1st Annual Reno Steampunk Expo - April 21st, 2012

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Reno Unitarian Church

780 Del Monte Lane

Reno, NV 89511

Welcome to Reno’s Biggest Little Steampunk Expo, a first event of the season to whet the appetite for the steamy year to come! Just check out the schedule of events:

11 am: Opening of the Expo: Free admission to a day of Steampunk fun! On your way in, be sure to pick up a complimentary raffle ticket for fabulous prizes, and take the opportunity to improve your chances by purchasing a few more throughout the day. Stroll through the vendors (spaces still available, contact highdesertsteam@gmail.com for details) and see what our fabulous Northern Nevada community has to offer!

11:30 am – 12:30 pm: Steampunk Undress - $5. Willing to drop a fin and to see a lovely lady take off her clothes? Now that we have your attention, join Vivian Dare for a step by step look at steampunk costuming as she removes and talks about each piece of her wardrobe and how to work similar pieces into your future costume. (Rated PG for possible profanity and mild violence while dealing with corset lacings).

12:45 pm: SOLD OUT Steam Tea - $15. A limited number of people will be able to enjoy tea and tasties provided by Edible Alchemy (creator of the fabulous cookies at September’s Steampunk Ball) and friends! Enjoy your tea in the best (and only!) seats for the fashion show.

1:00 pm: Steampunk Fashion Show. We welcome all who’d like to show their fabulous creations! Please contact highdesertsteam@gmail.com if you’d like to participate.

2:30 -3:30 pm: Thrift Your Steam - $5. Spend a little to learn a lot about spending a little to have a lot! Costuming expert, Lauren Elizabeth talks about what to look for at thrift stores to create a fabulous costume for less. She will also include some simple techniques to improve those finds that are too marvelous to say no to even if they may not fit just right.

4:00 pm: Raffle Drawing. While your presence won’t be necessary to win, isn’t it more fun to be there to pick up your prize?

5:00 pm: Close of the event. Be sure you get to the vendors before they have to pack up to go!

Please contact highdesertsteam@gmail.com should you wish to vend, volunteer, or would just like further details!!

Please share and invite everyone you think might be interested!

Ladies' Guide to Steampunk Fashion, 2011

Ladies, what will you wear to the Steampunk Ball, September 17?  If you've not put together a costume yet, no worries!  There's plenty of time to compile a fantabulous ensemble from thrifted pieces, odds and ends, and a little Victorian inspiration.

What Is Steampunk?
   Steampunk is the term for a fictional world of Victorian Science Fiction.  Imagine if technology had never advanced beyond steam power?  Now mix this with the Victorian aesthetic and fashions of the 19th century.

Are There Steampunk Costuming "Rules?"
   No, but there are a few guidelines.  In general, think like a Victorian - what materials and fabrics were available in the 19th century?  Leather, brass, khaki, cotton, velvet, silk, and linen are good materials to stick to when putting together your costume.

  There are no rules for what women can and can't wear - pants, corsets, no corsets, short skirts, striped stockings, no stockings, hats, no hats, you name it, there's nothing proper or improper.

  Steampunk sub-genres include: Adventurer/Safari Steampunk, Cowboy/Western Steampunk, Neo-Victorian Steampunk, Goth and Supernatural Steampunk, Steamship/Sea-Faring Steampunk, Air Pirates, Mad Scientists, Military Steampunk, and I'm sure there are many more, so don't feel limited!

Check out these images below for some steamy ideas:

Via Tumblr - Steampunktower

Via Tumblr - Alienskin

via Tumblr - BionicUnicorn

Goggles always seem to say "Steampunk"

Via ResidentsoftheRabbitHole - tumblr

Simplicity offers this pattern at your local fabric store

anstellos.com

Via Tumblr - Steampunksketched

theouroboros.deviantart.com

Via Tumblr - Claudiablonde

insectsandangels.com

Via Tumblr - BionicUnicorn, Etsy.com

Via Tumblr - French6

Also try adding "steampunky" elements to your Victorian historical gowns.  Check out these gowns that would be very welcome at any Steampunk event:

Elements of a Steampunk Costume
(mix and match - not all or any of these things are "required" but are cool to add on):

A cool corset - Etsy.com

Tophats of any size, with any decoration, including goggles, brass bits, gears, and feathers.  This one is from Etsy.com

Alternative headgear such as a headband with feathers and gears.  Make one yourself, or fin them to buy on Etsy.com

Lace cuffs, or leather cuffs, or cuffs with bows.  Make them yourself, or find some cool ones on Etsy.com

Pocket watches, clocks, and gears - shop Etsy for all of these, or try SteampunkEmporium.com

Steampunk jewelry - made from gears, or jet beads, or with pendants.  Etsy.com

Online Vendors:

• SteampunkEmporium.com - men's and women's costume pieces and complete ensembles.
• Etsy.com - hundreds upon thousands of Steampunk pieces handmade
• PlasticLand.com - women's clothing and accessories with a decidedly steamy twist
• ClockWork Couture - men's and women's clothing and accessories
• Got-Steam Steampunk Emporium - accessories, corsets, jewelry, bits

Local Vendors (Reno area):

• Melting Pot World Emporium - 1049 S. Virginia Street, Reno
• Savers (Thrift Store) - 3800 Kietzke Lane, Reno ~or~ 2350 Oddie Blvd, Sparks.
• The Old Red Garter - 80 South C Street, Virginia City
• Junkee's - 960 S. Virginia Street, Reno

Victorian Steampunk Ball to be held at Pipers Opera House in Virginia City

BUY TICKETS HERE!

