New Dates

A whole lot of events have been postponed. Updating the list with new dates.

June 11th - 14th - Celebrity Fan Fest in San Antonio, TX - CANCELLED (coming back in 2021)
June 19th - 21st - Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con - CANCELLED (coming back in 2021)
July 22nd - 26th - NJ Mineral, Fossil, Gem and Jewelry Show in Edison, NJ
August 5th - 9th - The Official Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas, NV
August 14th - 16th - Monster Mania in Cherry Hill, NJ
September 4th - 6th - The Great Philadelphia Comic Con
September 25th - 27th - Phoenix Fan Fusion in Phoenix, AZ
September 26th -  Secaucus High School 20th Reunion (forgot to post originally, moved from June)
October 8th - 11th - New York Comic Con
October 30th - November 1st - Chiller Theatre in Parsippany, NJ (spring Chiller has been cancelled)
November 13th - 15th - Destination Star Trek London
December 11th - 13th - Awesome Con in Washington, DC
 
Unveiling of Captain Janeway's bust in Bloomington, IN (postponed until date TBA)
Riverdance 25 at Radio City Music Hall (postponed until date TBA in 2021)

March Worries

The viral pandemic is certainly throwing a wrench, but better be safe than sorry. Lots of event cancellations and postponements as a result. Keeping fingers crossed.

The art gallery opening was delightful - Tess is amazingly talented!
Star Trek Cruise was quite something! A unique event, which I am very glad my sister and I got to experience, even though with it came realization that we are not cruisers - the Trek part was truly tremendous, the cruising part we found lacking, just not our style of vacationing. Perhaps, we will go again in a couple of years. Meanwhile, if you can spare time and money, I do recommend checking the cruise out!

March 14th - Riverdance 25 at Radio City Music Hall (postponed until TBA)
March 13th - 15th - Monster Mania in Cherry Hill, NJ (I had to cancel due to flu; postponed until August 14th - 16th)
March 20th - 22nd - ACE Comic Con Northeast in Boston, MA (cancelled)
April 3rd - 5th - The Great Philadelphia Comic Con (postponed until September 4th - 6th)
April 18th - NJ Mineral, Fossil, Gem and Jewelry Show in Edison, NJ (postponed until July 22nd - 26th)
April 24th - 26th - Chiller Theatre in Parsippany, NJ (postponed until June 5th - 7th)
May 1st - 3rd - Awesome Con in Washington, DC (postponed until December 11th - 13th)
May 21st - 24th - Phoenix Fan Fusion in Phoenix, AZ (postponed until September 25th - 27th)
May 23rd - unveiling of Captain Janeway's bust in Bloomington, IN
June 11th - 14th - Celebrity Fan Fest in San Antonio, TX
June 19th - 21st - Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con
August 5th - 9th - The Official Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas, NV
October 8th - 11th - New York Comic Con
November 13th - 15th - Destination Star Trek London

February

New year is barreling ahead. None of planned January events panned out, but the Year in Review with Neil deGrasse Tyson in the beginning of February was fabulous! I have attended one of these previously - lots of science fun, time well spent.

I am very excited and looking forward towards the Star Trek Cruise. Certainly, a new adventure!

Generally, this year is promising some wonderful conventions, I cannot wait!

February 13th - Therese Mulgrew exhibition at Freight+Volume
March 1st - 8th - Star Trek: The Cruise IV
March 14th - Riverdance 25 at Radio City Music Hall
March 13th - 15th - Monster Mania in Cherry Hill, NJ
March 20th - 22nd - ACE Comic Con Northeast in Boston, MA (unlikely; after failing to get photo op tickets three times in a row, I think it's sign, other cons await)
April 3rd - 5th - The Great Philadelphia Comic Con
April 18th - NJ Mineral, Fossil, Gem and Jewelry Show in Edison, NJ
April 24th - 26th - Chiller Theatre in Parsippany, NJ
May 1st - 3rd - Awesome Con in Washington, DC (skipping; lots of events are happening on that weekend!)
May 21st - 24th - Phoenix Fan Fusion in Phoenix, A
May 23rd - unveiling of Captain Janeway's bust in Bloomington, IN
June 11th - 14th - Celebrity Fan Fest in San Antonio, TX
June 19th - 21st - Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con
August 5th - 9th - The Official Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas, NV
October 8th - 11th - New York Comic Con
November 13th - 15th - Destination Star Trek London

Happy 2020 to all!

