Convergence 13 [C13] Seattle
C13 Seattle Proposal Do***ent date 04.01.2006
C13 Seattle proposal site: http://www.altgothic.com/c13seattle
C13 Seattle committee contact: c13seattle@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
13 SEATTLE
Something Wicked This Way Comes...
May 25-27, 2007
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CONTENTS
Introduction / Theme
Seattle
Accommodations
Venues
Events / By Day
Other Events Around Seattle
- Seattle's Gothic and Industrial Nights
- Attractions in and Around Seattle
Trans****tation
Your Convergence 13 Seattle Committee and Staff
FAQ
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Introduction
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My Dearest Aunt Francis,
If you are reading this I am already many miles from town. I know you've
seen this day coming long before I did. I saw the look in your eyes when
they came to inquire about me the summer before I started school, and
again when they came during the drought the year before last. I saw it
last week when Mr. Halloway came to tell us they were back in town, and
every day since. You know I don't belong here. You know I have to go
where I can be with people like me.
Your good velvet church coat that went missing is with me. I took and
made it into a fine show outfit. I even used the satin lining to make a
matching hat! And don't go looking for your good linen tablecloth - I
took it down to the barn and painted it up for my show banner. I also
used a ball of your good red sock yarn to make the tassels. It has my
likeness on it, with a scroll at the top with my name, and fine gold
edges, just like the ones we saw at the parade. Oh, Aunt Francis, you'd
be so proud of it if you didn't know what it was painted on!
I've been saving my earnings from helping Mr. Cooger at the tavern, so I
left some money on the mantle to pay you back for what I took. After
that I have just enough to get me by until I can start earning my keep.
But don't worry, Aunt Francis, you know everyone already wants to get a
good look at me, but now they have to pay a whole nickel!
You taught me well and cared for me as best you could. I'll keep my wits
about me and write when I can. And you know I'll be back every year in
the summer... only now I'll be the star of Cirque Macabre!
Yours always,
Bug
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Theme
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"A presence dark invades the fair
And gives the horses ample scare
Chaos reigns and panic fills the air
When Something Wicked This Way Comes..."
Leave the day-to-day world of routine and convention behind, if only for
one unforgettable weekend, and run away to join the traveling carnival,
Cirque Macabre, where fortune tellers, grifters, burlesque girls,
acrobats, jugglers, magicians, contortionists, the art of the sideshow,
and all manner of oddities and singularities eccentric, unusual, and
diverse are not the exception, but the norm.
Taking our inspiration from The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, Something
Wicked This Way Comes, Carnivàle, Carnival of Souls, The Elephant Man,
and the ragtag street-fair scenes in Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norell,
among many others, our proposed theme for Convergence 13 Seattle draws
from literary, historical, and cinematic settings ranging from the
1800's through Depression-era traditions of American and European
traveling sideshows, carnivals, medicine shows, Vaudeville, and
Victorian and Industrial Age obsessions with the unusual, exotic,
metaphysical, and occult.
We hope you'll join us as our guests as we turn the "dark and peculiar
traveling carnival rolls into town" meme of our collective Gothic
subconscious into ephemeral reality!
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Seattle
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Henry Yesler's mill, opened in 1853, was host to amateur acting
companies, traveling minstrel shows, and Shakespearean plays in an era
when Early Seattle was a small logging town and later a supply stop en
route to the Yukon Gold Rush. Seattle had a sizable workforce of
'seamstresses' - the official tax-record's polite designation for
prostitutes - accounting for a major ****tion of the town's economy. In
the heyday of Vaudeville (from the turn of the century through the
Roaring 20's) Seattle was home to three entrepreneurs who controlled the
majority of Vaudeville theaters in the country - indeed Seattle's
Palomar theater, which closed in the 1950's, was the nation's last
full-time Vaudeville theater.
Today, Seattle is home to world-class symphony, opera, and ballet
companies, and is known not only for its largely 'tech sector' economy,
jet airplanes, international sea****t, Space Needle, historic Pike Place
Market, espresso, and microbreweries, but as a vital center for artists,
musicians, and other 'creative types' who call the city home. Yet
Seattle hasn't forgotten its early Vaudeville and bohemian-era roots,
and today, a variety of alternative-oriented circus, fire performance,
Vaudeville revival, and burlesque troupes harken to a bygone era, while
adding their own uniquely modern touches. Some, like Jim Rose Circus
Sideshow, and Circus Contraption, have grown from local acts to
widespread renown.
The Seattle metropolitan area includes the city of Seattle, King County,
Snohomish County, and several surrounding cities in the Puget Sound
area. According to the United States 2000 Census, the Combined
Statistical Area has a population of 3,604,165, making it the 12th
largest United States metropolitan area. While far from the largest
metropolitan city in the country, Seattle has a thriving and active
goth/industrial scene, and is currently blessed with multiple
goth/industrial-friendly club nights to choose from seven days a week.
Seattle also boasts an online Gothic community with hundreds of regular
and semi-regular participants. In fact, that same board is the progeny
of the original message board created for C6!
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Accommodations
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The metropolitan area of downtown Seattle offers several choices of
hotel accommodations. The Seattle C13 committee has made contact with
multiple AAA 3 and 4 diamond properties and has been offered room rates
starting from $129 double, $139 quad occupancy per night for our 2007
dates.
Hotels under consideration are as follows:
Sheraton Seattle Hotel
----------------------
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/search/hotel_detail.html?propertyID=460
"Already recognized for attentive and exceptional service, our AAA Four
Diamond hotel offers the freshest guest rooms, corridors, meeting space
and lobby in the Northwest. Discover maximum comfort and convenience in
each of our 1220+ guest rooms, carefully designed down to the smallest
detail."
This hotel will be completing a $112 million expansion in the spring of
2007. The renovation includes an addition of 600+ guestrooms and a
completely new catering and meeting room facility.
Crowne Plaza Seattle
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http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hd/seadt?irs=null
"The Crowne Plaza Hotel - Seattle offers a superb location in Downtown
Seattle, close to everything great in the Pacific Northwest."
