Category: Performance & Pleasures

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Timothy Milne’s Technorganic Steampunk

Timothy Milne's Technorganic Steampunk.

Timothy writes:

I basically started making art about 3 years ago when I came across the burnt remains of a ceiling fan as I cleaned out a fire place. I’ve always loved old metal and weird gadgets. For some reason I took those burnt fan innards and made something with them. At the same time I started taking apart electronics and using their parts for art. The electronic part is a reflection on our society’s reliance and addiction to technology and how it has, in my opinion, irrevocably changed us. So I spend time gathering supplies and hunting for weird metal objects and old TVs and VCRs and things. I have come up with technorganic steampunk to describe it. I also like industrial chaos bouquet. 

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Thoughts On Creating A Fabulous Steampunk Ball

We asked Grok for Steampunk Ball ideas. We’re busy working on bringing you the best darn Steampunk ball we can humanly create. So it’s on our minds.

Here are some considerations.

What Makes a Great Steampunk Ball?

A Steampunk ball is a sensory plunge into an alternate history where steam reigns supreme and creativity knows no bounds. On a high budget, which we do not have, we would be babbling like mad about the caviar-infused deviled eggs. We’d also be choking on the price we’d have to charge. This ball, on the other hand, is included. Here are some of our suggestions for running a Steampunk Ball on a low budget. It’s about ingenuity:

  • Lighting: Use mason jars with LED candles (thrifted or DIY) to mimic gaslamp flicker. Hang brass-painted PVC pipes as faux chandeliers.
  • Soundscape: Beyond music, add ambient steam hisses or clock ticks (record these from a kettle or old clock, looped via a cheap speaker).
  • Activities: Host a “Tinker’s Corner” where attendees swap DIY gadget ideas, or a “Penny Dreadful Reading” with volunteers reciting melodramatic tales.
  • Community: Encourage attendees to adopt personas—airship captains, mad inventors—and mingle as if at a grand Victorian exposition.

For a splurge, hire a small troupe of actors to stage a faux airship crash or a “time traveler’s debate,” adding theatrical chaos to the night.

Famous Steampunk Entertainers. (We have worked with some of these folks. We can recommend all of them!)

If budget weren’t a constraint, these performers would transform your ball into a legendary affair. Here’s a deeper roster:

  • Steam Powered Giraffe: Their robotic mime act, with David Michael Bennett’s baritone and Isabella “Bunny” Bennett’s crystalline vocals, blends vaudeville and sci-fi. Expect “Automotonic Electronic Harmonics” to mesmerize.
  • Abney Park: Led by Robert Brown, their airship pirate saga comes alive with worldbeat rhythms and industrial edge. “Sleep Isabella” could be your haunting centerpiece.
  • Professor Elemental: Paul Alborough’s chap-hop antics—think “Cup of Brown Joy” rapped in a pith helmet—bring infectious humor and danceable beats.
  • The Men That Will Not Be Blamed for Nothing: Punk fury meets Victorian grit; “Margate Fhtagn” channels Lovecraftian chaos with a Cockney snarl.
  • Frenchy and the Punk: Samantha Stephenson’s percussive energy and Scott Helland’s guitar weave a cabaret spell—try “House of Cards” for eerie elegance.
  • Voltaire: Aurelio Voltaire’s Gothic baritone and sardonic wit shine in “When You’re Evil,” perfect for a shadowy waltz.
  • Emilie Autumn: Her “Fight Like a Girl” melds violin virtuosity with industrial rage, a feminist anthem for the corseted crowd.
  • This Way to the Egress: A six-piece gypsy-punk ensemble from Pennsylvania, their accordion-driven “Onward” feels like a carnival gone rogue.
  • The Dresden Dolls: Amanda Palmer and Brian Viglione’s Brechtian punk cabaret—“Coin-Operated Boy”—offers theatrical rawness.

These acts range from $5,000 to $20,000+ depending on travel and production, but they’re the gold standard of Steampunk spectacle.

