Come celebrate Mother's Day with your fellow TARconners.

TARcon XIV will again be held from on 5/10 at Stitch, beautiful, spacious bar/lounge in the Garment District. Stitch is located at 247 W 37th St (@ 8th Ave).

You all know by now...

Charges are as follows:
$75 - 3 hour plan - Open (Top Shelf!) Bar 6:00PM to 9:00PM and a la carte menu. Check in will start at 5:45 PM
Maximum: 75 people

$50 - 2 hour plan - Open (Top Shelf!) Bar 7:00PM to 9:00PM and a la carte menu. Check in will start at 6:30 PM, Entrance at 7:00 PM.
Maximum: 225 people


"Top Shelf" is everything but shots including their "designer cocktails" mmmm.

Checking In: Bring your Paypal receipt (email or printout from Paypal) for admission. Meg20 will not hesitate to throw you to the back of the line for not bringing your Paypal receipt.

Again, we're requiring shipping addresses with your Paypal payment. But remember, No ticket of any kind will be issued. None will be mailed to you and none will be handed out to you. Your valid paypal receipt is your "ticket."

Deadlines for all are 5/3, but please pay early. We have to give a pretty big deposit ASAP.

Gratuity for your prepaid drinks is included; please tip appropriately after 9:00 PM and for any a la carte food or drinks. The bar will stay open (l-a-t-e) on a cash basis. They said as long as we're drinking, they'll stay open. The kitchen will close around midnight.

There will be a bag/coat check.

There will be no goodie bags.

If you plan to drink to the point of puking, don't forget to bring someone to get you home safely and it's BYOB (Bring Your Own Bucket).
The TARcon and bar staff and don't want to have to baby-sit you. Furthermore, if you plan to drink to the point of berating people, don't be surprised when you get thrown out. If you get thrown out, please leave (go home/elsewhere). Please don't stick around and harass people. If you do get asked to leave, you will not be allowed back to another TARcon. This is a private event and we can exclude you if necessary. Please don't make me do it. Bottom line? Bring a sober buddy if you plan on being out of control.

Your entrance does not guarantee you a seat, a picture or anything else other than open bar and race viewing during the paid time. Of course, you'll have a better chance at a seat if you are on the three hour plan.

There are no refunds. If you can't go, try to sell your spot to someone else.

Comps: Because of budget, comps can only be admitted after 9. If any comp would like to come before 9, they will have to pay the cover charge (email me for more specific details). If you are a comp or know a comp and will be coming after 9, please email me directly. I need the names for the count. Depending on number of comps, we may have to envoke limited numbers per guest. Please get your request in early to avoid disappointment.

Wheelchairs: The venue is accessible at the main bar area.

Donations for overhead are welcome.

Meg20 is empowered to answer all questions, so ask her if you need anything.

New York is waiting for you... Go!

Information on DimSumCon is found here

DAMN! That's the day I arrive in Ireland at a theater festival where they are putting on one of my plays. Not that I'm complaining. Yes I am! I will have to miss an awesome TARcon and my insane fellow fans, and the cool girlie drinks at Stitch. I am counting on yall to have at least several drinks for me.

It's on.

Amy and I will be there! Johnny Jump-ups for everyone!

I'm looking forward to seeing you all. Thank you to missdona, Meg20, and all of your helpers.

Like Donkey Kong!

And once again...will have to miss it. I'm going on a cruise at the end of that week and my travel budget is going there. One day though...I will make my return. Hug Phil for me!

My parents will be out of town that week, but I'm going to try to get my cousin to finally come with me instead.

I bought tickets for Hair about a month ago, thinking it was an afternoon matinee. No, it's curtain at 7pm. However, I have my priorities straight, so MsStar and a friend will be enjoying the show while I go to the better choice. I may have a friend or two in tow this time.

Yeah, TarCon!!!

I'm in for the 3 hour!

Thanks, as always, to missdona, Meg20, and crew for organizing everything.

Looking forward to a nice weekend, including a photo stroll around the Brooklyn Botanic Garden on Saturday and a matinee of "Hair" on Sunday afternoon. I'll keep my fingers crossed that fine spring weather will welcome me to town.

If anyone is sticking around through Tuesday, I'm going to be doing The Moth StorySlam on May 12th (head home the day after TARCon, or stay another couple nights in New York and get my work on NPR? Easy decision). I'd love to have some awesome people there for that!

The 3-Hour Tour it is! Thanks to Meg20, missdona, et all. Can't wait to see everyone!

I'm in for the 3 hour. Can't wait!! Big thanks as always to Meg 20 and missdona for all the behind-the-scenes planning!

Edit: Damn, the Chelsea Lodge I usually stay at is booked! Anyone have any recommendations for a nice, rather inexpensive lodging for the night? Chelsea Lodge always runs 120 a night plus tax/etc, and its a very small but nicely kept room. Guess I need to do a bit more research.

I'm in for the 3 hour. Bring my table down!