The C6 Host hotel is eager to have the op****tunity to welcome back
Convergence attendees.
Red Lion Seattle
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http://www.redlion5thavenue.com/
"The Red Lion Hotel on Fifth Avenue offers an upscale, boutique hotel
experience, personal, award-winning service, first-class meeting space
and - perhaps most im****tantly - breathtaking views of the Cascade
Mountains, Elliot Bay, the Puget Sound and the Emerald City itself."
These hotels that we are currently in negotiations with also have all
the amenities that are im****tant to Convergence attendees. Most of these
amenities are a given; bars and restaurants within walking distance,
liquor store with in 2-3 blocks, as well as exceptional on site
amenities including wi-fi. The host hotel will be within the downtown
core of Seattle within the 'Ride Free Area' and close to major bus
routes to make day activities accessible to everyone. Once chosen the
host hotel will provide us with space to host the Trade Show, Panels,
Workshops, Art Show and Fa****on Show. In light of the success of C12
room block and need for overflow hotels, it is a priority for us to
provide enough 'rooms in the inn' for all attendees.
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Venues
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We are currently negotiating with the following venues for our evening
events.
Showbox / Green Room @[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Showbox
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http://www.showboxonline.com
Capacity: 1100, all ages possible
Location: Downtown at 1426 1st Avenue
A favorite place for visiting bands to play when stopping in Seattle,
Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Legendary Pink Dots, VNV Nation, and
Skinny Puppy all recently played the Showbox. This venue showcases four
full bars, a professional stage, state of the art sound and lighting
systems, an expansive oak dance floor, intimate booth and cocktail
seating, and a fully-equipped kitchen. Of course, the Showbox will bring
back fond memories to C6 attendees as the location to what was one of
the most memorable nights in Convergence history.
Neumo's / Bad Juju Lounge @[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Neumo's
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http://www.neumos.com
Capacity: 800, all ages possible
Location: Capitol Hill at 925 East Pike Street
Once called Moe's, a Seattle landmark that welcomes acts from Rasputina
to Radiohead, Neumo's reopened after a complete floor to ceiling
renovation. With crimson walls, entertaining murals, balcony seating,
and not a bad sightline in the house, Neumo's is an excellent middle
ground venue for Convergence 13.
The Premier
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http://www.concerteventcenters.com/directions/
Capacity 1500, all ages possible
Location: Downtown/Sodo at 1700 1st Ave South
The newest venue to open in Seattle, the Sisters of Mercy played here
when they recently visited. With two full bars, a professional stage,
state of the art sound and lighting systems, and a fully equipped
kitchen, the Premier offers many possibilities for C13 events.
Mercury
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http://www.vrseattle.com/pages/vrview.php?cat_id=166&vrs_id=vrs176
http://www.vrseattle.com/pages/vrview.php?cat_id=166&vrs_id=vrs177
Capacity: 200 indoors, 400 with outside seating
Location: Capitol Hill at 1009 E Union
There's not a sign , so don't look for one.
Yes, it is located in an alley under a parking garage.
And yes, the club usually requires member****p or accompaniment by a
member. With that said the Mercury (once the beloved Machine Werks) is
Seattle's favorite gothic industrial club. From classic 80's goth to the
latest dark noise, Mercury provides a variety of nights for every flavor
of goth and rivethead.
The Vogue
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http://www.vogueseattle.com
Capacity: 200
Location: Capitol Hill at 1516 11th Ave
The grand dame of the local scene, the Vogue is one of the oldest clubs
in Seattle. Once a venue that hosted a young Nirvana and Soundgarden,
today you will find Voltaire, The Cruxshadows and Combicrist on its
stage. Also home to the longest running gothic night and our cities most
popular weekly fetish night.
Noc Noc
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http://www.clubnocnoc.com
http://www.vrseattle.com/pages/vrview.php?cat_id=315&vrs_id=vrs860
http://www.vrseattle.com/pages/vrview.php?cat_id=315&vrs_id=vrs861
Capacity: 200
Location: Downtown at 1516 2nd Ave
Noc Noc is a relative newcomer to the Seattle gothic industrial scene.
With its downtown location, exposed brick walls, recently added hardwood
dance floor, and excellent sound system; Noc' has found a soft spot in
our dark hearts.
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Events / By Day
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Note: Due to the nature of the Convergence bidding process, venue
reservations, specific scheduling, and availability of events and venues
cannot be confirmed until after C13 voting results are announced;
therefore the following should be considered preliminary information and
subject to change. Should you honor Seattle with the privilege of
hosting Convergence 13, we'll also, of course, be asking for your
suggestions, comments, and input. Here are just a few of the ideas we've
got in store:
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Thursday
Early Arrivals Event Check-In / Information Center
Getting in early and you NEED your badge and goodie bag or all is lost?
C13 staff will be onsite to assist and answer questions.
Optional pre-C13 activities
Showing up early to C13? Join a local SeaGoth guide on an optional
daytime outing while you're in town. Thursday and Monday activities are
completely optional, and while we will of course make every effort to
obtain group discounts for C13 attendees, paid-admission attractions
will not be covered by your C13 laminate.
Underground Tour
In 1889, the main business district of Old Seattle burned to the ground
in the Great Seattle Fire. During the reconstruction, the City ordered
the street levels raised as much as 32 feet above the original street
level, literally creating a "Seattle Underground" of what were once
first- and second-floor businesses. In 1907, a bubonic plague prompted
the underground ****tion of Seattle to be condemned. Only illegitimate
business was still conducted there, including a flouri****ng liquor trade
during Prohibition. Descend below Seattle's modern-day Pioneer Square
for a trip back through time, to the turn of the century. Be prepared
for the underground landscape to be moderately rugged: you'll encounter
six flights of stairs, uneven terrain and spotty lighting. Dress for the
weather--and leave your spike heel shoes at the hotel!