Massive, Comprehensive List of Steampunk Songs (Expanded)

Here’s an even bigger playlist for your DJ, blending iconic Steampunk tracks with lesser-known gems and thematic fits. It’s eclectic, spanning folk, punk, industrial, and classical reimaginings:

  • Steam Powered Giraffe: “Honeybee,” “Brass Goggles,” “Fancy Shoes,” “Steam Powered Giraffe,” “I’ll Rust With You”
  • Abney Park: “Airship Pirate,” “The Derelict,” “Herr Drosselmeyer’s Doll,” “Throw Them Overboard,” “Victorian Vigilante”
  • The Men That Will Not Be Blamed for Nothing: “Boilerplate Daniel,” “Etiquette,” “Sewer,” “Charlie,” “Blood Red”
  • Professor Elemental: “Fighting Trousers,” “I’m British,” “Steampunk Girl,” “Penny Dreadful,” “Animal Magic”
  • Frenchy and the Punk: “Caravan,” “Yes I Wanna Go,” “Temple of Sleep,” “Monsters,” “Trick Rider”
  • Voltaire: “The Mechanical Girl,” “Stake a Claim,” “Beast of Pirate’s Bay,” “Goodnight Demon Slayer,” “Ex Lover’s Lover”
  • Emilie Autumn: “Opheliac,” “Liar,” “Gothic Lolita,” “Swallow,” “Marry Me”
  • This Way to the Egress: “Cage Bird,” “Delicious Cabaret,” “Going Home Again,” “See No Evil,” “M.I.A.”
  • The Dresden Dolls: “Girl Anachronism,” “Missed Me,” “Bad Habit,” “Backstabber,” “Half Jack”
  • Rasputina: “Transylvanian Concubine,” “The New Zero,” “Rusty the Skatemaker,” “Holocaust of Giants,” “Watch T.V.”
  • Vernian Process: “The Alchemist’s Vision,” “The Curse of Whitechapel,” “Something Wicked,” “Unhallowed Metropolis,” “The Last Express”
  • The Cog is Dead: “The Copper War,” “Time Machine,” “The Death of the Cog,” “Steam Powered Stories,” “Blood, Sweat and Tears”
  • Sunday Driver: “Mechanical Angel,” “Black Widow,” “Swan Song,” “Concubine Waltz,” “Jewel of the Empire”
  • A Halo Called Fred: “Steampunk Song,” “Goggles,” “Quantum Mechanics,” “I’m a Superhero,” “Tupperware”
  • Dr. Steel: “Build the Robots,” “Marionette,” “Childhood Don’t A-Go-Go,” “Planet X Marks the Spot,” “Fibonacci Sequence”
  • Ghostfire: “The Last Steampunk Waltz,” “Vaudevillian,” “Hellfire and a Handbasket,” “Black Carriage,” “The Man With No Face”
  • The Clockwork Dolls: “The Ballad of Black Jack Jezebel,” “No. 13,” “Raise the Airship,” “Maiden Voyage,” “Ashes to Ashes”
  • Unextraordinary Gentlemen: “Black Iron Road,” “Open Arms, Empty Air,” “Mr. Soot’s Black Hand,” “A Counting Game,” “Frozen Moment”
  • Thomas Dolby: “She Blinded Me With Science” (retro-tech vibes)
  • Tom Waits: “Metropolitan Glide” (gritty industrial folk)
  • Roxy Music: “In Every Dream Home a Heartache” (futuristic decadence)
  • Instrumental: “Steampunk Revolution” (Derek Fiechter), “Clockwork Tangerine” (Brandon Fiechter), “Waltz of the Damned” (Adrian von Ziegler).

This list could fuel a 12-hour ball! Dig into Bandcamp, Spotify, or YouTube for full albums—many Steampunk artists thrive there.

What Do People Wear? (Expanded)

  • Low Budget: Raid thrift stores for vests, blouses, and trousers—distress them with tea stains or sewn-on gears (craft store cogs, $2 a bag). Make goggles from PVC rings and bottle caps. Wrap boots in duct tape “spats.” Women can layer skirts with a cinched belt for a bustle effect; men can sport a $5 bowler hat.
  • High Budget: Invest in bespoke corsets ($200+) with brass boning, tailored frock coats with epaulets ($300+), or leather aviator gear with real brass buckles. Add pocket watches, monocles, or parasols with hidden gadgets ( Etsy artisans excel here). Full airship captain regalia—think peaked caps and braided jackets—could hit $500+.

