Kim (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
grammarwoman) wrote2007-10-12 02:52 pm
grammarwoman) wrote2007-10-12 02:52 pm
Entry tags:
The Con Weekend report, day 1
(Seeing as it’s taken a week for me to write up my recap of the weekend, I’m going to put off posting my pictures until later; otherwise, I’ll never get this done. Not that you all are waiting with bated breath – I’m aware that I’m doing this mainly for my benefit.)
We’ve been planning this trip for months – well, more accurately, Chad planned most of this as a birthday present for Candi – driving up to Rosemont for the Creation BSG/Star Wars/Star Trek convention. It was a kid-free weekend for all of us; my wonderful husband assured me that he and the Emperor would be fine, and Chad’s and Candi’s kids are at the self-sufficient phase. We got 3-day passes and rooms at the hotel, plus a photo op for the three of us with Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sirtis. Then Chad found out about the travelling Star Wars exhibit opening at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago on Friday, so we got tickets for that as well.
Friday morning found us leaving late, so instead of driving to Rosemont and taking the El into Chicago (a far-fetched plan from any angle), we drove right to the Museum. (After navigating through the ongoing state of construction permeating Chicago, of course.) It was the first time my companions had been to the Museum; as a spoiled kid of the suburbs, I had been there several times over the years, what with class field trips and visits with friends. (Even with my past experiences, I still got the thrill of playing hooky from my normal life with going into the city.) In the lower lobby of the Museum, there were several people dressed as characters from Star Wars: Obi-Wan, a few stormtroopers, Anakin, R2-D2, Boba Fett, and a Rubinesque Leia. We took several pictures to warm up our camera skills.
Once in the Museum, we found the exhibit entrance; it was impossible to miss, as it was right in the middle of the first floor, with huge two-story banners hanging at the opening. We had less than an hour to kill before our timed entry, so we checked out several of the nearby exhibits. (We should have checked out the cafeteria instead, as that closed not 5 minutes before we were done with the Star Wars stuff.) The huge train set is still running, with the large planes hanging overhead. We also toured the genetics section, with science fair facts all over the place, plus perennial favorites newly-hatched baby chicks, and frogs with fluorescent green eyes.
Finally, it was time for our entry. We were momentarily bummed at the sign stating “No cameras allowed”, but the security people assured us that they had changed their minds on that. Good thing, too, as we took many pictures. (Many, many pictures.) The layout inside was a serpentine path through models and costumes from the movies, with mini-movies playing beside them, as well as learning activities for the kids. (The one I would have loved to do was the riding on the hovercraft car, but I think I would have been laughed out of line.) I could have done with fewer displays of the real-life applications of the movie tech (Roombas for robots, prosthetic limbs, and such) and more actual Star Wars items, but the behind-the-scenes stuff we got was gratifying for an extras geek like me, things like how they used L’Eggs pantyhose containers for engine thrusters, or put mirrors under Luke’s landspeeder to make it appear to float. There were Wookies, and light sabers, and guns, and models, and so many cool things in general. There was even a cute mini-theater presentation (for the kids and the parents wanting to sit down) with an animatronic C3PO and a pre-recorded robotics expert interacting with a bunch of robot props on the stage. Admission for the Museum and the exhibit was $23, and I thought it was worth it, but if you’re not the type to linger and watch all the mini-movies and read a bunch of model cards, you may think differently. Oh, and if you want to tour the mock-up of the Millennium Falcon’s interior, it’s free, but you have to call ahead for tickets.
The traffic driving to Rosemont was ridiculous, of course, but we made it to the hotel in time to check in and take a spin through both dealer areas. Then after futzing with the internet connection for the room, I finally got to look up the Japanese restaurant that I remembered from having lived in the area six years ago. It was the first time I’ve had teppanyaki, as I’d only had sushi there before. The chef was very talented with the flipping and slicing, and boy howdy, did we leave there completely over-stuffed with delicious food. We waddled back to the hotel and eventually went to sleep.
