Starbase Indy Set For Thanksgiving Weekend

Back by popular demand, Starbase Indy returns to a three-day format for Thanksgiving weekend 2009 in the Indianapolis Marriott East, 7202 East 21st St. The science fiction convention has drawn people from around the Midwest since it started in 1988.

Headlining this year’s list of guest stars will be Garrett Wang, known to Star Trek fans as Ensign Harry Kim on “Star Trek: Voyager.” The success of the new Star Trek movie in May led to requests for a local fan-run convention to continue after local fans stepped up in 2008; they put on a free one-day convention when a professional convention company pulled out at the last minute. For many Midwestern science fiction fans, Starbase Indy is a Thanksgiving weekend tradition.

Part of the tradition consists of activities that suit a variety of tastes. A special activity at this year’s Starbase Indy will be a 1980s video arcade room with games set on free play for attendees. Among games available Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be Tron, Dig Dug, Star
Wars and Super PacMan.

Try other activities, as well. Train your tongue in Klingon during a Klingon language panel, enter the costume competition, or compete into the wee hours in open gaming such as Star Trek Uno, Dungeons and Dragons, Hollow Earth Expedition and Robo Rally. Bring your own robot or build a robot from parts available on site and challenge other robotics designers. Watch the vampire film, Revamped, by Starbase Indy guest star Jeff Rector. Attend a tribute to Indianapolis horror-show legend Sammy Terry. Browse the dealers room for out-of-this world items or engage in another Starbase Indy tradition, the charity auction. In addition, plans are in the works for some science panels. Among other guest stars this year are William Morgan Sheppard, who appeared as the Vulcan science minister in the 2009 Star Trek movie and has guested in Star Trek television episodes. He also appeared as the grandfather, Capt. Archibald Witwicky, in the 2007 box office hit Transformers.

Also scheduled to appear are Jeff Rector, who has had guest-starring roles on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Sliders, and a recurring role on the Sci-Fi (now Syfy) channel series Black Scorpion. He also co-starred on Everybody Hates Chris.
Other guests include Hoosier native and artist Deborah Downey, who appeared in the original Star Trek series in a musical scene involving Mr. Spock, and David Reddick, award-winning cartoonist whose comic strip, “The Trek Life,” appears on the official Star Trek Web site. His more recent comic strip antics can be found on Roddenberry.com and include the strips, “Rod & Barry” and “Gene’s Journal.” Both are filled with is hilarious humor and wonderful artistic abilities.
Starbase Indy is a not-for-profit event run by fans, for fans. For an escape from reality Thanksgiving weekend, try Starbase Indy. Hours are 2 p.m. to midnight Nov. 27, 9 a.m.- midnight Nov. 28 and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 29. Pre-registration cost is $25 for the weekend or
$35 at the door. Children age 12 and under are free.

For more information, call 317 513 8651 or go to www.starbaseindy.com