Food and Drink (Expanded)

  • Low-Budget Food: Serve “Engineer’s Rations”—hardtack (flour-water crackers), potted meat sandwiches, or “Gear Grease Tarts” (jam-filled pastries cut into cog shapes). Pickled eggs or veggies in jars nod to preservation tech.
  • Low-Budget Drinks: Brew tea in bulk (Earl Grey or Darjeeling), serve in mismatched thrift-store cups. “Aether Tonic” = tonic water with a splash of grenadine. Fake absinthe: anise extract in green-tinted lemonade.
  • Splurge: Offer absinthe fountains ($50-$100 rental) with sugar cube rituals, or champagne towers for bubbly excess. Pair with “Airship Canapés”—smoked salmon on rye, or mini pheasant pies (catered, $10/plate).

Are Non-Steampunks Welcome? (Expanded)

Absolutely—Steampunk is a gateway subculture! Newbies in jeans can borrow a top hat or goggles from a “Costume Trunk” (set one up with spares). Veterans often mentor, sharing lore like “the Great Steam Schism of ’08” (a fictional feud you can invent). It’s a party, not a purist’s club.

Dancing Style (Expanded)

No rules, but options abound:

  • Victorian: Waltz (3/4 time, easy to learn), quadrille (group square dance), or polka (lively hops).
  • Steampunk Twist: Add mechanical arm gestures or “steam puffs” (exaggerated exhales). “The Cog Jig” = stomp to industrial beats.
  • Freeform: Sway like a broken automaton or twirl like a top—improv rules. Pair with “The Last Steampunk Waltz” for eerie grace.

Etiquette (Expanded)

Faux formality is the game:

  • Address others as “Captain,” “Doctor,” or “Lady”—improvise titles like “Mistress of the Aether.”
  • Offer toasts: “To the cogs that turn our fates!” or “May your boiler never burst!”
  • No need to know real Victorian manners—overact and giggle at faux pas.

Cheap Decorations (Expanded)

  • Gear Wall: Paint cardboard gears (cut from boxes) in metallic hues, glue to twine, and hang as garlands.
  • Airship Models: Twist wire hangers into zeppelin frames, cover with brown paper, and suspend with fishing line.
  • Maps: Print aged maps (online freebies) on tea-stained paper, pin to walls with “ expedition routes” marked in red.
  • Gadgets: Stack old clocks, radios, or typewriter parts (yard sale finds) as “Tinker’s Heap” centerpieces.

Toasts, Romantic, and Silly Moments (Expanded)

  • Toasts: “To the inventors who defy gravity!” (serious), “To brass and bravado!” (cheeky), “May our rivets hold and our hearts soar!” (romantic).
  • Romantic: A couple trades a brass key and a locket under a faux gaslamp, or slow-dances to “Honeybee” as gears spin overhead.
  • Silly: A “mad scientist” spills glowing punch (food coloring + Sprite), or a group performs a “Gear Grinding Polka” with clanking spoons.

Famous Steampunk Balls (Expanded)

  • Gaslight Gathering (San Diego): Features a “Grand Promenade” and tea dueling, drawing 500+ in corsets and goggles.
  • The Asylum Steampunk Festival (Lincoln, UK): 3,000 attendees parade through a castle town; the ball has fire dancers and live bands.
  • Nova Albion (Santa Clara, CA): A hotel takeover with a “Steampunk Saloon” and masked ball—think 1920s meets 1880s.
  • Waltz on the Wye (Chepstow, UK): Riverside revelry with quirky contests like “Best Beard” alongside a formal dance.
  • Wild Wild West Steampunk Convention (Tucson, AZ): A desert twist with cowboy-Steampunk fusion and a saloon-style ball. (Condolences on their recent cancellation.)

Bonus notes on Steampunk as a “gateway subculture”:

The phrase “Steampunk is a gateway subculture” means that steampunk—a subculture blending Victorian aesthetics with retro-futuristic technology, think brass goggles and steam-powered gadgets—acts as an accessible entry point into a wider web of related subcultures or alternative scenes. It’s the front porch to a bigger, weirder house, pulling people in with its charm before they wander deeper.

