How was the dinner? I wish I could have been there.
The show and dinner were both very cool!
It was a pleasure and honor to meet with and talk to so many of the forum members in person - Fanatical & Sickly, Dr. Deal, BigTomi, Pupsi-Cola, etc.. Both the WP and GPK camps were well represented. This was the first time I've ever attended such a show, and it was marvelous to see so many people passionately united under the same banner. For me, personally, it was also very nice to be able to connect the names to the faces, to be actually able to meet the real person(s) "behind the curtain."
It was also extremely rewarding to meet so many of the artists. Everyone was kind, generous, friendly, conversational, and more than willing to share everything from stories and vignettes to explanations of their creative and artistic techniques. It was so cool to have the opportunity to speak to Chad Scheres or Smokin' Joe in person, or to sit in the lobby of the Hilton chatting with George Wright. (These things just don't happen everyday!) I was also pleasantly surprised to discover that so many of the artists were also collectors themselves, and became WP/GPK illustrators simply because they, too, admired the same stickers that so many of us did while growing up. (What a strange, yet wonderful, calling!)
At dinner, Jeff Zapata and others shared some of their memories of Jay Lynch. The overall impression I got was of a madcap genius continually charged and bursting with creative electricity 24/7, an unassuming man who never quite lost that wondrous lens of perspective through which only a child views the world, a man who, throughout these many years, affected so many, many various people and brought us all together.
During dinner, the Tosers awarded many WP/GPK prizes to the guests. At one point, Matt Stock won a JL memorial poster which he insisted upon receiving, even though he had the same posters for sale at his show table. He then walked immediately and directly across the room and gave it to "Pupsi-Cola" (Mark) who I later observed holding the poster with what I can only describe as awe and perhaps even reverence. I really believe the gesture made Mark's day. Well done, Matt!
An artist also sat at each one of the tables, which for me was an unexpected surprise and bonus. At end of the dinner, each respective artist then handed out a metal card which read (depending upon which table you were seated at,) "I had dinner at the Philly Show with Chad Scheres and got this cool metal card! April 22, 2017." Each guest also received a package of assorted WP/GPK cards, as well as a commemorative birthday card painted by George Wright.
A few crazy, disheveled guests did arrive to dinner a bit late (Chad Scheres and his gang, cough, cough.) It seems they became lost while traveling a few measly miles from Merchants Square Mall to the Hilton Garden, and subsequently led the Allentown police on a crazy, meandering, high speed chase through this quiet community. By luck, they managed to spot the hotel and duck inside at the last moment, thereby eluding both the police and any charges that might have been pinned upon them. (On a personal note, I don't know how they managed to get lost in the first place. The hundreds upon hundreds of one way streets are all clearly marked, the major super highways only divide the city every other mile or so, the thousands of traffic lights all seemed to be in proper working order, and any major building landmarks (while not clearly identifiable by road signs) are all distinctly visible when one eventually arrives at them.)
A very memorable event with very nice people. I'm glad to have met you all.
Postscript: Some people were taking pictures, however I cannot really say when they might be posted. As far as the Philly Show Promo sets go, they only allowed any one individual to buy two sets on Saturday. That's it. I don't know what will happen today. I suppose it all depends upon how many sets are left before closing. Somewhere on the forum, however, pictures of these 9 cards (3 WP, 6 GPK) have already been posted.
Addendum: Smokin' Joe sold out of a couple of "Wacky-like" sets he has been working on, "Creepy Containers" and "Wicked Packages." Both sets feature the high quality of artwork for which Joe is known. "Wicked Packages," to say the least, is very "interesting." Mind, it is not for the ages 8-10 group and is not bound by the moral propriety Topps sometimes tends to impose. In my opinion, both sets are very unique and worth searching out.