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Geeky Philly: The Star Wars Show Opens

February 11, 2008 at 1:45 PM | 4 Comments

After we told you about the Star Wars show opening in Philadelphia, we had to go check it out. We got to the Franklin Institute right about 10 am Saturday to watch this lightsaber duel and see a bunch of Imperial Stormtroopers march all over the place. And after navigating the crowd of kids and adults acting like kids, we finally managed to scope the show.

Now, with the disclaimer that we're Star Wars geeks, it was awesome. There were heaps of models from the movies, costumes and taped interviews with Lucasfilm artists. The token attempts at science--questions like could people really survive on Hoth--were also nice and good for the kids.

We skipped the $5 extra for the Millennium Falcon experience. We wish we would've skipped the Star Wars planetarium show. (The theater is nice; the show was bad.)

Your exhibit ticket gets you into the rest of the Franklin Institute, so if you're taking kids, you can make a full day of it. If you'd rather not, we'll have more geeky Philly recommendations this week including comic book shops and sneaker boutiques.

Related Stories:
· Stormtroopers Invading Philly [Jaunted]
· R2-D2 Mailbox Map [Jaunted]
· Star Wars Travel coverage [Jaunted]

Star Wars Travel: Stormtroopers Invading Philly

January 24, 2008 at 12:39 PM | 0 Comments

Speaking of space travel, if $200K is a bit steep for you, admission to the new Star Wars exhibit at Philly's Franklin Institute is a relatively cheap $20.50. The science center is hosting Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination from February 9 until May 4.

Some authentic props including Luke's landspeeder from Episode IV and Darth Vader's helmet from Episode III are part of the show. There will also be models and other Star Wars stuff to see, including a battalion of Imperial Stormtroopers the Institute has hired for the opening day celebration.

For an extra five bucks, you can even hop into a replica of the Millennium Falcon for a multimedia tour through space. Sadly, we hear its a trip through our galaxy, not one far, far away.

Related Stories:
· Franklin Institute's Star Wars Exhibit [Official Site]
· Photos from the Star Wars Exhibit in Boston [Jaunted]
· R2-D2 Mailbox Map [Jaunted]
· Star Wars Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Official Star Wars Blog]

Star Wars Turns 30: Spend Memorial Day With The Ewoks

May 25, 2007 at 3:09 PM | 0 Comments

Lamenting the end of the R2D2 mailboxes? Making last-minute plans for the big weekend? Happen to be in Southern California? Hit Star Wars Celebration IV, a fan convention commemorating the 30th anniversary of the first "Star Wars" film. They've got everything -- costumed super-fans, the creator of "Family Guy", 24-hour action-figure store... Some 20,000 fans are expected to join in the Cantina-style craziness. Plus, George Lucas is going to be making a big announcement today about his latest film. We're hoping for a romantic comedy about Princess Leia's single years called "Sex and the Astromech Droid."

If you're on the wrong coast or just don't want to leave your air conditioning, Whitney Matheson of the excellent USA Today blog PopCandy is blogging the conference all weekend.

[Photo: lamont_cranston]

Related Stories:
· The Official Star Wars Hotel [HotelChatter]

Photos From The Star Wars Exhibit

November 11, 2005 at 10:44 AM | 0 Comments

A Jaunted Exclusive

Was in Boston checking out the new Star Wars exhibit at the Museum of Science.

Here is the quick rundown:

·    Darth Vadar's suit looks oddly low tech. Our Mom made a more realistic looking Darth Vadar costume for us many Halloween's ago. It is really the chest part of the costume that is disappointing, the helmet is killer. The Lucas folks did a great job making the Vadar costume come to life on film.

·   The Hoth Imperial Storm Trooper costume holds up the worst.  It just doesn't look right--especially that neck warmer part.

·   The regular Storm Trooper, Yoda Puppet, and Jawa get up, were some of our favorites.

·   The original land speeder was great. If you owned the original Kenner land speeder (the one with the decals) you will appreciate the fact that the real landspeeder looks like a giant version of the toy, with the decals. It is impossible to look at the landspeeder and not wave your hand and say to the freak next to you, "These aren't the droids your looking for."

While for us the highlight of this exhibit was definitely the movie props and costumes, the younger crew on hand really seemed to enjoy the interactive displays. You can drive a hover craft, build and program a small R2D2, and make a robot walk.

The Museum charges an extra $5 for access to the Star Wars exhibit, and you can only enter by appointment (every 15 minutes), though you can stay as long as you want.

Many Star Wars exhibit photos after the click.

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Boston's Star Wars Science Lesson

October 25, 2005 at 12:47 PM | 1 Comment


If you're a Star Wars junkie, head to Boston on Thursday for the opening of the Museum of Science's latest-"Star Wars-Where Science Meets Imagination." It sounds like an excuse to get all things Star Wars in one place under the guise of education.

Luke's "Landspeeder" will be on hand to demonstrate lessons in gravity and androids and Anakin's prosthetic right hand from Episode III will be there to display advances in robotics. There will also be over 80 props there from all the films. Might be time for a "field trip"....

Related Stories:
·   "Star Wars" becomes tool to teach modern technology [Reuters]
·   Museum of Science [Official Site]

Failed, has Yoda

July 15, 2005 at 12:37 PM | 0 Comments


Yoda the Jedi Master delayed the departure of dozens of flights at the Buffalo-Niagara Airport and caused an evacuation of close to 3,500 people on Wednesday. Jedi mind tricks you ask?

Um, no. Apparently someone had packed their Yoda for a trip and left their bag unattended. FAA screeners aren't exactly trained to pick up his unique body shape on the monitors either:

"It was some questionable image in the package, so, at that point in time, it was decided to evacuate the terminal, because we just couldn't make out exactly what it was," O'Neill said.

We won't exile you from the galaxy this time, little thread-bare headed, misshapen friend. Just don't get left unattended.

Related Stories:
·   Yoda and Co. prompt Airport Scare [CBS 2]

Driving Miss Leia

May 21, 2005 at 9:25 PM | 0 Comments

With the swirl of media excitement surrounding the release of Revenge of The Sith (and well deserved this time around, as the movies is actually really good), we thought we should let you in the upcoming Disney World/MGM Star Wars weekends, where, if the pictures are to be believed, Lando Calrissian has been reduced to driving around the chosen two: Leia and Luke. Such a shame, Lando was far and away the coolest guy in the galaxy.

In any event the Star Wars weekends take place at MGM Studios each an every weekend between now and mid June.

If you fulfill your destiny and attend one of these Star Wars weekends you will be treated to a light speed trip to Endor on one of the parks rides "thrill" rides, face to face meetings with a bevy Star Wars character actors, a "Who Wants To Be A Jedi" trivia game, and some sort of "Jedi Training Academy."

Before all you forty year old Star Wars get too excited, we are fairly certain these weekends are geared towards kids--you old Jedi's have your own creepy conventions to attend--don't spoil it for the kids.

Related Stories:
·   Star Wars Weekend [Disney MGM Studios]