Steampunk’s appeal often lies in its mix of the familiar and the fantastical. It’s got that 19th-century vibe—corsets, top hats, Jules Verne novels—that feels historical and cozy, but it’s spiked with imaginative twists like airships and clockwork robots. This makes it approachable for newcomers, maybe through a book like The Difference Engine or a steampunk festival. Once hooked, they might explore adjacent subcultures: cosplay (building elaborate costumes), maker culture (tinkering with DIY tech), or even dieselpunk and cyberpunk, which tweak the timeline but keep the inventive spirit. It’s a soft launch into nerdier, craftier, or more avant-garde territory.

The “gateway” part comes from how steampunk bridges mainstream interests—say, historical fiction or sci-fi—with niche passions. Someone might start with a steampunk outfit for fun, then end up welding sculptures or joining a burner community like Burning Man. It’s not that steampunk itself is shallow; it’s just welcoming enough to lure you in, then point you toward wilder paths.

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Creating Imaginary Places For Real People

“If there’s one thing we’ve tried to teach people in Doom, it’s that if you’re breaking into a cursed high-tech maze, and you see unidentified liquids in mysterious flasks, you should drink them. Ditto a chicken leg that’s been buried in a wall for 30 years.”
-Sandy Peterson, “Doom” and “Call of Cthulhu the RPG” designer

Step into a captivating discussion with visionary creators who design extraordinary worlds for those who embrace the unconventional. Inspired by Sandy Petersen’s playful wisdom from Doom, this panel explores the art of crafting imaginary places—think enchanted labyrinths, futuristic hideouts, or whimsical realms—tailored to adventurous and unique spirits. Join writers, artists, game designers, and more as they reveal the joys and challenges of building spaces for an audience that delights in the unexpected. From the spark of inspiration to the thrill of connecting with their fans, our panelists will share their creative journeys and insights. This is your chance to hear their stories, ask questions, and celebrate the magic of places made for the wonderfully unusual.

  1. Inspiration from the Unusual:
    • “What’s the most unexpected source of inspiration you’ve found for creating an imaginary place, and how did it shape your work for your unique audience?”
    • Discussion: Explore how real-world oddities—like a strange artifact, a peculiar person, or an offbeat location—turn into fantastical settings.
  2. Defining the ‘Unusual’ Audience:
    • “Who are the ‘unusual people’ you create for, and how do they influence the worlds you build?”
    • Discussion: Dive into the traits of their fans—adventurous, quirky, rebellious?—and how those qualities drive the design of a place, from its tone to its details.
  3. A Favorite Creation:
    • “Tell us about one imaginary place you’ve crafted that you’re especially proud of—what makes it a perfect fit for your unusual crowd?”
    • Discussion: Let panelists paint a vivid picture of a specific world (e.g., a haunted asteroid saloon, a forest of living clocks) and why it resonates with their audience.
  4. Risk and Reward:
    • “Sandy Petersen talks about drinking mystery liquids and eating ancient chicken—what’s a creative risk you’ve taken in your world-building that paid off big?”
    • Discussion: Reflect on bold choices—like bizarre rules, unconventional aesthetics, or daring interactivity—that surprised even themselves with their success.
  5. Balancing Weird and Welcoming:
    • “How do you make a place strange enough to thrill the unusual, yet inviting enough to pull them in?”
    • Discussion: Unpack the tightrope between pushing boundaries and keeping a world relatable—think accessibility in a labyrinth of oddity.
  6. Audience Reactions:
    • “What’s the wildest or most memorable reaction you’ve gotten from someone exploring your imaginary place?”
    • Discussion: Share funny, touching, or downright weird stories of how fans have embraced (or misinterpreted!) their creations.
  7. Tools of the Trade:
    • “What’s one technique or trick you use to bring an imaginary place to life for your audience—something they can feel, see, or step into?”
    • Discussion: Compare methods—vivid prose, immersive sound, tactile art—and how they hook the unconventional mind.
  8. Challenges of the Craft:
    • “What’s the toughest part about creating worlds for people who crave the strange, and how do you overcome it?”
    • Discussion: Tackle hurdles like over-the-top expectations, niche appeal, or keeping the spark alive across projects.
  9. The Joy of Connection:
    • “What’s it like seeing your unusual people—your readers, players, visitors—step into the places you’ve made for them?”
    • Discussion: Capture the emotional payoff when a world clicks with its audience, from quiet nods to full-on fandom.
  10. Advice for Aspiring Creators:
    • “If someone wants to start building imaginary places for the unusual, what’s one piece of advice you’d give them to get started?”
    • Discussion: Wrap up with practical or philosophical tips—encouraging the next wave of weird-world makers.
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Munchausen Storytelling Game – With the Order of the Saffron Tale

