Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Medieval Times' Knights To Remember

One of my favorite aspects of the Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament experience is the multitude of photo ops. What? Me...photo ops? Surprise, surprise, right. 

That the King, Princess, knights and squires, wenches, falconer, and every other person on the kingdom's payroll (not to mention the magnificent horses, the falcon, and the owl) make it so much fun makes it all the more a splendid experience. 

I've been to the Atlanta Castle a couple of nights recently, and brought along a number of friends who had yet to experience the gallantry of the knights, beauty of the princesses and the majesty of those magnificent horses...quite so close up and in-person!


Tournament Princess, Medieval Times Atlanta
Tournament Princess, Medieval Times Atlanta

Let me jump right in an tell you about the little princess pictured above. It was her birthday and it's one she'll never forget! After the Blue Knight won that tournament, he and the Princess crowned her Tournament Princess

She, her sister and her father (who gave me permission to share the photo) were sitting right next to us and her crowning made the evening all the more fun, for everyone around. She was an enchanting and distinguished little princess, one to be commended for her grace. 


Lady Anne, Master Falconer, Medieval Times Atlanta
Lady Anne, Master Falconer, Medieval Times Atlanta

There's a LOT going on before (and after) the doors to the Arena are opened, including the opportunity to meet one of the stars of the show...Echo

Echo is a falcon who has been performing at the Atlanta Castle for approximately 4.5 years now. His (I think it's a "he", but truthfully I didn't confirm that) trainer is Lady Anne (pictured above with Echo), a Master Falconer. He adoration and great care for Echo is immediately apparent when you start talking with her.

When you visit, seek out Lady Anne and Echo. She will gladly share with you some insight into why Falconry is called "The Sport of Kings" and give, if asked, a little more detail about the training and how it's less a performance but a mutual cooperation, true to nature. 

Echo is a spectacularly beautiful creature and I was so fascinated to have met him...and Lady Anne, too. 


Knighting Ceremony, Medieval Times Atlanta
Knighting Ceremony, Medieval Times Atlanta

When you visit, you may have the opportunity to be knighted by the King! Especially if you're celebrating a birthday or anniversary or other special occasion. I'm not sure who that is in the above photo...another visitor to the Castle, there to celebrate a birthday, I believe. 

I think it's cool that someone who's more than eight years old (and there were those, too, of course) wasn't at all shy about being knighted! Who doesn't have dreams of being a celebrated knight (or princess, as the case may be), right?!

Just to the right of the knighting ceremonial space you'll see a series of tall vertical windows. Go over to those and peer into a habitat that houses a splendid owl, one that belongs to the largest owl family in the world! It's wing span is nearly as wide as I am tall! Ask Lady Anne about it when you're meeting Echo.


King's introduction of the Knights, Medieval Times Atlanta
King's introduction of the Knights, Medieval Times Atlanta

Before the King takes to his observation tower with the Princess, he'll be on the arena floor to greet the knights, who had been introduced as visitors were welcomed into the arena. Be sure to listen for details of the knight for whom you'll be cheering—you'll know which one he is by the color of your own crown.

Oh, and while I'm talking about the King, as you enter the Castle, you may have a souvenir photo made with either the King or the Princess. On my most recent visit, we opted for a photo with the King. The Princess is prettier, but my friends wanted a photo with the King...a great photo to have, just in case.

You can pick up your souvenir photo almost immediately! The 8"x10" photos are beautifully framed in a heavy stock paper folding frame with opulent detailing. The first copy is only $20 and subsequent copies are only $10. We got two, Ashley's treat..."Thank you, Ashley!"


Tournament Majesty, Medieval Times Atlanta
Tournament Majesty, Medieval Times Atlanta

The tournament is a fun-filled two hours long...and there's a LOT going on. As many times as I've been—and I love it every time!—I've not yet committed to memory the precise naming of the segments of the tournament. Good thing there's not a pop quiz at the end!

The procession above is, however, one of my favorites. I love how regal it is. The horses, their dress, the knights, the flags, the...everything about it! From the time you enter the Arena to the time you leave, there's some sort of performance, gallantry, contest...it's action-packed!

Even while your "wench" (who have all be wonderfully entertaining, highly attentive, and impressively professional—Thank you, All!") is describing what's about to happen dinner-wise—and be sure to pay attention, she's imparting very important information—there's still a performance taking place on the arena floor.


