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Milwaukee Para Con Survival Guide

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Milwaukee Para Con is just three days away! The reception we’ve gotten this year is just incredible– I know people are showing up from all over the Milwaukee area, Madison, Green Bay, West Bend, Chicago, even Minnesota. A lot of people have been asking me questions about the con and our venue, the gorgeous Irish Cultural & Heritage Center. I’m going to try to answer all your questions as best I can here.

Why do I need a ticket if the event is free? Where can I acquire said ticket?

Getting a head count of who would be showing up was an important step this year. Would 250 people show up? 500? 1000? We needed to know and this way we have a good idea. It was also a way to encourage donations via donation ticket options.

So yes, get a ticket. We have free tickets and a give-$3 donation-and get a sweet Milwaukee Para Con sticker options live now here: www.eventbrite.com/e/milwaukee-paranormal-conference-tickets-15570341310?aff=eac2

I hear this will reach capacity and I won’t be able to get in.

You heard wrong. The ICHC is a big place and at this time, based on tickets, we aren’t worried about going over capacity.

Where do I get tickets for the After Con activities– ghost tours, tag-a-long investigation, etc.?

Check out this post for links:  milwaukeeparacon.com/2015/03/31/2015-after-con/


Where is the venue?

The Irish Cultural & Heritage Center (ICHC) is located at: 2133 W. Wisconsin Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53233
That’s the corner of 21st and Wisconsin Ave. It is very close to the Marquette campus and the Rave/ Eagle’s Ballroom. Here is there website if you’d like to read more on the venue: www.ichc.net

What is the parking situation?

The ICHC has a limited amount of parking located behind the building. When those spots are gone, people will have to find street parking on Wisconsin Ave. or the many side streets surrounding the center. It is what it is. Show up early and find a spot!

City bus lines #30 and the Gold Line also go past the center on Wisconsin Ave. Here’s a link to the Milwaukee County Transit System route map: www.ridemcts.com/routes-schedules/system-map

Is there an ATM at the ICHC?

No! And the nearest one is probably several blocks away. Some of our vendors will be hooked up with card apps, some won’t. Please be prepared by getting cash before you arrive.

Will you be taking cash donations at the door?

Yes! We will have donation jars at the front door. All donations are being used toward things like venue rental, printing costs, travel expenses for our guest speakers, etc. People who made an online donation get a free Milwaukee Para Con sticker. These stickers are also available at our merch table for $3. We also have t-shirts for $13 ($15 for glow-in-the-dark ones). We are taking cash only at the merch table!

What about food?

I’m very happy to say UberDork Cafe will be set up at the venue as our onsite food vendor. They are going to have some great stuff. If your palate needs a different taste, there are food options ranging from fastfood to steakhouses further down Wisconsin Ave. There are several hotels in the downtown area.

If you feel like getting an alcoholic beverage at the con, the ICHC has a main level and basement level bar that will be open.

What can I do to help?

Supporting us and the merchants on the vendor floor is a huge help. Buy some books and other merch, talk to people about their groups and projects, sign up for a ghost tour, get some coffee from UberDork or a beer from the ICHC. I’d like to see this be a successful day for everyone involved.

But most importantly, you can support us by showing up and having a good time!

See you Saturday!

Cult of Weird Contest Winning Entry

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Congratulations to Kylee Dahlene of West Allis, who won the Cult of Weird Milwaukee Paranormal Conference giveaway package. Cult of Weird challenged readers to share their creepiest Wisconsin experiences, and Kylee wrote about an eerie encounter in Grant Park, right here in Milwaukee. She won a Cult of Weird bookmark, Milwaukee Para Con sticker and certificate for a free Milwaukee Para Con t-shirt (check ’em out HERE), a signed copy of Monster Hunters by Tea Krulos, and a ticket for a photo in the Search for the Yeti Photobooth. You can read Kylee’s winning story below…but you might want to leave the lights on!

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An Encounter at Grant Park

There’s probably a ton of stories about Grant Park but one evening my fiancé, his friend, and I went to walk around for a little bit and hang out at the beach. Everything was peaceful and going great until about 8pm. Before we crossed the bridge going down to the beach Trent heard a mans voice say “over here.” He looked at me, asked if I heard anything. I said “no.”

