Gaslight Expo from the View of Madam Askew

Our dearest Madam Askew wrote up this travelog about her adventures at Gaslight Expo. If you are coming from out of town, we hope you will find this helpful as Madam herself travels from out of state to attend our steamy soiree.

Madame Askew Invites You to Join Her at Gaslight Steampunk Expo

My dearest darlings!

The Grand Arbiter and I are returning to our beloved Gaslight Steampunk Expo this autumn, and we are thrilled that so many of you will also be joining us there! If you’ve been in the past, you know well that part of the magic of this convention is the wonderful, warm community. This is a very friendly convention and a lovely place to make new steampunk friends! If this is your first time attending, you may feel a little overwhelmed by a new city, new convention, and new steampunks which is why I am writing this little guide.

Madame’s Quick Start Guide to a Delightful Gaslight Expo:

My darlings, for those of you who would like the short, easy to remember version, here are my top five quick suggestions for the most convivial Gaslight Expo adventure.

1. Remember to take a moment every day to enjoy a nice of cup of tea or a little conversation with a friend
2. Embrace the whimsy and joy of steampunk fashion
3. Make certain to take a workshop and attend at least one interactive event
4. Swanning about in the hallways is a great way to get photos
5. Go to that panel that sparks your imagination but make sure to be flexible with your schedule.

The LONGER Version!

Pre and Post Convention Adventure:

Nestled in the beautiful environs of San Diego, Gaslight Expo has the advantage of being just a little bit outside of the hustle and bustle of downtown but close enough to major arteries that one can add a little outing at the beginning or end of the convention weekend. The Marina, with its restaurants and lovely views, is a short horseless carriage ride away! (About 15 minutes away by automobile and very near the airport) Of special interest in this area is the Maritime Museum with the much loved Star of India. One might also consider having a lovely dinner at the end of the convention weekend in the famed Gaslamp Quarter. (15 minutes by horseless carriage or 40 minutes by trolley)

If you would like to start your weekend in San Diego on a delicious note, stop in at the lovely Shakespeare’s Corner Shoppe for tea. Any sit down service (afternoon tea or cream tea) requires an advanced reservation generally, but little nibbles can also be taken back to one’s hotel room for a bit of refreshment throughout the weekend. Across the small courtyard is their sister, Shakespeare’s Pub, which features more substantial meals as well as delightful refreshment. With outdoor seating at both locations and excellent service, these two gems are a wonderful commencement to the adventure ahead.

I would be remiss, indeed, if I forgot to mention local legend and hidden treasure, the Chicken Pie Shop. The homey, early 20th century vibe and the pretension free menu makes this the perfect little restaurant for post convention lunch or fortifying dinner.

Costuming:

As we travel through our temporal portal in San Diego to our splendid Steampunk world beyond the entrance to Gaslight Expo, be prepared for a costuming extravaganza! This year we travel to the year 1889 for the Exposition Universelle (World’s Fair) in Paris. (The debut of the Eiffel Tower and the birth of Impressionist Music) The Gaslight Expo community appreciates creative costumes that interpret or engage the theme, and many of the avid costumers will build something uniquely inspired by the theme. From novice to maven, the costumers at Gaslight are an incredibly supportive and welcoming bunch. Whilst there is no requirement to dress either on theme or in Steampunk togs at all, rest assured that any costume you do wear will certainly be admired! Remember coordinating masks and gloves are sure to be admired! And more excuses for more accessories are a steampunk tradition!

During the daytime, the convention halls will be full of time travelers decked out in their very best ensembles for a day of learning and discussion! In the evening, the wardrobes are opened for the shimmering and festive attire. Evening attire may be more temporally diverse to daytime kit. Here you will often see dance slippers and fringe galore as the community prepares for delightful diversions, including karaoke and the Saturday night ball. I suspect we might see quite a few evening caftans this year. Tiaras go with everything but especially evening attire!

Remember that as an hotel convention, most of our adventures are indoors. I always recommend footgear that supports promenading or swanning through the halls, but as there are neither cheeky plants to snag one’s hems nor gravel to turn one’s ankles, one may be rather more flamboyant in dress. There is a lovely pool with ample area to pose dramatically or subtly allow one’s bare foot to peek out from the bottom of their bathing ensemble (Scandalous, I know!) so do consider bringing your seaside bathing togs. Caftans are good for every occasion, both daywear and evening, from the promenade to the pool side, and San Diego has a lively tradition of caftans to celebrate. It’s also the Year of the Tassel, so do consider working in a tassel or two to any ensemble. There may be a tassel hunt! One never knows!

Gaslight Expo is famous for its convivial fashion show! Generally, one needs to sign up in advance for that and provide a short biography and costume description. Information for the fashion show should get posted to the website and discussed on the lively Gaslight Expo Community Facebook Group. (Speaking of, do consider joining the Gaslight Expo FB group. It’s a marvelous introduction to the community and a splendid spot to ask questions about the convention.)

Worried that you may not have something to wear or just starting out on your steampunk costuming journey? The vendor hall at Gaslight Expo always features some artisans selling lovely accessories and garments. Hunting for something special to finish your ensemble or an entirely new wardrobe is a wonderful way to pass a happy morning or a jovial afternoon.

If you prefer to make your own accessories, props, or costumes, make certain to watch the Gaslight Expo program guide for a topnotch series of workshops. Many talented costumers and makers present workshops and classes as part of Gaslight Expo and this year is certain to have a whole new set of stellar selections!

