There was no Crypticon Seattle in 2020, so my friends and I made up our own convention (Crypticon Dale's House), but in 2021, they held the con again, pushed to August from the usual May dates, and including lots of COVID protocols.

Due to scheduling our usual gang of 6 was down to three in the van for the drive up.

First stop was grabbing some bbq lunch at Warthog Barbeque Pit.

John and Rob are waiting!

Mac and cheese with pulled pork. Mmmmmmm.

Proof of vaccination was required, as were masks, and they made you go through a temperature station each day and gave you a separate wristband for that.

My pal Joseph Voegele got a selfie during his temperature station visit.

Got our programs and badges - let's GOOOOO!

First order of business was getting a bunch of these posters up. I was excited to be showing CHANNEL 99 this year, my homage to late night 80s cable TV, but since there was time, I was able to add a second bonus feature, DARK ZONE THIRTEEN PART TWO, which I had just finished!

I also took advantage of an advertising deal from Crypticon Seattle that produced this awesome giant banner for SKULLFACEASTRONAUT.COM!

Hanging out in the bar for a bit.

Both of these will kill some germs.

A short walk over to Taco Bell for some nacho fries!

I had really enjoyed FANATICO when I saw it at a previous Crypticon, so was anxious to check out CAMP CALYPSO from the same team. I chatted briefly with director Hannah May Cumming afterwards and she gave me these kickass stickers!

It's Jewel Siren up on the big screen in CHANNEL 99!

Part of the group after the show.

John and Rick were making some kind of socially-distanced magic.

I don't know what Donna saw, but she liked it.

Ray Quest and Jewel Siren with their comp copy of CHANNEL 99!

We went to Pancake Chef and I asked everyone to try and do their impression of the cartoon chef on the menu. John was up first.

Rob in his cool Velma shirt.

Donna in her cool polaroid shirt.

It's Rick!

It's Joe!

I think Joe liked Liz's impression.

It's the eyes, you guys - match the EYES!

As has long been tradition I asked to get a picture of John with our waitress.

I got a delicious club sandwich.

John got some crazy cheeseburger with gravy!

So, I was at the Felissa Rose & Katherine Kamhi SLEEPAWAY CAMP panel moderated by Tony Kay, when a California-based producer who I had made some movies for, Dave Sterling, texted me, asking me where I was. I had already told him I would be out of town all weekend at the convention, so I just said, "Watching a Felissa Rose panel." About 8 minutes later, Felissa Rose threw up her hands and exclaimed, "Is that Dave Sterling?!" Sure enough, I looked to my right and there was Dave (whom I had never met in person before, all of our business had been online and on the phone), who flew up to surprise us!

If you go to 44:35 in this video, you'll see Felissa Rose notice Dave standing off to the side of the room. The looks on her face crack me up!

Dave brought along the THINGS Collectible Box Set, which had my flick THINGS 5: STRANGE MONSTERS in it (and would subsequently have two of my other movies, THINGZ and THINGS 666 added to it).

Felissa had to leave early, but Dave had a chance to chat with her before she had to go.

I checked out the STRANGE AEONS RADIO panel.

The whole gang went to Famous Dave's BBQ

Good stuff.

BUT - they had drastically reduced their menu, including getting rid of the BANANA PUDDING!!! DAMMIT!!!

I took this picture from outside Jack in the Box. This door is for Entry Only. But don't use it. Use the other one. What?

The JOE BOB BRIGGS panel was great. I've been a fan since Monstervision and his Drive-In books, and of course dig THE LAST DRIVE IN on Shudder.

Rob picked up this sweet poster, which is now framed and hanging in his horror-themed bathroom!

Look at those cool shirts! I got one for me!

This was great.

Terry Kiser had great stories to tell.

Joe and Liz got a sweet WEEKEND AT BERNIE'S photo from Terry.

And a photo!

And a photo with Lisa Zane, too.

A while back I had found an instagram account for DEADVENTURE PEOPLE and I was amazed!!! So much cool horror/scifi mash-up goodness, micronauts and other weirdness. I was further AMAZED when the Deadventurer himself gave me one of the "Monstronaut" figures! Obviously, with a production name like SKULLFACE ASTRONAUT, I am a fan of the skeleton in a spacesuit look and this thing is just fantastic. So thankful for such a nice gesture.

And just like that, the weekend was over. We were able to get our traditional pic with Mickey before we left, though!

Good gravy! What's with all the stand-still traffic?!!

Oh. That's what was up. We eventually made it home. But we'll be back!