Sci-Fi Syndicate LLC

12/14/2024

Many people have been asking me what they should wear to Shiny New Year 2025. My general guidance is that modern formal and semi-formal attire, especially cocktail and black-tie, are always appropriate. Outfits with Western and/or Asian themes add a delightful twist. Costumes inspired from across the ’Verse are next level and usually admired by all attendees. And this year, come as a space pirate, airship pirate, a pirate from the high seas, or any other pirate you can imagine!

See photos and post below for more!

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11/22/2024

The passengers and crew of the Reliance-class* star liner Shiny New Year were happily celebrating the holidays when they were rudely interrupted by an unprovoked attack from the Scarab-class* assault craft The Gauntlet. Captain Ironfist ordered his privateers to fire a warning shot across Shiny New Year's portside before disabling her with an EMP blast. Captain Blackthorne sounded the alarm warning passengers to brace for being boarded... by SPACE PIRATES!

This sets the scene for Shiny New Year 2025, a fictional space cruise and real-world New Year's Eve party inspired by the "Shindig" episode of short-lived, but beloved, TV series "Firefly". Come to this fancy dinner/dance decked out in your favorite sci-fi-inspired attire, a semi-formal outfit from Earth-that-was, or even dress as a pirate from anywhere in time and space! You decide!

Registration is live on www.shinynewyear.com . Registration includes hors d’oeuvres, choice of plated entrée, snacks, access to the cash bar, and a champagne toast at midnight. It also covers ballroom rental, decorations, registration materials, and entertainment. Act now as the registration price increases on December 1st.

You can also make hotel reservations and acquire merchandise such as event t-shirts through the website. RSVP at Shiny New Year 2025 Facebook to for event updates and to chat with other attendees.

*Space ship designs and renders by Sean Kennedy.

11/15/2024

Shiny New Year is not just a Firefly/space-themed New Year's Eve dinner and dance, it's the name of the fictional Reliance-class* liner/courier we pretend to cruise on each year. Shiny New Year is 100 meters long and sleeps up to 100 passengers. Amenities include a ballroom, small casino, gym, sauna, and an infirmary we hope to never use, but...

WARNING - PIRATE ACTIVITY DETECTED IN SECTOR - WARNING!

For the past 2 years, Shiny New Year has traveled from 31 December to 1 January unharassed by Alliance jackboots and viscous Reavers. However, long range scanners have picked up a Scarab-class* assault craft on an intercept course. Rumors on the Cortex warn of a ship of the same class called The Gauntlet helmed by a shadowy character known only as Captain Ironfist and his crew of alleged smugglers, brigands, and PIRATES!

For Shiny New Year 2025 you get to choose! Do you register as a passenger on our luxury cruise, or sign up to crash the party as an infamous PIRATE? You decide! All attendees have a choice of plated dinner, cash bar, DJ spinning tunes from across time and space, and a champagne toast at midnight!

Check out our website for more information, to register, and book your hotel room! Space may be limitless, but seats for this event are limited. REGISTER NOW!

https://shinynewyear.com/

More updates to follow!

*Spaceship designs and renders by Sean Kennedy

12/24/2023

48+ hour warning. Registration for Shiny New Year 2024 closes at midnight on December 26. This is your last chance to join fellow sci-fi fans for a New Year's Eve shindig this year.

We'll be announcing the location and dates of Browncoat Ball 2025 a Shiny New Year. Follow Browncoat Ball for the announcement in January.

Register for Shiny New Year at the event website:

Ring in the New Year with a party in Philadelphia, PA! There will be plated dinners, dancing, mid-evening snacks, and a champagne toast when we cross-over the interstellar date line.

12/20/2023

Many people have been asking me what they should wear to Shiny New Year 2024. My general guidance is that modern formal and semi-formal attire, especially cocktail and black-tie, are always appropriate. Outfits with Western and/or Asian themes add a delightful twist. Costumes inspired from across the ’Verse are next level and usually admired by all attendees. Thanks to Regina Barry, Paul W Harbord, Sheila Erespe, Patti Carter, and Susanna Reilly for these photos.

Kass McGann of Reconstructing History wrote two informative articles for the Browncoat Ball website that provide good guidance.

