Spring (hopefully)

Elton John had said goodbye. A tremendous concert, his last one ever in NJ. Quite an experience!

The Apollo 11 movie was a masterpiece; I am glad I got to see it in IMAX, and I cannot wait to get a DVD.

Big Apple Comic Con became a rather nice start to this year's convention season for me. An old-style, boutique convention in the middle of Manhattan. A bit of a remnant of the 90's but, with lots of familiar faces attending, I ended up having a wonderful time.

Repeating my words from an earlier post - whiskey tastings do not disappoint. Informative and tasty. The late March tasting has confirmed that that my favorite Irish whisky is still Redbreast.

All in all, the NJ Mineral Show was rather nice. I have noticed a more pronounced presence of things tumbled, polished and carved, and there were definitely less fossils this time around. I walked away with a lovely piece of polished lapis lazuli but not much else. I think this year, the best part of the show was the Aerolite Meteorites exhibit. I hope they will attend again next year.

April 17th - Selected Shorts: LeVar Burton and Friends at Symphony Space

April 26th - 28th - Awesome Con in Washington, DC

May 1st - Professor Brian Cox: Universal at NYU Skirball Center

May 2nd - The History of Cartography Project event at NYPL
May 8th - Adam Savage author event at Union Square B&N
May 13th - DS9 documentary, What We Left Behind theater event (and huge Trek fan get-together)
May - Kate Mulgrew author events (May 20th - signing at Bookends and May 21st - launch at East Side B&N)

May 22nd - The Art of Wax Model Making at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum
May 24th - Eddie Izzard Wunderbar World Tour concert at Beacon Theater

May 29th - Grave Robbing 101 with Atlas Obscura
May 31st - The Right Stuff: What It Takes To Boldly Go, an event during the World Science Festival
July 31st - August 4th - The Official Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas, NV

October 3rd - 6th - New York Comic Con

October 28th - November 2nd - CTBUH 10th World Congress in Chicago, IL

2020

March 1st - March 8th - Star Trek: The Cruise IV

How to Forget: A Daughter's Memoir by Kate Mulgrew

After reading “Born With Teeth”, Kate Mulgrew’s first book and a gem of a memoir, I could not wait to hear that a second one would be coming.

“How to Forget” is a tremendous book! Not unlike the first memoir, I have swallowed it in a matter of hours, and then found myself needing several days to be able to articulate a more fitting opinion on it than simply “heart-rending”.
This memoir is first and foremost about the lives and deaths of Kate’s parents, and about how her relationship with either one of them had shaped her own life. A truly no-holds-barred journey through memories in turn fond and poignant, full of wit and of profound sadness, each one of them told in almost devastatingly vivid and starkly frank detail. Kate has an extraordinary gift as a storyteller; her narrative so engaging, it is impossible not to sink into each chapter. I have to stress that, as captivating as these stories are, the subject matter of the book is very real, bound to affect many readers, and I cannot help but admire Kate’s fortitude not only in living through these experiences but also in sharing them, as deeply personal as they are.

The book will be released on May 21st, followed by a tour of author events. I look forward to attending as many of them as I can.

Winter Updates

And we are already at the end of February, the tax season is upon us. :)

Whiskey tastings never disappoint - enjoyable and very informational. The Japanese whiskey tasting was also quite fascinating. I am looking forward to attending another one as soon as an opportunity presents itself. The Discovery second season premiere truly blew my mind. The attendees were never told what to expect, so pretty much everything - reserved theater seating, complimentary concessions, incredible red carpet access, two (!!!) first episodes, gift bag and a signed poster at the end - simply took everyone's breath away. I skipped the RU Geology Museum open house again, looking forward to the NJ Mineral show instead. The Escher Exhibition & Experience thankfully got extended, and I finally got a chance to see it - absolutely loved it! Pretty much all of my favorite pieces (originals!!!) were there!

The convention season is almost here, and I cannot wait. Another exhibition to look out for (which I haven't been able to visit so far because of the crowds) is the Tolkien: Maker of Middle-earth at the Morgan Library.

March 2nd - Elton John concert at Prudential Center (Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour)

March 5th - Apollo 11 in IMAX

March 9th - 10th - Big Apple Comic Con in NYC

March 27th - Irish Whisky tasting, From Teeling to Redbreast
April 3rd - 7th - New Jersey Mineral, Fossil, Gem and Jewelry Show

April 17th - Selected Shorts: LeVar Burton and Friends at Symphony Space

April 26th - 28th - Awesome Con in Washington, DC

May 1st - Professor Brian Cox: Universal at NYU Skirball Center

May - Kate Mulgrew author events

May 24th - Eddie Izzard Wunderbar World Tour concert at Beacon Theater

July 31st - August 4th - The Official Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas, NV

October 3rd - 6th - New York Comic Con

October 28th - November 2nd - CTBUH 10th World Congress in Chicago, IL

2020

March 1st - March 8th - Star Trek: The Cruise IV

Here We Go Again

Another year is beginning!

