Perdido Street Station
China
Really? I guess so...
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Music Sunday
Frogs in the Glen
Jim Henson
To continue with the Henson trend from earlier. This song always makes me happy.
Jim Henson
To continue with the Henson trend from earlier. This song always makes me happy.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Gaming Saturday
Shogun/Samurai Swords
Games Master Series
This is one of the first war/strategy games I played that I actually liked. I am sad that it is no longer in print, but people should try and pick it up when they can.
Games Master Series
This is one of the first war/strategy games I played that I actually liked. I am sad that it is no longer in print, but people should try and pick it up when they can.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Food Friday
Galaxy Diner
Carytown - Richmond, VA
Yummy and fun...with a fried pickle! That is my short description of this dining establishment. I have gone here for almost fifteen years, and it is still a good place to grab a bite to eat while shopping. I do remember a brief period during which it was closed, then reopened as an Italian pasta place, then closed and reopened as a diner once again. I never figured out what happened, but I am glad that it reverted back to its original atmosphere.
It is a diner...but with a twist. Everything in the restaurant has a retro sci-fi vibe to it. It orginally had an even heavier Roswell diner vibe with plastic "little green men" aliens on merchandise and around the counter, but that has been toned down over the years. The tables all have chrome on them and the table tops are covered in the little boomerang designs of that era. The benches are vinyl and are beginning to look a bit worse for wear. However, the staff is always nice, and the food is always tasty.
The food may not be the best you can find, but for the price and atmosphere, you cannot beat it. This time I got one of their Aztec Burgers (burger with Pepper Jack cheese, avocado, salsa, chipotle mayo and other fixings) with fries and cucumber salad as sides. The burger was alright, nothing to write home about, but every sandwich comes with their signature fried pickle spear. This was the first place I had ever had a fried pickle and I instantly fell in love with it. Their cucumber salad is also some of the best I have found at a restaurant. It is potent! They do not skimp on the vinegar and I like that it has some "umpf."
While I did not get much to eat this time, I have had many of the things they offer there. During the summer, you should not forget to get one of their fresh squeezed lime-aids. I remember one batch we had that really made everyone's face pucker. It was great! We also have often gotten their floats, shakes, and malts. When you get a shake, it comes in a glass along with the metal shaker by its side. They also have other typical diner deserts (deep dish apple pie, cobbler, brownies, etc), but they also serve fried Twinkies and fried Oreos. Molten sugar encased in a crispy fried shell :)
There are plenty of other things to eat as well. They serve breakfast foods as well as a variety of sandwiches and burgers. They have a kids section as well as a few larger platters. I tend to stick with burgers an sandwiches since they are relatively inexpensive, and pretty tasty. You can also choose from a good selection of draft beers including Legend beers from Richmond. Always a fun place to stop when we are in Richmond.
Carytown - Richmond, VA
Yummy and fun...with a fried pickle! That is my short description of this dining establishment. I have gone here for almost fifteen years, and it is still a good place to grab a bite to eat while shopping. I do remember a brief period during which it was closed, then reopened as an Italian pasta place, then closed and reopened as a diner once again. I never figured out what happened, but I am glad that it reverted back to its original atmosphere.
It is a diner...but with a twist. Everything in the restaurant has a retro sci-fi vibe to it. It orginally had an even heavier Roswell diner vibe with plastic "little green men" aliens on merchandise and around the counter, but that has been toned down over the years. The tables all have chrome on them and the table tops are covered in the little boomerang designs of that era. The benches are vinyl and are beginning to look a bit worse for wear. However, the staff is always nice, and the food is always tasty.
The food may not be the best you can find, but for the price and atmosphere, you cannot beat it. This time I got one of their Aztec Burgers (burger with Pepper Jack cheese, avocado, salsa, chipotle mayo and other fixings) with fries and cucumber salad as sides. The burger was alright, nothing to write home about, but every sandwich comes with their signature fried pickle spear. This was the first place I had ever had a fried pickle and I instantly fell in love with it. Their cucumber salad is also some of the best I have found at a restaurant. It is potent! They do not skimp on the vinegar and I like that it has some "umpf."
While I did not get much to eat this time, I have had many of the things they offer there. During the summer, you should not forget to get one of their fresh squeezed lime-aids. I remember one batch we had that really made everyone's face pucker. It was great! We also have often gotten their floats, shakes, and malts. When you get a shake, it comes in a glass along with the metal shaker by its side. They also have other typical diner deserts (deep dish apple pie, cobbler, brownies, etc), but they also serve fried Twinkies and fried Oreos. Molten sugar encased in a crispy fried shell :)
There are plenty of other things to eat as well. They serve breakfast foods as well as a variety of sandwiches and burgers. They have a kids section as well as a few larger platters. I tend to stick with burgers an sandwiches since they are relatively inexpensive, and pretty tasty. You can also choose from a good selection of draft beers including Legend beers from Richmond. Always a fun place to stop when we are in Richmond.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Television Thursday
Parks and Recreation
NBC (2009-present)
There are not that many shows that I have found that start off so poorly, but then evolve into something hilarious. I watched the first pilot episode, but could not stand the characters, so I did not watch any more of the first season. The first season was only six episodes, and it never really got off the ground. I guess enough people watched it so they were able to get a second season. I heard that a lot of people liked it as the second season progressed, but I still did not believe them. I continued to ignore the show until I noticed that the first two seasons were available on streaming video. I decided to give it another try.