He shrugged it off (told us about it later of course) and we kept walking. I rested my hands on the bridge before going down, and they were off talking. I seen something out of the corner of my eye and looked down at what I thought I saw In the water, but to my dismay saw nothing. Few seconds later a flash, like a dream while being awake, flashed into my head of a teenage girl face down, just a whirl of dark brown hair… tank top… and jean shorts, and a small stream of blood in the water following the small current. I immediately took my hands off and walked off the bridge. Our friend Andy looked me over and asked if anything was wrong, because my face was void of color. I blew it off… said nothing. We proceeded to walk down the beach until it started raining…bout 20 min went by.

As we was walking back into the woods we took a different route and ended up getting kinda lost. At 8:24… All of our phones froze for a whole minute. At 8:25 Trent and Andy’s phone went back to normal, but my phone didn’t do anything for hours. Woke up the next day and it was still frozen. I had to shut off my phone and reboot it. Going back to the park… it felt like we was being followed the whole time. Walking back Trent told his story and I braved up and told mine. After my story I got really angry and fearful. I assumed it was just because I couldn’t figure out what I saw. I woke up the next day, restarted my phone, and got out of the covers and noticed a bruise on my knee. Four small bruises on one side (different sizes) and one big bruise on the other. Needless to say… I was freaked out. Trent called Andy to tell him and we agreed to make a night to go down there again. I, of course, was skeptical.

We went back but this time we took our skeptic friend Ryne and an EVP machine or whatever you use to pick up voices. It cost him $50.00. We went after hours when we shouldn’t have, bout 10pm. Spent a couple hours in there, didn’t get any weird vibes. Got out and was busted by the cops who all thought we was at an underage drinking party nearby, by the way. We all came clean and received park tickets. Trent and I went back during the day with our friend TJ when he came to visit. We went out as far as the barge and I seen the time 8:24 etched in the cement. Those barges have to be over 20, 30 years old, falling apart at the seams. I became really fearful, so we decided to head back before it had gotten dark. The whole time I felt I was being followed and was going to be pushed over the edge and down the hill to the beach. The woods were quiet that day. I never seen a man, but I felt him.

Haven’t been back there since. A couple months after, we was there with Andy. We sat down with him and his computer and EVP and listened to it. Only thing we caught was on that bridge and we hear a woman’s voice say what we thought was “he’s coming.” Only way I’ll go back is during noon hours and with a big group of friends. It’s been 2 years since I was down there. Chances are I’m really sensitive to this stuff and I don’t ever want to see that man. I have a feeling he killed some girl there some time ago. I don’t wanna find out for sure.

They say when a person dies, residual energy can be left over for years on end. Maybe that’s true. Very sad.

Milwaukee Para Con T-shirts: Eerie and Awesome

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“So Awesome!!”
–Miranda Kay Levy, fashion designer and star of Project Runway

Tune up your air guitars–we’ve got Milwaukee Para Con t-shirts ready for the conference! These sweet Ts are limited to 25 of each of the four available colors. Once they’re gone, they’re gone. Below are pics and info on each shirt’s price and available sizing. These shirts were screenprinted locally here in Milwaukee by the fine folks at Stay Rad Screenprinting. They offered us excellent service, quality, and were affordable and are highly recommended.

The Milwaukee Para Con logo was designed by Milwaukee artist David Beyer, Jr.

We were going to try to set up some kind of e-store so people can pre-order these, but with 55 billion other details to attend to before the con, I don’t know that will happen. What I can tell you is that these will be available the day of the con at the Milwaukee Para Con merch booth on the vendor floor, where they will be available for cash. See you there!

All photos by Wendy Schreier Photography.

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Glow-in-the-Dark white ink on black, $15. Available sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL.

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Heather Red, $13. Available sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL.

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Electric Green, $13. Available sizes: S, L, XL, XXL, XXXL.

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Gravel Grey, $13. Available sizes: S, M, L, XL.

Limited Edition Milwaukee Para Con Print from Muddy Water Press!

