It’s been a minute, but it still feels like a shift in … something. One day I was in Chicago (well Rosemont to be exact) hangin’ out with a 1000 of my closest friends and the Supernatural cast (i.e. I attended the Creation Supernatural Convention in Chicago) and two days later Trump’s re-election shook the world.

It’s a strange feeling in my brain anyways, this dichotomy of fun and frivolity juxtaposed with seriousness and impending loss.

How do I write a blog about fun, celebrities, and concerts with so much heaviness and fear of what will come under this presidency?

I do think it is in times like this when we have to doubly appreciate and hold on to the beauty in life, the good times, the joy.

To focus solely on the doom or despair can lead to forgetting the good in the world, forgetting WHY we fight for that good.

And just to set my own context, I am a Canadian living in Canada (though in a more conservative/Conservative threshold thereof). So for the moment I have a slight sense of safety and disconnect in distance. I left the USA purposefully the day before the election.

However, it would be naïve and, well, head stuck in the sand to not know what happens in the US has enormous impact for Canada. Not to mention the fact we have our own upcoming election and the divide between the left and right is seemingly at an all-time high here as well. (Remember those trucker rallies? yah.)

And if you know me or read this blog, you probably have figured out human rights, freedoms, equality, etc. are important to me. So much so that this blog about rock gods (and Supernatural cast members) carries a thread through most of my posts connecting politics and social justice with my devotion to my rock gods.

As I’ve said many a time in this blog, celebrities who use their platform for social justice are my jam.

The same is true of the Supernatural cast. I love them to the depths I do and go to these conventions, not just because I love the show itself (or because they are all so damn pretty!), but because they speak up about issues and values that are important to me. And they galvanize this fandom for good.

So maybe I don’t need to separate the pleasure from the politics in this post. The concerts from the campaigning. They are so very much entwined in this cast, these conventions, and me.

There has been much fundraising efforts on these convention stages. Lots of raising of awareness and outreach for Always Keep Fighting and mental health support. A palpable sense of belonging and allyship for the LGTBQIA2S+ community. Tables in the vendors room for Misha’s Random Acts and the like.

Though there did seem to be less political talk at this Chicago con, there is no denying the social justice connection with Supernatural and these conventions.

And perhaps, none moreso (or at least none so outwardly) as with Misha. It’s no secret this one is my fav. I’m a Cas girl all the way.

In fact, I chose Chicago as the con I wanted to attend specifically because it was one of the few advertised at the time as having Misha’s one man show “It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time.” (And because I wanted to see Chicago the city and all its glorious architecture – totally lives up to the hype. What a beautiful city!)

That one man show was so verrrr- wait wait wait. Let me just get this off my chest first: I was in the second row and daaaaaamn, that man is stunning! Just wow. It really was a good idea (at the time) to go see this show! Ok, now I can carry on – rrrry goooooood!

I’m not sure how it developed but there seems to be a code of silence amongst fans who attend Misha’s show to not share on social media the stories he shares within it. We also weren’t allowed to take photos or record. (These photos are all from his panel, not the one man show :P)

So I’m going to honour that tradition and just say we went through the gamut of emotions, especially laughter. Like “Oh my Chuck, noooo” laughter. And y’all should go see it! This night was filled with joy (hugging all the other emotions we went through).

What a unique life he has led and what a gifted story-teller he is. I really hope at some point he writes an autobiography of some type. Maybe after he’s President of the USA 😛 (MISHA 2028!)

Misha’s show was definitely the highlight for me, and the bar for favourite moments at this convention was spectacularly high. The Friday night karaoke with DJ Qualls (in fantastic steam punk costume), Matt Cohen, Sam Smith, Lisa Berry, and Tahmoh Penikett was out of this world.

DJ even showed up out of nowhere into the audience a few people away from me.

It will never cease to amaze me that the cast not only enable fans to get up on stage and sing with them, they truly seem to love it!

The amount of times we heard on Saturday and Sunday from the cast who were at karaoke and those who weren’t say how unhinged and awesome Friday night was…

(It was!)

Another highlight: Jared and Jensen found a cell phone on stage at the beginning of their panel. It was Rob Benedict’s and they immediately started to horse around with it – taking photos of each other and the audience giving the finger.

With all the stories we hear of mischievousness with each other’s phones…I am also amazed anyone in that cast does not lock their phone screens at all times when near each other 😛

Saturday Night Special – I mean, I suppose this is my blog so I can write about whatever subject I want on here, but the Saturday Night Specials (and the Friday Karaokes) make me feel like these convention posts really do belong here.

Louden Swain and Jason Manns are among my favourite musicians to see live.

And the fact that so many (so very very many) of the Supernatural cast are also amazing musicians gives me so much joy when they join on stage at either of these events, or in between panels as well!

Let me just say, the pure exuberance on Mark Sheppard’s face as he plays the drums… we all should have at least one thing that makes us that happy!

Mark Sheppard in general is a highlight. I love his purposeful snark, his playful cantankery. It’s interesting to see first timers (I assume) watch him with shock.

One person even questioned him about it this time – “Are you going to argue with everyone?” “Yes.” He is every bit the entertainer and gives the crowd what we want.

So yah, maybe the world is about to change. Maybe the American election will have a tremendous impact on Canada, on me. But there is much joy in life to hold on to.

Like a TV show that ended five years ago and its incredible actors and the little (huge) family they helped us all build. Like these conventions where we can gather with like-minded souls in a safe place.

Maybe we all are gonna need to step up the action for social justice, but this SPN Family can do that. We got this. As my other fav celebrity says “If we don’t organize, we agonize.” (It’s Bono, Bono said that.)

Logistical Things

• The Convention hotel was at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, which does have convention space, but this convention was at the Donald E Stephens Convention Center.
• I feel like the other hotels are actually closer to the DESCC. The Hyatt is on the side, whereas the Hilton and Doubletree are right across from the entrance of the DESCC. (I didn’t actually walk to them to confirm and it’s not a huge difference, but if anyone is considering those two hotels, maybe that’s useful info :P).
• The Hyatt Regency O’Hare does have a pedway connecting its lobby floor to the second floor of the convention center, but the pedway takes way longer than just going outside (at least from my room – might be a different story for others. And also the pedway was heated so that’s a bonus it the colder weather!)
• The Hyatt is HUGE!
• There’s a little convenience type store on the ground level of the Hyatt that has pre-made breakfast sandwiches, pastries and lunch and dinner options, in addition to chips, chocolate bars, etc. It’s the cheaper food option than the bar and grill in the hotel.
• There is apparently a mall and a grocery store nearby as well but I didn’t go to them.
• The blue line L train goes from the airport to downtown Chicago. An Uber was about $42 – 50 usd (end of October 2024) from the airport to the Theatre/Loop area if your prefer that method.
• If you do explore Chicago – I recommend the Architecture Riverboat tours and any Ghosts/Gangster tours. The history of the city is fascinating!