The Open Gaming Convention, or OGC, will be held July 24th-26th, 2009 in Nashua, NH. Here’s a brief description:
Now in our 6th year, OGC attracts between 200 and 300 gamers. We offer many RPG’s, board games, card games, miniatures, painting, video games, and other exciting events. For those moments between games, you can browse our vendor room or try your hand at our painting corner.
For more information, visit http://www.ogc-con.com/.
[Yet another contribution from Rich of the New England Browncoats, who was in turn quoting NESFA.]
Necon, the Northeastern Writers’ Conference, “is a small annual convention that draws authors and editors, artists and fans from around the country,” according to their website at http://www.campnecon.com/. This year’s event will take place on July 16-19, 2009, in Bristol, RI. The writer guests of honor are Sarah Pinborough, John Skipp, and Thomas E. Sniegoski, while the artist guest of honor is Lars Grant-West.
[Once again, thanks to Rich of the New England Browncoats, who was in turn quoting NESFA]
Oops! I left the Broad Universe event off of the May event summary. See the updated post here.
The next installment of the gaming convention JiffyCon will be held on June 6th, 2009 in Greenfield, MA. Here’s a brief description:
JiffyCon is a one day mini role-playing convention. Focusing on small-press, independently published and story-oriented games, JiffyCon is a whole day devoted to nothing but having fun playing games.
Snacks, beverages and a potluck dinner will be provided. Local game designers and authors will be on hand to run and play their games. Many games will be available for sale.
For more information visit http://www.jiffycon.com/.
[Tip from Meg of the Brilliant Gameologists]
I’ve previously mentioned “Can’t Stop the Serenity,” the worldwide charity fundraiser featuring screenings of the movie “Serenity.” Well, there are TWO big updates to the Boston-area showing to announce!
Big News #1: We’re expanding to two nights once again! There will now be showings at midnight on both Friday, June 19th AND Saturday, June 20th! We’ll be at the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline, MA.
Big News #2: In addition to “Serenity,” we’ll also be showing Joss Whedon’s musical sensation, “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog”! Bring your freeze ray and your singing voice — and beware of Bad Horse!
Remember to bring a canned good to donate to the Greater Boston Food Bank in order to receive a raffle ticket.
Tickets will go on sale in May. For more news watch http://www.cstsboston.com/. If you’d like to order a t-shirt, patch, or other swag, check out http://cstsbostonswag.blogspot.com/.
ReaderCon is a science fiction convention that, as the name implies, is focused on the written word. The convention will take place in Burlington, MA on July 9th-12th, 2009. The guests of honor this year will be Elizabeth Hand and Greer Gilman. Here’s a brief description from the convention’s website:
Readercon is, depending on your point of view, either an annual literary conference (except it’s infinitely more fun than that) or an annual science fiction convention (except we’ve stripped away virtually everything except talking about and buying books). In the course of its twenty years, it has become the standard bearer and role model for conventions that focus on the literature. A typical Readercon features well over 100 writers, editors, and critics (attracting prominent figures from Canada, the U.K., and occasionally even Australia) and more than 400 of their readers. Readercon is the only small convention regularly attended by such giants of literary sf as Samuel R. Delany, John Crowley, Barry N. Malzberg, and Jonathan Lethem.
Pre-registration is open. For more details, visit http://www.readercon.org/.
[Another tip thanks to Rich of the New England Browncoats, who was in turn quoting NESFA]
Here’s what’s on the calendar for May so far:
Everywhere:
May 2nd: Free Comic Book Day!
Maine:
May 17th: Maine Comics Arts Festival
Massachusetts:
May 1st and 2nd: “TimeCrimes” at the Coolidge Corner Theatre
May 8th: Broad Universe author reading
May 8th: Signing by author Laura Anne Gilman
May 11th: The Singularity is Near: A True Story About the Future with Ray Kurzweil
May 21st-24th: LeakyCon (Harry Potter convention)
May 22nd: J. Michael Straczynski speech at MIT
May 22nd-24th: Anime Boston convention
May 30th: South Station Zombie March
New Hampshire:
May 2nd: Free Comic Book Day celebration at Jetpack Comics
May 16th-17th: New Hampshire Renaissance Faire
New events will almost certainly be added as we go into May.
PortConMaine, an anime and gaming convention, will be held June 18th-21st, 2009 in Portland, ME. Note that on Thursday, June 18th, the convention is open ONLY to people who have pre-registered; tickets will be available for sale at the door, but only for Friday through Sunday. Here’s a description from the convention’s website:
Fan run and for fans, the convention has succeeded year after year to bring anime and gaming funs events such as: a cosplay, anime music videos, two anime theaters, a video game room, panels, discussions, workshops, CCGs, miniature events, RPGs, board games, an auction, extreme geek, Cthulhu, karaoke, an artist ally, contests, free stuff, Dance Dance revolution, vendors, and more! Stock full of goodness, with enough events to keep you busy and wanting more- this convention is a family friendly outing for all ages!
For more details visit http://www.portconmaine.com/.
[Tip thanks to Rich of the New England Browncoats, who was in turn quoting NESFA]
Several authors from Broad Universe will be reading at Jeannie’s Book Emporium in Northborough, MA on Friday, May 8th, from 6:00pm – 9:00pm.
If you’re in the central Massachusetts area, join local members of Broad Universe for a night of speculative fiction. Dystopia! Vampires! Monsters that Aren’t! Unwelcome Bodies! Heroes you Don’t Want To Be! Bad-A$$ Faeries!
Authors Elaine Isaak, Jennifer Pelland, Morven Westfield, Trish Wooldridge, Justine Graykin, and Phoebe Wray will read selections from their fiction.
The original information came from author Jennifer Pelland’s blog at http://jenwrites.livejournal.com/762745.html. I have been unable to find a website for Jeannie’s Book Emporium, so here’s a link to its address on Google Maps.
Some wise king — or a fool, mayhaps — hath decreed that April 23rd shall be known as “Talk Like Shakespeare Day” in celebration of the great Bard. Thus it is a seemly occasion on which to present thee with the list of Renaissance Faires coming in May and June presented hereunder:
[Shakespearean tip provided by Sir James of the Kingdom of Risfc]
Conventions, NH | nescifievents | 
April 28, 2009 8:18 pm | 
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