STLV Logs - an OPN Oral History

Producer John's log, Open Pike Night STLV coverage

co-host log stardate August 3. I am eager to meet up with my boys John weekend and our second convention ever.

Jesse's log Star Trek Las Vegas 2023 I had an absolute blast. I, as many Trek convention before. I mean, we went to Fan Expo Portland. But that was more It wasn't Star Trek specific

prepping for STLV. A first time goer it takes some work. STLV is get to. It's a big deal. It's a big convention. As we got closer and closer and travel and lodging, it definitely became apparent that this was a convention than Fan Expo Portland was

Star Trek Las Vegas. Now our experiences at Fan Expo Portland, they just I was aquiver with anticipation that with this weekend would bring we

really tell like there was some some moments there where we were kind of watching the latest Star Trek shows especially strange new worlds. And the Trek Las Vegas. It was 100% Trekkies, and I actually had also never been to whammy of just brand new, amazing experiences for me.

I want to give a huge shout out to the Strange New Pod right direction for joining some resources to get potentially discounted able to do. So yeah, huge shout out and thank you for the support, we did reach don't really do anything with podcasts kind of weird in 2023. And that we had credentials. This is a freedom of the press country. So that's a little requirements. Just saying

John, of course, being the responsible producer that he is drove vehicle while we were in Vegas. And he stopped and picked up like

I've been to Vegas enough times and I learned some lessons at the us up at Costco so that we would not be at the mercy of Vegas restaurants or and we would stay hydrated so I got some bottles of water,

a flat of water, a bunch of snacks like things that would keep us without you know being exhausted. So protein bars, granola bars, these really things. I don't know what they were but they were amazing. I ate like most of a

Got some little fruit pouches, mixed nuts, stuff like that. yeah. Coffee, plenty. Plenty of coffee.

I think John got into Vegas. First. No, I got to Vegas first. Because drive. You know flying in I could see that brand new sphere. That was really

I rented a car, picked it up and was nice to have a nice more throw in cruise and just bombed down the highway. And it also let me load up with podcast, remote recording gear.

So I got to Vegas first and the airport had Slot machines in it which trip. And they also had like Kylie Jenner makeup vending machines. I mean, vending machines. Any kind of item that you want is in a vending machine.

It was a good drive down. Interstate most of the way. The weather slalom through the tiny bit of Arizona on I- 15 that gets you into Nevada and sending me messages now and then I can tell oh boy,

all of the restaurants in the airport were not great, but it was cool your card on your way out. Just pick whatever you want tap your card on the efficient airport I've ever been into. When I was leaving. I timed it from the me like 20 minutes. It was it was amazing. They had like 14 security lines smoothly.

Tried to get there as fast as I could to pick him up, pulled up we the right rendezvous spot to pick him up. But once he got there stepped out of

It was very hot. Once we all finally met up, we decided to go find

It's August in Vegas, of course it was hot, waited around four time. And we snagged him and off we went to find some food had a pod vote saw a

And we found this great little taco place off the strip, it was very kind of thing that you want to start a long day with.

After a quick taco break, we immediately hit the Con floor,

Got to the convention and parking was not too bad. There's a garage is at the exact geographical farthest spot from where the convention just walking between the parking garage and the convention floor while we were was through the Rio looking for where we were supposed to check in and get our got the more trekkies we saw the more costumes we saw the more Federation followed the line of Trekkies back and found the registration.

Maybe we just got lucky with the timing. But registration went super got our bracelets, all the staff we talked through, I just want to say now

We got the full Vegas experience like I or, I assume we did hit the

floor and did some recon.

The lobby had that great big Borg centerpiece, which I'm sure you've was cool. Had to get our picture in front of that. But we quickly got on to

This is a physically big convention. And it isn't a casino. So they had maps in the pamphlets I will say for all the issues that I have with Information was mostly extremely easy to find.