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Holy smokes! Alex Groh of Muddy Water Press has designed this gorgeous, 4-color, limited edition, screenprinted Milwaukee Para Con poster! You can order them online and he’ll also be tabling on the vendor floor. He will generously be donating 15% of sales of this poster toward con costs. I am going to tell all of you some sage words, here: you can’t go wrong with artwork featuring a jackalope in it!
You can buy it here: https://www.etsy.com/…/2316…/milwaukee-paranormal-con-poster
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You Need an Eventbrite Ticket for this Event

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MilwaukeeParanormal_032315_FHello, everyone! Time flies and the Milwaukee Paranormal Conference is rapidly approaching on June 6. Response to this event has been MASSIVE and it’s so great to know that people are looking forward to this event, and not just people from Milwaukee. I know we have people coming from Madison, Chicago, Green Bay, West Bend, Stevens Point, and who knows where else.

We’ve got a good crew of volunteers and some awesome sponsors supporting with media and services. Because we are getting such an enthusiastic response, I’m asking people to get tickets to the event from Eventbrite. I’m hoping this will give us a more accurate attendance estimate than Facebook will. This will be helpful because if we have a good estimate it will help us determine how many programs we need, what food service can expect, etc., etc.

There are two ticket options on Eventbrite: one is the completely free ticket, no service charges or anything. The other is “donation,” where you can enter any amount. If we can get even half the people attending to donate a few dollars, it will go a long way in helping us pay for flyers, conference programs, travel costs for some of our speakers, and other costs.

Print off the ticket or confirmation e-mail, show us on your mobile device, or write down the confirmation number and show it to the people at the door. Thanks much for taking a minute to do this, it will be very helpful in letting us know what to expect.

Here is the link: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/milwaukee-paranormal-conference-tickets-15570341310?aff=eac2

P.S. People exempt from this process are: guest speakers, volunteers, media, vendors and their guests.

Milwaukee Paranormal Conference 2015 Schedule

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MilwaukeeParanormal_032315_F-whtBGOur talks and panels are divided into two venues within the Irish Cultural & Heritage Center (2133 W. Wisconsin Ave.). Hallamor is the main hall of the center. The Paranormal Pub Series takes place in the lower level pub. The schedule has been laid out so that if you have a particular interest in one field (ghosts, UFOs, cryptozoology) you can attend all the talks in that category without missing one. If you want to get a good mix of subjects, the day is your oyster. Please note that this schedule is subject to change between now and June 6.
12:15-1:00: Allison Jornlin, “Milwaukee Forteana” (HALLAMOR)

12:15-12:45: TBA (PUB)

1:00-1:45: Mark O’Connell, “High Strangeness in Wisconsin: Odd UFO Encounters in the Cheese State” (HALLAMOR)

1:00-1:45: Marc Eaton, “The Scientist or the Sensitive? Struggles for Legitimacy in the Paranormal Community” (PUB)

2:00-2:45: Jim Sherman, “The Challenges Involved in Collecting Sasquatch Evidence” (HALLAMOR)

2:00-2:45: Nicholas Roesler, “Beyond Deep Black: UFO Secrecy, Black Projects, and the Road to Disclosure” (PUB)

3:00-3:45: Noah Leigh, “Explained Paranormal: Explanations for Common Reports of Paranormal Activity” (HALLAMOR)

3:00-3:45: J. Nathan Couch, “Goatman: Satyrs in America” (PUB)

4:00-4:45: Tea Krulos hosts the “Best Evidence Ever!” panel w/ Ursula Bielski, Jim Sherman, and Nicholas Roesler (HALLAMOR)

4:00-4:45: Screening Session (PUB)

5:00-5:45: Linda Godfrey, “American Monsters and Monsters of Wisconsin” (HALLAMOR)

5:00-5:45: Melissa Tanner, “Use of Response Techniques– Provoking vs Trigger Objects” (PUB)

6:00-7:00: Donald R. Schmitt, “The Evidence for the UFO Crash at Roswell” (HALLAMOR)

6:00-6:45: Panel: “Skepticism and Dealing with Clients” with paranormal team leaders Noah Leigh (Paranormal Investigators of Milwaukee), Melissa Tanner (TnT Paranormal), and Valerie Kedrowski (Stevens Point Paranormal). Moderated by Damien Jones of Podcast of the Century. (PUB)

AFTER CON

7:00: Milwaukee Ghosts-Tours & Investigations: Wisconsin Avenue bus tour

8:00-10:00 & 10:30-12:30: Paranormal Investigators of Milwaukee: Investigation at the Historic Chudnow Museum of Yesteryear

9:00pm: Milwaukee Paranormal Conference After Party at Shaker’s Cigar Bar. Hangman Tours also offers a variety of tours throughout the evening, with starting locations at Shaker’s and other spots in the downtown area.

