With that sweet sweet holiday quickly approaching, chocolates are everywhere. Don’t settle for just any chocolate though. Give yourself and your loved ones quality chocolates.
When was your company founded & how did you come up with the idea for your company?
We started doing this as a hobby in 2012, and after years of getting to know the steampunk community and learning more about the chocolate making process, it became a passion. In 2020, we were hoping to turn our little Pinocchio project into a real boy by actually getting our Roustabout Bar–a milk chocolate bar that tastes like a root beer float–into stores around Michigan. Because of the pandemic, we’ve had to mostly put a bookmark in that plan. However, several stores are now carrying our products and we’re looking forward to adding more.
What gave you the idea for the flavors you’ve created?
Sometimes we think of flavors that we’ve always wanted in a chocolate, and sometimes we come up with a perfect punny name and search for the right flavor to go with it. For example, one of our first product ideas was a chocolate pocket watch, and of course it had to be orange flavored. Often, when we are going to be attending a convention with a strong theme, we will create a new flavor especially for that event. We created our most recent confection, the Choklava, to match Teslacon’s Murder on the Orient Express event. The original Orient Express travelled through several regions where baklava is a popular dessert. The Choklava is our chocolate version of that delicious treat.
What were the original flavors?
The Clockwork Orange was probably the first, and then we had Chocolate Cogs in dark, milk, white, spicy, mint and peanut butter. Now, we have nearly two dozen flavors, with many complex multi-layered concoctions.
What made you decide on what shapes to come up with?
We wanted shapes that fit with the Steampunk aesthetic. Initially, pocket watches, gears, locomotives, corsets, top hats, that kind of thing. We followed with shapes influenced by other genres – horror, murder mystery and a certain wizarding world. We’re just as curious as anyone to see where we go next.
What’s the craziest flavored you tried to create?
We haven’t created it yet–we’re always experimenting! So, keep checking in every November when we launch our newest product at Teslacon in Wisconsin.
What’s the best selling chocolate?
It depends on when you’re asking, but right now, it’s far and away the Roustabout bar. Our new Choklava, though, is giving it a run for the top spot. (mmmm – rice crisps, honey and pistachio)
Since you also sell many flavors of hot chocolate, did you always have the idea that eventually you would sell hot chocolate or did that just kinda spout up on it’s own?
Right from the beginning we’ve brainstormed many product lines, including hot chocolate, ice cream toppings, and even beer! We figured that we’d get to hot chocolate sooner or later, but after our first couple of events, people started asking us if we had any. We experimented in the off-season, and by the next event we had several flavors of cocoa to offer.
What is the best way to make your hot chocolate?
We each enjoy it in different ways. Jeff likes to put a teaspoon of the spicy cocoa in his coffee in the morning. Doug goes for a giant mug of mint with fresh marshmallows. Darrow prefers the butterscotch flavor with dark, spiced rum added. Joe starts with the original and adds chunks of the Roustabout bar for a real root beer experience.
What are your favorite chocolate flavors & favorite hot chocolate flavors?
Again, that’s a different answer for each of us. Jeff’s current favorite is the Choklava. Doug is a dark chocolate fan, so the 70% Dark Secret Key is his fave. Darrow is torn between the Choklava and the Roustabout. Joe likes the Roustabout Bar and the Butterbeard.
What is the process in making your chocolates & hot chocolates? Are you allowed to share or is it a secret?
All of our recipes are trade secrets. We’ve discovered that we can’t really copyright the flavors, so we keep them closely guarded, kind of like the Colonel and his herbs and spices.
Who comes up with the lovely packaging?
That’s Doug’s job. It’s nice that we found some use for him. (It’s also handy that he’s been a professional graphic designer for four decades)
Is there anything left you would like to tell the readers? We look forward to conventions opening up again so we can see all our Steampunk friends. But in the meantime we are moving to the next phase of Sweet Steam and getting into stores throughout the region. If you’re in Southeast Michigan, you can find our confections at any of Comic City’s three locations. In Frankenmuth, our friends at Kernel Benney’s Popcorn carry our products — and they’re also shaving our Roustabout Bar into their milkshakes. If you’re near Hartville, Ohio, you can find our products at Chocolate Creations. Of course, if you’re not near any of those places, you can order our confections at SweetSteam.com. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sweetsteamllc/ to get the latest news, and may all your days be sweet!
Professor Screwed of Screwed Sculpts. I make upcycled sculptures, more often than not robots based on my customers specifications. You can find out lots more about the Screwniverse, including browsing our vast galleries, reading short stories and there is even a robot themed soundtrack album! All free to enjoy. (listed in the music department of this list)
Tooth and Talon is a small art business based in Wisconsin, run by artist Katelyn Westenberger. The motto is: “handmade art and oddities for the weird and wonderful”, and here you will find whimsical wearable art works and home decor that are truly one of a kind. They specialize in leather masks and accessories, as well as sculpture borne from myths and monsters across the globe, aiming always, to blend fantasy with reality and delight the hearts of magic minded individuals far and wide.
