(last updated on: 04-30-2006)
YOU ARE IN THE 2006 COOKOUT WEBSITE - THIS COOKOUT HAPPENED ALREADY AND WAS A LOT OF FUN. PLEASE CHECK OUT THE 2007 COOKOUT INFORMATION AT The 2007 St. Louis Comic Cookout Website
04-26-2006: We've been mentioned on KeenCast! (StrRedWolf's interview). We're near the end. I'm now embarassed that I haven't updated, and so will update asap. This is the third annual St. Louis Comic Cookout - building on the success of the last two years! This year we're hoping for more people then ever. There will be food, games, movies, and other fun for all involved, and all for the price of getting here and bringing something for folks to eat. The forum thread for the cookout is here. If you would like to attend, or have suggestions for the cookout, or have anything to say on the matter, please use the thread listed here to do so. If you must, you can private message rkolter or email to (removed), however this is not encouraged because it's just so much easier for me to pull updates off the thread.
Note for Parents Second, if you have any concerns about the party, you should know that the party is being hosted by Ryan and Elizabeth Kolter, a thirty-something, happily married, responsible couple who rent a townhouse in a decent part of town and haven't ever been suspected of anything any worse than blowing off firecrackers when it wasn't the fourth of July. The parties of the last two years have both gone amazingly well and everybody had a good and safe time. If you have any questions for us, don't hesitate to call Our phone number is listed in the Information section. Finally, feel free to check out the Rules in force for the event (which includes all time from arrival through the last guest leaving the next day).  NEW!
Hotel Reservation Information - For the reserved block of rooms.
Information - contact information, site location, maps, and our cats. If you are planning on staying in a hotel, have we got a deal for you! We have reserved a block of rooms at a local hotel with many attractive features, including an extremely low rate. The hotel is about halfway between our home and the site of the cookout.
Econo Lodge Inns and Suites This place is by the Rock Rd and 270 interchange. Right next to Olive Garden. Great since everyone needs to hop on 270 to get to the cookout location. (I'll give that data to you later)
Reserved under: (removed) Reserved for June 2 and 3 of 2006. Check in is at 3pm on June 2nd. Check out is noon on June 4th. Rates: $44.99 USD a night. This includes a 20% Alumni discount and $10 off of summer rates. 20 double occupancy room reserved. Room she showed me had one bed and a lot of floor space for others to crash. If you want more than 2 people in the room, call the Econo Lodge and ask about it please. Half the rooms are non-smoking and half are smoking. Call the number listed (removed) to reserve and speak to someone at the actual location. Rooms will be released to the public if not spoken for a week prior to event. In the event that all these rooms get spoken for, let us know. I will persoanally go up there and increase the number of rooms reserved so you can pay the lower rate.
Amenities This is where the party will be held on Saturday, June 3, 2006. Doors open at 10am for guests. Ryan, myself and the rest of the people who showed up will be there setting things up prior to the doors opening.
Hazelwood Community Center
Details about the Community Center: We're booked under the name of Kolter. The place is under the impression that this is a family reunion btw. Same goes for the hotel. We're going to be in the Arts and Crafts Room, which accommodates up to 60, offers outdoor access to a patio, a preschool playground. It also has a mini-fridge, sink and counter space. 
Date: June 3rd, 2006 (Saturday)
Addy: (removed) Ph #: (removed) Email at (removed) The cookout itself (the June 3rd 2006 event) will be held at a really nice community center about 20 minutes away from our home. Check it out here.
Note about Cats Flint is the cow-colored cat and loves everyone and everything. Pet him and he will love you too. He enjoys being the center of attention and will be lounging around with (or on) the guests during the whole cookout. He is also the only cat we have that is "pick-up" ok. The other two will spook and fight you if you pick them up. Eternity is the grey tiger-striped one. Although she's a very sociable cat and likes to be pet, she is very afraid of strangers and you may not see her at all, or only for a little while, during the whole cookout. She likes to hide in the couch (she found a cut in the fabric that lets her get to the frame - she's not under or behind the couch, nor in the cushions. She's literally within the wood and metal framework). Watching her go in or come out of the couch is like watching a magic trick, but is kind of creepy. Twilight is the black one. She will probably skulk at the edges of the cookout - you'll see her around. Of all three, she hates the most being picked up and cares the least for snuggling (Beth aside - she loves snuggling Beth). She likes being very, very gently pet, particularly along side the chin.  There are very few hard and fast rules of the cookout, but here they are: 1) There will be no alcohol at the cookout. 2) There will be no illegal drug use at the cookout. 3) True jackassery will not be tolerated. The above three rules are the biggest ones. And we are not kidding about them - if you bring alcohol or drugs to the cookout you will be immediately escorted off the premises and not allowed to return, even if we like you and think of you as our friend. We've never had to do this and would rather never do it. 4) No smoking in our home or inside the community center. You may feel free to smoke outside tho. 5) No children under the age of 12 at the cookout please.
