Wow!  What a weekend!  Sorry for the delay in getting this post up, but it really was that kind of weekend.

First off, thank you to EVERYONE who came out to support our second Carnivale Delirium show.  It was a HUGE success, thank you also to all the acts who performed.  We couldn’t have, of course, done it without you.  Also to Dewar’s and 42 Below Vodka for their lovely products.

A shot of the crowd!

Also thank you to the fine people at Theatre Bizarre for having the Lords & Ladies DJs at their AMAZING event.  What follows are pictures from Carnivale Delirium II  and a link to some from Theatre Bizarre : The Initiation.

First off – please do watch these fine videos from our resident videographer, Daria Melnikova!

Thanks to Glitter Guts, Wes Bolton and the others who provided these lovely shots.

Mr. Wes and Casey May looking their finest!

Veronique Chevalier, our fine MC for the night.

Veronique and the Reverand.

One of the fine performers of Candy Town.

KL Kenzie and Mr. Auto-Technical aren't quite sure what to do with themselves.

Eric of Vagabond Opera wows the crowd.

DC burlesque performer Eerie Twilight poses for the camera.

Local Chicago act Candy Town takes over the stage.

My, what a fine rocket pack you have sir.

Some ladies in the, quite literal, green room.

Renee and Karen enjoy some camera time.

The Mustache Contest drew an interest crowd, indeed.

Dr. Dezoma and Dr. Dragonfly!

The Dezoma's, some of our wonderful door staff.

Some lovely members of Airship O'Reilly who joined us for the night.

It seems Mr. Budka just cannot stop with the fisticuffs!

Keith (the good Doctor) of Terra Mysterium poses in his finest.

Bill & Casey share a moment with the camera.

The lovely Lula Houp-Garou and her fine beau.

Some wonderful attendees.

Daria, our phenomenal videographer, takes a break from... videographing?

It's local Chicago steampunk/industrial band - V is for Villains!

No idea what KL and Eric are seeing... but it must be interesting.

Now who is that fine fellow?

Carlos and his friend, from local shop, Vintage Underground.

And Sean from Candy Town closes out the night!

But not without some card tricks!

Lovely Lady Lisa Marie and Rev. Cpt. Flint.

And The Lord Baron along with some... foxy... lady.

Thanks for coming folks!

Also – be sure to check out pictures from Theatre Bizarre on their Facebook group.

The Lord Baron & KL Outside of the Bernadine Stillman Inn where they stayed.

I first went to Galena many years ago, having heard stories about it’s exceptional beauty and European style.  Upon arrival I was not disappointed and since then I’ve returned many times and even made a number of local friends.  Just this December my lady, KL and I decided to venture to Galena and spend a couple of days there.  For the adventurous steampunker, it’s an experience I highly suggest as there are innumerable antique and specialty shops and a noteworthy 85% of the town is on the national historic registry.  The Main Street strip is considered one of the best main streets in America and features such goods as locally made hot sauces, mid-west vinted fruit and central European style wines, brass jewelry, gourmand goods and a great variety of fantastic restaurants.  We ate at One Eleven Main ourselves.

One of the many ubiquitous pieces of taxidermy that sprinkle Galena. Also, hot sauce from Galena Canning Company!

Kenzie wanders through one of the many shops that carry just about everything.

A corner of an antique store. The other side is full of antique cameras.

Doubly, the town is abundant with bed and breakfasts, most are done up in a decidedly Victorian motif. Few are below $150/night (if you go on off days, Sundays – Wednesdays you can often find rooms for as low as $75).  And of course, being bed and breakfasts they feature a variety of ammenities.  One of the other fantastic things about Galena is it’s scenery.

Just before reaching Jo Davies’ Country if you are traveling from the east, you immediately begin to note that the land becomes increasingly hilly.  This is known as the Driftless region and sports vast valleys and dramatic ridges that can be as high as 1,000 feet or more above sea-level.  For the plains of the mid-west, this is quite the unusual find.

Kenzie curls her hair in front of the sink. It was next to our bed, quite traditional indeed!

Unfortunately one cannot take home everything they see in Galena.