Chase The Myth Leather belts, pouches, other sundry items and various weird oddments
Most items are made with a minimum of decoration to allow for modification by customers wishing to personalize. Custom orders welcome (subject to availability of materials and our actual ability to make anything)
The Dragon’s Tailor I specialize in sewing customclothing and costumes, but I also make home goods like throw pillows andaprons, frequently featuring various fandoms (superheroes, a certainspace opera, etc.) http://thedragonstailor.com/
R. J. Leather My business is mainly a commission operation. There are several staples that I do offer, Plague Doctor Masks, Teacup Holsters, & Bags. The latest offering being, a Titanic Teacup Holster, as a fixed set. It’s a special white, engraved leather with a Titanic Museum reproduction 2nd Class cup and saucer included. It’s $125 + $15 S/H. There’s only 7 available.
Who doesn’t want a plushy or dress up your little ball jointed doll in a pretty outfit? You can also get yourself a famous dino that has been seen at TeslaCon.
Silly Kitty Hello!
I live in Wisconsin and love making amigurumi (crochet plush) critters and monsters. I’ve been showing and selling these for about 6 years mostly at sci fi conventions and on-line.
Recently I became enchanted by Ball Jointed Dolls and I’m also enjoying making things for them. I hope to have some vintage items as well.
We live in the Philadelphia suburbs and work out of our home. We have several creative endeavors. The most popular of which is our Clockwork Critters. These are steampunk animatronic animal art that we create by repurposing parts of older children’s toys. They all move, most make noise, each is unique, and even given a name. There are many photos and videos on our Facebook and Instagram pages.
Second, my husband makes stained glass window panels and sun catchers. His specialties are spiderwebs, bats, Pride flags, and panels with vintage depression plates or geode slices.
Third, I crochet monsters and aliens. Mostly because I enjoy crocheting and like weird stuff.
Lastly, we are distributors for a series of wooden puzzle/model kits. These are build-it-yourself kits that make a wide variety of things like airships, trains, puzzle boxes, dice towers, and even animals.
Deborah Olson Milliner Extraordinaire Hand-crafted period correct Victorian, Civil War and Steampunk ladies’ hats. Winner of Steampunk Chronicles Readers Choice Award Best Milliner 2014 & 2015 https://www.facebook.com/DeborahOlsonMillinerExtraordinaire/
Little Alice- is an author and artist living in Chicago. She works under the names “Alice Liddell” and “Little Alice”, but also has novels published under her legal name “Lauren A. R. Masterson”. This multi-talented woman is a creative force to be reckoned with. She recently released her fifth novel in April 2020 – a romance titled Freja’s Baby Shattered. This is an alternative storyline to her previous novel, Freja’s Baby, released in March 2020. Prior to these, Alice has also published a fantasy mermaid novel titled Love of the Sea, a fully illustrated historical fiction novel titled Geisha Hands, and a romance novel titled Tearing Down the Wall.
She also works as an artist under the name KHR Arts, which stands for Katherine Howard Rose, the wife of Henry VIII who was known as the “rose without thorns”. Alice uses her artistic talents to illustrate her writing works, as well as create original artwork such as acrylic paintings and charcoal drawings. Alice frequently takes on commission work.
In addition to her published novels and artwork, Alice combines her skills to create art books with her co-editor and best friend, Bryan Thompson of Graffiti Photographic. Together, they have built Cloud Orchid Publishing, and have published several titles of art books and poetry collections featuring Bryan’s photography and Alice’s poetry short stories, and artwork.
The Dragon’s Tailor I specialize in sewing custom clothing and costumes, but I also make home goods like throw pillows and aprons, frequently featuring various fandoms (superheroes, a certain space opera, etc.)
Tarraway Hoofpress Artifacts of Misrule – Artwork inspired by folkloric characters, tales of devilry, Cornish legendary characters and stories from Steampunk/GeorgianPunk musician GurdyBird.
Traditional characters and the reversal of roles has always been an interest of Tamsyn who goes under the name of Tarraway Hoofpress, Tarraway being a variant name of a Rumplestiltskin-esque Cornish Devil or Bucca from an old Cornish Christmas Guise play named “Duffy and the Bucca”. The “Hoofpress” derives from imagining a printing devil stamping prints out with his cloven foot, (she actually uses a spoon to press the original prints. She has a keen interest in folk tales, customs, devilry, the eccentric clergy and history of anywhere but particularly in those of Cornwall.
