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View Full Version : 06/11/11 - 06/12/11 - Starcitygames.com Open Weekend: Denver



Risky
06-03-2011, 01:35 PM
Welcome to the Starcitygames.com Denver Open weekend, where you will have the chance to win over $14,000 in prizes and qualify for a 2011 Starcitygames.com Invitational over the course of two fun-filled days of Magic.

For information on the StarCityGames.com Open Series, including the 2011 schedule and SCG Players' Club levels, click here (http://www.starcitygames.com/pages/open_series/2011_announcement)!

For a map of all the Star City Games Open locations in 2011, check out Season One (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=107155064614031750376.000494cb2e1ef22b98704&z=19) and Season Two (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=201817309848513898013.00049ca7bdc54bf5fbc60&ll=40.446947,-93.867187&spn=35.143789,93.076172&z=4)!

Want to get a jump on Deck Registration? Try out our decklist form (http://www.starcitygames.com/PDFs/SCG%20Deck%20List%20Form%20v2.pdf) and come prepared!

Please note that all event registration is cash only.

EVENT SITE
INVESCO Field at Mile High
West Club Area
1701 Bryant Street
Denver, Colorado 80204
720-258-3000

Entrance: Please use Entrance 2
Parking: Please park in Lot C
http://www.invescofieldatmilehigh.com/
All players will have field access and receive free admission to the Denver Outlaws professional Lacrosse game that evening!
HOTEL
Hotel VQ at Mile High
1975 Mile High Stadium Circle
Denver, CO 80204
800.388.5381
303.433.8331
fax 303.561.0636
info@hotelvq.com
http://www.hotelvq.com/index.php
Rate: $79/night
Available 6/10 through 6/13
Reservation link: https://gc.synxis.com/rez.aspx?Hotel=52775&Chain=5382&promo=STAR
Distance from venue: right next door

ARTISTS
Douglas Shuler
Artist Douglas Shuler (B.F.M., Candelabra of Tawnos, Demonic Tutor [Alpha/Beta art], Serra Angel [Alpha/Beta art], and more) will be joining us at the Denver Open Weekend! Stop by and have some cards signed or buy a print of your favorite card (http://sales.starcitygames.com//spoiler/display.php?&foil=nofoil&s_all=All&foil=nofoil&for=no&art[]=Douglas%20Shuler&r_all=All&t_all=All&g_all=All&sort1=4&sort2=1&sort3=10&numpage=25&showart=1&display=1&startnum=0&numpage=25).

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Saturday, June 11th (Doors open at 8:00 AM)

StarCityGames.com Standard Open
Start Time: 10 AM (Registration begins at 8 AM)
Entry Fee: $30 (cash only)
Format: Standard
Structure: Modified Swiss with a cut to the single-elimination Top 8. Quarterfinals (Top Eight) will be held on Saturday night after the Swiss. The semifinals and finals (Top Four) will be held on Sunday morning at 8 AM.
Head Judge: Kevin Binswanger
REL: Competitive
K-Value: 32
Prizes:
1st: 25 Open Points, $2,000 (or $2500 in StarCityGames.com online store credit) & the StarCityGames.com Standard Open Trophy!
2nd: 20 Open Points, plus $800 (or $1000 in StarCityGames.com online store credit)
3rd-4th: 15 Open Points, plus $500 (or $625 in StarCityGames.com online store credit)
5th-8th: 10 Open Points, plus $250 (or $312.50 in StarCityGames.com online store credit)
9th-16th: 5 Open Points, plus $100 (or $125 in StarCityGames.com online store credit)
17th-32nd: 3 Open Points, plus $50 (or $62.50 in StarCityGames.com online store credit)
Participation: 1 Open Point

Two-Headed Giant Sealed
Start Time: Registration at 2 PM., Deck Construction at 3 PM.
Entry Fee: $30 per team
Format: Current format 2HG Sealed (8 packs – build two 40-card minimum decks)
Structure: 4 rounds of Swiss
Prizes:
4-0: 16 Booster Packs per Team
3-0-1: 12 Booster Packs per Team
3-1: 8 Booster Packs per Team