Rule on when you can arrive and when you must go
Rules on Food and Entertainment Money If you are staying with us and would like to contribute money to the house "buy food" fund, we won't complain; this is also the only way that you can choose what we cook for dinner. :D As for events, we are delighted to show you our town, however any admission fees are your own expense.
 Carpooling is common for the cookout. If you want to be a driver, then please let me know via private message or the thread (listed at the top of this webpage). I will put your name in here along with the requisite information so that you can pick up strays. :D Watch the forum for people offering to drive and/or people needing rides too.
RULE ON CRASH SPACE If you can afford it, plan to get a hotel room - or plan to share one with someone.
ROOM NOTICE 01-08-2006 Crash space is available on our couch and floor for people coming in early and/or staying late. We have a lot of floor space, but we also expect a lot of people to show. Bring a pillow and blanket, just in case. We have two spare bedrooms that will go to married couples first (this rule will make many parents sigh in relief). The bedrooms don't have beds, but they do offer a bit of privacy. There are also a number of hotels within 5 miles of us. Check them all out if you're looking for a hotel - there are some good deals with more stars, and some less starred places have high customer feedback. Prices range from $44 - $189 (as of 01/04/06). Be sure to ask if deals exist - they can save you money. ** We have not yet reserved a block of rooms and you may wish to wait until we do - better deal most likely.  There are a lot of wonderful things you can see and do in St. Louis, if you plan to arrive early. We may be doing some of these things throughtout the week before the cookout (see the Cookout Events section). If you plan to show up early, let us know - Here are just some of our top suggestions: Six Flags of St. Louis - What list would be complete without this world famous amusement park? St. Louis Museum of Transportation - Not so well known but really neat. Missouri Botanical Gardens - A little pricy, but world famous and sooo beautiful. Soulard Farmer's Market - food grown by independant farmers. Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tours (open to all ages) - Soooo cool! The St. Louis Zoo - World famous for its quality and size, and also for its new huge penguin habitat. The St. Louis Science Center - Ryan's favorite place. Multiple levels of science goodness and fun! The St. Louis Art Museum - World famous art museum and Forest Park grounds. Turtle Playground at Forest Park - Not a playground full of baby turtles, but a playground full of giant metal ones! check it out. St. Louis County Parks and Recreation Lameier Sculpture Park - VERY, VERY cool, and free! The Gateway Arch - Of course... includes the museum, boat cruises, as well as the arch itself. Main Street, St. Charles - Neat old antique main street with quaint shops. The Loop - College scene. Has the Fritz pop bottling company, the original Blueberry Hill, etcetera. St. Louis Mills Mall - Giant fricken mall with tons of stuff like the hockey rink the Blues practice at, a go-cart place, a gamer shop. This place isn't the biggest in the world, but it'll tire you out. The Greater St. Louis RenFaire - It's a renfaire. Midevil stuff. Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis Funny Bone Comedy Club - Cool standup comedy club. A bit pricy to get in. Union Station - St. Louis Union Station - a train station turned into a very snazzy mall with lots of cool stores and things. Also nice archetecture. Part of the downtown life. More links will be added soon - this section is controlled by Beth.  Cookout T-shirts If you are interested in getting a T-shirt for the cookout (will have the ComicGenesis logo and "St. Louis Comic Cookout 2006" on it), for a measely $5.00, please contact FAUB with your request (# shirts and sizes!), or mention it on the forum thread. Breakfast After the Cookout Fading Aura will be serving breakfast after the cookout - please seen he forum thread for information on the cost (just a few dollars) and what is being served. This breakfast will be served at the Kolter's home.
Friday morning, June 2nd, 2006
Friday evening, June 2nd, 2006 - KrisX and Nanda get a birthday cake! - Heavy cooking and prep-work day (you are welcome to assist!)
