Events Schedule

This schedule is subject to change

Friday - Saturday - Sunday

Friday

"Glories of Steam" Dance Friday 8:00 - 11:00 PM, Imperial Ballroom

Imagine a Victorian world with the technology that might have been -- steam-powered high tech and Babbage's difference engines a reality. Now come dance there.

All dances will be taught. Appropriate costume is encouraged, but not required and anyone may attend.

Drum Circle Friday 8:00 - 10:30 PM, Terrace Room

Open circle for community drumming.

Meet the Pros (Art Show) Friday 9 pm, Arlington

Meet the artists.

Rocky Horror Picture Show Friday 11:00PM, Terrace Room

Movie and stage show. Presented by the Tesseract Players.

Remember: It's just a jump to the left!

Dresden Dolls Friday 11:30 PM, Imperial Ballroom

Combine the smoky cellars of a Weimar-era cabaret with the rock n' roll fury of Joan Jett, PJ Harvey and The Violent Femmes and you have a remote idea of what to expect when experiencing The Dresden Dolls. Ever since taking up arms in mid-2000, the über-dynamic duo of Amanda Palmer (Piano/Vox) and Brian Viglione (Drums) has been packing clubs in Boston, New York and beyond.

Opening set by Molly Zenobia (accompanied by Dave Resnick and Matt Rosen).

Saturday

The Heinlein Society Blood Drive Saturday 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM, MGH Bloodmobile, Park Plaza

For details, see the Blood drive page.

Higgins Armory Sword Guild Demonstrations Saturday 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM, Terrace Room

The Higgins Armory Sword Guild is dedicated to presenting a scholarly and historically accurate interpretation of medieval and Renaissance combat. Science fiction and fantasy literature enthusiasts will have the opportunity to witness actual combat techniques that have not been employed in over 400 years. 5 different short demos will be given; feel free to come for all or just some of the time.

10:00: Medieval Dagger
Fighting in the Middle Ages could be brutal, and never more so than when combatants faced each other armed only with daggers. See the skills needed to survive a medieval knife fight, as taught in contemporary combat manuals and presented by the HASG.

10:30: Renaissance Rapier and Dagger
Watch the most romantic of swords in action! The rapier is the best-known of swords, making its appearance in everything from Shakespeare to swash- buckler movies. In this presentation, the HASG revives the lost art of its use as described in one of the earli- est systematic manuals of the rapier.

11:00: German Longsword
Do you think a strong arm is all you need to use a sword? Well, it isn't so. Experience the subtleties of the medieval German tradition of longsword combat, in this demonstration by the HASG of techniques from Joachim Meyer's fight manual of 1570

11:30: Medieval Combat
Have at you! Witness the subtle skills of attack, parry, and grapple, as the knightly arts of longsword, halberd and sword and buckler are brought to life from forgotten medieval manuscripts in this presentation by the HASG.

12:00 Armored Combat
See the clash of fully-armored knights as they would have fought in the Middle Ages! Hollywood's images of armored combat rely on made-up moves and special effects. Watch as the HASG presents the actual techniques, described in medieval manuals, that knights used in battle.

Keynote Speech by Eric Raymond: The Future of Freedom Saturday 12:00 noon - 1:00 PM, Imperial Ballroom

Eric will be talking about open source software, how science fiction helped (re)discover it, and sinister master plans for world domination.

Tom Smith> -- Filk Guest of Honor -- Concert Saturday 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM, Terrace Room

Tom Smith is well-known as The World's Fastest Filker and has been known to write new songs while performing. His music ranges from strange to silly to poignant to racy, all performed with a flair for the unearthly. Come prepared for a smorgasbord to amuse and amaze!

Tim Powers, GOH Speech Saturday 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM, Imperial Ballroom

Tim Powers will be talking about what it is that makes us read stories that we know are flat-out impossible, and why the people who are not able to read them are _not_ actually saner than we are.

Polyamory Discussion Saturday 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM, Terrace Room

What is polyamory? Why do we choose to have multiple relationships? Panelists will talk about jealousy, being out (or not) and other topics, with open discussion with the audience.

Arthur Ganson, Artist GOH Slideshow Saturday 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM, Terrace Room

"Kinetic sculptor Arthur Ganson builds machines that transcend their very 'machineness.' They do nothing, but work extraordinarily well, particularly at making people laugh. Anyone can build a machine that can wave, says one astute observer. 'Arthur knows how to make a machine that waves goodbye.'

One of his works, Machine with Chair, (installed at Inventure Place, the National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio), is an 800-pound behemoth that rolls along a track, plucks a bentwood chair out of its way, lifts and flips the chair with a baroque flourish and sets it safely down again behind itself. Other Ganson machines bathe themselves in grease or oil, unfold Chinese fans, chirp like birds, dust frantically, breathe deeply and even talk back via handwritten notes."

The Future of Teaching Science Saturday 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM, Terrace Room

This panel has been especially chosen in memory of Hal Clement. (afterwards there will be a collection in his honor for the Joslin Diabetes Center)

Masquerade Saturday 8:00 PM, Imperial Ballroom

The Masquerade uses the International Costumers's Guild class system and guidelines for judging. And there is a special category for children.
Masquerade Registration is Saturday from 10AM to 3PM across from the Information Desk, send email to masq@arisia.org.

Club Dance Saturday after the masquerade, Imperial Ballroom

Sunday

Icehouse Games Sunday 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, Imperial Ballroom

Giant pyramid games using the ballroom dance floor as our "chessboard". Games include: Pikeman, Martian Chess, RAMbots, Zagami. Up to four players per game

Reptile Show Sunday 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, Terrace Room

A really fascinating HUGE snake, Doc is a reticulated python. Steve Patten will talk and answer questions about owning and caring for snakes.

Note: It is possible for snakes to carry salmonella in their intestines. People who are pregnant, children, or otherwise immunocompromised would be advised to wash their hands thoroughly after touching the snake. Snakes are sensitive to chemicals. If you use lotions or oils on your hands please wash your hands BEFORE touching the snake, as well as after.

Filk Theme Concert Sunday 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM, Terrace Room

Various performers present songs related to our "Freedom" theme of the weekend. Sign up to perform, on a space available basis, at the Information Desk on the Mezzainine or send email to filk@arisia.org.

Sundae Sunday Ice Cream Social Sunday 3:00 PM - Until the ice-cream is gone, Terrace Room

End up your Arisia with sweet ice cream goodness (and find out why New Englanders eat our ice cream right through the winter months). Tickets for ice cream servings must be bought in advance at the Corporate Sales Table on the mezzanine.

webmaster@arisia.org. Last updated 12 January 2004.