Apr 12, 2006 - Site Downtime - Some of you may have noticed problems with the I-CON site over the past few days. We have been having hardware issues with our server, which have now been resolved. All site functionality should now be fully restored... if you notice any issues, please email webmaster@iconsf.org. Thank you.

Mar 22, 2006 - Important Travel Update! - The Suffolk County Half Marathon will be taking place this Sunday, resulting in closures on Nichols Road between the Long Island Expressway and Rt. 347. Please use these directions to get to the convention on Sunday.

Mar 22, 2006 - New I-CON Community - ICON Science Fiction, Inc. is proud to announce its new project, community.iconsf.org. Designed to encourage community involvement and the open sharing of ideas and information, community.iconsf.org is our new hub for everyone who is interested in Science Fiction, Fact, and Fantasy (and Gaming, Anime, and everything else you might see at I-CON - and likely a whole lot more!). We encourage you all to stop in, take a look, and speak your mind - this site was created to allow you to immerse yourself further in the things that matter to you (and us).

Mar 22, 2006 - Indie Film Schedule - In addition to the main schedule and gaming schedule linked from our home page, the Indie Film schedule is now online. Also, an HTML (webpage) version of the schedule is coming soon, we thank everyone for their patience.

Mar 21, 2006 - Schedule Coming Soon Posted! - We know that many of you were anxiously awaiting the schedule for I-CON. Well, it's here! Go to the site index and check it out to see everything what I-CON 25 has in store for you!

News Archive

*IMPORTANT! Alternate Directions for Sunday!*

The Suffolk County Half Marathon will be taking place this Sunday, resulting in closures on Nichols Road between the Long Island Expressway and Rt. 347. Please use the following directions to get to the convention on Sunday:

From the West:

• Take the Northern State Parkway East to the end.
• Merge onto 347 East and continue to Nichols Road.
• Make a left onto Nichols Road North.
• From here, follow normal directions.

From the East:

• Take the Long Island Expressway West to Exit 64.
• Take Rt. 112 North to Rt. 347.
• Take 347 West to Nichols Road.
• Make a right onto Nichols Road North.
• From here, follow normal directions.

From the South (also works from the West):

• Take the Long Island Expressway East to Exit 60.
• Make a left onto Hawkins Ave. North.
• Take Hawkins Ave. North (which becomes Stony Brook Road) to Rt. 347.
• Make a right onto 347 East.
• Take 347 East to Nichols Road.
• Make a left onto Nichols Road North.
• From here, follow normal directions.

Hotel Information

The Holiday Inn Ronkonkoma is the official hotel of I-CON 25

There is a special I-CON 25 rate that must be asked for when calling to make your reservation. The call in rate is $101.00. Space at the hotel is limited so be sure to make your reservations as early as possible.

The Holiday Inn Ronkonkoma is sold out, please call the Courtyard by Marriott and ask for the I-CON rate.

The Holiday Inn Ronkonkoma is located at:
3845 Veteran Memorial Highway
Ronkonkoma, NY 11779-7643

The Courtyard Long Island MacArthur Airport is located at:
5000 Expressway Drive South
Ronkonkoma, NY
1-631-612-5000

You must use the code "ICO" when making a reservation. The rate should be $99.00 plus taxes

It is located off Exit 60 on the LIE east.

Travel Information

Directions to Official Hotel

• Main Route - Nichols Road (Suffolk County Route 97) south to Long Island Expressway (I495). Take the LIE west to exit 60. Once on the Service Road, take the second left onto Ronkonkoma Ave. Turn left (south) onto Ronkonkoma Ave., which becomes Smithtown Ave., and continue until it ends at Lakeland Ave. (SC rte 93). Turn left onto Lakeland Ave., then make the first left onto Veterans Memorial Highway (NY rte 454) eastbound. The hotel will be on the left. Go past it and turn around. If you reach the entrance to Islip MacArthur Airport, you've gone too far.
• Variation #1 - Take Stony Brook Road south from campus instead of Nichols Road. Stony Brook Road becomes Hawkins Ave. when it crosses Middle Country Road (NY Route 25). Continue south on Hawkins Ave. You will come to a five-corner intersection, take the left fork to remain on Hawkins Ave. At the next fork, take the right fork to get onto Ronkonkoma Ave. If you miss the fork, turn right onto the LIE Service Road and then make the first left onto Ronkonkoma Ave. Continue as per Main Route.
• Variation #2 - Take Nichols Road south to Nesconset Highway (NY Route 347). Turn right (east) onto 347, and turn left (south) at second traffic light onto Stony Brook Road. Continue as per Variation #1.
• Alternative Route - Nichols Road south to Sunrise Highway (NY Route 27). Take the exit for westbound Sunrise Highway, and stay in the right lane of the service road. The service road will fork. Take the right fork for Veterans Memorial Hwy. Continue northwest on Veterans Memorial Highway past Islip MacArthur Airport. The hotel will be on the right, between the airport entrance and the next traffic light.

