Posted in Trooping, tagged 501st, Art Walk, breaking news, Jacksonville, Squad 7, Star Wars, starwars, Stormtroopers on May 17, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Blast for the Past, yep another great troop at the Jacksonville Art Walk. This is one of my favorite troops to do. it is also the hardest one to work into the schedule. But the pay off is a lot of people excited to see us and we really get to make memories with all who stop and get a picture with us.
Posted in Trooping, tagged 501st, Art Walk, Downtown Art Walk, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Downtown, jacksonville.com, Squad 7 on March 5, 2014| Leave a Comment »
501st Squad7 members meet up once again to a show of force at the Art Walk in Downtown Jacksonville. The rain had stopped and the cool weather made for a nice night trooping with all the great people out to enjoy the evening. We walked about and did what we do so well and had a great time. Here are the photo of the evening. Hope to see you at the next Art Walk next month.
Posted in Trooping, tagged 501st, Art Walk, breaking news, Downtown Art Walk, Jacksonville, Squad 7, Star Wars, stormtrooper on December 4, 2013| Leave a Comment »
The December Art Walk was a success. The crowed was great and the weather, well it was ok. maybe a little warm once all suited up but we managed just fine tonight.
The crowed turned out and the mood was upbeat and exciting.
The Art Walk is held on the first Wednesday of every month. So come on out and enjoy the sights and sounds, take a picture with a Stormtrooper or two and just enjoy an evening at downtown Jacksonville.
here are some photos from the night. Enjoy and remember you to can enjoy some Art Walk fun.
Photos by: Victoria Nelson – handler
Posted in Trooping, tagged 501st, Art Walk, breaking news, Downtown Art Walk, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Downtown, jacksonville.com, Squad 7, starwars, Stormtroopers on September 5, 2013| Leave a Comment »
The Jacksonville Art Walk, its one of a few things that happens each month in the city that I feel is a great thing for the city, It brings people together for a festive event and they show up even when it rains. This months Art Walk was no different, Squad 7 Troopers gathered at the old fire house and headed out for another exciting evening of trooping.
I am always surprised by the reaction of people as we walk by in a group. you would think I would be use to it by now, but nope it still makes me smile under helmet(we Troopers call it our bucket) when they get all excited and hop around asking for a picture. This happens with boys, girls, men and women of all ages. Sometime we even get pictures with the Dogs they bring with them, fun times for all to have.
Tonight the weather was on the Dark Side. The black clouds drifted in bring with it the flash of lighting and rolling thunder.
It was a good turn out for the evening event in spite of the weather. people braved the light rain and stayed in good sprites.
We headed back a bit early because the rain didn’t seem like it was going to let up, the humidity and heat was starting to take it toll.
This was a good Troop and I had a great time with all the Squad 7 Troopers along with the Handlers that joined us.
Thanks Troopers for making this a fun one
here is the Jacksonville.com photo album of that evening, there are photos that feature us doing what we do.
Posted in Trooping, tagged 501st, Art Walk, breaking news, costume, Jacksonville, Squad 7, starwars, Stormtroopers on August 7, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Another Troop down in the books or blog as it were. Tonight the Kids and I headed downtown for the monthly Art Walk. We got there around 6:45pm and I got dressed in armor and then headed for the long walk of high fives and photo opps.
I will not have any photos of me trooping tonight as there was no one to take them this time. however there was one fellow walking about that had these two amazing Stormtrooper Tat’s that I was able to have photographed, Loved them both
We made the rounds and visited with people for around two hours, we then headed back to the fire station where I shed my armor, gasped for fresh air then wiped the sweat off my face and called it a night.
So goes another Art Walk and a successful troop.
Posted in Trooping, tagged 501st, 904happyhour.com, Art Walk, breaking news, Downtown Art Walk, Downtown Jacksonville, FL, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Art Walk, Squad 7, Star Wars, starwars, Stormtroopers on June 6, 2013| Leave a Comment »
It was an over cast rainy Wednesday afternoon, and I was head downtown to troop my first Art Walk in armor. If you have never been to the Art Walk you should, mark one of the first Wednesdays of any month in your calendar and head on down.
The Art walk will offer you 3 hours of the many faces of Jacksonville both in the Artiest and the fans that walk the closed off streets of downtown. There are many Artiest showing off their talents, Musicians preforming for the masses and all sorts of entertaining things to hear, see and eat.
On this night the 501st meet up at our new location, from what I understand it will be a new base of operations and in time we will setup a table and maybe even host a Blast-A-Trooper event. This will allow us to recruit new people into the fantastic community that is the 501st.
Our night began with everybody meeting up in our new home. It was still a bit rainy when we entered the building. After dressing out, we all headed out side and lingered with the cupcake ladies taking pictures as people passed by. Soon we began our march and the sky seems to clear right up. With the rain being held at bay, we trooped on to the park and the surrounding areas.
The night was void of the normal crowd but it was a fun troop and we/I got to end the night with another troop under my belt and hung out with some great guys/gals.
So chalk up another successful troop for TK 50167…. Trooper out!!!
