Star Trekking in Seattle

The “Star Trek: Exploring New Worlds” is inarguably the highlight of our EMP museum visit (please see previous article for details), that is, for our husbands.

I am not exactly a “Trekkie,” but I must admit that this exhibit was quite impressive. It spanned three floors and not only did it have an extensive collection of artifacts and memorabilia, but it also had fully immersive displays that would transport anyone to the Star Trek universe.

The artifacts included more than a hundred props from the original television series, such as the tricorder, communication phaser, a Borg cube, a Klingon disruptor pistol, and Tribbles that apparently escaped from the displayed case and were scattered around, waiting to be found.

A collection of rare costumes was also on display, including Spock’s tunic, past and present Khan garments, Captain Picard’s suit, a Borg costume, an alien Gorn costume, and so much more.

There were set pieces from the original series, including a self-destruct panel and a navigation console. There were also spaceship filming models of the Enterprise, the USS Excelsior, a Klingon battle cruiser, and a Deep Space Nine space station that made you feel like you are actually onboard these ships.

There was also the “Khaaan!” video booth, where you can recreate the memorable scene from Star Wars II: The Wrath of Khan. Inside, you watch a short clip of Captain Kirk’s famous “yell” to inspire you to do your own version. Afterwards, your face and your voice are inserted into the clip, and you become Captain Kirk. The clip is previewed and emailed to you for your own viewing pleasure, or for sharing with your “fans.”

You can also crawl into a “Jeffries Tube,” one of those access tunnels that run all over the Star Trek ships, that even came with the hum from the ships’ engine. Or you can take your photo in a “Borg Regeneration Station,” to see the “before” and “after” shots of your transformation from human to robot. You can also sit on a replica of Captain Kirk’s chair to channel your inner space commander and capture it on film.

But the coolest thing was the “Transporter Simulator,” where you could actually film yourself and watch your own “movie” in a matter of minutes. All you need to do is walk up to a computer station and choose your storyline from among three options, all based on scenes from the TV series. Then you grab a phaser, step onto one of the illuminated circles on the stage, and listen for audio instructions from the “invisible director.”

There were monitors on each side of the room that gave you a preview of yourself against the set, but it was highly suggested that you don’t look at them or your “performance” would be compromised (like an actor caught looking at the teleprompter while saying his lines). The monitors were mainly there to make sure you are standing on the right spot and that you are within the video frame.

While we were waiting in line, my boys had to go to the washroom. When our turn came, I decided to do a test drive by myself, since I did not want to lose that chance. I forgot the title of the storyline I chose, but it was something like having to travel back in time to save the ship from an attack and explosion.

The moment I heard, the invisible director asked me to look at the screen and react to the destruction announcement in utter shock. Then I had to look determined as I accepted the mission of saving the ship by going back in time. Next, I was instructed to go to the transporter room and say, “Scotty, beam me up,” after which I “disappeared” from the screen and “reappeared” in another time and place.

For the climax scene, I had to appear ready for the villains with my phaser on hand. When the enemies came, I had to look fierce as I shot them one by one. Once victorious, I had to give myself a pat on the back and a thumbs up to the camera. I was instructed to walk back to the transporter where I was safely beamed back to my ship.

The whole thing took less than three minutes and I was shown a preview of the whole clip on the screen. I followed what the family that came before me did – I recorded the playback monitor with my phone camera, as a backup, in case I don’t get that emailed to me.

My boys were not back yet (and I was guessing they got side-tracked, as usual). The guy behind me asked if I could film him as he was doing the playacting. Judging from his Star Trek shirt, Star Trek cap, and Star Trek backpack, I could tell he was a big-time “Trekkie” and was really excited about this experience. I told him I would gladly do it for him.

I was not prepared for his award-winning performance, though. The moment the camera rolled, he got really into it…like a professional actor. It was good that I have a TV production background up my sleeve, and I know how to steadily hold the camera despite my stifled giggles. Man, you’d think he was auditioning for a major role in the next Star Trek series.

After the filming, he thanked me and he also recorded his “movie” during the preview. I told him he did an amazing performance and he was beaming with happiness as he left.

When my boys finally arrived, I was more than familiar with the drill. Luckily, there was only one family left in the line-up, so we went next. After the guys’ Captain Kirk impression earlier, our family performance failed in comparison, with our little boy constantly looking at himself on the monitor, my husband laughing and talking while the invisible director was giving instructions, and me constantly whispering, “Shhhh…stop laughing and listen, please.” 

It was fun, though. My cousin’s family did it, too and they had a blast. We all agreed that we were such bad actors, and I said, that’s why I worked behind the scenes in my previous career!

And speaking of performances, we were reminded of the group concert recording that we intended to do, so we quickly walked back to the recording studio, only to learn that they had closed their doors twenty minutes earlier. The kids were disappointed, but the husbands heaved their sighs of relief behind our backs, and of course, we ladies read their minds.

With only a few minutes left before closing, we spent the rest of our time at the gift shop, where the guys, of course, purchased some Star Trek souvenirs.

It was still bright outside, but we did not have time to go another attraction, so we just strolled around the area. We needed the fresh air anyway. Just steps away are the Willard Smith Planetarium, Boeing IMAX Theatre, Chihuly Garden, and a spacious park.

The atmosphere was really festive, with musicians, people in sci-fi costumes, and families with young kids milling about. There were small food stands selling snacks and small souvenirs. We bought the kids ice cream and as we walked, we even noticed a couple of whimsical sculptures installed near Chihuly.

One is called Olympic Iliad, which is made of bright red steel cylinders cut at different angles. Apparently, it is also known as the Pasta Tube. The second one is called Sonic Bloom, a group of five flower sculptures made of steel, acrylic, and fiberglass. The stripes along the stalks are large mysterious barcodes left as puzzles for people to decode. Night-time illumination by the sculpture is powered completely from solar energy stored on panels on top of the flowers. It also emits choral tones when it detects movement. Pretty cool! We heard that there are more interesting outdoor sculptures at the Olympic Sculpture Park, but we couldn’t walk that far.

In fact, we all agreed we had enough walking for the day and that to go back to the parking lot where our vehicles were, we would just take the Seattle Monorail, since the station was a stone’s throw away. It turned out to be the perfect ride to cap our busy, fun-filled day. The ride was a 1.5-kilometer non-stop cruise atop a straddle beam along 5^th Avenue. This runs between Seattle Centre and Westlake Centre with no stops, passing by several downtown landmarks, which brought us right where we wanted to go and only took about ten minutes. The kids enjoyed it.

We drove back to Canada in the early evening, reaching the border at a little past 10:00 pm. This time, our GPS led us to the Lynden, Washington/Aldergrove, B.C. border instead of the Sumas, Washington/Abbotsford, B.C. border we took on our way out. Our son fell asleep as soon as the urban highways turned into farmland and woke up only at border crossing.

It was his first time to go out of the country, and he found it fascinating that it took only a few seconds to go from the United States to Canada. As soon as the border patrol gave us back our passports, he said, “We are back in Canada. Home sweet home.”