StarCityGames.com Legacy Challenge
Start Time: Registration at 4 PM., Round 1 at 5 PM.
Entry Fee: $10.00 ($5.00 if you played in the StarCityGames.com Standard Open)
Format: Legacy
Structure: 4 rounds of Swiss
Prizes: 4-0: $50 Dealer Credit
3-0-1: $25 Dealer Credit and 3 Booster Packs
3-1: 6 Booster Packs
2 wins: 1 Booster Pack

Sunday, June 12th (Doors open at 8:00 AM)

StarCityGames.com Legacy Open
Start Time: 10 AM (Registration begins at 8 AM)
Entry Fee: $30 (cash only)
Format: Legacy
Structure: Modified Swiss with a cut to the single-elimination Top 8.
Head Judge: Aaron Stevenson
REL: Competitive
K-Value: 32
Prizes
1st: 20 Open Points, $2,000 (or $2500 in StarCityGames.com online store credit) & the StarCityGames.com Legacy Open Trophy!
2nd: 15 Open Points, plus $600 (or $750 in StarCityGames.com online store credit)
3rd-4th: 10 Open Points, plus $400 (or $500 in StarCityGames.com online store credit)
5th-8th: 5 Open Points, plus $200 (or $250 in StarCityGames.com online store credit)
9th-16th: 3 Open Points, plus $100 (or $125 in StarCityGames.com online store credit)
17th-32nd: 1 Open Point, plus $50 (or $62.50 in StarCityGames.com online store credit)
Participation: 1 Open Point

Starcitygames.com Draft Opens
Entry Fee: $30 (cash only)
Start Time: 9 AM and after round 4 of the Legacy Open - Approximately 2:30 PM (Registration for both Draft Opens begins at 8AM)
Structure: 64 players per Draft Open. Draft followed by 3 rounds, cut to a Top 8 single-elimination Draft
REL: Competitive
Prizes
1st: 10 Open Points, plus $500 (or $625 in StarCityGames.com online store credit)
2nd: 5 Open Points, plus $200 (or $250 in StarCityGames.com online store credit)
3rd-4th: 3 Open Points, plus $100 (or $125 in StarCityGames.com online store credit)
5th-8th: 1 Open Point, plus $50 (or $62.50 in StarCityGames.com online store credit)

Two-Headed Giant Sealed
Start Time: Registration at 1 PM., Deck Construction at 2:00 PM.
Entry Fee: $30.00 per team
Format: Current format 2HG Sealed (8 packs – build two 40-card minimum decks)
Structure: 4 rounds of Swiss
Prizes:
4-0: 16 Booster Packs per Team
3-0-1: 12 Booster Packs per Team
3-1: 8 Booster Packs per Team

SIDE EVENTS
All 8 player Side Events give out Gateway foils to the top 4 players in addition to any pack prizes. The first-place finisher will also receive a Planechase promo card (while supplies last)!

Single elimination booster drafts
Entry: $10.00
Prizes: 3 Boosters to 1st Place (or entry into the next draft)

Single elimination competitive booster drafts
Entry: $15.00
Prizes: 1st Place - 8 Boosters
2nd Place - 4 Boosters

Single elimination constructed tournaments
Entry Fee: $15.00
Prizes: Box (36 Packs) to 1st Place

Four Play Commander Chaos Games
Entry Fee: $5.00
Prizes:
1st Place: $20 Dealer Credit

REGISTRATION
Registration begins at 8 AM, and ends ten (10) minutes before the event is scheduled to start. Any player who wants to enroll after registration has ended will be able to do so, but will receive a round one match loss. Players arriving after round two has been paired will not be able to enroll in the tournament.

JUDGING
Judges interested in working at this event, including uncertified judges (L0), should submit an application at http://www.dcifamily.org/events/212.

Judge certification for level one (L1) and advancement to level two (L2) is available at this event; interested candidates should make arrangements with Nicholas Sabin at nicholas.sabin@starcitygames.com prior to the event.

