May Edition of the Orb & Owl
The May Edition of Prophecy's monthly Orb & Owl newsletter is available, bringing you tomorrow's news today!
The Secret of the Sphinx Challenge
Competition in the Challenge is starting to make Quidditch matches look tame! After offering to check her contestants' progress one last time, the Sphinx received more than forty entries with the first six answers all correct! By now everyone who submitted their answers should have received a reply.
And now, the moment of truth is upon us - the Sphinx's final riddle may be found here! Those brave riddling souls who wish to enter the drawing for the Grand Prize - a free stay at the Sheraton during Prophecy - should submit their answers no later than noon, Eastern Time, May 25, 2007. The First Prize - a free ticket to the Keynote Luncheon of choice for each member of the winning team (up to four) - will also be awarded by random drawing after the Grand Prize Winner has been selected.
While only the final answer must be correct in order to be entered in the prize drawing, each correct answer will earn 5 House Points! So everyone in this contest will be a winner!
Answers should be submitted via email to sphinx@prophecy2007.org and must include the following:
* Answers to all seven riddles, specifying which answer is for which month's riddle
* Full name and House affiliation of each team member
Any answer that does not include the above information will not be entered in the prize drawing. Remember, in order to qualify, entries must be received by noon (Eastern Time) May 25. Any questions on submitting your final answers may be posted to the Ask the Organisers Forum.
Good Luck!
The Wizarding Wireless Network: Special Guest News
As many of you have seen, tickets for our two Keynote Luncheons, “Canon: Its Context and Completion” and “Fandom: Its Future and Fascination,” are now on sale. Don't miss out on these exclusive panel discussions - get your tickets today! More information about the luncheons and how to register for them can be found here.
The Gringotts Vault: Sponsorship News
On-site Auction
by Colin MacLeod
As our event draws ever closer, those crafty goblins on Diagon Alley are scheming to make Prophecy 2007 top all conferences to date! However, they need your help! As part of our Informal Programming, a Live Auction will take place on Sunday morning before we all go on our separate ways. The goblins have searched all of the vaults and are still in need of some choice items. If you have HP-related merchandise such as books, toys, or replicas and are willing to donate them to raise money for children's literacy through the Reading Room at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, as well as future HPEF events, then please contact sponsorship@prophecy2007.org. After all, you don't really need that signed first edition, do you? Any questions regarding the auction should be directed to this email address.
Also, don't forget that bidding for Fandom Chess is now open. Get your logo out in the open at Prophecy 2007. Get detailed information here and email sponsorship@prophecy2007.org with bid submissions.
The Floo Network: News about Travel and Toronto
Toronto Eats!
by Adam Hyatt
In 1989, a group of friends thought it would be great fun to visit every restaurant listed in the Toronto Yellow Pages alphabetically. The Serial Diners have been meeting every Friday night for the last 17 years and have only just reached the letter “I”.
So, where should you eat when you come to Toronto? Many consider Canoe (66 Wellington St W.) to be Toronto's best restaurant, but just as many will say nothing beats a hot dog from one of the city's ubiquitous vendors. To help you out, here is a list of some of what Toronto has to offer.
The 360 is a great place to bring people you want to impress. Located at the top of the world-famous CN Tower, this award-winning revolving restaurant offers spectacular views of Toronto 1,151 feet below. The décor is sleek and elegant, and the food is fantastic. But those breathtaking views come at a price; according to Toronto Life Magazine, an authority on such things, an average dinner for two with a bottle of house wine will set you back $250.
For similarly spectacular views and ultra hip surroundings that are a little kinder on the budget, check out Panorama Lounge on the 51st floor of the Manulife Centre (55 Bloor Street West). Sip martinis and enjoy a light meal on the gorgeous open-air patio that overlooks downtown and just relax.
If you’re interesting in star gazing, Bistro 990 (990 Bay St.) has a reputation for being the place out-of-town celebrities dine in Toronto. Nearby Yorkville is known for attracting the rich and famous with its upscale and trendy locales. However, it is Hemingways (142 Cumberland Street) that Colin Farrell was known to slip into for a quiet pint and traditional pub fare.
Il Fornello and Spring Rolls have numerous locations throughout downtown offering consistently great food in casually elegant environments. Both are reasonably priced and are favourites among Torontonians. The 2006 Zagat guide listed the Italian inspired Il Fornello (214 King St W. and 8 other locations) as one of the ten best restaurants in Toronto. Spring Rolls (40 Dundas St. W. and six other locations) offers innovative pan-Asian cuisine that even the pickiest eater will enjoy. If you're in a rush, Spring Rolls also has three "fast-food" outlets called GOI.
