Yes! It's true! A confirmed rumor that the Star Trek Experience will be re-opening in a new location off the Las Vegas Strip! I'm so excited, I haven't been able to think of anything else since Friday when I heard.
The Details:
The new location will be near the Fremont Street Experience, so somewhere north of the Stratosphere. It will be open (partially) in time for this year's Convention in August. They plan to have the restaurant and retail shops open. They are moving the museum artifacts, but they may not be in place by then. CBS/Paramount will either updating the rides or creating new ones, not sure yet, and they are slated to be fully operational in 2010. My guess would be in time for next year's Star Trek Con.
So when will I be going?! I've thought and planned (while maniacly rubbing my hands together) and decided on Star Trek Con 2012. Yes, I will need 3 years to save because this time I'm doing it all! Blaise will be graduating from high school that year, and Max should be just about finished with his Bachelor's if all continues on schedule. My plan is to be there for the entire Convention and maybe a few days on either side for other Vegas fun.
So there it is... I'm a happy Klingon again :)
Showing posts with label Star Trek. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Star Trek. Show all posts
Monday, March 2, 2009
Thursday, December 18, 2008
More Sad Star Trek News
Majel Barrett Rodenberry died today at 76 of leukemia. I was very sad to read about this. I have always loved her characterization of the formidable, but sexy Lwaxana Troi. I've found her voice as the computer comforting, even if she is ticking off an auto-destruct sequence. I did read that she is the computer voice on the new Star Trek movie scheduled for a May 2009 release. So it will be bittersweet to watch that movie when it comes out.
Farewell Mrs. Rodenberry, may you rest amoung the stars.
Farewell Mrs. Rodenberry, may you rest amoung the stars.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Star Trek: The Experiment
I don't think I'm giving anything away here by saying that while on the Klingon Encounter Mission, we are transported from one room onto the Enterprise. Yes, beam me up Scotty, we are beamed. We start off in a square gray room with video monitors and doors in front of us; the light go out, the air whooshes, and little flickers of light surround us for no more than 3 seconds, then the lights are on and we are standing on a transporter pad. Yes, the circular transporter pad, lighted floor, no monitors, no doors - just some Starfleet Lieutenant telling us we've been beamed through a temporal rift into the future. This room is not the same color, size, or anything as the one we were in less than 3 seconds before. How did they do it?!
Since I couldn't afford the Behind the Scenes Tour, Max and I were trying desperately to work this question out on our own. We rode 4 times on Day 3 just to see if we could figure it out. My first clue to the Experiment was the small print for the Behind the Scenes Tour that said you would have to sign a Confidentiality Agreement. My second clue was realizing that the first thing that happens to you as you pass through the doors for the Borg Invasion ride is a bioscan. Here is my theory:
11 years ago after many trials and errors, the government finally discovered transporter technology. We all know that Star Trek has been an inspiration for years and many things we have today can attributed to the franchise. (Let's face it - that flip phone? that's Kirk's communicator!) Once they discovered the technology and safely tested it on inorganic objects, it was time to test it on live animals and humans. This must have worked on the small scale, but I think maybe there were some issues with how far people could be transported. Like any government agency, they are only happy when something has been tested for 20 years on thousands of people. But the urgency was so great, "we have it, we need to perfect it, it has to be done now"; and so Star Trek the Experience was born.
How many people would volunteer to be dismantled at the molecular level if we aren't sure if we've got this totally right? A few, but not enough to get those conclusive 20 year results. What better way to have the volunteers coming in droves if we make it an amusement ride! When the Experience opened 10 years ago, it was only the Klingon Encounter - hundreds of thousands of people, fans, paying to be materialized elsewhere. Then once it was evident that yes these people can be transported, it was important to know if there were any cumulative effects - hence the Borg Invasion with its entry bioscan was born!
Let's face it, the Klingon mission is better, everyone who's been on it knows it. Since the admission, became an unlimited day pass, what do these hundreds of thousands of people do? Get transported multiple times and then get scanned once or twice depending on how slow that Klingon line is. So, they get a good luck at us on the cellular level after we've raced to be transported a few times. And now, hopefully and conclusively, they have all the evidence they need to prove that they have perfected materialization with no long term or cumulative effects. And so, they are closing down the Experiment and we should see transporter booths being erected all over the planet within 3-5 years.
