The 411 on A NIGHT AT THE ORCHESTRA & A DAY AT THE THEATER

The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (http://www.bpo.org/) is doing an all-Queen concert on JUNE 6, 2009. Since there isn't an Official North American Queen Convention this year
(http://www.queenbreakthru.com/) it's a great opportunity to get together and party in ROYAL style! The weekend of June 5-7 will encompass 2 HOTELS, 2 SHOWS, at 2 VENUES in 2 COUNTRIES - and at least 2 PARTIES with Queen music and videos, games and contests wih prizes (donated, in part, by Hollywood Records) and more!! We've obtained special group discount rates for hotels and venues. So if this all sounds good to you, read on. (Of course you don't have to attend all the activities throughout the weekend - you'll be free to pick and choose.)

Here's the line-up so far:
Thursday night pre-party at the Buffalo Doubletree for those arriving early.

FRIDAY (6/5) - free time to sightsee during the day, and a possible dinner/ party at the Hard Rock (or elsewhere) near Niagara Falls, USA and FREE fireworks over the falls (at 10PM, weather permitting).

SATURDAY (6/6) - registration begins at 7:30 AM outside the meeting room.
8AM - 3PM, videos, games, and more!
3:00 - 4:00 break to get dressed in your Black and White "Opera attire" (jeans and T's, are okay, but please keep to the B&W theme , even if you won't be joining us at the symphony)
4:00 - 6"ish" Black and White Banquet Buffet
Dinner (Beef Rock and Roulade, Gimme Gimme Baked Chicken Asiago, All Fredo-Alfredo, Lettuce Entertain You Salad, Modern Times Rock and Rolls, and more...), then leave for the performance. A small, free shuttle, is available from the hotel. Those staying behind are on their own, but the shuttle can take you within 5 miles (but not to the Falls, which are illuminated nightly). Please note, neither hotel has a pool.

Just in- there will be a charity auction to be held at the BPO hall, sometime between 6-8PM. The proceeds will be equally divided between The Mercury Phoenix Trust and The FoodBank of Western New York (www.foodbankwny.org).

SUNDAY (6/7) - 7:30 AM - 11-ish - All-you-can-eat Breakfast Buffet (bacon, scrambled eggs, potatoes, bagels, pasteries, fresh fruit - and unlimited coffee, lol), along with more videos, music, and a game or two!
2 PM - Matinee of 'We Will Rock You' at the Panasonic Theater, for those taking the short (about 2 hours) trip to Toronto. Car pool sign-up sheets will be available, and public transportation option are being explored. The request for a meet and greet with the cast has been made, and will probably happen if enough people attend! Afterwards, if enough people want, we will have dinner as a group in Toronto (at The Hard Rock, Fran's diner, or The Elephant and Castle, most likely). Then we'll take the party over to the Bloor Yorkville Marriott for the night, and enjoy their fabulous breakfast on Monday morning before parting.

GROUP TICKETS are available for 'We Will Rock You' and the BPO Queen Night if ordered BY MAY 5th. BPO tix are $45 each for main floor or front of the balconies, or $32 for rear sections. Every effort will be made to sit as close together as possible, but if you absolutely need to sit with your BFF, please order tickets as one purchase. WWRY tix are only $39 (USD, all inclusive), with a LIMITED number available for ROW B at the current time! Cheaper tickets are just $24 each. The Panasonic only holds 200, so there isn't a "bad" seat in the house. There is also a front row "lottery" to be held at noon at the theater the day of the show for $20 CAD, in cash only.

PARTY TICKETS are just $40 each for Saturday, which includes dinner. Sunday morning session with breakfast are $20. (Children under 12 are half price.) SAVE $5 if you order BOTH days by MAY 5th for only $55! You MUST pre-register by June 3, 2009 to attend either day.

TO ORDER party tickets and/or group discount tickets for either performance, please use PayPal (http://www.paypal.com/ ) and send to (payee) nanlawniczak@msn.com
Please be considerate and pay in one lump sum! ALSO, for verification purposes, email MercuryCelebration@msn.com with your name, address, phone, and breakdown of the payment (e.g. $32 for 1 BPO ticket, $24 for 1 WWRY, and $55 for both parties, $111 total).

You will receive an email confirmation in early-mid May, along with details and further info. Tickets will be mailed by return receipt ONLY in Mid-May (someone will have to sign, unless you opt to pik up your tickets at the party).

HOTEL RESERVATIONS should be made before May 5th to ensure a room at the special group discounts. The Buffalo Doubltree Club Downtown is $80 per night plus taxes. Please call 1-716-845-0112 and ask for the Queen We Will Rock You block (group code QUE). The rate will extend 2 days before and after the event if you wish to stay longer. Room cancellations may be made until 4PM on day of arrival.

To book the Marriott in Toronto on June 7, call 1-800-859-7180 (and ask for the Queen We Will Rock You block) to get the special $119 rate (CAD, currently around $92 USD). This hotel is THE closest to the theater and is within walking distance, and there is a subway station in the basement! Book online at http://www.mariott.hotels/travel/yyzmc?groupCode=wwrwwra@app=resvlink&fromDate=6/7/09&toDate=6/8/09

Questions? Email nanlawniczak@msn.com

PLEASE NOTE, if you enter the US from Canada, you will need a passport or border crossing (Nexus) card effective June 1, 2009 - regardless of what country you are from! See http://www.getyouhome.gov/ or http://www.travel.state.gov/ for info, and http://www.usps.com/ for forms and US offices.