Author: Grant Leighty

Times Running Out, Book Now!!!!

Posted on | by Grant Leighty

I hope everyone is getting excited for this years CoCoFest, it’s only a few weeks away. I just wanted to remind everyone about some important dates that are coming up.

You have until March 31st to book your room at the hotel at the room block rates. To book a room at the Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago-Carol Stream, you can book your room online by clicking here. I will be having a meeting with the hotel this week, and I will see if they can extended it for a couple of more weeks.

Tables are selling out fast. As of writing this post, the main room has sold out, and the overflow room only has three tables left. We do have tables available in the hallway, but you will need to take your items to your room at the end of the show on Saturday. One thing that will be different this year from the years in the past, we will not have any extra tables to sell during the fest. If you are wanting a table, now is the time to get them. We will have to cut off table sales no later than April 19th. Also, April 19th will also be the last day to order your place for the Saturday night dinner. I have to give the hotel the final numbers on Monday. The dinner was really good last year and we had great turn out. Here is the Menu for this dinner:

  • Garden Salad with two dressings
  • Smoked BBQ Brisket, and Pulled Pork with BBQ sauce
  • Baked Bean
  • Macaroni & Cheese
  • Desert

If you are planning to show up for the CoCoFEST, please pre-register, it FREE!!!! For people that pre-register you will automatically be entered into a drawing for a free prize. When you pre-register it helps up prepare for the number of the people who are attending and we will have a name badge prepared for when you arrive.

If you have any questions or concern please send me an email at cocofest@glensideccc.com. I will be posting the schedule for the show in a couple of weeks, so be on the lookout for that. I hope to be seeing everyone is a few short weeks.

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CoCoFest 32 Update

Posted on | by Grant Leighty

We are now less than 70 days until the 2024 Annual “Last” Chicago CoCoFest. The weather is getting warmer and the days are getting longer, and it will be here before we know it. I just wanted to provide a few updates on this year’s CoCoFest.

First, the tables sold out in the main room faster than any year before. I have worked with the hotel and we have come up with a couple of ideas. I have added 14 tables that will be in the hallway, and 9 tables that will be located across the hall in a smaller room. Both options will have power available to them. Each table will be 6 foot in length, and will cost $30 each. The main difference between the two locations will be the overflow will be locked up at the end of the night after the show. The tables in the hallway will need to be taken down and placed into one of the rooms at night. I would like to keep the tables in the main ballroom for people who are displaying or selling items. If you are wanting a table for a place to call home, or a place just to seat down, please use one of the hallway tables. If you want to move your existing table to another location, please send me an email to cocofest@glensideccc.com and we will get that done for you. One last thing, since we have to rent the extra tables, there will NOT be any extra tables to purchase on the day of the fest. To purchase a table for this year’s CoCoFest, go to our website at tandylist.com.

I am still looking for people to give presentations this year. If you want to give a presentation, please send me an email and I will get you add to the list. Don’t forget that this year’s theme is Star Wars. I would like to see the tables decorated in the Star Wars theme. There might even be a prize for the best decorated table. If you have any questions you can reach me on the CoCo Discord, or by email at cocofest@glensideccc.com.

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CoCoFest 32 T-Shirts Are Now Available

Posted on | by Grant Leighty

The new t-shirts for the Annual “Last” Chicago CoCoFest! 32 are now available. Just like last year we have two designs to choose from. Both designs are done in this year’s theme which is Star Wars. You can purchase the t-shirts from Glenside Spreadshirt store at https://glensideccc.myspreadshop.com. The store also sells more than t-shirts, like mouse pads, coffee cups, water bottles, buttons, and several other items. All the profits from the sales go back to the club to help put on CoCoFest. I would like to thank both Ron Delvaux, and Salvador Garcia for designing the t-shirts this year. Make sure to purchase your t-shirts now so you can wear them at the fest this year. May the fourth be with you!

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The 32nd Annual “Last” Chicago CoCoFEST

Posted on | by Grant Leighty

As we say goodbye to 2023, and we ring in the new year, CoCoFest will be here in a few short months. I’m excited to see what this years CoCoFest will bring. I have already heard that there will be some rare hardware and several new projects that people are working on. Don’t forget that this year’s theme is Star Wars since the fest is on May 4th. I am encouraging all the vendors to decorate their tables in the Star Wars theme.