Contact: William Puchert
775-378-0931

Come join The Great Basin Costume Society, High Desert Steam, the Reno Steampunk Club and the Sacramento Steampunk Society at the inaugural "Victorian Steampunk Ball" to be held from 7 to 11 pm, Saturday, September 17 for an evening of dancing and entertainment at the historic Piper's Opera House, located on B and Union Streets in Virginia City. The ball will feature Victorian ballroom music, to include waltzes, polkas, mazurkas, schottisches, and the Congress of Vienna.  All manner of fantastical costume is admired (but not required) - Steampunks, Victorian ladies and gentlemen, soldiers and cavalrymen, Neo-Victorians, explorers, miners, and "doves." This is a family-friendly event, so please dress accordingly. Don't miss the other Steam events throughout the weekend: Ride the fully restored steam train from Carson City to Virginia City (or from Virginia City to Gold Hill and back), tour mines and haunted saloons, go ghost hunting in the Virginia City Graveyard, have a Sarsaparilla at the Bucket of Blood Saloon, even stay overnight in one of the many haunted (or not haunted) historic hotels and B&Bs. A Steampunk-Victorian Parade will tentively be held at noon that same day. Tickets are $20 pre-paid and $25 at the door.  Tickets are limited: BUY THEM HERE and NOW,or purchase them through the Steampunk Ball Facebook Event Page:http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=207343612627589  All proceeds from this event go to benefit the restoration of Piper's Opera House and to support the Great Basin Costume Society and High Desert Steam Club.

BUY TICKETS HERE!

The Victorian Steampunk Ball - September 17th, Piper's Opera House, Virginia City

Come join The Great Basin Costume Society, High Desert Steam, the Reno Steampunk Club, and the Sacramento Steampunk Society at our first annual "Victorian Steampunk Ball," an evening of dancing and entertainments at the historic Piper's Opera House in Virginia City, Nevada.

The ball will feature Victorian ballroom music, to include waltzes, polkas, mazurkas, and the Congress of Vienna. All manner of fantastical costume is admired (but not required) - Steampunks, Victorian ladies and gentlemen, soldiers and cavalrymen, Neo-Victorians, explorers, miners, and "doves."

Don't miss the other Steam events throughout the weekend! Ride the fully restored steam train from Carson City to Virginia City (or from Virginia City to Gold Hill and back), tour mines and haunted saloons, go ghost hunting in the Virginia City Graveyard, have a sarsparilla at the Bucket of Blood Saloon, even stay overnight in one of the many haunted (or not haunted) historic hotels and B&Bs.

The Steam Ball starts at 7:00 pm at Piper's Opera House
Tickets are $20 when you pre-pay (using Paypal), or $25 at the door

All proceeds from this event go to benefit the restoration of Piper's, and to support the Great Basin Costume Society.

Please help us raise money by telling your friends, and attending any of the fundraising tea parties, costume shows, and other events put on by the Great Basin Costume Society between April and September.


RSVP to the event on Facebook

Buy Tickets by clicking this link:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=9DY72M6M5R28E

Donate by clicking this link:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=EGAXDECCBN7RS

Steampunk Steam Train Extravaganza - September 11, 2010

When: September 11, 2010 - memorialize 9/11 by celebrating our unique Western American Heritage.
Where: Carson City Train Depot - take the train to Virginia City and back again.
OR meet the group in Virginia City (drive up for the day).


Come join The Great Basin Costume Society AND the Sacramento Steampunk Society as we take the Wild West by storm as Steampunk time travelers!

GBCS members - ride the train from Carson if you like, or drive up to Virginia City to meet the Sac Steampunkers as they come in on the train. The 51st Annual International Camel Races are going on this weekend as well, so there will be lots to see and do, and plenty of people to admire us in our costumes!

Purchase Train Tickets: http://carsoncity.activitytickets.com/relax/trainrides/1084/?event_date=2010-09-11#buynow
(not affiliated with GBCS)

From the Sacramento Steampunk Society: This is a major weekend outing. We will meet in Carson City, Nevada at 9:30 AM Saturday (earlier if you want to tour the train museum first) to take a steam excursion train to Virginia City.

We will have about three and a half hours to tour the old west silver mining town of Virgina City (with an introduction by a local guide) before reboarding the train for the return trip.

Saturday evening we will have a banquet in Carson City (details to be arranged). We will be riding the historic Virginia City and Truckee railroad in recently restored 1914 Pullman cars (inside with padded seats) behind a recently restored real steam locomotive.

How to Dress Steampunk: 
Think of Jules Vern, "The Golden Compass," movies like "Stardust" and "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen." Steampunk is a combination of Victorian attire - fine ladies and gentlemen, explorers, goths and vampires, smugglers and pirates - Science, and Victorian aesthetic. Spruce up your Victorian outfits with watch gears, add some driving or flying goggles, combine costume pieces you wouldn't normally. It's not about being historically accurate, but is instead about creativity, "time travel," and having fun!