Coming Home

It's been almost five years since I effectively hung up my hat on Kentucky Geek Girl. In the time that has passed, I've seen my fair share of ups and downs, triumphs and tragedies. Upon reflection, I have come to realize that the one constant that used to get me through the rough moments was blogging. It was a creative outlet for me to share my thoughts and opinions with the world and Kentucky Geek Girl became a way to shine a spotlight on some of the best that Kentucky had to offer. I'm a big fan of this state, so that part was fairly easy. As I pondered the current state of the world, I figured the best way for me to cope with *gestures widely* all of this, was to write. So, here I am.

If you're reading this in August 2020, that means that the COVID-19 pandemic has raged on for nearly three-quarters of the year in the United States. Kentucky, while being a leader in flattening the curve early on in March and April, has now regressed and new cases have surged in the past few weeks. Needless to say, the pandemic has limited the opportunity for many of the geeky things we know and love. Conventions have been cancelled (at least we can be thankful for no Fandom Fest), movie theaters closed (though some are beginning to reopen with new rules), and our favorite gaming shops have been restricted to curbside pick up and limited Friday Night Magic. It's been a real drag, y'all.

As for me, I've spent the period among the throngs of unemployed, which is not easy for someone who loves to be in the thick of work as much as I do. I probably should have started blogging again sooner, but like so many, this time has also taken a toll on my mental health. Thank goodness for therapy. My therapist will probably be glad to hear that I've started blogging again, as I had told her that I enjoy writing as a release.

Early on in this "new normal" I was quoted in an article on Salon.com in which I made a pithy comment about Kentucky governor Andy Beshear and my quote made headlines. The quote ended up on a t-shirt made by my friends at Kentucky for Kentucky and my Twitter mentions blew the heck up. It was kind of nice to be semi-famous again. I still recall randomly being noticed out and about in the earlier days of KGG. I was influencer before it was cool.

I'm not sure what format new posts will take or what the frequency will be. It's time to shake off the dust, flex my creative muscles, and breathe a bit of life back into this old girl. I hope you'll follow along with this new adventure.

Be sure to like Kentucky Geek Girl on Facebook and follow my daily updates on Twitter! If you have any questions or want to discuss partnership opportunities, be sure to send me an email.

Get 8-Bit with Louisville Arcade Expo

The great thing about Kentucky's conventions is that all of them provide something unique and special. Louisville Arcade Expo is certainly no exception. Since 2011, Louisville Arcade Expo has been providing the Commonwealth with the opportunity to play probably any video game imaginable. Expo goers can harken back to their youth in the local arcade playing Ms. Pac-Man or Tekken. Personally, I was a Mortal Kombat master. I played every time we went to Giovanni's in Flatwoods and got pretty good at it if I may say so myself. You can read about my first console experiences on the blog post My First Video Game.

Arcade X, which takes place March 6-8, features over a hundred pinball and arcade machines set on free play, Classic Consoles from the 70s, 80s and 90s, and Classic Computing including the Apple II and Commodore 64. For just $20 a day or $45 for the weekend, you can play all of your favorite games and also take in events such as Retro Pub Trivia, Maximum Chiptunes by DJ CARTnage, and tournaments, including Street Fighter II, Power Pad Olympics, and Galaga. Regional vendors will be on hand to sell their retro gaming inspired wares.

Whether your interests are in Oregon Trail, Doctor Who Pinball, or Colecovision, you're sure to find something that's right for you. This year, Arcade X will also present one of the founders of Activision, and an early designer of many great console and arcade games, David Crane.

Louisville Arcade Expo

Triple Crown Pavilion @ the Ramada Plaza
1776 Plantside Drive Louisville, KY

March 6 - 8, 2015

Fri 2p-Midnight, Sat 10a-Midnight, Sun 10a-4p

@Door:  $20/Day | $45/Weekend

Facebook | Website | Event List | Twitter

If you're able to make it to Louisville this weekend, it's sure to be a great time. Everyone be safe, as Kentucky has just gone through Snowpocalypse 2: The Blizzarding. Keep up with more Kentucky convention news here at Kentucky Geek Girl.

Be sure to like Kentucky Geek Girl on Facebook and follow my daily updates on Twitter! If you have any questions or want to discuss partnership opportunities, be sure to send me an email.