Saturday, June 3rd, 2005 (cookout day) - Chatting, Talking, Mingling. - Drawing at least one cookout jam and on one large piece of bristol board we will supply for a mural. - Annual Tasering. Year one was Chill Clan. Year two was Orion. This year, rkolter gets tasered. And maybe faub. May occur late in the evening due to our new location at the community center. - Annual explosion of a large fruit. Probably a watermelon. Maybe in mid-air. Spectator event only. May be cancelled due to our new location at the community center. - Roleplaying - Orion ran a Call of Cthulu game year one. Jim North ran a Shadowrun game at year two. Who will take up the challenge year three? It looks like both of them - check out the forum thread for a link to where this topic is being discussed, or just plan to have fun gaming! We could still use another GM and another game... - Gift Giving - Got something for K-Dawg and for Tynan. Thwack The RedWolf: For $1, you can hit StrRedWolf with a foam bat. Proceeds go to paying for the cookout. Redwolf gets a steak for his participation. Suggested: Network gaming. Bring your own system. Someone bring a hub and cables? Suggested: Movies! We are planning on renting a big television and sound system. Bring your favorite anime, movies, etcetera. Last year Faub brought a BOX of anime, and he is bringing it again this year. Suggested: Table games - Cards, board games, etcetera.
Sunday, June 4th, 2005 All guests are to leave the house by sundown on Sunday so that Beth and I can catch our breath before the following work week. :D If you have ideas for things you would like to do or that others might like to do, please submit them in the thread!  We are supplying: Hamburgers, Hot Dogs (generic), Grilled Ears of Corn, Soda (diet and otherwise), and ICE. If you are showing up, you have to bring something to eat. It can be something small or something big. Exceptions will only be made for those who are coming here at considerable expense (in that case, it's enough that you're bringing yourself).
Food Allergies and aversions
Peanuts (allergy/fatal) - please bring no peanut related products.
Vegetarians
Need the Kitchen? 
CONFIRMED (probably) coming to the cookout: 36 total
crashing
Fading Aura - Crashing
hotel
Not sure which
MAYBE coming to the cookout: 8 total
Crossfire - maybe  04-26-2006: We got a mention on KeenChat, the radio program for KeenSpot, during an interview with StrRedWolf. This prompted me to start updating the page. 02-13-2006: Yes: Tynan, Pimpette, K-Dawg, Corgan (and spouse), Cookie, Christwriter, BOMC. Maybe: Keffria, Blackaby. No: Maria and Michelle. Added hotel information and added site information. 01-26-2006: Changed the information section to reflect the fact that the cookout is going to be held at a wonderful community center about 20 minutes from our home. The cookout time has been ammended - the actual cookout itself will be from 10am to midnight, with an hour for cleanup. Clarified when people can visit, how long you can stay with us if you reserved crash space, etcetera. Clarified the crash space and hotel situation - if you can afford a hotel room, plan to get one. If not, you may be asked to go in with others on one if space in the home becomes tight and you can wing a few bucks for it. Mentioned in the events section about KrisX and Nanda getting a cake on the 2nd for their birthday, and that the 2nd will be a heavy cooking and possibly prep work night too (you are welcome to help!). Updated the events list - seems we may not be able to blow up a fruit this year. Added vorticus to the carpool list. 01-10-2006: Set up a driver's matrix for drivers willing to carpool, so that riders can locate an available carpool driver. If you want to be a driver, send me a pm or let me know in the thread. Also cleaned up the intro text, and added a bunch more "Things to do in St. Louis" links courtesy of Beth. Crash space is still critically low, we are going to reserve a block of rooms at a discounted rate(!!!!!!) for people to rent and or chip in to crash at, and will almost certainly now be using the clubhouse as the actual cookout location. 01-08-2006: D'oh. I fixed the link at the top to the cookout thread. I had last year's link in there. Also added the info on the 2006 t-shirts in the Cookout Events list. Made note of our crash space situation (just about out), and that both rooms were taken in the where to stay info. Finally, made note that children age 12 and under are not welcome at the cookout due to basic common sense reasons. 01-07-2006: Added people to the confirmed and maybe lists, added some information to the 'Information' section about meals for people coming early and such, added information about a possible change in venue (don't worry - close by complex clubhouse), and also codified the dates people are ok to arrive, and expected to depart. Also added information on the carpooling page telling people to look on the 'maybe' page for people who need rides... Finally, added lots and lots of links from beth to things to do in St. Louis. 01-06-2006: The cookout webpage for 2006 is now available. |
