Announcing Duel at Dusk 2019
Duel at Dusk 2018
Setting Up
We’re Sure This is Just a Wardrobe Correction
Our foil fencers this year were Bryan Bishe and Ben Jagger with the win going to Ben!
Staba, Staba, Staba
One may always rely on Madame Askew for urbane hilarity, even in the most mundane of activities such as the explanation of the rules of the venerable art of tea duelling.
Madame Askew Explains it All
John Bollman acquitted himself with valor in the Nerf gun dueling to take the top prize, a very cool Nerf gun steampunked by Bob Mogg. We have a feeling John will be back next year to defend his title.
Take That! And That!
Of course the room was full of friends old and new.
What’s a Party Without Friends?
Vendors? Of course there were vendors: Rae Wolf Designs, Wyng’d Lyon, Gears & Roebuck, and Gear Oils. Because, what’s a steampunk event without shopping? Special thanks to our ever-capable vendor wrangler, Lindsay Rae Harold Wagner, who made sure we satisfied everyone’s shopping craving.
Shopping!
In addition to his skills with Nerf guns, carpet bags, parasols, bandoliers…oh bother, the list just goes on! More to the point, Bob Mogg has a wicked sense of humor that often manifests itself materially. Voilá!
Because it’s a Fencing Event. Get it?
What do y’all think? Do it again next year?
Announcing Duel at Dusk 2018
“Duel at Dusk” is back! This is the fourth time we are offering this event. Drake & McTrowell, along with help from the ConDor Con 2018, is making it even better than ever.
Not familiar with Duel at Dusk? It’s a steampunk parlor event with dueling. Once again, there will be four types of dueling: steampunk nerf gun dueling, tea dueling, compliment dueling, and our traditional Olympic-style foil fencing! We will also have our usual dazzling array of steampunk vendors, and much, much more.
On-line sales for Duel at Dusk 2018 have been closed. You can still buy tickets at the door!
7 P.M. to 9:30 P.M. on Saturday the 20th of January, 2018
Location: Co-located with ConCor Con
Handlery Hotel
Garden Ballroom
950 Hotel Circle North
San Diego, California 92108
You may buy tickets at the door of the event. $10 for adults (age 13 and up) and $5 for children (ages 4 through 12). If you have a FULL 3-day Membership to ConDor Con for 2018, then you may attend Duel at Dusk for free (please RSVP so we’ll have enough seating).On-line tickets may be purchased for $8 for adults and $4 for children (only available on-line until 11 PM Wednesday January 17, 2018).
So acquire your tickets, stuff your photographic apparatus into your carpet bag, take in an early dinner, and come join us on the evening of January 20th to participate and/or watch the competitors!
Long Beach Steamy Tea and Picnic
All was in readiness for a delightful picnic in El Dorado Park.
Picnic in the Park
Several very fine gentlemen were in attendance.
Picnic Gents
And what could be a better accompaniment to a picnic in the park than croquet?
Croquet
Plus, there were corgis!
Corgis Attended by their Human Servants
Alas, we had to bid adieu to all the fine steampunk trappings, including this lovely creation.
Tower of Steampunk Finery
Dispatch Detailing Duel at Dusk 2017
Ben Jagger and Bryan Bishe Mix It Up
Drake even got in the game, but without eschewing sartorial suavities.
Is That Bowler FIE Regulation?
The final bout was between Ben Jagger and Bryan Bishe. Bryan won, but it was close.
Bryan Wins! And gets a giant commemorative chocolate bar!
But, wait, there’s more. We had Madame Askew and her intern, Ian, in from Tucson for tea duelling.
So Much Tea Duelling!
The shenanigans were so off the hook that even Madame Askew struggled to contain herself.
Ze Prussian fell to the victorious Steampunk Molly, but not without an epic battle. She was rewarded with a ceramic tea holder filled with various teas!
We were also honored to have the Iron Tailor, Bob Mogg, working with us to run the steampunk Nerf™ gun dueling.
The Iron Tailor with a Loaded Nerf™ Gun. What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
Back over to Madame Askew for some compliment duelling. We’ve never see this sport in action before and we have to say we find it delightful. With her supreme graciousness, Evie prevailed against all other duelists to take home the grand prize, a copy of “Miss Manners.”
