Winter Weather Update

Okay… everybody grab your towel… Feel better now? Above all… DON’T PANIC!

The answer to life the universe and everything is 42 — and that’s about how many inches of snow we got here in our part of Maryland. But it’s okay. The heavy equipment comes tomorrow to plow the hotel lot. We’ve got our heads together and are CONSTANTLY monitoring the weather. We’ve talked to all our contractors to make sure they have access to get all our equipment to us. Some have even delivered stuff to the hotel early! (And bless our wonderful hotel — they’re making space for all that stuff! They got our backs at every turn!)

The Crowne Plaza is ready and waiting for us, and looking forward to the weekend. Our co-chair Sandy was waited on in the Restaurant tonight by a new employee who had heard tales of Aliens in the kitchen, and was thrilled he gets to work our weekend! We’ve made our mark, and made a lot of new friends to boot. That means a warm welcome awaits you all on the other end of roads jersey-walled by six feet of snow.

And, of course, we’re closely watching flights to make sure our actors get her safe, sound, and as close to on time as possible.

As to what’s going to fall out of the sky over the next 72 hours… Well, it’s moving so fast that it’s hard to predict. The storm warnings are still in effect, but a lot of areas have just reduced their expected accumulations of snow over night. Basically, it looks like the snow has started later than expected, but will end at the same time. Whatever happens, we’re committed (don’t say it!). The con’s going to happen, and, whatever challenged arise, we’ll meet them. It may be SnowCon II, but it’s still gonna be a Farpoint, and that means we’re going to give our all to give you a great con!

So, stay warm, plan your route carefully, and, above all… LET’S BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!

See you Friday!

Weather Report

Things are looking fairly good for this weekend, after the amazing snow we had on Friday/Saturday. Even though it’s projected for another snow on Tuesday/Wednesday, it’s nothing like what we just experienced.

Thursday promises to be partly cloudy with a high of 37 degrees. Friday through Sunday is mostly sunny to partly cloudy with temps of the mid to high 30s.

The interstates look pretty good for travel, and should be better by Friday morning, when most of us are traveling to Farpoint. Be safe and careful on the roads and we’ll see you this weekend.

Charity Auction Update

Coming to the auction block this year – RARE Farpoint 2003 autographed bag and badge. Yes, memories of SnowCon return, I guess because it is snowing today. I will be donating a Farpoint 03 canvas bag and plastic logo badge for the auction, both of which were autographed by all the guests from that year: Armin Shimerman, Gary Graham, Eric Pierpoint, Michele Scarabelli, Erin Gray and Gil Gerard.

These will join other exciting donations we’ve been receiving for auction this year, including a lunch on Sunday at Farpoint with Felicia Day and drinks on Saturday night with Lee Arenberg. Proceeds from this year’s auction will benefit the Julien Fleming Fund and Vietnam Veterans of America. Make sure to bring your wallet, checkbook, or credit card – we take them all!

Guest Lineup Changes

It is with great regret that we must announce that Matt Frewer has cancelled his appearance at this year’s convention. Mr. Frewer has booked an acting job that will preclude his traveling to the east coast for an appearance.

However, we are happy to welcome Sam Witwer (Davis/Doomsday, Smallville and Starkiller, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed) in his first appearance in our area. He will be speaking and signing for a fee throughout the weekend.

Terry Rioux is also unable to join us as expected. She has been promoted at work (congratulations) but with a promotion comes greater responsibility that she must prepare for. Terry sends her regrets and hopes to return again next year.

The Collective is Back!

Attention model makers! Once again, the Collective will be holding their model competition at Farpoint. If you are a model maker, please bring your latest creation to enter in the contest. If not, make sure to stop by the Collective’s table in the dealers room to look at this year’s entries and vote on your favorites.

Awards for this year’s competition will be given out Sunday afternoon – time and place will be on your pocket program.

Announcing Friday Drop-Off Children’s Movie Night!!!

We are happy to announce that at Farpoint 2010 we will be having our
first drop-off event for kids. Friday night beginning at 9 pm we will
be having a movie and open play time for kids of all ages in
Chesapeake 1-2. Parents are welcome to stay and hang out but they
are also free to go and enjoy the live performance of Prometheus Radio
Theatre featuring Felicia Day and Lee Arenberg, catch a few Star Trek
episodes in the Greenspring Ballroom, enjoy some adult programming in
Ridgley 1 or some media programming in Ridgley 2, sing a song or two
at Vic’s place, stop by the premier party in the Con Suite or just
enjoy some alone time.  Whatever your preference, please bring the
kids by to hang out with us.

Pre-Registration Closing Soon

Nine days left before Farpoint pre-registration closes on January 31, 2010.

Register through our website at www.farpointcon.com. Prices at the door will be higher.

Farpoint’s Banquet and Friday Night Opening Festivities

Farpoint attendees dine in the Whedonverse. Hop aboard your Firefly-class freighter, hang a left at the Hellmouth and join us is the Dulaney Ballroom at the Crowne Plaza (a subsidiary of Wolfram and Hart). Dust off your old browncoat, your new lab coat and goggles, grab a few stakes and come in for a treatment of Farpoint hospitality. Seating begins at 7:00 p.m., with dinner served at 8:00 p.m., assuming the apocalypse holds off that long. Following the meal, our resident Vampire Count Vlad will be auctioning off some nifty shit to benefit our charities. How would Joss say Nifty Shit? He’d say Nifty Shit. But that doesn’t sound Joss-ish enough. We need to sound MORE Joss-ish than Joss. He doesn’t sound Joss-ish at all most days. Dr. Horrible’s own Penny (Felicia Day) and her friend Lee Arenberg will join Prometheus Radio Theatre for live entertainment. And then Vic’s Place will present some demon karaoke to round out the evening.

Deadline to register for the banquet (and the convention) is January 31, 2010 and you can do that through the Farpoint website. The Charity Auction, Prometheus Radio Theatre’s presentation and Vic’s Place are following the banquet and open to ALL Farpoint attendees.

Please feel free to contact either or both of us at rdwilson1967@verizon.net of cindybelle@msn.com if you have any questions. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone in a few weeks!
-Renee Wilson and Cindy Shockey, Banquet Co-Chairs

FARP wants you! Become a FARP FANATIC!

FARPoint has helper slots open.  Sign up for a time slot, or two, or three, or TEN!!  For every hour you ‘pull duty’ as a FARP FANATIC you will earn one raffle ticket for a drawing for a daily prize on Saturday and Sunday and we’re still working on some other perks (including up front seating in the ballroom). So the more hours you help out, the more chances you’ll have to win.  It is a way of Farpoint and FARP showing appreciation for your work.

We currently have slots for:

Thursday Night Tech Crew Load-In.  This consists of helping our fine Conventional Magic crew set up the convention space for sound, lights and video.

Art Show.  This consists of assisting with the Art Auction on Sunday Morning.  You would be assisting our Incredible Art Show Goddesses!!

Badge Checkers.  Always a must.  Shifts would be no more than an hour at a time.  Stationed at “Checkpoint Charlie” it’s a great place to people watch as you make sure convention badges are prominently displayed!

AND MORE POSTIONS TO BE NAMED!!!

Sign up now by e-mail at gryffinww@yahoo.com or rdwilson1967@verizon.net  or visit the FARP FANATIC table at the convention!

JOIN THE FEW, THE PROUD, THE ELITE FARP FANATICS!!

Farpoint in the news

Lots of coverage of your friendly neighborhood convention on the web:

http://geekadelphia.com is running an article.

http://www.alltern8.com is running a contest for 2 free weekend passes to Farpoint with an article.