A new day for Connie's Quantum Sandbox! Connie's Quantum Sandbox has a new home in Plaza 2, right next door from our old space in Plaza 3 ! Join us for a Crafting Party to break in our new space! All Crafts, All Ages, All fun! Panelists: Angie Anderson, Carol Strand, Dierdre Schultz, Carla Mantel, Sue Bloyer, Tristine Miller
Discover what an owl had for dinner! Dissect an owl pellet to solve the mystery and reveal clues about the owl's diet and predator/prey relationships. What types of bones will you find in your pellet? Panelists: PZ Myers, Skatje Myers, Mary Myers
Workshop looking at recent awardwinning poems from SFPA's Dwarf Star and Rhysling contests and other venues such as the Wisconsin People and Ideas Contest, where speculative language poetry won awards last year. Time allowed to write and share. Panelists: Sandra Lindow
Join the Assassins Guild for boffer weapon training and practice in preparation for Saturday's big event, The Assassins Guild Grand Boffing Tournament. To participate you must be 18 yrs or older, 14 yrs old with parental consent. Panelists:
The Zombie Apocalypse is upon us!! However, they are so cute that no one really minds. Julie Bowman will show you how to turn a cute and adorable Plush Creature into an even cuter and more adorable Plush Zombie. Panelists: Julie Bowman
Collaborate with artists to create masterpieces. Even if you can only create a stick figure, you can join the fun with professional artists in seeing the art come to life. Panelists: John Garner
Players choose the roles of Agent Smith, Neo, Morpheus, Trinity, or play an Agent or Zionist. Any number of people can play, joining in and leaving at any time. A special game will be run by invitation on Friday--seek out The Architect for details. Panelists: Shannon Green
Mindmaps are a way of drawing out concepts in non-linear fashion with doodles. Come add to our gigantic piece of paper that will branch out from the center word "dystopia". Join Reesha for this collaborative project. Panelists: Reesha Rugroden
Everypony is aflutter with excitement with the arrival of a large dark cube hovering in the bright skies of Equestria. After all, Friendship is... Irrelevant. Join Sandbox in modifying Pony figurines into the scariest oppressors in the universe. Panelists: Jim Shields
Security. Safety. Surety. We are here to ensure your happiness. Enjoy a smoothie, let the music soothe you. All citizens will be scanned for happiness. Don’t forget to take your medicine! Panelists:
Thursday July 2, 2015 9:00pm - Friday July 3, 2015 2:00am CDT
DoubleTree Veranda 6
In an easy to imagine future, we face constant Fandom Conventions. We wander endless hotels with nary a shower in sight, continually crafting accessories and costumes. Be prepared. Make your own Convention Crafting Survival bag and Mini Survival kit. Panelists: Philip Cordes, Angie Anderson
Thursday July 2, 2015 11:00pm - Friday July 3, 2015 1:00am CDT
DoubleTree Plaza 2
Joss Whedon's "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" is a delightfully hilarious exploration of love and evil featuring Nathan Fillion, Neil Patrick Harris and Felicia Day. Panelists: Barbara Jungbauer (mod)
Thursday July 2, 2015 11:30pm - Friday July 3, 2015 12:30am CDT
DoubleTree Atrium 6
Join the drone army as we exercise conformist dancing rituals until the wee hours. A variety of our specially-trained djs provide a continuous barrage of electro-swing, retro, mashups, and more for your rigorously synchronized movement. Panelists:
Hey Kids! Wake up your parents and drag them down to Connie's Quantum Sandbox for some morningtime fun with the Sandbox Staff and GOH Chad Frey! We will have coffee to keep the parents occupied while you play and learn. Panelists: Angie Anderson, Carla Mantel, Dierdre Schultz, Chad Frey
Stretch your creative muscles by writing a 100-word story based on a surprise prompt item. Entries will be judged during the weekend and the winners announced at the end of the convention. Panelists: Heather Bufkin
YogaQuest is back for its fourth year! Join JustiniYogini and the YoGeeks as they try to clean up the mess that Cordelia made in this narrated yogic adventure! No previous yoga experience, special clothing, or mats necessary. Come as you are! Panelists: Justine Mastin
See what it's like to play with three foot wood. Appropriate for all ages, and any number of players per team is permitted. We'll coach on all levels of skill, so come wrestle some pieces against your friends. Panelists:
Your spy is dead, and all your team has to go on is a set of cryptic puzzles left behind. Each leads to a different part of the hotel and a piece of the final puzzle. Will you be the first to find the key? Friday at noon in the Garden Court. Free to play! Panelists: David Allison