Blue Knight, Medieval Times Atlanta
Blue Knight, Medieval Times Atlanta

As I'm sure you can imagine, there are more than the the six knights who participate in the tournament. There are the squires, the game masters, the flag bearers, and I'm sure I'm forgetting a few others. It takes an army to stage a tournament of this magnitude! Oh, and there's the evil visitors from another land—the whole reason for the tournament!

Actually, that's not true...the tournament is for the entertainment of all the Lords and Ladies who are there to have a great time! But Medieval Times makes a drama-filled spectacle of a tournament, for one and all.


Knights of Medieval Times Atlanta
Knights of Medieval Times Atlanta

I'd love for you to learn more about the horses. You'll get to know the knights before, during and after the tournament, but be sure to get to know something about the horses before you go, so that you can fully appreciate the performance you're seeing.

The horses are magnificent and it's obvious—to me, having worked with horses—that they're very well cared for, and pampered I'm sure. After only a few years of performing, they retire to their original home where they live out their natural lives. 


Lady Ashley with Knights of Medieval Times Atlanta
Lady Ashley with Knights of Medieval Times Atlanta

Lady Ashley (pictured above) is a dear friend and not at all shy about having fun, and she also has an impeccable work ethic, both of which are qualities I admire in her. So, while other friends have been somewhat timid about having photos made with the knights and princesses (and I can be that way, too), not Ashley! 

I don't think I'd be very far off base if I were to assume that Ashley subscribes to my philosophy that life is too short to not have as much fun as you can! That life is meant to be enjoyed and we often take it too serious. Yes, it's important to work hard and do the job you're paid to do, but it's also great to venture into other realms, from time to time.


Lord Ahmad and Lord Dave with the Princess of Medieval Times Atlanta
Lord Ahmad and Lord Dave with the Princess of Medieval Times Atlanta

Ahmad and Dave were on the same visit with Ashley and they were all three a total blast to as Lords and Lady. Thank you all three for a glorious adventure with the knights!  

I'd be remiss to not mention the Dinner! The most fun about dinner is that you enjoy it Medieval-style. Do you know when forks and spoons came into popularity? 

The meal is a feast. I see most people take leftovers home, but I'm a trooper when it comes to the dinner plate. I want to enjoy the full experience in the moment. Four courses are served and the meal includes a non-alcoholic beverage. 

But not to worry for those who wish to enjoy an adult beverage. There's a full bar and table cocktail  service, as well. If you enjoy wine with your meal, you can even pre-order a bottle a the bar in the Great Hall before the arena opens and it'll be delivered to your table with no wait.

Remember to plan to leave a tip for your serving wench. Like practically all dining establishments in the modern world, gratuity isn't included with your ticket...and please be generous. They're working folk just like you and I—and they've been impressively remarkable every time I've been!


Suit of Armor, Medieval Times Atlanta
Suit of Armor, Medieval Times Atlanta

While you're exploring the Castle, have a close look at the suits of armor peppered throughout the Castle...the detailing is quite spectacular. 

Since I was a kid I've been a fan of the Medieval era, and especially of armor. On one of the recent visits, my friends who have a place overlooking Centennial Olympic Park were along. They have a suit of armor who we all respectfully refer to as Henry. It's nice to know that he's always there to guard...and how cool to have a real suit of armor! 

And I was quite surprised at how reasonably priced the armor elements, swords, and other assorted items are in the gift shop. No, I wasn't asked to mention the gift shop, I've just always wanted a sword.


Travis with a Knight and Princess, Medieval Times Atlanta
Travis with a Knight and Princess, Medieval Times Atlanta

Well, of course I'm going to get in on the photo ops! Remember, that's part of the fun. And every single person I asked to make a photo with or of was happy to pose. I hope they realize how great a finish that is to an already wonderful evening.

One recommendation—and I should take my own advice—Don't get so caught up in the picture-taking that you miss the tournament or miss having a grand time with your family and friends. You can always visit again and make more photos.  

While I hope my enthusiasm for Medieval Times had encouraged yours, let me leave you with a few brilliant words from Medieval Times about the experience that awaits you...