• Main Route - Take the LIE to exit 60. Once on the service road, make the first right south onto Ronkonkoma Ave. Continue as per Main Route From Campus.
• Alternate Route - Take the Southern Parkway to exit 44E, eastbound Sunrise Highway. Sunrise Hwy east to exit 49. Take the service road to the second light, and turn left (north) onto Johnson Ave. (Suffolk County rte 112). Continue north to Veterans Memorial Highway, and turn left (west) onto Veterans Memorial Highway. The hotel will be on the right, before the next traffic light.

• Route #1 - Take the LIE to exit 60. Once on the service road, make the second left south onto Ronkonkoma Ave. Continue as per Main Route From Campus.
• Route #2 - Take Sunrise Hwy west to exit 51. Stay on the Service Road past Nichols Road and then enter the right-hand lane. When the Service Road forks, take the right fork for Veterans Memorial Highway and continue as per Alternate Route From Campus.
• Route #3 - Take the LIE to exit 62, and from the Service Road exit onto southbound Nichols Road. Continue as per Alternative Route From Campus.

Directions to Stony Brook University

By Car - Take the Long Island Expressway to Exit 62. Follow Nicholls Road North approximately 9 miles. The main entrance for the University will be on your left.

Note - All prices below are current as of March 1, 2006.

Trains: - If one is traveling by train from Penn Station (LIRR, Long Island Rail Road), please note that there are two rail lines useful for getting to I-CON 25.

• Trains 1 of 2: Port Jefferson Rail Road Line - The Port Jefferson rail road line of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) will take one directly to the Stony Brook University (SBU) campus at the penultimate (second to last) stop, Stony Brook. This is where I-CON 25 is held, and as soon as one walks off the south side of the Stony Brook train platform one is on campus. The Indoor Sports Complex, where one gets all membership items needed for I-CON 25, is a short walk from the Stony Brook train station. See LIRR Group Discounts below for discount tickets for groups of 5 or more.
• Trains 2 of 2: Ronkonkoma Rail Road Line (near the Islip/MacArthur Airport) - The Ronkonkoma rail road line of the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) or the Islip/MacArthur Airport will get one close to the official convention hotel, the Holiday Inn Ronkonkoma, but leaves one taking another shuttle from the Holiday Inn Ronkonkoma to the convention (see "Getting to/from the Official Hotel from/to Stony Brook University" below).

Campus Bus Service and Handicapped Access are Free - Bus service to the central campus from the Stony Brook train station is provided by SBU's Parking & Transportation Services. Bus maps are available at http://ws.cc.stonybrook.edu/facilities/tps/transportationservices/maps/bus.shtml; however, all I-CON 25 events on the campus are within easy walking distance of one another. I-CON thanks Parking & Transportation Services for trying to have as many busses as are available during I-CON 25 weekend that are equipped with wheelchair lift mechanisms on the LIRR/central campus route. Curb cuts, ramps, mechanical doors, accessible bathrooms, and elevators are almost universal on campus especially in those buildings where I-CON 25 events are scheduled. Additionally, there is ample handicapped parking on campus. If a request is made in advance tohandicapped_access@iconsf.org, a limited number of wheelchairs are available at no charge on a first come first serve basis.

Taxi Options

Islip/MacArthur Airport Taxi Options - The operating hours for the MacArthur Airport/Holiday Inn Ronkonkoma Shuttle are 5:15 a.m. to 1 a.m. and is free to those staying at the hotel and who call the Holiday Inn Ronkonkoma's number for pickup at the MacArthur airport (631) 585-9500. If one arrives at the Islip/MacArthur Airport at a time when the Holiday Inn Ronkonkoma's LIRR/Airport shuttle is not operating, Jose from Sunset Taxi, 631-588-5558, charges only $6 for the first person if you mention I-CON when calling and $1 for each additional person for a ride from the Islip/MacArthur Airport to the Holiday Inn Ronkonkoma. There is also a Taxi Stand at the airport that costs $20-25 to the official hotel.