JOIN THE CLUB
Each Starcitygames.com Open event (Standard, Legacy, and Draft) awards Open Points to participating players. Earning 4 Open Points gets you to Level 1 in the Starcitygames.com Players' Club, which gets you a free pack of sleeves at every future Open Weekend that you attend. Appearance fees, free entry and byes in Constructed Opens, all the way up to a full playset (4x of each card, including mythics) of every new regular Magic set! For more information, see here. (http://www.starcitygames.com/pages/open_series/2011_announcement)

QUALIFY FOR THE INVITATIONAL!
Last year, qualification for the Invitational was based on Open Points. This year, we’ve simplified the system! Here’s how you can qualify for a StarCityGames.com Invitational tournament:
* Finish in the Top 8 of a Standard or Legacy Open
* Win a Draft Open
* Achieve Level 2 or 3 in the Players' Club

Live Coverage from SCGLive ALL DAY!
"Can't make it to the event? Follow complete written coverage by Glenn Jones and live broadcasting all weekend long courtesy of the professionals at SCGLive! Visit SCGLive (http://www.scglive.com) for more information!"

NEED CARDS?
Buy, sell and trade with America’s largest Magic the Gathering retailer! StarCityGames.com will have a massive dealer booth set up all weekend long! How may we help you?

TRADING
Although trading is both allowed and encouraged, please note that the following things are not permitted at this event:

-Buying/selling cards with anyone except for our authorized dealer(s)
-Soliciting to buy/sell cards elsewhere
-Advertising without receiving permission from StarCityGames.com’s on-site Event Manager
-Offering to “alter” cards in exchange for some form of compensation
-Utilizing an excessive amount of space when trading
-Using suitcases, handcarts, luggage carts, etc. for the purpose of transporting excessive amounts of trade stock.

Please note that failure to obey these rules may result in all involved parties being both removed from the event without refund, and banned from attending future events.

DIRECTIONS
For directions to the venue, use Google Maps (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=201817309848513898013.00049ca7bdc54bf5fbc60&ll=39.744946,-105.015135&spn=0.017423,0.045447&z=15).

INVESCO Field at Mile High is located in downtown Denver at the intersection of I-25 and Colfax Avenue. To access INVESCO Field at Mile High:

* From I-25 northbound, exit at 17th Avenue.
* From I-25 southbound, exit at Colfax Avenue, then exit at Federal Blvd north bound. Turn right at the first light (Dick Connor Ave).
* From Denver International Airport, take I-70 west to I-25 southbound. Exit at Colfax Avenue, then exit at Federal Blvd north bound. Turn right at the first light (Dick Connor Ave).

Follow the gray signs to the Ticket Office, Broncos Team Store, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame, Stadium Tours or Stadium Offices and parking lots.

MORE INFORMATION
Players who want specific information can contact us at events@starcitygames.com or by calling (540) 767-GAME (4263). New players will want to read our player FAQ (http://forums.starcitygames.com/viewtopic.php?t=288770).

Risky
06-07-2011, 11:18 AM
Don't miss your chance to play Magic in INVESCO Field!

Richard Cheese
06-08-2011, 11:34 AM
Since Invesco field is right in my neck of the woods, I thought I'd share a few places that are worth visiting in the area:

Food:
Araujo's Mexican Grill, 2900 West 26th Avenue Denver, CO - Most authentic Mexican food I've found in the city so far. Order off the menu, or at least check that everything on the buffet is what it's labeled as. Also has excellent breakfast.

Lao Wang's Noodle House, 945 S Federal Blvd # D, Denver, CO - Absolutely insane dumplings and noodles, but very slow...not a spot for lunch unless you want a game loss.

Providence Tavern, 5280 West 25th Avenue, Edgewater, CO - Great burgers, great cocktails. Expect to find me here drowning my sorrows after the event.

Pho 95, 1002 South Federal Boulevard, Denver, CO - Not to be confused with Pho 79 down the street, this is pretty widely regarded as one of the best Pho places in Denver. Probably a bit too far for a lunch stop though.

Denver Diner, 740 West Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO - Diner food...fast, greasy, filling.

Casa Bonita, 6715 W Colfax Ave, Lakewood, CO - Yes, for those that didn't know this place actually exists. You have to pay for food to get in, but DO NOT EAT IT. It's really not worth the visit, but people from out of town always want to go anyway. Just eat somewhere else first...and be drunk.