"Be swept away to an age of bravery and honor and witness epic battles of steel and steed. From ringside seats, discover a feast of the eyes and appetite with all the splendor and romance of 11th Century Spain. As you thrill to a rousing, two-hour live jousting tournament, marvel at awe-inspiring horsemanship and falconry, Medieval Times serves a four-course meal fit for royalty."

Head over to the wanderlust ATLANTA Facebook page for more photos of my Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament visits...hope to see YOU at the Atlanta Castle sometime soon!

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Mamma mia, here I go again...

How many times have you gotten an ABBA song stuck in your head? Approximately a bazillion times, right? Fortunately, it's fun music and the Mamma Mia! Musical is delightfully entertaining.

Given the number of people who exchange vows at The Fox Theatre—where Momma Mia! is now on stage—it's pretty awesome to see a musical about a wedding. Mamma Mia! will also bring a tear to your eye—because it's a touching human story—and have you on your feet clapping and dancing for the finale of the performance!

And a brilliant performance it is! I'd seen Mamma Mia! in Washington, DC many, many years ago, and at last night's show, every person I talked with—friends and new friends—had also seen it before...one of them four times! That alone tells you what a fun show this is.


Mamma Mia! (Photo: Kevin Thomas Garcia)
Mamma Mia! (Photo: Kevin Thomas Garcia)

I've attempted in vain to identify a specific number as my "favorite" of the show and it's proving an impossibility. If I absolutely had to, it could possibly be "Emotion", "Voulez-vous", or "Money"...and of course "Dancing Queen" is total fun. See...I can't even get it down to two!

The entire cast is brilliant. I particularly loved the mother, Donna—performed by Georgia Kate Haege, and her friends, Tanya—performed by Gabrielle Mirabella, and Rosie—performed by Sarah Smith. Those three were amazing together...you really thought they were reunited best friends. I particularly enjoyed Georgia's singing voice...wonderful!

Of course Chelsea Williams (Sophie) and Eric Presnall (Sky) are amazing. 

I went to the show with my friend Scott, another one who has seen Mamma Mia! before, and we had a blast. After the show we went to Livingston Restaurant + Bar (a Fox Theatre partner restaurant) for a night cap and made some new friends—Sharon and Beth, sisters who had also just seen Mamma Mia! We talked and laughed and laughed some more, until nearly midnight.

That's one of the things that I love about Atlanta. You never know when you're going to make a new friend or where you're going to share your next laugh.


Mamma Mia! (Photo: Kevin Thomas Garcia)
Mamma Mia! (Photo: Kevin Thomas Garcia)

I have a confession. I'm an ABBA fan. And that's not something I tell everyone...well, except for the fact that I just did. 

You know how you'll be listening to music on your phone and then you get a call, which mutes the music when you answer it? More than once I've done that and walked into a store where shortly after going in I finished up the call and hang up, only to have ABBA blaring into the store as I frantically look for the off button! They've always been a fun and entertaining group.


Mamma Mia! (Photo: Kevin Thomas Garcia)
Mamma Mia! (Photo: Kevin Thomas Garcia)


Some of you may recall my mentioning having lived in Greece for more than two years. You can imagine, being set on a Greek isle, how nostalgic Mamma Mia! is for me. I'd love a vacation to Greece right now! In the meantime, Mamma Mia! was a delightful distraction.

There’s some wonderful Broadway shows coming to Atlanta. The 2014-2015 season includes, among others, The Phantom of the Opera (October 22 – November 2, 2014); Dirty Dancing (November 25 - 30, 2014); and Wicked (February 18 – March 8, 2015).

I saw Phantom at The Fox on Halloween night in 1994...what an evening that was! And I saw Wicked at Oriental Theatre in Chicago...I LOVE that show! I'm anxiously looking forward to seeing it again here in Atlanta.

Consider a season package, which ranges in level—number of shows and perks—from mini to traditional to "Patron Club"!

Mamma Mia! is showing at The Fox Theatre through Sunday, September 28. If you’re seeing it for the first time or the 15th time, you’re in for a toe-tapping-turned-full-on-dancing good time!

@BroadwayAtlanta @MammaMiaMusical @BRAVEprATL

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Atlanta Arts Festival's Artists Share

This year's Atlanta Arts Festival was one of the best ever! Unfortunately, I didn't make it until the afternoon of the last day. Still, I wanted to write about how fantastic a festival it was, so I reached out to my favorite artists of the Festival. Please, enjoy a sample of their work and a few words from them about the experience...

