Skip to content
  • HOME
  • THE DREAMER
    • CONTACT
  • DISCLOSURES
  • HOME
  • custom-logo
  • THE DREAMER
    • CONTACT
  • DISCLOSURES
Adventures

Las Vegas: MerCon

August 19, 2011September 12, 2017 Crystal // Dreams, etc. 1 comment
Las Vegas: MerCon

Earlier this year, my good friend Heather heard about the first annual MerCon/World Mermaid Awards that was scheduled to be held at the Mirage in Las Vegas, Nevada. Of course, due to our undying love of mermaids, we made plans to go. A few weeks before the event, unforeseen circumstances caused the location to move to the Silverton Hotel and Casino. The Silverton is about three miles off the Vegas Strip, but with a free shuttle to and from the Strip, that fact would not deter me from staying at the Silverton again. It was very reasonably priced, the staff was very sweet and courteous, and everything was comfortable. The best part about the Silverton: they have a Starbucks. The Starbucks became very handy, as we used it whenever we needed to find our way around the casino and hotel. We need to go to the convention center? Great, find the Starbucks and it’ll be in this direction! We need to find the lobby? Great! Find the Starbucks and… well, you get the idea!

The Silverton is also a mermaid-themed hotel. They have a 117,000 gallon salt water aquarium with mermaid performers (SCUBA certified, with a SCUBA diver hiding out in the background, like a creeper… no, really, it’s necessary, of course, but it was kind of jarring to see someone covered in black scuba diving gear watching the first time we noticed the diver) who take in oxygen through a hose and perform for guests. The mermaid above was in the aquarium when we walked into the hotel and was playing with the children. One little girl leaned in to kiss the glass. It was adorable!

We arrived on Thursday, so we toured the hotel before turning in for the night. The next morning, MerCon began. We stopped by in the morning and toured the tables set up by the vendors before making our way to the pool to write. Afterward, we went to find lunch and returned to MerCon after. We came back in at the beginning of the Mermaid Beauty Pageant.

During the pageant, we snuck away to stock up on swim supplies at a store connected to the hotel. On our way, we walked by the aquarium and stopped to admire this little guy.

To be honest, we admired that little guy and the rest of his kind all weekend long. I never realized that stingrays are so cute! Even the big, old ones. When they took off from the floor, my heart would race a little, but watching them swim (as it was with all the fish) was so relaxing. And they all have the same cute faces. Hmm… I wonder what would go into putting a 117,000 gallon salt water tank in my house. (And, for the record, the Silverton does well with simulating a natural environment for the fish. Each night, we left when it was nighttime in the aquarium.)

We returned to the convention in time for the end of the pageant. Next up was the main reason I wanted to attend the convention: the author panel.

From left to right we met Tera Lynn Childs, Timothy Schaffert, Matthea Harvey and Carolyn Turgeon.

I loved seeing Carolyn Turgeon onstage taking pictures of the other authors during their readings! Seriously, how awesome is that?!

While I was getting books signed, Heather got some supplies that she needed for the next day (more on that later) and we left the convention center to get ready for the pool party that evening.

I don’t have any pictures of the pool party right now. I only have a DSLR and didn’t want to take that along. We did have Heather’s HD point and shoot for about half of the party, until the battery died. Let this be a lesson to everyone out there… when you attend a pool party with mermaids, be sure to bring a fully charged camera! We were able to get some pictures of Hannah Mermaid’s show, as well as some pictures of the performance of MeduSirena, the fire-eating mermaid. The camera died right as she began the fire-eating portion of her routine so you’ll just have to take my word for it (until I can dig up some videos), it was pretty cool! Or, if you don’t want to take my word for it, check out this article, which has a gallery of photos from the party.

I will say this. Most of the weekend felt surreal. I have loved mermaids ever since I was a little girl and first watched Disney’s The Little Mermaid. They’ve lived in my imagination ever since and I have always dreamt of being a mermaid. I used to pretend to that my “real” merparents (not that my real human parents weren’t fantastic, because they are and I am so thankful that I have the parents I have) would come to collect me and take me out to sea. During recess in elementary school, I would run around by myself beneath the jungle gym and pretend to be a mermaid swimming through the sea with my dolphin friend. Even as I grew up, when I’d swim through a pool I’d imagine I was a mermaid. When I’d stand on the beach overlooking the ocean, I’d imagine walking into the water, growing a tail and swimming away. However, seeing so many people wearing mermaid tails was a sight I never thought I’d see! But that night, at the pool party, with the moon full in the sky, it didn’t seem strange at all. It just seemed like a normal Friday night with mermaids and mermen.

The pool party ended our first full day in Las Vegas. Stay tuned for more on our second day later!

About Crystal

About Crystal

Hi! I'm Crystal, a millennial learning how to live slowly and sustainably, while still seeking adventure and following my dreams, etc.

Post navigation

Las Vegas: Photo Shoot & The Strip

One comment

  1. Julia, the Thanksgiving Girl says:
    August 20, 2011 at 6:18 am

    This is sooo unusual! I've never heard about something like that. I think surreal is the right word, yes!

    Reply

Share Your Thoughts! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

hi!

