Would you like to get up close and personal so you could have a conversation with your favorite author, artist or editor … and at the same time get some fresh air and stretch your legs a bit? Well that’s what Stroll With the Stars is all about.

Every morning at 9 a.m. we’ll take a nice stroll … and we stress, stroll. This is not a heart-pounding aerobic exercise, or a military forced march; it’s a nice morning stroll. This has been described by some of the participants as a “Strolling Kaffeeklatsch” (but unlike a Kaffeeklatsch you won’t need to stand in line to sign up, and there’s no limit to how many can attend).

Strollers at Anticipation

We’ll have some of your favorite convention guests strolling along. Ever wish you could get some one-on-one time? Maybe ask Cory Doctorow where he gets his ideas, or ask John Picacio about technique, or ask Ellen Datlow or Lou Anders how they make their selections? They, and many other “Stars” have come out to Stroll with us: John Joseph Adams, Lou Anders, Peter Atwood, David Brin, Lauren Beukes, Paul Cornell, Ellen Datlow, Cory Doctorow, Scott Edelman, Felix Gilman, Joe & Gay Haldeman, Mary Robinette Kowal, Jay Lake, Farah Mendlesohn, Larry Niven, John Picacio, Lawrence M. Schoen, Stephen H. Segal, Ann VanderMeer, Kaaron Warren and Frank Wu have all strolled along with us.

Strollers at Denvention

Strolling in Reno

We’ll meet each morning at 9 a.m. in Walgreen’s parking lot; returning each morning to the Convention Center before before 10 a.m. (Walgreen’s is on Virginia Street, between the Peppermill and the Atlantis, closer to the Atlantis).

If you don’t know Stu Segal, just look for the man with the STROLL! t-shirt and bullhorn. And a reminder to all you folks who live at sea level, on the East Coast, the West Coast, or where ever – Reno is 4,500 feet ABOVE sea level. This means your body reacts differently, and sweats differently, and you need to keep yourself well-hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids.

Strolling with the Stars also has its own Facebook page. If you’re on Facebook yourself, you can use this page to see who’s planning to join the Stroll or let your friends know you plan to be there yourself.

We’re delighted by the great line-up of guests who will be strolling with us in Reno – GoH’s, Special Guests, Hugo Winners, Nebula Winners, Authors, Artists and Editors:

WEDNESDAY 9 a.m.

PRACTICE LAP – No special guests, just me, strolling around to get the lay of the land. If anyone wants to join me I’ll be at the meeting spot at 9 a.m.

THURSDAY 9 a.m.

Guest of Honor – Boris Vallejo
Special Guest – Bill Willingham
Julie Bell
Lauren Beukes
Ellen Datlow
Cory Doctorow
Dr. Lawrence M. Schoen

FRIDAY 9 a.m.

Special Guest – Bill Willingham
Scott Edelman
Joe Haldeman
Gay Haldeman
Beth Meacham
Toni Weisskopf

SATURDAY 9 a.m.

Special Guest – Bill Willingham
Lou Anders
Paul Cornell
Lev Grossman
James Patrick Kelly
Farah Mendlesohn
John Picacio

SUNDAY 9 a.m.

Kate Baker
Tanglwyst de Holloway
Deanna Hoak
Mary Robinette Kowal
Dr. Lawrence M. Schoen
Stephen H. Segal
Sheila Williams
Connie Willis

For more information on the 69th World Science Fiction Convention visit http://www.renovationsf.org.

Vietnam Veterans of America will hold its 15^th biennial National Convention August 17-20 at the Silver Legacy Resort Casino in Reno, Nevada. Some eight hundred delegates from VVA chapters across the country are expected to join hundreds of other Vietnam veterans and guests in Reno. The delegates will set the organization’s course for the next two years, hear from an array of speakers, attend information sessions, and take part in special events. That includes the Awards Banquet, which honors Vietnam veterans and others in the arts, on Saturday evening, August 20.

“We have come a long way since our humble beginnings in 1978,” VVA President John Rowan said. “VVA today is a highly effective force on the national, state and local levels, acting on behalf of Vietnam veterans, their families, and all veterans. We’re proud of our accomplishments over the last 33 years, and we’ll celebrate the past as we work for the future in Reno.”

Richard Pimentel, the disabled Vietnam veteran who is one of the nation’s foremost disability rights advocates, will give the Keynote Speech at the Opening Ceremonies on Wednesday morning, August 17. Other special guests scheduled to take part in the Convention include Vietnam veteran Homer Hickam, the author of the acclaimed memoir Rocket Boys and many other books, and the actress, comedienne, and singer Vicki Lawrence, who entertained the troops in Vietnam. Hickam and Lawrence will receive VVA Excellence in the Arts Awards at the Convention’s culminating event, the Saturday Night Awards Banquet.

For more information visit http://www.vva.org/

In an effort to help promote energy efficiency, Silver Legacy Resort Casino has made plans to switch the lighting on the world’s largest indoor mining rig into a new LED system.

This month, the old can and wash lights used to illuminate the dome above the mining rig will come down.  The lights generate 792,000 watts of power, while the new LED system will produce only 5,400 watts of power—a huge energy savings.

In addition to using less power, the new LED lighting system will not emit heat, which will help lower the cost of climate control in the casino.  Lifetime for the new LED lights is also approximately one hundred times greater than the old system.

It’s just another example of Reno Tahoe’s investment in green energy. No wonder we made the list of greenest U.S. cities.