The first season was still difficult to watch, but it was only six episodes. The only good things to come out of the first season were the character backgrounds and the theme song. I love the simple, catchy, and bubbly theme song. NBC had a contest in which people could submit songs they hoped would be selected as the theme song. The winner was a duo of song writers named Gaby Moreno and Vincent Jones. Their song kept me interested and really does a wonderful job of setting the tone of the show and characters.
After struggling through the first season, I was amazed at how much of a difference the second season brought. The first episode of the second season was MUCH better than anything the first could offer. Season two continued to improve all through the season, and season three has continued to impress me.
My favorite character would have to be Ron. He is in charge of the Parks and Recreation department in Pawnee, Indiana. He is not the main character, but every scene that features him is wonderful. His character is gruff but lovable, and he would lay down his life for any of his staff (even though he would never admit to that.) Nick Offerman seems to have a lot of fun portraying the character, and I hope he sticks with the show. So far, there has only been one character that was written out of the show, and he never really fit anyway.
I think my favorite episode so far would have to be "Hunting Trip." The men in the office have an annual tradition of going hunting, but this year the women want to join. Things happen, people get hurt, friendships are tested, you know, the usual. But somehow it all holds together and creates a very humorous package.
NBC (2009-present)
There are not that many shows that I have found that start off so poorly, but then evolve into something hilarious. I watched the first pilot episode, but could not stand the characters, so I did not watch any more of the first season. The first season was only six episodes, and it never really got off the ground. I guess enough people watched it so they were able to get a second season. I heard that a lot of people liked it as the second season progressed, but I still did not believe them. I continued to ignore the show until I noticed that the first two seasons were available on streaming video. I decided to give it another try.
The first season was still difficult to watch, but it was only six episodes. The only good things to come out of the first season were the character backgrounds and the theme song. I love the simple, catchy, and bubbly theme song. NBC had a contest in which people could submit songs they hoped would be selected as the theme song. The winner was a duo of song writers named Gaby Moreno and Vincent Jones. Their song kept me interested and really does a wonderful job of setting the tone of the show and characters.
After struggling through the first season, I was amazed at how much of a difference the second season brought. The first episode of the second season was MUCH better than anything the first could offer. Season two continued to improve all through the season, and season three has continued to impress me.
My favorite character would have to be Ron. He is in charge of the Parks and Recreation department in Pawnee, Indiana. He is not the main character, but every scene that features him is wonderful. His character is gruff but lovable, and he would lay down his life for any of his staff (even though he would never admit to that.) Nick Offerman seems to have a lot of fun portraying the character, and I hope he sticks with the show. So far, there has only been one character that was written out of the show, and he never really fit anyway.
I think my favorite episode so far would have to be "Hunting Trip." The men in the office have an annual tradition of going hunting, but this year the women want to join. Things happen, people get hurt, friendships are tested, you know, the usual. But somehow it all holds together and creates a very humorous package.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Book Wednesday
Jim Henson's Designs and Doodles
Alison Inches
I grew up outside of Indianapolis and loved going to the Children's Museum there. It was the largest in the country at that time, and attracted a steady stream of traveling exhibits. My favorite one was an exhibit all about Jim Henson. They had LOTS of props from his shows and movies, as well as "hands on" areas. There was a mock up of the way they film with muppets, including a set, monitors and cameras. Kids could choose a muppet and then get behind the set and hold the muppet up above the barrier. The camera was filming live and you could then look down at the monitors and see how you were moving the muppet. I was intimidated by that back then, but I am glad I tried it out. I vividly remember the glass cases housing the full Big Bird suit and Junior Gorg from Fraggle Rock. Dark Crystal had recently come out, so there were several displays featuring props from that film. They had a full body mock-up of a Skeksis, but what I remember most was the display that included the entire banquet table laid out like they were going to have the feast from the movie. I was very intrigued by the pieces of silverware that they actually wore on their fingertips instead of holding in their hands. Even at that age I was impressed with Henson's design aesthetic.
I love watching behind-scenes specials and reading about how Henson and his crew worked. So, needless to say, I was thrilled when I happened upon this book at a Barnes and Noble in their bargin books area. (Looks like I should be glad I got it when I did since it is going for about $60 in paperback on Amazon now.) The cover design instantly grabbed my attention and I knew I had to buy it.
This book is different than most of the books about Henson because it primarily focuses on Jim Henson's career before he got involved making The Muppet Show. The book begins with a discussion and pictures of things he drew in high school. He designed several concert and play posters for high school and college performances. The book also details some of the creatures he created for use in television commercials during the 70s. It also shows some of his early designs that would eventually evolve into what we now know as Muppets.
The Smithsonian had an exhibit on Henson a couple years ago, and I was lucky enough to visit it. This exhibit featured many of the same design sketches and pieces of art that were shown in this book. It was very cool to see some of his early paintings and drawings in real life. The exhibit even had video showing his television commercials and some of his surrealist short films made during college. Jim Henson is most known for his kids shows, but he produced things for a wide variety of audiences. This book offers some insight into how Henson thought and evolved as a master craftsman.
