DaveAx

The con has just announced that it's possible to pre-order their gin, for pickup on site.  The distillery will have a table in the Dealers' Hall, and pre-ordered bottles can be picked up on Friday and Saturday.

Pixel Spirits Distillery -- Gin 2024
VOL 70cl for £37
VOL 20cl for £15
(Prices include VAT)

3 hours ago, mcbigski said:

Well since we re all talking about gin and worldcon, what are the top stories/novellas/novels that have any cocktail as a plot point?

I have thrown this question out to my cocktail discussion group over on Facebook, and will report back on responses.
For those who might like to join up: Virtual Happy Hour in a Time of Plague

So there's an Aviation cocktail made with Aviation Gin, eh? That's something that I'll hope to taste at the Seattle Worldcon in a few years, since that's probably the closest I'll get to Portland in the foreseeable future.

The Glasgow Gimlet was the drink served at their bid parties. It was delicious.
Here's the recipe:
1.5 oz (60 mL) Gin2024 gin
1/2 oz (20 mL) Drambuie
3/4 oz (30 mL) freshly squeezed lime juice
1/4 oz (10 mL) simple syrup
Garnish: star fruit slice
Combine ingredients in cocktail shaker. Add plenty of ice and shake well.
Strain into a coupe or martini glass. Garnish

As for the spelling, the US version is "licorice" and the UK/Commonwealth is "liquorice".

17 hours ago, mcbigski said:

Some gins more piney than floral, and then there's the Aviation sort that gets raves but tastes to me like licorice and gasoline. 

According to the con's website, "The botanicals used in the creation of GIn2024 are inspired by Science Fiction and Fantasy and they include Star Anise, Buddha’s Hand, Star Fruit, Grains of Paradise, Lime Peel, Cassia, Juniper, Coriander and Angelica."

The Aviation is one of my favorite cocktails, so it's possible that our tastes in gin may not match up at all.

As for the party situation, here is what the con's Progress Report 3 states:
We will be hosting open parties in SEC Hall 4 in an area alongside the convention/fan tables (similar to what was done at Loncon 3). The convention centre will remain open till 2am each night to accommodate the parties. Their licence to sell alcohol allows the sale (from their own bars) up to 1 am and the consumption of the drinks up to 1:30 am. If you are intending to host a party please email [email protected] and we will give more details. We also will have provision at one or two of the onsite hotels for private parties.

The last sentence is critical -- to me, it strongly implies that room parties must be private events, not open-door affairs.

On 4/2/2024 at 9:10 PM, mcbigski said:

Assuming we can acquire oranges, vermouth, and Bombay Sapphire in the UK without much difficulty. 

Are you aware that the convention has its own bespoke gin? I tasted it at one of their bid parties and thought it was excellent. It would seem appropriate to use it for cocktails while at the convention. The link will take you to their merch page, which not only provides details on the gin but also offers their recipe for the Glasgow Gimlet, which is more to my liking than a martini.

https://glasgow2024.org/for-members/merchandise/

I'd originally booked at the downtown Marriott (3/4 mile from the SEC), but then learned that I am eligible for an accessible room due to recently-diagnosed lung issues. So, with help from the con's Accessibility team and the GCB staff, I am now at the Hilton Garden Inn on the SEC campus, with substantially less walking required.
 

On 12/15/2023 at 10:31 PM, mcbigski said:

Apparently it's in Buffalo NY.  July 18-21. 

Yep, it is indeed in Buffalo. The local Hyatt Regency is the con hotel.
Lots more info at their website: https://buffalonasfic2024.org/

 

On 11/12/2023 at 8:13 AM, Padraig said:

And Tel Aviv is the only bidder for 2027, which also has its complexities.

FYI, the following is currently posted on the Tel Aviv bid website:
We want to update you on the current situation with our bid committee. Firstly, we’re relieved to share that all the members of our committee are safe, even though some of us have been called to service during these challenging times.

We’re all deeply devastated by the recent attacks, but we remain steadfast in our belief that things will stabilize, and ultimately, peace will prevail. Our commitment to our shared goals remains unshaken, and we’ll continue to work diligently to bring our vision to life.

Thank you for your unwavering support, and together, we’ll navigate through these trying times and look forward to a brighter future

Initial info on accomodations, but without room rates, has been posted on the Glasgow web site.

https://glasgow2024.org/location/accommodation/

They expect booking to open in early 2024.

Accessibility rooms will be available for booking in December. If you need info on them, send email to:
[email protected]

On 10/27/2023 at 5:57 AM, Pebble thats Stubby said:

I have free councilation until July, so before I accept anyone to share, I will wait to see what the con hotel room rates are.

I believe that hotel booking will open by some time in January, so you won't need to wait till July to decide.

Reminder: Membership rates go up about 10% at the end of September.

For your reading pleasure: Glasgow Progress Report #2

14 hours ago, Derfel Cadarn said:

Been several years since my last visit to the Pot Still, good pub.

