Shore Leave (US convention)/2009
| Convention | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Shore Leave (US convention) |
| Dates: | July 10-12, 2009 |
| Frequency: | |
| Location: | Baltimore, Maryland |
| Type: | |
| Focus: | multi-fandom |
| Organization: | |
| Founder: | |
| Founding Date: | |
| URL: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Shore Leave is an annual fan-run convention that takes place in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
It was founded by the Star Trek Association of Towson which continues to run it. The first convention took place in 1979; the con was still running as of 2025.
The con's focus was initially on Star Trek, but it has since broadened to include other science fiction media.
2009: Shore Leave 31
It took place July 10-12, 2009.
2009: Programming
- Showcase: Con Skit: Opening sketch: Star Trek: The Return of James Kirk — The Musical, Episode MST-ed: VGR: “Tinker, Tenor, Doctor, Spy” by Mystery Trekkie Theater [1] (see for more information on the con's skits in general)
- other unknown
2009: Con Reports
It's hard to believe the annual Shore Leave convention in Maryland is 31 years old this year. Those decades saw the original Star Trek series give rise to spinoffs that have their own devoted followers, films both good (The Voyage Home), and bad (The Undiscovered Country), and the deaths of some of the original stars. Just when a lot of observers believed the franchise was dead, it got a jolt from the reboot released this year, which was simply titled, Star Trek. (One of the panels at Shore Leave was called "Oh Thank Heaven, for Star Trek XI"). Shore Leave has evolved through it all, though the Hunt Valley Inn's evolution may leave something to be desired: take one look at the Blair Witch-style twig art hanging in the bar, or the neon blue, yellow and green photos of corn silos hanging outside the Hunt Ballroom, and you'll know what I mean.
This year's Star Trek guests were from Voyager -- Robert Picardo, who plays The Doctor, and Ethan Phillips, better know as Neelix. Jason Momoa and Rachel Luttrell from Stargate: Atlantis also attended, and were very entertaining when they spoke together about their experiences on the show: It seems Jason had a little fun hiding Rachel's chair on the set. Writers' panels included Ann C. Crispin, Robert Greenberger, and Keith DeCandido, who was royally roasted on Saturday night. The traditional Shore Leave Blood Drive and Maryland Food Bank Drive raised money and supplies for worthy causes.
The icing on the cake, for me, is always Mystery Trekkie Theater 3000, which takes place Sunday evening. As with the original Mystery Science Theater 3000, it starts with a skit. This year's skit was a takeoff on Sunset Boulevard, with a "dead" body floating in the hotel pool (and being unceremoniously shoved aside by swimmers), and a deluded Captain Kirk in the Gloria Swanson role, convinced he is to star in the new Star Trek film ("I played Chris Pine -- was I good in the role?"). In honor of this year's guest, the riffed episode was from Voyager: the one where the Doctor's programming goes haywire, and his daydreams take over his life. Mystery Trekkie Theater is always laugh out loud funny, but it's bittersweet because it's also the end of Shore Leave. When it's over, the only thing left to do is pack and say good-bye.
The new year will be here soon enough, and by January or February, the guest list for Shore Leave 32 will be firming up. Who will they have? Someone from Star Trek XI -- the real next generation -- who knows? [2]
References
- ^ "This year's skit was a takeoff on Sunset Boulevard, with a "dead" body floating in the hotel pool (and being unceremoniously shoved aside by swimmers), and a deluded Captain Kirk in the Gloria Swanson role, convinced he is to star in the new Star Trek film ("I played Chris Pine -- was I good in the role?")." (part of Mystery Trekkie Theater 3000) -- The Wright Stuff, newsletter for U.U.S. Kitty Hawk
- ^ The Wright Stuff, newsletter for U.U.S. Kitty Hawk