KickStartKentucky: Build Lexington in SimCity

KickStartKentucky is a new feature at Kentucky Geek Girl where I scour the web for interesting, Kentucky-based crowdsourcing projects. It doesn't have to be Kickstarter, projects can come from Indie GoGo or any platform. The only criteria for this feature is that the project has to be about Kentucky or based in Kentucky. If you have a project that you'd like for me to feature, just send me an email!

In this inaugural edition of KickStartKentucky, I'm sharing a project by Nolan Gray called "Help me build Lexington, Kentucky in SimCity (2013)." The title is self-explanatory. Nolan wants to construct the Athens of the West, the Horse Capital of the World, Lexington, Kentucky in SimCity.

I am fascinated by cities and city planning. As a historian, I find it interesting to see how a city changes over time and Lexington is no stranger to change. Starting from a town plat which spanned less than ten blocks, Lexington became a sprawling city, especially in the mid-20th century when urban sprawl was the norm all over the country. Even today, new subdivisions are cropping up all over as more and more land is taken in by developers. The landscape of Lexington has changed tremendously even in the 10 years that I've call it home.

I asked Nolan a few questions about his project and what he hopes to accomplish. More from him after the break.

Welcome to Night Vale to Return to Kentucky on May 12

Fans of Welcome to Night Vale, rejoice! Cecil, Carlos, and the cast of characters returns to Kentucky for a live performance on May 12 at Louisville's Bomhard Theater at The Kentucky Center. Tickets to the 2014 event sold quickly, so be sure to order yours soon!

Welcome to Night Vale is a twice-monthly podcast which can be described as "A Prairie Home Companion" meets Gaiman and Lovecraft. The podcast, presented as a radio program, provides community updates for the small desert town of Night Vale featuring local weather, news, announcements from the Sheriff's Secret Police, mysterious lights in the sky, dark hooded figures with unknowable powers, and cultural events. The show is hosted by Cecil, with secondary characters voiced by guest stars such as Mara Wilson and Wil Wheaton.

WTNV released its 61st episode on February 1, so there's plenty of time to get caught up before the May 12 performance. Tickets are available now and can be purchased through Ticketmaster. If you're unable to make it to the Louisville show, Cincinnati is a comparable drive from Central Kentucky. And for those who really want to drive to Cleveland, you can do that too.

MAY 12. 8:00PM
LOUISVILLE, KY
BOMHARD THEATRE
ON SALE NOW


MAY 13. 8:00PM
CINCINNATI, OH
TAFT THEATRE
ON SALE NOW

MAY 14. 8:00PM
CLEVELAND, OH
HANNA THEATRE
ON SALE NOW


Be sure to like Kentucky Geek Girl on Facebook and follow my daily updates on Twitter! If you have any questions or want to discuss partnership opportunities, be sure to send me an email.

Five on Friday: Favorite Bad Lip Reading Videos

Like many of you out in Internetland, I'm a peruser of YouTube. I like to start with a video and just watch similar vids until I feel like I've reached a sufficient level of WTF-ery. Case in point: Bad Lip Reading. I first came to know of BLR several years ago when they parodied the video of my dear Michael Bublé, to which he posted an amazing response video. I've been a fan ever since and love to keep up with their newest releases. Since joining YouTube on March 21, 2011, BLR has garnered 4,146,593 subscribers and 424,525,344 views. I believe it, too. Their 2012 Presidential Election videos were insanely popular and I see their pop culture parodies circulated often.

"Weird Al" Yankovic Announces Mandatory Fun Tour Dates

Yankovic is all over the place these days, recently guest starring on ABC's Galavant. He's even lending his voice to the new Adventure Time video game. It was teased on Facebook all day on Monday and Tuesday at Midnight, the dates for "Weird Al" Yankovic's Mandatory Fun tour were announced on his website. This tour comes on the heels of the immense success that Yankovic has found with the release of "Mandatory Fun," his fourteenth studio album. Yankovic has performed numerous times in and around Kentucky and this tour is no different, with the following dates on his tour:

