TARCON 5 will be held from 8:00 PM to ??? on 9/21 at Play By Play, which is the sports bar inside Madison Square Garden. MSG is located at 33rd St and 7th Avenue (for all the out-of-towners). It is an awesome space with 11 High-Definition televisions and 14 other TVs. Directions/parking info

We're over the 350 person max, so the charge is now $50.00 per person. If you have not paid, bring Cash to the door. Explaination of the raised fee can be found here.

The bar will serve us unlimited beer, wine and soda from 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM, this is included with our cover charge. Gratuity is included during this time, after 10:00 PM, please tip appropriately. The bar will stay open until at least 1:00 AM on a cash basis. If you want to keep the party going, keep drinking.

There will be free video games for the whole night. Video games are: Air Hockey Game, Pinball Machine, Dartboard, Basketball Shot, Cruising World (driving game), Ms. Pacman/Galaga, Virtual Figther 2 (karate game), NFL Blitz, NBA Showtime, Golden Tee (golf), Centipede/Missile Command and Trivia Game.

There will be a coat check and a limited number of goodie bags.

Here is the a la carte menu. Please plan on to eat at the restaurant. They promised not run out of bread. The kitchen will stay open as long as people are ordering.

Tours: Information on tours of the Garden (included with the cover) can be found here.

Under 21s can be admitted.

Check in time will begin at 7:30. Open bar remains 8-10. The bar will stay open as long as we are drinking to a maximum of 2:30 AM. If we stop drinking, be prepared for them to close up shop anytime after 1.

Comps: Because of budget, comps can only be admitted after 10. If any comp would like to come before 10, they will have to pay the cover charge. If you are a comp or know a comp and will be coming after 10, please email me directly. I need the names for the count.

Wheelchairs: Please enter MSG off of 7th Avenue, using the wheelchair ramp near the corner of 31st Street to access the main concouse level. Please proceed straight towards the box office lobby, and use the elevator on your left just before entering the box office. Take the elevator to the 3rd Floor and exit to your left for the doors to the Play by Play

Click here for more details

Donations for overhead or goodie bags are welcome.
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We will be repeating our event at Sephora Flatiron (19th and 5th Avenue) on 9/22. The event will be 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM. Sephora will provide facials, makeovers and consultations, along with breakfast and goodie bags on checkout. That event is $26.50, payable by this link.. You will receive a $25.00 gift card to use at the event. Deadline is Sept 14.

As always, there may be a few people who can get in past the deadline, but we really need it for count, so.... please pay before the deadline if possible. Post here, contact Meggin20, Poptart or me with any specific questions. Meggin20 has graciously volunteered to field emails. So if you write to me, don't be surprised if you get a response from Meggin.
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For info on the DimSumCon, the traditional post TARcon event, click here
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For info on JewleryCon pre-event, click here

Edited for more details!

"If we need the overflow area."

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

Oh, you are a funny, funny lady.

Whooo!

Um, that's it. Oh, not it's not...

and Yay!

And Thank you!

WOO-HOO. Let the games begin!

ETA: Nice location for those taking the Amazing Train!

Weeeeeeeee! And SephoraCon too? Last year's SephoraCon turned me into a total SephoraSlut. I swear, I should just give them my pay check. (Although I still haven't found a mascara that doesn't end up on my face instead of staying on my eyelashes.)

eta
I'm laughing about the "if" on overflow too - didn't we have a lot more than that at the last TARcon? When the show wasn't as "popular?"

Hey, now I have a bribe for MacBoy... Keep your grades up and you can go to TARcon.

Washington DC area TARConners, I know we normally plan to take the AmazingTrain to TARCon, but I thought I'd let everyone know that Independence Air is running an $88 round-trip special between Dulles and JFK. Anyone interested in joining me on the AmazingPlane to TARCon?

Sounds like a great deal missdona, and no one could ask for a better place to get to via public transportation.

And for the forever teen geek in me: Air hockey, pinball, Ms. Pac Man - woohoo!!!

Ooooh...that sounds FABULOUS!! You ladies just outdo yourselves every year!

I have a quick question for the lovely lady with the Velvet Hammer. I don't want to be the one who de-rails this topic into the "I wish I was going but I can't" thread so is it ok if I post just once about arrangements for getting to TARcon? If this is a no-no, please feel free to bonk me on the head with the hammer and I'll edit it out. (But please bonk gently, I bruise easily)

Bottom line, the only possibilty I have of getting to TARcon is if some other people in my neck of the woods feel like sharing the cost of driving down to NYC. I'm in Toronto but would be able to get to other parts of Ontario if the road trip started from another city. I don't have a driver's license but I'm a great co-pilot and would definitely pay my share of all expenses. So if anyone is interested in working something out, please feel free to e-mail me! (Offer not extended to serial killers, motivational speakers or people with really bad B.O.)

Just when I've discovered TAR in TWOP, the date of TARCON5 is when I'm out of the country. And I live close enough to attend! Maybe TARCON6 then...

Woo hoo! The best time of the year - the opening of the TARCON thread. I should go to Sephora this year since I am so addicted to the stores. Though technically I should use up what I have before buying more.

*marks calendar in pen*

Free video games. Awesome, awesome. But no Dance Dance Revolution? That's just wrong.

P.S. DimSumCon details to come.

Huh?? That doesn't make any sense to me. Seriously, though, SephoraCon is fun - watching everyone sitting around with goop on their faces.

Especially beebo. He just looked so funny. Hee.

Okay, all signed up for me, Papa Tiger, and Tigerdaughter. Blessed, blessed Paypal! And blessed, blessed missdona for getting it all lined up!

Josh, the kickass Dr. Brandt guy, is trying to get the Microdermobrasion machine. Love that. Love.