For those of you who attended C6 in Seattle, the Underground Tour
recently added a new 'adults only' tour that delves deeper into
Seattle's rich history of prostitution and opium trade. Oh my! Saucy!
Guided Shopping Trip
In case you didn't bring anything to wear to C13, or want some new music
to listen to on your black iPod, join our native fa****onistas for a
guided tour of our favorite goth-friendly shops, count your loot at one
of Seattle's many coffee haunts, then shop some more!
Confessional
Join your esteemed host, Monsignor, for a special "pre-func" evening of
cocktails, net.goth reunions, and music.
Seattle's once-monthly Confessional boasts an unprecedented evening of
people watching and outfit coveting.
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Friday
Event Check-In / Information Center
Meet and Greet / Reception / Opening Ceremony / Welcome
You've got your goodie bag and badge. Now what? Why, mill around and
find people to talk to, of course! Stop your gibber-jabbering long
enough to agree on where you're grabbing some dinner (please!), get all
gussied up and then hop on a shuttle, grab a short cab or bus ride, or
walk up the hill to...
Promenade de Vaudevilles
Ladies and gentlemen, darklings of all ages, stroll our Haunted
Boardwalk for an evening of sights and sounds that will thrill, amaze,
and delight your black little hearts.
See! Hilarious and daring Vaudeville acts, tantalizing burlesque
performers, and uncanny sideshow thrills.
Hear! A magical menagerie of musical diversions on multiple stages.
Hear! A cavalcade of gothic and industrial DJs performing a non-stop
musical revue of the darkest, most exotic sounds from the four corners
of the world.
Your C13 laminate is your all-access ticket for a fast-paced 'club
crawl' circuit including multiple venues within a few-block radius,
including 21+, mixed-ages, and all-ages venues. Downed a few too many of
those cure-all libations at the Medicine Show? Soak up some of that
alcohol with carbohydrate-laden carnival treats from our street vendors
along the route!
Vaudeville Noir
Turn-of-the-century Vaudeville gets an unmistakably Gothic twist, with
an extended evening of shorter sets from up-and-coming and regional
bands and a variety of entertainers between sets. Revel in the sights
from the theatre floor, or the all-ages balcony...or venture into the
fortune-teller's lounge to have your future read by Madame Mystère - if
you dare.
Dr. Caligari's Apothecary
A separate club-with-a-club, duck into Dr. Caligari's Apothecary to
soothe your ailments with magical elixirs from his infamous liquor
Cabinet, and soothe your ears with a coven of DJs to trans****t you to a
bygone era with a phantasmagoria of ethereal and old-school Goth rock.
Lost Souls Cabaret
Decadence prevails at Lost Souls Cabaret, where a seductive cast of DJs
and musical performances arouse the imagination and the senses.
Wilkommen, bienvenue, welcome in cabaret, au cabaret, to cabaret!
The Funhouse
We haven't forgotten our beloved babybats! In addition to the mixed-ages
action at Vaudeville Noir, there's still more to see at this all-ages
haunt, themed after classic "Darkride" carnival attractions.
The Opium Den
Step behind the curtains for a strong drink, and experience the exotic
mysteries of the Far East, as an all-night marathon of DJs keep the
music going until well after last call.
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Saturday
Em****ium of Oddments
A Convergence tradition, the Vendor's Room returns in style for C13.
Ménagerie d'Art
Artists' gallery and silent auction.
Panels, Forums, and Workshops
Possible Subjects Include:
The Future of Goth
Resources for the Darker Realm
Goth in the Media
Gothic Artists and Authors
History of Goth
Gothic Weddings
Gothic Home Décor
Goth in Pop Culture
Model-Photographer Meetup
Grab your ****tfolio and head down to the Model-Photographer Meetup to
schedule an indoor shoot, or book a spot for our Victorian-themed
outdoor shoot at...
A Day In The Park
Grab your hat, your parasol, or your 45 SPF for a Victorian-era
afternoon in the park. Enter the Croquet Tournament, climb the Tower for
a 360-degree view of Seattle, take part in an outdoor photo shoot, join
a local Seattle Goth for a guided tour of the turn-of-the-century
cemetery, visit the Conservatory for a look at the infamous
Amorphophallus Titanum, or "Corpse Flower", or tour the Asian Art
Museum. Note: Asian Art Museum admission is $5 for adults, or free with
ticket to downtown's Seattle Art Museum.
Cirque Macabre and Side Show Lounge
An evening of feats both daring and unique, witness death-defying acts
of apparent incredibility! Join C13's 'big tent' bands, featured DJs,
and amazing live Cirque performers in the main hall, or slip into the
21+ Side Show Lounge for a much-needed libation, in this mixed-ages event.
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Sunday
Em****ium of Oddments
A Convergence tradition, the Vendor's Room returns in style for C13.
Panels, Forums, and Workshops
Possible Subjects Include:
The Future of Goth
Resources for the Darker Realm
Goth in the Media
Gothic Artists and Authors
History of Goth
Gothic Weddings
Gothic Home Décor
Goth in Pop Culture
AGF Clothing Swap
Keeping it in the Family!
A staple of the Convergence experience, the clothing swap allows you to
purge that black hole you call a closet and fill it back up again with
things you were sure your life was ashes without. That black brocade
frock coat you bought in London and never wore? It really belongs with a
nice lady from Lawrence, KS, so you should bring it to her. Then she'll
hand over that ****rt from Shrine that was discontinued 5 years ago
you've been scouring eBay for.
Bats on the Midway
Join us as a black-clad horde descends on Seattle Center's "Fun Forest",
for traditional carnival-style games, rides, bumper cars, a 25 foot
climbing wall, miniature golf, and positively stratospheric blood-sugar
levels to prepare you for Sunday night. Admission is free, but you'll
have to pay for your own rides, food, and games.
Guided tour of Experience Music Project at Seattle Center
The architectural "sideshow freak" of Seattle, Frank Gehry's lumpy,
multicolored landmark of modern design may blind Goths acclimated to a
somewhat darker aesthetic, but inside, you'll find 140,000 square feet
of historical rock 'n' roll memorabilia, interactive exhibits, and
activities, courtesy of our local eccentric billionaire, Paul Allen.
