C2E2 - Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo - February 28th thru March 1st, 2020

What can I say about C2E2??

C2E2 was the last big convention here in Chicago before the COVID-19 shut-down. I am so glad that I got to attend this at McCormick Place.

I decided that I would treat myself and stay at the Hyatt, which is attached to McCormick Place. I will say that I would recommend staying down at one of the hotels as it is such a time saver. I took an Uber downtown to save myself the issue of parking or valeting my car. I had my large suitcase, it was on the heavy side, as I was cosplaying (one day), but I also brought a cooler, a toaster and my hotpot. I was going to make breakfast in my room each day. I love doing that, as then I know I can have one good and healthy me a day.

I knew through Facebook, that four of my friends were going to be there during the weekend and I did catch up with each of them. I got pictures with three out of the four. There were many celebrities there this year, but my focus was on Ashley Johnson (Blindspot), Isa Briones and Evan Evagora, Walter Koenig, Mark Ruffalo and Karl Urban. I bought an upper ticket level which allowed me to pick certain panels to get a VIP wristband, which then allowed me to have first pick of seats for those panels.

Friday morning started out just getting my bearings and find out where all the rooms that I had on my schedule were located at and get the rest of my swag. Friday is Trek Day. The panels I attended were Walter Koenig and then a Isa Briones and Evan Evagora. The most of panels were moderated by the impeccable Clare Kramer. You may remember her as Glory on "Buffy, The Vampire Slayer". I had photo ops with Isa and Evan. There was plenty of time during the day to look through the vendor room. I was a good girl and only bought a few things. Side note: On Saturday, my friend Sharon informed me that my photo with Isa was picked as the "Epic Photo of the Day"; that is quite a privilege. My friend Alice joined me for dinner at Third Star. I was glad that I made a reservation, as they were really busy.

Saturday morning, I had a panel for Critical Role for Ashley Johnson, that started at 11 am and then the only other panel I had scheduled was at 8:15 pm. I would spend most of my day going back and forth between photo ops and autographs. I had photos with Mark and Ashley, and autos with Isa, Evan and Mark. My photo with Ashley was at the same time as my auto with Mark. As I am a "con veteran", I know you do the photo op first and then go to the autographs; and since I had a VIP ticket level, I got to be taken up to the front of the long line. Sorry people, but I paid for the perk of cutting in line.

I also had autos with Karl, Isa and Evan. I really did not get to talk with Karl as he had a long line. I did get to spend time with Isa and Evan. Both remembered me from the panel, the night before. They are absolutely wonderful and so appreciative of the Star Trek family. Evan and I got to talk a little longer as no one else in line for him. I mentioned that they were showing Wrath of Khan that night in one of the panel room and that he should stop by. He was like, what room and when. He said that we would try and stop by, as that was a favorite of his.

After my autograph with Mark, I went back to my room and grab a salad from the Market Place for dinner. I changed in my room and started getting things ready to check out the next day. The cosplay contest is also on Saturday night and the line for that is always long. I headed to the screening room for the movie. I sat a few rows from the front. They had a little bit of trivia before showing the film; I won a couple of things, both non-trek items. It is always fun watching a movie with other trekkies.

Sunday morning, I need to be up early and get down to the main stage room by 9:30ish to get in line for the Mark Ruffalo panel. I packed up as much as I could before heading down. I met up with Sharon and Derek right after the panel and we took a pic and chatted a bit. I then had head down for my auto with Ashley. I was wearing my Picard/Riker 2020 t-shirt (that I got at the C2E2 booth). When I got up to Ashley, I told her that I loved her portrayal of the character Patterson asked if she was happy with how the show wrapped up her character? She didn't tell me what the wrap up was, but that she was happy with. She then noticed my shirt and pointed it out to her friend and the next autograph table and said that she needed to get one for a friend of theirs; that made me feel good, I made them smile.

After that I went back to my room and finished packing, checked out and took my stuff down to the bellman to hold. I headed back over to see "The Boys" panel. You all know how much I love Karl Urban. He is show sweet and talented. After that I got William Shatner's autograph on a photo of, he and I on the bridge of the Enterprise. I was then done with panels, autos and photos. I saw that Isa and Evan were at their tables and they were not busy.

I talked with Evan for a long time. He did not make it to the screening of Khan. We talked about Trek, Star Wars, Cosplay and Family. He also liked my shirt. I said my goodbyes to him and then had a good Chat with Isa about Trek, Cosplay, drawing and Family. I said my finally goodbyes and then headed back to the hotel to pick up my bags and call for an Uber.

Overall, it was a great weekend. We are all waiting to see what next year will bring. Hopefully, we will be back to some sort of normal. I miss the togetherness and sense of family when at the cons, I don't miss the standing in long lines. HaHa!! See you all next year!!

Friends Photo Ops Clare Kramer Walter Koenig Isa Briones & Evan Evagora Ashley Johnson Mark Ruffalo The Boys (Karl Urban)

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Friends: Alice, Derek & Sharon, Kris (not pictured)