• Ronkonkoma Train Station Taxi Options - If one arrives at the Ronkonkoma train station at a time when the Holiday Inn Ronkonkoma's LIRR/Airport shuttle is not operating (see above for hours) there is a Taxi Stand by the Shibellis Pizza Shop on the north side of the tracks with Taxi's from Jose at Sunset Taxi 631-588-5558. If you want the discount at the Ronkonkoma LIRR taxi stand look for the yellow cabs that say Sunset, and mention I-CON. Again Jose from Sunset Taxi charges $7 for the first person if you mention I-CON when calling and $1 for each additional person for a ride from the Ronkonkoma station to the Holiday Inn Ronkonkoma. If you need to go directly to Stony Brook University from the Ronkonkoma train station Jose from Sunset Taxi charges $22 for the first person if you mention I-CON when calling and $1 for each additional person.
• Village Taxi on Railroad Avenue Ronkonkoma, 631-588-1055, and Comfort Taxi (formerly listed as "A" Long Island Town Car) on Hawkins Road, Ronkonkoma, 631-580-9898, also operate in the area, but they do not offer discounts to I-CON attendees at this time. (~$6-$8 for the first person and ~$1-$2 each additional person for a ride from the Ronkonkoma train station, or the Islip/MacArthur Airport, to the Holiday Inn Ronkonkoma, and between $26 and $30 to Stony Brook University from/to the Holiday Inn Ronkonkoma).
• Stony Brook Taxi Options - Again Jose from Sunset Taxi, 631-588-5558, charges only $25 and $1 for each additional person from Stony Brook University to the Holiday Inn Ronkonkoma or the Islip/MacArthur Airport or the Ronkonkoma train station if you mention I-CON when calling.
• Lindy's Taxi is nearby Stony Brook. Their number is 631-473-0707. Stony Brook University to Holiday Inn Ronkonkoma (official hotel) $36, $2 each additional person. Stony Brook University to Holiday Inn Express Stony Brook (NOT the official hotel) $12, $2 each additional person. Stony Brook University to Islip/MacArthur Airport $36, $2 each additional person.

LIRR Group Discounts

There are two types of LIRR group discounts: Group Tickets (best price for one day trips of 20-30 people) versus off peak Ten Trip (most flexible and best price for ANY size group staying more than one day).

Group Tickets offer the most savings (as of March 1, 2006, Penn Station to/from Stony Brook OR Ronkonkoma $4.50 for students 18 years of age or under and $6.75 for Adults ROUND TRIP!). However, you need at least 30 people to realize the savings (with only 20 people the cost is about the same as buying tickets at the station), you have to LEAVE TOGETHER as a group from one City Zone One location (typically Penn Station), the price includes INDIVIDUAL return tickets that must be used the SAME DAY (or night), the ticket is valid only for that day/night, reservations should be made at least two weeks prior to the trip, group rates are subject to change by the LIRR, and are based upon availability. For information or to make reservations call: LIRR Sales & Promotions 1-718-558-7498.

On the other hand, off peak "Ten trip" is the most flexible because ANY SIZE GROUP of people can benefit from them, your group(s) size can vary on each "leg" of the trip, the Ten Trip ticket is valid on ANY off peak train to/from Penn Station to/from Ronkonkoma OR Stony Brook, and the tickets are VALID FOR ONE YEAR if you should happen not to use some of them.

Example 1 - If a group of 10 people buys an off peak Ten Trip from Penn Station to Stony Brook at the ticket window in Penn Station for $80.75, they just saved $14.25 because they would have paid $9.50*10 = $95 for ten (10) individual off peak one way tickets to Stony Brook.

Example 2 - If a group of 5 people want to travel from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma on Friday and to return from Stony Brook to Penn Station on Sunday, they could also buy a Ten Trip at the ticket window in Penn Station for $80.75. They would also save $14.25 because they would have paid $19*5 = $95 for five round trip individual off peak one way tickets to Stony Brook/Ronkonkoma.

Example 3 - If a group of seven (7) people want to travel from Penn Station to Ronkonkoma on Friday, but four (4) of them are taking an automobile to visit their dear grandmothers after the convention is over, and the remaining three (3) people want to return from Stony Brook to Penn Station on Sunday, they could also buy an off peak Ten Trip at the ticket window in Penn Station for $80.75. They would also save $14.25 because they would have paid $9.5*4 + $19*3 = $95 for four off peak one way tickets to Stony Brook/Ronkonkoma and three off peak round trips.

Note 1: The last off peak train leaving Penn Station on a Friday typically leaves sometime between 2:52pm and 3:34pm. See LIRR website for the most up to date schedules.

We hope these examples clarify the Ten Trip for you. See this LIRR page for prices, and this one for more details.)

Ferries

This option is particularly desirable if one is coming to I-CON 25 from Connecticut or other New England state.

Car ferries cross Long Island Sound at Bridgeport, Connecticut to Port Jefferson, Long Island. On-Line Reservations, Long Island Phone (631) 473-0286, Connecticut Phone, Information ONLY (203) 335-2040, New England reservations only (888) 44 - FERRY. Once you arrive in Port Jefferson, take Route 25A west to Nicolls Road, and turn left on Nicolls Road. The University entrances are the first three intersections you come to on your right when heading south on Nicolls Road.

From New London, Connecticut to Orient Point, Long Island. Take Route 25A west to Nicolls Road and proceed as above. (from http://www.pagelinx.com/bpjferry/).

We are working on train and ferry directions from Connecticut/New England tailored to I-CON attendees.