Sunday, August 31, 2008

Croquet Noir!

The Society is pleased to announce our next event: Croquet Noir. Please join us on Saturday, the thirteenth of September at 10:00 in the evening for a rousing round of croquet. We will meet in Heritage Park on the lawn at the far end of the park, adjacent The McConaughey House. As there is no seating in this area, lawn blankets are encouraged. Feel free to bring small flashlights, comestibles and potables. Alcohol under 20% is allowed for those of age. As this is a county park, there is no closing hour. However, this is an urban location near homes and a bed & breakfast, so please use manners as befit gentlemen and ladies. Steampunk and Neo-Victorian clothing enthusiastically welcomed at this event. Please contact us via this blog or our new email contact should you have any questions. 

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Wow! What Happened?

Two short months ago a social club formed of people into the multifaceted phenomenon called "steampunk." The founders of the Machina Fatalis Steampunk Social Club have been organizing and promoting steampunk social activities in San Diego and Southern California for over a year. Before we ever had a name we had already thrown two steampunk parties and several meet-ups. Eventually we decided to give ourselves a name: Machina Fatalis, the machine of fate.

In the six weeks since we went public with this name, we have thrown or been involved in five events. Over the course of those weeks we have gone from traveling to LA to gather eight people together, to having more than thirty people show up for the picnic and maritime museum event in San Diego itself. The suddenness of this transition has left us a little stunned. After a year of quiet small developments, a local steampunk scene has exploded in front of us complete with several very different perspectives of what steampunk is. We are working on our next events and taking stock of these drastically changed circumstances. Stay tuned. If you live in the San Diego area and are interested in steampunk activities please bookmark or RSS this blog. You can contact us via email at machinafatalis (at) gmail (dot) com.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Picnic & Steam Engine Tour

The Machina Fatalis Society will be pleased to welcome SD Costume Guilders, SD Cosplayers, The Manticore Society, and others to our next meetup. Like our tag says, Machina Fatalis is dedicated to steampunk art, literature and lifestyle. We seek adventures in the real world based around a neo-Victorian/steampunk aesthetic and a DIY ethic. We are not a cosplay or larp group. Basically we'd like to promote the lifestyle aspect (i.e. everyday living) of Steampunk; no scripts, no agendas, nothing to sell you on, just like-minded individuals up for adventures Steampunk style! Of course a little character playing creeps in now and again*, but what is life without fun?

Now, as to the finer details of our next congress, it seems the consensus is that we will be dining first, around 1 in the afternoon, on the lawn adjacent the County Administration building across from the Maritime Museum. Gentlemen should expect to provide their own meal and that of the ladies accompanying them. Unchaperoned ladies, though somewhat unheard of, may join us for their meal if they so choose and bring a dish to share. Please call upon Mr. Greyshade or myself if you care to do so. After a fine repast, we shall adjourn to The Berkeley steamferry for an examination of her inner workings. A thrilling time is anticipated!
If there are any concerns or comments, please feel free to call upon us through the Aether or comments upon this missive. I look forward to seeing all of you there!

(*see remainder of post)

Saturday, August 2, 2008

A Record Showing for San Diego Steampunk

Tonight's dinner at the Jolly Boy Restaurant was well attended by Steampunks local and distant. Though a group of 10 - 12 was expected, the actual headcount was 18 persons, a record for Southern California. Drinks were had, dinner was eaten, world domination plans laid, a good time had by all. In attendance were*; Hope Barton, Captain Stockings, Penny Dreadful, Gabriel, Professor Fossilbottom, Gadg3t, The Brothers Greyshade, Fraulein Flieger, Mr. J. S. Greyshade, Lady Jane, Cindy P. and Jerry, S. Sprocket, Mr. & Mrs. Klockwork Kobbler, Jimmy Diggs, with Anachronist presiding. Due to the fact that Captain Stockings will be leaving shortly for university, it has been decided that our next event should take place on Saturday, August 16th. It will be a trip to visit The Berkeley, an 1898 steam-powered ferryboat, with an accompanying picnic on the nearby lawn. Please see our related posts on Brass Goggles for planning information, or check this blog for final details.
*Brass Goggles usernames used when available.