I'm Crystal, the storyteller behind Dreams, etc. I'm all about learning how to live slowly & sustainably, while also seeking adventure as we follow our dreams, etc.

If only we always remembered to be in touch with o If only we always remembered to be in touch with our loved ones regularly; to tell them that we love them.

This thought has been on my mind the last few weeks as I’ve been in touch with one of my best friends almost daily. They’ve been navigating a scary situation.

But that’s what everyone says, isn’t it? Reach out to those you love. Tell them you love them. Don’t let a lot of time pass.

We all know that. We think about it sometimes. We hear about it when others are in crisis. We’re thankful that we aren’t the ones in crisis and we can remember this lesson through someone else.

But eventually we get caught up in life. Our daily “I love you’s” are reserved for those we live with and sometimes we forget to text someone back… or it takes a few days to do so.

This week as I wondered why we don’t remember this more often I realized it’s probably a good thing. It’s a good thing that we can live life without worrying that tragedy is right around the corner. That would be an exhausting way to live.

It’s also good that we can get little reminders, sometimes not from our own life. So from someone who spent one week numb, another week weepy, and this week sad, remember to send your friends a text. Tell them you love them.
I took these in early January when the snow still I took these in early January when the snow still felt a bit magical, but right now I’m just ready to walk barefoot in grass.

When I was younger I used to imagine what it would be like if we got so much snow that it would be piled high above our doors. I wondered if we’d be able to create tunnels in the snow to move around in.

And this year might just be the year we find out. I’m kidding, of course, but at this point I feel like we’ve been buried in snow. We’re even on track to beat some snow records I think (the amount of snow and the number of consecutive days with snow on the ground.

So. What’s the weather like where you are?
February was here and gone in the blink of an eye February was here and gone in the blink of an eye but contained moments I’ll carry with me forever.
When it’s almost halfway through February and yo When it’s almost halfway through February and you still haven’t posted January’s recap. January was filled with lots of family time. 💙
Hello, friends! 👋🏼 Swipe through for a few g Hello, friends! 👋🏼 Swipe through for a few glimpses from January. As 2022 came to an end I had this feeling that I was preparing to hibernate and I guess, in a way, I have. I’ve been slowly easing into the new year, focused on getting back into a few routines after Iceland and the holidays. And it’s been a great month. I can’t believe it’s almost over. What have your favorite moments of January been?
2022. Looking back on this year it was the year of 2022. Looking back on this year it was the year of so many dreams experiences. Whales. Cape Cod/Nantucket. Iceland. I saw musicals that have I’ve been dreaming of with Moulin Rouge, Wicked, and Six. 

It wasn’t without its stresses and rough moments but I’m grateful for the good that can be found, even when it’s hard.
Let’s journey back to November for the second we Let’s journey back to November for the second weekly dam walk of the month. My dad joined me for this one and we made it somewhat fast because it was a chilly day. “The water looks cold,” I said when we back to the car.

Between Iceland and the below zero, windy, and snowy weather we had last week (which came with requests from my parents not to go) it’s been a few weeks since I’ve been to the dam and I miss it!
Years ago I celebrated Christmas and New Years in Years ago I celebrated Christmas and New Years in Vienna and it still lives in my memory today as such a special time. I know December in Reykjavik will be the same—and not just because I came home with a little over $100 worth of ornaments of all 13 Yule Lads AND their mom AND the Christmas cat. (There was a little bit of miscommunication between my mom and me on that shopping trip. 😂)

It might have been cold (and when that wind hits you don’t want to be outside or by the harbour…I speak from windswept, breath-stolen experience and will forever be grateful for the library we eventually found respite in) and we only saw the sun a few hours each day, but seeing this already charming city decked out in Christmas lights with a skating rink and the prettiest tree secured it’s place in my heart.

Reykjavik, I hope to see you again one day. Soon. Probably not in December, but I’m glad I got to see you in December once.
Last year my niece and I visited New York at Chris Last year my niece and I visited New York at Christmastime and it was fun to see the city decked out in lights. I can also now say that I’ve seen the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and skating rink and the Saks Christmas lights, but I’ve also seen the crowds they draw.

It was completely different in Reykjavik this year. You actually had a chance to skate on the ice rink if you wanted (and I never did the conversation, but I think it’s cheaper) and you could actually walk up to the Christmas tree. Two very different Christmas in the city experiences.
See More Follow on Instagram

RECENT POSTS

  • Saying Goodbye to Crystal the Writer
  • The Day the Sorcerers Visited Baby Jesus
  • Thoughts on Hope
  • Christmas Playlist // 2022
  • Life Under Construction

CATEGORIES

  • Adventures (52)
  • Beauty (16)
  • Books (147)
  • Creativity (57)
  • Entertainment (18)
  • Life (224)
  • Uncategorized (539)
  • Wellness (8)

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?

Follow
  • Book Review Policy
  • BOOKS
  • Contact
  • DISCLOSURES
  • Insta Links
  • Seint Links
  • THE DREAMER
Copyright © 2023 | All Rights Reserved | © 2023. All text and photos belong to Crystal Brutlag, unless otherwise stated. Theme designed by Little Theme Shop: https://littlethemeshop.com

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

Dreams, etc. // Minneapolis Lifestyle Blog
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.