Thursday was a good day to be there. There were fewer people there of

and Scott from the spy heart podcast, longtime listener, Jen and her really great to actually be able to shake hands and say, Hey, Jesse from Convo and her family. And true to her podcast name. She got me a conversation

but there were still tons of celebrities and some of them even had just like walk up and talk to the celebrities. You didn't necessarily have

She brought me up. We I had my little tiny Wes, I think she called them some sort of diminutive Bev and West sweater action figures and she was me up. I may have helped facilitate an interview between those two events. So great start within like an hour of being in the convention. It was super

So we checked out the merch room, I was really surprised to taken up with autograph tables

was actually a little smaller than I thought it would be. The merch a lot of like sign posters and, and lobby cards, a couple of good kind of of small jewelry stands, but really not a lot. The tribble place was cool. I for my kids and they were excited for that. But yeah, after like the was definitely not about the merch or the vendors familiarizing

ourselves with the layout of that and where people we wanted to there. Some folks weren't as Thursday, there was still setup going on. under them. There definitely wasn't full attendance because of the Week Day. So

really, really cool. I recommend if you go in the future to go on to get all of the signatures and photo ops that you want. The only catch there some of the actors didn't show up till Friday or Saturday.

Like what surprised me about the merch and autograph room. Is an hour later than that the next few days but it was closed and done

definitely try Thursday. But you know, I, I have to recommend going to it was so much fun.

After our initial visit, we went back and I got us checked into because again, it was 106 degrees. In Vegas, we didn't want to leave all our

had a great time watching TOS with the boys while we were making

figure with eight different stickers instead of us trying each from different pockets. I had got some little Ziploc baggies to organize. there and just have them easy on hand to distribute to listeners fans, old fans, guards once we had those all put together. Consensus was hey, we're Strip. If you've never been to Vegas before. And Jesse learned this fact. commercials. But my God, are you going to walk nonstop in Las Vegas. And we did I think we had walked about six miles through the convention that day already. across the interstate to get dinner, we ended up walking another six miles that

Quick story here we had made up some name badge stickers that said your name. And then below it says I fly the ship. You know, like Ortegas. were a big hit at the con. We'll have them up on the store very soon, I while we were walking through a strip and a couple of hot cop strippers who I take pictures with them. I wasn't really sure what the gimmick was, but they were guys. And they walked by me and they're like "Hey Cameron", and for a split punked me and hired him to give me a hard time I don't know and then I name on it and was like oh, yeah, that that makes sense. So just smiled had a good time on the strip had some giant pizza. I

think it was pinup pizza giant giant slices of pizza, but we got Bellagio fountain go off made

way too many Ocean's 11 references in front of the you know the

especially for Jesse being there the first time a lot of street indicative of like, yeah, if you've never been to the strip before a

just to Thursday night. But yeah, good time. Good time,

trudged all the way back to the hotel. And we passed out. In night, we had tried to get our "Subspace Rhapsody" group viewing together to like, Nah, man, I gotta fall asleep. Not just us. But everybody we invited Friday first kick Jesse's Matrice. Welcome up. And we got geared up.

We woke up early to get to the convention early to try to snag some of autographs I wanted to get

we started the morning off in different spots. I had to go get had left my delta at home. So I picked one up talk to Mark Patten, our buddy see him his booth was busy all weekend long.

Now you all heard about, you know, our signature opportunities that about those and we put them put those signatures on our apron that we just

Open Pike Night that was filling up our apron for the giveaway we hadn't met yet.

That was so cool. Like to finally meet some of the people that we have really amplified my enjoyment of the show.

We never ate lunch. All the days we were there we the last lunch Thursday. after that. It was purely just con snacks from Costco as a group we got sitting at a table in the merch room right next to Anson and man, we were through their lines. And Anson is an autograph machine. He was laser focused,

but we met Chrissy and each got a copy of her CD. So

we introduced ourselves it was pretty obvious what group we big Open Pike Night. signs on our chest with our T shirts that morning. She was chat. She signed our the apron she

was thrilled to hear about it. She was just so bubbly. You could see interacting with fans.

