Author: JP Dean

Categories
Exposition Updates

18 Weeks until the Exposition!

Witness to Centuries

Each week the clues continue to unfold as we countdown to the opening of the portal that invites you to step back in time to 1893 and experience dimensions of the Chicago World’s Fair that neverwas, not only do we bring the latest updates regarding the Exposition’s exhibitors and program, we also slowly unveil the puzzle. This week we continue the clues in the “Compasses of Columbus” with another excerpt from a bright young 19-year-old lad who worked for the Chicago Exposition in 1893.

Each year there is a mystery to be solved at the Exposition as part of our Steam & Sorcery LARP Game; this time around it began with a fire . . . from ice? Every week between now and the end of May 2025, we shall release another Clue Card to help you solve the mystery game that begins during Opening Ceremonies on Friday, May 30th, 2025.

Save these Clue Cards to a folder on your phone and prepare your investigation into our “Curse of Cthulhu” LARP Game.

Click Here to see all of the

“Curse of Cthulhu” clue cards thus far.

Program Updates

Here are some details about presentations that will be part of the program in May 2025.

If you have a presentation, workshop, or some other fun activity that you would like to propose for the 2025 Exposition Program, please fill out our PRESENTER APPLICATION FORM. We are also looking for GAMES MASTERS to run tabletop games, and we are always on the search for talented PERFORMERS.

Exhibitor Updates

Exhibitors at the Exposition are divided into three main locations: The Underground Market (Sienna), The Palace of Fine Arts (Slate), and The Midway Plaisance (Atrium Lobby).

This week we featured the following exhibitors:

Tickets & the Exclusive Pin

Badges and Tea Tickets are already on sale for the 2025 Exposition! Until the end of this year, ALL badges are $10 off the regular price AND the first 100 Weekend Badges sold will receive an EXCLUSIVE brass colored Exposition 2025 pin that matches the theme. The pin design is almost done and we should be able to reveal it in our next countdown update, but we can describe it as the Exposition Ferris wheel and of course . . . tentacles!

Click on the Box Office image below to purchase your tickets today! Please note that for 2025 we will be printing your name (in a fancy font) on the badge, so include “badge names” in the “Order Notes” section of the check out form. In addition to your name, badges will also be labeled with your order number for reference in case lost badges get turned into Registration; that said, however, please remember that lost badges that are not turned in can not be replaced and a new purchase will be required.

Afternoon Tea Parties & Banquets

New for 2025, the Exposition will offer a limited ticket banquet on Friday and Saturday evening. We are currently working on the menu and pricing, but this meal will also offer patrons the opportunity to sit with one of our guests of honor for a meal and pleasant conversation. Details coming in our next countdown update, but meanwhile tickets for our Afternoon Tea Parties are on sale now.

Get Involved!

We are looking for Presenters, Performers, Games Masters, and other people to run sessions for the 2025 Chicago Steampunk Exposition program. Applications are now live; please click on the appropriate image to access the form.

Hotel Rooms

For April 2024, the Exposition hotel was actually sold out. Admittedly not all the people staying at the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg that weekend were there for the Exposition, but nonetheless the hotel was sold out. To avoid getting locked out in 2025, we recommend booking your room early (you can always cancel later if needs be).

Social Media

On the Horizon . . .

  • More programming!
  • Who is Steampunk Stanley?
  • Exposition 2025 Design Contests.
  • The new Steam & Sorcery adventure!

Categories
Program

State of the Art: What Scientists Knew in 1893

Presented by David D. Levine

An overview of the state of scientific knowledge in 1893, including what they got right, what they got wrong, and what we’ve learned since.

David D. Levine is the author of space-opera caper novel The Kuiper Belt Job. His previous works include Andre Norton Nebula Award winning novel Arabella of Mars, sequels Arabella and the Battle of Venus and Arabella the Traitor of Mars, and over sixty SF and fantasy stories. His story “Tk’Tk’Tk” won the Hugo, and he has been shortlisted for awards including the Hugo, Nebula, Campbell, and Sturgeon. Stories have appeared in Asimov’s, Analog, Clarkesworld, F&SF, Tor.com, numerous Year’s Best anthologies, and his award-winning collection Space Magic.