Baron Munchausen

Dare to step beyond the ordinary and into the extraordinary at Wonderplace Alpha, our multi-genre Steampunk Renaissance Gothic Faire. Here, beneath the glow of gaslamps and the whir of clockwork marvels, the Order of the Saffron Tale beckons—a mythical society of storytellers open to all who crave the thrill of invention. Don your corsets, top hats, or capes, and join us in a velvet-shrouded tent where tales of wonder, terror, and delight come alive.

At the heart of our gatherings lies Munchausen, a raucous storytelling game where creativity reigns supreme. Inspired by the infamous Baron Munchausen, known for his wildly exaggerated exploits, this game invites players to craft fantastical narratives on the spot. Here’s how it works: One storyteller begins, spinning an outrageous tale—“How I single-handedly piloted a steam-powered ornithopter through a storm of pixie-dust to rescue a clockwork princess!”—while others listen intently. At any moment, a rival may interrupt with a challenge: “But how did you avoid the sky-kraken’s tentacles?” The teller must seamlessly weave the interruption into their story, escalating the absurdity. Players earn points (or sips of tea, if you prefer) based on their flair, wit, and ability to outdo one another. The game ends when the laughter grows too loud or the tale becomes too tall even for the Baron himself!

Imagine the possibilities: a steampunk yarn of aether-fueled inventors battling a rogue automaton in a brass-clad cathedral; a fairy-tale twist where a goblin tinkerer crafts wings for a cursed prince; a sci-fi epic of a time-traveling corsair stranded on a Halloween-haunted asteroid; or a gothic ghost story of a widow’s phonograph that whispers secrets from beyond the grave. With genres as boundless as your imagination—steampunk, fairy, sci-fi, Halloween, and more—the Order welcomes every voice to the table.

Beyond Munchausen, the Order may dabble in other steampunk-inspired games to stir the pot of creativity. Try Clockwork Conundrums, a collaborative tale-building game where players pass a story like a ticking timepiece, each adding a twist before the “bomb” of the plot explodes. Or test your mettle in Aetheric Chronicles, a dice-driven narrative where airship captains wager their reputations on tales of derring-do. Whatever the game, the spirit remains the same: bold invention, shared laughter, and a touch of the uncanny.

No prior skill is needed—just a willingness to dream aloud. Whether you’re a seasoned raconteur or a curious newcomer, the Order of the Saffron Tale offers a place among its ranks. Gather with us at Wonderplace Alpha, where the air hums with possibility, and let your legend take flight. The stage is set, the gears are turning, and the next story is yours to tell!

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Multi-Genre Karaoke Cabaret

Karaoke.

Step into the saloon’s flickering glow for a night of song and shadow at our Multi-Genre Karaoke Cabaret! Whether you belt out a haunting gothic ballad, a steampunk shanty of clanking gears, or a renaissance madrigal fit for a dark court, this is your stage. From Bauhaus to sea chanteys, Black Sabbath to lute-strummed laments, all eras and styles collide in this genre-bending revelry. Don your corsets, goggles, or plague masks, grab a tankard of our signature Widow’s Tears Whiskey, and let your voice echo through the aether. Prizes await the boldest performers—think free elixirs or a coveted gear-token—judged by the roars of the crowd. Join us under the gaslight and sing your soul into the void!

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The Triumvirate of Eccentric Excellence

Welcome, intrepid inventors, dastardly rogues, and curious tinkerers, to the Triumvirate of Eccentric Excellence at our Steampunk Renaissance Faire! This trio of competitions celebrates the wild, the whimsical, and the wonderfully weird. Join us on to compete for glory, prizes, and a chance to be named among the faire’s most eccentric exemplars. Enter one, two, or all three contests—those bold enough to tackle the full Triumvirate will earn a special ribbon as an Eccentric Exemplar! Read on for the details, and prepare to unleash your steampunk spirit.