Alison Inches
I grew up outside of Indianapolis and loved going to the Children's Museum there. It was the largest in the country at that time, and attracted a steady stream of traveling exhibits. My favorite one was an exhibit all about Jim Henson. They had LOTS of props from his shows and movies, as well as "hands on" areas. There was a mock up of the way they film with muppets, including a set, monitors and cameras. Kids could choose a muppet and then get behind the set and hold the muppet up above the barrier. The camera was filming live and you could then look down at the monitors and see how you were moving the muppet. I was intimidated by that back then, but I am glad I tried it out. I vividly remember the glass cases housing the full Big Bird suit and Junior Gorg from Fraggle Rock. Dark Crystal had recently come out, so there were several displays featuring props from that film. They had a full body mock-up of a Skeksis, but what I remember most was the display that included the entire banquet table laid out like they were going to have the feast from the movie. I was very intrigued by the pieces of silverware that they actually wore on their fingertips instead of holding in their hands. Even at that age I was impressed with Henson's design aesthetic.
I love watching behind-scenes specials and reading about how Henson and his crew worked. So, needless to say, I was thrilled when I happened upon this book at a Barnes and Noble in their bargin books area. (Looks like I should be glad I got it when I did since it is going for about $60 in paperback on Amazon now.) The cover design instantly grabbed my attention and I knew I had to buy it.
This book is different than most of the books about Henson because it primarily focuses on Jim Henson's career before he got involved making The Muppet Show. The book begins with a discussion and pictures of things he drew in high school. He designed several concert and play posters for high school and college performances. The book also details some of the creatures he created for use in television commercials during the 70s. It also shows some of his early designs that would eventually evolve into what we now know as Muppets.
The Smithsonian had an exhibit on Henson a couple years ago, and I was lucky enough to visit it. This exhibit featured many of the same design sketches and pieces of art that were shown in this book. It was very cool to see some of his early paintings and drawings in real life. The exhibit even had video showing his television commercials and some of his surrealist short films made during college. Jim Henson is most known for his kids shows, but he produced things for a wide variety of audiences. This book offers some insight into how Henson thought and evolved as a master craftsman.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Art Tuesday
Olly Moss
Official Site / Twitter
Olly Moss is best known for his poster prints. He also does illustrations for a variety of magazines. Since he is based out of the UK, he often contributes to EMPIRE. Many people discovered him after seeing his work sold via Mondo, Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, TX, and by prints he did for Gallery 1988 and the LOST print series.
I think I first discovered him when his print for Locke from LOST became such a hit. I then really learned to appreciate his design after I saw his print, "The Master Race," which was part of a sports-related art show at Gallery 1988. This print depicts Jesse Owens' seminal race at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. I was blown away by the subtle, yet incredibly powerful design that Moss produced. Every time I look at it, I appreciate it more and more.
He was also commissioned by Alamo Drafthouse to design all of their posters for their most recent Rolling Roadshow. Each film was screened in a city that is significant to he movie itself. The posters that Moss designed all shared a similar color pallet and style.
His posters almost always sell out quickly when they are made available to the general public. His most popular set of posters were the posters he did for Mondo during their Star Wars releases. I would have loved to get a hold of this set, but they sold out in less than 2 minutes. I believe that is a record for a Mondo poster release. There were endless complaints by people who missed out on them, and Olly Moss was very apologetic on his Twitter feed. Regardless of the controversy, they are amazing works of art, and those who got them should appreciate them. Sadly, many get them to "flip" them on Ebay. The set was originally $150, and within minutes were selling for $600 on Ebay. That is the major downside to becoming a popular artist with the current state of gig/movie poster art. You don't get much money yourself, but the flippers make a HUGE profit. Oh well, if I don't get a poster I want, I will live without it. But I still feel sorry for the artists...
Official Site / Twitter
Olly Moss is best known for his poster prints. He also does illustrations for a variety of magazines. Since he is based out of the UK, he often contributes to EMPIRE. Many people discovered him after seeing his work sold via Mondo, Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, TX, and by prints he did for Gallery 1988 and the LOST print series.
He was also commissioned by Alamo Drafthouse to design all of their posters for their most recent Rolling Roadshow. Each film was screened in a city that is significant to he movie itself. The posters that Moss designed all shared a similar color pallet and style.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Movie Monday
Top Gun
Dir: Tony Scott (1986)
Well, I finally got around to seeing this movie. I had somehow missed out in it all these years. Don't get me wrong, I was familiar with it and had seen many scenes before. However, I had never watched it in its entirety. This is even more surprising when you consider my family owned it as soon as it came out on VHS.
My father was serving in the Army at that time and we were stationed in Germany. Top Gun came out and was a HUGE hit. After its theatrical run, it came out on VHS. I believe it may have been one of the earlier "must haves" on VHS. It was so popular, my mother went out to the PX on base and bought a copy even before we owned a VCR. My two older brothers were very excited to watch it, and so the family did as soon as we got a VCR at Christmas that year. I was too young to really appreciate the movie, so I got bored and went to play in the other room. And it has taken until this day for me to watch the movie from start to finish.
I am kind of sad that I had not watched the movie sooner, since I really liked it. On the other hand, it was nice to watch it with fresh eyes, and appreciate it as a "time capsule" to a "simpler" time. The US military was a powerhouse, the Ruskies were the bad guys, Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise were hot, and things were looking up for America in general. The movie served as another excellent blockbuster, "chest thumping" experience for viewers. Sales of bomber jackets and Ray-ban sunglasses skyrocketed after the movie came back. I believe I remember that my oldest brother got some shortly thereafter. The movie personified the Regan era at its best.
