galleries and convention art 
shows.  JAEL has fascinating stories, 
so we're giving her a stage, a stool, 
and a screen, and turning her loose to 
tell of her life and show slides of 
her work.  Come see her Saturday at 
11AM in the Imperial Ballroom.
     Filking, or fannish folk-singing, 
is a long-standing Arisia tradition.  
Thanks to the support of 
M.A.S.S.F.I.L.C., this year we are 
fortunate enough to have Moonwulf 
(Michael Loncor) as our Featured 
Filker.  He has released three tapes, 
is active in the S.C.A., has a wicked 
sense of humor, and is an excellent 
performer; see him at 4PM Saturday.  
Filk concerts will also be going on 
between noon and 4PM Sunday, and there 
will be workshops and filk panels 
during the convention.  
     Fan Guest of Honor, Walter Kahn, 
will "chat" about fandom, the 
universe, and getting a life at the 
Opening Ceremonies.  Walter has worked 
for regional SF cons and Worldcons.  
Deryl Burr, our Tech Guest of Honor, 
has worked Tech for many conventions, 
and will be happy to get you involved.
 
THE BOUNTEOUS BANQUET
     Our "traditional" Banquet, where 
you can meet Guests of Honor C. J. 
Cherryh, JAEL and Walter Kahn, will be 
held Saturday night in the Cafe Rouge.  
As with our first two, we promise you 
something unique and memorable.  For 
$25 per person, you have your choice 
of a Beef, Chicken, Fish or Vegetarian 
Pasta entree.  (We apologize for the 
earlier misprint regarding the price.)  
To purchase tickets in advance, send 
$25 with your choice of entree to our 
Arisia address.
 
THE MASQUERADE
     Saturday night in the Imperial 
Ballroom we will have the sensational 
Arisia '95 Masquerade.  Anyone may 
compete; there are four classes to be 
judged (junior, novice, journeyman, 
and master).  We have an experienced 
technical support crew.  "Half-time" 
will be filled with fun by The 
Gunderson (Nick Pollata), and a brief 
performance by Moonwulf.    
     The Masquerade Registration table 
will be on the Mezzanine near 
Information Friday night or Saturday 
until 2PM.  If you enjoy costuming, 
look for panels and demonstrations in 
Franklin on the fourth floor 
throughout the convention.
     After the Masquerade, we are 
pleased to have a Camarilla Live 
Action Role Playing Event, including 
vampires and a live (or undead) band, 
which will end, naturally, shortly 
before dawn.
 
THE PROGRAM
     There will be a multitude of 
panels, workshops, demonstrations and 
discussions on various topics.  Be 
sure to look for these tracks:  Art, 
Comix (comic books and graphic 
novels), Costuming, Fan, Filking, 
Gaming, Literature (Alternate History 
theme), Media, Science, Technology and 
more.  If you wish to create your own 
discussion group, pick up a form at 
the Information Desk.  
     The Writer's Workshop requires 
submissions by December 25, 1994; send 
them now to:  
     Paul Tumey
     25 Warner Street #1
     Somerville, MA  02144
 
 
VIDEO
     The around-the-clock Video 
Theatre returns with full surround-
sound to the Stanbro Room with such 
classics as _The Wizard of Speed and 
Time_, _Buckaroo Banzai_,  
_Dangermouse_, and _I Married a 
Monster From Outer Space_.  We will 
also have a hotel cable channel 
simulcast and show the Amateur Video 
Contest entries as time permits.  
During our popular Breakfast Serials, 
look for _Captain America_ (Saturday) 
and the _Crimson Ghost_ (Sunday).  
There is an improved menu for the 
Breakfast Serials.  Adults are $11 for 
the hot buffet and $6 for the cold 
buffet, both available from 7:30 until 
11:30AM; the special price for 
children under twelve is $6 for the 
entire buffet.  
 