Musically, she is known as GurdyBird, who layers numbers of synthesiser melodies, counter melodies, percussion and drum machines, alongside her hurdy gurdy and sometimes a recorder, zither and violin. She composes much of her music herself, with tales of seafaring (she performs mainly in the form of a pirate, if time travel were available in the Georgian era), the Other Side, plague doctors, the world turned upside down, and various characters and places as their themes and reimagines traditional tunes with her own style and dark humour, which can be seen in videos on youtube and often projected or screened at performances.
Pick Up And Go Games The goal of every Pick Up & Go Games product is to provide a simple set of rules that can be learned quickly and easily, so your group can begin gaming right away. Easy rules, fast play and unlimited adventure challenging enough for the most seasoned veteran gamer, yet basic enough for the gaming newbie. No investment in a library full of books or thousands of pages to memorize. With our materials, you and your friends will begin your adventures within an hour or two. Every member of our team has decades of gaming experience, and we’ve all found one thing to be consistently true: You don’t need 600-page rulebooks to have fun.
We all like making ourselves pretty and the people we love.
LincolnStreetDesign
I’m a Maryland-based full-time mad scientist/part-time artist making quality, one-of-a-kind handmade jewelry and accessories inspired by the strange and unusual, with a strong dash of nerdy. My modern resin works are created by combining ink with epoxy resin. Utilizing a selection of molds and abstract shapes, the resin is poured and layered to create bright, vibrantly colored jewels that are then combined with hand fabricated metal findings
Reminted Jewelry (Cassie Noble Beyer, Artist) Beautiful one-of-a-kind pieces made from vintage coins, see Facebook page for images of pieces for sale or contact for special orders
THE GUILD OF CHAP-HOP, otherwise known as my Patreon page
https://www.patreon.com/mrbthegentlemanrhymer wherein people can see behind the scenes at the Chap-Hop Business Concern and get first looks and exclusives of whatever it is I’m up to.
THE CHAP-HOP SONGBOOK VOLUME II should be with us by the beginning of December.
I’ve also had some lovely new enamel badges made, based on illustrations from both volumes of the Songbook.
These, plus my albums, badges, moustache wax, cufflinks and my novel, ROAST BEEF are available from gentlemanrhymer.com
As well as that I’m doing a weekly online party, which is regularly number one on the mix cloud trending charts on a Tuesday night at 8pm-late called NICEOLATION parties. It’s basically just me Doing, but I do add a few embellishments like spoons solos and tiny ukulele bits and occasional puppetry. I’m doing the 29th one next week and two weeks ago I did a ten hour all-nighter, from 8pm-6am (GMT).
And people can now download my entire back catalogue from mrbthegentlemanrhymer.bandcamp.com for 25% off what it would cost for the lot. A bargain!
THE MAJOR WONKY ELECTRONIC HIP-HOP BEATS (Mr. B’s side project)
GurdyBird Based in Cornwall in the UK GurdyBird is inspired by the worlds occupied by Playford, the City Waites and Nine Inch Nails, via Adam Ant. She plays a symphonie Hurdy-Gurdy over her backing tracks which she performs, programmes and records herself, creating original compositions inspired by Cornish culture and folklore, Tyburn and unusual renditions of traditional folk tunes and shanties. She combines her musical performances with poetry and, for the full shebang, projects her music videos during performances, which she collaborates on for a multimedia, story-telling effect. She also roams acoustically at events, performs plugged in without the videos if the venue isn’t able to facilitate and also dabbles in remixing.
Missing the Renaissance faire? The only people listed in here have that covered for you
Life’s a Faire is a media company that celebrates the Faire community and the magic of Renaissance Festivals. (Because every day should be a Faire day!)
Mystery and fun. Need holy water, a compass, or shrunken heads? This spot has you covered.
The Traveling Cabinet of Curiosities is an obscure collection of handcrafted items including magic tricks, kinetic toys, shrunken heads, snake oil, Voodoo dolls, spy glasses, gris-gris bags, wooden puzzles, magic potions, Holy water, oddities, and cultural pieces- all hearkening back to the fun and mystery of yesteryear.
Like Medicine Shows of the past we travel from town to town, delighting people with our curious wares and Tarot readings.
Our storytelling style and interactive presentation bring an element of historical lore and legends.
Madam Cora’s Emporium One stop shop for all things weird to pretty, cute to odd. Home goods to clothing and accessories. Grand Opening is Friday November 27th, and 28th from 12-5pm. Then open Wednesday- Saturday 12-5pm. Madam Cora’s is the support store for the Museum of Mortality. Stop by and check us out!
Tarraway Hoofpress Artifacts of Misrule – Artwork inspired by folkloric characters, tales of devilry, Cornish legendary characters and stories from Steampunk/GeorgianPunk musician GurdyBird.