The quality of the movie still holds up. I was surprised that there really was not that much "80s vibe" to it. The only part of the movie that kind of stood out was the beach volleyball scene, and I can accept that it was mainly included for the women in the audience. Hairdos were never too big, and clothing not too outlandish. Ok..."Take my Breath Away" is still cheesy, but nostalgic. In spite of this, the real excitement came from the airborne dogfights.
The F-14 Tomcat was one of the best planes in the US arsenal at that time. Many young men thought they were the coolest things at that time (myself included.) My older brothers had a couple posters featuring the plane, and I remember they put together models of them as well. I remember seeing some of them flyby overhead one day, and being blown away by their speeds. The aerial portions of the movie are top-notch. I was quite impressed, and amazed at the camera angles they were able to get while filming. Yet another example of why CGI can lessen the impact of action sequences. With time, effort (and money) the filmmakers were able to pull off some amazing stunts. I can only imagine what people in the theater thought when they first saw these sequences.
Dir: Tony Scott (1986)
My father was serving in the Army at that time and we were stationed in Germany. Top Gun came out and was a HUGE hit. After its theatrical run, it came out on VHS. I believe it may have been one of the earlier "must haves" on VHS. It was so popular, my mother went out to the PX on base and bought a copy even before we owned a VCR. My two older brothers were very excited to watch it, and so the family did as soon as we got a VCR at Christmas that year. I was too young to really appreciate the movie, so I got bored and went to play in the other room. And it has taken until this day for me to watch the movie from start to finish.
I am kind of sad that I had not watched the movie sooner, since I really liked it. On the other hand, it was nice to watch it with fresh eyes, and appreciate it as a "time capsule" to a "simpler" time. The US military was a powerhouse, the Ruskies were the bad guys, Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise were hot, and things were looking up for America in general. The movie served as another excellent blockbuster, "chest thumping" experience for viewers. Sales of bomber jackets and Ray-ban sunglasses skyrocketed after the movie came back. I believe I remember that my oldest brother got some shortly thereafter. The movie personified the Regan era at its best.
The quality of the movie still holds up. I was surprised that there really was not that much "80s vibe" to it. The only part of the movie that kind of stood out was the beach volleyball scene, and I can accept that it was mainly included for the women in the audience. Hairdos were never too big, and clothing not too outlandish. Ok..."Take my Breath Away" is still cheesy, but nostalgic. In spite of this, the real excitement came from the airborne dogfights.
The F-14 Tomcat was one of the best planes in the US arsenal at that time. Many young men thought they were the coolest things at that time (myself included.) My older brothers had a couple posters featuring the plane, and I remember they put together models of them as well. I remember seeing some of them flyby overhead one day, and being blown away by their speeds. The aerial portions of the movie are top-notch. I was quite impressed, and amazed at the camera angles they were able to get while filming. Yet another example of why CGI can lessen the impact of action sequences. With time, effort (and money) the filmmakers were able to pull off some amazing stunts. I can only imagine what people in the theater thought when they first saw these sequences.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Music Sunday
Eveline Fischer: Simian Segue"
DK Jamz: Donkey Kong Country Official Soundtrack
YouTube Video / Wikipedia Article
I know it is not Gaming Saturday, but I really want to add a few video game soundtracks to the mix. I find that I get quite a few soundtracks to movies, television shows, and video games. I guess I do that because modern composers tend to put their efforts into soundtracks as opposed to just writing stand-alone pieces.
Anyway, there are a lot of video game soundtracks that hold special places in my heart. Whenever I hear certain songs, I am instantly transported back to the time I was playing that game. The entire Donkey Kong Country soundtrack does that for me. I vividly remember getting it as a gift and playing it on the Super Nintendo. I even remember the time I convinced my parents to let me bring my game system up to Ohio when we went to spend the holidays with my grandparents. I would often escape to the old TV upstairs and play the game while listening to the songs for each level. As is always the case in games, I am most familiar with the songs from the early stages since those are the ones I replayed the most.
This soundtrack stands out in my mind as being especially catchy and well orchestrated when compared to the other Super NES soundtracks at the time. Each song sounds unique, while still staying true to the jungle theme. I consider myself lucky enough to have found this soundtrack at a used CD store several years ago. I think it makes great driving music, and I often listen to it while on long drives. Even though video game soundtracks have improved in terms of instrumentation, nostalgia will always allow me to appreciate the early music as well.
DK Jamz: Donkey Kong Country Official Soundtrack
YouTube Video / Wikipedia Article
I know it is not Gaming Saturday, but I really want to add a few video game soundtracks to the mix. I find that I get quite a few soundtracks to movies, television shows, and video games. I guess I do that because modern composers tend to put their efforts into soundtracks as opposed to just writing stand-alone pieces.
Anyway, there are a lot of video game soundtracks that hold special places in my heart. Whenever I hear certain songs, I am instantly transported back to the time I was playing that game. The entire Donkey Kong Country soundtrack does that for me. I vividly remember getting it as a gift and playing it on the Super Nintendo. I even remember the time I convinced my parents to let me bring my game system up to Ohio when we went to spend the holidays with my grandparents. I would often escape to the old TV upstairs and play the game while listening to the songs for each level. As is always the case in games, I am most familiar with the songs from the early stages since those are the ones I replayed the most.