Pardon my ignorance, but what's Sephora, and where is it?

Hmph. Waiting...waiting...waiting...for Paypal to send me my instructions to redo my password as I haven't used the account since last TARcon. Poo...they better hurry up! 15 minutes and counting. The agony. At least I already have my hotel room and it's right next to the Garden. Hot-diggity damn.

Sephora

Sephora is a cosmetics and skin care superstore. They have many locations throughout the city, but our location is 19th and 5th Avenue. Now, where are those pictures....

Am I the only idiot who can't figure out what the date for this is? It says SephoraCon is on 9/22, so is TarCon on the same day? I don't know how this usually works.

TARCON is Tuesday Sept 21 - Sephora and DimSum Cons are the next day.

Never mind, M. Darcy was faster than me.

She was faster than me too.





That's never going to stop haunting me, is it...

Unfortunately, I won't be in town long this time and will miss the next-day partying, but seriously? Cheapest flight ever. Barely $200. Woot!

Okay, I'm coming. Just need to work out the flight. And I'm staying longer this time. I feel like I didn't get to really do anything last year, especially since it was my first trip to New York.

Oh wow...faces with names...names with faces. Oh, this will be FUN!

Do the oragnizers need any additional local help with stuff? If so, let me know.

Edited for squickiness. I'm just too excitable.

KonaKini, emjaytee and I have taken Brennan at his word for some time now (regarding the date of the finale), and have had our hotel room and airfare booked (thank god for the Akron-Canton airport and $136 round-trip to NY!).

Now that we have actual TARcon details, all that's left is to start planning attendance at all the Cons!

TARcon5, YAY!

Yeaaaah, let's see how fun you think it is when Mirna and Charla get there first and clean the place out like a pair of locusts! ;-)



Complete, total and utter Girly-Girl Heaven!

Have a wonderful time, everyone!

If anyone who I've already met in person wants to stay at my apartment instead of a hotel for TARCon & help me with my rent next month, please email me. This might be a good option for anyone who would want to travel with a pet.

Alas, I've known for some time I'll have to miss this one, but that doesn't make it any easier when the thread starts. Stupid professorial job and uncancellable class that goes till 6:30pm....

It sounds awesome. As ever, the organizing ladies have outdone themselves. Have a blast, everybody!

Rinaldo, how about that's what T.A.s are for? Or a 7 or 7:30 flight that would get you to MSG before 10? It won't be the same without you.

I can't think of any really tactful way to ask this, so I'll just come out and ask.

When you say under 21, just how under 21 are we talking? Is it still going to be a *bar* atmosphere, or do I need to drink heavily beforehand in order to make myself kid-friendly?

It's a bar/restaurant atmosphere. The bar will be checking IDs. It's an "adult" party. We had a similar atmosphere at TARCON 2 with no issues. Parents should use discretion about bringing small children.

Thank you, missdona. And because it can never be said too many times: great job!!!

Jeez, I was to wrapped up in my PayPal saga to thank missdona. Thanks missdona!. You and the others do a wonderful job.

[small, cranky voice] Unlike certain paypal systems which haven't sent me my email yet. Snarl [/s,cv]

It's better to pay sooner rather than later. We have quite a bit of overhead (security, room fee, insurance, etc.) that I have pay for in advance. You want to put my mind at ease, right?

Yes, I do. I very much want our wonderful coordinating wonders to have restfull minds.

It only took calling their service center, trying to get through the password reset 10-11 times (twice using the phone reset), cursing the keyboard and taking Phil's name in vein, but I have done Paypal'ed for ye old Tarcon and Sephoracon.

Yee-hah! I've got my flight, got my room, just paypalled my reservation.

<Happy happy>

ETA: Beelzebubba check your email.

Yay! My first TARCon! All paid up and rarin' to go! NYCers - any suggestions on hotels near MSG ? Thanks.

Believe me, it won't be the same for me without me either! I have no TAs for the course, alas. And a flight wouldn't work, calculating NewarkDE to PhilaAirport to flight to JFK (or wherever) to cab to city.... nightmare. Trains are actually faster for this run.

In fact: Hm. There's an Acela Express at 7:13 that gets in at 8:48. When does the show start again? *shuffling off to rethink this*

Speaking as an NYCer, I have always had quite good luck with Priceline in getting hotels, though they're not always close to the Garden. The closest hotel to the Garden is the Hotel Pennsylvania, which is literally right across the street from the Garden--perfect for staggering home.

I checked Hotels.com, and it's $130 a night at Hotel Pennsylvania. Also nearby is a Howard Johnson's at $139.95 a night.

I'm debating whether I'm going to come--got a big thing at work due shortly thereafter, and may be stuck due to unavoidable problems.

You can totally make that Rinaldo. The Garden's is like right next door. Do it!

And Rachel, I might be able to help you out. I might be going to a family reunion in New Jersey that weekend, so I might be close already, but if not then I'll probably drive down from Kingston. I'll let you know.

That is of course assuming I go...need to check bank account.

My schedule is a bit tight this year, and I've been thinking I could not make it -- but the temptation is strong. For train/plane purposes, does anyone know what time the episode airs that night? Will it be 10:00 p.m., or will it be a longer episode starting earlier?

You're going.

Oh, him she encourages to go. Fine.

Well, you're going too, but you were a bunch of posts above me, so I would have had to type your name. Okay fine, YOU, you're going, too.

I think I might be going. It is not yet clear.

I mean, obviously I'm going. I just need to talk myself into the trip.

Montykins, I'm talking myself into it too.
Is there a good spot for a mostly-lurker who gets kinda shy at big parties? I'm going to need to drink heavily before going just so I have the courage to talk to everyone!

If you drink wine or beer, you can drink heavily when you get there.