See the Current 2025 Program

Buy Your Discount Exposition Tickets

Categories
Exhibitors

Sirkles Studio

Sirkles Studio turns words into artwork using an intricate and complex circular script.

At my shop, the designs decorating the jewelry, canvases, keychains, stickers and other items all have literal translations. I’m more than happy to do custom transcriptions on the spot as well as answer any questions about my artwork, the script I use, and even its history as an easter egg on Doctor Who!

Click on the banner to learn more about them . . .

To see our full lists of confirmed Exhibitors, please visit . . .

Buy Your Discount Exposition Tickets

Chicago Steampunk Exposition

Categories
Program

Cthulhu by Gaslight “Dead Light” (18+)

  • Games Master: Father Henry Astur (AKA Kody Raslawski)
  • Gaming System: Cthulhu by Gaslight
  • Players: 4-6
  • Duration: 3 hours
  • Sign Up at the main Registration Desk in the Atrium Lobby

A dark and stormy night in the Severn Valley. A mystery lurks in the forests. Unravel the mystery before that very mystery threatens to unravel your lives, in “Dead Light.”

Dice, writing implements, and character sheets will be provided.

This is a scheduled tabletop gaming event – please visit our onsite Gaming Library in Room 1322 for more information and to sign up.

Cthulhu by Gaslight is the Victorian incarnation of the classic Call of Cthulhu RPG. Gaslightprovides variations to capture Victorian history and societal norms, but is essentially the same rule system as the original 1920’s Cthulhu RPG. If you are not already familiar with these rules but would like to get better acquainted, click on the cover below to access the free starter kit for the latest edition of Call of Cthulhu.

Kody Raslawski has been running games as a Keeper of Arcane Knowledge in Call of Cthulhu for nine years and is a member of Chaosium’s official Cult of Chaos. He greatly enjoys creating a fun and engaging horror setting to bring the sessions to life.

See the Current Program

Buy Your Discount Exposition Tickets

Chicago Steampunk Exposition

Categories
Exposition Updates

19 Weeks until the Exposition!

The Compass of Columbus

A new series of clues begins this week as read excerpts from a bright young 19-year-old lad who worked for the Chicago Exposition in 1893. Each week the clues continue to unfold as we countdown to the opening of the portal that invites you to step back in time to 1893 and experience dimensions of the Chicago World’s Fair that neverwas, not only do we bring the latest updates regarding the Exposition’s exhibitors and program, we also slowly unveil the puzzle . . .

Each year there is a mystery to be solved at the Exposition as part of our Steam & Sorcery LARP Game; this time around it began with a fire . . . from ice? Every week between now and the end of May 2025, we shall release another Clue Card to help you solve the mystery game that begins during Opening Ceremonies on Friday, May 30th, 2025.

Save these Clue Cards to a folder on your phone and prepare your investigation into our “Curse of Cthulhu” LARP Game.

CLICK HERE to see all of the “Curse of Cthulhu” clue cards thus far.

Program Updates

Here are some details about presentations that will be part of the program in May 2025.

If you have a presentation, workshop, or some other fun activity that you would like to propose for the 2025 Exposition Program, please fill out our PRESENTER APPLICATION FORM. We are also looking for GAMES MASTERS to run tabletop games, and we are always on the search for talented PERFORMERS.

Exhibitor Updates

Exhibitors at the Exposition are divided into three main locations: The Underground Market (Sienna), The Palace of Fine Arts (Slate), and The Midway Plaisance (Atrium Lobby).

This week we featured the following exhibitors:

Tickets & the Exclusive Pin

Badges and Tea Tickets are already on sale for the 2025 Exposition! Until the end of this year, ALL badges are $10 off the regular price AND the first 100 Weekend Badges sold will receive an EXCLUSIVE brass colored Exposition 2025 pin that matches the theme. The pin design is almost done and we should be able to reveal it in our next countdown update, but we can describe it as the Exposition Ferris wheel and of course . . . tentacles!

Click on the Box Office image below to purchase your tickets today! Please note that for 2025 we will be printing your name (in a fancy font) on the badge, so include “badge names” in the “Order Notes” section of the check out form. In addition to your name, badges will also be labeled with your order number for reference in case lost badges get turned into Registration; that said, however, please remember that lost badges that are not turned in can not be replaced and a new purchase will be required.