Traditional characters and the reversal of roles has always been an interest of Tamsyn who goes under the name of Tarraway Hoofpress, Tarraway being a variant name of a Rumplestiltskin-esque Cornish Devil or Bucca from an old Cornish Christmas Guise play named “Duffy and the Bucca”.
The “Hoofpress” derives from imagining a printing devil stamping prints out with his cloven foot, (she actually uses a spoon to press the original prints. She has a keen interest in folk tales, customs, devilry, the eccentric clergy and history of anywhere but particularly in those of Cornwall.
Musically, she is known as GurdyBird, who layers numbers of synthesiser melodies, counter melodies, percussion and drum machines, alongside her hurdy gurdy and sometimes a recorder, zither and violin. She composes much of her music herself, with tales of seafaring (she performs mainly in the form of a pirate, if time travel were available in the Georgian era), the Other Side, plague doctors, the world turned upside down, and various characters and places as their themes and reimagines traditional tunes with her own style and dark humour, which can be seen in videos on youtube and often projected or screened at performances. https://folksy.com/shops/tarrawayhoofpress
MISCELLANEOUS
Hats & sweaters for the winter are very nice.
To Craft a Home handmade crochet boutique specializing in cat apparel – sweaters, hats, and festive costumes purrrfect for any occasion
Are you on the naughty list or want to be? We highly suggest looking at The Hellfire Club. Just a warning before clicking, a portion of pictures are NSFW
The Hellfire Club is a photographic gallery of gorgeous steampunk themed portraits for the discerning lady and gentleman.
Membership starts at £6 GBP for 1 month access to all galleries on the site. Biannual and annual membership are also available for a discounted rate.
Alternately, for the more daring of you, why not have your own Hellfire Club shoot? Starting at £75, images are tastefully and professionally taken to the levels that you’re comfortable with.*
Join The Hellfire Club through December and get 25% discounton membership by using the code VGSDEC25
It has been days since you last saw the lights of port. The only thing that breaks the silence is the comforting chug of your engine, but doesn’t it sound just a little off since you stopped to investigate that abandoned homestead. Your scout bat has come up empty the last three times you sent her out and the rations are at critical levels. Just then, the chug of the engine sputters and dies. You feel a coldness inside to rival that of the sky and look to your crew as strange thoughts layout a buffet of terrors in crimson and brass.
Welcome to the Sunless Skies, a game by the good people at Failbetter Games. Sunless Skies shares much with the previous game Sunless Seas, but it takes you to a place just as strange as Fallen London. You play a line of Captains, each one the heir of the previous, exploring the sunless skies in hopes of fulfilling your aspirations and proving yourself against the dark terrors of the realm.
The strong points of the game are the absolutely enchanting atmosphere. Failbetter Games knows how to create a world with incredible depth and Sunless Skies is no exception. The music and sound effects complement the lovecraftian mood that permeates the game.
A fair warning, the game is difficult and the squamous nightmares of the Sunless Skies can overwhelm you at the worst possible time leaving you to have to start all over with only a fraction of your resources and experience. Even on its most forgiving settings Sunless Skies can be hard to adapt to and sometimes that next port of call is just a little too far off.
If you are a fan of in depth stories, mercantile games, and lovecraftian steampunk at its finest, I would highly recommend you take off for The Sunless Skies.
For ten years TeslaCon has been the Fall event, the big one to finish the year. With all the pageantry and costumes along with the immersion it has become the standard for many con goers.
This year to celebrate and mark it’s 10th anniversary TC is once again making a huge splash. With over 100 panels and special events.
The lists of guests is just as impressive (and pictured above in order as announced)
David Lee- Maker
James Neathery-Maker
Karinane
Gottchalk-Maker
Montague Jacques Fromage-Entertainer
Doc Phineas- TV Host and Entertainer
Plus very special guest Academy Award Winner Tom McLaughlin who ran the Creature Shop at Henson Studios and worked on the Star Wars saga and created the world of animatronics will be giving special classes throughout the weekend. Along with a free event on Sunday afternoon.
The famous TeslaCon tea room
returns with a new tea…”Rain from heaven”, an interactive tea experience. All
in a setting to mimic the dining car on
the Orient Express.
There will also will be the TeslaCon costume contest and fashion show Friday night along with music by Dublin O’Shea.
There are also various and different panels from costume making and leather, to paranormal Victorian subjects and actual history events. Saturday afternoon a discussion about the history of the Krampus is concluded with an actual Krampus Parade and then followed by a “German Wurst” lunch in the hotel restaurant. The evening concludes with a grand Villains Ball featuring live music from the TC Orchestra Vardo.
Throughout the weekend the story that started ten years ago continues with more ups and downs and who done-its than ever before as the famed Orient Express whisks our Steampunk travelers across the great continents of Asia and Europe. Symposiums, talks, games and so much more… along with entertainment and social gatherings that lead to a huge finish on Sunday!
