The Vampire Diaries Convention

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When The Vampire Diaries (TVD) Convention came to Washington, DC in 2016, my good friend, Martina, suggested we attend this event so we could finally meet in person.  We had been virtual friends since 2008 when our favorite boyband, The New Kids on the Block, reunited.  We were also big fans of the show and Martina, at that time, frequented many TVD conventions. 

I never knew these fan conventions existed and I could not pass up the opportunity to meet my Texas friend.  Who could have imagined we would finally meet through a Vampire Diaries convention instead of a New Kids on the Block concert?  Go figure!  🙂 

Martina flew in from Houston the afternoon before the convention.  We hugged and giggled like girls do repeating over and over how we couldn’t believe we were finally meeting after all these years.    It was wonderful seeing my good friend in person.  🙂  We caught up and then headed into DC for some sightseeing. 

Martina had never been here and I was excited to give her a tour of my beautiful city.  We walked, talked, and took pictures.  It was fun for me because I love history, but I soon realized Martina’s interest in history did not match mine.  When she declined a picture at one of the monuments, I was shocked. 

WHAT?!  REALLY?!  WHY?! 

Martina admitted history was not “her thing.”  She was also tired and hungry.  I understood, but was still disappointed she was not impressed with DC the way I am every time I go into the city.  I acquiesced but told her she could not leave DC without seeing the White House.  So, we ended the tour there and grabbed dinner afterwards.

The convention lasted three days (Fri-Sun) and it was expensive.  Tickets for our premium seats cost over $600 (not including the cost of all the photo ops and other items!), but I felt it was worth it because of the proximity the seats were to the stage.  Martina, not so much.  She would have been content sitting in the back and saving her cash for more photo ops.  I was grateful she purchased the premium seats to accommodate my preference.  🙂

Each day of the convention was filled with celebrity panels, Q/As with the celebrities, live music, costume contest, trivia contest, meet and greets, photo ops, and autograph sessions.  In the evening on the first night, there was a karaoke party hosted by some of the celebrities.  On second night, there was a celebrity concert.  It was an exhausting itinerary and by the last day, I was spent.    

I must confess my enthusiasm for these conventions did not match Martina’s fervor.  Most of the celebrity panels bored me.  I also preferred sleep over karaoke and concert nights.  For me, I felt the convention was too long.  I would have been happy with just the photo ops.  That being said, I still had a great time with Martina and meeting her friends and new friends.  Although, I realize I am not a super fan like Martina, I did enjoy the experience.  So much so, I attended the convention again in NJ last year.  😉

The following pictures are from the DC/NJ conventions.  And since this is a shoe blog, you will see heels that have been featured on the blog, heels that have yet to be featured, and heels that may never be featured.  Enjoy the pics and the heels.  🙂 

Martina and I took our first pic together. She is an actress and will appear next on the ID Channel’s, Disappeared, on May 27, 2018. Check your local listings for time and follow Martina @martinarogowsky on Instagram to stay up to date on her latest projects.

Karaoke party at the DC convention featuring (l-r): Marco James (Liam on TVD), Chris Brochu (Luke on TVD), Micah Parker (Adrian on TVD), Jodi Lyn O’Keefe (Jo on TVD), and Chase Coleman (Oliver on The Originals).  

 

Chase Coleman (Oliver on TO) co-hosts the convention with Micah Parker (Adrian on TVD). Both actors are in the band, Mercy Mode.

 

Michael Trevino (Tyler on TVD) and Zach Roerig (Matt on TVD) appear for a celebrity panel Q/A. 

 

Charles Michael Davis (Marcel on TO) does a celebrity panel Q/A.  

 

Michael Malarkey (Enzo on TVD) does a celebrity panel Q/A.

 

Paul Wesley – he’s nice, but a lot more reserved than Ian Somerhalder.  

 

Ian Somerhalder:  I really adore him.  He is very outgoing, very attentive, and funny.  His lines are the longest to get through because he’s genuinely interested in having a conversation.  When it was my turn for an autograph, he asked if I could wait while he ran to the bathroom.  Ian was asking me for permission?!  Ha!  Of course, I said yes, but added, “Don’t forget to wash your hands.”  He replied, “That’s what my handler is for…to make sure I do that.”  Lol. He returned and I jokingly said, “Did you go number 1 or number 2?”  Ian smiled and replied, “We just met…that’s a very intimate question.”  LOL.  He loved giving me high fives too.  He did that about 4 times during our convo.  I was really disappointed when he canceled his appearance in NJ, but he had a good reason.  His wife was having a baby soon.  🙂 

 

Paul and Ian do a celebrity panel Q/A.

 

At the NJ convention’s karaoke night, guests were encouraged to dress as their favorite superheroes. Chase was He-Man and Micah was Superman. 😉

 

Martina dressed as Supergirl! She could not convince me to dress up. Lol!

 

Marco James (Liam from TVD) being silly.

Todd Lasance (Julian on TVD) at the concert.

 

Kat Graham (Bonnie on TVD), Riley Voelkel (Freya on TO), Annie Wersching (Lily on TVD), and Zach Roerig (Matt on TVD) were all in attendance during concert night in  NJ.  

 

This is Bob, Ian Somerhalder’s older brother! I never would have guessed they were brothers.  He sells jewelry he makes among other things at the convention. 

 

Teri is one of the friends I met through the convention. She is a convention regular and a very sweet person. 🙂

 

The convention was all about friendships.  Martina and I met Shannon (on the left) at the DC convention. Martina introduced us to her friends, Amanda (in pink) and Alyssa, who are convention regulars.  🙂

 

Photo Op with Matt Davis (Alaric o TVD). Our pose feels like a prom picture. 😉

 

Photo op with Charles Michael Davis (Marcel on TVD). I appear a little aggressive in this shot and I don’t remember why…

 

Photo op with Paul Wesley in DC. I told him about my shoe blog and wanted him to do something with his shoe. So, he did a kick and all the girls in line started screaming.   I was not ready for the pic because I was cracking up. It happened so fast! 🙂

 

Photo op with Michael Malarkey in DC. After telling him about my shoe blog, he was very supportive with this kick and Elvis grin. 😉 What was surprising to me about Michael was that his Enzo accent was not real.  He’s an American from Ohio!  Go figure!

 

Photo op with Steven Kreuger (Josh on TO). I love Steven! He is just as sweet as his character, Josh, on The Originals. He was such a sport when I told him about my shoe blog and wanted to do something different to feature these heels. He agreed to this pose, but I had to jump on his back because he did not crouch down. I earned this pose! 😉

 

I actually enjoyed Steven Kreuger’s celebrity Q/A. He talked about his first convention. He flew from Atlanta to Chicago. He was seated next to an old man who started a conversation with him about all the celebrities on the flight. The man pointed out Dominique Wilkins, a retired basketball player among others. Then, the man pointed at Steven and said, “Then there’s you.” Steven was quite humbled that he was recognized only to have his bubble burst when the guy said, “You look exactly like that dude from Twilight.” LOL!  

 

Photo op with Paul Wesley in NJ. There goes my aggressive leg again! 😉  

 

Photo op with Michael Malarkey and Paul Wesley in NJ. Michael was sporting a porno mustache for a pilot he was filming. I believe he plays a cop.  He was being silly.  I told him to kick a certain way and he did…although, he blocked my heels.  

 

Photo op with Michael Malarkey. This is my favorite shot! If only he looked more like Enzo. 😉