ATLAS OF THE VERSE!

Thanks to a generous donation from long-time Browncoat and CSTS volunteer Kari Hartman, we have a mint edition of Serenity: Atlas of the Verse. This is now going for up to $200 on eBay but you will be able to bid on it in our live auction.  Here are a few pictures to whet your appetite. (Double click on a picture to see an enlarged view.)

The front cover:

 The inside front cover:

Some of the inside pages:

And we all know where small arms should go in a table setting, don't we? :D

SHINY, SHINY AUCTION ITEMS!

Firefly Cargo Bay has been a generous donor to CSTS Vancouver for several years.  This year she has donated a number of posters, including this one:

There were also several prints from artist extraordinaire, James Hance, including these members of the Serenity crew.

I'll post some of the other posters - from other fandoms - later in the week.

WE'RE BACK!!

Yes, there will be a CSTS Vancouver event this year, in honour of the 10th year of Can't Stop The Serenity.  Ten years - and the global fundraising event for Equality Now and local charities has raised almost $1,000,000!!  Good work and kudos to all those who have supported and worked on events around the world.  This year's logo (on the right) was designed by Adam Levermore, who also designed the logo for the first year of events.

Here in Vancouver our total is just about $30,000 for eight years, and we'd like to make this year the best one ever.

DATE:     Saturday, June 20, 2015

TIME:     Noon to 6 pm

PLACE:  H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, 1100 Chestnut Street, Vancouver

TICKETS:  $15 in person; $16 via PayPal (tickets will go on sale this weekend)

There will be a screening of "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" screened by permission from Time Science Blood Club, LLC.  ©Time Science Blood Club, LLC. All rights reserved."

In addition, we will have our Evil Laugh contest (so get practising!), costume contest, trivia bingo, silent and live auctions, and of course the screening of Serenity.  

We will also have a trivia contest on the blog, so keep checking back for that, pictures of our auction items and the reasons why we do this event each year.  T-shirts will be on sale shortly.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR JUNE 9TH - UPDATED!

You've asked for it and here it is (always subject to change, of course):

10:30am              Doors open
11:00                   Brief introduction, then singing along to Dr. Horrible
11:55                   Evil Laugh contest
12:15                   An episode of Mind My Brains, Darling
12:25                   Reaver Dance
12:35                   Animism
1:00                     Firefly Trivia Bingo
1:40                     Episode 12 of Standard Action
2:00                     Live Auction
2:35                     Costume Contest parade and awarding of prizes
3:00                     Close silent auction
                            Draw for Fan Expo ticket prize
                            Door prizes
                            Joss's Equality Now speech
                            CSTS introduction
3:30                     SERENITY
5:30                     Announcement of winning bidders in the silent auction

There are still tickets left.  Ticket sales at La Fontana will end at noon on Friday and on the blog at midnight.  Any tickets left will be available at the door.

A reminder that no food or drink, except for beverages with tops, is allowed in the auditorium, although you are welcome to use the table and chairs set up in the Lounge for that purpose.  C&C Cakery will be present with their Firefly-inspired treats for a recommended donation.

The parking lot is paid parking - $2 per hour or a flat rate of $10 from 6 am to 6 pm. After 6 pm, it is a flat rate of $5.  They are pretty strict in the lot so if you are staying after 6 to join some of us in the Lounge to order food, please make sure you pay the evening rate.

REMEMBER, all monetary transactions at CSTS Vancouver are cash only.  That includes tickets available at the door; limited grab bags ($5); Bingo cards ($1); CSTS 2012 patches (a limited number for a minimum donation of $4); food and auction items.  There will also be jars around if you would just like to drop in some change - or bills - as an extra donation.

If you are entering the costume contest, please arrive by 10:30 and go directly to the Lounge where the judges will see you.  If you are entering the Superpowers costume contest, you will be asked to fill out a card with your Superpower name, talent, how you would use that ttalent and whether you would fit in with Iron Man, Black Widow and the gang, or whether you plan to aid Bad Horse, the Thoroughbred of Sin!

YOU SAY YOU WANT BOOKS?

We have books.


Signed by Wil Wheaton:

Excellent essays on various aspects of Firefly and Serenity, edited by Jane Espenson:

A collection of posts and thoughts on watching Firefly for the first time by @MarkDoesStuff.  At the moment he is watching & posting about Season 5 of Buffy and Season 2 of Angel, concurrently. Yesterday's post was on "The Body".

Trade Paperback collection of Dollhouse: Epitaph comics.

AVENGERS ASSEMBLE! WITH COSTUMES!

I'm sure by now that most, if not all, of you have seen the biggest blockbuster movie of the year - which is piling up more records as we speak.  If you haven't, why not?? It's a Joss Whedon film.  It says so right in the credits - and it's oh so sweet to see.  It's also a damn fine movie.  Combined with The Cabin in the Woods, Joss has had two movies in the top 10 for two weeks!  And Joss being the person he is, he wrote a thank you letter to his fans on Whedonesque.  If you haven't read it, it's here  You might want to read some of the 440+ comments - and comment yourself if you're a member.  (Whedonesque membership was opened yesterday.)  My favourite line? If you think topping a box office record compares with someone telling you your work helped them through a rough time, you're probably new here.

So now that you've seen his two new movies - possibly multiple times - it's time to gear up to see his first movie, Serenity.   It didn't make the box office splash we were all hoping for, but it still lives on in our hearts - and every year in Can't Stop The Serenity.