Imagine: dinner in London, dessert in Sao Paolo! Beam me up again :)
And no, you can't smile when standing next to a Klingon or an Andorian. They'll think you are up to something and kill you where you stand. There are no questions before or after - and if you were a good Trekkie, you would know that!
Since I couldn't afford the Behind the Scenes Tour, Max and I were trying desperately to work this question out on our own. We rode 4 times on Day 3 just to see if we could figure it out. My first clue to the Experiment was the small print for the Behind the Scenes Tour that said you would have to sign a Confidentiality Agreement. My second clue was realizing that the first thing that happens to you as you pass through the doors for the Borg Invasion ride is a bioscan. Here is my theory:
11 years ago after many trials and errors, the government finally discovered transporter technology. We all know that Star Trek has been an inspiration for years and many things we have today can attributed to the franchise. (Let's face it - that flip phone? that's Kirk's communicator!) Once they discovered the technology and safely tested it on inorganic objects, it was time to test it on live animals and humans. This must have worked on the small scale, but I think maybe there were some issues with how far people could be transported. Like any government agency, they are only happy when something has been tested for 20 years on thousands of people. But the urgency was so great, "we have it, we need to perfect it, it has to be done now"; and so Star Trek the Experience was born.
How many people would volunteer to be dismantled at the molecular level if we aren't sure if we've got this totally right? A few, but not enough to get those conclusive 20 year results. What better way to have the volunteers coming in droves if we make it an amusement ride! When the Experience opened 10 years ago, it was only the Klingon Encounter - hundreds of thousands of people, fans, paying to be materialized elsewhere. Then once it was evident that yes these people can be transported, it was important to know if there were any cumulative effects - hence the Borg Invasion with its entry bioscan was born!
Let's face it, the Klingon mission is better, everyone who's been on it knows it. Since the admission, became an unlimited day pass, what do these hundreds of thousands of people do? Get transported multiple times and then get scanned once or twice depending on how slow that Klingon line is. So, they get a good luck at us on the cellular level after we've raced to be transported a few times. And now, hopefully and conclusively, they have all the evidence they need to prove that they have perfected materialization with no long term or cumulative effects. And so, they are closing down the Experiment and we should see transporter booths being erected all over the planet within 3-5 years.
Imagine: dinner in London, dessert in Sao Paolo! Beam me up again :)
And no, you can't smile when standing next to a Klingon or an Andorian. They'll think you are up to something and kill you where you stand. There are no questions before or after - and if you were a good Trekkie, you would know that!
Monday, August 18, 2008
Vacation: the Vegas part!
Soooo, merrily we went back across the Mohave desert, stopped at Jack in the Box (mandatory on any Southwest trip!), and got to Vegas at about 2 pm. The rest of that day we spent at the Star Trek Experience. We stopped a Borg Invasion and prevailed in our Klingon Encounter; we ate Sisko's Ribs at Quark's and revelled in Nog's Chocolate Cake for dessert. It was wonderful! Day 2, we went to the Stratosphere, went up the tower (1000+ ft in the air!) where Max rode their rooftop thrill rides while I sat serenely in the observation lounge taking pictures of the whole city. We then ate lunch at Top of the World revolving restaurant - which was mediocre at absolute best, but I suppose I was paying for the view. Then we stopped at Caesar's Palace for some shopping and to watch the Atlantis animatronics show - very cool. If I can ever figure out how to upload a video without overloading the computer, I'll do it. Then we went to the pool party at the Tropicana where we were staying and had dinner at Wolfgang Puck's Grill. Now there is true food talent.
Tomorrow Day 3 and the Conspiracy Theory!
Tomorrow Day 3 and the Conspiracy Theory!