2015: After Con

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Milwaukee Paranormal Conference runs 12-7pm at the Irish Cultural & Heritage Center on June 6, 2015. We have several interesting, unique, and fun activities for you to participate in after the conference. Here’s your options.

 Milwaukee Ghosts–Tours and Investigations: Third Ward Ghost Walk

Explore the haunted history of the “Bloody Third” on Milwaukee’s original ghost tour!  Meet in front of the Milwaukee Public Market (400 N. Water Street, St. Paul Ave. & Water St.) at 7:30 and embark on a 90 minute walking tour full of surprising and spooky tales of ghosts, curses and monsters from past and present.  Purchase tickets via Eventbrite:  http://www.eventbrite.com/e/third-ward-haunted-history-tour-2015-tickets-16743105078?aff=MilwaukeeParacon

Website: www.milwaukeeghosts.com

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Historic Chudnow Museum of Yesteryear

Paranormal Investigators of Milwaukee: Investigation at the Historic Chudnow Museum of Yesteryear (839 N. 11th Street)

Join PIM as they investigate the Historic Chudnow Museum of Yesteryear, housed in an 1869 building. The museum has claims of hauntings and this is your chance to participate in an active paranormal investigation. PIM is offering two time slots to join them: 8:00-10:00pm and 10:30-12:30am. Tickets are $30 per session.

You can find more info on the Chudnow’s history, rules for the event, and purchase tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/paranormal-investigation-at-the-historic-chudnow-museum-of-yesteryear-tickets-15976407866

Website: www.paranormalmilwaukee.com

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Shaker’s Cigar Bar

Official After Party: Shaker’s Cigar Bar (422 S. 2nd Street)

The official Milwaukee Paranormal Conference after party is at Shaker’s Cigar Bar, “Milwaukee’s Haunted Bar!” The party starts after the con and features music by Sir Pinkerton & the Magnificents along with special circus guests. Entertainment starts at 9pm.

Hangman Tours will be offering five tours during the night, Shaker’s Ghost Tour (7:00 & 8:30pm), Shakers Tour 2.0 (10pm), Milwauking Dead (8pm), The Cream City Cannibal (10pm), and The Whoring 20’s (and other decades, 6pm). For additional times for groups of 10 or more, please contact: info@hangmantours.com. You can find more info on the tours, where they start, and prices at: hangmantours.com or stop by their booth on the conference floor.

Websites: www.milwaukeeshauntedbar.com 
www.hangmantours.com

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Sir Pinkerton & the Magnificants

2015: Screening Sessions

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Screening documentaries, show previews, and film shorts is a goal for Milwaukee Paranormal Conference in future years. This year, because of our tight one day schedule, we have one hour set aside for a screening session and will be showing parts of two documentaries. Both screenings include a talk session with the documentary directors.

EOTP_poster_web ECHOES OF THE PAST (2015), directed by David Gloyd.

Focused on a mix of history and the paranormal, “Echoes of The Past” is a journey into one of America’s greatest unknown ghost towns. Directed by David Gloyd, this documentary focuses on the once great town of Pere Cheney, Michigan, which has been abandoned for nearly a century. See what remains after plague and fire erased the potential state capitol from the map and listen to the local legends and sightings that have kept locals from venturing out to this location late at night.

movie poster - PIM (web)

P.I.M.: A PARANORMAL DOCUMENTARY (2015), directed by Bradley James Kroll.

Ghost hunters, sensitives, paranormal investigators; what does it all mean? Lead by Noah Leigh, the Paranormal Investigators of Milwaukee (P.I.M.) investigate most of Wisconsin’s historically haunted landmarks with their scientific approach, teamwork, and state of the art equipment. Find out why they do what they do, what goes into a scientific approach, and what they’ve found along the way. Just because you can’t see something doesn’t mean it can’t see you.