Teslacon II continues to explore  the fantastic world of Lord Bobbins versus Dr. Proctocus  this weekend in Madison, Wisconsin. We, the RLGEMS and hundreds of other steampunks will be travelling 20,000 leagues under the aether in the fantastic submarine/airship the HMS Trident! Exotic ports of call, mummie unwrappings, murder, mystery and magic are sure to please the senses.  The RLGEMS had the fortune of being actors in the inaugural con last November. This year, extended members from Chicago will be presenting several panels, events and more! Some of our friends from Michigan and Ohio will be joining us for discussions and merriment.

PLEASE NOTE  our new event listing and calendar! Our panels and events for this weekend have been listed.

FRIDAY NIGHT we will be hosting a Midnight Gala, sampling the finest in fashion, drinks, and music. Please note this event is limited to those of age, so please leave the children with the auto-sitter. Join us at 9:30 in the Leviathan room, 21+.

SILENT FILM with Mr. Perkins, a distant relative of RLGEMS founder Captain Flint will be showing. Join Mr. Perkins in the silent pirate film starring Thee Bluebeard at 8:30 Friday night in the Nemo room. Please view the preview below!

The adventures this weekend have broken the bounds of time and scene, as the AV Club Madison ran a fantastic interview with sci-fi scholar Austin Sirkin and our friend the “Steampunk Chef”, Aaron Egan. Teslacon has posted the entire schedule!

We’ll be bringing our newest fashions, devices, gadgets and music. Please leave us a note below if we will see you there!

Come one, come all to Chicago, for this Saturday June 4, we have an extra-ordinary event! Presenting, the Polyphonic Panorama! A night filled with steampunk and vaudeville music, steampunk fashion, pirate humor, fantastic Steampunk art, jewelry and more!

The Abbey Pub! 8pm!

Come hear the fantastic sounds of Frenchy and the Punk, Helblinki Sextet, Curtis Eller, Eliza Rickman and Duenow!

See the pirate madness what is Thee Bluebeard!

If you were at the World Steam Expo, consider this an encore performance and a kickstart to a Chicago summer of Steampunk!

Read more about the Polyphonic Panorama and see our entire Calendar of events at our events listing!

See you there!

So Tesla-Con I has come and gone and all in all, the people really enjoyed it!  From panels on character development, taxidermy, tiny top hats and (of course) airships to the delightful tea room (and its lovely view) to the wonderful special guests to various investors, luminaries and members of the ship’s crew (RIP – Henri Grebelle, Lady Grebelle, MacMurry and The Duke of Buckingham) falling dead – it really was quite a weekend.

TeslaCon was represented by several outstanding groups, people, and event planners. The Airship Archon, the Imperial Anti-Piracy Squadron, Cherie Priest, Mark Donnelly! Truly, friendly faces, fantastic dress and creative weaponry and gadgets were at every corner.

The opening ceremonies began the murder mystery right away, with a character dropping dead from a poisoned drink — and continued through the night with a poison gas bomb in the engine room. Throughout the three days,  the actors remained in elaborate character —  sometimes even two or three — and encouraged the other guests to dig deep for clues and come rushing to every scene. A dark and somber eulogy (which apparently the dead speak at) was even delivered for one of the killed crew members. An old-timey seance delivered even more clues, and some real intrigue. The mystery concluded at a Steampunk Gun Show, as bait to draw out the real killer! People were excited and engaged throughout the convention.

From visuals to audio, no expense was spared in outfitting the airship, er, dresing the hotel. Room placards were printed, period dress restroom signs were hung, and dozens of signs, posters, and art adorned all the hallways.

These were posted throughout the CON - photo by JM Coen

Con-goers were greeted by in character porters and ticket takers while music and ambiance (and the drone of engines) played continually in the background. In the well-staffed (and oh-so-polite) tea room, a window to the clouds presented a majestic view of our flight. Next door, hand selected vendors presented their wares at the ship’s store.  An antique shop even graced the lobby of the airship!