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Convention Escapades
Okay, so here are a few pictures of us at the convention:
We heard some talks on space from some supersmart guys who work for the Space Program. Max of course understood all of it. I just sat there with my jaw hanging open. We saw a few (maybe 10% of the attendees) costumed fans walking around - very imaginative people :) We also accidentally walked into a room where people play those really long strategy games like Dungeons and Dragons. Whoa! I was a little freaked out by the intensity of those guys! This is more than a hobby; it's a way of life for them! I won't say anymore so I don't offend anyone who might like that sort of thing - but dang! get a real life before you get sucked in too far!
More on another day...
We heard some talks on space from some supersmart guys who work for the Space Program. Max of course understood all of it. I just sat there with my jaw hanging open. We saw a few (maybe 10% of the attendees) costumed fans walking around - very imaginative people :) We also accidentally walked into a room where people play those really long strategy games like Dungeons and Dragons. Whoa! I was a little freaked out by the intensity of those guys! This is more than a hobby; it's a way of life for them! I won't say anymore so I don't offend anyone who might like that sort of thing - but dang! get a real life before you get sucked in too far!
More on another day...
Friday, July 11, 2008
BaltiCon: Shore Leave 30
Alrighty! We're off to Maryland for the local Star Trek convention! We will be having a Klingon feast on Friday night, convention on Saturday, going to Masquerade to see all the costumed contestants, and partying in Ten Forward or Vic's Lounge on Saturday night.
Max and I will take lots of pictures (no, we're not dressing up! I would only do that if I had a PERFECT costume.) I will post them when we get back - oh happy day!
Max and I will take lots of pictures (no, we're not dressing up! I would only do that if I had a PERFECT costume.) I will post them when we get back - oh happy day!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Star Trek: the continuing saga
So I told Max about The Experience closing doors and gave him the option of going this year, before it closes and no big Vegas convention this year or next; or continuing with the original plan. He chose to go this year - to experience The Experience before there is no Experience to experience!
Many many thanks are extended to the Grandmas Deluxe for providing a Grandma Grant that will allow us to take this trip. My sister also happens to be in great need of assistance. She lives in eastern Mohave Desert California and expecting her 4th child in August. It seems no one is brave enough to take care of her 10 yo, 3 yo, almost 2 yo boys, 2 dogs, and 1 kitten for two days and nights while she and hubby are in the hospital. Enter Super Sister to the rescue! Able to corral creeping critters, soothe screaming siblings, and cook nutritional meals in a single skillet. (I can't keep the house clean though - that's up to Fly Lady.)
Max and I will depart for Las Vegas the second week of August and drive to California where my sister will promptly enter the hospital and have a silent, serene, swift delivery. We will entertain the pets and walk the children for a couple of days, ooo and ahhh over the baby for another day. Then back to Vegas we go to experience The Experience.
I'm a huge Hell's Kitchen and Top Chef fan, so we may try to eat a meal at Rock's restaurant. Definitely will be eating at Quark's and any Wolfgang Puck restaurant. We want to go up in the Stratosphere and be at the top and I don't know what else.
This time, when I take pictures with Klingons and Ferengi, I will have them actually printed and not stored on my computer like I did the last time. Only to have them all completely lost due to a lightening storm power surge computer crash 2 months after they were taken.
We are really looking forward to this trip! It will be wonderful to see family and my new niece as well as say goodbye to a very big part of our world. Those who are Trekkies would understand - there is a lot of emotion involved, sort of like a Playoff football game. My only regret is that Blaise won't be able to go and he is a huge fan.
Many many thanks are extended to the Grandmas Deluxe for providing a Grandma Grant that will allow us to take this trip. My sister also happens to be in great need of assistance. She lives in eastern Mohave Desert California and expecting her 4th child in August. It seems no one is brave enough to take care of her 10 yo, 3 yo, almost 2 yo boys, 2 dogs, and 1 kitten for two days and nights while she and hubby are in the hospital. Enter Super Sister to the rescue! Able to corral creeping critters, soothe screaming siblings, and cook nutritional meals in a single skillet. (I can't keep the house clean though - that's up to Fly Lady.)
Max and I will depart for Las Vegas the second week of August and drive to California where my sister will promptly enter the hospital and have a silent, serene, swift delivery. We will entertain the pets and walk the children for a couple of days, ooo and ahhh over the baby for another day. Then back to Vegas we go to experience The Experience.