Happy and healthy 2020 to all! Best of luck!!!

End of the Year

End of the year, and what a year it has been!

It was quite an experience to see The Half-Life of Marie Curie virtually every weekend for the duration of its run. Seven times, and I loved it more each time. Great wit, great heart, magnificent performances! Unforgettable! I am so glad that this play has been recorded by Audible. Nathan Pyle author event was quite fun, I enjoy following his alien creature comics. The talk about Leonardo DaVinci was interesting; perhaps, I would have enjoyed it more had I not been still recovering from bronchitis. The Galaxy Documentary was a true pleasure, a wonderful celebration of the film's 20th anniversary! David Sedaris is hysterical. Laugh out loud funny evening in my hometown. Finally, Sir Patrick's performance of A Christmas Carol was pure genius. I am thrilled that the plans have changed fortuitously at the last moment, and my sister and I got to share this truly unique experience!

I am looking forward to next year's adventures! Trek on!

January 15th - Astronomy on Tap NYC Presents: It's a Star Trek Universe
January 25th - RUGM Open House
February 3rd - Year in Review With Neil deGrasse Tyson at AMNH
March 1st - 8th - Star Trek: The Cruise IV
March 14th - Riverdance 25 at Radio City Music Hall
March 13th - 15th - Monster Mania in Cherry Hill, NJ
March 20th - 22nd - ACE Comic Con Northeast in Boston, MA
April 18th - NJ Mineral, Fossil, Gem and Jewelry Show in Edison, NJ
August 5th - 9th - The Official Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas, NV
October 8th - 11th - New York Comic Con
November 13th - 15th - Destination Star Trek London

Great Experiences!!!

I do not think I have ever had a fall like this year - so many amazing events and great experiences!!!

It was fun to meet Gavin Pretor-Pinney, founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society, thanks to whom a new cloud classification had been added to the International Cloud Atlas. Great sense of humor and lots of cloud fun. Bill Bryson gave a nice reading and talk, and was absolutely lovely to meet. Julie Andrews is, without a doubt, an international treasure. I feel so lucky that I managed to find a ticket to attend her author event for "Home Work", her new memoir. Living legend! New York in 27 Buildings was entertaining enough, but I really got my fill of construction and architecture-related things during the CTBUH 10th World Congress in Chicago. I got to stay in an iconic building (Aqua), and I got to listen to some great presentations on various topics regarding the design and construction of the tall buildings in the world. The Congress outing was immediately followed by a one day trip to RICC, which was quite a bit of fun. Speaking of living legends, the one-night Broadway show with Ian McKellen turned out to be nothing short of extraordinary. Close to three hours of sheer brilliance, as he told stories from his life and career, recited and even acted out some of his roles. My sister and I were floored! Riding this wave of excellence, I then attended the charity reading of "Driving Miss Daisy" performed by Morgan Freeman and Dana Ivey, who originated the roles when the play was originally performed back in the late 1980's. Amazing! Finally, "The Half-Life of Marie Curie" is a brilliant new play. As of this post, I have already seen it twice, loved it, and am planning to see it several more times. Great screenplay. Both Kate Mulgrew and Francesca Faridany are fantastic in it!!!

November 19th and 21st - The Architecture of the Theater at ICAA - alas, did not attend
November 19th - The Half-Life of Marie Curie play with Kate Mulgrew (with my sister)
November 20th - Strange Planet by Nathan W. Pyle at Strand Bookstore
November 23rd - The Half-Life of Marie Curie play with Kate Mulgrew (with my sister)
November 25th - Leonardo DaVinci Rediscovered: Carmen Bambach in Conversation with Walter Isaacson
November 26th - Never Surrender: A Galaxy Quest Documentary
November 29th - The Half-Life of Marie Curie play with Kate Mulgrew (with my sister)
December 5th - David Sedaris at MPAC
December 8th - The Half-Life of Marie Curie play with Kate Mulgrew (with my mother)
December 11th - "Dead and Gone" Distilleries Scotch Whiskey Tasting - unfortunately, cancelled
December 11th - Sir Patrick Stewart's one-man charity performance of A Christmas Carol
December 14th - The Half-Life of Marie Curie play with Kate Mulgrew (with my sister and friends)
December 22nd - The Half-Life of Marie Curie play with Kate Mulgrew (closing night)