MAY 23
RYMAN AUDITORIUM
NASHVILLE, TN

MAY 28
MURAT THEATRE AT OLD NATIONAL CENTRE
INDIANAPOLIS, IN


MAY 30
JACOBS PAVILION AT NAUTICA
CLEVELAND, OH


JUN 21
FRAZE PAVILION
KETTERING, OH


JUN 24
PALACE THEATRE
LOUISVILLE, KY


JUL 7
SOUTHERN KENTUCKY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
BOWLING GREEN, KY


AUG 7
TENNESSEE THEATRE
KNOXVILLE, TN

There you have it, there are plenty of chances to see the king of the musical parody this summer. His newest album is comprised of twelve songs and features parodies of Iggy Azaelea, Pharrell Williams, Lorde, and Imagine Dragons among others.

Yankovic, a geek icon, will no doubt perform song from his storied career which spans the last three decades. I'm not sure which show I'll be able to go to, but I hope to see him at the Louisville Palace because it's just after my birthday! This will be a concert that you won't want to miss, I know I'm kicking myself for not seeing him when he performed at Paramount Arts Center in Ashland.

Let me know in the comments if you're going to get tickets when they go on sale on January 27! Dates are, of course, subject to change, so be sure to keep an eye on "Weird Al's" website!

Be sure to like Kentucky Geek Girl on Facebook and follow my daily updates on Twitter! If you have any questions or want to discuss partnership opportunities, be sure to send me an email.

Images courtesy:
http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1867637!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_970/weird-al-yankovic.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandatory_Fun

Imagine Better This Saturday With the Harry Potter Alliance at Plantory

Real talk time: the world is kind of a mess right now, but there are definitely things that restore my faith in humanity. Case in point, the Harry Potter Alliance.  I must confess that I haven't even finished the book series, but I did see all of the movies, and have been a huge Harry Potter fan for almost 15 years. I am so excited by the work that this group is doing. Since 2005, the Harry Potter Alliance has engaged millions of fans through work for social justice, equality, and literacy. The best part, though, is that the organization is making activism accessible. They've succeeded, with nearly 100 chapters and a network that reaches nearly one million people.

The good news of the work that they're doing is spreading like wildfire. Just this week, HPA succeeded in a four year long campaign for Warner Bros to use all fair trade chocolate for their Harry Potter licensed candies. This victory has gone viral and has been featured by a large number of online publications including People. This is certainly some great PR for the Alliance and should show the world the great work that they're doing. And their work spreads beyond the Harry Potter fandom, they're also energizing Hunger Games fans, launching the Odds In Our Favor campaign to fight income inequality and hunger.

If you're in the Bluegrass Region and you're interested in getting involved with activism, but are unsure how, please join us at The Plantory on Saturday, January 17 at 1:30 PM for the  Lexington Harry Potter Alliance Formation Meeting. Anyone ages 12 and older are welcome to attend. The WC Wizengamot, an official chapter based out of Woodford County, will be on hand to share how they use fandom based activism to enact change. This is a very exciting organization to be involved with and I just know that it's going to make a huge impact on Lexington!

Oh, and be sure to bring $1 to the meeting if you can, to help benefit the Huffleruffs, for care of magical creatures throughout Central Kentucky. Everyone at the meeting can use their dollar to vote for their favorite team name with proceeds to benefit Homeward Bound Canine Rescue and Rehabilitation.

For more information about the Harry Potter Alliance, check out their website. If you're unable to attend, keep an eye on the Lexington United page for more information about meetings. And if you're not in the Lexington area, fear not, because there is a Northern Kentucky chapter!


Be sure to like Kentucky Geek Girl on Facebook and follow my daily updates on Twitter! If you have any questions or want to discuss partnership opportunities, be sure to send me an email.

Game of Thrones Coming to IMAX

Last week, IMAX and HBO announced a partnership that would excite even the most casual of Game of Thrones fans. In an unprecedented move, Game of Thrones will be shown on large format screens. This is not the first time that a television program has been show in theaters, however, as there was a great deal of success in 2013 and 2014 with Doctor Who specials, but even that was in standard format.

Originally planned for a January 23 release, IMAX announced today that they are going to push the premiere to Thursday night showing on January 29. The company cited customer demand for the change and posted in their blog that Game of Thrones in IMAX "will extend through February 5. The date change, they said, allows for an expanded roll-out of screens to upwards of 200 IMAX theatres." Currently, only one screen in Kentucky will be showing Game of Thrones. Tickets will go on sale at Carmike Stonybrook 20 & IMAX located on S. Hurstborne Parkway on Friday, January 16.

