gerisullivan | This Labor Day Weekend: Not-A-Worldcon!

Not-A-Worldcon
A weekend of fannish frivolity and touristy fun in Massachusetts
Labor Day weekend — September 2-5, 2005

It’s Labor Day weekend. A Worldcon-free Labor Day weekend. Some fans are headed west for the NASFiC, or in other directions, for other conventions. Some fans will no doubt be headed to the Minnesota State Fair for pickle hats and food-on-a-stick. But we have something different in mind. Not a convention: a weekend of parties and group outings to various tourist attractions in the area. Please join us for Not-A-Worldcon. We'll be going to Wales, Sterling, Rutland, Framingham, Middleton, Ipswich, Boston, and perhaps Worcester, too.

Please come to as many (or as few) Not-A-Worldcon activities that interest you and fit into your schedule.

Friday, September 2, 2005

Toad Woods – a casual evening of welcoming out-of-state visitors and whoever wanders in from Massachusetts, too. Starting time, oh, 7ish.

Saturday, September 3, 2005
Points West

9:30-noon
Toast Party at Toad Woods

1 pm ’til you find your way out
SuperHero Maize Maze
Sterling, MA
(Note: ALWAYS Call ahead – Only open weather & conditions permitting. 978-422-8888)

OR (if raining, or you just want to go there)
Higgins Armory
Worcester, MA

After being thoroughly aMAZEd wherever we were, if we have time, we’ll go watch the buffalo roam (and eat them?) at:
Alta Vista Bison Farm
Rutland, MA

7 pm
Potluck BBQ at Mark & Priscilla Olson's
Framingham, MA

The Best of Wines? The Worst of Wines?
Taste Leslie Turek's ancient wines at Mark & Priscilla's, if you dare. Some of them may be drinkable; no guarantees.

Sunday, September 4
North Shore

11 am
Brunch at Deb Geisler & Mike Benveniste's
Middleton, MA

Afternoon
Russell’s Orchard
Ipswich, MA
Homemade cider donuts, winery, and more. Maybe even a hayride.

Shortly after 3pm
Crane Beach
Ipswich, MA

Evening
DIY Dinner Expeditions in and around Ipswich

Afters
Richardson’s Ice Cream
Middleton, MA

Monday, September 5, 2005
Boston

Noonish
Picnic Lunch on Georges Island
Boston Harbor Islands
Ferry departs from Long Wharf, at the foot of State Street.
Download ferry schedule

Go Fly a Kite!
Geri is bringing three kites to the picnic, all of the sort you’d find in dime stores if there still were any. If you have a kite, please bring it along!

3 pmish
New England Aquarium
Central Wharf, Boston, MA

Evening
DIY Dinner Expeditions in Boston

A PDF with the 4-part harmony is available here. The links in the PDF will lead you to more information about the Not-A-Worldcon venues. Also available at long last: Directions to Toad Woods! It's also a PDF. HTML directions to come eventually, though probably not before Not-A-Worldcon.

Please comment here or send email to NotAWorldcon@toad-hall.com with your questions. RSVPs welcome; knowing how many people are likely to come will help with planning, and if you mention plans to come to specific events, we'll know to look for you there.

“Worldcon,” “NASFiC,” and “WSFS” are service marks of the World Science Fiction Society, an unincorporated literary society.

Not-A-Worldcon is a SMOTHRA event, held in the tradition of Dullcon, Dellcon, Not-A-D-Cons, and Not-A-ReinCONation. It is not affiliated with WSFS beyond any personal memberships in and keen regard for the Society that certain members of SMOTHRA may, upon occasion, hold.