2020

March 1st - 8th - Star Trek: The Cruise IV
March 14th - Riverdance 25 at Radio City Music Hall
March 13th - 15th - Monster Mania in Cherry Hill, NJ
March 20th - 22nd - ACE Comic Con Northeast in Boston, MA
August 5th - 9th - The Official Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas, NV
November 13th - 15th - Destination Star Trek London

Fall Events

Fall is rocking away!
Both tasting events I got to attend were fun as usual, especially the Hard Cider one. Delicious! The talk about indigo was fascinating. I have been anxious to attend something at The Explorers Club for a while now, and I am glad I finally had a chance. The club itself has an amazing atmosphere. I look forward to checking out more talks when opportunity arises. NYCC is always, always an experience in a class of its own. Overwhelming and exhausting in its sheer size but absolutely exhilarating in the content. For the first time ever, I had an opportunity to attend both a Main Stage panel and an industry panel at the Hulu Theater at MSG. Saw Adam Savage twice - the separately ticketed event via Anime Fest @ NYCC and at the aforementioned Main Stage panel. Excellent! And, of course, the key experience at NYCC this year was the complete Star Trek overload - the Friday talk with Ben Robinson of Eaglemoss and DSC/PIC production designer Todd Cherniawsky, the Saturday morning Star Trek Universe panel at the Hulu Theater, an absolute highlight, followed by Saturday evening PaleyFest NY Star Trek Discovery panel. Incredible! But I didn't stop there, the following weekend was taken up with an in-and-out single day trip to ACE Comic Con Midwest, in order to meet Chris Hemsworth and Taron Egerton. I haven't done a full one-day-only comic con outing in a while, so this was a fun experience! I am looking forward to doing the same with RICC.

October 15th - Cloudspotting for Beginners at The Explorers Club
October 17th - The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson at Strand Bookstore
October 19th - Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton in Conversation with Annette Insdorf
October 21st - New York in 27 Buildings at MCNY
October 28th - November 2nd - CTBUH 10th World Congress in Chicago, IL

November 1st - 3rd - Rhode Island Comic Con
November 5th - Ian McKellen On Stage: With Tolkien, Shakespeare, Others …And You!
November 11th - Driving Miss Daisy reading with Dana Ivey and Morgan Freeman
November 12th - The Half-Life of Marie Curie play with Kate Mulgrew
November 17th - The Half-Life of Marie Curie play with Kate Mulgrew
November 20th - Strange Planet by Nathan W. Pyle at Strand Bookstore
November 23rd - The Half-Life of Marie Curie play with Kate Mulgrew (with my sister)
November 25th - Leonardo DaVinci Rediscovered: Carmen Bambach in Conversation with Walter Isaacson
November 26th - Never Surrender: A Galaxy Quest Documentary
December 5th - David Sedaris at MPAC

2020

March 1st - 8th - Star Trek: The Cruise IV
March 14th - Riverdance 25 at Radio City Music Hall
August 5th - 9th - The Official Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas, NV 

Small Update

I got a chance to check out two more mid-sized comic cons in very short period of time right after and on top of all the STLV excitement. Exhausting but so much fun. Silicon Valley Comic Con trip was entirely thanks to my sister's initiative, and we got to meet Arnold Schwarzenegger!!! Keystone Comic Con was more low-key but it gave me a chance to spend some very nice time together with friends and fellow fans. Another weekend trip took my sister, our grandmother and I to Kykuit, home to four generations of Rockefellers. What a stunning place! The weather was next to perfect, and the Grand Tour had proved itself to be incredibly informative!