Theater goers will be treated to two episodes from Season 4 of the hit HBO series - Episodes 9 and 10 - and a special extended preview of Season 5. Also posted on the IMAX blog, " Moreover, the first 300 IMAX ticket holders for the Thursday night opening show time at participating IMAX theatres will receive a commemorative Game of Thrones poster from well-known illustrator Robert Ball (www.beautifuldeath.com), who designed interpretive images of the most iconic deaths in each episode." This is certain to be a spectacle and I'm very excited to see what Game of Thrones looks like in IMAX!

As I previously said, Stonybrooke is currently the only theater in Kentucky to be confirmed for this event, but it is very possible that another theater will be added. The IMAX blog said to check back in the coming days. Another possibility is AMC Newport on the Levee 20, which is a great theater and would be my preferred viewing location.

I'll be sure to keep everyone informed! Will you see Game of Thrones in IMAX?


Be sure to like Kentucky Geek Girl on Facebook and follow my daily updates on Twitter! If you have any questions or want to discuss partnership opportunities, be sure to send me an email.

The Doctor Returns in a Encore Run of Mystery Theatre Production

Last summer, I had the esteem pleasure of attending a performance of Doctor! WHO is the Murderer?!, an original mystery by Kathy Hobbs, director of Fantastical Theatricals. The show is back by popular demand and will run for two weekends at The Chop House.

Trailer Tuesday - Dragon Blade

I love a good historical fiction, but as a historian, I am often left disappointed. I judge costuming, props, dialogue, and facts all a bit too harshly. I try not to be too judgey, I promise, but if comic book fanboys get to pick over every detail of the latest Marvel offering, I should get to share my elation or disappointment over my genre of choice.

I'll be the first to admit, however, that I don't know all that there is to know about every historical period. I'm particularly deficient in world history Eastern history and there is a great deal that I have left to learn. A class on samurai a few years ago helped fill in my gaps on Japanese history, but I need a refresher on Chinese history, since my last experience with it was actually in elementary school. So, when I heard about a new historical film starring Jackie Chan as a Chinese commander would be released in 2015, I was pretty excited. The trailer, however, looks like a hot mess.

My Favorite Things: The Avengers Get Jolly

While raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens are splendid in their own right, there is a multitude of awesome things that we all can enjoy. As Christmas approaches, I thought I'd take a look at some of these in a series I'm calling My Favorite Things.

Last year, I posted a splendidly seasonal video made by James Covenant which featured a supercut of my favorite Enterprise crew singing Let It Snow. James has engaged again this year with a delightful video of Avengers getting into the Christmas spirit with some tried and true carols. There's even a special surprise!


Check back for more of My Favorite Things!

Be sure to like Kentucky Geek Girl on Facebook and follow my daily updates on Twitter! If you have any questions or want to discuss partnership opportunities, be sure to send me an email.

Trailer Tuesday - The Last Five Years

We've been graced with a lot of great entertainment news over the past week or so. We got the Star Wars The Force Unleashed and Jurassic World trailers. We found out that James Bond will go up against Spectre in the new film. And there was a rather remarkable image released of Sherlock and Watson wearing period clothing in the Sherlock special due in 2015. So, yay for all that! But on today's Trailer Tuesday, I want to talk about something completely different.

Anna Kendrick has 3 movie-musicals coming out within the next 6 months. Three. Uno. Dos. Tres. We start with Stephen Sondheim's modern twist on the Grimm Brothers with Into the Woods in just a couple of weeks. Fast forward to Valentine's Day and we're delivered what is sure to be a heartbreaking look at love and loss in The Last Five Years. Then, we get pitch slapped by the Barden Bellas in May with the sequel to everyone's favorite musical about college a capella groups.

Aside from Cups, which was overplayed and lost any charm that it had in Pitch Perfect, I'm glad to see so many musicals on the scene. Annie is sure to be a crowd-pleaser and a hit at the Christmas box office. I was a little apprehensive about it since Jamie Foxx is hit or miss with me, but the more trailers I see for it, the more jazzed I am. Though, bless their little hearts, the kids who appeared on the float at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, including Quvenzhané Wallis, were a bit off their game.