It's not a very big place, though, so not well-suited for large group expeditions.

A few Glasgow eateries I liked, from the last Glasgow Worldcon:

Gamba -- One of the best seafood restaurants anywhere, with a superb wine list..
https://www.gamba.co.uk/

Mr. Singh's India was where we held a BWB dinner. 
https://www.mistersinghsindia.com/

Over 800 different single malts available here, plus other alcohol, cask ales, and great meat pies.
https://thepotstill.co.uk/

The deadline to submit a bid to host the 2025 Worldcon has now passed, and the Seattle bid will be unopposed in this year's Site Selection.

You can visit https://www.seattlein2025.org/join-the-bid/ to purchase a pre-supporting membership. They are offering four levels of pre-support, as follows:

• A Tip for the Barista ($20) — Thank you for the donation!
• Tall ($50) — This is a supporting membership. You will receive a dollar-for-dollar credit if you upgrade your membership later.
• Grande ($150) — This level entitles you to an adult attending membership if we win the bid and you vote in site selection in 2023, or else you will receive a dollar-for-dollar credit to upgrade your membership.
• Triple Shot ($300) — Support at this level will bring you great personal satisfaction, some tokens of our gratitude, and a guarantee of a full adult attending membership if we win the bid.

I'll be there. 

On 7/14/2022 at 11:46 PM, lady narcissa said:

Is anyone planning on attending?

 

I'll be there. Others who've said they are attending over on the Facebook group include:

Rachel Warner

Lee Greenberg

Vivian Caethe

Ken Brown

Jenn Johansson

Seo-Hyun Hutchinson

Marguerite Smith

Benjamin Sparrow

Steve Spaulding

Julia McCracken

Joe Kielbowicz

Andrei Vaipan

On 5/24/2022 at 4:07 PM, GuestRights said:

GRRM skipping this year too?

He removed Chicon 8 from his site!

Posted on George's blog today:
I should say a word about my appearances.    I have decided not to attend this year’s worldcon in Chicago, for a variety of reasons.   Chicago remains one of my favorite cities, though, and it looks as though I may be travelling there once or twice during the year to come… for reasons quite different, and much more exciting, than a con.    Instead of worldcon, it looks as though I will be attending this year’s San Diego Comicon… assuming they do not move to December or go virtual, as they did last year thanks to the pandemic.   I would rather not attend any more virtual conventions.   Guess I’m a boomer, not a zoomer.

Here's the latest update from the convention:

On 1/13/2022 at 3:50 PM, Padraig said:

I may be very innocent here but I suspect China wouldn't bid for the 2025 Worldcon. 

I think you're right, which is why my post referenced "...a bid for an Asian location in 2025...," not specifically one for China.

But I do think there will be more Worldcons in Asia, overall. My bet at this point is that the next Asian bid -- India, Japan, Thailand, and Taiwan are all possibilities -- will be for 2027, when the only current bidder is Tel Aviv. That would give us a competition between two countries that are neither European nor North American. And it would offer an alternative to those whose politics make an Israel-based Worldcon unacceptable. (While I strongly suspect that LA will win over Jeddah for 2026, it would certainly be an interesting turn of events to have two back-to-back Worldcons in the Middle East.)

On 12/20/2021 at 5:54 PM, Ran said:

Reading further, I think they seem to expect 10,000 members and 40,000 people with day passes or equivalent. That sounds more reasonable (but still extraordinary!)

Even half that number of members, if the majority are local, would be more than sufficient to ensure that a bid for an Asian location in 2025 would be an instant winner. 

As Eefa pointed out to me in conversation at this year's Worldcon, China is the world's largest sf market, and the rest of Asia is not far behind. Having Worldcons there on a more regular basis seems quite likely, now that fans over there have grasped the bidding mechanism.

A friend who recently left China after 2+ years of working on game development there noted that:

On 8/4/2020 at 12:45 PM, Padraig said:

Really sad to miss NZ this year.  I hope DC and Chicago can happen. 

Then it's Memphis v Chengdu for 2023.  

Neither of the 2023 options really appeals to me, TBH. I wonder where the NASFiC will be if Chengdu wins.

GRRM will be happy that it's a Labor Day weekend event. (September 1-5, 2022)

Guests of Honor:
Author -- Charles de Lint
Artist -- Floyd Norman
Fan -- Edie Stern & Joe Siclari
First Fandom -- Erle Korshak

Toastmasters: Annalee Newitz & Charlie Jane Anders

Website: https://chicon.org/

Hotel: Hyatt Regency Chicago
Room rate is US $160/night for single, double, triple, or quad, plus 17.38% tax, for a total of US $187.78/night.
Internet is free.

9 hours ago, mormont said:

I just want to know who went to a WorldCon and thought 'this is an event that will do well in a country that outlaws queerness, idolatry and immodest clothing'. That's like 80% of the entire event right there. :p

One also wonders how welcome fans who are Jewish -- either by faith or ancestry -- would feel there.