Galena itself sports a very old-world style with old houses and narrow streets.  Even more so, the town exists along the banks of the Galena River which has caused the downtown to be built up on a near 45 degree angle going westward. A good explorer can literally take the stairs from one block west to another.  Our good friend Ryan Dies for instance, lives on the second floor of a building on Main Street but also has access from the next street west via descending stairs as each street is essentially four stories or more above the next!

The downtown slopes dramatic downward to the Galena River.

One of the random pieces of amazing that are all about Ryan's apartment.

Virtually every place you walk into in Galena has antique furniture.

All in all our stay in Galena was wonderfully relaxing while still being quite adventrous.  I would suggest Galena to any steampunker, mid-western or not, if they are looking to get away for a weekend and not break the bank.  Doubly, we found that traversing the streets in our steampunk outfits (which is essentially the only clothing we brought… and pretty much own) caused no derision but instead loads of compliments and even a few tourists asking to get their picture with us.

Our buddy Ryan licking up some snow... and standing on one of the steeply angled streets.

For more information check out Galena’s Official Website.  Also, feel free to visit The Galena Canning Company for some of the best hot sauce in the world.  One Eleven Main is a fantastic local dining experience.  The Bernadine Stillman Inn is where we were shown wonderful hospitality.  Galena Cellars has some great mid-western wine.  Visit our friend’s website Brassologie for all your brass piece needs.

Best!
-The Lord Baron

With a mechanical arm, typewriter key beard, and fanciful monocle on a real wooden hat, Steampunk Santa greeted guests and provided cheer to hundreds at the year’s end Clockwork Christmas! Fancy dressed patrons, steampunk angels, and fortune tellers from miles around poured through the doors with much jollity and gaiety at Exit this December.

Patrons were treated to fanciful sights and sounds until 4 o’clock in the morning. Ammunition presented a hot and amazing fire breathing, angle grinding show, showering the audience with sparks and pleasure.

Ammunition aflame, courtesy W. Dezoma

If fire, noise and sparks failed to amuse, one could have one’s fortune read by the lovely Snow Queen. Fortune telling via Tarot rekindled our love with the victorian parlour.

The Enchanting Medium, the Snow Queen, courtesy Glitter Guts

Strange holiday music from The White City Rippers echoed in the chamber as the sounds of Theremin and Concertina filled the air.

The White City Rippers, courtesy Glitter Guts

Many thanks to KL Kenzie for her fabulous collection of booked acts and the rest of the RLGEMS for their unbridled steampunkery patriotism!

The RLGEMS, courtesy Glitter Guts

For more photos of the lively steampunk crowd, please visit Glitter Guts!

A happy, steamy new year to all! Stay tuned to SteampunkChicago.com, as we have more events in the works, such as an outing to the Field Museum in January, and a massive gathering of eccentric talent in February!

Cheers!

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!

It was the Saturday before St. Patrick’s day – it was raining outside – it was cold – there were a whole lot of things going on – what was a Steampunker to do?

Go to Clockwork Vaudeville of course!  And THANK YOU to all who did – it was a nuit phénoménale – complete with AMAZING outfits, fantastic gadgets, top notch music (“I never thought I could play this stuff and people would dance” said Mr. Auto-Technical) and top notch crowd.  Who knew that Chicago had such the scene.

Thanks also to all those who came from other parts Midwest – the Airship Archon members Cpt. Anthony LaGrange and the lovely  Salena Van Eycke from Columbus, the phenomenal Lisa Marie’s friends from Indianapolis, the charming group of ladies from St. Louis, the Lady KL Kenzie’s good friends from northern Indiana, The Variable Dr. N and company from none other than Knoxville, TN and many, many more.

There was also quite a bit of photography at the event – always a good sign.  If you’d like to see the Time Out Chicago photo-spread just go HERE.

And, of course, what follows are the photographs (including the one above) taken by our charming resident photo-luminist, Lisa Marie Ogle.

We’ll be doing it again in April – so keep your goggles on and your steam-powered hearing gadgets tuned for the next CLOCKWORK VAUDEVILLE!

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