Post by TempestFae on Aug 26, 2015 23:34:14 GMT
Okay, I have a few minutes to type this up (yikes, it's been nuts since I got back!)
This year, Sypher had to move their entire operation from the Park Plaza to the Millennium Biltmore. With less than three weeks to make all the adjustments, because the Park Plaza suddenly had a ton of safety upgrades required.
I'd say they did a phenomenal job, and the new venue actually fixed some of the most complained about issues from the old one!
First, google image search "Millennium Biltmore interior." It's an amazingly beautiful hotel, and one I've stayed at for the last few years. I was very excited about this year, because I was going to get to see some of the ballrooms that I only had glimpses of, before. They did NOT disappoint.
It was so easy to just ride the elevator down, and be AT the ball. And playing with the Muggles who were trying to check in, and had to cross our glittering throng to get the elevator up to their rooms, was TOO much fun. This year, because we were spread between so many ball rooms, and one of those was in a public area of the hotel, we exchanged our tickets for nice wrist bands with one of the Knights, and went our merry way.
The Lord Chamberlain stopped my party (much because I had two loaves of banana bread for him) but also because he wanted our help. Another Noble Guest from Atlanta was attending her first time, alone, and had suffered the death of her friend, who had been meant to attend with her, just the week before. We took her under our wings and did our best to show her a good time.
The ballrooms were more strongly themed, this year than in years previous. The Temple was almost exclusively dedicated to the Story Acts the first part of the evening, and then nostalgia-rock and pop dance the latter parts. The Gold Cove was full of mermaids (and a merman!) who were as ominous as they were beautiful. The first time I entered the Clockwork Ballroom, a bevy of amazingly talented waltzers were swooshing about the floor, and with the low ceiling and the chandelier and the colored lights...that was the first moment I've ever felt like I was in Jareth's crystal ball room. They were magical.
The Goblins had their own cabaret! MCed by a troll! It was fantastic. And this year, they passed trials set by the Sypher Knights and won the right to be eligible for knight hood. Also, the most hysterical thing I think I've seen in months was goblins, elves, faeries, talisk, and water and ice elementals recreating, in it's entirety, Beyonce's "Move Your Body" video.
Aside from a few of the Muggles that snuck in, the costumes were ON POINT this year. The nobles Guests really outdid themselves, I saw very very little that was anything but creative, imaginative and lovely.
There's so much that happened over two magical nights! I couldn't even journal it all. I had to make a bullet point list! Here's a few more highlights:
It was amazing fun! Please, ask me questions! I can go on about this event endlessly!
This year, Sypher had to move their entire operation from the Park Plaza to the Millennium Biltmore. With less than three weeks to make all the adjustments, because the Park Plaza suddenly had a ton of safety upgrades required.
I'd say they did a phenomenal job, and the new venue actually fixed some of the most complained about issues from the old one!
First, google image search "Millennium Biltmore interior." It's an amazingly beautiful hotel, and one I've stayed at for the last few years. I was very excited about this year, because I was going to get to see some of the ballrooms that I only had glimpses of, before. They did NOT disappoint.
It was so easy to just ride the elevator down, and be AT the ball. And playing with the Muggles who were trying to check in, and had to cross our glittering throng to get the elevator up to their rooms, was TOO much fun. This year, because we were spread between so many ball rooms, and one of those was in a public area of the hotel, we exchanged our tickets for nice wrist bands with one of the Knights, and went our merry way.
The Lord Chamberlain stopped my party (much because I had two loaves of banana bread for him) but also because he wanted our help. Another Noble Guest from Atlanta was attending her first time, alone, and had suffered the death of her friend, who had been meant to attend with her, just the week before. We took her under our wings and did our best to show her a good time.
The ballrooms were more strongly themed, this year than in years previous. The Temple was almost exclusively dedicated to the Story Acts the first part of the evening, and then nostalgia-rock and pop dance the latter parts. The Gold Cove was full of mermaids (and a merman!) who were as ominous as they were beautiful. The first time I entered the Clockwork Ballroom, a bevy of amazingly talented waltzers were swooshing about the floor, and with the low ceiling and the chandelier and the colored lights...that was the first moment I've ever felt like I was in Jareth's crystal ball room. They were magical.
The Goblins had their own cabaret! MCed by a troll! It was fantastic. And this year, they passed trials set by the Sypher Knights and won the right to be eligible for knight hood. Also, the most hysterical thing I think I've seen in months was goblins, elves, faeries, talisk, and water and ice elementals recreating, in it's entirety, Beyonce's "Move Your Body" video.
Aside from a few of the Muggles that snuck in, the costumes were ON POINT this year. The nobles Guests really outdid themselves, I saw very very little that was anything but creative, imaginative and lovely.
There's so much that happened over two magical nights! I couldn't even journal it all. I had to make a bullet point list! Here's a few more highlights:
- The most talented belly dancer I've ever seen was one of the mermaids who gave up her tail. Her isolations and range of movement took my breath away!
- A new character appeared, this year. The Earth Elemental gave birth to the Puck, who is just about the most adorable thing ever, and a giant flirt. I want to keep him in my pocket and take him out whenever people get too serious, and watch the mischief!
- Using magic, a faerie forced one of the Knights and one of the Talisk (dark elves, essentially) to waltz about the tea room. They weren't quite sure what to do with themselves when it was over.
- There was some indication how we got the Labyrinth from Jareth. I didn't quite understand it, but it seems to have something to do with the Queen of the Night.
- We danced to "As the World Falls Down." Three times!
- Someone had an 8' tall, light up Optimus Prime. He was promptly named Rocktimus prime when his eight foot tall frame did not keep him from dancing!
- Sparkles the Dragon was back! Fighting the Talisk! I'm such a Sparkles fan-girl.
- And the best Jareth I've ever seen at this event. There are lots of them. In six years, this is the only one I've seen who was SPOT ON.
It was amazing fun! Please, ask me questions! I can go on about this event endlessly!