Hello, folks. ApolloCon 2009 is two weeks away! For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Chuck. My wife, Val, and I will be running the Con Suite at ApolloCon this year. We’re going to do our best to provide you with a comfortable space to enjoy snacks, beverages, and maybe even a quick game or two during ApolloCon weekend.
We ran the Con Suite last year, so we have a better idea of how to run things now. It was not perfect last year – it probably won't be perfect this year, either – but we have a better sense of what's required, what you liked, and what you didn't. So we'll do everything we can to give you a great Con Suite experience.
Food and drink will be similar to last year – chips, dips, crackers, cheeses, nuts, fresh fruits and veggies. There will be meaty chili, veggie chili, and queso, and we'll have some lunchmeat and PB&J if you want to make a sandwich. We'll have 18 different types of soda, as well as bottled water, coffee (regular and decaf), iced tea, and hot water for making tea (we’ll have a nice variety of tea bags available). So if you don't see something that you like, please ask.
This year, some of the local fan groups will be helping us out with events in the Con Suite. Friday evening, our "Welcome" party will be run along with the Houston Browncoats, who have agreed to help with additional food. Saturday lunch will be provided in partnership with Starbase Houston. And we have a surprise in store for you Saturday evening, before the Big Show.
We hope that, during the Con weekend, you'll visit one of the local restaurants. You can get everything from McDonalds to Korean BBQ within a short drive from the hotel. The hotel's own restaurant (Oakley's) will be open, for breakfast only, and they have a great morning buffet. The bar (Derrick's) serves a full menu after 2pm. We think that we’ll be able to help you keep your hunger at bay, if you can’t get away. But please think about visiting one of the local eateries. When ApolloCon generates money for neighboring businesses, we all win.
Nobody likes the Con Crud. We’ll be working hard to keep the room clean. This year we're in the hotel's Presidential suite, so keeping it clean will be even more important – we want them to let us have this room again, next year! So we’re providing tongs and serving spoons, so that no one has to use their hands to get food. Con Suite staff will be using food service gloves when handling food. Some people have commented that this is excessive, and don't like the idea of having to scoop out things like potato chips or animal crackers. Please envision eating your food out of the hands of whoever was in front of you, or the person behind you eating their food out of your hands - we're just trying to be considerate to every member, and help keep you all healthy. We want you to enjoy the whole Con, and the week after.
Regarding kids, they’re welcome at the Con, and in the Con Suite, but anyone under 13 needs to be with a parent or guardian at all times. That's for everyone's comfort, and the children's safety. Please keep your younger friends and family members disciplined, and we’ll do our best to work with you. Nobody wants to be disturbed by unruly, out-of-control children. But kids are the future of fandom, too, and we need to make them welcome, and safe.
The same as last year, food and drink CANNOT leave the Con Suite. We don't want to interfere with you unnecessarily – or at all – but we have a good relationship with this hotel, and want to keep it that way. We hope you'll understand.
It's pretty well-established by now, but we will reiterate – we won't be serving alcoholic beverages in the Con Suite during the Con, and please don't bring any in. The Con Suite is an all-ages area, and will be alcohol-free.
We will have lots of sweetener options for people, as well as some soft drinks sweetened with Splenda. With fruit and vegetables available, along with yogurt, hummus, cheese and nuts, we feel we have a number of non-meat proteins. We have even picked up a few low- and no-salt snacks. Many of these items will not be out on the main table – we don’t want adventurous eaters to consume anyone’s only option – so if you have special dietary needs or restrictions, please ask the Con Suite staff. If you have serious food issues, such as allergies or a chronic health condition, please plan on bringing your own food and drink items – we can't promise we'll have something for every possible health condition.
As mentioned above, we'll be in room 717, the Presidential Suite. This is almost twice as big as the space has been the last few years. Hopefully we'll have more room for everyone. Our hours will be the same as last year, 8 am until 3 am. We won't have the "ApolloCon Café" this time, but there are several public sitting areas in the lobby, and the hotel is happy to have well-behaved people stay and talk all night long, in those areas.
We hope that you’ll stop by, have a snack and a drink, and see some old friends, or make new ones. We’re going to do our best for you. Have a great ApolloCon! - Chuck & Val.
P.S. – If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at consuite.2009@apollocon.org. Thank you.
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fionnghal on 2009.10.17 at 18:19
optimistic
bouncy