CONvergence: Independence Day
While most of the country spent the long weekend celebrating our nation’s birthday, there was one small pocket of Minnesota where the words “Independence Day” were spoken almost exclusively in sentences that also included the words “Jeff Goldblum.”
Inspecting the Bloomington Sheraton parking lot on Saturday there were subtle clues to the uninitiated that something was afoot. The woman in blood spattered scrubs rummaging through her trunk, the smoking porch filled with people discussing the new Captain America costume, the fact that the mud spattered Bronco had a vaguely threatening, but pleasantly sing-songy poem about car hygiene signed “Bad Horse” in lieu of the traditional “clean me.”
To those in the know, these were all omens pointing towards Minnesota’s biggest scifi nerd mecca, CONvergence.
This was my first time at CONvergence, so I’m going to leave the in-depth dissections of the panels, flame wars over costumes, and general fanboyism to the professionals (check out #cvg2010 on twitter). But I will say that it was a remarkable experience and one that had to be seen to be believed. While the full four-day experience may be too much for all but the most committed of nerds, it’s worth checking out when it rolls around again about this time next year.
My two favorite photos from the event:
Pictured from L to R: some girl, Chewbacca, Bountyhunter Leia (background), Jesus.
Wolfman curls up with a good book in the reading lounge on the 22nd floor.
