This Weekend: Show Me Space Sci-Fi and Pride St. Louis

Yesterday morning (28 June), my IPMS/Gateway mates Scott Wadyko and Bill Wagner picked me up at home and we drove to Bonne Terre, Missouri. That was the town hosting Show Me Space Sci-Fi, a conference hosted by The Space Museum and Grissom Center. The museum asked Gateway to run a science-fiction (sci-fi) model contest, and we agreed. Our club had seven members attending the event.

I joined with Regina Morris to staff the model registration desk. (Regina's husband, Marion Morris, ran the contest.) This was the first time Show Me Space had a model contest, and it went well. This contest drew 33 entries from 8 attendees. This included me with a Roswell UFO that I built some years ago with Soviet markings. It was for Gateway's Same Kit Contest back then.

This event also had displays of science-fiction movie and TV robots and props. Several cosplayers were also in attendance. There were also tours of the museum. The contest judging in the early afternoon went smoothly and quickly.

The scene then shifted to the Civic Auditorium at Bonne Terre City Hall, which was a few blocks from the Grissom Center. Earl Mullins, the museum's director, served as master of ceremonies. Three speakers followed, beginning with former astronaut Dr. Tom Jones, who spoke of his own and his colleagues' experiences on Space Shuttle Missions, which he compiled for his book "Space Shuttle Stories."

The other two speakers were Dan Monroe, host of the YouTube channel Movies, Music & Monsters, which looked at sci-fi movies and TV from the 1950s to the 1980s. Last to speak was Lancer Winkel, professor of digital animation at Missouri Western State University, who spoke on The Allure of Space & Science Fiction," explaining how sci-fi stories and spaceflight have influenced human outlooks on their present and future.

After Mullins presented awards to the top cosplayers, Marion Morris announced the contest results. Awards were presented to the top three models in each category, plus three special awards (Best of Show, People's Choice, and Curator's Choice) were announced. Overall, it was a fun time and a nice way for Gateway to reach out to the sci-fi modeling audience.

Late this morning, I was in downtown St. Louis for the annual Pride STL Parade. I joined with other Enterprise Mobility workers--mostly from corporate headquarters in Clayton--in showing support for the LGBTQ+ community. I chatted with a few colleagues I knew and helped with decorating a stakebed truck that would be in the parade.

We stepped off around 12:30 p.m., going west on Market Street from 10th Street to 15th Street. It was not as hot as it has been in past Pridefest parades, so that was most welcome after the excessive heat we had in this area last week. 

After the parade, I helped make sure the supplies were reloaded into a box truck. Noticing St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page nearby, I introduced myself to him and we chatted briefly. It was my first time meeting Dr. Page. Then, I walked back east to the Stadium West Garage, where I parked my car, and headed home.

Later.

Websites of Entities Mentioned in this Post:

IPMS Gateway Chapter: IPMS Gateway Chapter

The Space Museum and Grissom Center: The Space Museum and Grissom Center

Dr. Tom Jones: TOM JONES – ASTRONAUT SPEAKER

Dan Monroe: Dan Monroe | Movies, Music & Monsters | Sci-Fi, Hollywood Props & Pop Culture

Lance Winkel: Lance Winkel

Pride St. Louis: Pride St. Louis

Enterprise Mobility: Introducing Enterprise Mobility

A Saturday of Beer and Trivia

Saturday morning (26 January) found me at the Urban Chestnut Brewing Company's (http://urbanchestnut.com/) Brewery and Bierhall in the Grove neighborhood of St. Louis. This was a get together with the gtpwtw Meetup group (https://www.meetup.com/gtpwtw/). Eleven of us toured the brewery, which we found most interesting. Larry, our tour guide, was most informative.

After touring the brewery, we were treated to four samples of Urban Chestnut's variety of beers. I enjoyed this very much.

Then, many of us stayed around to have lunch in the Bierhall. I had pork & apple sausage on a bun, with sauerkraut and potato salad, washed down with Urban Chestnut's Oxnbrau beer. Very tasty.

I shopped in the merchandise store, buying two beer glasses before going home. It was a great time.