The Order of the Steam-Bearded Gentry: Facial Hair Competition

Step into the ranks of the Order of the Steam-Bearded Gentry, where magnificent whiskers reign supreme. Whether you sport a full beard worthy of a mad inventor or a mustache fit for an airship captain, this contest honors the art of facial hair with a steampunk twist. Inspired by the grand traditions of Victorian grooming and the flair of steampunk gatherings, this is your chance to prove your follicles are the finest in the land!

Rules

  • Eligibility: Open to all attendees with natural facial hair (no fake beards or mustaches allowed).
  • Categories:
    • The Inventor’s Mane: Best full beard—think volume, texture, and steampunk styling (gears or braids welcome).
    • The Airship Captain’s Mustache: Best mustache—focus on shape and flair (curls encouraged, but no hair beyond 1.5 cm past the mouth corners counts).
    • The Gadgeteer’s Goatee: Best sculpted goatee or partial beard—precision and creativity rule.
    • The Steam-Powered Freestyle: Wildcard for any facial hair styled with steampunk props (e.g., tiny goggles, copper wiring)—originality is key.
  • Judging Criteria:
    • 40% Creativity (steampunk theme integration).
    • 30% Grooming (neatness and hair health).
    • 30% Presentation (how it complements your costume and persona).
  • Props: Small, non-functional steampunk accessories (e.g., gears, feathers) are allowed but must be securely attached.
  • Judging: A panel of three Esteemed Gentlebeings scores entries. Audience applause breaks ties.

The Cackle of the Cogsworth Cabal: Evil Laugh Competition

Unleash your inner villain in the Cackle of the Cogsworth Cabal, where the most sinister guffaws take center stage. Picture a shadowy league of steampunk ne’er-do-wells, each vying to out-cackle the rest with theatrical menace. This contest is your chance to channel a mad scientist, a rogue automaton, or a top-hatted tyrant—bring your best evil laugh and let it echo through the faire!

Rules

  • Eligibility: Open to all attendees, solo or in pairs (for a maniacal duet).
  • Format:
    • Each contestant gets 30 seconds to deliver their most sinister, steampunk-infused laugh.
    • Handheld, safe props (e.g., a monocle, a fake ray gun) are allowed to enhance your performance.
  • Judging Criteria:
    • 40% Malevolence (how evil and unhinged it sounds).
    • 30% Steampunk Flair (Victorian or mechanical touches, like hissing steam sounds).
    • 30% Delivery (volume, clarity, and theatricality).
  • Rounds:
    • Preliminary: All entrants perform; top 5 advance based on judges’ scores.
    • Final: Top 5 perform again; winner chosen by audience vote (applause or raised hands).
  • Judging: A Council of Nefarious Contraptors (three costumed judges) scores the prelims; the crowd crowns the victor.

The Bazaar of Bizarre Bargains: Oddest Under-$20 Find

Dare to dive into the Bazaar of Bizarre Bargains, a tongue-in-cheek treasure hunt for the strangest trinket you can snag for under $20! We’re not looking for the priciest or the prettiest—just the most peculiar gem you’ve unearthed from a thrift shop, flea market, or dusty corner store. Bring your oddity to the faire and regale us with its tale—because in steampunk, the weirder, the better!

Rules

  • Eligibility: Open to all attendees with an item purchased for $20 or less (receipt or proof encouraged but not required).
  • Requirements:
    • Item must be tangible (no digital goods) and safe to display (no sharp edges or hazards).
    • Must be something you legally bought—grandma’s attic doesn’t count!
  • Judging Criteria:
    • 40% Oddity (how unusual or unexpected it is).
    • 30% Story (the tale of how you found it—embellish for fun!).
    • 30% Steampunk Vibes (bonus if it fits the aesthetic, but not required).
  • Presentation: You get 1 minute to show off your find and tell its story to the judges.
  • Judging: A Consortium of Curious Collectors (three judges) picks the winner based on sheer eccentricity.

Prizes

  • The winner receives a Bazaar Baron’s Bauble (a quirky gear-trimmed trophy) and bragging rights as the faire’s savviest scavenger.