Admission to this optional event is a tad pricey (around $20), but well
worth it for the truly obsessed music-history connoisseur.
Madame Maudlin's Tea Shop
Walking around, in the sun no less, isn't your...wait for it...cup of
tea? Pull back the veil between our world and the next and see your
future in the tealeaves. Join Madame Maudlin at one of the many historic
establishments serving traditional Victorian High Tea. Your C13 staff
will work with the aforementioned historical establishments to provide
full service High Tea at an affordable ticket price (between $25-30).
Teatro ZinZanni
A quick jaunt from Seattle Center, Teatro ZinZanni is a big night out
unlike any other, a three-hour whirlwind of cirque, comedy and cabaret
all served up with a five-course feast designed by celebrated Northwest
chef Tom Douglas. While full-price tickets for this optional activity
are by no means cheap ($99 plus gratuity at the time of writing),
discounted group-rate tickets, which the C13 staff would arrange, are
available for groups over 20 (up to a maximum capacity of 285), and
include a five-course gourmet dinner and a three-hour show you won't
soon forget. For those looking to add that extra touch to their C13
experience, we feel it's well worth the price of admission.
ElderGoths' Salon au Vin
Reunite with an old friend or make a new one as you reminisce in The
Gallery, A Northwest Wine Bar. Savor over 160 premium Northwest wines
offered by the glass or bottle, enhanced by an extensive offering of
northwest cheese, fruit and delectable Dilettante Chocolates. The
perfect place to see and be seen!
House of Mirrors: an Alt.Gothic.Fa****on Show
She made up the person she wanted to be, and changed into a new
personality. Even the greatest stars change themselves in the looking
glass...
Carnival of Souls Costume Ball
Put on your best sinister Ringmaster, saucy Burlesque, demented Cirque,
da****ng Vaudeville, or spooky Sideshow Freak outfit, or just come as you
are, to our abandoned, and quite possibly haunted theme park, Carnival
of Souls, as our third evening of incomparable bands and DJs keep you
dancing well into the night. Stick around for the official Closing
Ceremonies, where prizes will be awarded for the finest and most
outrageous outfits, C14 voting results will be announced, and we'll
offer our quick but heartfelt thanks for joining us to make C13 a
convergence for the ages, before turning the sound system back over to
our C13 DJs at this mixed-ages finale.
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Monday
Check Out
Optional post-C13 activities
If you're still in town and aren't suffering from complete sensory
overload yet, join a local SeaGoth guide on an optional daytime outing.
Thursday and Monday activities are completely optional, and while we
will of course make every effort to obtain group discounts for C13
attendees, paid-admission attractions will not be covered by your C13
laminate.
The Carnival Is Over: Post-C13 Official Unofficial Hangover Brunch
The fabulous freaks are leaving town. They are driven by a strange
desire, unseen by the human eye. The carnival is over. We sat and
watched, as the moon rose again for the very first time.
Underground Tour
In 1889, the main business district of Old Seattle burned to the ground
in the Great Seattle Fire. During the reconstruction, the City ordered
the street levels raised as much as 32 feet above the original street
level, literally creating a "Seattle Underground" of what were once
first- and second-floor businesses. In 1907, a bubonic plague prompted
the underground ****tion of Seattle to be condemned. Only illegitimate
business was still conducted there, including a flouri****ng liquor trade
during Prohibition. Descend below Seattle's modern-day Pioneer Square
for a trip back through time, to the turn of the century. Be prepared
for the underground landscape to be moderately rugged: you'll encounter
six flights of stairs, uneven terrain and spotty lighting. Dress for the
weather--and leave your spike heel shoes at the hotel!
For those of you who attended C6 in Seattle, the Underground Tour
recently added a new 'adults only' tour that delves deeper into
Seattle's rich history of prostitution and opium trade. Oh my! Saucy!
Guided Shopping Trip
Join our native fa****onistas for a guided tour of our favorite
goth-friendly shops, count your loot at one of Seattle's many coffee
haunts, then shop some more! Surely there's a bit of extra room in your
suitcase.
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Other Events Around Seattle
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Seattle's Gothic and Industrial Nights
MONDAY
Mercury, 1st Monday
Lucifer's Lounge, Music for the little devil in you, '20s swing, modern
lounge and jazz w/Brishan $3 Cover
Vogue
Blue Monday, Revolving DJ's featuring 80's Synth-pop and New Wave, No
Cover
TUESDAY
Mercury
DIE, w/ DJ Black Maru, Gothic/Darkwave/Synthpop/'80s $3 cover
Noc Noc
I love the 80's w/ DJ Shane, No Cover
WEDNESDAY
Vogue
Gothic night w/ DJ Eternal Darkness, $3
THURSDAY
Mercury, 1st Thursday
Schizophrenia w/ kaosqueen & psyop
Mercury, 2nd Thursday
TWA (TransWorldAgenda)
Mercury, 3rd Thursday
Schizophrenia w/ Nubby Krayon & Psyop
Mercury, 4th Thursday
Schizophrenia w/ Brishan & Psyop
Vogue, last Thursday of the month
ISOLATION, a night of deathrock, postpunk and batcave spun in good taste
by DJ Coldheart; $4 cover, $3 in batcave fa****on
FRIDAY
Mercury
Disco macabre. JQ spinning an eclectic mix of classic new wave,
industrial and gothic, as well as newer ebm, synthpop, electroclash &
electro $5 cover
Vogue
Industrial night with DJ Paul Aleinikoff and once a month (usually) we
have a fantastic Fetish show $2 before 10pm, $5 after
SATURDAY
Mercury
The Machineries of Joy, DJ Hana Solo spinning ***y grinds, symphonic
synthpop anthems, and the distorted crunch and clank of heavy industry!