Thanks to Daria Melnikova for the TeslaCon compilation video.

Here are some photos from a variety of people who attended the con.  Next year promises even more elaborate decor and production – we can’t wait (of course we can’t, we’re part of the team) – but we do have a suggestion for next year.

Don’t drink the water (bring your own).

Granted, not a great picture, but this was KL and mine luggage for the weekend.

Opening Ceremonies - And the "take off" of the Explorer II with Captain Dunbar talking all the luminaries and investors ready - photo by JM Coen

And the first murder occurrs! Meanwhile Bobbins reads a note from Lord Proctocus! (As you can see it was all quite theatrical) - Photo by JM Coen

Emporer Justininian talks about the Red Fork Empire - photo by JM Coen

Author Cherie Priest talks at her panel - photo by JM Coen

Captain Anthony LaGrange of the Airship Archon! - Photo by JM Coen

Vourteque, KL and Concordia talk with the Captain after the tragic death of Lady Grebelle - photo by Dave Kaemmerer

KL Kenzie talks during her Taxidermy panel - photo - by JM Coen

Both outfits and costumes were outstanding - photo by JM Coen

A Steampunk Dalek (we were told it was powered by a 9 year old child) - photo by JM Coen

A fight breaks out between the RL&GEMS and the IAPS! - Photo by Jena Watson

The Infamous POKER GAME where McMurry died - photo by Lisa Dousharm

Von Grelle and one of her infamous IAPS members (played by GD Falksen) - photo by Lisa Dousharm

The Lovely Dezomas descending the stairs to the ball - photo by Lisa Dousharm

The Duke and Duchess as the ball... just before tragedy strikes AGAIN - photo by Lisa Dousharm

But fear not - in the end all was well - and the RL&GEMS pose for another great picture

Now to get ready for Tesla-Con II!

Proctocus Attacks!

All London is aflame after the savage attack today by the Explorer I under
the control of Dr. Emanuel Proctocus. Reports are sketchy but it seems that
the primary damage lies within the City itself. It is presumed that as much
of the government that has survived is gathering at Sandringham House to
take stock of the situation.

The Royal Family are reported safe and well, and Her Majesty has
issued a statement requesting all her subjects to Remain Calm and Carry On.

MURDER ABOARD!

The pomp of the Opening Ceremonies was marred by the sudden and mysterious death of Executive Office Grebelle shortly after the successful speed test of the ship’s engines. Seigneur Henri Anton Grebelle was on
loan to Royal Britannia Air Navigation from the Armee delair where his work on the pioneering airship La France first gained him international attention. He is survived by his eldest daughter Mlle. Sophie Abigail Grebelle Ship’s Officer who has been promoted to Acting Chief Engineer for the remainder of the voyage.

But it appears that this worthy may have been hiding something from the Air Ministry. A slip of paper with a mysterious poem written on it was found clutched in his hand when he fell. (The full text of this letter appears on page 2
of this issue). The note purported to be a message from Dr. Emanuel Proctocus who demanded surrender of the Explorer II to his forces outside of Paris, with cryptic threats of further deaths to come unless his demands are
met. Captain Willard-Dunbar has stressed that he will never surrender his ship without direct orders. The Duke of Buckingham, Minister for Aeronautical Affairs , has stressed the need to await word from the Government before taking any action.

It’s that time again.  Temperatures floating around 90 degrees and then falling to a chilly 75 as apocalyptic thunderstorms roll through.  Every other day you have to come up with another way to get from point A to point B because of a street fair with a $5 cover charge.  And to top it off, has anyone really figured out what Steampunk summer wear is yet?

I did not think so.

But do not fret my good steampunk-geeks and steampunk-fashionistas, as there are a number of fabulous things to do this weekend – and many of them do not even have to cost you a dime!

