Entertainment Updates

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Captain Robert Brown, Airship Pirate of Honor

Captain Robert, Airship Captain and Steampunk creator.

=Where’s the soiled and rusty builders
Welding iron sculptures?
Where’s the clockwork ballerinas,
Circling like vultures?
Where’s the darkened cabaret,
Filled with new nostalgics?
Where has everything I loved gone?
Oh, the loss is tragic!”

~Abney Park, “Blowing Off Steam”

Captain Robert Brown: Steampunk Pirate King


Brethren of the Aetherial Coast, all hail Captain Robert Brown, the world’s most notorious airship pirate, landing at Wonderplace Alpha this May and hopefully not making off with it!

We’d like to tell you a little about Captain Robert, but being who we are, we’re probably going to tell you a LOT about Captain Robert. Because he’s a fascinating fellow.

Who Is Captain Robert?

“But I’m longing for a time I missed,
Nostalgic curse from fantasist,
The present worlds too dark, or is too bland. ”

-Abney Park

(As we often do, we asked the AI for help writing these bits of history down. The A.I. did a TERRIBLE job, which triggered Captain Robert to storm in, and in a tremendous rage, he behead the poor automaton! He then preceded to try to fix as much as he could in this bio, after which is apologized to the mechanic man, and handed it back it’s head with regret.)

Captain Robert’s history is shrouded in the mists of time, which are similar to the mists of Glasgow, Scotland, but slightly thicker. In 2005, Robert steered Abney Park away from its gothic roots, announcing on LiveJournal (March 13, 2005), “As if we just arrived by jet-powered-zeppelin for a midnight dig just outside of Cairo in the 1900’s, exploring a tomb that proved to be a portal to the planet were Vampires are the predominate race, or some other cheezy pulp-theme.”

Some would say that spark—fired by a childhood in Southeast Asia with his anthropologist mom and a 1988 stay near London’s Abney Park Cemetery—helped birth Steampunk itself. “Today satellite photos make the planet seem so small. Where is the adventure in that?” he pondered in Exchanging Fire (June 23, 2010). On Tumblr (August 8, 2012), he wrote, “Steampunk isn’t just nostalgia—it’s a rebellion against fiction over form, profitably over artistry movement” and told Decimononic (April 2012), “I hoped Steampunk could save the world from ‘Profit is the only goal.’”

While she won’t be at this appearance, his first mate is Kristina Erickson, Abney Park’s keyboard virtuoso and his wife since 2006. Together with the rest of the irrepressible Abney Park crew, they’ve unleashed 32 albums and gigs  around the world, in cities like Seattle, Portland, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Denver, Chicago, New York City, Atlanta, New Orleans, Dallas, Austin, Baltimore, London, Whitby, Leipzig, Paris, Utrecht, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Melbourne, Sydney, Toronto, Vancouver, just to name a few. “It’s a family affair—chaos, creativity, and a shared madness,” he grinned in a Sacramento Bee piece (July 14, 2014). On Steampunk Empire (May 3, 2016), he posted, “Kristina’s the calm to my storm—she keeps the ship flying when I’m rigging explosives.” “Airship Pirate” (2009) bellows, “With a crew of drunken pilots, we’re the only airship pirates / We’re full of hot air and we’re starting to rise,” while “On The Fringe” (2014) croons, “Perhaps I’m happier struggling. Than rotting alone in a cage. Perhaps I’m happier fighting my life, Than dying alone of my rage,”.

His books are sheer literary plunder. The Wrath of Fate (2011), Book 1 of The Airship Pirate Chronicles, starts, “Show me a man who grew up with a happy childhood, no blood or broken glass in his youth, and I’ll show you a man who likely has nothing to contribute to society. They same wounds that can turn a man into a villain, might instead turn a man into a hero, and artist, or a leader. Scars add character. ” It won significant acclaim, as well: Books in Character (2012) cheered, “A fun, lighthearted read that draws you in,” while a Goodreads review (March 15, 2013) gushed, “A rollicking adventure—Brown’s world feels alive!” And earning a Steampunk Chronicle nod (June 2014), “A gritty, thrilling sequel that ups the stakes.”