Vegetarians should visit Fresh by Juice for Life (147 Spadina Ave. and 2 other locations). Using fresh ingredients, they create meals that not only taste great but are good for you. Cafe 668 (668 Dundas West) is one of the city's best-kept secrets offering inexpensive south Asian vegetarian cuisine.
John Noe may not find a Chipotle in Toronto, but he will find some great burritos at Hernando’s Hideaway (545 Yonge St. and 52 Wellington). This popular California-style Mexican eatery has been around for over twenty years and claims to have the best nachos and margaritas in town.
If you’re looking for something more notorious than famous, check out Sneaky Dee’s (431 College St. at Bathurst). A favourite of the college/art student/alternative rock fan, the upstairs bar features live music and the downstairs restaurant features well-priced and homemade food including fantastic fajitas.
Graphic design students at Ryerson University liked Salad King (335 Yonge Street) so much they redesigned it a few years back-for free! The Thai food here is cheap, quick and absolutely delicious.
Many restaurants may claim to be a Toronto institution, but few have as much credibility as Fran's Diner. The original Fran's (20 College St) opened in 1940 and they now have a second location in the swanky new Pantages Hotel (210 Victoria St.) Serving all-day breakfast and everything else you'd expect from a diner, Fran's is the perfect place for late-night eats or a brunch with friends.
These are only a few of the many great restaurants you'll find in Toronto. Just east of the Sheraton Centre Hotel you'll find Spadina Avenue and Chinatown. Spadina between Queen and College Street is lined with restaurants-many of them open until the wee hours of the morning. On the way you'll pass several restaurants and patios including The Queen Mother Cafe (208 Queen St. W.), Rivoli (334 Queen St. W.) and Everest (232 Queen St. W.). Be adventurous and wander-or pick up a copy of one of the local weeklies and check out the restaurant listings. Bon appetit!
In other news:
- The deadline for Prophecy's Call for Art has been extended to May 30th. You don't have to have the artwork completed by that date, but you must fill out the application form and provide your work-in-progress.
- After preliminary team assignments, we now have a limited number of spots available for the Merlin's Cup. To participate, please send an e-mail to games@prophecy2007.org by July 1, or until the teams are filled up. Don't delay, our teams our filling up fast.
The Secret of the Sphinx Challenge
Competition in the Challenge is starting to make Quidditch matches look tame! After offering to check her contestants' progress one last time, the Sphinx received more than forty entries with the first six answers all correct! By now everyone who submitted their answers should have received a reply.
And now, the moment of truth is upon us - the Sphinx's final riddle may be found here! Those brave riddling souls who wish to enter the drawing for the Grand Prize - a free stay at the Sheraton during Prophecy - should submit their answers no later than noon, Eastern Time, May 25, 2007. The First Prize - a free ticket to the Keynote Luncheon of choice for each member of the winning team (up to four) - will also be awarded by random drawing after the Grand Prize Winner has been selected.
While only the final answer must be correct in order to be entered in the prize drawing, each correct answer will earn 5 House Points! So everyone in this contest will be a winner!
Answers should be submitted via email to sphinx@prophecy2007.org and must include the following:
* Answers to all seven riddles, specifying which answer is for which month's riddle
* Full name and House affiliation of each team member
Any answer that does not include the above information will not be entered in the prize drawing. Remember, in order to qualify, entries must be received by noon (Eastern Time) May 25. Any questions on submitting your final answers may be posted to the Ask the Organisers Forum.
Good Luck!
The Wizarding Wireless Network: Special Guest News
As many of you have seen, tickets for our two Keynote Luncheons, “Canon: Its Context and Completion” and “Fandom: Its Future and Fascination,” are now on sale. Don't miss out on these exclusive panel discussions - get your tickets today! More information about the luncheons and how to register for them can be found here.
The Gringotts Vault: Sponsorship News
On-site Auction
by Colin MacLeod
As our event draws ever closer, those crafty goblins on Diagon Alley are scheming to make Prophecy 2007 top all conferences to date! However, they need your help! As part of our Informal Programming, a Live Auction will take place on Sunday morning before we all go on our separate ways. The goblins have searched all of the vaults and are still in need of some choice items. If you have HP-related merchandise such as books, toys, or replicas and are willing to donate them to raise money for children's literacy through the Reading Room at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, as well as future HPEF events, then please contact sponsorship@prophecy2007.org. After all, you don't really need that signed first edition, do you? Any questions regarding the auction should be directed to this email address.