From a rubber chicken with goggles to a wind-up toy octopus, bring us your bargain-bin oddities—we can’t wait to see what you’ve discovered!

Join the Triumvirate!

These three contests form the Triumvirate of Eccentric Excellence, a celebration of steampunk’s most delightfully offbeat souls. Enter one for fun, two for fame, or all three to become an Eccentric Exemplar with a special ribbon to flaunt. Sign up at the faire, don your finest goggles, and let your eccentricity shine on March 24, 2025. See you there, you magnificent weirdos!

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“What IS Steampunk? …the eternal, inevitable panel.”

Photon Regulator from The Alchemist's Son

What IS Steampunk? Is it even possible to have a Steampunk event without a panel that asks what Steampunk is?

Dive headlong into the clanking, whirring soul of steampunk with this Wonderplace Alpha roundtable—a gathering of sharp minds and wild spirits ready to unravel one of the strangest beasts in the genre jungle. This isn’t some dusty lecture or a goggle-polishing tutorial; it’s a full-on, no-holds-barred tussle with the question: What is steampunk, anyway? Picture a table surrounded by tinkerers, dreamers, and rebels—each with their own scars and stories from the steam-powered fray—hashing out the essence of this Victorian-tinged madness. From the grit of brass gears to the glow of gaslit dreams, they’ll peel back the layers of a world that’s equal parts history, fantasy, and outright defiance. Expect sparks, arguments, and maybe a few raised tankards—this is steampunk, raw and unfiltered, served up for Wonderplace Alpha’s curious and chaotic travelers.

Discussion Subjects:

  1. The Spark of Origin
    Where does steampunk ignite—those gaslit novels of the 19th century, or a later rebellion against shiny sci-fi? Is it born from the pages of Verne and Wells, or forged in the workshops of modern misfits dreaming of a past that never was?
  2. Steam, Style, or Spirit
    Does steampunk demand hissing boilers and copper pipes, or is it deeper—a mood, a philosophy, a way to thumb your nose at sterile futures? Can it thrive without the tech, or is the machinery its beating heart?
  3. History’s Mirror or Fantasy’s Playground
    Is steampunk a warped reflection of Victorian reality—corsets, colonialism, and all—or a fantastical escape where airships rule and time bends? How much does it owe to the past, and how much does it rewrite it?
  4. The Craft of the Crafters
    What binds steampunk’s soul—scribbling tales of clockwork empires, stitching velvet vests with hidden gears, or welding contraptions that puff and spark? Is it art, engineering, or a bit of both—and who decides what’s “authentic”?
  5. The Edges of the Ether
    Where does steampunk blur into other realms—gothic shadows, cyberpunk rust, or high-fantasy whimsy? Are there borders to patrol, or is it a lawless frontier where anything with a whiff of steam can stake a claim?
  6. The Tomorrow of Yesterday
    What’s next for steampunk—does it chug into new eras, mash up with diesel or solar, or stay forever locked in its sepia haze? Can it evolve without losing its grit, or is it a relic meant to rust beautifully?

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A Rum-Drenched Rabble at the Saloon

Rum!

“No rum in the captain’s barrel
There’s rum on the captain’s table
And rum in the captain’s crew
So buy the captain rum!”

~Abney Park

Shiver me circuits, Wonderplace Alpha brims with a wild galaxy of fantastical and freaky goings-on—happenings so vast and bizarre, they’d make a Hobbit’s second breakfast or a Klingon’s war chant seem tame! Yet, when the warp drives sputter and ye crave a respite with our rum-sodden posse, take heart—we’re lashed to the mast right here. At the saloon, we’re swilling rum like Captain Jack Sparrow wailing, “But why is the rum gone?” from Pirates of the Caribbean—a lament we dodge with barrels aplenty. Some spin yarns of starships and dragons, others lurk over their grog, brooding like Riddick in Pitch Black growling, “I’d take a slug of that rum right about now.” Ye know the den: that steampunk-scarred saloon, all weathered planks and smoky haze, where misfits from Tatooine to Tortuga hoist their cups. Even Thor’d fit in, thundering, “Another! More drink, you fools!”—though we swap wine for rum, naturally. So swagger in, ye scoundrels—snag a tankard and revel with us. Yer weirdness be the spice in our rum-soaked saga!