Links of Interest
Photos by: 904HAPPYHOUR.COM
Posted in Trooping, tagged 501st, Art Walk, Gator Bowl, Gator Bowl Parade 2012, Jacksonville, parade, Squad 7, Star Wars, starwars, stormtrooper on January 2, 2013| 1 Comment »
Group Photo with 501st Members – I am on the right.
So for my 3rd Troop I was able to march in the Gator Bowl Parade in downtown Jacksonville. This was a mile long troop and it was packed with spectators on both sides of the street. This was my first parade since marching band in high school aside from the Disney parade which was more a production then a march and then it was not one on this level. I had a blast hanging with all the 501st members and learning what to do and not do. Everybody was friendly and helpful which is one reason I am proud to be a part of the 501st the people are very open and inviting.
Even the Empire has it’s cheerleader. black and white strips and me second to the right with pom poms.
This would be the first troop where I would run head on with photo fans. I had been warned that when you do a troop like this what would take 15 min to walk a mile could turn into an hour because of all the photo ops.
Yep that me with a pom pom cheering on the empire lol.. I am the one on the left
On this day the photo op’s started the moment we hit the staging area. It seemed the cheerleaders like guys in uniform with all the photo request we got, I think they would be surprised to know there are some women under some of them buckets lol. but I was taken back by how a crowed of people will flock to you. I had seen it a little handling for the Art Walk but this was a big crowd and were in the parade along with us. But it was enjoyable and interesting all at the same time.
Stand around waiting for the 3:00 pm step off for the parade. poor Vader (Michael Joiner) had to wear his helmet longer then the rest of us.
That would be me, Rob and Mongo (I think its Mongo) hitch’in a ride on the ST Augustine Ghost tours bus
here we are marching down the street. I would be the one on the left behind the young Jedi.
After standing around for an hour in costume we started lining up and I was lucky enough to march along side Vader. I stood to his right and tried to keep pace but being a first time and my own excitement I would tend to walk ahead of Vader from time to time and would have to slow down. I liked the fact unlike the Disney Parade that we could walk over to the fans and give high fives or a wave to the people waving back to you. some of the guys, the one who have done this for years really interacted with the crowed. they were great as they danced around and posed for photos but I was good to give high fives and try to keep pace with Vader. I must say for a mile long troop once we got started walking it didn’t take as long as I first thought. Before I knew it we were done and gathering up for some last min instruction.
This is me on the long walk back to our cars. I was walking with Mongo, Rob and a few others. we were all tired and ready for some water and shade.
Once the short meeting was done we had options to take a shuttle bus (with crowed) or walk back a few blocks from the parade. So I decided to walk the mile back and get back to the staging/parking grounds. It seemed longer walking back then the parade itself. The other guys were correct and I followed their lead whenever we got close to a crowed of people we put the helmets/Buckets back on and like clock work were stopped for photo. even being tired and feet hurting it was nice to stop and see the smiles on the kids faces as they got a chance to get a picture with a real life Stormtrooper.
I had a really good time at this event I was happy to talk with so many of the other members and I am still trying to remember all the names and faces. So this was Troop number 3 and I plan to do many more so if you want to read about my new adventures you can sigh up on right side of the menu bar. you will be sent an email anytime I post to this site.
Take care
‘Trooper Out
501st Members group photo with buckets on.
Photos courtesy of Rob Wojczyk
here is the “uncut” feed from the parade on Channel 4. Look for us just after the 36 minute mark…
http://www.news4jax.com/news/Uncut-Gato … index.html
Posted in News Flash, tagged 501st, Art Walk, Downtown Art Walk, FL, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Downtown, Squad 7, Star Wars, starwars, Stormtroopers, troopers on July 9, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Taking a break
As the title state its time to slow down. Take a day or two off and enjoy some entertainment. Working on this project as fun as it is can be a bit stressful when you get to a point where any modification you now make can have bad consequences if you make a mistake. This is why we slow down and take a breath. it’s so easy to get excited and work swiftly to try and complete the project but the instructions are clear “Slow Down” so that what i am doing now. I am at a point where every modification i make counts and is visible so i have to move slow and take my time.
So every second Wednesday of the month Jacksonville host the Art Walk downtown ( link provided below). The 501st always shows up down there to entertain the fan and meet new folks and spread the word. So i decided to head on down with Lyndon (the 4 year old) and Kat ( the step daughter)
Kat with a Trooper
to take in the the sights and sounds of the Jacksonville Art Walk. One thing for sure is there is not a lack of things to see both in the Art and the people walking the streets. its a strange feeling when you are walking down the street and you hear rap music on one corner and progressive on the other. you then round the corner and see other types of music being played. the air is just filled with worldly music and when you least expected you see Darth Vader and a troop of Storm Troopers escorting him down the street. how awesome is that, what a sight and all the other star wars costume that walk along side Vader. Lyndon was aw struck and wanted to shake all their hands. crowds of people start to line up for photos when the Troop comes to a stop. smiles and giggles abound, small kids to grown adults all taking in the sight and enjoying the evening.
Lyndon as IronMan
So we walked around and ended night eating some Viva Mexican food, yum and fun. Now i will take a few more day away from the project and hit it refreshed and ready to roll.
http://downtownjacksonville.org/Marketing/First_Wednesday_Artwalk.aspx
TK-50167 STORMTROOPER 