This soundtrack stands out in my mind as being especially catchy and well orchestrated when compared to the other Super NES soundtracks at the time. Each song sounds unique, while still staying true to the jungle theme. I consider myself lucky enough to have found this soundtrack at a used CD store several years ago. I think it makes great driving music, and I often listen to it while on long drives. Even though video game soundtracks have improved in terms of instrumentation, nostalgia will always allow me to appreciate the early music as well.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Gaming Saturday
Prezcon (Official Site)
Charlottesville, VA
I just went to Prezcon for the first time today. Even though I had lived in Charlottesville for several years, I had somehow been unaware of the fact that this convention was only a few minutes away. Apparently, they have been having the convention at the Double Tree in C'ville for at least ten years. Now that I live 3+ hours a way, I decided to make my first visit. Well, better late than never.
The convention runs for most of the week, with the majority of the events Thursday through Sunday. The main reason most people go to the convention is to find opportunities to play games with other people. It sounds like those who regularly attend all know each other and look forward to meeting up for another week of gaming. There is "open gaming" throughout the entire convention. They have set up many large tables in some of the big rooms at the hotel and make them available for anyone to use. You can bring your own games, or if you registered, you can borrow games from the library. The library is a great opportunity for people to try out games without investing in them. The library also contains games that are now out of print.
While open gaming is fun for everyone, there are those who are even more competitive. The other main reason for going to the convention is for people to take part in tournaments and championships. Prezcon puts on LOTS of internal tournaments, but they are also the designated convention to hold certain national championships for a few games. If you win a tournament you get a nifty plaque. I guess you might think they were cool if you were one of the regulars. Me...I think they look a bit silly.
I did not take part in any of the gaming. I mainly went to see what the game auction was like. Prezcon had the auction split between Family Games, War Games, and Collectibles. Attendees contribute games to the auction. Then the auctioneers collect the money, take a cut, and give the remainder to the person who left the game. I guess it is basically like a consignment shop. The auction is a great opportunity for people to get rid of games they no longer play (or often times NEVER played) and recoup some of their money to undoubtedly go towards new games. It also is a good chance for people to snap up games that have interested them, but they did not want to pay full price. Most of the games went for very reasonable prices, however there were some of the older, out-of-print games that went for a pretty penny. Still, nothing I saw sold for more than $100.00, which is what you will pay for some of the games being released in today's market. There was only one or two obvious dealers there who were interested in buying the games in order to resell them for a profit. They got a lot of the games, but were not too obnoxious about out-bidding people who might actually want the games to play.
For those who might be intimidated by the prospect of bidding, or for games that are not "worthy" of being auctioned off, Prezcon also has the Auction Shop. It is a big flea market in which all the games are already priced. Each game has three prices that go down incrementally throughout the course of the afternoon. Some games were in both the shop as well as in the auction proper. It seemed like you were probably able to get a better deal by bidding in the auction since the shop prices tended to be a bit higher than how the bidding went.
[As an aside: I was very intrigued to witness the people who were "game collectors." There were many old war games from the 70s and 80s that excited these guys. It was also significant when the games were shrink wrapped or at least the pieces were "unpunched." One game, called Seelöwe, was listed as being "unpunched" and sold for $52.00. The buyer looked at it and noticed that the pieces were in fact already punched. The auctioneer, realizing he had led the buyer astray, agreed to take it back and sell it again with the new description. The second time it sold was for only $24.00. According to eBay, other people are trying to sell it for $70.00. These collectors must understand what it all means better than I do.]
Charlottesville, VA
I just went to Prezcon for the first time today. Even though I had lived in Charlottesville for several years, I had somehow been unaware of the fact that this convention was only a few minutes away. Apparently, they have been having the convention at the Double Tree in C'ville for at least ten years. Now that I live 3+ hours a way, I decided to make my first visit. Well, better late than never.
The convention runs for most of the week, with the majority of the events Thursday through Sunday. The main reason most people go to the convention is to find opportunities to play games with other people. It sounds like those who regularly attend all know each other and look forward to meeting up for another week of gaming. There is "open gaming" throughout the entire convention. They have set up many large tables in some of the big rooms at the hotel and make them available for anyone to use. You can bring your own games, or if you registered, you can borrow games from the library. The library is a great opportunity for people to try out games without investing in them. The library also contains games that are now out of print.
While open gaming is fun for everyone, there are those who are even more competitive. The other main reason for going to the convention is for people to take part in tournaments and championships. Prezcon puts on LOTS of internal tournaments, but they are also the designated convention to hold certain national championships for a few games. If you win a tournament you get a nifty plaque. I guess you might think they were cool if you were one of the regulars. Me...I think they look a bit silly.
I did not take part in any of the gaming. I mainly went to see what the game auction was like. Prezcon had the auction split between Family Games, War Games, and Collectibles. Attendees contribute games to the auction. Then the auctioneers collect the money, take a cut, and give the remainder to the person who left the game. I guess it is basically like a consignment shop. The auction is a great opportunity for people to get rid of games they no longer play (or often times NEVER played) and recoup some of their money to undoubtedly go towards new games. It also is a good chance for people to snap up games that have interested them, but they did not want to pay full price. Most of the games went for very reasonable prices, however there were some of the older, out-of-print games that went for a pretty penny. Still, nothing I saw sold for more than $100.00, which is what you will pay for some of the games being released in today's market. There was only one or two obvious dealers there who were interested in buying the games in order to resell them for a profit. They got a lot of the games, but were not too obnoxious about out-bidding people who might actually want the games to play.
