Åcon 3 Is Go

Once again we’re here in Mariehamn for Åcon. The convention is traditionally relaxed—the program book doesn’t have starting times for the program items (which were announced at the beginning but changed several times on later occasions), and so on. The con started about half an hour late, but considering the boat was over an hour behind schedule you could say we started early. And everyone is having fun as usual. The GoH Steph Swainston is very nice (and has good taste in whisky), the weather is fine (so far; the forecast is not all that promising), the new Adlon terrace is very comfy, and of course there are many fen to see and talk to.

There were some minor setbacks (no badges until tomorrow, the bar didn’t get the message of staying open late already today), but nothing serious. And this time we’re prepared for the very early cleaning staff at the hotel (last year they started knocking on doors, wanting to clean the rooms around 8 in the morning): there was a workshop where people could customize their own “Do not disturb” signs (the rooms don’t have those). So we should be all set for tomorrow.

The only real program item for today: a panel discussion of innovation in sf. From the left: Jesper, Jarmo, Dr. Pasinen and Steph Swainston

Rajaniemi Sturgeon Finalist

Hannu Rajaniemi’s short story His Master’s Voice, published in Interzone 218, is a finalist for this year’s Sturgeon award for best short story of last year. Congratulations, Hannu!

Finncon Accommodation

Need a room for Finncon? The con site has accommodation information including a link you can use to book a room in the official con hotel (Holiday Inn Helsinki City West, only a few hundred meters from the con site) for a special price of 70 €/night. (If you don’t care about breakfast, you can book the room directly, although that only saves you a couple of euros per night so probably not worth it.)

Another very good hotel within walking distance (about 1 km) is the Radisson SAS Seaside. There’s currently a special price for “S-kortti” (a Finnish store chain membership card) holders: you can book a room online for just 55 €/night at the hotel (Offer expires on May 15).

A good inexpensive alternative are the two Omena hotels in Helsinki. The rooms are about 60 €/night, but up to four people can stay in the same room (if you don’t mind it being a little cramped, of course) with no extra cost, so it’s a very good deal.

There are also links to a couple of nearby hostels on the Finncon accommodation page.

I’ve put together a map where you can see the location of these hotels in relation to the con site.

The Migrating Mafia

This week’s Turku fandom pub meeting (which is tomorrow) takes place in a different location than normally. We decided to change the venue for the summer (Bremer has been quite full lately), and so the venue varies for the next three times. This month we’re going to the pub/restaurant Kultainen Hirvi (Itäinen pitkäkatu 12–14).

Hope to see you there tomorrow at six!

Conklaavi 2009

The Turku University gaming club Tyrmä organizes the Conklaavi gaming convention on May 9–10 at T-Talo. The convention, held for the 11th time this year, has programming for role-players, strategy, board, and miniature gamers, collecting card gamers and LARPers. Day passes are 6 €, or 10 € for 2 days.

Bacon II on Sunday

The Åbo Akademi sf society FUI will organize Bacon II, their second microcon, this Sunday at 4 PM in Terrakoti (Yo-talo A, 2nd floor).

The theme is “the radiant future,” and programming consists mainly of watching movies (contact Vilgot Strömsholm for discussion about the program).

Bacon and vegetarian food will be served at cost. Please contact Lisa Nylund in advance if you’re going so they know how much food to prepare.

via Enhörningen

Tutka Blood Drive

The Turku University sf club encourages its members (others are welcome to participate too) to donate blood on Monday the 27th. The plan is to meet at the market place (kauppatori) at 5 PM and go from there to the local donor centre of the Red Cross Blood Service.

More info from the club board.