Gaming is his other triumph. The Airship Pirates RPG (2011) snagged Diehard GameFAN’s “Best New RPG,” hailed as “a breath of fresh helium in a sea of tired tropes.” Its rulebook taunts, “Grab your chronominautilus and rewrite history!” and tempts, “The skies are lawless, and the rum is cheap.” Robert told Steampunk Chronicle (March 2012), “It’s less D&D, more ‘What if Jules Verne ran a bar fight?’” RPG.net (April 2012) raved, “The chronominautilus is bonkers—I sank Atlantis by accident!” Terror of the Skies (2013) packs 73 cards, plexiglass zeppelins, and a Wrath of Fate booster with the “Aether Rifle” (2D6 damage, +1 flair). “It’s about outsmarting the wind and your enemies,” he said in Steampunk Chronicle (October 2013). A 2016 BoardGameGeek review cheered, “Steampunk combat at its finest—fast and furious!”

“This life is filled with many worlds, you can live in any one you want
If you don’t love the world you’re in, choose another world to haunt.”
-Abney Park, “Many Worlds”

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Madly Discounted Tickets For A Madly Wild Festival

P'tah.

If there’s one thing we hear a lot, it’s,

“This event is incredible and it’s exactly what I’ve been looking for!”

This is followed almost immediately by:

“…what is it?”

This event is difficult to describe. (It’s not easy to put on, either!) It’s a vast, sprawling, six-acre melange of assorted madnesses. You get the idea that Wonderplace Alpha is a marketplace from another dimension.time.place.thing, popping into this Universe for a weekend of commerce…and, like any great Faire-Day, we are stuffed full to the brim with live musicians, magicians, games, panels–wait, you’ve seen this description on the front page. We ought to get to the point:

We think the best way for you to fall in love with the event is for you to attend it.

That’s why it’s currently 75% off:

ALL TICKETS 75% OFF WITH CODE

“madnessflashsale”!

GET YOURS TODAY!

wonderplacealpha.com/tickets-sponsorships/.

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“Throw Them Overboard: An Unofficial Abney Park Drinking, I Mean Listening Party”

Buy the Captain rum.

An Official (Unofficial) Abney Park Drinking Game

Gear up, airship crew! Pour your rum, mead, or absinthe, and let’s set sail with Captain Robert.

What You’ll Need:

  • Abney Park music (albums like Æther Shanties, Lost Horizons, or The End of Days work best).
  • A drink of choice—bonus points for steampunk vibes (e.g., rum, whiskey, or something green and mysterious).
    (bonus points if you’re drinking a Captain Robert.*
  • Friends (optional, but airship crews are merrier in numbers).
  • A playlist or live performance video (e.g., DragonCon 2008–2015 footage).

Rules:

Take a sip when…

  1. “Airship” or “Sky” is Mentioned: Any lyric about airships, flying, or the sky (e.g., “Airship Pirate” or “The Secret Life of Dr. Calgori”). Double sip if it’s in the song title.
  2. Victorian Vibes Drop: A song references corsets, goggles, gears, or anything steampunk-specific (e.g., “Herr Drosselmeyer’s Doll”).
  3. Captain Robert Appears: Any mention of Captain Robert or a pirate captain (e.g., “The Ballad of Captain Robert”). Toast the captain with a hearty “To the skies!”
  4. Instrument Switcheroo: In a live set, a band member swaps instruments mid-song (common in their eclectic performances). Sip for each switch.
  5. “Ohh” or “Ahh” Chants: The song has a dramatic group vocal chant or piratey “ohh/ahh” (e.g., “Sleep Isabella”). Join in, then sip.
  6. Mechanical Sounds: You hear a clock ticking, steam hissing, or other industrial sound effects (looking at you, The End of Days).
  7. Nautical Nonsense: Lyrics mention ships, sea, storms, or drowning (e.g., “Throw Them Overboard”). Sip and sway like you’re on deck.