For those who might be intimidated by the prospect of bidding, or for games that are not "worthy" of being auctioned off, Prezcon also has the Auction Shop. It is a big flea market in which all the games are already priced. Each game has three prices that go down incrementally throughout the course of the afternoon. Some games were in both the shop as well as in the auction proper. It seemed like you were probably able to get a better deal by bidding in the auction since the shop prices tended to be a bit higher than how the bidding went.
[As an aside: I was very intrigued to witness the people who were "game collectors." There were many old war games from the 70s and 80s that excited these guys. It was also significant when the games were shrink wrapped or at least the pieces were "unpunched." One game, called Seelöwe, was listed as being "unpunched" and sold for $52.00. The buyer looked at it and noticed that the pieces were in fact already punched. The auctioneer, realizing he had led the buyer astray, agreed to take it back and sell it again with the new description. The second time it sold was for only $24.00. According to eBay, other people are trying to sell it for $70.00. These collectors must understand what it all means better than I do.]
Friday, February 25, 2011
Food Friday
Nacho Mamas (offical site)
Canton Neighborhood - Baltimore, MD
In short, it bills itself as an "Elvis lounge and Mexican hangout." Walls covered with velvet Elvis prints, old Baltimore Colts memorabilia and a plethora of Baltimore's famous National Bohemian Beer (Natty Boh to those in the know)signage. What more can I say? The restaurant is located on O'Donnell Square in Canton near the harbor in Baltimore, MD. The place is not that large, but it does have very tasty food. Prices tend to be between $8.00-$15.00, with some outliers. It is especially noted for its "hubcaps." They are actual old hubcaps filled with margarita. Yummy and cost efficient if shared between friends. One should not try and consume a hubcap solo, although I did see a regular belly-up to the bar one afternoon and polish one off by the time we finished lunch. I have tried a few things there, but I keep coming back to their BBQ Pulled Pork whenever it is on special. The BBQ sauce is made with apple cider and is sweet with just a hint of spiciness. It is served with their black beans and green rice (cilantro). They also serve waffle fries. Waffle fries! Granted, I prefer sweet potato fries, but you won't see me turn down waffle cuts either.
Canton Neighborhood - Baltimore, MD
In short, it bills itself as an "Elvis lounge and Mexican hangout." Walls covered with velvet Elvis prints, old Baltimore Colts memorabilia and a plethora of Baltimore's famous National Bohemian Beer (Natty Boh to those in the know)signage. What more can I say? The restaurant is located on O'Donnell Square in Canton near the harbor in Baltimore, MD. The place is not that large, but it does have very tasty food. Prices tend to be between $8.00-$15.00, with some outliers. It is especially noted for its "hubcaps." They are actual old hubcaps filled with margarita. Yummy and cost efficient if shared between friends. One should not try and consume a hubcap solo, although I did see a regular belly-up to the bar one afternoon and polish one off by the time we finished lunch. I have tried a few things there, but I keep coming back to their BBQ Pulled Pork whenever it is on special. The BBQ sauce is made with apple cider and is sweet with just a hint of spiciness. It is served with their black beans and green rice (cilantro). They also serve waffle fries. Waffle fries! Granted, I prefer sweet potato fries, but you won't see me turn down waffle cuts either.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Television Thursday
Exosquad
(1993-1994)
Whew! I have just gone on a marathon viewing of the series. I had forgotten that Hulu was about to have the streaming series expire. I remember watching the show when it was on TV, but that was during a time when I did not regularly watch TV. I missed out on most of the episodes, only catching on every now and again. I remember liking it a lot, so I was thrilled when I saw that Hulu had it on streaming. I am amazed that it still holds up so well.
It tells the story of how the remaining humans fight back against an uprising of Neosapians. The humans created the Neo's to be genetically superior workers, but as always happens, they revolt. As far as the story goes, it feels very similar to the recent Battlestar Galactica series as well as Space: Above and Beyond that was airing at the same time as Exosquad. Exosquad set itself apart from the majority of the cartoons at that time because of the way it presented itself. It was sci-fi and quite serial with its plotlines. The show was also rather dramatic. People had conflicts, beat each other up, were imprisoned in concentration camps, and even got killed. I watched a great deal of GI JOE back in the day, but people always ejected before they got killed. Exosquad may not show blood, but people end up dead.
Many people describe it as America's first Anime, and that might be true. It was well animated and voice-acted. Burning my way through the series still keeps me engaged even today. Seeing oppression and the ugly side of war seemed very extraordinary to me at the time, and it is still unusual to see in a "kids" cartoon. Sadly, the series will expire on Hulu soon. That would not be so bad if they had ever released the series out on DVD. Perhaps it will come out either on DVD, Blu-ray, or even digital download sometime. I think people would really get into the show if it got better support and advertising. Yet another short-lived show that was better than people ever expected it to be.
(1993-1994)
Whew! I have just gone on a marathon viewing of the series. I had forgotten that Hulu was about to have the streaming series expire. I remember watching the show when it was on TV, but that was during a time when I did not regularly watch TV. I missed out on most of the episodes, only catching on every now and again. I remember liking it a lot, so I was thrilled when I saw that Hulu had it on streaming. I am amazed that it still holds up so well.