If you heard our interview with her several episodes back she convention, if you haven't heard the interview with Christina Chong, listen interviews, they're really good. So Marina and Levar were right next to each signatures was a little bit of a game of musical chairs because their lines were gauge the speed. That's something you got to do with autograph lines is not at how fast they're moving and who you should probably get to first. And so was right next to her Todd Stashwick, and man, I've been a fan of Todd like, I gotta do it. I gotta get Stashwick's autograph. So I hopped over, about trek a little bit, but mainly I told him Hey, man, your episode of Sarah one of my favorites. It's a great episode. And he he signed got a selfie guy. He seemed to truly enjoy being there and interacting with everybody. I somebody who remembers being a fan of this. And now, here he is one of the Star Trek shows. And here he is on the other side of the table signing was just great to meet the man.

I was in line to get Michael Dorn's autograph and realize I was just was incredibly sweet and let me $10 So I wouldn't lose my place online. Now I handlers faith in humanity, so I had to pay her back before they left. But I like one of the few times I was I was floating a drift solo. I did however, graciously lent me the tenner so I could pay back the handler. Then I found Jesse And then finally I wound up paying back Jesse. So basically, this whole story is best. You're the best guys.

We got into the Bruce Horak line

met Bruce that day. That was a really cool experience. Because first we him to show up. We met our line buddy who eventually became our con pal are

The man the myth, the legend, Aaron from the Bruce line,

Aaron from the Bruce line as he's now known,

of course, I have to mention Aaron from the Bruce line, which I line. Everybody knows about line buddies at the con, right? Like when you go to a those people and other lines go, Hey, we have the same interests. It creates a Bruce line became more than a line buddy. He was a friend. He like before episodes. It was

really fun getting to meet him. And then yeah, they said the lines

Someone in line heard that Bruce wasn't coming for a while. So the

so we loitered we were there's no other there's no other name loitering.

We were kind of standing around trying to figure out what to do next hopped in like third in line. He did seem genuinely excited to meet us in

like, "is this them? Is this the Open Pipe Night crew?" and gotta say, if that had been the only time that happened at STLV. That would definitely not the only time because it happened

with Chrissy. This was not our final interaction with the Horak though happened the next day.

And then it happened again with Celia. And then it happened again with Dan Jeannotte. It was just great to see that the folks we've talked to on like genuinely happy to see us again. Or they're just the greatest performers in

But Friday was the one day that Melissa Navio was going to be here so

headed over to the Melissa photoshoot. This is where I had really Creation Entertainment is at pulling money out of people's wallets. You could tickets way nicer than they needed to be. I don't know why somebody would keep definitely printed them up. Like they were going to be a souvenir. And they two people to go up and get a photo. So if you wanted more than two people, you bullshit that is really kind of a sleazebag move and I would like to think would be surprised if every celebrity there knew that that was the deal. But The folks are already paying plenty of money to get these pictures and to make group that's that's not a great look Creation. That's not a great look.

We get in line with her photo op, we're getting a bunch of photo ops getting Chekov that line was crazy, though it

was great is that we had a fantastic time just waiting in the line much fun it is just to strike up a conversation with strangers in a line. nerdy thing.

They were all wearing our big My name is not just the stickers. We had normal size shirts with a big kind of logo on the front

John Cam Jesse and I fly the ship emblazoned T-shirts with Open happy with those and man were they getting a great reaction from from folks lot of conversations. So glad we had those glad we had the stickers. We were line. And then the moment came, we got to go up and we finally got to see her sure seemed like she was psyched to see us

big smile. She even has the photographer take two pictures with us, just being shuffled through this, but it's still going kind of at a blur and you later. Don't worry.

