12 January 2011

EPICon(TM) Special Events for the Year!

I've already told you about the special guest speakers this year and the class tracks... What about other special events?

The Awards Banquet and Awards Ceremony is pretty much assumed to be stellar. The banquet meals alone this year are fab! We have a choice of Flat-Iron Steak, Potato Crusted Atlantic Salmon, and Vegetable and Pasta with a choice of either Potato and Corn Chowder or Garden Vegetable Soup on the side. Lisa has some great entertainment plans. I'll have to check with her to see how much I'm allowed to tell you about that.

Saturday afternoon, we are having a New Voices Celebration. We'll award any winners attending, and we'll have time to rub elbows with the kids. In addition, there will be a fun buffet snack served: chocolate-dipped apple wedges w/ carmel sauce, fresh buttered popcorn, nachos w/ guacamole and salsa, hot pretzels w/ dijon mustard and yellow mustard...soft drinks, bottled water, iced tea, and lemonade. The celebration is open to all attendees, young and old.

Speaking of which... The New Voices track on Saturday (which includes lunch, the celebration, and classes) is only $35 for attending teachers and students (middle and high school aged). If you know a school that would like to take advantage of this, they can also purchase the 3-day passes to the historic district from us for their attending teachers and students...and use the convention hotel on our con fee prices. Since we're not limited, why not?

The Friday break will be in the morning and will be the Colonial Williamsburg Signature Ice Cream Bar. My doctor is going to hate me for this one, but who doesn't like a good ice cream sundae?

The Friday keynote luncheon is a special buffet the hotel makes called the "Cascades." It includes:
Chopped garden salad
Woodlands signature ranch dressing
Ale-braised potted beef with vegetables and mushrooms
Roasted vegetable and potato casserole
Bakery-fresh rolls
Warm orchard apple pie with vanilla bean sauce
Coffee, tea, decaf, iced tea

The Saturday keynote luncheon is a plated lunch with a choice of Grilled Basalmic-Laced Vegetable Wrap, Grilled Chicken BLT Wrap, or Huzzah! Deli Sub Sandwich and a choice of vegetable soup or beef and barley soup.

The Friday dinner will be a costume optional meal. It's not something we typically do at EPICon(TM), but it sounded like WAAAYYY too much fun. If you own (or want to own) historical clothing -- from any era...let's make this fun -- and want to make this meal more fun than it will already be, come dressed to amuse yourself and amaze others!

The meal is called the "Colonial Feast" and will include:
King's Arms Tavern Peanut Soup with Sippets
Poached fillet of flouder atop a bed of herb-seasoned rice with creole sauce
Southern-style fried chicken
Roasted pork loin with pork au jus lie
Country Style Corn Fritters
Sweet Potato Pudding
Sauteed Zucchini with Snap Beans and Pecans
Salmagundi (an 18th C combination of garden greens, VA ham, roast turkey breast, aged cheddar cheese, hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, olives, and herb dressing)
Loaves of Sally Lunn Bread
Sour Cherry Trifle
coffee, decaf, tea

The Colonial Feast is served on a Lazy Susan, and servers will be coming around with pitchers of ale during the meal. MAKE SURE to bring your ID, or you will not be served, no matter your age. House rules.

The Sunday morning Farewell Breakfast Buffet will include:
OJ
Tomato Juice
Seasonal fruit and bananas
Assortment of cold cereals with whole and skim milk
Scrambled eggs
Sweet Country ham
Skillet-fried potatoes
Buttermilk pancakes with maple syrup
Breakfast pastries
Muffins
Toast
Butter and preservatives
Coffee, decaf, tea, milk, and skim milk

Remember that a Continental Breakfast is included in the hotel and will be available for every morning of our stays, including anyone not staying late enough to enjoy the Farewell Breakfast.

Most attendees are probably aware that you can purchase a 3-day pass to Colonial Williamsburg with a con attandence...or for guests of attendees. The historic district has all sorts of demonstrations and events, some for free and some paid events. I've heard that the two ghost tours are fantastic, for instance.

If anyone is bringing children, there are costume rentals for children and a "children's tour" that includes things like helping to churn butter and learning how to make candles. Children are HIGHLY discouraged from taking the adult ghost tour and attending the witch trial. They are very intensive events and not suited to young ones.

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