One Ring To Rule Them All, Chad Moore
One Ring To Rule Them All, Chad Moore

"I was really taken with the quality of work at this year's Atlanta Arts Festival. There were so many great artists there with some really amazing work! It really was an honor just to be included with them all and be able to set up my tent and say, 'Yep. I'm with these people'. I kept waiting for someone to show up and tell me that they'd made a mistake and that I would need to pack up and leave," said artist Chad Moore.

I was all smiles and continuously laughing while venturing through Chad's booth...and it was indeed an adventure! His was one of the most popular booths and probably the most dense area of smiles in the entire Festival. 

Chad makes photos of stuffed animals and action figures in the most precarious and hilarious situations. Have fun exploring his website. And mark your calendars...you can see Chad's work in person at the upcoming Festival on Ponce, October 18-19!


Robo-Rabbit Rocket Boots, Greg Stones
Robo-Rabbit Rocket Boots, Greg Stones

I had the honor and pleasure of meeting Greg Stones at my first festival after moving back to Atlanta a number of years ago. I've been a huge fan since! 

Not long after meeting Greg, he published three amazing books—not that his meeting me had anything at all to do with publishing—and he has three more on the way! He'll have his next book with him when he returns for next year's Atlanta Dogwood Festival, presuming they approve his request to show...I hope they do!

"My favorite thing about the show was all the super nice people that I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with," said Greg Stones of Watercolors by Greg Stones.


Sh 2-252, Paul Tankersley
Sh 2-252, Paul Tankersley

My  friends, family and fans know how much of a space enthusiast I am. Well, some of them. I sometimes have to restrain my enthusiasm...not everyone gets it. But Paul, I think, totally gets it. In fact, beyond his being a professional engineer, he's made (considerably more than) a hobby of space photography, which he calls "collecting photons"...I like that!

One of the more fascinating aspects of his space photography...it's made from right here in Georgia!

"I always enjoy meeting people who share my love for the 'night sky', and being able to do that at the Atlanta Arts Festival here in Piedmont Park is really an honor. Everyone has a different view of my images, which are taken with a telescope, whether it be the name of a Nebula, the shape or colors that speak to them. So, it's fun to talk to each person that stops by my booth and share my passion for astro-photography." said Paul Tankersley of Helix Imaging.

A special "Thank you" to Gail, Paul's wife who helps him with the business side of Helix Imaging and was my direct liaison for Paul's contribution to this post.


And Everything's Quiet, Michelle McDowell Smith
And Everything's Quiet, Michelle McDowell Smith

"Being the poster artist for this year's Atlanta Arts Festival was so much fun. I met lots of people who, just because of the poster, had become immediate fans of my work. It was awesome! And that is what makes festivals great, meeting new people and enjoying all of the amazing art," said artist Michelle McDowell Smith.

Michelle's husband was helping her in the booth...a delightfully funny couple! It was nice to see a wife-husband team working so well together at the Festival. Certainly there are others, but I got to see them in action. You guys rock!

And I had the pleasure of talking with Michelle about her work. She puts a considerable amount of thought and deliberation into each element of each piece. I was fascinated and quite impressed. Talk with her...I think you'll be impressed, as well.

Michelle's work is also being featured in the marketing material for the upcoming Chastain Park Arts Festival, Saturday and Sunday, November 1 and 2, where she'll again be showing.


Tricycle Multi-media, Chris Mason
Tricycle Multi-media, Chris Mason

Have I saved the best for last? Perhaps. I find myself mesmerized by Chris Mason's photography...the man is brilliant!

I saw Chris' work at another festival recently—his multi-media work in particular—and was immediately fascinated and surprisingly captivated. I explored numerous pieces in great detail. I applaud Chris' brilliant coupling of photo with paint, material, and relics. I'd not seen anything quite like this before.

"I am a big fan of the Atlanta Arts Festival, I love seeing the diversity of people that come out and all enjoying the arts, park and great things that goes on in the Atlanta area," said Chris Mason of Chris Mason Photography.

And a Thank You...