But yes, the real reason for today's Trailer Tuesday post. Yesterday, a new official trailer for The Last Five Years hit the web. The Tony Award winning musical by James Robert Brown stars Jeremy Jordan and Anna Kendrick as Jamie and Cathy, a young couple whose story is told through the music of their love. Cathy's part of the tale begins at the end of their relationship and Jamie contributes the beginning. It all leads up to the moment that Jamie proposes. Still Hurting, which is heard in this new trailer, is Cathy's response to the situation in which she finds herself. The vocals by Kendrick sound great. Still Hurting was the first song from the show that I heard before I knew the plot. It's a hauntingly beautiful song and I think that both Johnson and Kendrick are going to be fantastic in their roles.

The Last Five Years will be released on February 13.

Be sure to like Kentucky Geek Girl on Facebook and follow my daily updates on Twitter! If you have any questions or want to discuss partnership opportunities, be sure to send me an email.

I think my whore is dead: Garth Brooks on SNL 15 years later

I hadn't planned on blogging today, but I had a spark of inspiration thinking about Garth Brooks performing at Rupp Arena this weekend. He and his wife Trisha Yearwood (one of my all-time favorite performers) are playing four sold-out shows, which means that roughly 80,000 concert-goers are expected to flood downtown this weekend. So many were expected, LFUCG had to issue a traffic warning, urging all who didn't have a reason to come downtown to stay away.

From what I can tell, Garth Brooks appeared on SNL as host twice in the last 15 years. The first time he hosted, Robert Duvall made a special guest appearance and the second time he was around with Chris Gaines as the musical guest. I've scoured the Internet trying to find clips of both of those episodes, because I really think that there are some strong sketches. Garth is a really funny guy and I think that during that particular era, he had some good material to work with. Tina Fey was writer and there were cast members like Will Ferrell, Ana Gasteyer, and that crew who supported Brooks in the best way.

My absolute favorite of Garth's sketches from his two appearances is a parody game show titled "Old French Whore!" where Cheri O'Teri and Molly Shannon play French prostitutes paired up against high school honor students. Brooks plays a prostitute named Coco, who was apparently personal concubine to Ravel, who knows a lot about Chemistry. Chris Katan, Tim Meadows, and Ana Gasteyer play the high school students with Will Ferrell as the host. Coco shares a tragic story of how she wanted to study chemistry, but it wasn't proper for a young lady to do that back when. Sadly, I can't embed the full video here, but here's a small clip. You can find the full sketch at this link.



In Brooks's first monologue, he talks about this life before country music and shares that he was actually a member of a psychedelic rock revival that had appeared on SNL in the early 80s. Garth also had some interaction with Mango, Chris Katan's biggest character, who drove male guests crazy every week. I can't find the clip of the first sketch that featured the two together, but it's mentioned in Brooks's second monologue where Mango makes an appearance and says that he's excited to meet Chris Gaines, Brooks's rock singing alter ego.

Garth Brooks also appears in a sketch with the Boston Teens, played by Rachel Dratch and Jimmy Fallon. The two visit the mall and encounter Brooks in Hickory Farm where his character is an Assistant Manager. As per usual, the two get pretty touchy-feely and Brooks's character speaks out against kids today.

And, of course, who can forget Nadine, the Simmah Down lady? Garth is actually in the first sketch which features Nadine, whose only response to anyone is to tell them to Simmah Down Now. I say, Sih-muh Dahn Nah. In this sketch, Brooks plays Nadine's superior at a department store who tries to defuse problems between her and her customers. The sketch is repetitive, but hilarious all the same.

Here are the only two actual videos I was able to pull. I'm not terribly impressed with this sketch where Will Ferrell plays the Devil. I honestly thought that Jim Lovitz did a better job in the early 90s.


Saturday Night Live - Garth Brooks - Will Farrell - Deal with the Devil from Illogically Sound on Vimeo.

Silly, but still fun is this NBC take on The Smurfs. 98-99 was still the time in which NBC was producing epic mini-series events. I absolutely loved The Odyssey, Gulliver's Travels, and Merlin. Rachel Dratch as Helena Bonham Carter was a bit random and there wasn't really even any sort of reason for Horatio Sanz as Meatloaf. Regardless, I really liked Garth in this one.


