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SiLiCon

Everything You Need To Know

177th NPL Convention, Salt Lake City, Utah

July 7-10, 2016

Welcome

Welcome to SiLiCon, the 2016 NPL Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. We hope you have an intriguing, engaging, and enjoyable time here with your fellow Krewe. We will do our best to support this. Explore the town, partake in as many puzzling and entertaining opportunities as you can, and have fun!

The SiLiCon Hotel

Salt Lake City Marriott City Center (map, directions)

220 South State Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 (801-961-8700)

Hotel and Con Details

Rooms

The main room is Capitol Ballroom A/B on the 2nd floor, capacity 250 people (available: Thu 8AM - Sun Noon). The breakout room is Capitol Ballroom C, capacity 80 people (available: Fr 6AM - Sat 3AM, then Sat 6AM - Sun Noon). Meals are in the Olympus Ballrooms, which are down the hall from the Capitol Ballrooms.

Hospitality

Room 300 (available: Wed 8AM - Sun 8AM)
• Snacks, fruit, etc.
• Small fridge
• Table for puzzles

Official Program

This is a condensed version of the official con program. See the program page for complete details.

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Hidden Contest by ????

Wednesday, July 6th

5:00PM SiLiCon Picnic [at Liberty Park's Rice Pavilion]

Thursday, July 7th

8:00PM Welcome! An evening of puzzles and games:

Puzzlemasters All, Blankety Blanks, Cryptic Mad Libs

Use Google Content by Elfman, Oh, Beehive! by LeXman, Just Add Salt by Zebraboy
     Over-the-weekend cryptics

Friday, July 8th

4:30PM How to Solve Cryptic Crosswords [workshop] by Hot

Explaining all the types of cryptic clues, followed by a special introductory puzzle.

8:00PM Another evening of puzzles and games:

Dictionary Triathlon, Dilemma, Shrediting

Saturday, July 9th

10:00AM Business meeting

2:15PM An afternoon of pencil-and-paper competitions:

Time Test, Urban Renewal, Casey at the Flat

5:30PM Convention photo (dressing up is welcome)

7:00PM The Golden Sphinx Awards presented by Teki [after dinner]

8:00PM Salt Lake City Buzz [extravaganza] by Colossus

Sunday, July 10th

10:30AM Awards for all the weekend contests

The Weather

The weather forecast for Salt Lake City during con is mid-to-high 90°s during the day and high 60°s at night.

Picnic

The SiLiCon Picnic is 5:00PM Wednesday at Liberty Park's Rice Pavillion (map, directions) and runs as long as folks want it to. It should be a blast. The Rice Pavillion is in the Northeast corner of Liberty Park.

Liberty Park is just under 2 miles from the hotel. Cabs are available (about $13 plus tip), as is UTA bus service ($2.50; $1.25 for 65+; use links below for current schedule). For those of you who have cars in SLC, it would be wonderful if you can pack them with hungry, excited Krewe (or upon returning, satisfied, happy Krewe). It's a pretty easy trip by car, so even a couple trips would be great.

Bus to the park: The park can be reached by the 205, 307, and 320 buses. Bus pickup from the Marriott is on the South side of 200S, just across State St. from the hotel; the bus will drop you off at the Northeast corner of the park. UTA Bus: Hotel to Park

Bus back to hotel: Return trip is via the 205. Pickup is on the East side of 500E about a block North of the park; the bus will drop you off right in front of the hotel. UTA Bus: Park to Hotel

Meals

Included in your Con fee are five fabulous meals, which will take into consideration as many common food sensitivities as are practical (if you have not done so already, please notify the con host as soon as possible of any allergies). Meal times are:

Fri Dinner6:00 - 8:00 PM
Sat Breakfast8:30 - 9:30 AM
Sat LunchNoon - 1:00 PM
Sat Dinner6:00 - 8:00 PM
Sun Breakfast8:30 - 9:30 AM
All meals are served in the Olympus Ballroom

If there are any members of your group who are not participating in Con events (i.e., have not paid a con fee) but who would like one or more meals, please email lirath@puzzlers.org as soon as possible.

Con Photo

The annual con photo will be taken at 5:30 sharp on the stairs adjacent to the hotel's South side, off of the plaza.

Map and Directions

Most of the items in this page include links to a map and to get directions quickly. There is also a master map which contains all of the local attractions in one place. Click here to open the master map in a new window.

Transportation

TRAX From Airport (map, directions)

The last train leaves the airport at 11:27. The hotel is the Gallivan Plaza stop.

TRAX To Airport (map, directions)
Shuttles from the airport

Express Shuttle 801-596-1600 Visit the Ground Transportation Desk in baggage claim of either terminal. Rates are around $10. They request advance reservations () as walk-up requests may not be able to be accommodated. Last shuttles leave between Midnight and 12:30AM (after hours rates apply after that).

SuperShuttle 800-258-3826 / 801-505-5550

Terminal #1 - Across from carousel #4 in Baggage Claim. Terminal #2 - Across from carousel #8 in Baggage Claim. Please check in once you have all of your luggage. Your wait time should be approximately 20 - 30 minutes. If for any reason our counter is unmanned, please call 801-505-5550.

