Beam on up to Star Trek Convention

   A trio of Spocks and a tribute to the late Majel Barrett Roddenberry by her son, Rod Roddenberry, are among the expected highlights of this year’s Star Trek Convention, set for Thursday through Sunday, primarily at the Las Vegas Hilton, 3000 Paradise Road.
   The Creation Entertainment production includes programs and panels, autograph sessions and photo ops, collectibles and memorabilia, parties and the Resistance to Bingo is Futile Champagne Happy Hour.
   The insider’s guide to this convention is simple: Bring money. The bigger the fan you are, the more money you’re going to have to stash in your pocket, at least temporarily.
   The big ticket packages — the Gold Weekend ($689) and Captain’s Chair Weekend ($369) — are sold out, but there are plenty of opportunities to blow your paycheck. Preferred weekend admission packages remain at $299 and general admission weekend packages are available for $129.
   Those of more modest means can pay $65 for a preferred single day admission or $30 to $35 for general admission single day tickets.
   What fans really want to know is just who will be there from the “Star Trek” universe. A good place to start is the three Spocks: the original, Leonard Nimoy, and the new ones from this summer’s where-it-all-began movie “Star Trek,” young Jacob Kogan and the intense Zachary Quinto. All are scheduled to appear on Sunday. William Shatner, the original Capt. James T. Kirk, is set for Sunday as well. Christopher Lloyd, who was in “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock,” will make his first appearance at the show on Saturday.
   Other familiar names expected to attend include Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, Colm Meaney, George Takei, Robert Picardo, Michael Dorn, Tim Russ, Rene Auberjonois and Armin Shimerman, among many others.
Autographs range from $20 to $75 each for Shatner and Nimoy. Photo ops range from $40 to $199 for — guess who? — Nimoy and Shatner (together, separately they are $80).
   But there are many more ways to lighten your wallet. Resistance is Futile Bingo is $85, Celebrity Breakfasts are $80 to $89, and the Star Trek Gala Celebration is $35 to $50. (Organizers say “a few extra tickets” will be available for the big parties on Thursday and Friday night at the Stratosphere.)
   Roddenberry will honor his mother at 4:25 p.m. Friday with a video, shared memories and two or three special guests. Members of the audience will be invited to share their memories of Majel Barrett Roddenberry.
Fans also can have their say during a program about the new “Star Trek” movie at 11:30 a.m. Friday.
   For a complete schedule and further details, log on to www.creationent.com/cal/stlv.htm.