Steamcon III: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

(Looking for Steamcon II, Steamcon IV or Steamcon V coverage? Look no further!)

Once again we join the intrepid Tara on one of her adventures -- this particular excursion being to the Hyatt Regency Bellevue to commune with the many resplendently-arrayed ladies and gentlemen of Steamcon III.

And lo, there were many in glorious attire. I'm pretty sure the Hyatt Regency staff had no idea what hit them.

As the theme this year was "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea"...

...there were a fair amount of interpretations on display.

Atlantean explorers!

Cephalopodesque masks...

...and spectacularly tentacular hats!

Seafolk defending their territory against would-be undersea settlers!

The bold and the beautiful...

...the unlikely but well-matched duo...

...the unfortunate attacked by killer squids...

...the gentleman with the portable fishtank...

...and of course, the roller-derby squidgirl.

But undersea-related costumes were far from the sole source of creativity on display. Air pirates, bodgers, fashionable ladies and dapper gentlemen were visible in every nook and cranny that you might care to point your camera-obscura.













(Look! It's the 19th-century Katy Perry!)


This fine gentleman sold me a gorgeous top hat.

And speaking of sales, there were many delectable items on offer this year.

Once again in attendance was the Artful Bodger himself, Anthony Hicks of Tinplate Studios.

So much amazing stuff, so little money. Jewelry, corsets, pins, sporrans, accessories and accoutrements of all imaginable natures...

...and, of course, hats for all occasions. (Sad how in the modern world we have largely lost our passion for hats, with the exception of the occasional cowboy Stetson or baseball cap.)

Oh, and a rather amazing artist cutting freehand silhouettes!

I'm always astonished at the wide cross-section of people to whom this particular subset of fandom appeals. Every age group, from six-year-olds to octogenarians, was represented in the crowd, and all seemed to be having a fantastic time dreaming, laughing, making new friends, seeing and being seen. We spoke to artists and dealers, sang rousing sea/air shanties, watched participants dance their socks off, and occasionally just sat back and watched people go by... including the odd mundane couple walking through the hotel atrium, looking highly befuddled at all the visual exuberance going on around them.

Next year's theme? VICTORIAN MONSTERS. I can't wait!