Take a bigger gulp when… 8. Genre Shift Hits: A song blends genres wildly—like folk to industrial or cabaret to rock (e.g., “Neobedouin”). Cheers to their chaos! 9. Audience Interaction: In live footage, Captain Robert (or another member) banters with the crowd or tells a story. Gulp for charisma. 10. Plot Twist Lyric: A song tells a mini-story with a dark or unexpected turn (e.g., “The Derelict” or “Herr Drosselmeyer’s Doll”). Gulp for the drama.

Finish your drink when… 11. “Airship Pirate” Plays: Their anthem kicks in. Stand, salute the captain, and drain your glass. 12. Set Ends: If watching a live performance, finish your drink when the band takes their final bow or the video fades out.

Optional Hard Mode (The Kraken’s Challenge):

  • Shot Rule: Take a shot (instead of a sip) if a song mentions death, ghosts, or the undead (e.g., “The Wake” or “Dead Silence”). Beware the body count!
  • Costume Bonus: If you’re dressed in steampunk gear (goggles, top hat, etc.), take an extra victory sip whenever you catch your reflection.

Safety Protocol:

  • Hydrate between rounds—water’s the real treasure on long voyages.
  • Know your limits; even airship pirates need to dock eventually.

* A “Captain Robert” is:

A rum-heavy elixir for the airship’s helm.

Ingredients:

  • 2 oz Dark Rum (e.g., Gosling’s Black Seal or Kraken for that pirate vibe—Captain Robert demands the good stuff).
  • 1 oz Spiced Rum (e.g., Captain Morgan or Sailor Jerry, for extra swagger and spice).
  • 0.5 oz Overproof Rum (e.g., Bacardi 151 or Plantation OFTD—151 proof or higher, because the Captain scoffs at weak spirits).
  • 1 oz Lime Juice (freshly squeezed, to cut through the rum and nod to scurvy-fighting sailors).
  • 0.75 oz Cinnamon Syrup (homemade or store-bought—warmth for the airship’s engine room).
  • 0.5 oz Falernum (a spiced, almondy liqueur from the Caribbean, evoking trade routes and steampunk exoticism).
  • 2 dashes Angostura Bitters (for depth and a nod to old-world apothecaries).
  • Ginger Beer (a splash, for fizz and a stormy kick).
  • Garnish: Cinnamon stick (set ablaze briefly for drama), lime wheel, and a charred orange peel (for that smoky, airship flare).

Equipment:

  • Cocktail shaker
  • Jigger
  • Matches or a lighter (for the flaming garnish)
  • Rocks glass or a tarnished brass mug (steampunk aesthetic optional but encouraged)

Instructions:

  1. Prep the Cinnamon Syrup (if making your own):
    • Simmer 1 cup water, 1 cup sugar, and 2 crushed cinnamon sticks over medium heat until sugar dissolves (5–10 minutes). Cool, strain, and store. Takes 15 minutes, lasts weeks.
  2. Build the Base:
    • Fill a shaker with ice. Pour in the dark rum, spiced rum, overproof rum, lime juice, cinnamon syrup, falernum, and bitters. This is the Captain’s hearty core—rum-soaked and unapologetic.
  3. Shake Like an Airship in a Storm:
    • Shake hard for 15 seconds until chilled. Imagine you’re dodging cannon fire over the Atlantic.
  4. Serve:
    • Strain into a rocks glass over a big ice cube (keeps it cold without diluting too fast—Captain Robert doesn’t water down his orders). Top with a splash of ginger beer for a fizzy lift, like clouds parting for the airship.
  5. Garnish with Flair:
    • Light the cinnamon stick briefly with a match until it smokes (10 seconds max—don’t burn your ship down), then drop it in. Add a lime wheel and squeeze an orange peel over a flame to char it lightly, releasing oils, then tuck it in. The aroma should scream adventure.

Tasting Notes:

  • Flavor: Rich, boozy rum hits first, layered with warm cinnamon, clove from the falernum, and a smoky, citrus bite. The ginger beer adds a sharp, stormy finish.
  • Strength: Potent—around 3 oz of rum total, pushing 30% ABV or more with the overproof kick. Sip it slow, like plotting a raid.
  • Vibe: Dark, spicy, and theatrical—perfect for a steampunk pirate captain.

