The Genuine -- The Original -- Relaxacon
The Hotel	Shuttle Service	Memberships	Programming
Art Show	Hucksters' Room		The Banquet
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ong ago, in a galaxy far, far away-- Oh, wait, that's that other sweeping tale of epic proportion. Apologies all around. Our story begins in 1949, when a bunch of good-time Charlies (and Dons, and Stans, and Roys) put on Cinvention, the 7th Annual World Science Convention. Despite its success -- or perhaps because of [the heavy lifting required to achieve] it -- the words "never again" were heard to emenate from nearly every member of the convention staff.

Still, if it hadn't been for all that work...

And so, in 1950, the first Midwestcon -- the first ever, anywhere, relaxacon -- came to pass. For over half a century now, the members of the Cincinnati Fantasy Group have stood shoulder to shoulder in their struggle to uphold the noble vision at the convention's core: No Boring Panels, And No Long-Winded Speakers. Often imitated but never surpassed at informality, we remain the genuine -- because original -- Relaxacon.

	RELAXACON:     A science fiction convention where the first priority is direct and leisurely interaction with one's fellow attendees, both fan and pro, rather than the (sometimes vain) attempt to adapt one's schedule to the cruel regimentation of con programming.

As always, there'll be more smoffing, parties, and self-started personal interaction than you can possibly consume in a single weekend. As always, you'll find our con suite (poolside again this year, but still non-smoking only) stocked with a stunning selection of lucullan comestibles and potables (that's "lots of good munchies and swill," for our thesaurically-challenged friends). And as always, a small but high-quality hucksters' room will cater to your every need, provided each of those needs is reasonable and modest.

Over the years, fannish marriages and reputations have been made here, and Worldcons and table stakes won and lost. Come join us this year, and become part of the tradition. And -- who knows? -- maybe even a legend in your own time.

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or the seventh year, Midwestcon will be held at the Cincinnati/Sharonville Doubletree Guest Suites [6300 East Kemper Road, Sharonville, OH 45241], less than a mile (by road) from I-275. At Exit 47 (west of I-71, east of I-75), turn south onto Reed Hartman Highway. At the traffic light after you pass under Kemper Road, turn left to get up to Kemper. At the top of the ramp, the Doubletree will be straight ahead from the left lane. See the maps below.

Phone: (513) 489-3636         Fax: (513) 371-4221         Web: http://www.doubletree.com/hotels/CVGKRDT         Email: dbltree1@one.net

[To make a reservation online, select your arrival and departure dates on the Doubletree's home page (see link above), then enter MWC in the "Group/Convention Code" box on the reservations page.]

Suites are $104 per night (plus 16.5% tax), with either a king or two doubles in the bedroom, and a microwave and stocked mini-fridge in the living room. A limited number of executive suites are available for $250 per night. Rollaways are NOT available, but each living room couch is a fold-a-bed. Room assignment is first come, first served, and the room block expiration date is May 25th, 2008.

The DGS's outdoor pool is in a central courtyard, part of which is separated by a railing and shaded by an awning (and just outside the door of this year's con suite). Tables and chairs offer ample opportunity for conversation, card playing, and other clustering activities. There are no poolside rooms as such, but eight suites do have an overlook (4 patio/4 balcony). Subject to availability act now don't delay (s)he who hesitates is lost. You have been warned.

In no particular order, other items of (possible) interest include:

room service until 11 PM daily breakfast buffet in the restaurant (Bistro Cafe & Lounge) noon checkout, with extensions available on an individual basis wireless internet access in every suite two TVs and a stereo in each suite two telephones with voicemail and dataports in each suite non-smoking rooms fitness center

Doubletree Guest Suites is part of the Hilton HHonors® rewards program.

While there are no restaurants (barring the house brand) within easy walking distance of the DGS, there are many within easy driving distance. We hope to get an online guide posted in the not-too-distant, but that may not happen until Real Soon Now. In any case, a hardcopy version will be available at the con.

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ur current hotel is roughly equidistant from both the Greater Cincinnati and Dayton airports -- and offers shuttle service to neither. Rising to the challenge as in days of old, however, Cincinnati Fandom stands ready to collect you and yours from either terminus and deliver you to the festive site...provided you give us enough advance warning.