That night, I drove to Creve Coeur Airport (http://crevecoeurairport.com/) to meet up with three fellow Missouri Aviation Historical Society (https://moavhist.org/) members. We then carpooled to Heritage Hall in Bonne Terre, Missouri for a trivia night benefitting The Space Museum (https://www.space-mo.org/) there.

We four joined with one of the tables of fellow players and took part in the contest: ten sets of ten questions per set. I saw some others I knew at some of the other tables. I was able to help them out on some questions. Out group finished sixth best of 18 tables there.

After the contest, we toured the Grissom Center next door to Heritage Hall. This is a new wing of The Space Museum, named for early American astronaut Virgil I. (Gus) Grissom. It's a small museum, but most interesting for spaceflight enthusiasts. I sat in a leather chair used by Space Shuttle astronauts during suiting up procedures prior to launch.

Later.

One History Discussion, Two Soccer Matches, One Dinner at the Circus

One week ago tonight (18 June) found me at Creve Coeur Airport for the Missouri Aviation Historical Society's monthly meeting. This meeting was a panel discussion about Project Gemini on the 50th anniversary year of the first manned Gemini flight. Earl Mullins, curator and founder of The Space Museum in Bonne Terre, Missouri (http://www.space-mo.org/), moderated a most interesting discussion with a panel of five engineers and designers who worked on the Gemini spacecraft for McDonnell Aircraft. There was a good crowd at the meeting, including several from the St. Louis Space Frontier Meetup Group, which I am in, and was so happy to see them in attendance. More on that meeting here: http://moavhist.org/2015/06/03/moavhist-to-hold-exclusive-qa-panel-for-50th-anniversary-of-project-gemini/. (There will be video of this discussion to be posted on that website in due course.) More on the Meetup group at: http://www.meetup.com/Saint-Louis-Space-Frontier-Meetup/.

Right after work Friday, I was at World Wide Technology Soccer Park in Fenton to cheer on Saint Louis FC against Colorado Springs Switchbacks. The home side lost 1-0 in the USL match, but granted it was Saint Louis FC's third match in nine days (including a Lamar Hunt US Open Cup tie three days before), I should not be too disappointed. Anyway, Saint Louis FC returns to action this Saturday night, when they host New York Red Bulls II. Tickets available; for more info, visit http://saintlouisfc.com/landing/index. By the way, I read online this week (http://coachbailey.blog.com/2015/06/20/usl-attendance-2/) that Saint Louis FC is 5th in average attendance among USL teams to this point of the season. The team has averaged 4,573 fans per match--88 percent of Marshall Wireless Stadium's 5,200 capacity. Good going, Saint Louis FC supporters! Let's keep it up.

Late Saturday afternoon (20 June), I drove to Lutheran High School of St. Charles County in St. Peters, Missouri to watch St. Louis Lions face PDL rivals Springfield Synergy FC. (The match was moved to this artificial turf field from the Tony Glavin Complex in Cottleville, Missouri due to heavy rain this past week.) The Lions prevailed, 2-1, on a hot and muggy day. They are on the road for several games before returning home early next month. For more, visit their website: http://www.stllions.com/.

Sunday was spent at home staying cool and working a little on a scale model on my workbench. That night, I was at Circus Flora right after their 5:30 p.m. show to take in their annual volunteer dinner. The circus was thanking us volunteers for all our hard work during this season's show, "One Summer on Second Street." After posing for a photo, we entered the ring where a buffet dinner--including fried chicken, salad, baked beans, and strawberries--awaited. I had some food and took in the moment before going home. I'm back there to help out at tonight's show. "One Summer on Second Street" ends its run this Sunday, but you can still take in this marvelous show. More info, including tickets, here at: http://circusflora.org/.

It's been real hot and humid here this week, but at least the rain has held off (unlike the week before). Work has been going well, although the hot and humid conditions outside (as well as inside the wash bay) makes me realize the importance of staying hydrated during the day. Things are going real well for us at the branch.

Tuesday night (23 June) I was at CRM Hobbies in south St. Louis for the IPMS/Gateway business meeting, hosted by club president Chris Merseal at his shop. Those of us board members attending planned next month's general and business meetings, and discussed a bit of other club business. I also got in a bit of shopping at the store, which was normally closed those nights. More on the club at http://www.ipms-gateway.com/. The shop's website is: http://www.crmhobbies.com/.

Later.