On Saturday we packed the car (my girlfriend, her son and my daughter) and ventured to Dubuque for the annual DBQ Con, which is basically a comic convention.
From the scenic drive that gets better every time (I especially love the Benton to Dubuque stretch), to the final exit a few hours later, it was an awesome day. No one in our party dressed up, though I did have my daughter wear her Chewbacca hoodie, but the quantity (and quality) of cosplayers was formidable to the ratio of attendees.
For those who don't know what a cosplayer is, it is essentially a costumed patron. From Spiderman and Wonder Woman to storm troopers and ghostbusters, DBQ Con had what we expected.
As for my girlfriend Courtney and me, we wanted to see some of our favorite professional wrestling icons from the 1990s and early 2000s. Jimmy Hart, Billy Gunn and "Hardcore" Bob Holly were all in attendance for pictures and to sign autographs.
I had my picture taken with Billy Gun, who along with the "Road Dog" Jesse James formed the dynamic tag-team duo "The New Age Outlaws" in the WWE at the turn of the century - my formative years. Ease your fears, people. Not only did Gunn not break every finger of mine during our handshake, I remembered to give the ol' "X" for the camera, a nod to Degeneration X, the posse that Gunn and others formed in the early 2000s for the WWE.
This was my first convention, and I had a blast. I've wanted to go to some for years but never found the time, though that hasn't stopped friends and some family from going to various events.
And I get it. I get why it's a craze that's picking up steam. I understood before, but this small convention cemented those thoughts.
I understand comic conventions and the like aren't for everyone, and that's OK. But I'm here to tell you that if you have a thirst to attend at all, press that start button and go.
A Gathering of Rogues and Ruffians Renaissance Faire is next weekend in New Glarus. I first heard about it four years ago and took my daughter with me. We had so much fun. My friend, Derek Machan, travels every summer to various Renaissance fairs with his wife, April, and their daughter, Erika. Erika and my daughter, Perla, are the same age and got along wonderfully from the start.
That first trip Perla, her mom and I wore regular clothes - choosing not to dress up our first time and just see how we liked it. And like it we did. By the next fair, we had outfits - I am a lord and Perla a pirate. We meet up with the Machans every year now for Rogues. They travel in from Watertown, but there are convention-goers that travel from several states away to participate.
The big one to attend is in Bristol, just outside Kenosha. That fair goes on all summer, every weekend and is a mighty fun treat. Plus, when you leave you can stop at White Castle for no other reason but to feel like Harold and Kumar.
For those of you wondering about this upcoming Renaissance fair, please know there are so many things to do that you will find something you like. Whether it's shopping for handmade clothes, ornaments or other collectibles, watching a show or learning how the warriors of 500 to 2,000 years ago fought and what armor and weapons they used - this fair will have it.
Heck, enter the hatchet-targeting contest and see if you can beat me (given my elbow tendonitis, you probably will), or let the kids run around on a kid's quest scavenger hunt while you tip back a few frothy local beverages.
Many people dress up, maybe about half, but only a portion are actors from Shakespeare on the Edge, the Monroe-based non-profit serving youth throughout Green County. You will hear old-timey phrases like "morrow," "gramercy" and "not my tower" in English accents and see smiles everywhere you turn.
A recent grant from the state to Shakespeare on the Edge shows the event has promise to add great economic value to our area. The press release stated that our local economy in the county could see a $500,000 boost just for this one weekend.
I see a number like that and am taken aback. Not only is this event a joyous time, but the financial benefit for friends and neighbors throughout the county give me pride as well.
Now that I am a little bit older than your average child (but not by much), I am beginning to understand the real world - from the economy and industry to differences in politics and social philosophy. I understand why people are flocking to conventions of all types and I understand why they are growing and popping up all over.
A lot of people who for years felt weak for being labeled as "nerdy," or rode a small horse of guilt for having "nerdy obsessions," have started to realize they are not so different. In fact, we all like to indulge in our fantasy worlds occasionally. And this is becoming the norm.
And here in Green County, we are never far from these events. New Glarus, Dubuque, Madison, Rockford, Kenosha, Chicago - these are all single-day getaways. They are perfect for families, and they are perfect for individuals. Stop being scared.
And if you decide to make that change next weekend and head up to the Tell Grounds, you'll probably see me, clad in a lord's outfit, sporting a handlebar mustache, sipping something frothy from a steel mug and exchanging a unique trinket for a poop stone from Odoriferous ThunderBottom.
