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Hi!

My potential hotel-room-sharer is no longer able to come, and so I'm looking for someone to split my room with. It's a two-bed room in the convention hotel, $140.00 a night total, so I'd be looking for somoene who's willing to split the cost. Non-smoker, please, and I warn that I intend to get up early and stay out late (but I'm good at sneaking!).

I am completely okay with strangers. I don't bite!

(Sorry if there's an official Hotel-Room-Sharing-Thread-Or-Page someplace! My search-fu failed me on the main site.)

Chicon 7 is pleased to announce that it has arranged for a special opening night reception for convention members at the Adler Planetarium! On Thursday, August 30, start your Worldcon experience off right with an exclusive chance to view the museum exhibits and watch the Sky Theater show "The Searcher" by Nick Sagan, as well as a (weather-dependent) sky-viewing session on the exterior deck.

For more details, check out the press release at the Chicon website. The full text of the press release is available behind the cut:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Chicago, Illinois, USA - Chicon 7, the 70th World Science Fiction Convention ("Worldcon"), will offer its members a spectacular opening night event at the Adler Planetarium.

On Thursday, August 30, Chicon 7 will be taking over the Adler Planetarium for an evening reception for convention members. This exclusive event will run from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., during which time the museum will be closed to the general public.

During the reception, Chicon members can view the museum exhibits. In addition, the Grainger Sky Theater will be running the show "The Searcher" every 30 minutes. This show was written by Nick Sagan (son of astronomer Carl Sagan) and follows the story of a visitor from another galaxy as he searches for his lost civilization. It features stunning visualizations of the formation of our universe, the collision of galaxies, a spectacular supernova explosion, and a supermassive black hole. (Seating in the theater is limited, so there will be a $5 charge for admission to this performance.) Weather permitting, the museum will also host a sky-viewing session on its exterior deck, with telescopes and docents provided to members so they can see the wonders waiting in the night sky.

Museum campus parking will be available, and shuttle buses will run between the Adler Planetarium and the Hyatt Regency throughout the evening.

About the Adler Planetarium:

The Adler Planetarium was the first modern planetarium in the Western Hemisphere and first opened to the public on May 12, 1930. The museum houses extensive exhibits on space science including one of the world's most important antique astronomical instrument collections. The Adler is also a recognized leader in science education, with a focus on inspiring young minds to pursue careers in science. The museum sits on the extreme edge of Chicago's "museum campus" and is located on an artificial island.

Chicon 7 is delighted to offer a BRAND NEW story by our Toastmaster John Scalzi, exclusively available for download to Chicon 7 supporting or attending members. See https://chicon.org/scalzistory.php for details.

londonin2014: Dublin Wins 2014 Eurocon: The Dublin bid to hold the Eurocon a week after the London in 2014 Worldcon (although ... http://t.co/6SZuNEyk

Originally published at London in 2014. You can comment here or there.

The Dublin bid to hold the Eurocon a week after the London in 2014 Worldcon (although of course we still have to win our own bid) was the winner of the voting at this year's Eurocon, held in Croatia last weekend, and so there will definitely be a Eurocon in Dublin from 22-24 August 2014. The name of the convention is Shamrokon, and their website is http://www.shamrokon.ie/. Guests of Honour are Seanan McGuire and Jim Fitzpatrick.
 
Our congratulations to the Shamrokon team. There are up to six flights per day from London City Airport (located right by the ExCeL convention centre) to Dublin, so it should be very easy to attend both conventions.
 

londonin2014: RT @Olympus2012: In SIX hours Olympus2012 memberships are closing. There will be no on the door memberships available. #eastercon

Two discount sites I've found helpful in NYC, and which also operate in Chicago are [Error: Irreparable invalid markup ('<a [...] http://savored.com/how-it-works/">') in entry. Owner must fix manually. Raw contents below.]

Two discount sites I've found helpful in NYC, and which also operate in Chicago are <a href="http://svrd.co/rfxj3e</a>Savored.com</a> (yes, that's an invite link. Don't feel obliged, but it's nice to meif you click and join if it's worth your while) and Scoutmob.com

Savored gives <A href="http://savored.com/how-it-works/">30% off of the pre-tax total for a $10 fee</a>. This includes drinks. It's worth it for fine dining. I've saved quite a bit using them, and they cover NY locations like Le Crique and Delmonicos as well as hip burger joints like Eight Mile Creek.

Scoutmob is free to use, and gives 50% off, usually at a max discount of $20 or something similar. It's a "daily deal" sort of site, but the mobile app gives you the ability to use older deals.