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Eccentrics Meet & Greet – Open To All!

Eccentrics.

Attention all weirdos, freaks, geeks, goths, nerds, rennies, steampunks, and every gloriously oddball spirit roaming the multiverse! You’re cordially invited to the grand Eccentrics Meet & Greet at Wonderplace Alpha’s Saloon, happening Friday afternoon This isn’t just some run-of-the-mill gathering—it’s a full-on celebration of the unconventional, a place where the strange, the quirky, and the downright fantastical collide in the best possible way. Picture this: a cozy saloon filled with the clink of glasses, the hum of laughter, and a crowd of folks who proudly live outside the norm. Whether you’re decked out in Victorian gears and goggles, wielding a replica lightsaber, or just vibing to your own cosmic frequency, this is your spot to unwind and connect. (Okay, that last bit sounded like AI. Come dressed however you want, is the main thing.)

We’re talking a laid-back hangout with zero pressure—just pure, unfiltered fun. Sip on a frothy brew, trade stories of your latest D&D campaign, or debate the finer points of Klingon grammar. As the great Joss Whedon once said, ‘The thing about a hero, is even when it doesn’t look like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, he’s going to keep digging, he’s going to keep trying to do right and make up for what’s gone before, just because that’s who he is.’ Well, here at Wonderplace Alpha, we’re all heroes of our own weird tales, and this Friday, we’re digging into good times together.

No need to hide your quirks—bring ‘em out in full force! Corsets and top hats? Check. Pocket protectors stuffed with pens? Absolutely. A cape you swear isn’t a costume but a lifestyle? We salute you. To quote the legendary Neil Gaiman, ‘Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.’ So come slay your social dragons with us! Swap tips on soldering steampunk gadgets, geek out over the latest sci-fi drops, or just revel in the fact that you’ve found your people.

This Friday afternoon at the Saloon, it’s all about embracing the beautifully bizarre. No judgments, no gatekeeping—just a room full of folks who get it. As the one and only Wil Wheaton put it, ‘Being a nerd, which is to say, going too far and caring too much about a subject, is the best way to make friends I know.’ So let’s go too far together—bring your passions, your playlists, your wildest ideas, and let’s make some epic new connections. Whether you’re a ren-faire bard with a lute in tow or a goth who’s convinced the sun is overrated, you’re welcome here. Come as you are, grab a seat, and let’s raise a glass to the freaky, geeky, and utterly fantastic!

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Fried Dough & Fried Oreos

Fried dough!

In a shimmering haze of neon-drenched futurescape, where the air hums with the electric pulse of a thousand hovering drones, there exists a sacred alchemy: the Fried Oreo. Imagine, if you will, a cosmos where the fabric of existence is woven from threads of sugar-dusted decadence and molten midnight cream, each bite a supernova of flavor that ignites the soul’s deepest circuitry. The crisp, golden batter—forged in the sizzling cauldrons of some rogue food-tech priest—encases the Oreo like a lover’s embrace, a fragile exoskeleton shielding its tender, cocoa-hearted core from the chaos of a fractured multiverse.

This is no mere snack, but a profane sacrament, a greasy gospel whispered in the back alleys of a cyberpunk New Orleans, where the ghosts of voodoo queens and nanobot hustlers dance in the flickering glow of holo-ads. The first bite ruptures time itself—sweetness floods the tongue like a bioengineered euphoria, the cream liquefying into a silken river of starstuff, while the fried shell crackles like the static of a dying galaxy. It’s the taste of rebellion against sterile perfection, a middle finger to the sleek, sanitized dystopias of tomorrow, where every sensation is rationed and every joy is synthetic.

Fried Oreos are the meaning of life because they are the paradox made flesh—or rather, made dough: chaos and comfort, excess and epiphany, a fleeting, oil-slicked transcendence that reminds us we are alive, messy, and gloriously finite. In their sticky, powdered-sugar aftermath, we glimpse the divine—a universe that doesn’t just permit such reckless beauty, but demands it. To eat one is to mainline the pulse of creation itself, a communion of the absurd and the sublime, served hot and dripping from the fryer of eternity.