The DuBois Train Show

Photo 1998 by J-E Nyström User:Janke A “Night shot” of a coffee-table Z gauge miniature railroad layout.  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I stopped over at the DuBois Mall today for the DuBois Train Show. Again, I enjoyed the show. It had free admission and the vendors were very pleasant and not pushy. There were a lot of great tables of displays, and a decent “Make and Take” table for the kids. I was pleasantly surprised that it has improved in so many ways.

First of all, it’s in a more reasonable site at the Mall Entrance near JCPENNEY. The space it is in is much larger, thus eliminating the problem of being all “elbows and asses” at the last show. I was not only able to move around easily to view all the tables and displays, but my wife was able to move around through the tables with my son in a stroller.

Second, there was no problem with creepy old men bugging me time and time again for donations. Last year I was asked several times by the same guy for a donation, and he refused to take “no” for an answer. This year they had a large container on a central table with a big sign asking for donations. Much better!

Third, the show seemed to have more of a “swap meet” atmosphere going on despite the fact that basically Fischell’s (a local hobby shop and obvious sponsor of the show) had the most product and vendor area taken up within the show space. Frankly, I wish that Fischell would just back off a little and allow the other vendors to have a little more freedom to sell their used collections. I mean, I can go to Fishell’s anytime to buy stuff, right? I kind of go to the Train Show to see cool displays and maybe find a cool new toy to buy from a fellow hobbyist. I saw a lot of cool stuff, but was unable to locate anything cool enough in the O scale that I use for wargaming.

Lastly, I love the idea that they were selling tickets for a raffle. I heard through the grapevine that some kid spent like $15 on raffle tickets and won an expensive train set. The kid was beaming. It obviously made his day. Honestly, this was the best part of the whole train show.

The show was enjoyable, and has improved by leaps and bounds from last year. I am looking forward to next year’s show.

A model railway based on a fictional location in the United States. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

VIOLINS OF HOPE

In 1996, Israeli master violinmaker Amnon Weinstein began to collect and carefully restore violins that had extraordinary histories of suffering, courage, and resiliency. These violins are precious artifacts from one of the greatest human tragedies. Some were played by Jewish prisoners in Nazi concentration camps; others belonged to the Klezmer musical culture, which was all but destroyed in the Holocaust.

Today, Amnon receives visitors bearing priceless instruments in shambles. The restoration process is complex, sometimes taking years to revive a single instrument. But when a violinist moves his bow across one of these instruments, the message resounds.

Read more about this amazing project here.

DUBOIS TRAIN SHOW 2012

National Model Railroad Association (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

DuBois Mall Model Train Show
Sponsored By:	Div.11, MCR, NMRA Inc.
Location:	inside DuBois Mall Rt 255 & Shaffer Rd DuBois, Pennsylvania 15801
Contact:	Rev. Bob McKay 1267 Treasure Lake DuBois, Pennsylvania 15801
	(814) 591-5415 rockvillebridge@verizon.net
Web Address:	http//www.div11-mcr-nmra.info
Show Date(s):	Saturday, May 12, 2012
Show Times:	10am to 4pm
Show Fees:	no fee
Directions: I-80 Exit 101, 1/2 mi south to first traffic light
About this show: Operating layouts, Sales, Displays, Workshops, Contests

YOU’VE BEEN STEAMPUNKED

Found Some

Reblogged from What Projects I'm Working On:

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I got some pics off a friend so here you go:

Heres a pic of Charles Ansell getting his banner for most donated:

Heres one of Rob and I collecting the banners for Vault Comics for the other two:

The Trophy:

Colossal Close Up

Not much else to show but tables with minis on them, big thanks to Menoth Justin for taking pics and giving me copies.

Read it.

Corsets can be Comfortable

Reblogged from :

So some of you may have seen this article today, “Everything you Know About Corsets is False” by Lisa Hix. It is a good article and touches on many of the things I find myself answering while at conventions. You should read it.

I appreciate many of the things she brings up in her article. I find that so many women and men don’t really understand corsets.

Read more… 232 more words

Festooned Butterfly is awesome. Just sayin'. My wife bought some of her Steampunk gear from them at TempleCon a couple years back.

HELP TEAM MASON

Image via Wikipedia

In honor of World Alzheimer’s Day, Please make a donation to support Team Mason in its fight against Alzheimer’s disease. By helping to fight Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, we are getting closer to helping fight all of the many different types of dementia.

Team Mason is participating in a Walk on Oct. 2 to help keep memories alive for those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Please make a donation online by linking to the page at http://2011walktoendalz.kintera.org/dubois/marybethmasonbaughman322

UnderCity Game Fair

Image via Wikipedia

Undercity Game Fair 2011 Sept 17th.

It’s mid september, the sun is finally starting to become forgiving from the dog days of August, the hint of fall is in the air, and the sound of dice and cards are echoing from below the city streets. The Undercity Game Fair is calling! Come join us for a day of gaming and adventure on saturday September 17th, 2011 from 10am till 9pm.

Under All American Comics and Cards
161 W. Market St.
Warren, Ohio 44481

The Great New England Steampunk Exhibition

Image via Wikipedia

The Great New England Steampunk Exhibition
September 16 – 18, 2011
Courtyard Marriott / Central MA Expo Center
Fitchburg Massachusetts

TLA Productions was formed in 2010 to bring a major Steampunk Convention to New England. According to their Facebook page:  ”Several of us had been complaining that there was no major Steampunk convention in New England. In particular, a couple of us wanted Abney Park to come to Boston, or at least closer to us than New York City. As you might expect, someone eventually said, “Why don’t you stop complaining and do it yourself.” So one of us thought about it for a few seconds and then said, “Why not?” The rest, as they say, is history.”

MINION GAMES KICKSTARTER

Minion Games has 4 new games coming out for Origins, but they want to release even more this year. So they have started a Kickstarter pledge to ask you people for support on a new game they wish to product. Please check it out and lend them a hand!    http://www.kickstarter.com/ projects/miniongames/kingdom- of-solomon-euro-style-board- game