Programming:

Speaking of programming, Gaslight Expo’s schedule is always chockablock with brilliant panels on a wide array of topics. Scholars, professionals, and artists present every year as well as a host of luminaries and experts from within our Steampunk community. It isn’t possible to see every panel, of course, so do plan out the panels that are most interesting in advance.

Not only are there marvelous panels and the aforementioned workshops, but there are also quite a few splendid interactive and social events. Of course, the Grand Arbiter and I shall host Tea Duelling and Splendid Teapot Racing! If you’ve never tea duelled before, please allow me to assure you that you need no equipment or training except your native wit! If you don’t like to duel, please join us to cheer on the brilliant contenders! Participating in Splendid Teapot Racing does require a racer but there are quite a few resources for helping one get started with a new racer. This year we hope to also host Compliment Duelling! (Rules and other information will be posted to our website.) I’ve heard some hints that there might be some other, similar types of interactive activities this year as well.

Saturday morning pop over to the Steamy Swap Meet to acquire some new treasures or share some things that need to go to new homes. This is a long standing tradition of Gaslight Expo and a source of delight and excitement! One never knows what wonders may appear at the swap meet!

In the evening, one will surely find a handful of room parties, but also the wonderful Saturday night ball with live music and dancing for enthusiasts! (There is always seating for those who would rather listen and watch than dance themselves.) In years past, there has been a cash bar for the Saturday night festivities so lovely libations are on hand. This year should see the return of the much lauded karaoke. Once again, one may throw themselves into the fray of singing or simply enjoy the marvelous entertainment presented by our steampunk friends.

The Tea Scouts will also be in attendance with more quests and badges to acquire whilst enjoying the convention programming and events. The Tea Scouts are free to join and there are no dues! The quests are always paired with the programming and events at the convention. You should be able to complete everything just by enjoying your convention weekend and making a few new steampunk friends.

Refreshment and Dining:

Leave time for luncheon and dinner. Taking breaks for proper meal times and tea is essential to any convention experience, but especially at Gaslight Expo, these are wonderful times to socialize with new friends and old. The expansive hallways and regular seating areas provide wonderful spaces for a little conversation, but the hotel restaurant and patio seating are perfect spots for catching up with much missed friends. I highly recommend gin-hour* libations on the verandah just outside the restaurant. There are wonderful views of the pool and the main thoroughfare of people coming and going. The food at the restaurant has always been tasty and well prepared in the past. I suspect the Grand Arbiter and I will sneak away to have two or three meals there ourselves!

Kitty Corner from the hotel is a small shopping center with restaurants and other helpful shops. A very short drive from the hotel is a delightful Costco in a well appointed shopping area. (Approximately 5 minutes by horseless carriage; Tesla-rocket packs and airships are likely quicker)

And! Most delightfully, Gaslight Expo hosts a splendid hospitality suite. In years past, one has been able to acquire some lovely refreshment and nosh in the hospitality suite. Whilst things might be organized a bit differently this year, I am happy to note that this lovely space will be back!

The hotel rooms do have some very useful amenities if you wish to acquire your own nosh and nibbles to keep in your room for a midday pick me up or an evening gathering with friends. Equipped with a very nice small in-room icebox and a delightful Tesla-powered coffee making device, the rooms provide all the tools one needs to get on quite happily during these adventures. One can easily heat water for tea in this manner or… bring a portable, travel kettle and a butler. (Traveling by personal airship does have advantages!)

Travel and Parking:

For many of us attending Gaslight Expo every year, travel is an important component of our plans. The Grand Arbiter travels by commercial airship from the northerly ports of Cascadia. The San Diego Airship Port is large enough to receive airships from across the globe but not so large as to be thoroughly exhausting and confusing. I am easily able to fetch the Arbiter by horseless carriage. Generally, I eschew a driver and simply practice a rather advanced racing tactic called a “pit-stop” by driving up to the curb and collecting the Arbiter in a most efficient manner. (He has complained once or twice that the speed does his coiffure no charities.) For those who prefer a more calm maneuver, there is a Tesla-powered phone lot where one may wait and then go to fetch one’s companion. Whilst there is no hotel shuttle to and from the Airship Port, one may hire a taxi or other service from there to the hotel. The trolley is also available to take one to the hotel, with the Rio Vista stop being directly across the street from the hotel. (There is a pedestrian bridge for crossing the busy thoroughfare.)

The Butler Supreme, several Interns of Doooom and I always travel thither by personal airship. As I am piloting from the Sonoran Desert thence, I tend to plan my travel early in the morning hours the day before Gaslight Expo starts. The travel for both horseless carriages and personal airships is fairly routine. The trade routes and laneways are all well established. If coming from the East via the I-8, watch for Jacumba, home of the Lemon Pirates. One may stop here or a number of other roadside villages for resupply and refreshment. We do recommend securing your lemons, however, since the Lemon Pirates could be anywhere. Regardless of your particular trade route, the major routes take one easily to the hotel. An automaton navigator may provide some ease of travel and more sanguine nerves, but fear not, the hotel is not buried too far from any thoroughfare.

There is ample parking at the hotel both for those staying for the weekend and those visiting for the day. There is a daily rate for parking, at a discount rate for those staying at the hotel.

PRO TIP: If you arrive later in the day or on the weekend, parking in the office complex next door is free after 5pm and on the weekends.

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*Gin-Hour is the hour(s) after teatime and before formal dinner. It need not include any gin whatsoever although the Edinburgh tradition does rather embrace the gin cocktail.

Updated: August 18, 2021