Sci-Fi Coventions Part 1 - Toronto Trek 2000

You know what they say about conventions, "Nothing can beat the thrill of seeing, meeting or talking to your favourite Sci-Fi TV star/character in person." It's every fan's dream come true. For those lucky enough, dreams can become reality at conventions like Toronto Trek.

This past weekend, I was fortunate enough to attend this year's Toronto Trek 2000. I had a great time and I was also able to see lots of truly wonderful and gifted sci-fi stars, like Xena and Hercules' Alexandra Tydings and Claire Stansfield, Battlestar Galactica's Richard Hatch and Jack Stauffer, Babylon 5's Robin Atkin Downes, Jeffery Willerth and Pat Tallman, Star Trek's John De Lancie and Eric Stillwell, and artist/illistrator Larry Stewart.

In addition to the stars, there were many different panels which the fans/con goers could attend. The panels included a "Writer's Workshop", "Selling your Stories", "Soldier, Sailor, Spacer, Spy", which examined the role of the military in Science Fiction. "Byron: Martyr or Fool", "Copyright Infringement on the 'Net", a few costume designing panels and lots, lots more.

There were also special screenings of Babylon Park, Blooper Reels, Episodes and Author readings, all of which were designed to inform and entertain convention goers, not to mention a special dinner Saturday night. Which was an interesting experience in and of itself. The evening started with Robin Atkin Downes' table starting what would later be referred to as the infamous "Table Wars" with the theme song from The Addams Family.

In the "Table Wars", one table would collectively stand up and sing a song (most often a TV theme song), and then one by one the other tables would take their turns. As the evening wore on, the songs got stranger. Some of the more memorable songs included: the aforementioned Addams Family theme, the theme from Pinky and the Brain, "I'm a Little Tea Pot" and "The Time Warp" from The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

The dinner was followed by John De Lancie's one man play, in which he read Shel Silverstein's "The Devil and Billy Markham." "The Devil and Billy Markham" is a funny, but adult, story about a man (Billy Markham) who accepts the Devil's challenge to a game of Dice and what happens when he loses.

All in all, a fun-filled and crazy weekend. If any one would like more info on Toronto Trek please check out their website.

Next week: In part 2 I'll have some more tid bits for you and some info on upcoming conventions. Until then.... Live Long and Prosper!!

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