Maker Faire at the Central Florida Fairgrounds.

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The Orlando Maker Faire was held at the Central Florida Fairgrounds on October 21st and 22nd.

Maker Faire is a gathering of fascinating,
curious people who enjoy learning and who love sharing what they can do.
From engineers to artists, to scientists and crafters, Maker Faire is a
venue for these “makers” to show hobbies, experiments, and projects. It is called the Greatest Show (and Tell) on Earth – a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity, and resourcefulness. It is a chance to glimpse the future and get inspired.

Pam, her sister, Jen, and I parked in the Fairgrounds field and walked towards the Faire. To our left was the weekly flea market. Right before entering the Maker Faire, there was a drone obstacle course. It looked like a fun racing opportunity, but not a very sketchable one.

  

Susan Haugen helped us make all the arrangements to get wrist bands and we were ushered into the main building. She was very generous getting us acquainted with the event. A robot war was in progress behind clear Plexiglas barricades. The crowd was pressed tight around the ring. The metal crunching against metal was loud and ominous. Between shoulders, I could see a low-lying robot whose only limb was a bulldozer shovel. That shovel kept pounding down on the helpless competition. I couldn’t watch. I desperately wanted to sketch robots but the crowd was chanting for blood and it was probably close to the end of the violent competition.

We wandered into the next room where all the steam punk, props, and cosplay were to be found. In the far corner was a row of R2D2s. Occasionally one would wander off and interact with the crowd. A steam punk R2D2 started dancing with a Senate Commander Trooper. Blonde flowing hair poked out from the trooper’s uniform. At the end of the dance routine, the droid tipped his top hat. Such a polite droid. Behind me was the menacing Dalek from Dr. Who. He shouted in his metallic voice, “You will be exterminated!” He would cross over into the Star Wars universe where he then declared, “I am not the droid you are looking for.”

The Maker Faire at the Orlando Science Center showcased innovations and inventions.

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The Orlando Maker Faire was held on September 13th and 14th at the Orlando Science Center (777 East Princeton Street, Orlando, FL). I went both days to see and sketch some of the cool stuff being made and showcased. I immediately went to an upper balcony overlooking the show room floor. The first thing to catch my eye was this huge roller coaster. The coaster would slowly rise up the ramp and then scream downward at top speed. It went through two loop-de-loops before returning back to the station. There was always a crowd surrounding the coaster and kids would sit on the floor to watch with rapt attention.

On the upper right of the sketch I caught a few people who were spectators of the Nerdy Derby. A large table was set up so kids and children at heart could build their own derby car. A long ramp was set up so contestants could face off to see who had the fastest car. There were bleachers set up for the screaming fans.

As I sketched, I heard R2D2 clicking and beeping at guests. He was very popular and everyone had to have their picture taken with him. It turned out that there were close to a dozen R2D2’s at the Maker Faire. Some were only partly assembled, so it was possible to see the servos and circuitry that made him run.  Dog Powered Robot and Lollybot were on the show room floor and they were so mobbed with photo requests that I felt it was to crowded and hazardous to sketch. Fisher, the dog who powers the Dog Powered Robot was complacently panting and enjoying the attention. Evan and Christie Miga who created the Dog Powered Robot franchise were a bit overwhelmed but happy about all the attention their blue boxed robot generated.

The Geek Easy

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Some of the Skill Focus Burlesque girls will be going to Dragon Con in Atlanta, Georgia to spread the gospel of Nerdy Burlesque. Dragon Con is the largest multimedia, popular culture
convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics,
literature, art, music, and film in the universe! This year, Dragon Con will be held Labor Day weekend (August 31 – September 3, 2012) in Atlanta, GA. Gas money is expensive though, so Ruby Darling threw a Free Dragon Con themed burlesque party at the Geek Easy to get folks drunk and sell them cupcakes! The Geek Easy is located in the back room of A Comic Shop
(114 South Semoran Blvd. Winter Park).

Cherry Bob-omb and Ruby Darling were behind the bar. Cherry had a luscious display of cupcakes in front of her. I decided to get a spoors cupcake which was awesome.Cherry’s other half, Mr. Bob-omb was next to the keg of free beer which was kept cool in an R2D2 ice bucket. There was a cardboard box for donations. The foamy Yuengling beer was quite good, and I stuffed some bills in the box. It is hard to write anything without sounding suggestive. Bob had to keep pumping the keg and done just right with plenty of wrist action and rhythm, it is hilariously suggestive.

At 11PM the Skill focus girls gave burlesque performances on two model stands that were arranged runway style. Shy LaBuff came to the event dressed as a Lord of the rings Dwarf. The fiery red bear matched her hair.  Her performance however was as Mario from the Mario Brothers Donkey Kong game. As always she was hilarious. Syber Digit added some sophistication to her routine and Ruby Darling really knew how to linger before each and every sensual reveal.

This brings me to another important reveal, The Star Wars Celebration VI is coming up August 23rd through August 26th at the Orlando Convention Center. The Skill Focus: Burlesque girls are going to celebrate Star Wars in their favorite way: Striptease!  They’ve got your light side and your dark side right here. The show titled Chan Shot First: An Intergalactic Burlesque Tribute, will be at Sleuth’s Diner Theater (8267 International Drive Orlando). Enjoy a fancy adult beverage from our Star
Wars menu of drink specials and be amazed as Skill Focus performs burlesque numbers as some of your favorite
scoundrels, princesses, and various life forms. The show is Saturday August 25th starting at 8PM.Parking is ample and free. Look for Ripley’s and the Crab House!

Tickets are $10 general public, $8 for members of the 501st

Doors and the bar open at 7:15pm

18+ only – nudity and nerdity!

Call 407-363-1985 to reserve your tickets now…seating is limited – don’t miss out!

Star Wars themed drink specials will be available all night long, plus a full bar and appetizer menu.

For reservations, call 407-363-1985. Seating is limited!