For more information go to : www.teslacon.com for info, programming and details. Also tickets!
Teslacon does sell daily tickets at the door. You may preorder them or show up the day of. They do not accept credit cards, just cash. The Dealers room will be open to the public also- Saturday from noon to 6pm and Sunday 10-1pm. You must go to main registration to get a pass-it will only be for the dealers room, not the event itself.
Teslacon is the longest running consecutive Steampunk Convention in North America, and one of the longest running world wide. Its use of sound enhanced –themed oriented fx throughout the hotel, music help create the atmosphere that many have come to love over the years.
So if you are looking for a fun weekend, a great time to meet people from around the world, and want to experience Steampunk at it’s finest plan to attend TeslaCon 10. Where the world of Steampunk is brought to life!
At Chicago Steampunk Exposition, we had the great opportunity to day party with V is for Villains. They were the movers and shakers to get your partying started at the convention.
They have so much high energy that they bring to the stage. It was pleasant to see a local rock band play for a group of people in the middle of the day and transport them to a night showing.
After the convention, we had a chance to talk to Nicholas Santiago, Mr. Agitator, for a little Q&A.
*How long has the band been around?
“I started V Is For Villains at the end of 2010. I started my first band, Digital Mindy in 2000, and by 2010 I felt that I had hit a ceiling. I wanted to expand, to push myself musically and in live performance. I felt like Mr. Agitator and V Is For Villains was the next logical step.”
*What made you decide to get up & start a band? Did something just click at the right moment?
“Well when I was 15 I broke my back. Two blown discs, one of which was shattered. I was in so much pain I couldn’t move or stand up straight without help. I was stuck like that for quite some time. I started taking steroid epidurals and it helped me until I had my first spinal decompression. In that period of time I was on Painkillers, I couldn’t go to school or really focus on anything through the pain. Out of nowhere I started playing with music, sounds, audio engineering. It fascinated me. This idea that a song can be born. That it did not exist before, and yet after you hear it, it is always there and always alive. It give me a reason to live. That reason has served me well for many years. Through good and bad. It is the ultimate puzzle, and in my opinion the ultimate form of self expression. In 2013 at a convention I broke my back and knee on stage in my costume, but that’s a different story….”
* Has your sound stayed the same or changed in any way from when you first started?
“My music has certainly evolved. My tastes, like most, have changed and refined through the years. I was never too worried about having a “good voice” or a certain “sound”. I was always more entertained by something that is interesting. I think as a songwriter, you end up in a very interesting position as creator and listener. You are creating while listening. If it interests me as a listener, that’s usually where I gravitate. I think my sound in Digital Mindy was different. I try to bring something unique to every album. I never want the listener to say “Oh well, I heard this album 4 years ago…”. I know that is what some people like, and that’s okay, it’s just not the story I’m interested in telling.”
* Which do you prefer doing personally & as a band, live or studio recording?
“I honestly feel that they are two totally different experiences as a performer and as a listener. The Recording process is full of intimacy. Very internal. Where the liver performance is a group experience that is shared with the audience. Two different flavors and I honestly love them both. At the core, I am far more of a song writer and audio engineer at heart. Writing the song is usually the most fun aspect to me. I do however love playing with people on stage and pushing the expected envelope. Mr. Agitator is a fitting code name.”
*How did everyone’s personas come about?
“I think everyone probably has their own personal meaning in their personas. Mr. Agitator is very much an amalgamation of all of these things that have influenced me and remain present. The persona is very inspired by Batman, The Joker, The Phantom Of The Opera,The Shadow, and so on. My only prerequisite was to not take ourselves and our influences too serious. I think humor is important. You have to be able to laugh at yourself and to take negative criticism. It’s all a part of the game.”
*Who are your musical inspirations?
“I am a huge fan of 90s Industrial music. I love Nine Inch Nails, KMFDM, PIG, Depeche Mode. I have always been very big into this idea that a synthesizer as a tool can shred like a guitar if you use it correctly. I love the idea that Digital sounds are capable of what the writer pulls from them. On the same coin I grew up listening to film scores. I love composers and scores and still very regularly play them. I think it did a lot to teach me about the narrative of music. That sounds can tell a story. I also grew up loving mainstream artists like Billy Joel, Harry Connick Jr, The Beatles, Frank Sinatra. A good song is a good song. I love my influences but I don’t care to be those artists. I want to make something new.”
*What do you do to inspire yourself to write an album and the songs?
“I feel like the album as a whole work is dying out. In the Digital Age, we are not thinking of works as a whole anymore. Just 2 minute YouTube bytes. I’m not saying this is wrong, but it’s not my favorite method. I like having a full album. I think it’s cool. I always go into a collection of songs trying to provide a greater feel. I always look at my albums as a collection of short stories. An anthology series like Tales From The Crypt or Creepshow. I write purely on emotion. I am not musically trained whatsoever so it just has to feel right. “
*What’s the best way for people to listen to your music? I assume the best way to purchase though would be straight to your website since you’ll all get the money then.
