Chicon 2000 Infobot News - 22-Feb-2000
Chicon 2000, P. O. Box 642057, Chicago IL 60664, fax: 312-946-3779
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In this issue:
Latest Hotel News from the Chairman
Suites at the Hyatt Regency Chicago
Suites at the Fairmont and Swissotel
What's Happening on the AcaTrack
How To Get Around in Chicago
Other Events in Chicago
Want Ads: Children's Programming, At-Con Web Operators
Latest Hotel News from the Chairman * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Although hotel room booking has gone fairly smoothly for most members,
there have been some complaints, and one unanticipated problem has
emerged. Here is an update:
1. Members who want to reserve rooms during the period before and
after the convention have encountered delays in obtaining
confirmations. This problem is not due to any shortage of rooms. The
cause is the hotels' practice of putting rooms into One-Stop Chicago's
inventory little-by-little - especially for nights well outside the
"core" of the convention. Some mundane conventions overblock badly and
don't release unneeded rooms until it's too late to resell them. To
avoid being stung, the hotels hold back space until demand emerges. In
Chicon's case, demand emerged much, much more rapidly than they
expected. Both One-Stop and the hotels are scrambling to catch up.
2. Our room rate negotiations with the Swissotel suffered a serious
snafu that led to our announcing the wrong rates. The rates that the
hotel meant to offer are very good - $109/night for single/double and
$139/night for triple/quad - but are a little higher than what we
thought they were. I'm very sorry that this mistake occurred. If I had
been paying closer attention, it wouldn't have. The moral is, if you
set up a fool-proof system, take into account the ingenuity of fools.
3. If you encounter any difficulties in making your reservation,
please let me know at chair@chicon.org. If we hear about problems
first-hand, rather than via newsgroup gossip, we can deal with them
more effectively.
Tom Veal
Chairman, Chicon 2000
Suites at the Hyatt Regency Chicago * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
We are now accepting Suite Reservation Requests on-line via a fill-in
web page. If you've already sent in a request before this week, please
go to the web page and re-send it - it'll help us put everything into
a database.
You can navigate from the www.chicon.org main page, or go directly to
the fill-in form at
http://www.chicon.org/hotel/suites.htm
Note: If you don't have web access, write to
info@chicon.org
with a message (subject line doesn't matter) that says
send suites.txt
then print out the form, fill it in, and fax it or mail it in.
Suites at the Fairmont and Swissotel * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Fairmont Hotel and the Swissotel have suites available for those who
would like luxurious accommodations away from "the madding crowd".
Chicon rates are -
Fairmont $350/night (one bedroom); $525/night (two bedroom)
Swissotel $375/night (junior suite); $475/night (executive suite)
These suites are not set up in One-Stop Chicago's inventory. To obtain
one, you must call One-Stop Chicago (800-424-5248 or +1 847 940-2152),
make your request, then wait patiently until the hotel can confirm
availability. If you encounter difficulties, send e-mail to
chair@chicon.org, and we'll get them straightened out.
The Fairmont also has several very large suites with excellent views,
suitable for hotel-catered hospitality. Information is available from
chair@chicon.org.
As has been announced in many places (but we'll say it again), anyone
who desires a suite at the Hyatt must submit a suite request form, see
above.
What's Happening on the AcaTrack * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Beverly Friend, Beverly.Friend@chicon.org
Long ago, in a place not so far away (Milwaukee), Jerry Pournelle
dismayed an audience of academics attending the annual meeting of the
Science Fiction Research Association.
First, Jerry likened science fiction authors to hunters, going out
into the woods to bag their prey, bringing it home slung over their
shoulders. Then, he compared science fiction critics and teachers to
parasites, living off those writers.
That view continues today, giving fans a distorted view of academia.
To fight back, Neil Rest led a wonderful panel on "Fandom for
Academics" at another SFRA meeting, this time in Evanston.