Since there's just four weeks (from yesterday) to go before the big event, now's the time to start thinking of your costume.  This year's contest will be a bit different.  There will still be one prize for the best Firefly/Serenity costume, but 2012 deserves a whole new category, to wit: SuperPowers!  If you could have any superpower(s), what would it be? Would you fit in with the Avengers? or would you be more likely to apply to the Evil League of Evil? Whatever your superpower, come up with an original costume to match (ie not one of Marvel's characters) and be prepared to tell the judges your Super name, superpower and how you would use that - for good or for evil!  Assemble in the Whittick Lounge on June 9th at 10:30 am to display your talents - or at least your costume.  There will be a parade of costumes on stage later in the day.  Judges will be looking for originality and creativity in both costumes and superpowers.  Good luck and I look forward to seeing what new members might be joining the Avengers ( or the ELE).

CSTS LA with Joss Whedon

 For those of you who didn't get to see Joss Whedon et al live on Saturday night, I've posted the video on the right.  The Q & A at the end is very good. Don't miss the mini-speech by The One True b!X, founder of Can't Stop The Serenity, as he gives some examples of what Equality Now does with our donations.

CSTS events are fun and entertaining and we get to see old friends and meet new ones, but we cannot forget the reason we do this is to help stop or prevent some of the atrocities happening to women and girls around the world.  With your donations, Equality Now is making a difference.  So from those of us who spend hours, days and months working to make each of these world-wide events a success, thank you for coming out each year, choosing to spend your time and your money for such a worthwhile cause.  Of course it doesn't hurt that we get to see our Big Damn Movie and have some fun in the process.  Nobody said raising money had to be depressing!

If at any time you feel you have a little extra you want to donate, feel free to use the 'donate' button on the top right of the blog.  All monies go towards EN and BC Women's Hospital & Health Centre Foundation.

We will have an exciting announcement shortly about one more item that has been donated.  Stay tuned!

Online Trivia Quiz - Quote #10

Here's the final quote - and it's an easy one to end with.  I hope everyone has enjoyed playing along.  Remember to e-mail the answers (person speaking and the episode) to all 10 questions by midnight (Pacific time) tonight to: cstsvancouver@gmail.com.  The winner will be drawn/announced Saturday morning during introductory remarks.

"I don't think of myself as a lion."

Good luck.   And just because it's my favourite quote - here's one from the movie:
"Love. You can learn all the math in the 'verse... but you take a boat in the air that you don't love... she'll shake you off just as sure as the turn of the worlds. Love keeps her in the air when she ought to fall down... tells you she's hurting before she keens. Makes her a home. "

SATURDAY'S SCHEDULE & SOME NOTES

If you are picking up your PayPal tickets at “Will Call”, please bring a copy of your PayPal printout/receipt.

There are a limited number of grab bags available for a minimum $2 donation. Bingo cards are $.25 each with no limit and will be two lines in any direction rather than full blackout card for the win.

Beverages in containers with lids are allowed in the Auditorium, all other food and drink must be consumed outside the room. This year we are offering some food by donation, courtesy of John at La Fontana Caffe & friends, available in the Lounge on the other side of the Lower Lobby. You are also welcome to bring your own food or to go to one of the many food places near Cornwall & Cypress.

For anyone wishing to stay after the day’s main festivities are over, we have the Lounge booked until 9 pm and you’re welcome to bring in food, get together and order in or just hang out with your fellow Browncoats.

Please note that pay parking is now in effect at the Space Centre/Museum lot at a rate of $2 per hour; $10 flat rate for the day until 6 pm and $5 flat rate from 6 pm until 6 am. Since this change is fairly recent, EasyPark has been patrolling rather vigorously, especially just after 6 pm! There is little to no on-street parking in the area except for residents. If you are a member of the BC Browncoats there is a thread on the message board for anyone interested in carpooling.

FINAL REMINDER THAT ALL MONETARY TRANSACTIONS ARE CASH ONLY, so bring plenty of it and take home something special while helping to support Equality Now and BC Women's Hospital & Health Centre Foundation!

CSTS VANCOUVER 2010 - SCHEDULE - Saturday, June 26th

10:30 Doors open

11:00 Welcome
Dr. Horrible’s Sing-along Blog sing-along

11:50 Evil Laugh Contest

12:15 The Masked Roger

12:40 Costume Contest Parade & Prizes

1:00 Browncoats:Redemption

2:00 Whedon-works Bingo

3:00 Silent Auction ends; doors close
Introductions to movie

3:20 SERENITY

5:30 Auction winners announced - items to be picked up in the Lounge
Closing remarks and thank yous.

COSTUME CONTEST DETAILS

Since we are doing things a little bit differently this year, the costume contest needs its own post. (The Schedule will be up in a couple of days.)

We're asking anyone who wants to take part in the costume contest to arrive early (doors open at 10:30) and follow the signs to the Ray Whittick Lounge. You will then have your picture taken by the official photographer and the three judges will rate your costume based on a point system which will take into account creativity, originality, craftmanship, relation to the category and overall impression. Judging will take place between 10:30 and 11:00 so that everyone can join the festivities when they start.

The two categories are: Firefly/Serenity 'verse and the greater Whedonverse.

At about 12:40, there will be a parade of contestants to the stage, where everyone can admire the wonderful array of costumes, and the prizes will be awarded.

Good luck to everyone!