Offering to Captain Robert:

  • Present it with a salute: “To the skies, Captain!” If you’re meeting Robert Nathaniel Finn (or a proxy at an Abney Park gig), hand it over in a brass mug with a grin and a lyric quote—maybe “We’ll storm the skies together” from “Airship Pirate.” He’ll appreciate the effort, even if he’s more used to stage props than sipping mid-set.

Pro Tips:

  • Scale It: Double the batch for a crew—serve in a pitcher with extra ice.
  • Non-Alcoholic Nod: Swap rum for spiced tea and ginger syrup if the Captain’s off-duty.
  • Safety: That overproof rum’s flammable—keep the flame brief and away from your face.
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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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Multi-Universe Faire

Multiversal universal.

“The universe had just been upended. All of the pieces and places, the people and the particles, slid off a grand checkerboard and crashed into the ground, scattershot.”
― M.K. Williams, The Infinite-Infinite

Why should an event be in just one Universe?

It’s hard for everyone to find the right dress and to pick up characters and personae. We get that. And so we don’t require it.

But by the same token, there’s no creative, no Universe of the Imagination which can’t come to Wonderplace Alpha, so long as you’re coming to enjoy the concordance along with the rest of us.

You are welcome to show up dressed as you choose, within reason. (The “within reason” clause came about because of an unfortunate event involving a guest who dressed as a mouse and a very, very large python, We shan’t go into details. But please don’t make us kick you out.)

Enter a realm that’s not quite the ordinary world. Wonderplace Alpha tends to appear, exist for a few days, and then vanish gain. You certainly don’t want to miss it!

ALL GENRES, STYLES, AND INTERESTS ARE WELCOME.*

* Within reason. If you’re unsure, ask.

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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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Carnival Fire – A Coney Island Saucery Tasting

Coney Island Suacery Fallout Hot Sauce

Let’s talk about Coney Island Saucery—the wizards of hot sauce whose flavor is going to hook you for life at our free tasting event!

These small-batch geniuses are dishing out sauces that are pure mana, packed with flavor and a thrillride for your mouth. Trust me, you’re in for something special when you get to sample their lineup firsthand, and it won’t cost you a dime. Coney Island Saucery’s sauces are force modifier-good—vegan, gluten-free, and made with fresh, natural ingredients that hit you with bold, unforgettable taste.

Picture this: you’ll be tasting the Trailer Park Boys Deeecent Hot Sauce, a Louisiana-style beauty with a garlic punch and smooth, medium heat that’s begging to jazz up your next bite. Then there’s Slayer Raining Blood Hot Sauce, a fiery beast that’s all about intensity—perfect for the heat lovers who want to feel the burn. The variety alone makes this tasting a blast, letting you compare and contrast everything from approachable zingers to full-on infernos.

What’s really cool is how these sauces bring their own vibe to the table. At the tasting, you’ll get to pit the pineapple-habanero kick of Fallout Vault – Tec Hot Sauce against the scorching Slayer Raining Blood. One’s a flavorful joyride, the other’s a metal-fueled challenge—side by side, it’s a showdown you’ll love dissecting. Every sauce has its own personality, and you’ll be buzzing to figure out which one’s your favorite. And let’s geek out, because Coney Island Saucery’s nerd cred is off the charts with sauces like Fallout Vault – Tec Hot Sauce—a medium-heat, pineapple-habanero nod to the Fallout universe that glows like a Nuka-Cola cap in the dark. At this free tasting, you’ll step into the Wasteland and Hell itself, sampling these epic concoctions to see if Vault – Tec earns a Pip-Boy thumbs-up or if Slayer Raining Blood, crowning your champ to stash in a Vault-Tec bunker or wield against a Cacodemon—whether you’re a Vault 101 spice newbie or a chilehead who’s conquered pepper hordes, come hungry and leave with a Stimpak-level thrill!

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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?