Joke's on you Creation, we got two pictures nnyway, for our two the gauntlet.

So these are the regimented lines for autographs. And they are weird

If folks were sitting in tables in the merch room, you could walk a ticket ahead of time, just pay right there and get your autograph, get your If you were doing the managed tickets, you had to go to a separate table, buy them. You could also go online and do it digitally via PDF some for some reason.

and no one really knows how they work. And they last forever and go the person who went the most past was Melissa. So we kind of got in line near I think Jess, we were waiting on at the same time. Yep. Jess

as we're getting up there. That's when the second really shady you have to have a ticket to go through this line. If you only have one ticket wow,

no, no. So even though Open Pike Night is like you know where a not in the eyes of these people know so

if a parent is their with their kid, they have to buy two tickets Star Trek actor with their kid Creation. Come on. This is BS like, I don't like the way that Creation is running this convention. I don't care that it's 57 detriment to it. But this was another really just just crappy way to treat money to be there already. So we did rock paper scissors. Nah I think Cam and And so I got to go up and meet Celia. She was chatting with folks as she was handler was was doing a great job every every we call them handlers. The knew everybody's name. I don't. I know some of the folks were sharing handlers. the talent or if they were just licensed as I'll be your handler for this I'm kind of curious because I made a couple of the same handlers for out the apron stopped in front of Celia and said, "hey, it's John from Open Pike biggest smile. And she stood up which she hadn't been doing with other people for what we're doing with Open Pike Night with bringing so many voices to said she appreciated hearing people asking her questions and telling her having. And it was just it was just a really meaningful moment to meet this people and just have her pass some of that same feeling right on back to me. Melissa was also starting up so I was also given Jess duty. It

was long and it was taking a while and they even had to move us out going to do a screening there. So we all kind of winding through the halls of the spot

finishing up with Jess I step out, and the Melissa line has gone.

kind of snaked around this big hallway. And we're there for a long more new line buddies in line great time being had,

we got to talk to a really cool couple in line with us who are now married and have just been attending it was it was pretty, pretty while we waited,

finally, we get up there, but only one person and with a ticket so it use the old you know, Cameron charm and see if we could get the rest of us in room, the line snakes into the room, and there's Melissa, just having such a good person in line. Even though she had been there for hours. She was just acting was infectious and great and warm and giving. So I go in there. "Hey, signing the apron. I actually kind of freeze for a bit. I don't know what to about the line and you know, say that I hope she had gotten to eat dinner (she hey, yeah, you know, the rest of the guys are out there. Only one of us can done. Can we just kind of we just want to say hi. She goes Oh, yeah, yeah, for kind of make sure to kind of say loudly. So all the handlers Could hear "All end. And then we'll come back. All right, everybody. See, she said, It's get to big time. The people in our line, I go up to John and Jesse and be like,

And this was another moment where you could tell it hurt the end. And we can go back then". I think some of the people didn't quite cast and crew. Because once the couple got up there, they had one ticket and they had to husband stayed outside and waited with Jesse and I, you could really see that both go in and express their appreciation and meet one of their Star and she genuinely looked sad and said, I should have sent you in and not sad that couldn't. And then Cam came out.

Anyway, so we're sitting there waiting for the line to finish up. We do handlers. He tells us that everyone left"Yeah, sorry, guys. They all left. I

He put on an Oscar worthy performance. He, he made us believe it.

I kind of believed that for half a second. But no, he was just was done well, I have to appreciate the the effort for there. So we all go back amazing as you would hope she she did seem genuinely. It was just like meeting friends or listeners we were meeting for the first time like, it felt like we She gave us each Big hugs said hey, talk about her Mortegas mug and how she tries and stuff which was very sweet. We gave her a packet of stickers. We talked kind of seemed as miffed as anyone that it took so long. She's like, are other And probably not as well as She is I mean some some people don't really talk Apparently, Melissa big talker. But you know, that's what's great about her

Joey, Melissa's handler / asssistant guy, man, he was super But Joey was a great guy. He took some pictures of us as a group we all got to and and realize like, Man, what a crazy ride. It's been so far since the end of plans to talk with her as soon as the strike is over or sometime during season to be able to thank her in person for kind of being the the impetus for doing in the first place. When we started Open Pike Night.