Snarf's, 1001 East 11th Avenue, Denver, CO - Best goddamn sandwiches I've ever had ever. Make sure you get the spicy giardiniera on everything.

Breckenridge Brewery BBQ, 471 Kalamath Street, Denver, CO - The food isn't anything special, but $2.50 pints of fresh Breckenridge (including small batch) makes it entirely worth a trip.

There are also a ton of upscale places in the area if you're looking for a nice dinner or brunch. Some good ones to check out are Duo, Lola's, Beatrice & Woodsley, Root Down, Colt & Gray, Squeaky Bean, Sushi Sasa, and TAG.

If you're looking for a specific type of cuisine, let me know and I can probably point you in the right direction.



Nightlife:
I'm not much of a club guy, but some areas to check out are Broadway around 1st/Ellsworth, Larimer Square + Surrounding area, and The Church if you're brave.

Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret has great burlesque and good cocktails.

Some good bars in the area are Providence Tavern, Falling Rock Taphouse, 1up Arcade Bar (they have the Journey game, look it up), The Cooler, and City O' City.



Stuff to See/Do:
If you're in town all weekend

Mountains! Trail Ridge Road finally opened this week, but plan on spending a whole day getting there and back. There are about a million good day trips around though. Just be aware that anything above 10-11,000' is probably still going to be cold as shit.

Idaho Springs is a quintessential mountain town about 30min from Invesco, and has the great Tommyknocker brewery.

Golden, CO - More than just the Coors brewery. Golden is totally underrated, and has a bunch of great bars and restaurants, and a really laid back feel. You can also head up Lookout Mountain for great views of Denver and the Front Range, also Buffalo Bill's grave is at the top if you like seeing a lot of foreigners on vacation.



Breweries/Distilleries
Great Divide Brewing Co., 2201 Arapahoe Street Denver, CO - For those not playing Standard, they are actually having their 17th anniversary celebration Saturday the 11th, $30 at the door.

Wynkoop Brewing Co., 1634 18th Street Denver, CO - This place is mostly a brew pub, with decent but fairly uninteresting food, and a bunch of pool and I think shuffleboard upstairs. Located right in downtown, near Larimer Square.

Coors - Uhh...yeah.

Drydock Brewery, 15120 E. Hampden Ave Aurora, CO - This place started out selling brewing supplies, and is now an Aurora staple. Pretty far from Invesco though

Pints Pub, 221 West 13th Avenue Denver, CO - They brew a variety of beers in-house, including some cask-conditioned "real ales" (warning: served warm and almost completely lacking in carbonation). Also possibly the largest collection of single-malt scotch whiskey in the country.

Stranahan's, 208 South Kalamath Street, Denver, CO - Makers of fine (if overpriced) whiskey, there's a restaurant attached to the distillery called Rackhouse Pub which has decent food and offers whiskey tastings/flights

Breckenridge Brewery - See above. Try the 471 Small Batch IPA. Do it.

Leopold Bros. Distillery - They don't offer tours or have a tasting room as far as I can tell, but they make some fantastically good products, especially their gin and vodka. Providence Tavern (see above) carries most, if not all, of their offerings.



High Altitude Precautions
A few things you should know if you're coming from somewhere significantly closer to sea level

* If you plan on being outside for a long period of time, wear sunscreen. We have something like 50% of the atmosphere at sea level here, so you can and will burn - fast. The higher you go, the more important this becomes. Why do you think we all have those dumb floppy hats?

* Watch your booze intake. While your body doesn't necessarily metabolize alcohol any differently at altitude, it can interfere with your adjustment to lower oxygen levels, and can compound the effects of altitude sickness.

*Know the signs of altitude sickness. They're pretty much identical to a hangover - dizziness, nausea, headache, fatigue. This is probably not an issue in Denver, more something to watch for if you plan on heading out to the mountains.

If anyone is looking for additional/specific information, let me know!

cdr
06-08-2011, 12:23 PM
If anyone is looking for additional/specific information, let me know!

If you expanded that out into an article, I bet there's a fair chance SCG might publish it. Try lauren.lee@starcitygames.com.

Richard Cheese
06-09-2011, 12:10 PM
No response from StarCity yet, so I just updated the previous post with some extra info.