Welcome to a new series called “We Went to …” where each entry will highlight a new, exciting geek experience Professors Jason and Ashley have!
Star Trek: Picard season 2 is now streaming on Paramount+ and the studio chose to celebrate with the 10 Forward: The Experience pop up in Los Angeles, CA. It’s running until March 20th here in the city where we live and love Star Trek, so there was no way we were not going to take the opportunity to beam over and live our full Star Trek: the Next Generation fantasies!
(this post is not sponsored or paid for by anyone involved with Star Trek or 10 Forward: The Experience)
Patrick Stewart in Ten Forward from Picard season 2
The venue, in downtown Los Angeles, is made over to resemble Guinan’s 10 Forward from Star Trek: Picard based in the historic “Forward District” in contemporary Los Angeles, rather than the 10 Forward most Trekkies are probably imagining aboard the Enterprise-D from The Next Generation. A variety of Los-Angeles based food trucks provides food which can be ordered - along with the signature cocktails - via a QR code and the power of your phone.
Since Professor Ashley doesn’t drink, we had a mix of cocktails and mocktails available at 10 Forward: The Experience. All drinks have cute Star Trek-themed names like the Earl Grey Martini and Live Long and Prosper Mocktail.
Like the Vulcans, the Live Long and Prosper was sour and to the point!
There was limited seating available and you are assigned a timeslot to ensure all Covid safety protocols are met. From the moment you clear security and Covid testing the 10 Forward: the Experience is alive with photo ops and Star Trek fun.
Ashley’s dress: Elhoffer Design
Inside 10 Forward: the Experience are a number of fun photo opportunities.
Do you recognize which Star Trek movie this prop visited us from?
Along with various featured photos, paintings, and installations to explore. INCLUDING a replica photo from a piece of art which hung in Guinan’s quarters. There’s so much fun stuff to see! The walls are covered with stills from iconic Picard/Guinan moments (prompting Professor Jason to ask: “Who took these photos!?”), from across Star Trek canon. The designers of 10 Forward: The Experience have also populated the bar with photos of cosplayers doing casual fun things in the Star Trek universe.
For example: there was a picture on the wall near the entrance of an Andorian/human couple kissing on the beach. There was a picture of a Vulcan father and daughter SMILING (someone, somewhere is currently screaming about canon), while exploring out of doors.
Yes, you could make the argument it was actually a photo of a Romulan father and daughter, hence the smiling, however I saw the foreheads and they were BARE. Ergo, Vulcans.
With additional Polaroids some of the incredibly friendly staff take of patrons. We can’t write enough nice things about the staff of 10 Forward: The Experience! Everyone we interacted with was lovely, friendly, and helpful. They answered all of our questions and were very firm about when folx needed to leave in order to facilitate our own safety and the next seating. We’ve attended many genre themed experiences and pop ups and - in the true spirit of Star Trek - all parties concerned were completely amazing.
“Staff” is the title we also extend to the on-site cosplayers who populate 10 Forward: The Experience. The night we attended there was a Vulcan and an Andorian present for all human patrons to take photos with. We’re not sure if the intention was to be able to take pictures with the three founding races of The Federation - but it sure felt cool to do it!
Yes, we were absolutely joined at 10 Forward: The Experience by Mission Log host John Champion and The Red Shirt Diaries alum and Star Trek podcast mainstay, Adam Drosin.
Watch Drosin as “Commissioner Ferris” in our season 2 episode, The Galileo Seven:
And if you are a drag fan, check out Drosin’s alter ego, Eve Arson who does an array of outstanding Star Trek lewks:
If you go in civilian clothes, know 10 Forward: The Experience is populated by many patrons in full Star Trek attire. Ironically, we saw dueling Commander Rikers! Jason felt right at home amidst their company! There’s no dress code, but Ashley took the opportunity to show out for her favourite designer, Elhoffer Design!
Overall, worth the price of admission. 10 Forward: The Experience offers a welcoming atmosphere for Star Trek fans of all familiarity levels. If you have a chance in its final days to swing by and have a cuppa with a Captain, we encourage you to check it out.