I kind of tried to plant some seeds about getting dinner together. She gonna push it. So you know, we all set our buys and look for another Melissa

Oh, and of course, there was the little instance where we stopped at the of the Rio because we were just dead hungry. We were starving and zero John DeLancie and Robert Picardo having dinner together.

That was cool that counts

obviously we didn't approach them, because we're not. We're not that to reinforce like, this is a place where you can go to be among your people.

So yeah, we decided to do family style while sitting next to Q and and some ginger chicken, some potstickers and this is this is how We'd ordered a big one of ginger chicken because that was the server told us that oh hell yeah, ginger chicken comes with watercress. Ask Cam and Jesse. You guys watercress. I've also had no Have it. Have all you want. Come on guys, chicken and watercrest took a big bite. Nope. Nope. Pure ginger, just pure minute to get over. But also,

you know, sitting there and having dinner with John and Cameron, and how big of an opportunity this is for the show. And how we feel like we made a lot of networking. While Q and the doctor sat one table away just it made I know I'm not but it made me feel that way. And any experience that can do that

You know, I didn't get sick at the end of the convention. So pure ginger root really helped.

When we got there. Episode Nine had just come out. And everybody was you are these people going to be watching this on their phones? Like what is how And obviously some folks had laptops and stuff but another shout out to producer to bring a projector screen with.

Then we went upstairs and watch the musical episode. John had brought a wall with a bunch of friends who hadn't seen it yet.

Our good friend Jen, who is an amazing supporter had a slight mishap upgraded her to a suite. I mean, coolest mistake ever right. And she was gracious to her suite to watch the musical episode together. And that was just an

That was the spy hards. It was Jen and her husband, it was our friend

from the Bruce line was there. It was just watching Star Trek with Trek. I'm just going to repeat that. How do

you beat that day? It was a good day. Well, let me introduce you to

Usually when John Cameron and I are together, there's a lot of like references, you know, pop culture, things like that. And I feel like I slight age difference between me and the guys. And that's totally cool. I super learning from them about like media literacy and you know how to actually that. I don't always employ those because I feel like my job here is to be I really do appreciate that from them. But we went to Denny's on I think it was there had this very specific TV show that she couldn't remember. She was, you cool. Are you in town for the convention? Of course you are. Yeah. But show, I think it was called monsters, which I had literally never heard of. on TV. And the little girl only had one eye. And I was immediately like, Okay, going on? Turns out I think it was called monsters. But it turns out that one I was thinking like something awful, right? But it turns out that was by They're like, Oh my god, I totally remember that show. Like we all Googled heard or seen anything of this show in my life. But the point is, like, even Trekkies were just super passionate people, right like it. I have never been there. I thought you could only visit there. But this waitress was like super And she took I mean, she's spent 10-15 minutes just hanging out with us talking his kids and like ragging on bosses, right? Like, that's always a fun thing this entire trip that I didn't have a blast with.

So after a good breakfast at Denny's and some walk down TV memory Rio.

So right off the bat, we kind of show up, didn't have quite as much of autographs we needed. And we thought, well, even though we'd gotten Anson's say hi to him there. I mean, our podcast is named after his character. So we for a selfie.

We were in line to see him and we thought, you know, okay, we'll just get signature on the apron, so we don't need to worry about that. So we're in line Strange New Worlds uniform. He had the phaser like full cosplay. We're like, podcasts stickers? And he just went"No". Like, flat "No". So we're like, really, really cool. Because about five minutes later,

as we get up to to his handler, we find out that Oh, selfies aren't I say not quite that smugly but close.