“The latest album “Villains Never Die” is only available for sale on our website until around December. Then it will be available to stream on all streaming platforms. Our other albums “Evolve or Die” and “Murder In The Art” can be purchased on iTunes, through website or on Spotify. We also have dabbled in music videos on YouTube.”
*Why do you prefer the villain over there hero? (Personally I always do too)
“I feel that what makes someone a Hero or Villain is only a matter of perspective. To some people we may be Heroes, to most we are Villains. That line has always interested me. In today’s society of cancel culture and social execution before trial, I feel that line is thinner than ever. I have seen people that I thought would be life long allies turn on a dime. It’s hard to understand or explain, its just a side effect of the current world. I think its so easy to be branded Villain. Why not wear the title proudly?”
*How have the Steampunkers & Chicagians responded to your music?
“Honestly it’s been a very mixed bag. It’s been mostly positive I think. I feel like the larger community expects a certain “thing”. We are NOT that “thing”. I feel like that can lead many to block out or avoid without truly listening or trying. If someone really gives it a chance and it isn’t their thing, I am 100% supportive of that. It’s not my intention to tell someone if my music is good or not, my job is just to present it. I want people to make up their own minds. Most of the people we have met in the community are very kind and supportive. I always appreciate when people listen.”
*What’s the best way for people to contact you for setting up a gig?
“We are an independent band, if you would like V Is For Villains for you live show or Event you may message me directly at visforvillains@gmail.com”
*Is there anything else you would like to add about the new album, you & the crew, or any random fun bits of information?
“After being off of performing for over a year, we are back at it. V Is For Villains next show will be headlining the Cubby Bear in Wrigleyville on Saturday October 26th! Come out, see the show and make up your own mind. Until then, remember: Villains Never Die”
In 1893, the World’s Colombian Exposition brought many wonders to the city of Chicago, and this September you can imagine yourself walking the thoroughfares of an “alternative” 1893, filled with strange contraptions and eccentric inventors. Experience retro-futuristic visions of an antique future at the Chicago Steampunk Exposition as you wander through the exhibits, artists, authors, vendors, presenters, and entertainment in Rosemont Illinois on the weekend of September 27 – 29 at the Westin O’Hare Hotel.
The term Steampunk was whimsically coined in April 1987 by American science fiction author K.W. Jeter as a play on Cyberpunk when he noticed a new trend of some novels that had Victorian settings, but with dystopian themes. While the name Steampunk is 32 years old, the genre itself stretches back to Victorian authors such as H.G. Wells and Jules Verne, and some date the birth of Steampunk as June 14th, 1822, the day that British engineer Charles Babbage almost invented the first modern computer, The Difference Engine! It was designed in 1822, but was not actually built until 1991 when it was proven to actually work. So in the laws of alternate realities, the Information Age occurred during the reign of Queen Victoria, and Steampunk fans like to dream and create what that world might have looked like; they are “historical reenactors of a future that neverwas.”
While Steampunk is the main focus of the Exposition, there are several rooms devoted to specific aspects of the fandom
It was around 2005 that Steampunk began to evolve from a literary genre and blossom into the full subculture of music, art, fashion, and shared community that we enjoy today. During that time Steampunk events have been emerging across the globe, and this year Chicago is ready to play host to one of the biggest in the world. The Chicago Steampunk Exposition is a blend of part Comic Con, part Renaissance Festival, and large dash of eccentric mad scientist, all mixed up with Victorian style and grace. In September, both floors of the Westin O’Hare’s conference rooms will play host to the massive gathering with almost a hundred exhibitors including artists, writers, musicians, vendors, and over a hundred hours of workshops, presentations, and entertainment.
Goth and satirist Aurelio Voltaire headlines the music program which also includes: Unwoman, V is for Villains, Sir Reginal Pike Devant Esq., and Chicago’s favorite retro-futuristic DJ, Vorteque. In addition to music, the entertainment also offers dramatic and comedic theater performances from Outerworld Theatre, Moebius Theatre, Terra Mysterium, and L.I.V.E. (Locked Into Vacancy Entertainment) Radio Show. Throughout the weekend, there are also workshops on costuming, prop building, and a huge variety of presentations on Steampunk related topics.
Numerous speakers will be offering up their real and alternate history expertise, many of whom are widely regarded in the Steampunk community and publishing industry. Writers Leanna Renee Hieber, Michael Coorlim, and other authors will share the joys of writing and Steampunk literature. From film and television the Exposition is joined by actor Bishop Stevens of The Steampunk Adventures of Salem Tusk, Thomas Willeford of the show Steampunk’d, H.H. Holmes documentarian John Borowski, and other filmmakers. Diana Pho, the leading Steampunk multicultural expert and TOR Publishing editor, is the featured speaker for the “Around the World” track that brings Steampunk from beyond Europe and North America.