January 16th - Japanese Whiskey Tasting, From Yamazaki to Suntory Old
January 17th - Live Premiere of the second season of Star Trek Discovery in NYC
January 26th - Rutgers University Geology Museum Open House
March 2nd - Elton John concert at Prudential Center (Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour)
March 9th - 10th - Big Apple Comic Con in NYC
April 3rd - 7th - New Jersey Mineral, Fossil, Gem and Jewelry Show
April 17th - Selected Shorts: LeVar Burton and Friends at Symphony Space
April 26th - 28th - Awesome Con in Washington, DC
May 1st - Professor Brian Cox: Universal at NYU Skirball Center
May - Kate Mulgrew author events
May 24th - Eddie Izzard Wunderbar World Tour concert at Beacon Theater
July 31st - August 4th - The Official Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas, NV
October 3rd - 6th - New York Comic Con
October 28th - November 2nd - CTBUH 10th World Congress in Chicago, IL

2020
March 1st - March 8th - Star Trek: The Cruise IV

Happy 2019!!!

I wish everyone a very Happy New Year! Best of health, happiness and luck!!!

End of 2018

Another year is coming to an end! As I already wrote before, it has been a wonderful fall; lots of great events. Northeast Trek Con turned out to be a nice weekend away with many friends and fun panels. Let's hope there will be another next year. None of the special evenings or lectures disappointed, and the professionally useful trip to Chicago for Greenbuild was very enjoyable and educational. Andrea Bocelli is an incredible talent, the concert was a true pleasure!
2019 fun is already on the horizon, cannot wait!

January 16th - Japanese Whiskey Tasting, From Yamazaki to Suntory Old
January 26th - Rutgers University Geology Museum Open House
March 2nd - Elton John at Prudential Center (Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour)
April 3rd - 7th - New Jersey Mineral, Fossil, Gem and Jewelry Show
April 17th - Selected Shorts: LeVar Burton and Friends at Symphony Space
May 1st - Professor Brian Cox: Universal at NYU Skirball Center
May - Kate Mulgrew author events
July 31st - August 4th - The Official Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas, NV
October 3rd - 6th - New York Comic Con
October 28th - November 2nd - CTBUH 10th World Congress in Chicago, IL

2020
March 1st - March 8th - Star Trek: The Cruise IV

Having a Wonderful Fall

September and October have been absolutely wonderful this year! So many great events, meeting lovely people! Eddie Izzard was predictably brilliant and hilarious in that special way of his that makes you really think while being wildly entertained. I am looking forward to the eventual full show. Both whisky tastings were informative and simply fun - this is truly a fascinating spirit! NYCC brought the usual intense pop culture immersion for a day; for the first time ever, I even managed to get into a panel (Adam Savage is great fun!). Auxiliary NYCC events fit perfectly with the overall experience. My Star Trek fandom got an incredible boost via attending the newest documentary on DS9, followed by a short but phenomenal trip to Destination Star Trek convention in UK. I had a fantastic time - autographs, photo ops, panels, favorite guests, meeting both the faces familiar from the US convention circuit again and the online fellow fans for the first time. Amazing!

October 26th - 28th - Northeast Trek Con in Albany, NY

October 29th - ScreenTimes: advanced screening of Bohemian Rhapsody with Rami Malek

November 1st - An Evening with Richard Dawkins and Brian Greene

November 5th - Frontiers Lecture: Scott Kelly: Infinite Wonder book presentation at AMNH

November 14th - 16th - Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Chicago, IL

December 11th - Hogwarts, Poudlart, Rokfort: Translating Harry Potter at New York Historical Society (Note: there is a Harry Potter exhibition currently held at the museum, which I am also looking forward to checking out)

December 13th - Andrea Bocelli at Madison Square Garden

2019

March 2nd - Elton John at Prudential Center (Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour)
May 1st - Professor Brian Cox: Universal at NYU Skirball Center

August 15th

Somehow, the bulk of summer has just slipped away. But what wonderful summer it has been so far!

A couple of great small events, and a couple of amazing big trips! Both STLV and Fan Expo Boston were out of this world - traveling on two consecutive weekends was a little bit rough but I have had tremendous fun!