And she laughed and said, "I love you guys".

Which that was cool.

"But I can't because if I do it for you that I got to do it for that's totally cool". And she goes, "but you can talk to him if you want to just

So we're like, well, that works. That's all we wanted to do. And another chance to kind of big time the person behind us who really didn't want funny. Some people just do not want stickers from a podcast. But he hi, the funny thing here. All three of us were online. But John had just heard and he disappeared to make a call or something

as soon as Kristy, Anson's awesome assistant told Kevin Jesse now out because, breakfast hit coffee hit.

So it was just me and Jesse going, looking around going "where'd Anson." So we get up there. We talked to him a bit about the convention. He asked to go into Cam over explaining mode. I was about to start talking about how we yada.

And I like I feel like on the left side of my head, I could feel jumped in and said, "Yes, we are"

Thankfully Jesse just jumps in very smartly and acutely and goes. "Yes. Want to get together for five minutes later?" Yes, Mr. Anson mount that. Yeah, like,

what? Like, we were. We were blown away by that. And I think my in line behind us that didn't want stickers just saw Anson Mount offer us everything works out as long as you just have faith at the heart, I guess. Right?

So that was cool. We got his handlers info. And for the next few holding pattern waiting to hear when Anson would be free for a quick five

So after a quick break Ansan had some lunch delivered that might be us in the back room. The storage room there was like all these stacked chairs

The back hallways were vast, cathedral-like the air handlers press of humanity in the conference hall. We sat on an electric cart, tables. A lone chair sits in the middle of the floor in front of us. If it had be accusing us... from down the hall we hear the sound of cowboy boots and then a voice smooth as the hair atop the man's head says "I hear you want to can being opened. And Snickers mini wrappers crackling because the very well. Anson Mount sits down to talk with Open Pike Night

and he really gave us like, I mean you've heard the interview he and thought about what we said and thought about what he said we're able

to talk to him not about Strange New Worlds but you know the been up to and yeah, it was just good kind of making that connection with you know, we wanted to talk to any of the cast, he could make it happen. We you know, it's good to have that in their pocket. That was it was a really

And that's like he set the bar for my first ever Star Trek convention don't I'm not going to speak for John and Cameron, but I know that they agree trip. So I was just beside myself with joy. And as we were leaving that entrance into the crowd, and it was just like, you guys, I feel like we've just a Strange New Worlds podcast, right? Like, it felt amazing.

Here's what you need to understand about LeVar Burton. He's He's every bit as awesome as you think he is. He's a really good group selfie online somewhere but that is levar Burton's handiwork taking a picture with Burton, man that was that was absolutely meaning a childhood hero. Both Reading experience. For Saturday,

we went back to Bruce Horak's line because we realized it was his wanting to wish him happy birthday, I think I said something like Oh, yeah, I would get all sing Happy Birthday to you at but you don't you don't want to hear just kind of folded his arms, sat back and looked at us and like, what are you Bruce Horak at that point? now we sing happy birthday to him. And that was people to chime in. Not a lot. But yeah, it was a nice little moment with him.

So we collected some thoughts about episode nine from the con while they were there. We decided to go back to our room and fired up the screener for episode 10 "Hegemony". And by God opened pike Knight was going to worlds together for the first time ever to find out what we thought about it a couple a couple episodes back and check out the retrospectives while Open Pike Night con karaoke. Number two,

all of our listeners who had sounded down to karaoke earlier had totally understandable reasons. You know, I mean, we've kind of just guessed would be a good place.

Our second Uber driver did not speak to us at all, like zero it was just get in the car silently drive to karaoke, and then get out.

So it's just us and Aaron from the Bruce line showed up and it was all place. But you know, you could plug in your phone and play any karaoke you was cool.