We have opened the registration for all exhibitors and attendees. We were able to keep the prices the same as last year. We will be selling 8-foot tables for $40 each, and 6-foot tables for $30 each. This year I have increased the maximum number of tables from 2 to 3. If you are thinking about getting a table, please get it now before they are all gone. Tables are going extremely fast this year. This is a good problem to have, and I have already been working with the hotel about setting up additional tables in another room and in the hallway of the hotel. I will be posting updates on the Glenside website, Discord, and the Facebook groups. Since tables are in such high demand, we will not be taking payment for the them at the door this year. The tables MUST be paid in full no later than April 17th. This way we can be sure that all the tables will be used and sit empty.  If you would like to sign up for tables, you can do that at Tandylist.

If you would like to join us for this year’s for CoCoFest, you can. We will be at the same location as last year at the Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago-Carol Stream (Wheaton), in Carol Stream, IL. The cost to attend this year’s fest will be free this year. The hotel has provided us with a block of rooms at a discounted rate. To book a room at the Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago-Carol Stream, you can book your room online by clicking here. You must book before the cutoff date of Midnight Chicago time, April 17, 2024 for the special CoCoFEST! rate of $120 a night plus fees taxes for two queen beds, or a one king bed. There is an option for two rooms suite with a king bed for $135 a night plus taxes. They also have a two-room suite with two queen beds upon request. Please reach out to Grant Leighty if you are interested in this room. To get this rate, you must select any days between and including May 2nd to 5th and enter the CoCoFEST! group rate of GTS. You may alternatively call the Front Desk to book your room at 630-665-3000 and provide them the Group Code of GTS.

We will continue the tradition and will be having a buffet style dinner on Saturday night at the hotel. This year we will be offering a BBQ Buffet.

  • Garden Salad with two dressings
  • Smoked BBQ Brisket, and Pulled Pork with BBQ sauce
  • Baked Bean
  • Macaroni & Cheese
  • Desert

The cost of the Saturday dinner is $45 per person. You can register for the dinner at Tandylist. The dinners must be ordered and paid for no later than April 17, 2024. If you have a special diet need, please send me an email to cocofest@glensideccc.com and we will try to accommodate your needs.

This year’s theme will be Star Wars since the fest is held on May 4th. I encourage everyone to decorate their tables this year, and even wear Star Wars costumes to the show. We will be giving a prize to the best decorated table. Also, we will be selling t-shirts this year on our store website. Salvador has created one design option, and you can see it on the Glenside website. If you have an idea for a t-shirt design, please send it to me at cocofest@glensideccc.com.

One last thing, if you would like to give a presentation at this year’s CoCoFest, please send me an email with your presentation idea and I will get you added to the schedule. Presentations will be limited this year to only Saturday to allow more time for people to attend the booths. Remember that attending the CoCoFest is free this year. If you want to become a member of the Glenside Color Computer Club you can purchase a membership on Tandylist for only $15. If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas, please send me an email at cocofest@glensideccc.com. I hope to see everyone later this year at the 32nd Annual “Last” Chicago CoCoFEST.

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You Can Now Buy Your Official CoCoFEST 31 T-Shirts and Other Items at the Glenside Store

Posted on | by Grant Leighty

CoCoFEST 31 is coming up fast and things are starting to come together for another awesome year. Over the past couple of shows, I have heard that people would like to purchase a t-shirt for CoCoFEST.  I am happy to announce that we are selling t-shirts this year. I’ve created a Spreadshirt store for Glenside where we can sell t-shirts, mugs, buttons, tote bags, and several other items. Glenside does make a little bit of money on each purchase to help pay for CoCoFEST. I would like that thank both Ron Delvaux, and Salvadore Garcia for submitting their designs this year. You can purchase your t-shirts, and other items now at the Glenside store at https://glensideccc.myspreadshop.com. Please show your support for CoCoFEST and purchase your t-shirts, and other items today. Make sure to wear your t-shirts at CoCoFEST this year.  

Ron Delvaux
Salvador Garcia
Ron Delvaux
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Looking for People to Give Presentations at CoCoFEST 31

Posted on | by Grant Leighty

It is hard to believe CoCoFEST is only a little more than three months away. We are looking for people who would like to give a presentation at this years CoCoFEST.

Presentations can any length in time between 30 minutes and a 1-1/2 hours. This will also include time for the audience to ask questions. The presentation will need to be given in-person and be about the Color Computer.  We will provide a computer for you to show your PowerPoint or presentation on a projector and a screen. If you need any additional equipment, please let us know.

If you are interested in giving a presentation this year, send an email to Grant Leighty at cocofest@glensideccc.com. Please include the name of your presentation, a short description of what your presentation will be about, and how long it will be. We would also like to have a short bio about you that we can put on our website.

We look forward to another great CoCoFEST this year and some great talks about the CoCo.  