August 28th - Astronomy on Tap: Out of This World Books at NYPL
September 14th - Eddie Izzard Work In Progress at Vineyard Theatre
September 18th - Introduction to Whisk(e)y at The Swedish Townhouse (NY Adventure Club)
October 3rd - Glen Moray Scotch Whisky Tasting at The Swedish Townhouse (NY Adventure Club)
October 4th - 7th - New York Comic Con
October 5th - NYCC Master Class with Emmy-winning Producer and Writer Ronald D. Moore
October 9th - The Skeptics' Guide to The Universe at Strand Book Store
October 14th - What We Left Behind: A Star Trek Deep Space Nine Documentary premiere for NYC IndieGoGo backers
October 19 - October 21 - Destination Star Trek convention in Birmingham, UK
October 26th - 28th - Northeast Trek Con in Albany, NY
October 29th - ScreenTimes: advanced screening of Bohemian Rhapsody with Rami Malek
November 1st - An Evening with Richard Dawkins and Brian Greene
November 5th - Frontiers Lecture: Scott Kelly:Infinite Wonder book presentation at AMNH
November 14th - 16th - Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Chicago, IL
December 13th - Andrea Bocelli at Madison Square Garden

Hopping Along

It is nearly the end of May already, things are just hopping along.

Zippers did not disappoint - wonderful, loud night of irreverent fun! Went to another great mineral show in Edison. Though it did feel like the selections were somewhat less varied than last year, the overall experience was still very much worth it - there were very nice exhibits, plus I walked away with a couple of neat purchases for my collection. Perlman is utterly brilliant, goes without saying - my grandmother and I have enjoyed the concert immensely. Chiller turned out be extremely successful this time around, met some wonderful actors. Both the book launch and the NYC archaeology talk were excellent - both involved people directly responsible for the subject matter, who gave interesting presentations. I do wish I had managed to get the tickets for the Saturday show of Letters Live, it turned out to have more of the names I really wanted to see perform. Alas, but seeing Cumberbatch and Dancy perform during the Friday show was fantastic nonetheless. The Discovery panel at the Vulture Festival turned out to be a resounding success, so much better than anticipated - lots of familiar faces of fellow fans, and I got to grab a quick selfie with Michelle Yeoh!

June 1st - "The Birds Sing Too Loud" at New York Shorts International Film Festival
July 5th - 8th - Grandma's birthday trip to Boston
July 11th - European Vacation: The Birth of Grand Tour at NYPL
July 21st - A Mid-Summer Oddities Flea Market at Brooklyn Bazaar
July 23rd - New York Academy of Medicine's Rare Book Room: Medieval Sex and Death
August 1st - 5th - The Official Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas, NV
August 10th - 12th - Fan Expo Boston, aka Boston Comic Con
October 4th - 7th - New York Comic Con
October 26th - 28th - Northeast Trek Con in Albany, NY
November 14th - 16th - Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Chicago, IL

Where Is The Spring?

The spring just cannot get started this year. There have been four Nor'Easters in a row - getting pretty tired of all this snow. April is almost here, and it is still cold and wet and unpleasant outside.

The Michelangelo curator talk was fascinating. I even managed to stop by and check out the exhibit itself right after it. I wish the exhibit lasted longer, but, given that most of the pieces were loaned from outside of the country, it was probably not feasible. The play reading was interesting; always wonderful to see Kate perform. Both author events at B&N were tremendous - intellectual and fun. I did not attend the CTBUH event, and got very lucky with Monster Mania (I managed to do everything I planned early enough in the day, before some major organizational issues came to the fore). I have wanted to meet Kathleen Turner for years, and it was amazing!

Two of the cons I have been planning to attend - the NJ trek convention and A Tribute to OITNB have been cancelled unfortunately. I am thinking of possibly checking out Shore Leave in MD.

March 28th - Squirrel Nut Zippers at City Winery, NYC 
April 4th - 8th - NY / NJ Mineral, Fossil, Gem and Jewelry Show in Edison, NJ
April 21st - Izhak Perlman concert at Mayo Arts Performing Center
April 27th - 29th - the spring Chiller Theatre in Parsippany, NJ
May 4th - Chasing New Horizons: Inside The Epic First Mission to Pluto, book launch at Intrepid Sea, Air & Space museum
May 8th - New York at Its Core: The Archaeology at Museum of The City of New York
May 18th - Letters Live, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, at Town Hall, NYC
May 20th - Star Trek Discovery: The Future is Definitely Female panel at Vulture Festival 
June 1st - "The Birds Sing Too Loud" at New York Shorts International Film Festival
July 21st - A Mid-Summer Oddities Flea Market at Brooklyn Bazaar
August 1st - 5th - The Official Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas, NV
October 4th - 7th - New York Comic Con
October 26th - 28th - Northeast Trek Con in Albany, NY
November 14th - 16th - Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Chicago, IL