Now, the discussion continues on two Academic Track CHICON Panels.
Neil will be joined by Phyllis and Alex Eisenstein, Leah Zeldes, Dick
Smith and Diane Blackwood for the panel, "What Academics Can Learn
from the Fans." Then, Diane will shift gear and join Betty Hull and
myself for a parallel panel on "What Fans Can Learn from Academics."
Betty and I are continuing our thoughts from another SFRA moment when
we spoke on "Who's Afraid of the Ph.D's."
Academics are fans, too, it's just that their fandom may spill over to
main-stream authors: Hemingway, Joyce, even Jane Austen. Many
academics also wear several hats. Some are authors and critics as well
as fans, and the academic track will cover such diverse topics as
teaching SF, the state of criticism, feminism, utopian fiction, and
the minority presence in science fiction literature.
Eric Rabkin, from the University of Michigan, is planning one of the
most exciting presentations. He will be joined by some of his student
researchers for "SF Red in Tooth and Claw: the Genre Evolution Project
Studies the Struggles of the American Science Fiction Short Story."
For a closer look at their work in progress, see their website The
Genre Evolution Project .
Additional programming, so far, also includes presentations from
scholars nationwide:
* Bob Blackwood, Wright College
* Gail Bondi. Jacksonville University
* Bill Clemente, Peru State College
* Solomon Davidoff, Bowling Green State University
* Bill Ernoehazy, M.D.
* John Flynn, Towson University
* Victoria Garcia, University of Colorado
* Joan Gordon, Nassau Community College
* Jim Gunn, University of Kansas
* Jesse Rhines, Rutgers
* Joe Sanders, University of Kentucky
* Batya Weinbaum, Cleveland State University
* Gary Wolfe, Roosevelt University.
To submit ideas, or join us, contact Beverly Friend at
Beverly.Friend@chicon.org.
Sidebar
Anyone interested in earning Continuing Education Credits from Oakton
Community College (at a rate of 1 credit for 10 hours of
participation), contact Beverly Friend at Beverly.Friend@chicon.org.
How To Get Around in Chicago * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
or, you CAN get there from here!
by John Donat, John.Donat@chicon.org
Ok, now that you have decided to come to Chicago for the Worldcon, and
now... how do you get there, and once you are here, how do you
navigate in this monster of a city!
First, Chicago is blessed with one of the finest transport webs in
North America -- two busy airports, 60 Amtrak trains a day, and lots
of Interstate highways all come together in Chicago.
If you decide to fly, Chicago is one of a small number of cities that
have their airports connected to the transit system. Both O'Hare and
Midway have subway (or as we call it in Chicago, the El) stations. The
O'Hare station is under the parking garage, and is one of the nicer
subway stations, especially considering the limitations placed on it
by its design goals. The Midway El station is just east of the
airport, reachable by an overhead pedway. Getting downtown is a simple
matter of getting a transit card from a kiosk, and getting on the
train. The fare is $1.50/trip, no transfer required. If you desire,
you can put in more $$, and get discounts on trips after $10.00 and
$20.00 increments. The fare cards are also used on the CTA buses. It
takes about 30-40 minutes from the airport to the downtown stops. The
downtown stops are about 4 blocks away from the hotel. The Midway line
is a bit less distant than the O'Hare line. Schedules, maps, and other
good stuff are on the CTA's web site .
The bus schedules, and maps, are also on the website. You can get to
the Museum of Science and Industry by bus (an express one, if I
remember correctly),and to the Museum campus of the Field Museum,
Adler Planetarium, and the Shedd Aquarium.
Both airports also have websites:
* O'Hare
* Midway
Once you get here, how do you get around?
Here are a couple of easy navigation rules for Chicago:
1. The lake is East.
2. Chicago is built on a grid system - 8 blocks is a mile, 5 blocks
are one kilometer.
All addresses are distance from a single point -Madison and State.