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Registration for Vendors Tables and Dinner is Officially Open for CoCoFEST 31

Posted on | by Grant Leighty

Now that the holidays are behind us, and the start of 2023 is here, it’s time to start thinking about the 2023 CoCoFEST. I am happy to announce that vendor registration has officially opened, and it is time to get your tables. This year we will be at a new venue which has changed a few things. The big change is that we have two tables sizes, the blue tables are the 8 foot ($40 each), and the pink tables are 6 foot ($30 each). We have also put a two-table limit, but if you need more than two tables, please send an email to Grant Leighty at cocofest@glensideccc.com. Please book your tables now as they are expected to go fast this year.

We have also had the menu finalized for the Saturday night dinner. The dinner will be held at the hotel and the cost is $43 per a person.

Saturday Night Dinner Menu:

  • Garden Salad with two dressings
  • Homestyle Meatloaf
  • Herb Roasted Chicken
  • Macaroni & Cheese
  • Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
  • Sweet Buttery Corn
  • Apple Pie


You can register for both, to reserve a table, and the dinner at www.tandylist.com. Please click on the 2023 CoCoFEST! logo at the top right of the page. Fill out the form and pick up to two tables. You can also purchase the dinner. Review your order and then pay via PayPal or send a check to the treasurer. It is important that payment is received no later than April 1st to make sure that your table(s) are reserved. If you want to send your payment later, you can send it to our PayPal account at treasurer@glensideccc.com. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Grant Leighty at cocofest@glensideccc.com.

Also don’t forget to book your hotel rooms for CoCoFEST. We have moved to a very nice new location this year. We also get the group discount for ALL four days, Thursday – Sunday. To book a room at the Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago-Carol Stream, you can book your room online by clicking here. You must book before the cutoff date of Midnight Chicago time, March 30, 2023, for the special CoCoFEST! rate of $119 a night plus fees and taxes for two queen beds, or a one king bed. There is an option for a two rooms suite with a king bed for $134 a night plus taxes. They also have a two rooms suite with two queen beds upon request. Please reach out to Grant Leighty if you are interested in this room. To get this rate, you must select any days between and including April 20th to 23rd and enter the CoCoFEST! group rate of GCT. You may alternatively call the Front Desk to book your room at 630-665-3000 and provide them the Group Code of GCT. The Holiday Inn & Suites Chicago-Carol Stream will continue to accept reservations after March 31, 2023 but are subject to availability and at the regular prices.

  • Book your room my midnight
    March 30, 2023.
  • Use group rate GCT.
  • Attend the show!
    Show dates are April 22, 23
    Vendor setup available the day before.
Holiday Inn - Carol Stream (Wheaton)
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CoCoFEST! 2022 Survey, We Want to Hear From You!

Posted on | by Grant Leighty

CoCoFEST! 2022 was a huge success this year. I want to hear from you to make it even better for next year. I have created a survey for everyone to leave their opinions. This is open for everyone, even people who did not attend this year’s CoCoFEST! Please take 10 minutes to fill out the survey and let your voice be heard. I plan to share these responses at the next business meeting for the Glenside Color Computer Club. If you want to reach out to me directly, you may email me at cocofest@glensideccc.com. Thanks in advance for taking the time to fill out the survey.

Please click on the link to take the survey. https://forms.gle/E4hy2vBQRTz1Jtm37

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CoCoFEST! 2022 Update, Time is Running Out

Posted on | by Grant Leighty

I hope everyone is having a great start to Spring this year. It’s nice to enjoy longer days and warmer weather. This also means that CoCoFEST! is getting closer. 2022 marks our 30th anniversary for the Annual “Last” Chicago CoCoFEST! If you have not made your travel plans or booked your vendor/exhibitor table, time is running out.

FREE ADMISSION

This is the first year that admission to CoCoFEST! will be FREE to attend. We’re hopeful this will both encourage more local folks to visit our event and potentially join Glenside. As always, if you would like to become a member of the Glenside Color Computer Club, we will be collecting membership dues at the Fest. Vendors and Exhibitors, note that your fees include a 2022 club membership. If you have any questions, or you would like to pay for the membership before CoCoFEST!, please contact Glenside Treasurer Eric Canales for assistance.

HOTEL

CoCoFEST! Will be held at the same location as last year. This is a larger venue from year’s past and it will provide us plenty of room to grow. If you have not booked your room yet, please do so as soon as possible. The cutoff date for the special rate of $99 a night plus tax will end at midnight (CDT) on April 29th. Please remember to use the group code “COF” when making your reservation.