It tells the story of how the remaining humans fight back against an uprising of Neosapians. The humans created the Neo's to be genetically superior workers, but as always happens, they revolt. As far as the story goes, it feels very similar to the recent Battlestar Galactica series as well as Space: Above and Beyond that was airing at the same time as Exosquad. Exosquad set itself apart from the majority of the cartoons at that time because of the way it presented itself. It was sci-fi and quite serial with its plotlines. The show was also rather dramatic. People had conflicts, beat each other up, were imprisoned in concentration camps, and even got killed. I watched a great deal of GI JOE back in the day, but people always ejected before they got killed. Exosquad may not show blood, but people end up dead.
Many people describe it as America's first Anime, and that might be true. It was well animated and voice-acted. Burning my way through the series still keeps me engaged even today. Seeing oppression and the ugly side of war seemed very extraordinary to me at the time, and it is still unusual to see in a "kids" cartoon. Sadly, the series will expire on Hulu soon. That would not be so bad if they had ever released the series out on DVD. Perhaps it will come out either on DVD, Blu-ray, or even digital download sometime. I think people would really get into the show if it got better support and advertising. Yet another short-lived show that was better than people ever expected it to be.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Book Wednesday
FAO Schwarz Toys for a Lifetime
Stevanne Auerbach (1999)
I love toys, so you can be sure that I was pleased to find this book at a book sale. It only cost me a buck or so, and it is well worth it. Some people stop playing with toys as they grow up and I think that is unfortunate. Toys can be part of a lifelong pursuit of happiness. I still enjoy going to the store and looking at all of the new toys on the shelves. To some extent the old adage rings true, "They don't make 'em like they used to." I miss all the old toys of my childhood: GI Joes, He-man, M.A.S.K., Smurfs, Transformers, etc. True, there has been a recent resurgence in putting out new versions of 80s toys, but they don't seem to be made as well anymore. Perhaps it is just the lack of wide-eyed excitement that used to coincide with opening a new toy, but looking at the quality of toys nowadays just doesn't inspire me in the same way. However, that is not true for all the new toys out there. There are still plenty I see on the shelf that I really wish I could buy. LEGO and Playmobil keep coming out with new themes and features. I know that I would have begged my parents to buy some for me. Now I have to weigh their cost with how much I really need one. Bah! Being an adult is lame sometimes.
Anyway, about the book. I highly recommend it for anyone who is interested in toys. You can usually find it online for relatively low prices (less than $5.00.) It is a nice, full-color, hardback book with information about 100+ toys. Each chapter focuses on a different type of toy: Starting Out -Toys for the first years of life; Building Blocks - Stepping stones to creativity; Arts & Crafts - Terrific tools for the artist-to-be; Dolls, Stuffed Animals, and Action Figures - Companions to discovery and friends for life; Games - Challenge and competition for all ages; Transportation Toys - Planes, trains, and automobiles; Silly Fun - Educated nonsense; Outdoor Toys - Pathways to athletic adventure; and Future Toys - Trends toward tech. Each chapter features several toys with pictures and brief histories. You can discover why LEGO got its name, and hundreds of other trivia tidbits. All in all a fun read that might teach you something new. Plus, it will probably remind you of some toys you had forgotten you missed. Oh Colorforms and Spirograph, where have you gone?
Stevanne Auerbach (1999)
I love toys, so you can be sure that I was pleased to find this book at a book sale. It only cost me a buck or so, and it is well worth it. Some people stop playing with toys as they grow up and I think that is unfortunate. Toys can be part of a lifelong pursuit of happiness. I still enjoy going to the store and looking at all of the new toys on the shelves. To some extent the old adage rings true, "They don't make 'em like they used to." I miss all the old toys of my childhood: GI Joes, He-man, M.A.S.K., Smurfs, Transformers, etc. True, there has been a recent resurgence in putting out new versions of 80s toys, but they don't seem to be made as well anymore. Perhaps it is just the lack of wide-eyed excitement that used to coincide with opening a new toy, but looking at the quality of toys nowadays just doesn't inspire me in the same way. However, that is not true for all the new toys out there. There are still plenty I see on the shelf that I really wish I could buy. LEGO and Playmobil keep coming out with new themes and features. I know that I would have begged my parents to buy some for me. Now I have to weigh their cost with how much I really need one. Bah! Being an adult is lame sometimes.
Anyway, about the book. I highly recommend it for anyone who is interested in toys. You can usually find it online for relatively low prices (less than $5.00.) It is a nice, full-color, hardback book with information about 100+ toys. Each chapter focuses on a different type of toy: Starting Out -Toys for the first years of life; Building Blocks - Stepping stones to creativity; Arts & Crafts - Terrific tools for the artist-to-be; Dolls, Stuffed Animals, and Action Figures - Companions to discovery and friends for life; Games - Challenge and competition for all ages; Transportation Toys - Planes, trains, and automobiles; Silly Fun - Educated nonsense; Outdoor Toys - Pathways to athletic adventure; and Future Toys - Trends toward tech. Each chapter features several toys with pictures and brief histories. You can discover why LEGO got its name, and hundreds of other trivia tidbits. All in all a fun read that might teach you something new. Plus, it will probably remind you of some toys you had forgotten you missed. Oh Colorforms and Spirograph, where have you gone?