While Steampunk is the main focus of the Exposition, there are several rooms devoted to specific aspects of the fandom, such as the aforementioned “Around the World” program. For those liking the darker and shadowy side of the Victorian Era, there is the “Gothic Parlour,” and for those who like tabletop gaming, there are several rooms devoted to board games and role-playing games in the “Steampunk Gaming” track. If you like to make things with your hands the “Maker Room” and the “Crafts Room” are places you should visit, and for aspiring writers or avid readers, the “Retro-Futurist Writers Conference” is a must. There are various other presentations on offer, and with activities for all ages, much of the weekend is family friendly.
For a Chicago event of this size, tickets are very reasonably priced, starting as low as $5 for Sunday tickets for children aged six or above; five and under get in for free on any day. One day tickets are available for Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, but many people opt to buy a full weekend pass in order to get the whole experience. Parking at the Westin O’Hare is just $10/day, which those familiar with Chicago events will know is a great bargain. For those taking public transit, the Westin O’Hare is just a block from the Blue Line Rosemont station, and a dozen bus services also go to the Rosemont CTA stop. A free shuttle runs from O’Hare Airport to the venue, so whether you are flying, busing, driving, taking the train, or steering your steam powered airship, the Chicago Steampunk Exposition is easy to find.
It is worth noting that while many people will dress up in various outlandish and elegant Steampunk outfits, all explorers are welcome regardless of attire; as Steampunks like to say, “costume admired, but not required.” That said, however, there will be plenty of merchants at the Exposition with amazing outfits and accessories available if you find yourself taken with the style. Also, there will be many workshops that teach you how to make your own Steampunk props and costume pieces for the DIY inclined.
To find out more, and delve further down the rabbit hole, visit www.ChicagoSteampunkExpo.com for information about ticket prices, special events, entertainment line up, and much more.
As I stepped off the plane, I had no idea what to expect, and I wasn’t the only one. As confused as we all were, the best course of action was to just go with the flow. That same idea is what made this adventure fun– no real planning.
I had met a lovely, older couple from Texas who were introduced to Steampunk through friends. Their friends drove, versus flying in. The overwhelming consensus was to drive, if you can. Flights may be quicker, but, as any con-goer can attest, you can pack so much more, as well as have a car handy. This would have been especially helpful at Wild Wild West Con (WWW), in Tucson, AZ.
Thursday was badge day for early arrivals, as well as any last-minute troubleshooting (which is the norm, as far as convention schedules go). For most there, it was a reunion, with hugs, tons of laughing, catching up.
Friday was the big day! The whole event takes place at Old Tucson. Old Tucson is an historic film studio/park, opened in 1939, where nearly every popular western was filmed, Including Tombstone and The Three Amigos. The first western filmed here was called Arizona, in 1940. The title could not have been a better choice for this perfectly appointed film studio, about to hit its stride in the big business of western cinema. There are, of course, small museums set up throughout the park. The park also has shows running constantly for guests to enjoy, in the form of can-can girls in the saloon, or a high-noon style shoot-out in the streets. With WWW being held at Old Tucson, it gave the “normal” folks some extra fun. Some even requested to volunteer, due to how much fun everyone was having.
A fair warning, Old Tucson is about 20-30 minutes from the main hotel, which was the Double Tree by the Tucson airport. Due to this long distance from the main hotel to the convention, I highly recommend finding a friend who has a car, making friends to those who have a car, or renting a car. I cannot stress this enough. Luckily, I was able to use the VIP shuttle service, an underutilized, but wholly appreciated service, specifically for entertainers of the convention, which means that I met more friends on this shuttle, which should be no surprise to anyone who has ever met me. I’m friendly, and not even the tiniest but shy. This con shuttle’s drivers were also entertainers, and fantastic ones at that. My primary driver was a tiny powerhouse, who went by the name “Mama.” She was entertaining, educational, and determined to give excellent and timely service to those she drove. She was applauded by the head of VIP transportation, who impressed that she and her fellow drivers took their jobs seriously, and got everyone to and from their venues safely.
An amazing group to know is the Tea Scouts. What I’ve learned is that you can count on the Tea Scouts for just about anything. They’re fascinating for tea conversation, but if you need help with anything else, they are quite useful. I got a ride from one named Charity one night because I was still learning the ropes of the VIP shuttle services. We never met before that day, but she was willing to drive me to my hotel (as were my Texas friends, who gave me a ride another night). Tea Scouts are now international, and can be found on Facebook, in both local and main chapters.
Throughout the convention, different people have small ribbons or buttons, the size of your badge, to collect.
