Past Adventures

January 2023

I finally found my way to Middle Earth (New Zealand) with a bunch of fellow fans. This was more than a dream come true. We visited a number of the filming locations for Lord of the Rings and got an opportunity to tour and meet up with incomparable Sir Richard Taylor at Weta Workshop.

The natural beauty of New Zealand incredible. We cruised around both the north and south islands, went into Milford Sound, drove through the Fjordlands National Forest, saw glaciers and their incredible lakes, plus spent most of the day in Hobbiton, the location that was created for the films. Pure magic!

Milford Sound

Edoras

Valley of the Horse Lords

December 2022

On our way to Middle Earth, we spent a few days in Sydney, Australia before getting on our first cruise. Sydney is an incredible city with a huge active harbor that allows for water ferries, as well and light rail and buses that make getting around super easy. Also, all you have to do is swipe your credit card to get on their public transit. Easy peasy! Just be sure to bring a card without any foreign transaction fees!

If you every have the opportunity to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Sydney, I absolutely recommend it. The fireworks show was spectacular plus the weather cannot be beat as it is summer down under in late December.

Speaking with one of our bus drivers, I discovered that most all of the highways were orginally built as toll roads that are eventually given over to the local road agency. This can make getting into Sydney an expensive proposition.

Fall 2022 – Pit Droid Full Sized Build

Great full sized droid print! Files available from Droid Division on Etsy.

July 2022

San Diego Comic Con did happen this year. Total attendance was down compared to the gangbuster years of the late 2015-2019. This made it easier for everyone to get around the floor and due to the many shake ups of various media companies, there was space for many new vendors who finally got into the world famous SDCC.

COVID was around and although I did successfully avoid catching it yet again, some of my friends were not so lucky. This is mostly likely due to the fact that I did not go downstairs when the hall was open to the public.

May 2022

Star Wars Celebration was finally held in Anaheim, California at the Anaheim Convention Center on Memorial Day weekend (May 26-29, 2022). I only attended Friday thru Sunday, which was plenty to see all the vendors and artists. Most popular were events held in the Arena and the incredible Mandalorian Experience.

However, I discovered something that will change the arc of my fandom energy. You can 3D print entire droids and include electronics, together with an incredible community of makers and printers and 3D designers.

April 2022

WonderCon returned to the Anaheim Convention Center after two dark years. Attendance was down and this may have been a result of no tickets going on sale until a month before. I was able to shop as it was spread out enough and most people were wearing their masks as was required.

Avenger Campus – Disney California Adventure

The best remodel of an area at DCA since Cars Land, Avengers Plaza is a much needed overhaul to include the Marvel Cinematic Universe characters complete with lots of live action photo ops. As an original Spiderman fan, it amuses me greatly that Spidey plays such a major role given that Sony controls that particular character.

San Diego Comic Fest

We are fortunate to have both a mega and small, intimate comic conventions in San Diego. Started by a founder of SDCC, San Diego Comic Fest is an old school throw back to comic heavy cons of decades past. This year their event was held at the 4 Point Sheraton in Kearny Mesa. Very friendly for older attendees, but lots of artists are in their Artist Alley.

Not a lot of cosplay, but Thor was hilarious. I did get a gorgeous coffee table book of William Stout art.

March 2022

Clockwork Alchemy – San Francisco, CA

I traveled back to Clockwork Alchemy for the first time since they severed ties & dates with Fanime. March is a busy month for events with two major steampunk conventions in the West held both in March, plus WonderCon occasionally moves into March to avoid Easter.

February 2022

Mardi Gras – New Orleans, LA

It doesn’t get much more geeky than riding a Superhero float along St. Charles Avenue and throwing superhero beads and swag and toilet paper the old oak trees! The Krewe of Tucks rolled out a brand new float with their iconic Friar flying over the cityscape.

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Although a pandemic may have tried to derail all hope of traveling to events across the geeky universe, I am back with new reports about events that have survived, and possibly thrive, now that the long dark is finally lessening its grip on live events throughout the world.

Get ready for some new Event Reports, photos, and encouragement to get yourself out there. Events only survive when people buy tickets and attend! It is up to us to keep these events going and if money is tight, you might be able to volunteer for a free pass to the event! The best of both worlds as you will get to meet lots of new people and directly help the event succeed.

Here we go!

October 12, 2021

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This year marks twenty years since I started volunteering at various science fiction conventions and San Diego Comic Con International. One of the greatest aspects of fandom is meeting people from all over the fan universe who come together at these events to get their geek on with their fellow attendees. These are my stories from my many years of attending and volunteering at conventions, plus review of events and cons I will be attending in the near future.

Join me as I help spread the joy of the many wild and wonderful aspects of fandom across the geeky universe one convention at a time! (Or at least until I can clone myself and finally get to go to ALL THE THINGS!)

Sit back and get ready to enjoy the trip!

Cheerily yours,

Anastasia Hunter

Date: October 18, 2018

The summer of 2018 has been filled with lots of great events! Everything from finally managing to win the Jet Propulsion Laboratory lottery tour in June Anime Expo, San Diego Comic Con, WorldCon, John Williams Concert at the Hollywood Bowl, the FIDM Museum exhibit on Outstanding Television Costuming, to my most recent event – Gaslight Steampunk Expo!