Afternoon Tea Parties & Banquets

New for 2025, the Exposition will offer a limited ticket banquet on Friday and Saturday evening. We are currently working on the menu and pricing, but this meal will also offer patrons the opportunity to sit with one of our guests of honor for a meal and pleasant conversation. Details coming in our next countdown update, but meanwhile tickets for our Afternoon Tea Parties are on sale now.

Get Involved!

We are looking for Presenters, Performers, Games Masters, and other people to run sessions for the 2025 Chicago Steampunk Exposition program. Applications are now live; please click on the appropriate image to access the form.

Hotel Rooms

For April 2024, the Exposition hotel was actually sold out. Admittedly not all the people staying at the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg that weekend were there for the Exposition, but nonetheless the hotel was sold out. To avoid getting locked out in 2025, we recommend booking your room early (you can always cancel later if needs be).

Social Media

On the Horizon . . .

  • More programming!
  • Who is Steampunk Stanley?
  • Exposition 2025 Design Contests.
  • The new Steam & Sorcery adventure!

Categories
Exhibitors

Fair Genie Baazar

Fantasy-inspired shop with paintings, leather works, ocarinas, bird whistles, fairy wings, trinkets, odds and ends, that sort of thing!

Fair Genie Baazar is a fantasy-inspired shop that speaks to the nerd inside everyone.

Acrylic paintings are on canvas panels and come with a 3D printed easel. We also have magnet paintings for your fridge and framed, customized paintings as well.

Leather works include hair barrettes, book marks, holding trays for trinkets and/or dice, mug tankards, dagger frogs, potion bottle holders.

Ocarinas and Bird Whistles are fun instruments to play. All ocarinas come with a song book. We also sell additional books and bags.

Fairy Wings to enhance your cosplay adventures. We sell all sizes, all ages, and a few different styles including open, closed, and butterfly.

Click on the banner to learn more about them . . .

Buy Your Discount Exposition Tickets

Chicago Steampunk Exposition

Categories
Program

The Shape of Things: Product and Poster Design of the Industrial Revolution

Presented by Fiona Finnigan

The Industrial Revolution, wonder of the world! Goods! Items! Objects! You too can have the Latest Thing. But what should the Latest Thing look like? And how should we advertise it? Lets ask the artists!

In this lecture, we will explore the different styles of Decorative, Industrial, and Graphic arts of the 18th and early 19th centuries.

Fiona Finnigan received her Master in History of Visual and Material Culture ( thats the history of stuff!) from Southern Illinois University. She is an adjunct professor of art at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, Illinois. In her free time, she enjoys working on her steampunk gear and doing every kind of needlework known to mankind.

See the Current 2025 Program

Buy Your Discount Exposition Tickets

Categories
Program

Mechanical Creature Puppets Made by the Mad . . . We Mean You!!!

Presented by Kat Pleviak, Erin Krause, & Maggie Krause

Materials Fee: $5

Do you love animals? Do you dream of being a mad scientist? Are you excited by puppets? Then this class is for you! Come to this make-&-take workshop to design & build your own, original, paper puppet, mechanics and all!

Participants will chose from a variety of heads, bodies, & booties that they can use to make their own unique creature and then add any number of steampunk themed add on’s to blend nature and technology. Guided by the talented staff of Sea Beast Puppet Company (seabeastpuppetry.com), this craft is all ages but is specifically great for kids ages 5-12 as the art is detailed and adults who enjoy coloring will also really enjoy this project.

Kat Pleviak is the Artistic Director and founder of Sea Beast Puppet Company in Glen Ellyn, IL. She has an BFA in Directing from the University of Illinois (2002) and an MFA in Youth Theatre and Puppetry from the University of Hawaii Manoa (2009).
Under Kat’s direction Sea Beast has initiated a number of exciting puppetry projects including a series of original projects and productions including the Puppet Meltdown Puppet Slam, “The Shadow Puppet Conspiracy”, “The History of Light” and “Méfiez-Vous de la Vache-Garou”, which won best in show at the Chicago Fringe 2013. She has taught countless workshops all over the country and currently serves the Membership Officer for the Puppeteers of America. Kat was a featured artist in Puppetry International’s issue of “40 under 40.

~~~~~

Erin Krause is the best Box Office Manager a group could want and is also a committed puppet enthusiast. She also worked for years as a High School teacher and is one Sea Beast’s go to and favorite workshop presenters. When not at Sea Beast she works as a legal secretary and rocks some of the best original cosplay around.