How do you extract DNA out of living things? What does DNA look like? Find out and make a special necklace using strawberry DNA! Panelists: Mary Myers, PZ Myers, Skatje Myers
Come watch two-person teams compete in a head-to-head one-hour themed guerrilla challenge. The teams are each given the theme and a surprise grab bag and will have one hour to make the costume then show it off to win the title Guerrilla Costume Warrior. Panelists: Deborah Mullen
Our Mandatory Puppet Activity. CONvergence just wouldn't be the same without it. Kimberly Baerg of Joy Filled Puppets will lead this activity, assisted by her husband Brad and 2015 GOH Gordon Smuder. Panelists: Kimberly Baerg, Brad Baerg, Gordon Smuder
Bring your entry for judging (teams up to two allowed). Judging will be based on best use of the prescribed list of items published a week before on Facebook. The best representation of the theme using the list wins the title 11th Hour Costume Warrior. Panelists: Deborah Mullen
Society might have collapsed, but people will always find a way to make music. Build and design your own instruments from trash and household items while you learn about the physics that makes them work, then play in our ragtag ensemble. Panelists: Erich Bacher, Jamie Bernstein
Create your own works of art with the help of live maggots! Maggots get an unfair rap. Learn how fascinating they really are while working with them to create unique paintings. Panelists: Gwen "Bug Girl" Pearson
We know how difficult it is to run an evil organization - sometimes it can become a little overwhelming. Come and meet other villains and feel appreciated together. Panelists:
A basic European 4 in 1 chainmaille lesson for those who have always been curious. We will use links that can be worked without tools, so ages 11+ should be able to enjoy themselves. Panelists: Carla Mantel
Ages 13-20. Make smoothies, DJ, meet Space Lounge staff, or just have all the awesomeness of Space Lounge for your teen-self and friends during this two-hour inaugural Teen/Space-Lounge cooperative event! No alcohol will be allowed into the room. No non-teens other than Space Lounge staff allowed into the room. Panelists:
Add sparkle to your look through this glitter make-up 101 tutorial! Focusing on lips and eyes, this class will also teach about different glitter adhesives that allow you to put long-lasting glitter shapes and images on your skin Panelists: Corrie Dubay, Mona Montague
We are here to ensure your safety. Enemies of the state are ever-present. All visitors will be subject to security screening. We are watching. Panelists:
Friday July 3, 2015 9:00pm - Saturday July 4, 2015 2:00am CDT
DoubleTree Veranda 6
Join the Space Unicorns of Uncanny Magazine as Lynne M. Thomas & Michael Damian Thomas (editors-in-chief and publishers of Uncanny Magazine) celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary. Panelists: Lynne M Thomas, Michael Damian Thomas, Michi Trota, Erika Ensign
Friday July 3, 2015 10:00pm - Saturday July 4, 2015 12:30am CDT
DoubleTree Edina
You're beautiful. You know it. We all know it. Just imagine how beautiful you'd be with neon tiger stripes! Sandbox After Dark presents: Body Painting! You paint, we paint, it's fun for everybody. 18+ Bring ID. Panelists: Jim Shields, John Garner, Angie Anderson
Friday July 3, 2015 10:00pm - Saturday July 4, 2015 1:30am CDT
DoubleTree Plaza 2
Many insects are beneficial to our environment. In this All Ages activity, you will make a multi-family insect house to take home to help the beneficial insects in your garden. Panelists: Sue Bloyer, Dierdre Schultz
Worthy warriors are invited to join the Klingons Saturday morning 9:30 poolside as they fight for a cure against diabetes. Certifications are at 9:30 with the tourny begining at 10:00. Entry fee is $10 and all proceeds go to the American Diabetes Assoc. Panelists: George Richard
Join Mad Art Lab and Bug Girl to learn about everything from insects to physics while making art--insect hat, butterfly bracelet, scientist paper dolls, and a paper rocket that flies! Panelists: Gwen "Bug Girl" Pearson, Beth Voigt, Ryan Consell
Kids ID allows parents the opportunity to create a kit of identifying materials for their child, free of charge. The kit contains a fingerprint card, a physical description, a video, computer disk, or DVD of the child, a dental imprint, and a DNA sample. Panelists:
You probably know about DNA, but have you ever seen it? Using household stuff, you'll be able to extract and observe DNA from strawberries in minutes! Panelists: Raychelle Burks
Paul Cornell teaches cricket to Americans. This year he'll be teaching it outside - with real bats, balls and wickets! Fore! Or whatever you say in cricket... Location: along N side of W 78th St, West of DoubleTree. Approximate GPS: 44.861354, -93.354443 Panelists: Paul Cornell