I had found this highly rated little off strip karaoke place, I sure. And we got there told them, hey, I have the VIP room booked. So we had a somebody else booked it. This place was great. Don't get me wrong. I'm gonna say booked it and maybe they had not put my name down or something like that. They The three of us and Aaron from the Bruce line we crank through our songs. I sang Fears, some Eve 6, all the classics.

But yeah, you know, we knew we we four could have a good time. But then their friends of DeSoto in tow. And yeah, it just took it to a whole

nother level Ben and Adam from Greatest Trek and Greatest Generation. real party and a truly memorable thing that none of us will ever forget. But had their producer Wendy with them

pretty much just after the greatest Trek crew showed up. They told(me). They never showed up. Do you guys want us to move you in there so you can to move you to the VIP room? You say yes. When they say do you want to go back hall. You say yes. When Melissa Navia says stick around you say yes, so

They brought the party it was an incredible night of karaoke and rice that John introduced me to but it was like Capri Suns

Cam is a soju convert but alcoholic

and yeah, I am not good at karaoke but with a little of that liquid touch from the transformers and a little lie we don't need another hero. Yeah, I

And we just had a great night of karaoke. I don't want to just which was literally everybody who came got up, sang, and I think they really is literally about just having fun and blowing off steam from a long Wendy Priddy producer of greatest track she has got a hell of a singing voice from her that wasn't part of one of the group songs but man the highlight of the soju to all the amazing karaoke and three of the sign of the bathroom that's throw up in the sink please throw up in the toilet which you know what? That's

Great time had by all you know, I think was the right number of people good time with those guys help Jesse

sing Turn the Page. I feel pretty good about my rendition of I felt like I brought the room down. Everybody was in tears for some reason, Jen did a great job. Ruston did a great job. Adam, Ben Wendy cam Jesse, just a

as we were. As we left karaoke. John called us an Uber, because he's the up. And you know, we're all post-karaoke. So we're not 100% We it took us a second to figure out how to open the doors because it's it is not particular Tesla, how the doors are supposed to open from the outside, but driver, super cool, like, sweetest guy he was, you know, how are you guys enjoy should go. If you're into this kind of food, here's where you should go. If check out this show. He actually keyed us into a place called Secret pizza. And that is. Turns out, it's exactly what it sounds like. It's a pizza place that Cosmo, I believe. And you walk all the way past like the VIP line and the unmarked hallway to the left. And if you go down this hallway about 40 feet there secret pizza place and wow, was it good. Now, my body disagrees with that of rice wine and pizza late at night that really started messing with me the the next morning was Sunday. It was our last day there. So it was like, You know through these next couple hours, everything's gonna be fine. And it was

I just realized we ate pizza two out of the three nights there. pizza. It was better than the pinup pizza on the Strip. Just massive wooden lined walls and ceiling with all Italian LP sleeves. I was a pretty cool setup.

pizza.

I cannot remember where the fourth Uber driver was. He must have strip to get dinner. Because this guy, like, completely misread our group, like dudes of a certain age. And we didn't have our wives with us or girlfriends or part of what he did was like a defensive tactic because he was thinking like, I don't know them. Like, what if they're dangerous? I don't think we project guy's car, he's like, What do you need hookers? Do you need blow? Like what is laughed, you know? But then the conversation just kept going and it kind about that. I was like, man, we are not the crowd for this. Like, we're Trekkies don't worry about it. We're just trying to get back to our hotel. Right. And he was probably running through a script, right? Like when you pick up three guys anybody. Here's what you offer and make more money. I don't know. Again, I've naive, I guess. But he was nice. It was just like we got the whole gamut of Uber pretty funny

and then crashed hard that night. And then Sunday Sunday was pretty afternoon

took our sweet time. Went found breakfast at another place

we had

the greatest track Pool Party is the Pranica cabanica which of course is greatest track and greatest generation. They rented out the cabana at the Rio Wendy. And all of the friends of DeSoto in the pool. And I mean talk about a coming from all over the country to see those guys and meet up with them. And teachers and investment bankers and just people from all walks of life showing up know, talk about how much they love the Greatest Trek and Greatest Generation i have worn sunscreen.