A focus on modern and electronic $5 cover
Noc Noc
CrucifiXion Industrial/EBM with DJ/VJ Shane, $5 cover, free before 10
Vogue
Time Warp w/ DJ Evan Blackstone, 80's New Wave $5 cover
SUNDAY
Mercury
Kold War w/ DJ Krass, Powernoise, Industrial, Electro, EBM, Atmospheric
$3 cover
Vogue
Dj Evan Blackstone with New Wave/80's to current music, essentially a
bit of everything. $3 before 10pm, $5 after
Noc Noc
Resurrection Goth/Industrial/EBM w/DJ Shane, $3 cover, $0.50 beer
Attractions in and Around Seattle
PIKE PLACE MARKET
The oldest continually operating farmers market in the nation, this
colorful market boasts a splendid array of seafood and produce stalls,
restaurants, crafts and international foods
WATERFRONT
11/2 miles of shops, restaurants, excursion boats and maritime
sightseeing. The waterfront area is also home to the Seattle Aquarium
and Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center.
SEATTLE AQUARIUM
Located on the waterfront, the aquarium is a favorite for all ages,
featuring the world's first aquarium-based salmon ladder, a coastal
tidepool, sea otters and a giant Pacific octopus.
PIONEER SQUARE
Seattle's historic district is filled with boutique shopping, art
galleries, nightlife activities, international dining and sightseeing
op****tunities.
WOODLAND PARK ZOO
Stroll through 92-acres of natural habitat exhibits and wildlife in one
of the top ten zoos in the country.
SEATTLE ART MUSEUM
Located downtown, Seattle Art Museum houses over 21,000 art objects from
the Pacific Northwest and around the world. Seattle Asian Art Museum is
located in Volunteer Park.
PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER
Hands-on mathematics and science exhibits for all ages. Boeing 3-D IMAX®
Theatre and laser shows.
SEATTLE CENTER
74-acre urban park, home of the Space Needle, Children's Museum,
Children's Theatre, Experience Music Project, Seattle Opera, Seattle
Repertory Theatre, Intiman Theatre, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Key Arena
and various festivals. Accessible from downtown via a 90-second ride on
the Monorail.
EXPERIENCE MUSIC PROJECT
An interactive music museum with high-tech exhibits of American popular
music history, artifacts, hands-on equipment and live performances.
DOWNTOWN SHOPPING
Seattle's downtown retail core, within easy walking distance of the
Convention Center and hotels, offers a variety of stores to suit all
tastes. Shoppers will enjoy Nordstrom's new flag****p store, the up-scale
shopping center Pacific Place, most im****tantly, the MAC counter and the
Sephora are across the street from each other.
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Trans****tation
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Getting Here - By Air
---------------------
The following price quotes are for round-trip, economy fares if booked
on April 1st for travel May 25-29 2006. Please plan on 6-10% increase in
fare for 2007.
Atlanta / $325
Austin / $265
Boston / $225
Chicago / $236
Columbus / $225
Denver / $236
Detroit / $254
Honolulu / $446
Las Vegas / $204
Los Angeles / $198
Nashville / $246
NYC/Newark / $238
New Orleans / $218
Phoenix / $224
Salt Lake City / $184
San Francisco / $178
Tampa / $218
Toronto / $435
Wa****ngton DC / $217
Air****t shuttles and taxi service to the downtown hotel district is
available 24 hours a day. Shuttle rates run between $8US and $12US per
person, each way, depending on carrier and whether you have a
reservation, and taxis run about $30US (not including gratuity) for up
to four passengers.
There is an express bus from the air****t to downtown every 30 minutes
for $2, however, this is not available 24 hours a day and there is only
one stop at the air****t.
Getting Here - By Water:
Seattle is accessible year round for residents of Vancouver Island,
Canada on the passenger ferry, the Victoria Clipper or car ferries in to
****t Angeles, WA and Anacortes, WA.
Getting Here - By Land
----------------------
Car
Seattle is served by two major interstate highways. The I-5 goes south
to ****tland, OR and San Francisco, CA and north to the Canadian border
and Vancouver, BC. The I-90 links Seattle with central and eastern
Wa****ngton State.
Approximate driving times to Seattle: From ****tland - 3 hours;
Vancouver, Canada - 3 hours; Spokane - 6 hours.
Greyhound Coach
Greyhound operates from the Greyhound Bus Station. The facilities are
minimal but include 24-hour ticketing, left-luggage and a snack bar.
Train
Seattle is on the main Amtrak network and operates out of the King
Street Station, located in the historic Pioneer Square district. The
recommended route is the Cascades, which features a restaurant car and
televisions on the route. The Cascades runs parallel with the I-5
corridor from Vancouver, BC to Eugene, OR and all points in between.
Getting Around Within Seattle
-----------------------------
Public Trans****tation
Seattle has an excellent bus system operated by King County Metro
(www.metrokc.gov).
Transit with wheelchair and bicycle lifts and drivers trained to
announce significant stops and help with directions. Free transit buses
run through the downtown business and retail core.
Buses operate every 10 to 20 minutes (less between midnight and 4:00
am). Tickets are $1.25 or $1.50, depending on distance of trip and time
of day. Day p***** are available for $2 on Saturdays, Sundays and
holidays.
Taxis
Taxis can be hailed from designated locations in front of hotels. A
tip of 10-15% is expected. Seattle taxi drivers are almost always polite
and reliable, although one can expect to wait up to 10 minutes for a
cab. Cost for two passengers is $2.50 at 'flag drop', plus $2.00 per
mile thereafter and $0.50 per extra passenger. Currently Seattle has a
$1 per trip fuel surcharge we hope will be lifted by 2007.
Driving in Seattle
C13 will be planned in a way that encourages walking, shuttles, public
trans****tation, or short cab rides as the recommended forms of
trans****tation. However, for those of you who will have cars the city is
fairly easy for newcomers to navigate based on a simple grid system;
numbered roads are north-south avenues and named roads are east-west
streets. Visitors should be aware parking could get expensive downtown.
If you wish to use 'in and out privileges' to drive your car to events
while here it is best to utilize the hotel's parking service.