GAMING
     There will be two tournaments at 
Arisia '95:  _Star Fleet Battles_ and 
_Robotech Lance_.  There will also be 
a Live Role Playing game, _Revenge of 
the Mad Scientists_, from Wyrd 
enterprises.  An open gaming area will 
be available for those who wish to 
play their own games, or try out new 
ones.
 
DEALER'S ROOM & ROW
     The Dealer's Room, in the Plaza 
Ballroom on the Mezzanine, will 
feature over twenty different dealers 
of jewelry, books, videos, games, 
artwork, magazines, sculpture, and 
much more.  The room is open at set 
times.  Dealer's Row, on the sixth 
floor near the ConSuite, has hours at 
the discretion of the 15 or more 
individual dealers.  Maps for both 
will be available at the convention.
 
ART SHOW & AUCTION
     Our largest ever Art Show in the 
Georgian and Arlington rooms will be 
featuring the artwork of our Artist 
Guest of Honor, JAEL, and over fifty 
other talented amateur and 
professional artists, with much of the 
artwork for sale. Artwork with fewer 
than four bids on Sunday is sold to 
the highest bidder; pieces of art with 
four or more bids will go to a voice 
Auction on Sunday at 1PM.   You may 
register as a bidder at the Art Show 
desk.  There will also be a Print Shop 
where fine art prints are available at 
(affordable!) fixed prices.  If you 
enjoy art, be sure to check out our 
special Art Programming track in 
Arlington on the Mezzanine.
 
VOLUNTEERS ("GOPHERS")
     Arisia is planned and staffed 
entirely by volunteers.  Without their 
great and noble efforts, this 
convention could not occur.  If you 
would like to become a part of Team 
Arisia, sign up at the Gopher Room in 
Fairfield on the Mezzanine, near 
Information.  You'll get an 
opportunity to meet fellow fans, and 
if you work 5 hours you receive a 
collectable pin.  For 10 hours you 
earn a special souvenir T-shirt.  
Gophers working 18 hours or more get a 
free membership to next year's Arisia 
as well.  
     No experience is needed, and 
persons of all ages are invited (those 
under 18 need parental permission).  
If you will be arriving early or 
staying late, contact Tim Roberge 
about earning extra hours by working 
set-up (pre-con) and tear-down (post-
con).
 
SCHEDULE
*Check the Pocket Program or At-Con 
newsletter for updated schedules.*
 
REGISTRATION
Open Fri. 2*11PM & Sat. 10AM*3PM, 
     Berkeley/Clarendon
Sat. 3*8PM & Sun. 10AM*3PM, Mezzanine
Masquerade Sign-up Fri. 4*10PM & Sat. 
     10AM*2PM, Mezzanine
Arisia '96 Membership Sales Sun. 3* 
     6PM, Mezzanine
 
ART SHOW HOURS (Georgian/Arlington)
Open Fri. 7*9:15PM, Sat. 10AM*7PM & 
     Sun. 10AM*Noon 
Check-in Fri. 3*8PM & Sat. 9AM*Noon
Art Auction, Sun. 1*4PM, 
     Berkeley/Clarendon
Art Show Sales Sun. 3*5PM, Arlington
Artist Check-out Sun. 2*5PM, Georgian
 
DEALER'S ROOM HOURS (Plaza Ballroom)
Open Fri. 4*8PM, Sat. 10AM*7PM & Sun. 
     10AM*3PM
Dealer's Set-up Fri. 2*4PM
Dealer's Move-out Sun. 3*6PM 
 
FUTURE FANS & FAST TRACK
Open Fri. 4*6:30PM, Sat. 9:30AM*     
6:30PM & 7:30*11:30PM, and Sun.      
9:30AM*4PM
 
EVENTS (Imperial Ballroom)
 
Friday Night Special:
Opening Ceremonies 7PM
Meet-the-Pros Reception 7:45PM
Chronol Cotillion & Dances 8:30PM
Late-night Films 1AM
 