SNL "Smurfs" from John Young on Vimeo.

What was your favorite sketch with Garth  Brooks? Should he host SNL again with one of today's stable of characters?

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Dare to Be Bold Next Saturday

I've made it a mission of mine since returning to Lexington to become connected with as many people as I can be. Getting out into the community, talking to people, and finding out what I can do to help make Lexington a better place just comes second nature to me now and I find myself becoming involved with more and more all the time. From food festivals, to local workshops, and of course historical organizations, I am busier than ever before. It's awesome.

When I was working for a local after-school program a few years ago, I learned of Girls on the Run and other after-school programs which work to empower girls and promote self-esteem. I was in Girl Scouts and was super involved in many clubs and activities which gave me leadership positions. And now, as an adult, it makes me very glad to see so many stepping up to make sure that no girls are left behind in this media-driven, male-dominated world, especially in light of controversies like Gamer Gate, #notallmen, and the like. It's imperative to teach the next generation of women that they are strong, that they are equal, and that they deserve respect.

The founders of Be Bold, Inc. have a mission to achieve just that, "to empower girls by partnering with them to set and achieve tangible goals for themselves through entertainment, education, and above all inspiration." For just $5, girls will be able to attend the workshop which will feature a number of inspirational speakers talking on topics such as self-esteem, empowerment, and entrepreneurship. A step team performance, a fashion show, and art projects are just a few of the activities that girls 9-18 will be able to take part in.

By instilling in them the ability to dream, to think of something greater than their poverty-stricken neighborhoods (or better yet, come back and do something to help them), and to share their goals with others, Be Bold is a program which will help young girls find their strength and bring to light the necessity to nurture those growing up in areas of Lexington like the East End, which are rich in history and tradition, but lose the attention to the more affluent neighborhoods.

Sponsors for Be Bold include University of Kentucky, Partners for Youth, and Third Street Stuff. There is still time to show your support for this initiative. Volunteer your time, make a donation, or just spread the word about the amazing work that is being done in Lexington.

If you know of a girl who would benefit from Dare to be Bold, registration has been extended to October 29. I'm excited to volunteer for Dare to Be Bold!

Dare to Be Bold
University of Kentucky, Student Center
November 1, 2014
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Facebook | Website | Twitter

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The best laid plans - An Update

There comes a time when one must take a step back and evaluate the importance of something in one's life. Is what I am doing successful? Is it meaningful to me and to other people? Is this something that I want to continue to do? I find myself looking at Kentucky Geek Girl in this way, and that's not a bad thing.

I started KGG in 2010 as an outlet to talk about gaming. I looked at a couple of apps that year and then started writing about pop culture in an expanded sense. It was then I started reviewing movies here and there and things pretty much took off. In 2011, I introduced KentuckyGeekGirl.com and started attended conventions on behalf of the site.

I've really enjoyed attending conventions, talking to people, hosting a table. I had plans to attend more conventions in 2014, but other responsibilities got in the way. Ah, responsibilities, professional, social, and the like. I've been so incredibly busy with work, volunteerism, and trying to keep up with everything there is to do, that I've neglected my blogging responsibilities. Truth be told, I have felt rather uninspired as of late. This has left me thinking about where to go with Kentucky Geek Girl.

Lately, when I have prepared to write, the words haven't quite flowed as well as I would have liked. I'm sure I'll work through it, as I have before, but I wanted to be completely honest with everyone as to why you haven't seen a lot from me lately. It's mostly not having time for blogging, but definitely a bit of the writer's block.

I'm always looking for story ideas and I'm brainstorming ways to keep KGG alive as a place for Kentuckians to get their geek news. Living in Lexington, I'll of course be focusing on Central KY, but I would like to also feature what's going on in other parts of the Commonwealth. I'm going to spend the remainder of 2014 really thinking about what to do with KGG and in 2015, I hope to celebrate the site's 5th anniversary with a bang.

Thanks to everyone for sticking out this dry spell. I really appreciate everyone's support!

Be sure to like Kentucky Geek Girl on Facebook and follow my daily updates on Twitter! If you have any questions or want to discuss partnership opportunities, be sure to send me an email.