We’ve been planning this trip for months – well, more accurately, Chad planned most of this as a birthday present for Candi – driving up to Rosemont for the Creation BSG/Star Wars/Star Trek convention. It was a kid-free weekend for all of us; my wonderful husband assured me that he and the Emperor would be fine, and Chad’s and Candi’s kids are at the self-sufficient phase. We got 3-day passes and rooms at the hotel, plus a photo op for the three of us with Jonathan Frakes and Marina Sirtis. Then Chad found out about the travelling Star Wars exhibit opening at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago on Friday, so we got tickets for that as well.
Friday morning found us leaving late, so instead of driving to Rosemont and taking the El into Chicago (a far-fetched plan from any angle), we drove right to the Museum. (After navigating through the ongoing state of construction permeating Chicago, of course.) It was the first time my companions had been to the Museum; as a spoiled kid of the suburbs, I had been there several times over the years, what with class field trips and visits with friends. (Even with my past experiences, I still got the thrill of playing hooky from my normal life with going into the city.) In the lower lobby of the Museum, there were several people dressed as characters from Star Wars: Obi-Wan, a few stormtroopers, Anakin, R2-D2, Boba Fett, and a Rubinesque Leia. We took several pictures to warm up our camera skills.
Once in the Museum, we found the exhibit entrance; it was impossible to miss, as it was right in the middle of the first floor, with huge two-story banners hanging at the opening. We had less than an hour to kill before our timed entry, so we checked out several of the nearby exhibits. (We should have checked out the cafeteria instead, as that closed not 5 minutes before we were done with the Star Wars stuff.) The huge train set is still running, with the large planes hanging overhead. We also toured the genetics section, with science fair facts all over the place, plus perennial favorites newly-hatched baby chicks, and frogs with fluorescent green eyes.
Finally, it was time for our entry. We were momentarily bummed at the sign stating “No cameras allowed”, but the security people assured us that they had changed their minds on that. Good thing, too, as we took many pictures. (Many, many pictures.) The layout inside was a serpentine path through models and costumes from the movies, with mini-movies playing beside them, as well as learning activities for the kids. (The one I would have loved to do was the riding on the hovercraft car, but I think I would have been laughed out of line.) I could have done with fewer displays of the real-life applications of the movie tech (Roombas for robots, prosthetic limbs, and such) and more actual Star Wars items, but the behind-the-scenes stuff we got was gratifying for an extras geek like me, things like how they used L’Eggs pantyhose containers for engine thrusters, or put mirrors under Luke’s landspeeder to make it appear to float. There were Wookies, and light sabers, and guns, and models, and so many cool things in general. There was even a cute mini-theater presentation (for the kids and the parents wanting to sit down) with an animatronic C3PO and a pre-recorded robotics expert interacting with a bunch of robot props on the stage. Admission for the Museum and the exhibit was $23, and I thought it was worth it, but if you’re not the type to linger and watch all the mini-movies and read a bunch of model cards, you may think differently. Oh, and if you want to tour the mock-up of the Millennium Falcon’s interior, it’s free, but you have to call ahead for tickets.
The traffic driving to Rosemont was ridiculous, of course, but we made it to the hotel in time to check in and take a spin through both dealer areas. Then after futzing with the internet connection for the room, I finally got to look up the Japanese restaurant that I remembered from having lived in the area six years ago. It was the first time I’ve had teppanyaki, as I’d only had sushi there before. The chef was very talented with the flipping and slicing, and boy howdy, did we leave there completely over-stuffed with delicious food. We waddled back to the hotel and eventually went to sleep.
no subject
We’re hopefully going to the Star Wars exhibit for my birthday in December.
sushi madness
(Anonymous) 2007-10-14 07:38 am (UTC)(link)I still have happy dreams about sushi boats with mussels going by...
~kazudi
Re: sushi madness
I was totally thinking of you guys, too; we had so much fun there, with our mile-high stacks of plates. *grin*