SLC International Airportx (map, directions)

Nearby Services & Stores

Banking

Wells Fargo (map, directions)
US Bank (map, directions)
Zion's Bank (map, directions)

Cleaners

Henrie's Dry Cleaners (map, directions)
Red Hanger Cleaners (map, directions)

Pharmacy

Rite-Aid (map, directions)
Walgreens (map, directions)

Grocery

Harmon's City Creek (map, directions)

Printing

Staples (map, directions)

Printing/Shipping

FedEx Kinkos (map, directions)

Healthcare

Hospital

LDS Hospital (map, directions)
Salt Lake Regional Medical Center (map, directions)

Walk-in Clinic

InstaCare Urgent Care (map, directions)

Emergency

Police (map, directions)
Fire Station (map, directions)

Attraction

Architecture

Salt Lake City Public Library (map, directions) - Show blog post

Architecture, Historical

Capitol Theatre (map, directions) - Show blog post
Cathedral of the Madeleine (map, directions) - Show blog post
Governor's Mansion (map, directions) - Show blog post
Utah State Capitol (map, directions) - Show blog post

Entertainment

Club JAM (map, directions) - Show blog post

Alternative dance club

Geocaching (map, directions) - Show blog post
Ingress - Show blog post
Salt Lake Acting Company (map, directions) - Show blog post
Wiseguys Comedy Club (map, directions) - Show blog post

Piff the Magic Dragon

Escape Room

Mystery Escape Room (map, directions) - Show blog post

Five rooms, including EnTwained, Bio Base 5, Knight's Adventure, Private Eye: A Murder Mystery, and King Under the Hill

The Escape Key (map, directions) - Show blog post

Three escape scenarios - CSI:SLC for six players, The Impossible for eight players, and The Lair of Lunacy for ten.

Historical

Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum (map, directions) - Show blog post

two-headed lamb, really old loaf of bread

Eagle Gate Monument (map, directions) - Show blog post
Memory Grove Park (map, directions) - Show blog post
This is the Place Heritage Park (map, directions) - Show blog post

Site of SLC's founding

Local favorite

Abravnel Hall (map, directions) - Show blog post
Clark Planetarium (map, directions) - Show blog post

Great for younger attendees

Gallivan Center (map, directions) - Show blog post
Gilgal Sculpture Garden (map, directions) - Show blog post

Sphinx with Joseph Smith's face

Gravity Hill (map, directions) - Show blog post

creepy optical illusion

Grimm Ghost Tours (map, directions) - Show blog post

Spooky evening tour

Liberty Park (map, directions) - Show blog post

Wednesday picnic location (the picnic is in the Rice Pavillion)

The Leonardo Museum (map, directions) - Show blog post

Great for younger attendees

Tracy Aviary (map, directions) - Show blog post

Fascinating collection of birds!

Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (map, directions) - Show blog post
Utah's Hogle Zoo (map, directions) - Show blog post

Great for younger attendees

Museum

Discovery Gateway Children's Museum (map, directions) - Show blog post

Great for younger attendees

Shopping

City Creek Center (map, directions) - Show blog post

Large upscale mall

Eborn Books (map, directions) - Show blog post
Game Night Games (map, directions) - Show blog post

Best game store in the city

Trolley Square (map, directions) - Show blog post

Sightseeing

Bonneville Shoreline Trail (map, directions) - Show blog post

SLC Must-see

Temple Square (map, directions) - Show blog post

The heart and soul of SLC. This must not be missed.

Sports

Smith's Ballpark (map, directions) - Show blog post

Salt Lake City Bees games

Vivint Smart Home Arena (map, directions) - Show blog post

University of Utah Campus

Fort Douglas Military Museum (map, directions) - Show blog post
Huntsman Cancer Institute (map, directions) - Show blog post
Natural History Museum of Utah (map, directions) - Show blog post

Excellent views

Red Butte Garden (map, directions) - Show blog post

Great hiking

Rice-Eccles Stadium and Olympic Cauldron Park (map, directions) - Show blog post

2002 Olympics arena and torch

Food/Drink

American

Applebee's $$ (map, directions) - Show blog post

Visit to see a Zion Curtain

Bambera $$$ (map, directions) - Show blog post
Log Haven $$$ (map, directions) - Show blog post
Pago $$$ (map, directions) - Show blog post
The Atlantic Cafe and Market $$ (map, directions) - Show blog post
The Copper Onion $$ (map, directions) - Show blog post

variety of food, really close to hotel

The Melting Pot $$ (map, directions) - Show blog post
The Park Cafe $ (map, directions) - Show blog post

Easy stop if visiting the Tracy Aviary

Beer

Beerhive Pub $$ (map, directions) - Show blog post

24 beer taps, lots of bottles, pub food, pizza

Brewvies Cinema and Pub $$ (map, directions) - Show blog post
Gracie's Gastropub $$ (map, directions) - Show blog post
Red Rock Brewing Company $ (map, directions) - Show blog post
Squatter's Pub $ (map, directions) - Show blog post

Belgian

Bruges Waffles and Frites $ (map, directions) - Show blog post

excellent inexpensive breakfast

Coffee

caffe d'bolla $ (map, directions) - Show blog post

Desserts

Eva's Bakery $ (map, directions) - Show blog post
Ice Cream (Farr's) $ (map, directions) - Show blog post

Huge servings. Got a double cone and couldn't finish it. That never happens.

Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives

Aristo's Greek Cuisine $$ (map, directions) - Show blog post
Blue Plate Diner $ (map, directions) - Show blog post
Maxwell's East Coast Eatery $$ (map, directions) - Show blog post
Moochie's Meatballs and More $ (map, directions) - Show blog post
Oh Mai $ (map, directions) - Show blog post

Vietnamese sandwich kitchen

Pat's BBQ $$ (map, directions) - Show blog post
Ruth's Diner $$ (map, directions) - Show blog post
The Red Iguana $ (map, directions) - Show blog post

German

Siegfried's Delicatessen $$ (map, directions) - Show blog post

Indian

Bombay House $$ (map, directions) - Show blog post

Italian

Caffe Molise $$ (map, directions) - Show blog post
Cucina Toscana $$$ (map, directions) - Show blog post
Fresco Italian Cafe $$ (map, directions) - Show blog post
Valter's Osteria $$$ (map, directions) - Show blog post

Italian, Greek, American

Tony Caputo's Market and Deli $ (map, directions) - Show blog post

Best sandwiches in town

Japanese

Naked Fish Japanese Bistro $$ (map, directions) - Show blog post
Takashi $$ (map, directions) - Show blog post

Mexican

The Blue Iguana $ (map, directions) - Show blog post

Pizza

Este Pizza $ - Show blog post

NY Style pizza by the slice 1/2 block from hotel

Settebello Pizzeria $$ - Show blog post

3.5 blocks away and serves Trip Advisor's highest rated pizza in Salt Lake. It's "awesome but pricey."

The Pie Pizzeria $ - Show blog post

Underground serves made from scratch thick-crust pizza, and is located just west of the University area.

Seafood

Market Street Grill and Oyster Bar $$ (map, directions) - Show blog post

Small plate

Eva $$ (map, directions) - Show blog post

Tasting menus

Forage $$$ (map, directions) - Show blog post

Thai

Chanon Thai Cafe $ (map, directions) - Show blog post

Upscale

La Caille $$$$ (map, directions) - Show blog post

probably most expensive on this list, but amazing

Outside SLC

Entertainment

Lagoon (map, directions) - Show blog post

Amusement Park, Great for younger attendees

Utah Olympic Park (map, directions) - Show blog post

Lots to do. Site of 2002 Olympics. Great for younger attendees

Historical

Golden Spike National Historic Site (map, directions) - Show blog post

Site of the Trancontinental Railroad completion

Local Favorite

Park City, Utah (map, directions) - Show blog post

Home of Sundance Film Festival and many places of interest

Springville, Utah (map, directions) - Show blog post

Full of sculpture

Museum

Crandall Historical Printing Museum (map, directions) - Show blog post

Only full-size demonstration of a Gutenberg printing press

Idaho Potato Museum (map, directions) - Show blog post

Giant baked potato, lots of fun

Loveland Living Planet Aquarium (map, directions) - Show blog post

Walk-through tunnel surrounded by sharks. Great for younger attendees

Thanksgiving Point (map, directions) - Show blog post

Dinosaurs! Great for younger attendees

The Museum of Clean (map, directions) - Show blog post

Unique place in my home town

National Park

Arches National Park (map, directions) - Show blog post
Bryce Canyon National Park (map, directions) - Show blog post
Canyonlands National Park (map, directions) - Show blog post
Capitol Reef National Park (map, directions) - Show blog post
Grand Teton National Park (map, directions) - Show blog post
Great Basin National Park (map, directions) - Show blog post
Yellowstone National Park (map, directions) - Show blog post
Zion National Park (map, directions) - Show blog post

Scenic

Antelope Island State Park (map, directions) - Show blog post
Big Cottonwood Canyon (map, directions) - Show blog post
Bonneville Salt Flats (map, directions) - Show blog post

Land speed records set here

Craters of the Moon National Monument (map, directions) - Show blog post

Huge area of lava flow. Stunning landscapes

Logan Canyon (map, directions) - Show blog post
Shoshone Falls (map, directions) - Show blog post

Second largest US waterfall only to Niagara

Spiral Jetty (map, directions) - Show blog post
Timpanogos Cave National Monument (map, directions) - Show blog post

Great for younger attendees

Contact Information

If it is absolutely necessary to contact con host Lirath by phone, rather than in person, as Lirath puts it, "in case of dire peril", here is his contact information:
Lirath (Eric Suess):
Cellular: 586-215-5166
E-mail: lirath@puzzlers.org