Everything north of Madison has a North address, everything south of
Madison... you get the idea.
Everything west of State has a West address, everything east of
State....
So, if you are 1060 West, and 3600 North, you are 10 (almost 11)
blocks west of State Street, and 36 blocks north of Madison. You're
also at Wrigley Field, but that's another story.
3. Chicagoans do not use interstate numbers, we use names for the
expressways. I-94 is both the Edens, and the Dan Ryan -- just depends
where you are. I-94 is also the Kennedy, after it combines with I-90,
which is also the Northwest Tollway, once you get west of the
Tri-State Tollway (I-294). The Tri-State connects with the Edens (I-94
north of Montrose Avenue), the Kennedy (I-90), the Eisenhower (I-290),
the East/West Tollway (I-88), the Stevenson (I-55), the Bishop Ford
(I-57), and the Borman Expressway (I-80/90 in Indiana). Now that
you're thoroughly confused, navigating around the Chicago expressway
system is easier than it looks. Really. It is. I promise.
If you drive into the City, once you get into the city you will be on
I-90/I-94 (Kennedy/ Dan Ryan). My personal preferences to get to the
Hyatt are thus:
The Scenic Route.... Get off at I-290 East -- it won't be an
interstate for long, it turns into Congress Street. Take Congress
street until you get to Michigan Avenue. Turn Left onto Michigan
Avenue (N) go north about 8 blocks, until you get to Wacker Drive. You
will want to start getting into the right lane about Washington
Street. Go Right on Wacker drive about 2 blocks. The Hyatt will be on
your right.
The faster route (possibly not for the fainthearted): Follow the I-290
East route, but before the FIRST light, take the cloverleaf right, and
head for the split marked Wacker Drive - LOWER Wacker Drive. Turn on
your lights. You are now on the famous Lower Wacker Drive, forever
immortalized by Jake and Elwood Blues in "The Blues Brothers." Stay on
Lower Wacker. It will curve from the north to the east and then an
S-curve to Michigan Avenue. At this point, start getting in the right
lane(s). The Hyatt Parking garage(s) are on the right, off of Stetson
Avenue. If you get to Columbus Avenue, you went too far! Wacker Drive
is due for a major reconstruction, especially for Lower Wacker. If
this happens, I'll give you yet ANOTHER way to get to the Hyatt.
If you decide to get out of the con to go to a baseball game (the
schedules are not yet published, but hopefully one or both of the
teams will be home), getting there is a snap on the El. Both ballparks
are on the Red Line (Howard/Dan Ryan). Getting to Wrigley Field by El
is highly recommended, as there is virtually no parking available,
except for small privately owned lots. Comiskey is at the 35th street
stop on the Dan Ryan part of the Red Line. There is considerably more
parking at Comiskey, but the El is a fast and safe way to the
ballpark.
Other interesting places to go, and this is just an early, and short
list. Navy Pier - Navy Pier has become an entertainment complex, with
clubs, theatres, restaurants, and museums. The Chicago Children's
Museum is there, and take it from a member, it's fabulous! Parents, as
well as kids love this place. My favorite is the 30 foot water table,
with about a bazillion ways to move and re-direct water!
Navy Pier does very good fireworks on the weekends, up to and
including Labor Day. Navy Pier will also have a Shakespearean theatre
by the summer of 2000. We have Boston and Baltimore to thank for Navy
Pier - the Fanueil Hall complex, Harborplace, and Navy Pier were all
developed by the same company.
Michigan Avenue and State Street shopping areas.... we are very close
to the Michigan Avenue shopping area - just go West on Wacker Drive to
Michigan, go over the bridge, and you are there! The shopping, etc.
goes on for about 6 blocks, all the way to the John Hancock Building.
The State Street shopping area is south and west about 4 blocks from
the Hyatt. Marshall Fields and Carsons are two of the main shopping
attractions there.