~~~~~

Maggie Krause may be young but is a long time Sea Beast alumni. She has been helping Sea Beast present at conferences for years and when they are not teaching puppetry on land, they teach swim lessons in the water. They are also enjoy creative writing and is absolutely crushing driving!

See the Current Program

Buy Your Discount Exposition Tickets

Chicago Steampunk Exposition

Categories
Exposition Updates

20 Weeks until the Exposition!

They’re everywhere?

The clues continue to mount, but what could they spell out? As we countdown to the opening of the portal that invites you to step back in time to 1893 and experience dimensions of the Chicago World’s Fair that neverwas, not only do we bring the latest updates regarding the Exposition’s exhibitors and program, we also slowly unveil the puzzle . . .

Each year there is a mystery to be solved at the Exposition as part of our Steam & Sorcery LARP Game; this time around it began with a fire . . . from ice? Every week between now and the end of May 2025, we shall release another Clue Card to help you solve the mystery game that begins during Opening Ceremonies on Friday, May 30th, 2025.

Save these Clue Cards to a folder on your phone and prepare your investigation into our “Curse of Cthulhu” LARP Game.

CLICK HERE to see all of the “Curse of Cthulhu” clue cards thus far.

Program Updates

Here are some details about presentations that will be part of the program in May 2025.

If you have a presentation, workshop, or some other fun activity that you would like to propose for the 2025 Exposition Program, please fill out our PRESENTER APPLICATION FORM. We are also looking for GAMES MASTERS to run tabletop games, and we are always on the search for talented PERFORMERS.

Exhibitor Updates

Exhibitors at the Exposition are divided into three main locations: The Underground Market (Sienna), The Palace of Fine Arts (Slate), and The Midway Plaisance (Atrium Lobby).

This week we featured the following exhibitors:

Tickets & the Exclusive Pin

Badges and Tea Tickets are already on sale for the 2025 Exposition! Until the end of this year, ALL badges are $10 off the regular price AND the first 100 Weekend Badges sold will receive an EXCLUSIVE brass colored Exposition 2025 pin that matches the theme. The pin design is almost done and we should be able to reveal it in our next countdown update, but we can describe it as the Exposition Ferris wheel and of course . . . tentacles!

Click on the Box Office image below to purchase your tickets today! Please note that for 2025 we will be printing your name (in a fancy font) on the badge, so include “badge names” in the “Order Notes” section of the check out form. In addition to your name, badges will also be labeled with your order number for reference in case lost badges get turned into Registration; that said, however, please remember that lost badges that are not turned in can not be replaced and a new purchase will be required.

Afternoon Tea Parties & Banquets

New for 2025, the Exposition will offer a limited ticket banquet on Friday and Saturday evening. We are currently working on the menu and pricing, but this meal will also offer patrons the opportunity to sit with one of our guests of honor for a meal and pleasant conversation. Details coming in our next countdown update, but meanwhile tickets for our Afternoon Tea Parties are on sale now.

Get Involved!

We are looking for Presenters, Performers, Games Masters, and other people to run sessions for the 2025 Chicago Steampunk Exposition program. Applications are now live; please click on the appropriate image to access the form.

Hotel Rooms

For April 2024, the Exposition hotel was actually sold out. Admittedly not all the people staying at the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg that weekend were there for the Exposition, but nonetheless the hotel was sold out. To avoid getting locked out in 2025, we recommend booking your room early (you can always cancel later if needs be).

Social Media

On the Horizon . . .

  • More programming!
  • Who is Steampunk Stanley?
  • Exposition 2025 Design Contests.
  • The new Steam & Sorcery adventure!

Categories
Exhibitors

Author D. Lieber

D. Lieber writes many subgenres of fantasy and romance—everything from the dark and spooky to the light and fluffy.

D. Lieber is a fantasy, sci-fi, and romance author with a wanderlust that would make a butterfly envious. When she isn’t planning her next physical adventure, she’s recklessly jumping from one fictional world to another.

Click on the banner to learn more about them . . .

Buy Your Discount Exposition Tickets

Chicago Steampunk Exposition