Also, don't forget that bidding for Fandom Chess is now open. Get your logo out in the open at Prophecy 2007. Get detailed information here and email sponsorship@prophecy2007.org with bid submissions.
The Floo Network: News about Travel and Toronto
Toronto Eats!
by Adam Hyatt
In 1989, a group of friends thought it would be great fun to visit every restaurant listed in the Toronto Yellow Pages alphabetically. The Serial Diners have been meeting every Friday night for the last 17 years and have only just reached the letter “I”.
So, where should you eat when you come to Toronto? Many consider Canoe (66 Wellington St W.) to be Toronto's best restaurant, but just as many will say nothing beats a hot dog from one of the city's ubiquitous vendors. To help you out, here is a list of some of what Toronto has to offer.
The 360 is a great place to bring people you want to impress. Located at the top of the world-famous CN Tower, this award-winning revolving restaurant offers spectacular views of Toronto 1,151 feet below. The décor is sleek and elegant, and the food is fantastic. But those breathtaking views come at a price; according to Toronto Life Magazine, an authority on such things, an average dinner for two with a bottle of house wine will set you back $250.
For similarly spectacular views and ultra hip surroundings that are a little kinder on the budget, check out Panorama Lounge on the 51st floor of the Manulife Centre (55 Bloor Street West). Sip martinis and enjoy a light meal on the gorgeous open-air patio that overlooks downtown and just relax.
If you’re interesting in star gazing, Bistro 990 (990 Bay St.) has a reputation for being the place out-of-town celebrities dine in Toronto. Nearby Yorkville is known for attracting the rich and famous with its upscale and trendy locales. However, it is Hemingways (142 Cumberland Street) that Colin Farrell was known to slip into for a quiet pint and traditional pub fare.
Il Fornello and Spring Rolls have numerous locations throughout downtown offering consistently great food in casually elegant environments. Both are reasonably priced and are favourites among Torontonians. The 2006 Zagat guide listed the Italian inspired Il Fornello (214 King St W. and 8 other locations) as one of the ten best restaurants in Toronto. Spring Rolls (40 Dundas St. W. and six other locations) offers innovative pan-Asian cuisine that even the pickiest eater will enjoy. If you're in a rush, Spring Rolls also has three "fast-food" outlets called GOI.
Vegetarians should visit Fresh by Juice for Life (147 Spadina Ave. and 2 other locations). Using fresh ingredients, they create meals that not only taste great but are good for you. Cafe 668 (668 Dundas West) is one of the city's best-kept secrets offering inexpensive south Asian vegetarian cuisine.
John Noe may not find a Chipotle in Toronto, but he will find some great burritos at Hernando’s Hideaway (545 Yonge St. and 52 Wellington). This popular California-style Mexican eatery has been around for over twenty years and claims to have the best nachos and margaritas in town.
If you’re looking for something more notorious than famous, check out Sneaky Dee’s (431 College St. at Bathurst). A favourite of the college/art student/alternative rock fan, the upstairs bar features live music and the downstairs restaurant features well-priced and homemade food including fantastic fajitas.
Graphic design students at Ryerson University liked Salad King (335 Yonge Street) so much they redesigned it a few years back-for free! The Thai food here is cheap, quick and absolutely delicious.
Many restaurants may claim to be a Toronto institution, but few have as much credibility as Fran's Diner. The original Fran's (20 College St) opened in 1940 and they now have a second location in the swanky new Pantages Hotel (210 Victoria St.) Serving all-day breakfast and everything else you'd expect from a diner, Fran's is the perfect place for late-night eats or a brunch with friends.
These are only a few of the many great restaurants you'll find in Toronto. Just east of the Sheraton Centre Hotel you'll find Spadina Avenue and Chinatown. Spadina between Queen and College Street is lined with restaurants-many of them open until the wee hours of the morning. On the way you'll pass several restaurants and patios including The Queen Mother Cafe (208 Queen St. W.), Rivoli (334 Queen St. W.) and Everest (232 Queen St. W.). Be adventurous and wander-or pick up a copy of one of the local weeklies and check out the restaurant listings. Bon appetit!
In other news:
- The deadline for Prophecy's Call for Art has been extended to May 30th. You don't have to have the artwork completed by that date, but you must fill out the application form and provide your work-in-progress.
- After preliminary team assignments, we now have a limited number of spots available for the Merlin's Cup. To participate, please send an e-mail to games@prophecy2007.org by July 1, or until the teams are filled up. Don't delay, our teams our filling up fast.