Elimination-style competition on a 2-player glass table-top arcade machine featuring games ranging from the classic to the bizarre. (Space limited, arrive early to ensure your participation) Panelists:
Many bugs are not only edible but quite delicious. Find out with this blind taste test of various prepared bugs and learn how edible bugs can benefit the environment, our health, and our future. Panelists: Daniella Martin
Divide into teams, rip off their heads, their arms, legs, wings, and whatever else they have, and re-combine them into something new and fantastic. Under the guidance of Julie Bowman, our creature expert. Panelists: Julie Bowman
Join the creators of Our Fair City--a post-apocalyptic audiodrama serial set in a world of mad scientists, molepeople and dystopian corporations--to record crowd scenes and dialogue for their seventh season. Shriek in terror! Start a riot! Applaud wildly! Panelists: Jeffrey Gardner, David Rheinstrom, Betsey Palmer
Players choose the roles of Agent Smith, Neo, Morpheus, Trinity, or play an Agent or Zionist. Any number of people can play, joining in and leaving at any time. Panelists: Shannon Green
Join us in the Garden Court for a Tournament of Champions! Prove your skill, test your might and Rise to the Top! Ladder style double elimination, space is limited; sign up early! Ages 14 & Up. Panelists:
Join Nicole Dubuc as she shows you how to fold ordinary scrap (like say, left overs from the last seven drafts of a script) into fabulous beasts. Should our chimeras tank, we'll have a lot of fun creating new ones --like headless griffins and dragon-dogs. Panelists: Nicole Dubuc
Our Moment of Clarity has arrived. Hidden from human site, fairies have their own dystopian future. The high fairy court is looking for workers to create affordable housing for the middle and lower class fairies. Help make thier futures a little brighter Panelists:
Do not trust outsiders! Fight the machines! This is the only safe place to get away from the prying eyes and learn how to defeat the machines. Panelists:
Saturday July 4, 2015 10:00pm - Sunday July 5, 2015 2:00am CDT
DoubleTree Veranda 6
Design your own fabulous hair fascinator and learn the simple process to build a fascinator, as well as tips and tricks for more complicated pieces! Opiumm Hayze, Pepper Sunshine, Holliedazzle Panelists: Mona Montague
Saturday July 4, 2015 11:00pm - Sunday July 5, 2015 12:30am CDT
DoubleTree Plaza 2
KIDS!! Bring your parents to this Exciting Story and Activity Hour. Crayon (Caryn Lengeek ) leads this wonderful CONvergence staple. Panelists: Caryn Lengkeek
The Red Ribbon Society hosts another hour of steampunk-themed crafts. Create a mechanical collage, color your own vintage paper dolls, assemble beads, or build a helium airship! Panelists: Kevin Borchers
See what it's like to play with three foot wood. Appropriate for all ages, and any number of players per team is permitted. We'll coach on all levels of skill, so come wrestle some pieces against your friends. Panelists:
Cosplayers fake it all the time, but the actual techniques of raising patterns into sheet metal go back thousands of years, and the basics can be learned in an afternoon. Learn how to swing a hammer without hurting yourself, and then make a of noise. Panelists: Ryan Consell
Make a tiny wire-beaded dragon! He can guard your coin purse hoard. Requires significant fine motor skills, so make sure you have an adult helper for each tiny person who wants to make their own. Panelists: Carla Mantel
The Victorian Lady Doctors invite you to join us for Tea. Come dressed as your favorite Doctor, Companion, Villain, or Dedicated Fan. Various tea and dainties will be on offer. Photography encouraged. Tomfoolery highly encouraged. Panelists:
Welcome one and all to the Build-a-World game show, with your host Monica Valentinelli! In this panel, two teams of writers will compete against one another to create a brand new world in under an hour. You, the audience, will help judge! Panelists: Monica Valentinelli (mod), Paul Cornell, Catherine Lundoff, Martha Wells, John Heimbuch
Learn some basic calligraphy skills with the help of members of the Barony of Nordskogen. We will demonstrate a few basic calligraphy styles and help you learn the proper strokes. Bring your pens and nibs if you have your own. Panelists: Kay Mead, Norskogen Barony of Northshield
The North Star Roller Girls are more than just bruises on a pair of skates; they're also some of the nerdiest, geekiest - and yeah, toughest - girls around. Team up with the derby girls to test your knowledge and/or their strength! Panelists: Danielle Indovino Cawley, Windy Bowlsby, Kristina Winn, Peg Joiner, Amanda Nerud, Becky Stockton, Katie MacInnes
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