COVID-19 Update

I have received a few emails about the vaccine and masks mandates in order to attend the event. I am happy to announce that there are NO masks or vaccine mandates at the hotel or to attend CoCoFEST!. Cook county lifted the health orders back on February 28th. If anything changes, I will post an update on the Glenside website and I will send an email to all registered vendors and attendees. I do NOT see this changing in the near future.

Dinners

There is still time to register for dinner on Saturday night. The dinner will be catered by the hotel and it will be served as a buffet. There will be plenty of food for everyone to enjoy, but you MUST pre-register to ensure we have an accurate head count.  The dinner is only $20 a person, and dinner for kids 12 or younger is free. I must provide the head count to the hotel on May 6th, so we will end preregistration for the dinner on May 5th.

The Preliminary Menu

  • Two options from the following list:
    • Meatloaf
    • Chicken
    • Pork Loin
    • London Broil
    • Broiled Tilapia
  • One side from the following list:
    • Garlic Mashed Potatoes
    • Wild Rice
  • Seasonal Vegetables
  • Dinner Rolls
  • Dessert
  • Freshly brewed Coffee and Tea

Like last year, I will be sending an email to everyone who has preregistered for the dinner to provide feedback for which items that we want to be served. We need to choose two items for the main entrees. Also, if you need to request vegetarian/vegan meals, please contact Grant Leighty.

Speakers

This year we had no problems finding people who wanted to give a presentation. I actually had to turn people down and offer them a spot in next year’s CoCoFEST!  This is a great problem to have, and I will be looking for ways to accommodate more speakers at future Fests. This year we will have seven speakers that will provide new products, new games, technical presentations, and podcasts. There will be something for everyone to enjoy.  Please check out the speakers bio and information.

2022 Speakers

  • CoCoCrew Podcast
  • D. Bruce Moore (New Game Announcement)
  • John Linville (De Re CoCo)
  • John Strong (New Product Announcements)
  • Ken Waters and L. Curtis Boyle (BASIC09 and GFX2 enhancements in NitrOS-9/EOU)
  • Kevin Phillipson (Turbo9 Project)
  • Paul Thayer (Developing Retro Games in the Modern Era)

Vendors/Exhibitors

Our new venue offers space for 62 sales or exhibit tables, and 34 vendors/exhibitors have reserved all but NINE (9) tables currently. If you’re considering showing off a project or offer items for sale, do not delay in visiting TandyList for your table(s) today. The first table is $20, and each additional table is $15.

Auction

We will have an auction again this year. Since we just had a CoCoFEST! just a few months ago, we are looking for donations. Please look around your house and see if you have any items that you may want to donate to the auction. If you are not able to attend this year’s CoCoFEST!, but you have items that you want to donate, please contact Grant Leighty. We are willing to pay for reasonable shipping fees.

We look forward to seeing everyone at this year’s 30th Anniversary of the “Last” Chicago CoCoFEST! We would still like to have everyone preregister at TandyList so we can keep the lines short at the registration tables. If you have any questions about CoCoFEST!, please contact Grant Leighty, CoCoFEST! Coordinator.  

 

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59 Days till The 30th Annual “Last” Chicago CoCoFEST!

Posted on | by Grant Leighty

We are now less than 60 days away from the 30th Anniversary of the “Last” Chicago CoCoFEST. I wanted to provide an update as we are still preparing for this year’s show. I will be at the Glenside meeting this Thursday, March 17th to answer any questions that you may have.

  • Tables have been in high demand this year. If you are thinking about getting a table to show off your latest project, and/or sell your items for the show, do not wait much longer. As of this post we only have 15 tables available. If you are interested in reserving a table, you can do that at TandyList.com.
  • We have also had a great turnout for presentations this year. We plan on having seven presentations on the latest projects, new hardware, and software. We will not be accepting any additional speakers for this year.
  • We will be hosting the traditional Saturday night dinner. I have requested for the latest menu from the hotel, and we will have an informal poll to provide feedback on our buffet serving options.
  • I am happy to report that things are returning to normal. As of this post there will NOT be any mask and vaccine mandates.
  • To both help speed up entrance at the show and to cut down on people standing in lines, we’re encouraging attendees to pre-register. Remember, this year’s show is free to attend.
  • To both cut down on paper currency handling at the show, we’re encouraging attendees to use electronic and/or credit card payment options. This also include the day of the show and the auction.
  • There are still hotel rooms left to reserve, but you have until April 29th to make your reservations at the discounted room rate of $99 a night. You will need to use the group code of COF.

We would love to have you attend the show this year, and remember it is FREE to attend. Please pre-register at TandyList.com for a table, the dinner, and to attend the show.  For additional information click here.

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