All major rental car companies are available for vehicle rental both
downtown and at the air****t.
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Your Convergence 13 Seattle Committee and Staff
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Affectionately known as "The People Who Seem to be Allergic to Free
Time", different combinations of the C13 Seattle Committee and Staff
promote and host several weekly and monthly Gothic and Industrial club
nights, present and organize Gothic fa****on shows, officiate and produce
most community weddings, bring international bands to Seattle, and
organize genre-specific art shows.
Comprised of a group of individuals with a long history of working
together producing, hosting and promoting successful community events,
the C13 Seattle Committee and Staff have been carefully chosen based on
each individual's areas of professional expertise. For the C13 Seattle
Committee and Staff members, their roles in hosting C13 would mirror
their professional lives to help make a Convergence gathering in Seattle
unforgettable once again.
Alexia Roy / Alexiarnps
Chair, Chief Cat Herder
Alexia made her first black dress, on her grandmother's sewing machine,
at age eight. At eleven, she cried when she found out she was too young
to get into an Adam Ant concert. By age fourteen, clad in riding boots,
vintage frock, and topcoat, Alexia was listening to Cocteau Twins, Dead
Can Dance, and Legendary Pink Dots, when, to her surprise, someone
called her a Goth. She's never looked back since - except to make sure
her bustle is on straight. Although she still gets rankled every time
someone asks if her given name is a made-up "Goth name", she does carry
calling cards inscribed "Professional Diva".
Alexia's day-job resume includes a few two-dollar words like "artists'
liaison", "special events coordinator " and "personal assistant to the
CEO of a major publisher." Currently a regional operations manager for a
medical company that manufactures and maintains human bionic implant
devices (yes, it's exactly as cool as it sounds), her job description
includes "maintaining cadaver levels" and she wouldn't have it any other
way.
After spending her formative starving-student years in ****tland's Goth
scene of the early 1990's, hosting house parties in lieu of a regular
club night to go to, she moved to Seattle in time to harbor nostalgia
for the original downtown Machinewerks and Vogue locations. She
currently moonlights as moderator chair for the Seattle Gothic message
board, producer, entertainment booker, and promoter of Seattle's
reoccurring "Gothique" fa****on show events, and occasional guest
panelist on "Goth" and "costuming" related topics at cons that are, of
course, nowhere near as cool as Convergence.
She's also become something of a 'go-to girl' whenever Seattle's crisp,
Northwest air inspires yet another couple to plan a Goth-friendly
wedding. With a scant four weeks to plan her own wedding, and a tight
budget after spending too much on the hotel at C7, a 'quiet, simple
ceremony' quickly turned into 'let's throw a party'. Arriving in a
hearse to a reception opened as a no-cover club night and concert to the
public with catered goodies, goth/industrial rock bands, guest DJs, and
a crowd of 750 guests - complete with radio promotion, a
do***entary-series TV crew, and perhaps most im****tantly, a Dias de los
Muertos bride and groom on the cake.
Alexia has three black cats, three pet toads, and one very understanding
husband.
Erica Jantos / Vomvamuse
Co-Chair, Hotels, Hospitality, Facilities, On-Site Events
A proud New Jersey native, Erica grew up among classic architecture and
rolling hills - the 'garden' part of the Garden State. She frequented
the local music venues as well as the clubs of Philadelphia and New York
until she relocated to the Pacific Northwest in 1996. She was a
committee member of her first convergence, C6 in Seattle. She looks
forward to the revelry that will be C12 New Orleans, partook in the
event that was C9 Las Vegas (baby!), and would like to forget that she
even tried to help with C7.
A 15-year cor****ate goth in the hospitality industry, Erica is currently
a catering sales manager at an exclusive private club in downtown
Seattle. When she is not making each party 'perfect' you will find her
either record flipping for that one im****t, dining out somewhere, or
rating the night's DJ at a local club, rarely without a confidante in tow.
Jillian Venters / The Lady of the Manners
Co-Chair, Daytime Outings, Voice of Reason
A C6 committee veteran, the Lady of the Manners makes no claims of
having always been Gothic; the Lady of the Manners firmly believes that
no one can really claim that, and anyone who does might be trying a
touch too hard to establish their gothy credibility.
However, the Lady of the Manners was a fairly spooky and morbid child,
with parents who never objected to the Lady of the Manners' eccentric
taste in clothing. (Instead, the Lady of the Manners' parents used it as
an incentive to do well in school: "If you get straight A's, we'll buy
you pointy buckle boots!") The Lady of the Manners' father raised her to
be his revenge upon the Universe, while her mother rolled her eyes a lot
and frequently had an air of amused patience.
When the Lady of the Manners discovered the existence of the whole
Gothic subculture, she clapped her hands with glee and fell upon it like
a babybat upon a box of Count Chocula cereal. Eventually the Lady of the
Manners came to realize that excellent clothes were not, contrary to
popular opinion, a substitute for excellent manners, and that being a
Black-Clad-Freak didn't have to mean being depressed and snarly. (Witty,
sarcastic, and possibly a touch cynical, yes. Mean-spirited, sullen, and
rude, no.) Since then, the Lady of the Manners has spent a
not-inconsiderable amount of time trying to gently persuade others in
her chosen subculture that being a goth and being polite is much, much
more subversive than just wearing black t-****rts with 'edgy' sayings on
them.
www.gothic-charm-school.com
Mike Wimer / Noxious Emotion, MusicWerks, ADSR
Co-Chair, Music Booking, Talent Liaison
Beginning with his own bands, and then as concert promoter, label owner,
and record store owner, Mike's dedication has made him an irreplaceable
fixture of the Gothic / Industrial music scene in Seattle since the late
1980's. His independent record label, ADSR, has been responsible for
releases from his own Mental Ward and Noxious Emotion, along with SMP,
Ninth Circle, ThouShaltNot, OMNIbOX, GLIS, And Christ Wept, Static
Engine, and Tau Factor. As a booker and concert promoter with
MusicWerks, he's been responsible for bringing a steady stream of
national and international acts to Seattle, and years of experience
booking shows across the United States and Europe, Japan, and the former
Soviet Union.