Please advise either of the contacts listed below of your travel plans -- no later than June 15th! -- and we'll arrange transport.

Deborah Oakes 5627 Antoninus Drive Cincinnati, OH 45238         Bill Cavin 3937 Floral Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45212     (513) 922-3234 scribe@cfg.org         (513) 631-2543 dictator@cfg.org

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dult memberships (16 and over -- we're rather generous in our definition of adulthood, except where the bar is concerned) are $25 if postmarked by May 25th. Adult at-the-door memberships, or those postmarked after May 25th, are $35.

Children's memberships (pre-reg or at-the-door) are $10 for those 6-15; 5 and under are free.

[[  Click here for a printable membership form.  ]]

Make all checks payable (in U.S. dollars, please) to Deborah Oakes, and mail them to: Deborah Oakes 5627 Antoninus Drive Cincinnati, OH 45238 scribe@cfg.org

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he what? Say, you must be new here. Grab a seat while we explain... Sure, we know about panels. We've attended a few in our day. Some of our members even participate on them at other conventions. (We don't noise that around much, but, well, what they do while out of town is their business. Live and let live, we say.) The closest thing Midwestcon has to a philosophy, though, is the above-mentioned "No boring panels, no long-winded speakers".

Look, chum, let's be honest. How many times have you found yourself moseying toward that umpteenth panel in as many (semi-waking) hours, only to realize you're not sure A) where it is, B) where you are, or C) why you wanted to attend it in the first place? We know that feeling. We resolved to do something about it. At Midwestcon, there are no panels: bob's your uncle, conblur is banished and you awake refreshed -- ready to tackle that long day of lounging by the pool, hitting the con suite now and again, and forcing yourself to have a good time with friends old and new.

"Meet the Authors" parties? We don't need no stinking (etc.). Though we say it as shouldn't, they're so thick on the ground one can scarcely avoid tripping over them. Most are docile, and all are habituated to public display; they can be approached (in person!) with complete confidence that any digits extended in greeting will be returned intact following the encounter. (But please, do not feed the writers. That is our responsibility.)

And speakers? Well, but the people you wanted to hear speak are sitting just over there. All you have to do is walk over and talk with them, instead of just listening to them. Of course, if you'd rather squirm in an uncomfortable chair, surrounded by too many warm bodies in a room with too few degrees of cooling and a sound system that renders every phoneme string as "Zub jub lub dub wub," bub, we'll be glad to direct you to our City Hall. (Council should be back in session the following Monday.)

In short, though it may not meet the usual criteria, we really do have programming -- buffet style. Please, get back in line as many times as you want...and be sure to take all you can eat!

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ear eight of the revived Midwestcon art show promises to be bigger and better than ever before the previous seven. Stop by and thrill to the works of Boris, Michael Whelan, artists who will surely be household names the day (or perhaps two) after tomorrow...

Naturally, this will require the participation of artists interested in displaying their work(s) at the show and thus acheiving their due measure of notoriety fame. Should you be one such, click here to submit the details.

(Questions? Contact Michaele Jordan for further information.)

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vailable space, and thus the number of tables (6" by 3" each) is limited. To reserve one or more tables in the dealers' room, contact:

Larry Smith 3824 Patricia Drive Upper Arlington, OH 43220-4913 (614) 442-1010

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here will be no banquet at this year's Midwestcon. But we suspect our members may be resourceful enough to seek out their own Saturday night comestibles. (If not -- well, think of it as evolution in action.) And besides...it's just not the same without Wilson "Bob" to sing us out the door.

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Mapquest Interactive [ opens in new window ] [Warning! Navteq data error! See maps below for correct location of hotel!]

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URL: http://www.cfg.org/midwestcon/index.htm All material © Cincinnati Fantasy Group, unless otherwise credited.   Last updated: Saturday, August 19, 2006     Created for the CFG by Scott Street (scottst@ix.netcom.com).       Maintained by the author. Comments, questions & broken link reports: (webgeek@cfg.org).