I'm a huge Hell's Kitchen and Top Chef fan, so we may try to eat a meal at Rock's restaurant. Definitely will be eating at Quark's and any Wolfgang Puck restaurant. We want to go up in the Stratosphere and be at the top and I don't know what else.
This time, when I take pictures with Klingons and Ferengi, I will have them actually printed and not stored on my computer like I did the last time. Only to have them all completely lost due to a lightening storm power surge computer crash 2 months after they were taken.
We are really looking forward to this trip! It will be wonderful to see family and my new niece as well as say goodbye to a very big part of our world. Those who are Trekkies would understand - there is a lot of emotion involved, sort of like a Playoff football game. My only regret is that Blaise won't be able to go and he is a huge fan.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Star Trek: The Experience is Closing It's Doors!
I was quite saddened to learn that Star Trek: The Experience will be closing its doors after 11 years of bringing the Gene Roddenberry universe to our doorstep. The annual convention is going on as usual and has been scheduled already for next year, but the themed attraction will be no more after Sept 1, 2008.
I can remember my first visit there in 1998. They only had the Klingon Encounter back then, but it was fantastic! The model ships, the costumes, the ride itself, and of course, Quark's. I was so thrilled to be there that I snuck a menu home with me - soon to be a collector's item, I'm sure. It was my first trip to Vegas and the only reason I went. I don't even like to gamble. It was only a 2 day trip, having driven from our then-home in Phoenix, and my feet were swollen from the amount of walking that had to be done there. No monorail at that time.
My second trip was in the summer of 2004 with my mother, a gift trip from her boss. She didn't want to go to Vegas, but I convinced that it was tons of fun and you don't even have to gamble. I just wanted to go to The Experience again. Thankfully, she had a great time there, and since we had 5 days, we saw lots and ate lots. I had all these fabulous pictures taken with Klingons; we spent time in Quark's. Borg Invasion 4D was a new ride (scared the patootie off me!) - price was double now; but no matter - it was Star Trek. Much to my chagrin, a manicurist told me that we had missed the convention by a couple of days and that she always did Marina Sirtis' nails. Bummer for me.
So, Max and I had planned to go there next summer for the convention and The Experience as a high school graduation present for him. We were going to fly part of the way, drive some of it, take a couple of weeks and do the whole thing right. Now, this sad news is upon us.
I know they had conventions for years without the Star Trek Experience, but now that it's been there - will it ever be the same? Who makes these decisions and why? 8000 tickets have been sold for this year's convention before this press release. Obviously, people love this!
Tune in later for the continuing saga....
I can remember my first visit there in 1998. They only had the Klingon Encounter back then, but it was fantastic! The model ships, the costumes, the ride itself, and of course, Quark's. I was so thrilled to be there that I snuck a menu home with me - soon to be a collector's item, I'm sure. It was my first trip to Vegas and the only reason I went. I don't even like to gamble. It was only a 2 day trip, having driven from our then-home in Phoenix, and my feet were swollen from the amount of walking that had to be done there. No monorail at that time.
My second trip was in the summer of 2004 with my mother, a gift trip from her boss. She didn't want to go to Vegas, but I convinced that it was tons of fun and you don't even have to gamble. I just wanted to go to The Experience again. Thankfully, she had a great time there, and since we had 5 days, we saw lots and ate lots. I had all these fabulous pictures taken with Klingons; we spent time in Quark's. Borg Invasion 4D was a new ride (scared the patootie off me!) - price was double now; but no matter - it was Star Trek. Much to my chagrin, a manicurist told me that we had missed the convention by a couple of days and that she always did Marina Sirtis' nails. Bummer for me.
So, Max and I had planned to go there next summer for the convention and The Experience as a high school graduation present for him. We were going to fly part of the way, drive some of it, take a couple of weeks and do the whole thing right. Now, this sad news is upon us.
I know they had conventions for years without the Star Trek Experience, but now that it's been there - will it ever be the same? Who makes these decisions and why? 8000 tickets have been sold for this year's convention before this press release. Obviously, people love this!
Tune in later for the continuing saga....
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