Evie Wins!
We know what you’re wondering; how did the steampunk Nerf™ gun dueling come out? The four finalists squared off in a series of duels.
Gentle Steampunks, Choose Your Weapons
In the end, Ed Pogue prevailed (despite Doc Synchronous’ signature sneakiness) and took home the big prize, a hand-painted steampunked Nerf™ gun crafted by the Iron Tailor himself.
Ed Wins!
It was a whirlwind of non-stop fun. We sure hope everyone enjoyed it as much as we did.
Until Next Year!
Announcing Duel at Dusk 2017
“Duel at Dusk” is back! This is the third time we are offering this event. Drake & McTrowell, along with help from the steampunk community, is making it even better than ever.
See our Duel at Dusk event page here.
Not familiar with Duel at Dusk? It’s a steampunk parlor event with dueling. But this time there will be four types of dueling: steampunk nerf gun dueling, tea dueling, compliment dueling, and our traditional Olympic-style foil fencing! We will also have our usual dazzling array of steampunk vendors, and much, much more.
6 P.M. to 10 P.M. on Saturday the 14th of January, 2017
Location: Team Touché Fencing Center
11468 Sorrento Valley Rd. Suite A-1
San Diego, California 92121
On-line tickets are no longer on sale through the Drake & McTrowell General Store.
You may buy tickets at the door of the event. $15 for adults (age 17 and up) and $8 for children.
On-line tickets may be purchased for $10 for adults and $5 for children (only available on-line until 11 PM January 13, 2017 - that’s right, Friday the 13th! Ooh, scary!). Adults tickets are for ages 17 and up. Children are ages 4 through 16.
So acquire your tickets, stuff your photographic apparatus into your carpet bag, take in an early dinner, and come join us on the evening of January 14th to participate and/or watch the competitors!
AGSEM Tractor Show 2015
Getting Into the Swing of Things
Super special thanks to Scott “Zapp” Higgins and his wife, Carol, for chauffering us all around the museum grounds in their 1916 Russell steam tractor, including getting us a ride in the posh cook shack trailer for the parade (with our buddy, Justin Andrew Hoke from Dreadfully Punk). You may recall that this particular portable building serves as the Mooney family home in the League of S.T.E.A.M.’s season three episode, “The White Wolf” where we play Jasper Mooney’s parents.
Riding in the Parade
Since Scott’s a blacksmith, he gave us a tour of the blacksmith’s shop. He swears this is his personal parking spot for the Russell.
VIP Parking
In exchange for the personal tour, Drake lent Scott an able hand hooking up the cook shack.
Tractor Hitchin’
All joking aside, Scott let Drake help him drive around, even in the parade.
Drake and Scott, Steamin’ and Stokin’
Our whole crew had a really smokin’ time. Do it again next year?
Steaming into the Sunset
Duel at Dusk 2015
Our deepest gratitude to Team Touché Fencing for once again hosting the event. There were vendors galore.
Vendors, Vendors and More Vendors
The fencing was exciting and a bit unorthodox at times.
Touché
Thanks to Bob Mogg and the Starburner Galactic Courier Service for bringing the cool parlor backdrops against which so many attendees had fun taking pictures.
Parlor Pics
Dude Vader was there mixing it up with Drake, our master of ceremonies, among others.
Crossing Swords…and Thumbs
Bethany Jackson made us custom cupcakes that were amazing to behold and taste. The competition for them was pretty fierce in its own right.
Cupcakes, Om Nom Nom!
We personally had the great honor of being cosplayed by not one, but two, of the best costuming couples in San Diego.
So Many Drakes and McTrowells
Dreadfully Delightful
Our fencers battled mightily…
The Fierce Competitors
…all for one of these trophies.
Taking Home the Prize
See you again next year!