Yay! And that's pretty much the same response that I used to give upon receiving something great in the mail or something. I had a feeling that the big news would surface today. Really; I couldn't stop thinking about it all day while I was working! It's like when I was younger, and it was around the time that my Nintendo Power was slated to arrive in the mail. Maybe it would, maybe it wouldn't, but eventually, it would.


Edited to add...



I think the Chelsea Star still has some spots left last time. IMO, it's nice and less expensive. It's a shared bath though, but only a few blocks from Stitch. You could also upgrade to a private bath, which is more than $120, but under $200.

Whoo hoo. My friend Nancy is coming with me this time, too. She doesn't watch the race but she thinks one of the most fun things she's done this decade is go to TarCon. And, I certainly agree with that.

I'm in for the 3 hour!

I wish I could join you all myself, but I will be in Dallas that weekend visiting with my Dad who has been in the hospital for the past 7 weeks. :( Hopefully, next season!!!

Ya'll have fun!!

We just talked a friend of mine from Minneapolis who now lives in Maine to come on down and meet up with us. Y'all will dig her. She is way cooler than me.

Wish I could come, y'all! Hopefully next time!

I'm new to this whole thing. Do many of the racers (current or past) come to this event? Does anyone know if they're presenting the check out on the plaza in the morning, or will they do it in the studio? Thanks!

In the past, we've had racers show up, past and current. In some seasons, we've had more than others. We make no promises of pictures, autographs, hugs with racers or anything of the sort.

And while they are welcome, it is not the purpose of this event. You're welcome to come and join your fellow TARconners for a night of fun and laughter. Don't worry about coming alone, you'll make friends very quickly.

I don't know what CBS's plans are for check-presenting.

Mr. Luv and I weren't able to attend that last TARcon in December, but we really want to attend this one. I remembered that Valjean614 and Snim Xis organized a Race Across New York for the last TARcon. I don't recall how successul it was (or wasn't).

Before we firm up our flight plans from Minneapolis, is there a plan to do one this time around? If so, we'd love to participate.

I think Snim Xis said that there was one in the works for the warmer season. I don't know if she or Valjean615 will be involved. I imagine they might do it, given the success of the last one. I wasn't there, but from what I heard (and saw), it did well, especially during the cooler climate as well as The Economy ™ back in December.

However, that was mentioned before news of Phil's Ride Across America trip broke. That's slated to conclude in New York the Saturday before TARcon, so no one knows what the status is for the "Faux Race" this year.

So, it looks like I won't be making it this time. Mother's Day obligations from everyone have me stuck.

I was thinking of coming and I did a quick search of Hilton owned hotels for the 10th because I got a pretty good deal on a Hilton last TARCon, and they are dirt cheap that night. The super nice (and usually very expensive) New York Hilton (near Radio City Music Hall) is only $179. The Hilton Garden Inn Times Square is like $145 and three of the Hampton Inns (Chelsea, MSG, and Times Square) are all $135. I've stayed at all of those places except for the Hampton Inn Times square and would recommend any of them.

ETA: I forgot to add that the Doubletree on Lexington Ave, which I've never stayed at but looks pretty nice, is only $109. That looks like the best bet for the weekend.

I'm in for 3 hours! Perfect timing, too; due to Mother's Day, I'm already going to be in NJ that weekend.

ajlingo, I'm confident that the universe would immediately reach its cold death if it contained someone cooler than you.

So, I imagine pseudostudent is still being all nuptial and stuff, but I'm going to try to make more of an effort to reach her, like, right now, so that if necessary I can plan a DimSumCon, like, right now, instead of like, 36 hours before it would take place.

There is indeed another race scheduled for May 9th. I'm not the person in charge of it, though (I'm your competition this time!). There's more information to be had in the "Race Across New York" group on Facebook, or if you don't do the Facebook, drop me a PM and I'll give you the organizer's email. There's lots of room left for interested teams, and December's race was a total blast, so I can't imagine this one won't be even MORE fun.

SnimBoyfriend and I have been doing sprints for weeks in preparation for this race, so y'all better bring it!

Edited to add an important note - if you contact me, email or PM is fine, but please make sure you either give me your email address or have your private-messaging enabled.

Awww crap. I was hoping to be back from Europe in time for this but alas I won't be landing in NYC from Milan until May 12. Oh well.
Kisses and best wishes to all who are going. Somebody drink a Cashmere martini for me!

Yeah I looked on Travelocity this weekend (Thanks Travelocity!!), and booked the Hilton Garden Inn Times Square for a pretty reasonable rate. I hope I get a high floor to avoid the Times Square noise.

[bDavidK93b]

You better wear a parka, then!

I'm out of this one too, unfortunately. I can only use so much vacation right now, because I'm saving up for later in the year.

Mr Luv and I will be at TarCon, and snce we're going, we decided to sign up for the Race Around New York on Saturday. I just found out that we are Team #7! Of course, not being from New York will put us at a serious disadvantage, but we're willing to give it our competitive all.

Heh, I heard you knocking at my virtual door!

