Wellington, Nov 20-23 2014: The Big Steampunk Weekend

[Colonel Hawthorne]

Good day, antipodeans and others.

Some of you will already be aware of of least some of our planned activities in New Zealand's glorious capital next month, but here's the full list.  I recommend a cup of tea and a comfy chair as you consider your travel plans.

The weekend will begin on Thursday evening (20th) with steampunk cocktails at our favourite bar the Hawthorn Lounge (no relation), 82 Tory Street.  It's a tricky place to find for the uninitiated but worth the effort (hint: it's above the Mexican restaurant opposite Harvey Norman).  We'll be there from 8pm.  Come upstairs and sample something from the Full Steam or Half Steam menus - or water, if that's your beverage of choice; we don't mind.

Stagecraft Theatre is presenting a steampunk-themed production of Shakespeare's The Tempest from Wednesday 19th, but the 'official' Capital! Steampunk night of attendance is Friday 21st at 7.30pm.  Venue is the Gryphon Theatre, 22 Ghuznee Street.  More details and bookings here.

On Saturday 22nd it's Aethercon, the Wellington steampunk convention.  During the day (10am to 4.30pm, and you're welcome to stay for a drink and nibbles after that) it's in historic Dransfield House, the home of Wellington's first mayor, at 335 Willis Street.  Then at 8pm the Aethercon Ball begins at Bodega, 101 Ghuznee Street.  Meet new friends, display your finest steampunk attire, enjoy the entertainment.  During the evening Capital! Steampunk members will be frightening the horses (in a private room) with selected Victorian erotica readings.  Anti-hysteria devices will be on hand if required.  Bookings for both events are on Eventfinder.

To wind down on Sunday 23rd, we suggest a stroll in the Botanic Gardens while enjoying a reading of The Hunting of the Snark.  We'll be meeting at the top of the cable car in Kelburn at 11am, probably ending up in the Lady Norwood Rose Gardens where they serve a rather fine cheese scone, among other desirable comestibles.  And tea.

There may be more activities to come as well, such as a visit to a display of Victorian and Edwardian undergarments in the Katherine Mansfield Birthplace during the day on Friday, but we're still finalising some of this.

We shall be delighted to welcome visitors to our fair city for what promises to be a rather splendid affair.  The Capital! Steampunk website will have more details (or look for Capital! Steampunk NZ on Facebook, if you like that sort of thing).

[Hurricane Annie]

If only in the  land of Jafa would they have these entertainments.  It can be rather bleak up here for  festivities.

[Colonel Hawthorne]

Come south, young lady!

[Hurricane Annie]

 I have only just discovered there was an Aether con in Auckland a few months ago. I had been watching out for it . Promotion must not have been effective.

 I will have to consider a journey to the deep dark southern regions.   Though I do worry becoming prey to a panther or 2.  Or  chased by an feral moose.

[Colonel Hawthorne]

The panthers have not been seen since we sent them into the Beehive, alas. And one generally only sees moose in the wee hours on Courtenay Place, where they generally stagger about, singing lumberjack songs.

So I should say you'd be reasonably safe, with no more than the usual precautions.

[Colonel Hawthorne]

For the benefit of the literate, we have now produced a downloadable/printable programme thingy for the big Wellington weekend.

The erotica readings are beginning to take shape - think a learned discourse to the Royal Society, with illustrations - and Mrs Hudson (the younger) and myself have plotted a route for the Snark hunt which will avoid steps, mud, steep hills and other obstacles which may otherwise have discouraged the lame or heavily-skirted.  Avoiding bandersnatches is, as always, your own responsibility, although the Colonel, for one, will not go unarmed on this expedition.

Things, as they say, are coming along nicely.  One month to go.

[Colonel Hawthorne]

Now down to mere days before festivities begin - in fact, only one day, as The Tempest opens tomorrow night and Mrs. Hudson (the younger) and myself will be attending opening night as well as the Friday night audience dress-up performance, which we are (nominally) hosting.  The first two nights are already sold out; there may still be a few tickets left for Friday if you're quick.

Various personages from around our great nation have their passages booked and bags at least partly packed, and the first of these intrepid ones arrive on Thursday in time for steampunk cocktails at the Hawthorn Lounge.  Friday's programme has now been settled: from about 11 in the forenoon we shall conduct interested parties around some of our favourite opportunity shops, prior to lunch at the Weta Workshop-renovated Roxy Cinema (where the ceiling of the upstairs foyer is the work of none other than Greg Broadmore - Dr. Grordbort himself!

After luncheon we may have time to take in a few more shops before we head out to Petone to the factory of Hill's Hats, conducted by Hatman himself.  Capital! Steampunk has toured Hill's before; it's a great experience to see how hats are still made using their vintage machinery.  Then it's going to be a mad dash back to town, particularly if anyone wants to change their attire, before The Tempest.

Saturday is Aethercon; the con during the day and the ball at night.  Bookings are coming along, but to help the organisers pay their setup costs it would be nice if those who have merely said they're coming would actually buy a ticket!

And on Sunday the Capital! Steampunk reading of The Hunting of the Snark is ready to go.  The weather forecast isn't entirely salubrious, but MetService has been consistently promising worse weather than we actually get for the past month or two.  And in any case we have a plan B; just show up at the top of the Cable Car, rain or shine, and we will provide entertainment.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Big Steampunk Weekend.