The New England Browncoats welcome you to the 2011 Browncoat Ball! Here are a last few details you should know.
The weather is expected to be clear, with temperatures in the low 60’s. Welcome to October in New England! We suggest that you dress in layers so that you can bundle up or down as needed. If you are on a walking tour on Saturday, bring comfortable shoes.
For those of you coming for the entire weekend, things will get going on Friday at 3:00pm, when our Hospitality Room opens. This room will be on the 6th floor; there will be a sign in the lobby telling you specifically which room we’re in. You should come here first to check in with us and pick up your welcome packet.
The Prop Museum will be open Friday afternoon, also starting at 3:00pm, adjacent to the Hospitality Room. Come see this amazing collection of real screen-used props from “Firefly” and “Serenity”!
Friday at 4:30pm come talk with Keith R.A. DeCandido, author of the “Serenity” movie novelization as well as many “Star Trek” novels and other books. He will sign books, so bring your copies with you!
Our Halloween party will kick off Friday at 7:00pm in the hotel’s Barrington Room. We will have a costume contest, so pack your finest spooky gear! Be sure to be there at 8:00pm for a show by Rory Raven, mentalist and mindbender, who says he will “read your mind, bend your spoon, and leave you talking about it for the rest of your life.”
You may also join us in the Hospitality Room all evening long for games and conversation!
Don’t stay up too late, though, because the tourism tracks will get going early Saturday morning. Your transportation will depart from the front of the hotel lobby; look for the signs indicating your track. Companion Track and Shindig Track attendees should arrive at 9:15am for a bus departing at 9:30am for lovely Newport, RI. Reaver Track attendees, you get to sleep in a little – be in the lobby at 9:45am for your van departing at 10:00am. All tracks will return to the hotel by no later than 5:00pm so that you have time to get ready for the ball. Lunch is included with the daytime tours.
If you’re only coming to the Ball in the evening, the Hospitality Suite will be open during the day, so come on up and check in with us when you arrive at the hotel. Please do not arrive any later than 6:30pm, as the room will close shortly before the Ball begins.
Ladies, if you need help with your hair or costume, come on up to The Primping Room, adjacent to the Hospitality Room! It will open on Saturday at 5:30pm and close at 6:45pm. Gentlemen (and anyone else who doesn’t require primping) are encouraged to gather in Alfred’s, the hotel bar, at 6:00pm.
The doors to the Ball will open at 7:00pm. If you would like to have your name announced when you enter the room (as in “Miss Kaywinnet Lee Frye and escort”), be sure to fill out one of the name cards provided at the entrance, and hand it to the announcer when you walk in. Smile for the photographer!
Dinner will be served right away. Dancing will begin at 8:00pm and continue until 11:00pm.
Sunday morning, feel free to come up to the Hospitality Room one last time to hang out and say goodbye. We might even watch a few episodes of our favorite TV show!
A few other things of note:
- We will have several special prizes that we will be raffling off! You will get some tickets with your packet; you may buy more tickets at $1 each or 6 for $5. Locate the ticket box that goes with the prize you want; you can put your tickets in more than one box or put them all in the box for your favorite. A portion of the proceeds will go to “Sending Fireflies”, a charity honoring well-known Browncoat 11th Hour.
- We will also be doing a “50/50” raffle, which will also cost $1 each or 6 for $5. The winner of this prize gets half of however much money is collected; the rest goes to the Ball to cover costs. (If we happen to have any funds left over, they will go to the hosts of the 2012 Browncoat Ball.)
- For both raffles, be sure to bring your “keep this coupon” receipts with you to the Ball, because we will draw the prizes during the Ball itself.
If you have any questions, ask on our
Facebook group or
contact us via the website. We look forward to you joining us for this mighty fine shindig!