One activity I would recommend to other convention organizers is organizing a scavenger hunt for ribbons or buttons. I’ve seen this at other conventions, but this was much more colorful than any I’ve seen in the past. Throughout the convention, different people have small ribbons or buttons, the size of your badge, to collect. The ribbons I saw had a saying or quote or image that went with the theme, or reflected the person/vendor distributing them. People loved collecting these! I saw a woman whose impressive collection was as long as her skirt.
The vendor halls are, in a word, amazeballs. The halls consisted of one large tent, a few small tents in between, and a barn. There was also an artist/ vending area at the “city hall” location. Personally, I really enjoyed the larger of the vendor halls. WWW even had a vendor from Japan, who will be featured in a later issue, comparing the vastly different Steampunk scenes of America and Japan. What made the layout more epic was that there was a space between the large vendor tent and the barn, used exclusively for belly dancing performances. The sound of the music being played in that area made me want to shimmy while I shopped. It was reminiscent of sci-fi wastelands, or a trading planet from a certain, fictitious landscape (heavily- copywritten, possibly rhyming with “far snores”). The atmosphere was so welcoming, and the people doubly so. The music ranged from Beats Antique to Wumpscutt (gypsy music to industrial music).
The after-hours entertainment for any night is an extra fee that is highly suggested to buy in conjunction with the convention passes, while being bought online. That threw me off a bit, due to the conventions we have covered prior to this one. Paying for the big entertainment is a regular occurrence at the cons we’ve attended. Fees for events, such as an after-hours tea duel (alcohol or not) or an absinthe tasting panel has been a pretty cheap, sometimes nonexistent, price (with unlimited drinks) when going to the Wisconsin Steampunk conventions. To make it worth the attendee’s money, WWW’s absinthe panel came with a complimentary, gold-plated absinthe sugar spoon/holder. The swag was fun, but, I’ve genuinely been spoiled by Wisconsin convention hotel parties.
The main Saturday event was absolutely worth every cent of admission. Professor Elemental graced the stage as the main performance. The opening performance, however, was Tommy Spase and the Alchemists. They lit up the stage with the energy needed to start the night after a very long day (most attendees never leave Old Tucson to change or to freshen up, since it is so far away from the hotels.). They were great, and I highly recommend checking them out, I won’t get into much detail (I plan to interview them soon), but I will say they were high-energy. A 4-year-old, little girl, by the name of Gypsy, ended up becoming the center of the show, dancing & loving the band with all her little heart. It was freaking adorable to see a little girl, dancing to her own beat, which absolutely captured the spirit of her namesake.
When Elemental was introduced on stage, the energy of the crowd swelled. As a long-time fan, I have to ask: Who doesn’t need Elemental in their life? He makes sure everyone has a great time, no matter what. Towards the end of his performance, he invited everyone to the stage. If you haven’t seen Professor Elemental live by now, why not? You can watch an old video of the Professor at TeslaCon on our Facebook page to get an idea of how much fun it is to experience his show.
What I can say about the Arizona Steampunk community is they will welcome anyone with open arms and helping hands. A few conventions ago, the community helped gather money for a gentleman who needed a lung transplant. They arrived on Thursday to thank everyone for the support and to report the transplant’s success. He was still recovering at this point, so he and his wife showed up, in brief increments, to enjoy their community.
A big shout-out, and major kudos, go to Deena, Jason, and their amazing team, for their continuous work on getting their convention up and running. Every person was essential to the smooth operation of the convention and knew their shows inside and out. The rumor is that they broke records for the largest steampunk convention, as well as record-setting attendance for Old Tucson itself. Considering the venue is approximately 320 acres, it’s not hard to pack people in there, but impressive nonetheless.If you love history and entertainment I highly suggest Old Tucson. If you want to experience one of the best steampunk conventions out there, with the wildest, most imaginative costumes, and some of the nicest people you will meet, check out in Tucson Arizona.
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GurdyBird Based in Cornwall in the UK GurdyBird is inspired by the worlds occupied by Playford, the City Waites and Nine Inch Nails, via Adam Ant. She plays a symphonie Hurdy-Gurdy over her backing tracks which she performs, programmes and records herself, creating original compositions inspired by Cornish culture and folklore, Tyburn and unusual renditions of traditional folk tunes and shanties. She combines her musical performances with poetry and, for the full shebang, projects her music videos during performances, which she collaborates on for a multimedia, story-telling effect. She also roams acoustically at events, performs plugged in without the videos if the venue isn’t able to facilitate and also dabbles in remixing.
Tarraway Hoofpress Artifacts of Misrule – Artwork inspired by folkloric characters, tales of devilry, Cornish legendary characters and stories from Steampunk/GeorgianPunk musician GurdyBird.
Victorian, Gothic and Steampunk Magazine 