- Adam Krebs is a reporter for the Monroe Times and can be reached at akrebs@themonroetimes.net.
From the scenic drive that gets better every time (I especially love the Benton to Dubuque stretch), to the final exit a few hours later, it was an awesome day. No one in our party dressed up, though I did have my daughter wear her Chewbacca hoodie, but the quantity (and quality) of cosplayers was formidable to the ratio of attendees.
For those who don't know what a cosplayer is, it is essentially a costumed patron. From Spiderman and Wonder Woman to storm troopers and ghostbusters, DBQ Con had what we expected.
As for my girlfriend Courtney and me, we wanted to see some of our favorite professional wrestling icons from the 1990s and early 2000s. Jimmy Hart, Billy Gunn and "Hardcore" Bob Holly were all in attendance for pictures and to sign autographs.
I had my picture taken with Billy Gun, who along with the "Road Dog" Jesse James formed the dynamic tag-team duo "The New Age Outlaws" in the WWE at the turn of the century - my formative years. Ease your fears, people. Not only did Gunn not break every finger of mine during our handshake, I remembered to give the ol' "X" for the camera, a nod to Degeneration X, the posse that Gunn and others formed in the early 2000s for the WWE.
This was my first convention, and I had a blast. I've wanted to go to some for years but never found the time, though that hasn't stopped friends and some family from going to various events.
And I get it. I get why it's a craze that's picking up steam. I understood before, but this small convention cemented those thoughts.
I understand comic conventions and the like aren't for everyone, and that's OK. But I'm here to tell you that if you have a thirst to attend at all, press that start button and go.
A Gathering of Rogues and Ruffians Renaissance Faire is next weekend in New Glarus. I first heard about it four years ago and took my daughter with me. We had so much fun. My friend, Derek Machan, travels every summer to various Renaissance fairs with his wife, April, and their daughter, Erika. Erika and my daughter, Perla, are the same age and got along wonderfully from the start.
That first trip Perla, her mom and I wore regular clothes - choosing not to dress up our first time and just see how we liked it. And like it we did. By the next fair, we had outfits - I am a lord and Perla a pirate. We meet up with the Machans every year now for Rogues. They travel in from Watertown, but there are convention-goers that travel from several states away to participate.
The big one to attend is in Bristol, just outside Kenosha. That fair goes on all summer, every weekend and is a mighty fun treat. Plus, when you leave you can stop at White Castle for no other reason but to feel like Harold and Kumar.
For those of you wondering about this upcoming Renaissance fair, please know there are so many things to do that you will find something you like. Whether it's shopping for handmade clothes, ornaments or other collectibles, watching a show or learning how the warriors of 500 to 2,000 years ago fought and what armor and weapons they used - this fair will have it.
Heck, enter the hatchet-targeting contest and see if you can beat me (given my elbow tendonitis, you probably will), or let the kids run around on a kid's quest scavenger hunt while you tip back a few frothy local beverages.
Many people dress up, maybe about half, but only a portion are actors from Shakespeare on the Edge, the Monroe-based non-profit serving youth throughout Green County. You will hear old-timey phrases like "morrow," "gramercy" and "not my tower" in English accents and see smiles everywhere you turn.
A recent grant from the state to Shakespeare on the Edge shows the event has promise to add great economic value to our area. The press release stated that our local economy in the county could see a $500,000 boost just for this one weekend.
I see a number like that and am taken aback. Not only is this event a joyous time, but the financial benefit for friends and neighbors throughout the county give me pride as well.
Now that I am a little bit older than your average child (but not by much), I am beginning to understand the real world - from the economy and industry to differences in politics and social philosophy. I understand why people are flocking to conventions of all types and I understand why they are growing and popping up all over.
A lot of people who for years felt weak for being labeled as "nerdy," or rode a small horse of guilt for having "nerdy obsessions," have started to realize they are not so different. In fact, we all like to indulge in our fantasy worlds occasionally. And this is becoming the norm.
And here in Green County, we are never far from these events. New Glarus, Dubuque, Madison, Rockford, Kenosha, Chicago - these are all single-day getaways. They are perfect for families, and they are perfect for individuals. Stop being scared.
And if you decide to make that change next weekend and head up to the Tell Grounds, you'll probably see me, clad in a lord's outfit, sporting a handlebar mustache, sipping something frothy from a steel mug and exchanging a unique trinket for a poop stone from Odoriferous ThunderBottom.
- Adam Krebs is a reporter for the Monroe Times and can be reached at akrebs@themonroetimes.net.