I will indeed be being nuptial ... in fact I will be returning from my (Hawaiian, yay) honeymoon the weekend of TARcon. So no organizing or attending for me. :( Have at it, David, I know you'll do an excellent job. Thanks for stepping up and taking charge while I'm all distracted with this wedding thing.

Have fun everyone!

I'm officially locked and loaded for three hours. See you guys there!

From Team Guido in the Previous Racers subforum...

I couldn't go the last two times but I am going this time. Can't wait!!!!

The elimination of my beloved Flyers yesterday means I have no impediment to attending. So I'm in. Looking forward to seeing everyone!

Hi everyone, I've been a fan of TAR for a while now and I've lurked in the forum but have never posted. I got my fiance into TAR this past season and he's a big fan now too. We're thinking about doing the Race Across New York but we'd like to get more details on it. I tried sending a PM to get more info but I keep getting an error message. I hope everyone has a great time at TARCon! I hope to attend one day :)

ETA: I read the FAQ ... need 10 posts before I can send a PM >_< my bad!

TokidokiAngel - (that's "sometimes" Angel, right? I'm a dozen or so years past my last Japanese class) Drop an email to terrorfromtheyear5000 at yahoo dot com and I'll send you the info.

Thanks so much! Yes, it means "sometimes" but it's also the name of a brand of super cute clothing/toys/purses that I'm obsessed with :D

I'll send an email right now! My fiance and I both think a race around NY would be FUN!

ETA: Okay tried to send an email twice and got a message about a delivery error. I don't think we were meant to race ... argh :(

I'm so looking forward to TARCON XIV.. I was at #2 and had a blast.. so glad to be coming back!

Sorry about that - try one more time!

Mr Luv and I are doing the Race Across New York. We might be at a distinct disadvantage not being from NYC, but we're going to give it our all. If others are interested, I encourage you to sign up now. You can google the race and check out the clues from last year's race. It looks like a ton of fun. Now back to studying those subway maps....

Hopefully something can be worked out for you. Since it's the next day, and you would already be in New York, it might be possible. It's the perfect "reception" for the mini-race!




Wow! I think that's the record! When the AR All-Stars Finale Party happened a couple years ago, I lot of people that I had meet in '03 and '04 that hadn't been back prior to #11 were glad to be there. They stated that 3-4 years is way too long to be MIA from the festivities. But with a 7-year gap, I guess the others can't compare. OTOH, missing one is too long for several people. But, 12 missed TARCONS should be the record (unless someone from the original one shows up for his or her second ever).




Sometimes the disadvantage turns into a victory. After all, IIRC, the first two seasons of TAR produced winners that won in a F3 field that included someone from that area!

Oh, you are so right. I do recall Season 1 with Frank and Margarita. They were from the city and thought they had it in the bag on that cab ride only to come in second to the lawyers. We'll keep that in mind as we race across New York!

Okay my fiance and I are signed up for the Race Across New York! :D
I'm not too sure that being from NY is too much of an advantage though. We googled the last race and read some of the clues and we had no idea where anything was ... and we've lived here all our lives! haha kinda funny but also kinda sad that we don't seem to pay much attention to our surroundings. We're looking forward to meeting everyone and for a fun filled day.

TARCon would be great to attend the day after racing around the city but I have to wake up for work at 4am the next day :\

Alright, I'm in! "Woo!" I think it's the first time since #7 that I actually said that I was coming to TARcon with over a week or so to go before the big day.

I usually don't say anything until the day before, or as I head out or if I'm already there. Because back then I was always about 60-75 percent sure, but not 90-100. I'm still pissed about last time, however, especially given the ample amount of time everyone had to do whatever, and then get ready for another round of fun. That 11-month wait was way too long, and during such a bad time, that it was all for nothing.

There's some good that comes out of that though. If you're going to have to miss the fun, but it's in the winter, there's usually the warmer weather festivities that follow within half a year later. So, rather than struggle to make a weekend out of it (esp. with the cold climate, sub-par season, and? The Economy ™!), start saving up for the next one. So much is happening next weekend, it's going to be so worth it!

Hope everyone that's on the fence due to finances, conflicts, and whatever else that pull through. I've been there in the past, but I wasn't going to let "Finances" and "Conflicts" win, but I had to make do with what I could do at the time. That usually meant making it a one-night thing, and/or saving on hotel costs (through roommates, points, specials, the hotels). It may not be ideal, but it's worth it. Everyone else that can make it, see you soon. And this time, Dim Sum? I'm there!

I have not logged in in so long that it took me three tries to remember my password ... but had to pop in to say that I am in for my fourth TARcon. Yay! And this time, not only will I *not* be pregnant, I'll be, uh, single. Woo!

Hi everyone. There was a DimSumCon announcement here, but the official event was cancelled due to a saddening lack of attendance. But I'm leaving the basic information about Jing Fong, the restaurant, here in case anyone still wants to go there.

Jing Fong Restaurant
20 Elizabeth St between Canal & Bayard
New York, NY 10013
(212) 964-5256