Mike's treated West Coast audiences to performances from Assemblage 23,
Covenant, And One, OHGR, Hate Dept., Front 242, Echo & the Bunnymen,
Faith and the Muse, Collide, Snog, Black Tape for a Blue Girl,
Attrition, Moev, Cruxshadows, Bella Morte, VNV Nation, Icon of Coil,
Apoptygma Berzerk, Beborn Beton, KMFDM, 16 Volt, Kidney Thieves, Slick
Idiot, Seabound, Stromkern, Mors Syphilitica, Death in June, Haujobb,
Hocico, Babyland, Voltaire, Melotron, Noi***, Funker Vogt, Hanzel Und
Gretyl, Delerium, Wolfsheim, Imperative Reaction, Imminent Starvation,
Hungry Lucy, Combichrist, Gene Loves Jezebel, Written In Ashes, Android
Lust, Marina Sirtis...and many, many more, earning a well-deserved and
long-standing reputation for treating not only concertgoers well, but
the bands he brings in, topped with his trademark warm, humble smile and
sense of humor.
When the original location of Mike's MusicWerks record store - one of
far too few 'goth-industrial only' brick-and-mortar record stores in the
country - fell victim to an unfortunate electrical fire in 2003,
regional bands quickly came together to show their sup****t, putting on
the now-infamous "Fire Festival" marathon benefit concert, including a
literal "fire sale" of smoke-damaged CD's. Musicwerks' new Pine Street
store is within walking distance of the proposed hotel(s) and Capitol
Hill event locations.
Monsignor
Pre Function and Post Function Host
A Seattle native, true Gothic Elder and active community member, our own
martini-soaked fallen Holy Man has provided countless services over the
years, including producing the highly successful monthly evening known
as 'Confessional' and hosting dozens of events and club nights in
additional to marrying a good number of us, er, to each other, I mean!
The first person to arrive, the last person to leave, and always with a
smile, Monsignor is the absolute 'Host with the Most' harkening back to
the golden days of the immaculately executed soirée.
Robert Tritthardt / DJ Sprockets, Uber Comics
DJ Coordinator, Comics Artists Coordinator
Robert was raised in the nothingness of the midwest. For many years he
was lost, until he heard Tones On Tail's 'Burning Skies' while attending
art school. In only ten years, he has deejayed at many clubs across the
country (and a few places overseas) and has become internationally
recognized for his gothic comic Writhe and ****ne. He helped organize C5
in New Orleans, and subsequently attended C6, C9, C10 and C12. Robert
moved to Seattle in 2005 where he hopes to accomplish a hell of a lot
more, but if some Wookies dropped by and asked him to come along for an
adventure, he'd totally go.
www.writheand****ne.com
Katie Mineke / Mineke, Dark Industry
Fa****on Events Coordinator
Katie Mineke is a native Wa****ngtonian. Sewing since childhood, she
followed her dream of becoming a fa****on designer and obtained her
degree from the Art Institute of Seattle's Fa****on Design program a
short eighteen months after graduating from high school. She uses her
lifetime of skills and her trusty schooling for her current venture,
Dark Industry Clothing.
She's been a very active participant in Seattle's gothic/industrial
scene since before she was old enough to attend clubs, volunteering and
being called upon for many fa****on-related projects. She continues to
put out line after line, at her own expense, to be shown in the local
fa****on shows and to inspire others to dress to impress.
Her day life is also spent in the fa****on industry, working as a
materials coordinator and product developer for Columbia S****twear (the
brand new owner of the Pacific Trail and affiliated brands). So she
basically eats, sleeps, drinks, and breathes fa****on every single day of
her life, and she loves it.
Plain and simple: she loves making clothes, and especially loves making
clothes for this genre. In no other group of people would a period gown
made out of ****ny vinyl be not only accepted, but lusted after; where
the color black is seen as a form of self-expression, where a lifestyle
of decadence is revered. She's come to find that the highest standards
of fa****on and beauty are right here, in this scene, and feels so
grateful to be a part of it.
http://www.darkindustryclothing.com
Jim Graham / TwelfthNight
Production Management, Venue Coordinator, Technical Director
With an extensive career in the event and concert industry, Jim hit the
road at the age of eighteen when he started working as a roadie for many
local, national, and international acts. After twenty years spent on the
road running front of house, managing road crews, and, much to the
delight of his friends, having embarrassing pictures of himself in
Spandex leggings resurface years later in Motley Crue tell-all
biographies, he retired back to Seattle to set up his own production
company, Jim Graham Productions. Jim Graham Productions has gone on to
produce events for such clients as Microsoft, Apple, Nordstroms, Tabor
100, and many other national cor****ations. Jim also works as a freelance
production manager and technical director for many other local and
national production companies, providing them with his talents and
skills, but still manages to show up at the club for a round of
Jameson's every weekend.
Colleen Smet-Mathis / LeeNy, Leenerella
Webmaster, I.T., Non-Musical Performances Consultant, Fire Safety Advisor
Born and raised in Wa****ngton, Colleen became an AZgoth in 1998, and
returned to Seattle just in time to volunteer for Convergence 6. She is
the webmaster for www.gothic-charm-school.com, and www.granolagoth.com,
along with her day job as a webmaster at University of Wa****ngton, and
has also served as a moderator on the Seattle Gothic message board.
Colleen has a background and education in theatre, and has volunteered
to help with many local theme events, organized SeaGoth beach burns and
produced, directed, and performed in fire shows throughout Wa****ngton
state. As her Granola Goth credits suggest, she's an avid outdoor
enthusiast. She is working on a theme camp for her fourth year at
Burning Man, and loves firedancing, bellydancing, and yoga. She is
married to a tall, dark, and handsome stagehand, and they live on
Capitol Hill with their two cats, Dib and Gaz.