Trailer Tuesday: Dan Stevens Two-Fer

Trailer Tuesday is back with a duo of films coming out in the next few weeks starring none other than Dan Stevens. You may remember him from Downton Abbey, as the adorable heir to the Crawley estate. But Stevens has struck out into Hollywood with roles in The Fifth Estate, Summer in February, and an upcoming role as Lancelot in the third in the Night at the Museum franchise. Stevens is suddenly almost as many places as Benedict Cumberbatch and I'm okay with that.

Blog Tour: Bob Freeman's Top Ten Occult Detective Movies

 This week I'm hosting Bob Freeman and the Tomorrow Comes Media Shadows Over Somerset blog tour. Bob is sharing with me his Top Ten Occult Detective Movies!

Bob Freeman doesn’t just write and draw occult detectives, he’s also a card carrying paranormal adventurer who founded Nightstalkers of Indiana in 1983. A lifelong student of witchcraft, magic, and religion, Bob’s studies are reflected in his art, both as an author and illustrator. Bob lives in rural Indiana with his wife Kim and son Connor. He can be found online at occultdetective.com

Be sure to check him out on social media as well.

Website:  www.occultdetective.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/authorbobfreeman

Twitter: @OccultDetective

Here's a synopsis of Shadows Over Somerset: 

Michael Somers is brought to Cairnwood, an isolated manor in rural Indiana, to sit at the deathbed of a grandfather he never knew existed. He soon finds himself drawn into a strange and esoteric world filled with werewolves, vampires, witches… and a family curse that dates back to fourteenth century Scotland.

In the sleepy little town of Somerset, an ancient evil awakens, hungering for blood and vengeance… and if Michael is to survive he must face his inner demons and embrace his family’s dark past.

Shadows Over Somerset is the first Cairnwood Manor Novel.

Take it away, Bob!

Guest Post: Jam This Weekend With RunJumpDev!

 

I had the pleasure of meeting some representatives from RunJumpDev, a local video game design collaborative. Recently, they partnered with the Lexington Public Library for The Lexitron, a throwback to classic arcade gaming. They exhibited at LexiCon Gaming Convention where several of their partner video game companies had their projects on display.

I'm happy to host Amanda Wallace on the blog today. Amanda is an Associate Editor at Game Skinny and is a Lexingtonian. Look for more posts from her in the future here on Kentucky Geek Girl! Take it away Amanda!

Fantastical Theatricals' murder mystery is a Whovian love letter

Greeted by a woman in a black dress with curly blonde hair, I knew I was in the presence of River Song, I'm sorry, Cascade Cadenza (portrayed by Kathy Hobbs). From then, we began our meal at The Chop House before the music started and the show began.

Well, This is Awkward: Louisville Back on Wizard World Circuit in 2015

It looks like the honeymoon isn't over for Louisville and Wizard World after all. I happened to see a tweet from a Louisvillian that I follow which included the date of November 6-8, 2015. According to the WW website, this show will be the last stop on the Comic Con train for Wizard World in 2015, unless another show is added. I'm curious to see why they decided to put Louisville back on their schedule.

I had reported a few weeks ago that the Derby City had been removed from the line-up after it's Freshman year, with Cleveland and Indianapolis being added roughly around the same time in its stead. A date much later in the year shouldn't pose a problem to anyone from the Bluegrass state, as there seem to be no other conflicting events that late in the season. This should provide a nice end to the convention season for those who want to attend.

I'm not certain at this time if I'll be involved with the convention in any capacity. I feel like my presentation on Star Trek and Anthropology went really well and seemed to be well attended, even if if I was up against Jason David Frank, so I'll keep my fingers crossed for another opportunity. The shows in the Wizard World stable draw huge names like Matt Smith and Nathan Fillion to their conventions and Smith was definitely the most popular of Louisville Comic Con's guests in March.

The page for WW Louisville still has details about 2014 and I suspect it will stay that way until after the new year. As always, I'll keep you up to date with the latest in Kentucky convention news.


Be sure to like Kentucky Geek Girl on Facebook and follow my daily updates on Twitter! If you have any questions or want to discuss partnership opportunities, be sure to send me an email.