Brave new worlds

One of the first things I did outing-wise in 2018 was attending the Startfleet Experience, the Star Trek traveling exhibit. The exhibit had no mention of 'Discovery' (this exhibit debuted in 2016 for the 50th Anniversary) or the new films (probably better off) and no profiles for Neelix, Kes or Tasha Yar (she is shown) but it has held up pretty well. The Klingon language lesson station was difficult. It was the closest I'll ever get to being on the Enterprise-D from the 'Next Generation' series. And I did, sort of, with a friend and a guy we met at a convention as first officer and captain taking photos on their bridge set.

Geek + Cosplay = Social Acceptance

I have to say, geek and cosplay friends have been a second family to me. The friends I first met at Transformers conventions starting in 2003, expanded with the first Retro Con founded by some of those friends in 2012, got even bigger in 2014 when I joined the cosplay community. And not to mention my friends from video game and anime conventions and toy shows, as well as fan and collectors' groups here on Facebook. These friends made me comfortable sharing more of myself with others. I never dreamed that the things I had from childhood, the things most people I grew up with gave up when they weren't popular or "cool" anymore, would be making me friends 30 years later.

30 Years of Robots and Rock 'n' Roll

2007 was not the first time the Transformers were on the sliver screen. "Transformers: The Movie" was released 30 years ago. Although not written for the film this song made Stan Bush a household name among Transformers fans. And don't forget the score was written by Vince DiCola who had previously worked on a little film called "Rocky IV." You might of heard of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A52--FKUQgU

Old Gaming for a New Generation

The Classic Nintendo Entertainment System (Mini NES) has been announced!. Though some of the games included can be head scratchers (why Super C over Contra, Double Dragon 2 over the original and no Tetris) this built-in, smaller version still represents a wide range of titles for the system during its glory years. Read more of the official announcment below:

http://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/relive-past-glories-with-nintendos-ultimate-retro-gaming-experience

Back to the Future

With the North Star Bar and Legendary Dobbs adding to the closed venues in the Philadelphia area I once attended a past is remembered. A past in which I used to see live bands twice a month or more. However, with an upcoming reunion show from Polymer, one of the bands I saw most often and connected so well with their audience, feeding off their energy and vice-versa, the memories are rushing back. Even though it's been almost eight years since they last played a show, and some of the members have families now and others moved to California, the chemistry returns once all of them are together in the same room or on stage. They have come together from time to time in recent years, performing at singer Ben Weldon's wedding, for instance. But in a setting like the Grape Room, the new name and original location of Grape Street, the place they played so many times, it should be amazing, like the past is present once again. Even though there won't as much room for Polymer performance trademarks such as jumping in unison and microphone twirling. Let's relive some amazing moments...

Grape Street in 2007:

Triumph Brewing Company, 2005. Not too many loud bands played there after that.

And one of my best photos from a live show, at Grape Street, 2006

Polymer performs at the Grape Room, Grape Street Manayunk on December 11th.