If anyone knows of any other good Chicago discount sites, please let me know.

londonin2014: Bid Filing: Our bid to hold the 2014 Worldcon in London was filed with Chicon 7, the 2012 Worldcon, at the begin... http://t.co/I3yRn8Wx

I am hosting crash space for Chicon 7 at the Hyatt at very reasonable rates. This room is a "quiet" room, intended for sleeping and security of belongings, no parties.  I would like to offer these spaces to young fans who are financially challenged, in order to help them enjoy the worldcon experience. However, I will accept "reservations" from all chicon members.  The room will be co-ed, you must be 18 years-old, or accompanied by a legal adult guardian to apply. 

I like everyone in my room to be happy, comfortable and safe, so some room-rules will apply.  Please send me a message if interested and I will fill in the details.   Thanks.

The site selection ballot for the 2012 Worldcon is now available on the web site. You may cast your ballot by mail or in person at Aussiecon 4. The deadline for receipt of mail-in ballots is July 31, 2010. Members who pay the fee and vote will automatically become supporting members of the 2012 Worldcon.

Fan tables will be located in the vicinity of the Dealers Room and Art Show and are available to fan clubs, conventions, convention bids, and similar groups. There is no charge for these tables (except for extra ancillary services such as power, telephone, or WiFi needed to run EFTPOS terminals). To reserve your space, email fantables@aussiecon4.org.au. NOTE: The sale of goods and services of a commercial nature at the tables will not be permitted. However sale of memberships and related materials is permitted. Aussiecon 4 reserves the right to deem what constitutes a fan organisation.

Aussiecon 4 has released an electronic 2010 Hugo Voter Packet containing works and samples from 2010 Hugo Award and John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer nominees. The packet is available for download by Aussiecon 4 members. Download information will be sent out to members beginning this week.The works in the Hugo Voter Packet are made available to voters through the efforts of the nominees and their publishers. Aussiecon 4 is grateful for their participation and willingness to share with its members. Remember to vote, and please support these creators! Their work is available in bookstores and online.

The Program Participant form has now been posted at http://www.aussiecon4.org.au/program_form.phpNote - Submitting a form does not guarantee that you will be participating in the program. If you want to share some ideas for the program, please let us know through the Program Ideas form at http://www.aussiecon4.org.au/program_ideas_form.php.

Aussiecon 4's Japanese web site is now up and running.http://www.jasfic.or.jp/aussiecon4/

The online ballot for voting for the Hugo Awards is now available at http://www.aussiecon4.org.au/hugoawards/final_ballot.php The deadline is 31 July 2010 23:59 PDT. Nominations were announced at a live event at Eastercon.

Aussiecon 4 received a record number of nominations for the 2010 Hugo Awards: 864, up from 799 nomination ballots at Anticipation in 2009 and 483 at Denvention 3 in 2008. This year's Hugo Award nominations will be announced 22:00 BST, Easter Sunday 4 April, at Odyssey 2010, this year's Eastercon, and covered live on the Aussiecon 4 Twitter feed. Balloting for the Hugo Awards will commence thereafter and will conclude on 31 July at midnight, PDT. The Hugo Awards Ceremony will be held at Aussiecon 4 in Melbourne on Sunday, 5 September 2010.

The Bookbanter weblog has interviewed Kim Stanley Robinson and made it available as a podcast. http://bookbanter.podbean.com/2010/03/15/bookbanter-episode-28-with-kim-stanley-robinson/

Story about World Science Fiction Convention, featuring interviews with Shaun Tan and Perry Middelmiss, attached here for your info. http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/shaun-tan-headlines-world-scifi-convention-20100311-q0s4.html

The deadline for sending in your Hugo Awards nomination ballot is fastapproaching! The Hugo Awards are awards for excellence in the field ofscience fiction and fantasy.The nomination deadline is Saturday, March 13, 2010 23:59 PST (Sunday,March 14, 2010 03:59 EDT, 07:59 UTC/GMT, 18:59 AEDT).If you were a member of the 2009 Worldcon (Anticipation) or purchaseda membership in the upcoming 2010 Worldcon (Aussiecon 4) by 31 January2010, you can nominate using the online ballot athttp://www.aussiecon4.org.au/index.php?page=66You will need a Personal Identification Number (PIN) to nominateonline. If you have not received your Aussiecon 4 or Anticipation PINor have other eligibility questions please emailhugopin@aussiecon4.org.au

Chicago in 2012 will be the sole bid listed on the 2012 Worldcon Site Selection ballot. They were the only organization to file the information required by the WSFS Constitution by the deadline of March 6. Members of Aussiecon 4 (attending and supporting) can vote in site selection. Those voting will automatically become supporting members of the 2012 Worldcon. Details, including the voting fee, will be forthcoming. The Site Selection ballot will be available on the Aussiecon 4 web site and distributed in a Progress Report. Mail voting will be accepted through July 31 and there will also be on-site voting at Aussiecon 4.