Announcing Duel at Dusk 2015
Not familiar with the event? Well then, may we ask a not-so-simple question? What would happen if you had the excitement of the finals of a sporting event, fencing no less, combined with a steampunk parlor event? Well, that’s easy to answer! You would have Duel at Dusk 2015 with Chief Inspector Erasmus Drake and Dr. Sparky McTrowell as the Masters of Ceremonies, steampunk and fencing vendors, awards for our fencing champions, door prizes for the audience, a Starburner Galactic Courier Service exhibit, and much, much more.
8 P.M. to 11 P.M. on Saturday the 18th of July, 2015
Location: Team Touché Fencing Center
11468 Sorrento Valley Rd. Suite A-1
San Diego, California 92121
Tickets are no longer on sale, because the event is over and done. Please plan to attend next year!
On-line tickets may be purchased for $10 for adults and $5 for children (only available until July 17, 2015). Although we employ PayPal to help you acquire your ticket, a PayPal account is not needed. Price of admission at the door on the day of the event will be $15 for adults and $8 for children.
You can download the PDF file of the Duel at Dusk 2015 poster from here!
So acquire your tickets, stuff your photographic apparatus into your carpet bag, take in an early dinner, and come join us on the evening of July 18th to watch the competitors cross wits and steel!
Presenting “A Murder At Midnight”
Tickets are no longer on sale for this event.
The event was an amazing success, thank you all for coming!
Book Release Event
The book features cover art by Brian Kesinger, a foreword by Professor Elemental, and illustrations by Martina Cecilia, Tess Fowler, Otto Arantes Pessanha, Jeff Vaca, Rocky Ormsby-Olivares, and Andrea Izaguirre & David Orenda. These talented artists bring Drake & McTrowell’s first adventure to life in full color. And just in time for holiday gift-giving, hint, hint.
Mysterious Galaxy is graciously hosting the book release event at their new location, 5943 Balboa Ave., San Diego, CA 92111. It will be held on Sunday, November 23, 2014 at 4:00 PM. The location will be so new that our signing will happen on their first day at their new location. Let’s help them get their new digs off to a rousing start! For all of you who live in and near San Diego, we’ll see you there!
See You There!
Drake & McTrowell’s Fourth Anniversary
- Twenty four episodes to wrap up our fourth book
- Six conventions
- Duel at Dusk
- The Starburner Award(s)
- The launch of our Zazzle store
- Traipsing around Paris making a Parisian map of Drake & McTrowell’s adventures
- And all the other cool steampunk stuff our friends enticed us to share in
It seems like we all deserved a party for all this hard work. So we had one. We went back to our “traditional” location, Eclipse Chocolate in South Park. This is our third year celebrating with Eclipse and our second at their new South Park location.
In addition to announcements (more about that in a later post),
Drake MC’s the Evening
...there was tasty food.
Yes, Jeff, We See You Demolishing That Cupcake
And there were libations, apparently in conjunction with some kind of sleight of hand by Jonathan Lord Ashleigh.
Sleight of Hand and Libations
I performed a spirited reading from Drake’s episode, “Baby Squirt.”
Wait, This is the Really Exciting Bit!
But, we all know what it’s really all about, getting together with good friends to celebrate our steamy good fortune.
The Chief Inspector and Miss Sarah Slate
I hope we have as much to celebrate next year on our fifth anniversary. Five years, seriously?
Proclaiming Duel at Dusk 2014 a Success!
Good Thing We Had So Many Chairs
(Thanks to both the Lapidary Society for providing the chairs and Grady for all his help lugging them)
May I Sell You Something Steamy?
(Vendors included Wyng’d Lyon, Hootie’s Perch, Indigo Lane Designs, Gears and Roebuck, Perpetual Motion Creations & Cameron Theatrical Design, The Elegant Harlot, and Rae Wolf Designs)
We had fierce competitors.
Lucius McMonocle
(Played by Ed Pogue)
Rupert Pennyfarthing
( Played by Bryan Bishé )
Stanley Cephalopod
(Played by Ashok Pathi)
Victor Victrola
(Played by Sergey Riezaiev)
Everyone got swag.
Swag Bag Contents + a Trophy
The fencing was very exciting!
Cat Like Reflexes
This Isn’t Epee and That’s Not Target
It’s Also Not Ballet, but It’s Just As Spectacular
Of course, Drake was our intrepid MC.
