'Steampunks' of the Okanagan?

[Evelyn Steam]

Bean Scene - Bernard

Sunday, November 18th at 5pm-Close
Just look for goggles and corsets!

AS A NOTE!
We're going to add a bit more structure to these meetings; not a lot, just a bit. More event planning, actual events, fundraising (for both ourselves as well as the Okanagan Historical Society), discussions, so forth. We're gonna make this a proper 'society', sound good?

On the docket for this month:
Fundraising options
Possible future events (Tea-parties, grand galas, getting in some musical talent?)
Rise of AEster LARP
December event and fundraising: Caroling anyone?




This is a chance to get to know the community: the makers, the doers, the readers, the make-believers. This is a chance to catch up with those you know, meet those you don't, and discuss all things historical, fictional, anachronistic and of course steampunk with a plethora of interesting and creative minds. Read a story you just have to share with /someone/, or maybe you want to show off your newest top-hat or typewriter; did you write a short story you'd like input on? This is the venue, these are the people! Please feel free to tell and bring your friends!

Please note: this will be a monthly event, and the next few months we may be meeting in different places as we seek to find a venue that 'fits'.

This event is free to attend, though we ask that you show your appreciation to our generous hosts by means of a food or drink purchase, a smile, and a thank-you; you are free to come and go when you please. As for clothing, feel free to attend in costume, in street-wear, or in whatever you feel most comfortable.

The Okanagan has this wonderful community. It's full, alive, living, breathing, and full of excitement. We're a creative community home to jewelers, hone to programs, home to countless artists and writers and intelligent minds that rise and fall and ebb and flow in a virtual breath. We are a valley of immense creativity, so why have the two 'steampunk' communities I've found fallen down the wayside into absolute oblivion?

For those unaware, Steampunk is less a 'genre' and more of a movement and a subculture: it focuses on Victorian ideals, on the Do-It-Yourself aesthetic, on fantasy and female empowerment, and has its basis in many points in history. To many, it is what you make it - some think instant steampunk: just add gears; others it has to do with nuance. For some, steampunk is heavily Victorian, and for others still, it's post-apocolyptic.

But in the Okanagan, it's... just a little bit dead.

We have a lot of history here, and a lot of charm, and I'd like to get a new, and very stable steampunk community going again as PK Steampunks, as well as the Kelowna Gaslight Society, seem to have peetered into nothing. But first, I'd like to see if there's enough of an interest.

I'd like to ideally have monthly meet-and-eats, possibly at Doc's, as it really does have that Steampunk flair, as well as various workshops, events, photo shoots, and so forth. If enough of the crowd is under 19 and can't attend meetings at the pub, I'll happily consider alternative locations (or summers spent near the boardwalk with large-scale picnics!)

[Lady tehMa]

I'm interested, and have a friend who would be as well. Only problem is we work, and we're moms. ie: time is at premium. I agree that those two sites have been on the dead side lately.

[Evelyn Steam]

Could always do two or three meet ups a month - that way those who work, have children, or other events on that given day (as I know a few other groups do monthly meets as well) could turn up. Or just find a day that works for everyone involved.

[Loed]

You'd be better suited spending your time searching out the Vancouver/Kamloops Steampunk crowds. The group here is/was very small and very much unwelcome in most places. Vancouver, specifically, has a much more catering, open-minded down town.

If you're only looking for bi-monthly meet-ups I think that would suit you better. Unless your fine with 2-3 people most nights.

[kbens]

is/was unwelcome most places

??? Didn't know there was actually someone steampunky meeting anywhere... I only heard of one "lets go to a movie together" on one of the local websites but it wasn't a time/day I couldn't make. I'd love to meet other local Steampunks. LadytehMa is my friend and like she says we're both moms and time is at a premium... could "maybe" make a meeting if it were not too late in the day on a weekend, but my weekdays are pretty much booked solid from 6am to sometimes 9:30 at night... I already have to miss one pole dancing class per month to be able to make the calligraphers guild meetings :p (Although, I do have the odd availability on Friday evenings as long as it were something that didn't run too late. *shrugs*)

Lol, I'd guess that "we" as a genre tend to be a touch on the introvert side, which can make it difficult to set up get togethers... similar to the anime crowd :) I know that the response I get a lot of times is "what is it???" or "uh... thats weird" when I tell ppl that I consider myself to be a steampunk. Although I have a sister who is a PUNK punk so I guess "weird" runs in my family. I went full-on steampunk to her punk wedding in the States (I know the punk in steampunk isn't referential) but the point was none of her friends cared and I got a lot of compliments. This town can be really stand offish and pretentious, but there's lots of genuine creative/artsy people here mixed in with the pretentious ones and the trick is to "speak their language" until you get established. After all, there's a thriving Zombie walk here in Kelowna so why not a Steampunk Promenade? It just takes someone with the gumption and stick-to-it-iveness to make it happen.

:sunshine:

[Babbitman]

I hung out with my buddy this afternoon, that makes me a steamypunk too. :sunshine:

[nickd]

I used to be a punk,now I'm just in a phunk.

:130: ...Babs

[-fluffy-]

I have an interest in the artform and would like to connect with like-minded sorts. Maybe a place to start would be to have someone act as a focal point to receive and contact info and put a list together, just to see how widespread the interest is. An initial meet-up could take place in a park somewhere so as to be open to all age groups, since the weather is getting milder maybe a potluck lunch some weekend. That would be an informal setting and a chance to bounce hopes and ideas off each other.

[grammafreddy]

I love steampunk!

Lol - yeah ... me .. the gramma. Hahahhaa

I love the Victoria-ness of it. I am a former period costumer, so the styles appeal to me.

[normaM]

I love the jewellery :) We could prolly make a meeting once a month long as it was fairly central ( like Doc's) would be fun - plus then Fluffy can create something for me.

[-fluffy-]

I'd like to see this idea gain a little momentum. There are lots of activities that fall under the "Steampunk" heading, from costuming and social functions, the artform as expressed in various media, even the growing list of literature devoted to the genre. It would be helpful to see where the interests of the locals lie, and maybe get a rough idea of how many of us there are.

I would be willing to act as a central contact point for the time being, assembling a contact list of interested parties to see if our numbers would warrant further action. The idea would be to send me a PM with personal contact information (confidentiality assured) and maybe a couple of lines about your general area of interest under the Steampunk heading and/or any hopes and expectations you might have, and that would allow an initial look at the strength of our numbers what sort of direction this thing might move. Sound okay? I'm not trying to grab the steering wheel or anything, this is just an attempt to give the idea some focus and get the ball rolling.

It might also be an idea for anyone with any contacts to the past groups, I think PK Steampunk and Kelowna Gaslight were mentioned, to try and let them know about this little knot of interest as hooking up with past/other networks could be a benefit.

Thoughts?

[Babbitman]

I welded a muffler on once, and I soldered a pipe.

[nickd]

I've always made functional stuff cobbled together from bits and pieces.
Never realized it had a name.
Can you post a pic of the lamp you made Fluffy?

[Babbitman]

Want me to post a pic of my pipe?
Dunno why theres an "L" in soldered if you dont say it.

[nickd]

No thanks....I'm good.

There's a L in your pipe?