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Art Tuesday
Scott Campbell (official blog and show blog)
Great Showdowns at Gallery 1988
I first discovered Scott C's artwork during one of Gallery 1988's Crazy 4 Cult shows. These art shows have been an annual tradition for this gallery. The gallery itself tends to focus on art that pertains to pop culture, particularly that of the 80s. The Crazy 4 Cult show features a variety of artists that have been chosen to contribute art that relates to films that are "cult classics." Scott C has contributed several pieces to the shows, as well as creating the show poster for the 2nd iteration of the show. This poster details a "family tree" of cult classic movies.
Great Showdowns at Gallery 1988
Scott just opened his own show in February at the gallery, titled "Great Showdowns." These "showdowns" have been some of his most popular paintings. He has produced hundreds of them and they can be viewed and purchased at the gallery or online. I love his almost child-like painting style. The fact that they are not photorealistic representations of the characters just adds to the whimsical nature. Most of the colors he uses are earth tones which I think also adds to the natural feel of his art. The characters featured in his paintings also always look happy to see each other, even if they are enemies in the movie. I appreciate how his interpretation of "showdown" does not necessarily mean that the characters are antagonists. Sometimes they just represent awesome meetings in film. Scott also uses anthropomorphic versions of non-sentient characters to rather humorous effect. Can you name all the movies featured in these showdowns?
Scott has also contributed his amazing skills as art director for the independent game developer Double Fine. This company is headed by video game alum Tim Schafer. Scott has helped work on the very fun and unique games Psychonauts and Brutal Legend. I love the fact that his art is able to be seen by even more people via video games. I look forward to seeing what else he produces over the years.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Movie Monday
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
Dir: Stanley Kramer (1967)
I always look forward to the month preceding the Academy Awards. The reason for this is that Turner Classic Movies puts on their annual "31 Days of Oscar" celebration. Their entire selection of programming focuses on movies that either garnered Oscar nominations or wins. TCM also usually groups the movies by certain themes so it is easier for viewers to watch similar movies. This celebration also provides me with the opportunity to catch up on movies I either never heard of, or had just never gotten around to watching.
One movie that I had always known was important, but had never seen was Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. Now that I have finally seen it, I wish I had seen it sooner. The story revolves around a young couple who fall in love after a whirlwind romance in Hawaii. The young couple are John Prentice (Sidney Poitier) and Joey Drayton (Katharine Houghton). Joey decides she wants John to meet her parents and surprise them with news of their upcoming nuptials. Joey's parents are Matt and Christina Drayton (Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn respectively.) During the course of the movie, John's parents are also invited to come and dine with the Draytons.
I had always known that this movie was significant due to the fact that it bore witness to the difficulties of interracial couples in the 60s. However, I did not realize just how funny and heartwarming the film was as a whole. Every time I watch a classic film with spectacular actors, I am reminded just how far the majority of today's cinema has fallen. Sidney Poitier, Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn, and Cecil Kellaway (playing a minor, yet significant role as a family friend) all light up the screen in everyone of their scenes. The dynamics between all of the characters are very believable and never seemed too over the top. I did not realize this was Spencer Tracy's last film while I was watching it, but looking back, I can really see why Katherine Hepburn's interactions with him resonated so much. Tracy is the most conflicted character in the movie and is concerned for the long-term well-being of his daughter. It was funny to see him play this role, since I had also just seen him play a similar role in his Father of the Bride (way better than the 90s remake with Steve Martin.) Hepburn is feisty and protective as usual. If you need proof, check out this video. As a side-note, you really cannot get much classier than Sidney Poitier. All I can say is that he rocks!
I found this alternate version for the movie's poster created for TCM in 2009. I love the minimalist style and overall effect. It was created by a company called One Trick Pony. Their portfolio indicates they have made several posters for TCM.
Dir: Stanley Kramer (1967)
One movie that I had always known was important, but had never seen was Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. Now that I have finally seen it, I wish I had seen it sooner. The story revolves around a young couple who fall in love after a whirlwind romance in Hawaii. The young couple are John Prentice (Sidney Poitier) and Joey Drayton (Katharine Houghton). Joey decides she wants John to meet her parents and surprise them with news of their upcoming nuptials. Joey's parents are Matt and Christina Drayton (Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn respectively.) During the course of the movie, John's parents are also invited to come and dine with the Draytons.
I had always known that this movie was significant due to the fact that it bore witness to the difficulties of interracial couples in the 60s. However, I did not realize just how funny and heartwarming the film was as a whole. Every time I watch a classic film with spectacular actors, I am reminded just how far the majority of today's cinema has fallen. Sidney Poitier, Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn, and Cecil Kellaway (playing a minor, yet significant role as a family friend) all light up the screen in everyone of their scenes. The dynamics between all of the characters are very believable and never seemed too over the top. I did not realize this was Spencer Tracy's last film while I was watching it, but looking back, I can really see why Katherine Hepburn's interactions with him resonated so much. Tracy is the most conflicted character in the movie and is concerned for the long-term well-being of his daughter. It was funny to see him play this role, since I had also just seen him play a similar role in his Father of the Bride (way better than the 90s remake with Steve Martin.) Hepburn is feisty and protective as usual. If you need proof, check out this video. As a side-note, you really cannot get much classier than Sidney Poitier. All I can say is that he rocks!
I found this alternate version for the movie's poster created for TCM in 2009. I love the minimalist style and overall effect. It was created by a company called One Trick Pony. Their portfolio indicates they have made several posters for TCM.
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