September 13th - The Art of Cocktails - Tasting and Workshop in Private Members-Only Bar
September 26th - Tasting Hard Ciders From Around the World
October 1st - Indigo Trail: From Egyptian Mummies to Blue Jeans! at The Explorers Club
October 3rd - 6th - New York Comic Con (I am attending on Saturday and Sunday this year; another weekend of Trek - hoping to attend the Star Trek Universe panel and the PaleyFest NY Discovery panel on one day, and to hang out with friends and fellow fans on another; plus I have a separate event ticket for "My Neighbor, Adam Savage: An Evening With the Maker and Miyazaki Enthusiast" on Friday via Anime Fest @ NYCC)

October 11th -13th - ACE Comic Con Midwest in Chicago, IL
October 15th - Cloudspotting for Beginners at The Explorers Club
October 17th - The Body: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson at Strand Bookstore
October 21st - New York in 27 Buildings at MCNY
October 28th - November 2nd - CTBUH 10th World Congress in Chicago, IL

November 1st - 3rd - Rhode Island Comic Con
November 5th - Ian McKellen On Stage: With Tolkien, Shakespeare, Others …And You!
November 11th - Driving Miss Daisy reading with Dana Ivey and Morgan Freeman
November 12th - The Half-Life of Marie Curie play with Kate Mulgrew
November 20th - Strange Planet by Nathan W. Pyle at Strand Bookstore
November 23rd - The Half-Life of Marie Curie play with Kate Mulgrew (with my sister)
December 5th - David Sedaris at MPAC

2020

March 1st - 8th - Star Trek: The Cruise IV
March 14th - Riverdance 25 at Radio City Music Hall
August 5th - 9th - The Official Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas, NV 

Summer Rocks!

It has been quite an awesome summer so far!

Mel Brooks is a legend, and my sister and I loved attending his very limited appearance at Lunt Fontanne Theater. The CTBUH walking tour was quite interesting; I wish I were feeling better to appreciate it more, but I do not regret going by any means. The lecture on historic brickwork proved to be unexpectedly fascinating; I am considering looking into more details on this subject matter. The behind-the-scenes event at Madame Tussaud's was an absolute highlight, clever and hilarious! Celebration of the Moon landing was fun, if somewhat hampered by very high temperatures in New York. It included a nice lecture and discussion, followed by observation of ISS timely passing over the city. I also must give a shout out to the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York, whose members brought telescopes for observations of Saturn and Jupiter. My 10th consecutive Star Trek Las Vegas convention was simply fantastic, a geeky nirvana! I already cannot wait until next year!

August 16th - 18th - Silicon Valley Comic Con in San Jose, CA
August 23th - 25th - Keystone Comic Con in Philadelphia, PA
October 3rd - 6th - New York Comic Con

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

November 5th - Ian McKellen On Stage: With Tolkien, Shakespeare, Others …And You!
December 5th - David Sedaris at MPAC

2020

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

Halfway Through the Year

Things just keep chugging along. :)

I have said it before, and I will say it again - Eddie Izzard is a genius. My sister and I had a fabulous evening at the Beacon, and got to meet Eddie again after the show at the stage door. Grave Robbing proved to be a rather fun, if fittingly wet, event - nothing as ghastly as the title suggests, but an interesting walk through the downtown Manhattan, recounting New York's colonial burial history. The Right Stuff live interview at NYU definitely fell into the "incredible" category. A true honor and pleasure to see and hear speak three real-life space heroes. "Enter Laughing" was side-splittingly hilarious, and I loved it. Unfortunately, Dinos After Dark did not pan out, as I had to miss it due to health problems. Oh, well. The new T. rex exhibit is going to be on until the August of next year, plenty of time to check it out.

June 18th - Mel Brooks on Broadway
June 27th - 2019 Global Walking Tour: New York City via CTBUH
July 8th - Historic Brickwork: A Design Resource
July 17th - The Art of Wax Model Making at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum
July 19th - Astronomy Night Celebrates Apollo 11 at USS Intrepid
July 31st - August 4th - The Official Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas, NV

August 23th - 25th - Keystone Comic Con in Philadelphia, PA
October 3rd - 6th - New York Comic Con

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

November 5th - Ian McKellen On Stage: With Tolkien, Shakespeare, Others …And You!
December 5th - David Sedaris at MPAC

2020

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