May I offer a huge "Thank you!" to these five artists for sharing their work and giving time to wanderlust ATLANTA. I have friends who have done the festival circuit, so I know something of the amount of work and dedication it takes to attend a show like this. It's no small undertaking. 

Thank you to each of the artists, and other participants, at the Atlanta Arts Festival for contributing to our city's cultural experiences. You're appreciated!

Monday, September 15, 2014

Tellus Revisited

Barry and I had talked about going back to Tellus Science Museum for quite a while, recounting our individual visits, and finally went up a few months ago. Turns out, we'd visited very different places.

It was a number of years ago that Barry had visited what was later absorbed by Tellus...an impressive gem and mineral collection, which was housed near today's Tellus. Before changing his major in college, Barry studied geology, so Tellus was a welcome excursion.


Tellus Science Museum, T-Rex & Barry
Tellus Science Museum, T-Rex & Barry

I've mentioned previously that before I wanted to be an astronaut I'd wanted to be an archaeologist. Louis Leakey—who was a mentor to Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey—was my early childhood hero. So, you can imagine, a geologist and an archaeologist set loose in a gem gallery and a dinosaur gallery...we had as much fun as we did when we were kids!

Actually, I don't remember seeing a dinosaur exhibit when I was a kid, but I remember visiting my 5th Grade teacher, Mrs. Cobb, after I graduated high school and remember how tiny the desks and chairs were...and as adults we think dinosaurs are big!

The dinosaur skeletons at Tellus are replicas, BUT each of the larger exhibits have within it a real fossil, and there are many other fossils throughout the gallery. 


Tellus Science Museum, Travis S. Taylor
Tellus Science Museum, Travis

I mentioned that Tellus was very different memories for Barry and for me. I'd been for the first time a few years ago and Barry long before that. So, when we were pulling up to Tellus, a familiar sight for me, the giant Komatsu truck was new for Barry. I just love that truck! 

To give you an idea of just how big it is, I'm 6'2" and the tires alone are considerably taller than I am. I wonder if they ever let visitors take it for a test drive...

Tellus Science Museum, Foucault's Pendulum
Tellus Science Museum, Foucault's Pendulum

One of my favorite exhibits at Tellus is the Foucault's Pendulum, which is near the entrance, if I recall correctly. It's captivating. One could easily get lost in understanding the premise of the Pendulum. To give you an idea, the original was built to demonstrate the Earth's rotation of approximately 1,000 miles per hour.

The sphere is moving back and forth, but always in the same plane...the floor is moving, with the Earth—it's fixed...hemisphere and latitude come into play, as do friction and gravity. It's truly fascinating...you must observe (and read about) it!

And just for the record, the reflection in the sphere is about as close to a "selfie" as I typically get. Fortunate for my readers I'm not as photogenic as some of my friends. 


Tellus Science Museum, Quartz Sphere
Tellus Science Museum, Quartz Sphere

Back to when we first arrived, it was a first experience for Barry. Turns out that we'd not been talking about the same place...the same gem and mineral collection, yes, but not the same structure. It was a pleasant surprise for Barry, especially that what he'd seen before had grown to become the Weinman Mineral Gallery.

I have a small collection of crystal spheres myself (some glass ones, too), just because I like them. I especially like the larger ones at Tellus, one being quartz (at which Barry is gazing above) and solid black one of Obsidian, from Brazil, which is mesmerizing.

Tellus Science Museum, Amethyst
Tellus Science Museum, Amethyst

My sister would love all the amethyst at Tellus. They have quite the collection, including a display of Georgia amethyst. The piece pictured above is (not from Georgia), I venture to guess, several feet wide...an impressive specimen!

There are hundreds and hundreds of other gem and mineral specimen that are much more colorful than what I've shared in this post, as well as some fascinating phosphorescent (glow-in-the-dark) specimen.


Tellus Science Museum, Periodic Table of Elements, Chromium
Tellus Science Museum, Periodic Table of Elements, Chromium


I've told so many people about Tellus' Periodic Table of Elements display that I can't remember who I've told and who I haven't. Anyway, it's absolutely brilliant! And a super fun way to teach youngsters about chemistry.

What I like about Tellus' exhibition so much is their humorous approach to connecting elements to household names, including a toppled dinosaur (Iridium), Einstein (Einsteinium), and a pink Cadillac (Chromium). 