Intrepid MC
(Played by David Drake a.k.a. Chief Inspector Erasmus Drake)
He did an excellent job of explaining fencing.
This Way to the Fencing
And making it clear what is and is not a regulation weapon.
Clearly Not an FIE-Approved Weapon
(FIE is the international fencing association)
And Sparky made too much food, as usual.
So Much Food
The Starburner Galactic Courier Service’s Strato Sculpin was a huge hit!
Jeb and Barbara Enjoying the Strato Sculpin
You Steer it With That Thingamajig
(Getting Some Direction from Kim Hutsell a.k.a. Lithobius Quick)
Strato Sculpin “Nose” Art
Gear Hands!
At the end of the evening, Rupert Pennyfarthing took 1st, Victor Victrola took 2nd, and Lucius McMonocle took 3rd.
And the Winner Is...!
Justin Hoke won the Trifecta Trophy for having the ticket that predicted the outcome.
Trifecta!
So, he had to have his picture taken with the two makers of the trophy.
Justin and William Swanson
Kim Hutsell and Justin
Although this has been a light-hearted romp through the evening’s festivities, a lot of people committed a lot of their time and energy to making the evening such a success including the Starburner Galactic Courier Service, the fencers, the vendors, and the volunteers.
Way to Go Team!
L'aventure Parisienne de Drake et McTrowell
Well, we had the good fortune to be in Paris over New Year’s, so I’ve assembled a new one, “L'aventure Parisienne de Drake et McTrowell.” On their way to and from the Bavarian Airship Regatta, Drake & McTrowell had time for some unplanned adventures in Paris. This map highlights locations of these unplanned adventures and illustrates them with pictures we took along the way.
Now here is the trick to enjoying the map. Click on one of the links, and …wait… until the picture shows up. Google takes its time to download all of the images in the map pushpin descriptions. It loads all the images at once, so that’s the only waiting you’ll have to do.
Click on the map image to get the Google Map
Bon aventure!
Announcing the Upcoming “Duel at Dusk” Event
What would happen if you had the excitement of the finals of a sporting event, fencing no less, combined with a steampunk parlor event? Well, that’s easy to answer! You would have “Duel at Dusk,” a nice Sunday evening show (March 16th) with Chief Inspector Erasmus Drake as the Master of Ceremonies, comestibles by Dr. Sparky McTrowell, steampunk and fencing vendors, awards and prizes.
Tickets are now on sale through the Drake & McTrowell General Store. Click here!
Click Here to Get the Poster (in PDF)
Also, as a special treat, we will be displaying (for the first time to the public) the Starburner Galactic Courier Service’s Strato Sculpin!
Here are the details:
See the Thrilling Finals of a Contemporary Foil Match Utilizing Electrified Scoring Apparatus! Cheer on Your Selected Champion! Wear Your Best Fineries and Join Us! There will also be:
• Refreshments Provided • Steampunk Vendors • A Fencing Booth • The Strato Sculpin! • And Much, Much More...
Intrigued by Steampunk? Never seen anything like it before? Eager to see the latest Retro-victorian Fashion? Now is your chance!!
5 P.M. to 8 P.M. on Sunday the 16th of March, 2014
Location: Team Touché Fencing Center
11468 Sorrento Valley Rd. Suite A-1
San Diego, California 92121
On-line tickets may be purchased for $12 (only available until March 15, 2014). Having a PayPal account is not necessary to purchase on-line tickets. Price of admission at the door on the day of the event will be $15, cash only.
Zazzle Store
Zazzle to the rescue! We have set up a Drake & McTrowell store on Zazzle. I love that they print and ship your shirt directly to you.
We currently have two offerings. The first is a sand-colored shirt with the &McT Artwork: Jake Rieman">Jake Rieman illustration on the back and our logo on the front.
The second shirt is yellow with Drake’s own “It’s Not That Kind of Serial,” illustration on the front and the punchline on the back.
It’s Not That Kind of Serial - Front
It’s Not That Kind of Serial - Back
Starburner Award
This Rocks!
By the way, if you missed the radio show when it ran on Krypton Radio, you can buy yourself a copy from our shiny new General Store for the low, low price of $2.99.