Some Chicago Resources
* The official City of Chicago tourism webpage
* A downtown map from the Chicago webpage
This map will make sense of many of our directions. State Street
and Madison Street are highlighted in this map.
Other Events in Chicago: So you want to Leave? * * * * * * * * * * * *
Chicago's a busy place, and wonderful for the fan who wants to get
away from the convention for a while. This is a listing of limited
time events that happen to coincide with Chicon 2000. All are limited
time, some are ticketed, and some may require reservations, which is
why we are detailing them here.
If you know of an event occuring in Chicago between 26-Aug-2000 and
06-Sep-2000, drop a line to webmaster@chicon.org and we'll add it
here. Relevance is not an issue, fannish interests range far and wide,
and it's our goal to make sure that no member leaves Chicago thinking
"If I'd only known that was there."
22th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival, at Grant Park.
31-Aug-2000 through 03-Sep-2000. One of the oldest in Chicago's
series of free music festivals, located just a couple of blocks
away from the Convention. Lineup TBA, but always amazing. Free,
close, what more could you ask?
Pharaohs of the Sun
at the Art Institute Of Chicago.
16-Jul-2000 through 24-Sep-2000. The Art Institute if Chicago
is presenting a collection of artifacts from the Armana period
of Egyptian history. This is a ticketed exhibition, and the buzz
indicates that tickets may be hard to get tickets at the door.
The Art Insititute is four blocks south of the convention.
Titanic: The Exhibition
at the Museum of Science and Industry.
18-Feb-2000 through 04-September-2000. The Museum of Science
and Industry presents a special exhibit featuring over 200
artifacts from the Titanic, and recreations of several areas of
the ship, including the boarding ramps and the Grand Staircase.
There is also a related OmniMax film, Titanica. Tickets are
available on line. The Museum of Science and Industry is
several miles south of the convention center, but nearby CTA
transit (#6 Jeffery Express, #10 Science and Industry buses)
will take you right to the door.
Want Ads: Children's Programming * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Chicon 2000 Children's Programming is looking for responsible
persons to help maintain and monitor the children's programming
rooms. This is a staff position with the rewarding and entertaining
function of insuring the smooth flow of some excellent planned
children's programs involving such excellent participants as Hal
Clement and Josepha Sherman, among others. Please contact me if
you are interested in insuring that our younger attendees have a
good time at Worldcon as well!
Linda Winks, Linda.Winks@chicon.org
Want Ads: At-Con Web Operators * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Chicon 2000 web staff is looking for a couple of fen to act as Web
Operators for on-site updates during the run of the convention. We
have several plans, but at the very least, we intend to provide
photos, copies of the daily newszine, site selection news, and various
award winners, including a blow-by-blow account of the Hugo Awards.
The current implementation of the website is on a BSD based UNIX
system, so you would need to be comfortable in working in an
interactive UNIX environment. You should be able to navigate the UNIX
shell, be comfortable in the use of ed, vi, pico or emacs, and familiar
with the wonders of grep and find.
Interest parties should first get their attending membership, since
this is an at-con position. Then, email webmaster@chicon.org, and we
will get in touch with you.
This position offers no pay, somewhat long hours and the occasional
stress fit. In other words, it's just like any other job at a
convention. You will, however, get to work with a great number of
wonderful people, experience a Worldcon from a completly different
perspective, and generally enjoy yourself. You'll probably also get a
whole stack of new friends. Presuming we get the 2-3 operators we
want, this position will involve around 4 hours a day of work, so
there would be plenty of time to attend other events at the
convention.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Chaz Boston Baden, Webmaster.
Erik V. Olson, At-Con Webmaster.
webmaster@chicon.org
Service Mark Notice * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Service Mark Notice: "World Science Fiction Society", "WSFS", "World
Science Fiction Convention", "Worldcon", "NASFiC" and "Hugo Award" are
registered service marks of the World Science Fiction Society,
an unincorporated literary society.
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