Tellus Science Museum, Copper
Tellus Science Museum, Copper

The "piece" of copper pictured above is actually a copper boulder! It's 9 feet by 7 feet and weighs 4,950 pounds! There is fascinating exhibit after fascinating exhibit at Tellus...I could go again and again, and to my delight I have.

There's so much going on at Tellus, it's practically impossible to do it justice in a single writing. In addition to the mineral, fossil, transportation, and family galleries, there's a planetarium, an observatory, a panning for semi-precious stones and digging for dinosaur bones experiences, and LOTS of events and special exhibits!

There's a model train exhibit being featured right now, stretching over 100 feet of track, that I want to go back and see! What kid, grown or otherwise, wouldn't want to see a massive collection of model trains? Even theoretical physicists like model trains!


Tellus Science Museum, Fossil Gallery, Turtle
Tellus Science Museum, Fossil Gallery


The Fossil Gallery is fascinating! From the jawbone of a shark the size of a school bus to a fossilized pine cone, and a T-Rex, this gallery is fantastic. And it has specimen of animals that I'd never heard of before...I used to think I was a fairly knowledgeable dinosaur enthusiast! But you gotta love learning and that's what Tellus is largely about.

Tellus Science Gallery, 1886 Benz Patent Motorwagen
Tellus Science Gallery, 1886 Benz Patent Motorwagen

The Science in Motion gallery at Tellus is quite impressive. It features transportation from the earliest motorized bikes to one of the first electric cars—1903, believe it or not!—from Kitty Hawk to humans' journey to the stars.

One of the things that I love about this gallery, a feature that I'd quite honestly forgotten about so was pleasantly surprised by again, are the mirrors under the various vehicles on display. You get to see the underbelly of the awesome vehicles, making them even more awesome!

There's also a collection of launch vehicles—rockets—some of which I've seen in person, including a Proton. At a former job, I had the great fortune to travel to the Baikonur Cosmodrome, where the first human was launched into space (Yuri Gagarin), to see a satellite liftoff on its way to geosynchronous orbit. What an amazing experience!


Tellus Science Gallery, Apollo 1
Tellus Science Gallery, Apollo 1

Tellus does a remarkable job of chronicling humankind's journey into space, given the limited space allotted for that era of our history. 

Among the artifacts is a replica of Apollo 1, the capsule in which Edward White, Virgil "Gus" Grissom, and Roger Chaffee lost their lives in a fire during a routine pre-flight exercise. As a space enthusiast, I'm grateful that Tellus has remembered these brave men.

I've also had the great fortune to be mere feet away from the Space Shuttle Endeavour, to see the Space Shuttle Atlantis on its launch pad, to visit the White Room where various components of the International Space Station have been built and to visit Cape Canaveral for a live launch. I'm a lucky guy to have experienced so much, and places like Tellus bring those memories flooding back!

And I must give a shout out to JD's Bar-b-que in Acworth. We left Tellus just as rush hour was at its peak. Barry remembered a really good BBQ place in Acworth, so we exited the interstate for a quick bite before meeting our friends later. We couldn't find that place, but found JD's on my phone and tried it out. Fantastic! I totally recommend going.

Check out my first visit to Tellus here and then get yourself and the kiddos up there! You're going to have great fun—I can practically guarantee it. I've been several times now and have had a wonderful time every visit, especially this last visit.

Head over to the wanderlust ATLANTA Facebook page where you can find more photos of our Tellus visit!

Monday, September 8, 2014

Dragon Con 2014 | Cosplay!

The cosplay alone would be enough to bring me to Dragon Con year after year. These cosplayers are brilliant! If you've not been to Dragon Con, but you're been to the Dragon Con Parade, then you know a little of what I'm talking about. but know that the Con itself is a whole other, absolutely incredible, experience!

I'll share in this post some of my cosplay photos and tell you a little about my convention experience—which was pretty awesome, even if exhausting. It finished a week ago today and I'm just now beginning to feel rested. Granted I dove right back into work—a LOT of work—but Dragon Con is nearly round-the-clock programming!

This year I went to some favorite events, attended a number of panels and of course went to the Parade. Surprisingly, my favorite panel was the very last one I attended.