Our Third Anniversary
Invasion of the Gear Hands
Of course, there were lots of delicious chocolate goodies.
Now That’s a Chocolate Bar!
Now Children
There’s plenty for everyone; no need to fight over it. Gertrude wonders why the adults are behaving like children.
Pensive Gertrude
In addition to eating, drinking, and admiring each others’ costumes, we sampled a bit of one of our Krypton Radio shows. And then we handed out the special CDs we made of the entire radio show + the interview on Event Horizon. We made a disc for each friend who volunteered their voice talents, many of whom were present.
Handing Out the CDs
You might think these two are Thelonius Rex and Mellivora Rathbone. They also happen to be the voices for Mrs. McCreary and Alistair Bennington Rutherford/Constable Higgins.
Drake genned up a special treat just for that evening, a brief comic skit entitled “Panic in the Apothecary.” We “recruited volunteers” to read the parts including some repeat offenders such as Dr. Edmond Pogue. Kelly Varner also demonstrating once again what a good sport she is.
Panic in the Apothecary
We made a serendipitous find: Drake’s beer and Sparky’s root beer. We rounded up a few for folks to take home as gifts in addition to the lovely logo chocolates that Eclipse has been making for us since this time last year. Where does the time go?
Drake’s and Sparky’s
Pictures by Lisa…as if you didn’t see that coming.
We want to thank everyone who attended and made it a great celebration of another year of all things Drake & McTrowell.
Krypton Radio Update
This is just a quick update on our show on Krypton Radio. They’ve agreed to double up our shows each week in our assigned time slot. This means that when you tune in on the hour, you’ll hear the previous week’s show followed immediately by the new show. So, if you missed the show the week before, fear not, you have three more chances to catch up!
Remember, the times are:
- Monday, at 3:00 AM PDT (6:00 AM EDT)
- Monday at 11:00 AM PDT (2:00 PM EDT)
- Thursday at 5:00 PM PDT (8:00 EDT)
So, to put it simply, on Thursday, May 30th, Krypton Radio will air shows 1 & 2 of “London, Where It All Began.” Next week, they will be airing shows 2 & 3.
Thanks, Krypton Radio!
Steampunk Picnic
Picnicking is Hard Work!
For a steamy stroll in the park, click here.
Krypton Radio
If you’ve been following us on Facebook or attending any of our panels at conventions lately, you know that we’ve been talking about Krypton Radio for a few months now. Well, folks, this is the big announcement!
We’ll be interviewed on Event Horizon, Krypton’s on-air science fiction, fantasy and technology discussion panel on Saturday, May 18th at 5:00 PM PDT (8:00 PM EDT). The show repeats that same night at 9:00 PM PDT (midnight EDT) immediately following DJ Willow Leafstorm’s Steam Powered Cabaret, and again on Sunday, May 19th at 4:00 PM PDT (7:00 PM EDT).
But wait, there’s more! The Drake & McTrowell radio show premieres on Monday, May 20th at 3:00 AM PDT (6:00 AM EDT)! This means that our friends across the pond will hear it first (we’re talking to you Ickenham and Linköping). For those of you who keep more civilized hours, tune in at 11:00 AM PDT (2:00 PM EDT) that same day or 5:00 PM PDT (8:00 EDT) on Thursday, May 23rd. Coolest birthday present I ever got…except from Drake who purveys birthday gifts like no one else.
A new show will run in these same time slots for nine weeks until we’ve covered all of “London, Where it All Began.”
Perhaps you’re asking yourself, “Self, why should I tune in?” It will be egoboo for some local San Diego steampunks who lent their voice talents to our little enterprise (and a certain professor from Brunel). But mostly you should listen because we think it sounds great!
For details on Krypton Radio shows and air times, see their table of show times.
Steampunk Saturday
Lady Amethyst and Her Mysterious Gentleman Admirer (sans Mask)
To get the scoop on all the day’s happenings, click here.
Me and My Baby
Steam Powered Giraffe at the Four Points Sheraton
SPG Cavalcadium Safari Day
Knowledgeable Natalie
To cavort through the cavalcadium with us, click here.