Saturday:
JAEL's Slide Show 11AM
Moonwulf Concert 4PM
C. J. Cherryh's Speech 5PM
Banquet, 6PM*8PM, Cafe Rouge
Masquerade seating opens 8PM
Masquerade 8:30PM
Camarilla LARP after Masquerade
 
Sunday:
Filk Concerts Noon
Closing Ceremonies 4PM
Gripe Session 5PM
Convention Closes 6PM
 
PROGRAM (4th Fl.) & VIDEO ROOM 
     (Stanbro)
Set-up Fri. 8AM*7PM
Video Room open Fri. 2PM to Sun. 6PM
Breakfast Serials Sat. & Sun. 7*
     11:30AM
Panels Fri. 7PM*1AM, Sat. 10AM*1AM, & 
     Sun. 10AM*6PM
 
Tear Down begins Sun. 6PM.  All
     persons remaining in convention 
     areas will be drafted!
 
 
GETTING TO ARISIA '95
 
BY SUBWAY/TRANSIT SYSTEM
     The hotel is near the Arlington 
MBTA ("T") stop on the Green Line.  
Take the Arlington Street exit from 
the station, not the Berkeley Street 
exit, and walk one block south of the 
station, away from the Public Gardens.  
The hotel will be in front of you.
 
BY CAR:
 
FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE 
(I-90 and Points West)
     Head East on the Mass. Pike into 
Boston.   Take the Copley Square Exit 
(Exit 22) and follow onto Stuart 
Street for three blocks.  The hotel is 
on the left at the corner of Arlington 
Street.  The parking garage will be 
plainly visible, marked by the word 
"PARK" spelled vertically down the 
right side of the building.  The hotel 
also has Valet Parking (see below).
 
FROM INTERSTATE 93 (Points North)
     Take I-93 South into the city.  
Bear right onto *Storrow Drive* and 
following the signs to Back Bay.  Exit 
at Copley Square, turn left at the 
light and then immediately right on to 
Arlington Street.  Proceed five 
blocks.  The hotel is on your left, 
one block after Boylston Street.  To 
get to the *motor entrance*, take a 
left at the stoplight after the hotel 
and circle around the island on to 
Columbus Avenue where the Valet 
Parking entrance is located.
 
FROM THE SOUTHEAST EXPRESSWAY
(Points South)
     Take the Expressway (I-93, a.k.a. 
Route 3) into the city.  Exit at 
Kneeland  Street / Chinatown.  At the 
stop light turn left onto Kneeland 
Street.  Drive approximately six 
blocks until you are forced to turn 
right.  Stay in the left-hand lane and 
turn right onto Charles Street South 
(forced).  Take the first left onto 
Park Plaza.  The hotel is directly 
ahead.  Bear left on to Columbus 
Avenue to reach the motor entrance.
 
FROM LOGAN AIRPORT
     Follow the signs to the Sumner 
Tunnel ($1 toll).  After exiting the 
tunnel take the second right onto the 
elevated Central Artery going North.  
Exit at Cambridge/Storrow Drive, the 
second exit on the right.  Follow the 
directions above under Interstate 93 
from Storrow Drive.
     Taxis, limousines, the Airport 
Water Shuttle and the MBTA are all 
available at the airport, and are 
highly recommended, especially for 
those unfamiliar to Boston, which has 
many one-way streets.  Taxis cost 
around $10 (less if you are able to 
share) and limousine service to the 
hotel costs approximately $7.50.  The 
MBTA will cost you $0.85.
     MassPort buses pick up passengers 
from the various air terminals and 
take them to the Airport MBTA station 
for no charge.  Make sure you are on a 
bus that goes to the station, and not 
one that just circles the terminals.  
Take the Blue Line train inbound to 
Government Center Station.  Go up an 
escalator or stairs to get from the 
Blue Line to the Green Line, and find 
a Green Line train heading toward Park 
Street (Outbound or West).  Get off at 
the Arlington stop (2nd after Park 
St.) and follow the subway directions 
above.