Dragon Con 2014 Cosplay | Captain America
Dragon Con 2014 Cosplay | Captain America

There's so much programming, it's impossible to see and do everything you want to, but you end up doing so much that you feel completely and totally fulfilled. I wish I'd gotten to see Sir Patrick Stewart, but that'll have to wait for another time.

The last panel I went to, on the last day of the Con, featured the cast from Being Human, a Syfy Channel program that I've really enjoyed. The panel was off the charts! These guys—Sam Witwer, Sam Huntington, Meaghan Rath and Kristen Hager—came in totally exhausted, but in no time were engulfed in an onstage tangled...I don't know what to call it, but it was hilarious. One got their eye poked and another scraped an elbow, I think. They were hilarious.

Next thing you know they're running around the stage creating festive, mischievous havoc. They later very graciously brought the Dragon Con volunteers from behind stage for an applause of gratitude for their contribution to the Con (Again, "Thank you" to all the volunteers...you are appreciated!). And later they sang a song that I think was dedicated to their hair stylist??? An absolute blast, I tell you. 

Dragon Con 2014 Cosplay
Dragon Con 2014 Cosplay

I'd seen Sam Witwer, who has also worked on various iterations of Star Wars, Star Trek, Battlestar Glactica, Dexter, Smallville, The Walking Dead and so many other shows. The man is wonderfully talented. 

Also on the last day I got Witwer's autograph and was amazed and grateful that even after a very full four days of Dragon Con he was delightful, kind and gracious. I'm an even greater fan after seeing and meeting him than I was before. Thank you, Sam!

I'm sure it made sense when they were scheduling, but some of the bigger Star Trek celebrities were on concurrent panels. I was fortunate to get to see and hear Gates McFadden, Dr. Beverly Crusher from Star Trek: The Next Generation

Talk about talent...Gates is wonderful! And so modest about it, too. She's even more beautiful in person than she was on the show and so personable, as well. I loved her relating her having a child of her own while she was playing the mother of Wesley Crusher. You could tell that she loves being a mother, that she wouldn't trade that for anything.

Dragon Con 2014 Cosplay | Spock Monkey & Red Shirt
Dragon Con 2014 Cosplay | Spock Monkey & Red Shirt

The very first panel I went to this year was 10:00 a.m. on Friday, opening day (although I hear Thursday night was quite a happening night). That panel was hosted by Stephen Collins, who played Captain Willard Decker on Star Trek: The Motion Picture, the first movie in the Star Trek franchise. 

As some of you know, I've been a fan of Star Trek since I was a little kid, and for some damned odd reason I also like sock monkeys...they make me smile. So, you can imagine my delight when I saw the life-size "Spock Monkey"!

Collins is also known for 7th Heaven, Falling Skies, and Revolution, to name just a few of the shows on which he's acted.

I'd quite by serendipity met Collins last fall at An Afternoon in the Country, a local, quite large culinary event hosted by Les Dames d'Escoffier/Atlanta Chapter at Serenbe. We were at the after party and talking with friends of a friend. 

After almost realizing who I was speaking with, I asked, "Are you THE Stephen Collins?" Of course he was and he regaled us with a funny story about someone who attempted to hijack his identity. A gentleman he was, and I found him to be the same at Dragon Con.

Dragon Con 2014 Cosplay
Dragon Con 2014 Cosplay

I'd saved more than 25 events on my Dragon Con app (Their app is brilliant! "Thank you, Dragon Con!"), knowing that I'd want to pick and choose depending on time and mood. It worked out well. If I missed someone on their first day, it was likely that there was another opportunity to catch them.

Such was the case with Walter Koenig, who played Chekov on Star Trek: The Original Series and Bester on Babylon 5. For someone who is 77 years old, he is remarkable and funny! Shoot, he's remarkable and funny for someone a third his age...who am I kidding. 

The panel on which I saw him he was speaking mostly about Babylon 5, but he touched on a number of other shows on which he has worked—and there are a lot of them! You could tell, not only in that he said it, but with the way he said it, that Babylon 5 was one of if not his most cherished acting experience. 

Dragon Con 2014 Cosplay | Wolverine
Dragon Con 2014 Cosplay | Wolverine

I want to offer a huge "Thank you" to my friends who hosted breakfast and coffee, Perry and Scott for three days and Barry for the final day. It's wonderful to have a "home base" when so much is going on.