San Diego Automotive Museum
Drake Dines Al Fresco
To see some of the actual exhibit, click here.
LoS Season Two Wrap Picnic
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry
To see if you can spot other familiar faces and places, click here.
Short Hiatus
We’ll be taking a short break from now until the end of January 2013 to catch up on other D&McT business including getting our Facebook page in order, posting all the bloops about 2012 events, and recording a demo for Krypton Radio. In case you haven’t seen it on their web page, Krypton Radio approached us about a radio series (link is here). We are very excited and are in the planning stages of recording voice, music, and background sound effects. Wish us well! This is a real-life adventure!
Folkestone
Fine China and Mimosas
To join our adventure to the English seaside, click here.
Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum
We Did Our Best to Look a Bit More American
To read further about our visit to the Antique Gas and Steam Engine Museum, click here.
Milestones
But much like watching the odometer in your airship roll over to an interesting number, it’s a passing transition, a temporary fascination with digit-related repetition. We must continue on, telling the tales that must be told. Perils, in this case, in a postulated past.
How long, you might ask yourself, does it take to write 100 episodes? Well, we normally write an episode a week. By “normally” we mean that sometimes we just don’t always quite make it. Those pesky day jobs that pay the bills seem to get in the way periodically. So, the answer is that it took us 2 years, 1 month, 1 week, and 2 days. We started on July 5th, 2010 and finished yesterday. But that didn’t stop us from celebrating at the 2-year mark. Thanks to all our fan-friends who came out to help us celebrate by eating chocolate…yeah, we know, it’s a rough gig being our fans.
D&McT + Fan-friends + Eclipse Chocolat!
Steam Man Band
Just like last year, Steam Powered Giraffe is going to be performing four sets plus a meet & greet photo op daily at the San Diego Zoo starting June 23rd and running through September 3rd. We only managed to catch one of their performances last Summer, but we stuck around and got this epic pic.
D&McT + SPG
We’re hoping to make it out for a few more this Summer, including the day of our Second Anniversary Party.
By the way, check out SPG’s new video, “Automatonic Electronic Harmonics.” The production quality is fantastic. Look for hats/glasses/goggles changes. And even more than usual, the robots are really cranking out their robotic movements!
Our Second Anniversary
It’s been two years since we started writing Drake & McTrowell, July 5th to be precise. That sounds like as good an excuse for a party as I can think of (and I can think of lots of reasons to have parties). Drake and I are hosting a chocolate party for the San Diego steampunks and any other SoCal steampunks who feel like making the trip.
On Thursday, July 5th, we’re going to catch Steam Powered Giraffe’s last performance of the evening at the San Diego Zoo at 7:30 PM. We’re members of the San Diego Zoo and huge SPG fans, so what better way to start the evening. Please feel free to join us there if you’re so inclined. Please note: you’ll need to be members of the zoo or pay for daily admission to attend this part of the event.
We will thence decamp to Eclipse Chocolat at 8:30 PM. Our anniversary falls during their annual cupcake extravaganza, so Drake and I will be buying cupcakes and non-alcoholic drinks for all steampunks. Alcoholic drinks are also available for purchase as well as a multitude of amazing chocolate goodies.
Eclipse Chocolat
2121 El Cajon Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92104
Ph.# 619.578.2984
Here’s the really important bit: RSVP to sparky@drakeandmctrowell.com so Eclipse can be certain to have enough fresh cupcakes on hand.
First Anniversary
Mad Fondant Skills
To read further about our first anniversary, click here.
Curses!: in Which Our Authors (Nearly) Achieve International Fame
To read further about our being extras for “Curses!”, click here.
Steampunk Croquet
Photo credit to The League of Gentleman Adventurers - May 2011
Inexplicably, we didn’t win. I think the fix was in. However, my wounded pride was considerably assuaged by the scrumptious repast and the perfectly executed kir royale. Oh yeah, I also got a story idea out of the whole affair. The tournament was the inspiration for an episode of D&McT, Pall Mall.
Tour of London
Thanks to Google Maps for Making this Bloop Possible
To read further about our London tour, click here.