I got torched in that pool.

I knew I was got a little bit of sunburn.

That was that was probably the one absolutely huge mistake that I made. gonna be out here for like 30-40 minutes. I'm going to be in the pool. absolutely ravaged by sunburns across my shoulders and most of my face.

But yeah, I realized like, oh, yeah, there's a pool here. Nice. That's

But it was totally worth it. We had a lot of fun. Everybody there was got to be in a big group photo with everybody at the end. And I just feel Trek Las Vegas this year that we absolutely have to go back next year.

We'll have to do more of that next year. Kind of did one final round this last minutes. Like, hey, we're standing here. Doug Jones just showed up walked by and his lines not huge, and I've got an extra $40 Hey, guys, let's Jones. So, the three of us Aaron from the Doug line. Not the Doug line, the Aaron? Well, you did join us on the dog line. We all got up there. It was the way to end this trip. Guys. If you ever have the chance to get a selfie with going on name is do it. He cradles your soul. When he hugs you he i I've never cradles your face. And he just says these wonderful things to you. And he to each person in the group. And then he says right off the bat. Okay, guys, you want to do? And so we do these great selfies. You know, we just do one speechless. And so he has to take over and be like, Okay, everybody cradle Jones rolls and when you're with Doug Jones do as Doug Jones does, so we all we got to do a vampire one because you're in the Shadow of the Vampire not show is he in anyway season that one but I haven't watched yet but I know he is. of fun. And then we all go home.

It was time to take Cam and Jesse back to the airport to fly I had one more autograph ticket in my pocket. And he wasn't signing until from the airport to the Rio not a terrible drive. It's not like this is a few people it was definitely an emptier day and I got in line for the autograph quick. He had the same handlers that Jess had had the day before I got up like Hey, I recognize this. Dan recognize me we talked a little bit I the final episode and now understood his one word tease. And he got excited about his his work on the show and it was great to see him and a fantastic way to Rio but you know what? I do want to shout out the same two folks who had at Melissa signing including the one who played the prank on us of "Hey man, she me a Paul Wesley signature for the apron. Man for all the issues I have any of the employees on the floor. I was glad to hear they were getting paid this volunteering in the past. But Sunday afternoon was a really interesting mean, that was the day Shatner spoke, it was just a strange kind of denoument. If camp or something, you get that camp sadness. At the end of the week when you that.

And that was the end of a magical weekend, but not the end of the picture to Twitter, and I tagged him in it. And a few days later, he did like it and said, yes, me and my husband were at Star Trek Las Vegas. As an added of your pictures with Doug, that photographer: Carrie Henn, who's mostly Mostly,

I of course would be remiss if I didn't shout out everybody that we met listens to the show, Jessi from Crusher Convo. Deb Delena Thad. Adam, Ben Aaron so many Jenn, of course. And Jenn's incredibly patient husband who allowed musical episode. i... I missed you guys already. And I cannot wait until Star we really have a special group of friends and supporters and listeners chance to really pay back some of that generosity and to just be in the same we love. Jen wore our GornHub t shirt around the con floor like all day One deeply touching. Right? Like you're wearing our stupid joke shirt in a place where did where did you get the stupid joke shirt I would like to have. So I things for me from Star Trek Las Vegas 2023 that I walked away with with for next year. You guys I cannot wait to see everyone next year at Star Trek Las

I obviously have my issues with creation entertainment. But I have people we met their. Both old friends, old fans, listeners supporters, also all the new friends. I mean, yes. Was it fantastic? Getting to actually be and talent that we have had a chance to interview and are looking forward to that wasn't the highlight. The real highlight was seeing so many people who ticking clock on it unless they start to modernize and make a lot of changes. But another convention that forms after that. Because ultimately, the one thing prosper.