I'm seriously considering a hotel room for next year! And I just do the morning, afternoon and early evening events...I'd definitely have to stay at one of the five host hotels if I wanted to do the nighttime events as well.

Several of us went to the Parade together, but I'm going to save that for a separate post. I have more than 900 photos from that event alone to sort through! Wish me luck. For now I'll just say we had a great time, and I'm thrilled to see so many others—families, other conventioneers, and tourists—enjoying that part of Dragon Con.

Dragon Con 2014 Cosplay
Dragon Con 2014 Cosplay

Also on the final day of the Con, I went to a Joss Whedon panel featuring Adam Baldwin and Ron Glass, who both worked on Firefly, one of the best shows ever to grace the television screen. Sadly—due primarily to an irregular air day of the week—the show was cancelled after only one season, and some of the episodes didn't make it to the air. Thank goodness for DVD sets!

Baldwin and Glass were amazing. They played quite well off each other, even though you tell that, just as in the show, in real life they have very contrasting personalities. But...they are both funny, quick witted, and highly entertaining. 

One conventioneer asked a question something along the lines of, "If the show had continued, how would you have liked to have seen your characters develop?" That left Ron Glass speechless for a moment, who momentarily gave the only obvious answer. (You'll have to watch the show and follow-up movie, Serenity.)

Dragon Con 2014 Cosplay | Dr Who
Dragon Con 2014 Cosplay | Dr Who

There's a LOT to Dragon Con, more than I could possibly share in a single post. Dragon Con has bee going and growing since 1987, the year I moved back to Atlanta. Although it wasn't until I moved back to Atlanta in 2010 that I first attended. So this year made my fifth year and I can't imagine ever missing another one.

Okay, get this. Of the four days of programming on the Science Track, the one panel I attended was "Science Doesn't Have to Mean Lecture", which was amusingly a lecture. It was insightful, but formatted more for science educators. Fortunately, I've been a science enthusiast since I was a kid, so I did enjoy it.

Dragon Con 2014 Cosplay | Star Wars Red Guard
Dragon Con 2014 Cosplay | Star Wars Red Guard

On the Space Track, I couldn't resist the "Benefits of Commercial Space" panel, having worked in aerospace for nearly a decade. A lot of the talk was about satellites, which is the specific industry I worked in—I spoke the language the panelists were speaking! 

That's one of the things that I love about Dragon Con. They're my peeps! Well, kinda sorta. They're actually exponentially smarter, but I'm quite comfortable in their midst. Three or four of the four panelists in this talk were graduates of Georgia Tech, one of them currently a professor at Tech, and another has been to the International Space Station and his father was also an astronaut. Impressive panel!

Dragon Con 2014 Cosplay, Steampunk Fairy
Dragon Con 2014 Cosplay

One thing you begin to notice when you attend Dragon Con year after year is the ebb and flow of costumes trends. Steampunk is one theme that has withstood the test of time. I loved the Steampunk Fairy pictured above...brilliantly creative and executed!

I'm not exactly sure when Steampunk came onto the sceen, but it's been a Con favorite during my tenure. I hope it's around for a long time to come.

Dragon Con 2014 Cosplay | Star Wars Costume Contest
Dragon Con 2014 Cosplay | Star Wars Costume Contest

The Star Wars Costume Contest was filled with entertaining talent and costuming mastery...and a great deal of fun. 

I do wish, and it pains me to say this (you know I like to keep a positive attitude), but I do wish the host/master of ceremonies hadn't kept on and on about the night before being a long night. If you're hosting, bring your A-Game, no excuses. These people have been working on their amazing costumes for months, some of them for a year, and they deserve better than some hungover, rude remarking jerk hosting their contest.

I do hope the Dragon Con leaders rectify that for next year. Enough said.

Don't worry, I'm not forgetting the Miss Star Trek Universe Pageant. That's one of my favorite Dragon Con events and one that also deserves its own post, so more about that later.

If you've never been to Dragon Con, and especially if you're on the verge of going, I highly recommend that you do. If you're not too sure, you can always start with a single-day pass and go for the full four-day pass when you discover how incredible and wonderfully amazing it is.

There are more cosplay photos over on the wanderlust ATLANTA Facebook page!

I hope to see you at Dragon Con 2015!


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