Be in the newest video for the band The Loneliest Monk

Are you finding yourself frustrated that there isn’t a taping of a performance of a local band this Friday?  Are you doubly frustrated that it isn’t also this Sunday?  Are you triply frustrated that it doesn’t somehow involved a steampunk Alice In Wonderland theme?

Well be frustrated no more!   Local band, The Loneliest Monk, is offering just that!

The Loneliest Monk, in collaboration with Chicago production companies Rubbish and HYSTK, need your bodies and exuberance to fill the audience of an outdoor stage in the south-side neighbor Pilsen on Friday June 25th. We need people of all ages to come down to 1820 S. Halsted in Chicago, IL to be the participants of a performance in a Steam-Punk inspired Alice in Wonderland dream world. We need extras to arrive at 8 PM and we will be shooting until 12:30 AM. If you are sure you’re available and pumped to help out the Monk, please visit the facebook page and confirm your presence. We also need extras on Sunday, June 27th at 11:30 AM and we will be shooting until 5:00 PM.

Please come in vintage styled clothing from periods ranging from 1800s to the 1940s. All clothes should be white, tan, brown, dark burgundy, olive, or black. Mens should wear dress pants, in corduroy, wool or denim (not blue jeans) Vests, sweaters, or button up tops (no logos.) Ladies should wear dresses, skirts, or dress pants. Blouses and button ups tops.Thanks for your interest, and contact Bob Zegler, Production Manager, with any questions, (847) 471-4993 // bob@rubbishisgold.com. Pass this along to your friends and family and have them email Bob if they’re interested in attending.

You can get more information at either Rubbish or HYSTK’s websites.

Robot Art Show : Friday

Also this Friday, if dressing up for music videos is not so much your bag – then DO check out the Robot Art Show.  It’s to feature robots, carnival games and more!  What’s even better?  You can PARTICIPATE!  That’s correct, if you, good reader, have a robot creation of your own (carnivalesque in particular) do reach out to the good Mr. David J. Candelaria.

To reiterate, it is this Friday (the 25th of June) from 7:00 pm to 11:00pm (or longer) at the Flopsy Teahaus located at 2736 West North Avenue in our fine fascist city of Chicago.

Saturday : DIY Fair and Yard Dog Road Show

What Steampunker isn’t at heart a DIY-er as well?  None.  That is who.  None.

Which is why you should come to Strangelight‘s DIY Fair this Saturday!  The fair will take place at 2123 N. Milwaukee Ave (in Chicago) and will be open from 1 to 5pm.  There is no admission fee, so by all means, if you’re passing by do wander in.  They are promising over 40 DIY Chicago record labels, magazine publishers and craftmakers.  The proceeds from your purchases will go to benefit the charity of the good vendor’s choice.

But that ends at only 5pm!  What is one to do the rest of the evening?  I am glad you asked – as the Yard Dog Road Show will be performing at The Abbey Pub.  For those of us not in the know, the Yard Dog Road Show is a really fantastic live show – part musical act, part circus side show, part carnival – they describe themselves as a “hobo cabaret”.  I can really do them no justice, I suggest simply clicking their name at the beginning of this paragraph and visiting their website.

The doors open at 9, show starts at 10.  The Black Bear Combo opens for them – tickets are $18 in advance and $20 at the door.

Cyphan!

And of course – there is Cyphan!  Though not particularly steampunk,  Cyphan is the newest large-scale science fiction convention to enter the Chicago scene, and as there is a pretty strong cross over between Convention-dom, geek-dom and Steampunk-dom, it is only fitting to mention them.

The convention starts on Friday and goes through Sunday and features a number of special guests in the ways of sci-fi (Jewel Staite from Firefly, Nicki Clyne from Battlestar Galactica), cult horror (Adrienne King and Ari Lehman from the original Friday the 13th movies) and local Chicago favorite, Svengoolie!

To really see the massive amount of things going on, as well as schedules and tickets – do visit them HERE at their website.

And that about wraps it up!  I do hope you see you all out and about in your finest!

Best,

-The Lord Baron