Balticon Update
Dale Arnold
The Balticon 57 Program schedule is now live online at https://schedule.balticon.org/ As in past years items will continue to be added as we go forward, but this should give you a chance to plan your weekend. Of course the informal stuff at the con goes on as always...
Open Room Parties At Balticon 57:
We have more folks wanting to be on the party floor at Balticon 57 in order to throw open room parties this year than we have had for any Balticon held over the past 10 years. (maybe more years frankly as I only started counting them purposefully 10 years ago)
Room Block Report & Membership Report:
We are well above the room-block-make-it point and we seem to be having fewer drop outs due to last minute emergencies forcing folks away from the con than we had last year. The pre-con registration looks good and although the at-the-door memberships can swing things radically, given the current numbers it looks like we very likely will be at a pre-pandemic level of total attendance.
Con-Suite Roars Back:
The soda syrup supply chain problem of last year has been resolved and the traditional favorite soda flavors are back in the brand name versions people prefer out of the BSFS owned soda machine. Also the snacks will be more like traditional Balticon versions than we had last year. All comp to Balticon members as traditional of course.
Discounted Parking Still Available:
The discount rate for parking under the hotel and up the street during Balticon 57 runs through the con. You can of course pay more than twice as much for parking if you want, but I suggest you use the codes at https://www.balticon.org/wp57/parking/ to save a lot of money. Tell your friends so they can save as well please.
I doubt you all need general Balticon 57 info, but just in case... Balticon 57, the 57th Maryland Regional Science Fiction Convention will be held May 26-29, 2023 at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel, 202 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. The con runs 24x7 Friday 2:30 PM to Monday at 3:30 PM. See www.balticon.org for lots of details. Remember your Balticon membership helps run the literary programs of the Baltimore Science Fiction Society, so tell your family you are there to support literacy and come on down to join the SF fan fun. (In addition, not instead, of course) See (most of) you all there.
Dale Arnold
Balticon 57, the 57th annual science fiction and fantasy convention, will be going on 24x7 this weekend, May 26-29, 2023 at the Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel, 202 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 and virtually online. Check out details at balticon.org
Balticon Schedule in Multiple Formats:
The electronic constantly updated program schedule for Balticon is at https://schedule.balticon.org/ but a program schedule as a pdf document with grids can be found at http://www.bsfs.org/images/B57_Pocket_program-grid.pdf and that pdf file will be printed and posted around the con to help you parse the schedule. I personally prefer the grid format so sending that out to you all.
Balticon Website/Virtual Con Portal:
Virtual Balticon will feature two online only program tracks and 4 streaming live from the con program tracks but you must have a membership to the con to get those virtual items. All in-person memberships have virtual con privileges of course and you can buy a lower cost virtual only membership if you are at home/far-away. Get your membership at https://www.balticon.org/wp57/membership/ and remember to put in your email address because information on how to log into the virtual con will be sent to the email you register with.
Lower cost Parking for Balticon:
Go to https://www.balticon.org/wp57/parking/ and use our parking discount codes and save over 50% on parking for the con.
Exhibitors at the Balticon 57 List Online:
You can see the list of dealers and the list of Artist Alley exhibitors at https://www.balticon.org/wp57/vendors/ and a list of exhibiting artists in the artshow can be found at https://www.balticon.org/wp57/art-show/ These lists are not comprehensive as more folks there than on the list.
2023 Poetry Contest and Young Writers Contest Winners Online:
Published in the BSFan this year, stop by Balticon 57 for your physical copy, the wining works for these contests is published free online and just uploaded at:
Young Writer’s http://www.bsfs.org/images/YW-files/2023_YW.pdf
Poetry http://www.bsfs.org/images/poetry/2023-win.pdf
Balticon Rocketmail Newsletter:
The daily at con Newsletter will be posted to https://www.balticon.org/wp57/rocket-mail/ relatively early each day of the con with news so you can down load from that spot. You can also pick up a paper copy of each days each day at the Balticon Information Desk on the 5th floor foyer right across from con registration. After the con we will preserve for posterity at the B57 History page at bsfs.org but then the news will be history so read while fresh!
I am off to start getting things ready at the hotel for when many of you will show up. See many of you at the con! ---Dale