Chris Roy / Chrisrnps, Dollfactory, NPS-Media
Co-Webmaster, Printed Materials, Promo
Picking up the violin in fourth grade, and later moving to guitar and
keyboards, Chris earned his first Goth points clearing the audience at a
high-school talent show with feedback-drenched covers of Killing An Arab
and Dark Entries. Playing in Oregon and Wa****ngton with his early bands
Crown of Thorns and Guernica throughout high school and college, Chris
moved to Seattle in 1993, and has worked as a graphic designer,
multimedia programmer, sound and lighting technician, stagehand, music
store sales manager, audio post engineer for the film and video
industries, and technical sup****t administrator for live sound and
recording studio equipment manufacturers, which one would think might
exempt him from getting stuck with a nickname like "The Foppiest Fop in
all of Fopdom", but after putting on a frock coat and downing a few
Sapphire-and-tonics, he really doesn't have a leg to stand on. Currently
at work on upcoming CDs from SMP and his current band, Doll Factory,
Chris' favorite memory from previous Convergences was the unofficial "C7
Rescue Committee" night at the Limelight.
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FAQ
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: What are the dates?
A: If we have the honor of hosting Convergence 13 we propose Memorial
Day Weekend, May 25-27, 2007. This weekend has already been proven to
Convergence goers since C6 was also held over this holiday weekend. With
great weather, low hotel rates and favorable airfares it is the perfect
weekend to visit our city.
Q Is this going to conflict with Whitby Gothic Weekend or any other
Festivals?
A: We have purposefully chosen a weekend where C13 would not conflict
with any scheduled local or national events or conventions.
Q: HEY! Didn't Seattle host a Convergence before?
A: Yes, as did Chicago and New Orleans. Seattle had the honor of hosting
Convergence VI in 2000.
Q: Is it too soon for Seattle to bid again?
A: Was it too soon for Chicago or New Orleans? Seven years is ages in
any Goth scene. Soon after C6 our scene went through a period of growth
and evolution. Today in Seattle we enjoy solid, active, yet laid-back
and approachable community, with superior shopping, and gothic or
industrial club nights 7 nights a week. We feel it is time again to
share all that we call the Seattle Gothic Scene with Convergence
attendees.
Q: What happened to those C6 Organizers? Are they helping with this Bid?
A: Co-Chairs Jillian Venters and Erica Jantos were both Co-Chairs of the
C6 committee, from creating the bid to PFM commenting on Jillian's hat.
Q: So, I hear it rains A LOT in Seattle?
A: Yes, we have more then a few days of measurable rain; however at 37
inches per year, it's less than Miami (56 inches), New York (42),
Atlanta (51) Boston (41), and ****tland (38) to mention only a few. Not
that we're defensive...
Q: What about the theme?
A: "Come one, come all", as they say. We've deliberately selected a
theme that allows us to have some extra fun decorating, entertaining,
and dazzling C13 attendees, while giving you the option of going all-out
and dressing for the theme, or doing your own thing - when the theme
involves a dark-tinged carnival and traveling sideshow, there's nothing
to keep you from being whatever kinda 'freak' floats your proverbial
boat. Our concept is very specific, but your interpretation of it
doesn't have to be.
Q: What hotel will we be using?
A: With the possibility of hosting Convergence for a second time, the
Seattle bid committee is in a comfortable position where we have a
multiple hotels that are aggressively pursuing our event. For more
information on these hotels that we are negotiating with please review
our accommodations section.
Q: Are there other options beyond the host hotel?
A: As any other major city; there are accommodations to be found for any
budget. From Hostels to AAA five diamond hotels you will be able to find
a place to rest your head that is right for you.
Q: Where will the nighttime events be held?
A: Further proof that the music scene has grown in Seattle, for C6 we
had one venue that held 800+, now we have THREE unique renovated venues
we're considering for Convergence 13 if Seattle is chosen. Again, with
Convergence a proven and successful event in Seattle these venues are
eager to work with us again.
Q: How much will a ticket be?
A: We have created a budget based on selling tickets at $65US per person.
Q: I'm not 21 yet, what about me?
A: We plan to have all main evening events open to attendees 18+.
Q: Can I smoke?
A: As in many other major cities, Seattle has recently passed an
initiative barring smoking in places such as bars, restaurants, and
clubs. If you smoke, plan on smoking outside where you will truly enjoy
our fine May weather.
Q: Am I going to need a car to get around?
A: No, not if you are planning to stay downtown. While there are
wonderful places to outside of the city, Seattle's public trans****tation
is frequent and convenient. We still have the free ride zone in
downtown, once outside of the zone your ride will only be 1.25-1.50.
Public trans****tation from the Seattle Tacoma Air****t is within 3 blocks
or any of the hotels under consideration is 1.50 each way. Direct
shuttle services run from $8-12US each way. A taxi runs $30US plus
gratuity each way and will allow up to 4 passengers per car. For more
detailed trans****tation information please see the trans****tation section.
Q: Is Seattle dangerous?
A: While Seattle is the 4th largest city on the west coast, it surely
does not feel like it. Seattle is a safe city with a low crime rate. It
is common to see Seattle Police Department officers on car, foot,
bicycle and even horseback around town and in the downtown area. Being
Seattleites, they are very freak friendly.
Q: When will you be taking DJ and band submissions?
A: Now, don't you think that it is just a bit early to ask that question?
Q: Will Peter Murphy return for C13?
A: C6 will forever go down in history as that Convergence that had PFM.
It was a truly magical night, a memory that we do not wish to ruin by
trying to recreate. We will not promise him or any other performer of
his caliber for our event.
Q: How do I contact the Seattle Bid Committee?
A: You're encouraged to post general questions to the alt.gothic and
alt.gothic.convergence newsgroups, or direct emails to:
c13seattle[at]comcast.net
Q: How can I help sup****t Convergence XII?
A: Please feel free to contact the Committee at c13seattle[at]comcast.net
Q: Can I have a pony?
A: Yes. But you have to use your own allowance.
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[Do***ent end]
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