No-Sew Browncoat Ball Costuming: https://browncoatball.com/2021/guides/no-sew-browncoat-ball-costuming/

Dress Like a Companion without Sewing: https://browncoatball.com/2021/guides/dress-like-a-companion-without-sewing/

What about Browncoat Ball 2024? We’ll be making an announcement at Shiny New Year 2024. Join us! https://shinynewyear.com/

11/30/2023

The price of memberships for Shiny New Year 2024 increase at midnight. Ring in new year with Browncoats and other sci-fi fans. We’ll be time traveling into the future together. Choice of plated dinner, cash bar, entertainment, music from across time and space, dancing, snacks, raffles, and a champagne toast at midnight. It’s the shiniest (and last!) event of the year! Register now at:

Ring in the New Year with a party in Philadelphia, PA! There will be plated dinners, dancing, mid-evening snacks, and a champagne toast when we cross-over the interstellar date line.

11/26/2023

Will there be entertainment at Shiny New Year 2024? Gorram right there will! In addition to your choice of plated dinners, cash bar, snacks, raffles, auctions, and a champagne toast at midnight – we’ll have some talented humans on board to perform for you. We’re excited to announce Gypsy Lavery and DJ Kiltboy! This will be the shiniest event of the year and you don’t want to miss it!

DJ Kiltboy is returning to Shiny New Year to play music from across time and space for your dancing and listening pleasure. This renowned, Philadelphia-based disc jockey has been spinning music for the masses for close to 30 years, DJing everything from clubs, weddings, conventions, and other private functions. As a fan of science fiction, including Firefly, DJ Kiltboy is excited to perform at the event. You can’t stop the signal!

New to Shiny New Year, we are excited to announce Lady Gypsy, Professional Monstrosity! Gypsy Lavery is a daring sideshow artist who has performed her amazing feats at renaissance faires, pirate fests, haunts, and a wide range of conventions for over a decade. She endures pain and defies death for your enjoyment. Sideshow antics! Thrilling escapes! Comedy and danger! You’ll laugh, cringe, maybe even scream, all at once! And is Lady Gypsy a Firefly fan? No power in the ‘verse can stop her!

Shiny New Year takes place on December 31 at the Clarion Hotel Philadelphia International Airport and there are event room rates so you can stay overnight safe and sound. Some attendees are coming for the whole weekend to see the sights or just hangout. RSVP to the Shiny New Year 2024 Facebook event to see what people are planning. Membership rates increase on December 1 – you can register now and find more information about the event at: https://shinynewyear.com/

11/23/2023

Happy Thanksgiving! When I think about all that I am thankful for, a big one is my group of friends, most of whom I’ve met through science fiction fandom. Some through Star Trek clubs, others through steampunk events, many through conventions, and a lot through the love of the space western TV series Firefly. I’ve met so many amazing people – good friends – through the Browncoat Ball, Can't Stop the Serenity, and so many other shindigs I’ve lost count.

One such shindig coming up is Shiny New Year 2024 in the Greater Philadelphia Area. I can’t think of a better way to ring in the new year than with a group of friendly sci-fi and steampunk fans. Inspired by the Firefly episode “Shindig” (and the Browncoat Ball), Shiny New Year is a dinner and dance where people dress up all fancy – Firefly-inspired outfits, sci-fi costumes, steampunk ensembles, or just semi-formal attire – and hang out and socialize.

This is the second Shiny New Year event and last year attracted attendees from 10 states across the country. The theme is that you’re passengers on the Reliance-class starliner Shiny New Year and you’re taking short cruise into the new year. Geek-friendly DJ Kiltboy spins tunes from across and time and space. People eat, drink, make merry, and aim to misbehave. We also have a raffle/auction featuring Firefly-inspired items and other sci-fi collectibles.

Shiny New Year takes place at the Clarion Hotel Philadelphia International Airport hotel and there are event room rates so you can stay overnight safe and sound. Some attendees are coming for the whole weekend to see the sights or just hangout. RSVP to the Shiny New Year 2024 Facebook event to see what people are planning. Membership rates increase on December 1 – you can register and find more information about the event at: https://shinynewyear.com/

Whether you live near or far, we hope you’ll join us for the shiniest event of the year!

Ring in the New Year with a party in Philadelphia, PA! There will be plated dinners, dancing, mid-evening snacks, and a champagne toast when we cross-over the interstellar date line.

10/25/2019

10/25/2019

08/22/2019