Check out the "Barnes and Noble" Mini-Maker Faire's

November 6-8th (2015) every Barnes and Noble store in the United States will be hosting a Mini-Maker Faire.

Announcing: Barnes and Noble First Ever Mini-Maker Faire's

This link gives a better idea concerning how it's being organized as well as the days and time for different aspects of the event B&N Mini Maker Faire's

I applied (just under the wire,but before the deadline) to exhibit at local Barnes and Noble locations (Joliet, Naperville and Bolingbrook locations).  The confirmation for my application stated that I would hear, if I was accepted, by the end of the day on October 9.  So..., it seems that I didn't make the cut.  I'm quite anxious to see who is getting the chance to exhibit their projects to the public, any chance to meet other local Maker's is a great opportunity that I look forward to (I would love to find other people to collaborate and exchange ideas with). 

My main goal is to encourage others to engage in Making - to discover and learn new things, apply what they already know in new ways, and of course to ask questions and pursue solutions.

Please, encourage everyone you know to come out and support "Making" next month (Nov. 6-8th) at your local Barnes and Noble Bookstore.

From what I can tell from the B&N link above, this is the layout:

The Featured and Sponsored Brands (I included direct links to their websites instead of just to the products that B&N are selling - so you can see what each company is all about) .

Featured brands:

• Protocol New York (http://protocolny.com/) - drones, gadgets, fitness
• Spin Master Spin Master Meccano Meccanoid G15 (http://www.meccano.com/meccanoid-about )
• Ozobot (http://www.ozobot.com/ )
• Sphero SPRK (http://www.sphero.com/sphero-sprk)
• Lego (www.lego.com ) - not clear if they are featuring building sets, robotics or both
• XYZPrinting (http://us.xyzprinting.com/) low cost 3D printer
• Snap Circuits (http://www.snapcircuits.net/ )
• Think Fun (http://www.thinkfun.com/ ) STEM education puzzles and games
• littleBits Electronics (http://littlebits.cc/ ) great electronics learning/teaching materials
• The Creativity Hub (http://www.creativityhub.com/ )– Extraordinaires Design Studio Pro (http://www.extraordinaires.com/ )
• Raspberry Pi (https://www.raspberrypi.org/ ) - looks like they are featuring Maker Media's Delux Kit
• Make Magazine (http://makezine.com/ ) (of course)

Sponsored Brands:

• Toby Rich (http://www.tobyrich.com/ ) smartphone gadgets
• Circuit Scribe (http://www.circuitscribe.com/ ) conductive ink
• Light Up (https://www.lightup.io/ )
• Makey Makey (http://makeymakey.com/ )
• Lomography (http://www.lomography.com/ ) photographic media

It looks like The B&N Mini Maker Faire's are being divided up (by times) into the following categories (or areas):

• Make Workspace
  • Product demos, tech-education. So, expect to see cool new tech and tech education products from the sponsored and featured brands named above.
• Meet the Maker
  • “Come meet the leaders of the Maker movement! These are the people changing the way we learn, ideate, design, create, and build the future. They’ll be visiting your local Barnes & Noble store to talk about their process, their creations, and their vision.” - it seems more a talk/lecture than an exhibit with hands on explanations. 
    • I believe this is the area I applied for in my application to Barnes and Noble and Make. Informed that if a local B&N store could use me that I'd be contacted by 10/9/15.

• Make and Collaborate
  • “Get hands-on experience in design, handcrafting, and construction in the spirit of collaboration and teamwork.”
    •  This looks like the area that could be the most fun and engaging to kids!

A breakdown of the days and times (compiled from the B&N website) is summarized below:

Friday	(11/6)
	03:00 PM	Make Workspace
	04:00 PM	Make and Collaborate
	05:00 PM	Make and Collaborate / Meet the Maker
	06:00 PM	Make Workspace
	07:00 PM	Meet the Maker
Saturday	(11/7)
	11:00 AM	Make Workspace
	12:00 PM	Make and Collaborate
	01:00 PM	Meet the Maker
	03:00 PM	Make Workspace
	04:00 PM	Make and Collaborate
	05:00 PM	Make and Collaborate / Meet the Maker
	06:00 PM	Make Workspace
	07:00 PM	Meet the Maker
Sunday	(11/8)
	11:00 AM	Make Workspace
	12:00 PM	Make and Collaborate
	01:00 PM	Meet the Maker
	03:00 PM	Make Workspace
	04:00 PM	Make and Collaborate
	05:00 PM	Meet the Maker