Dec 17, 20195 min read

Salute to Supernatural Chicago 2019

Posted on April 17, 2019

Saving People, Hunting Things, The Family Business!

My op with Jared Padalecki on Saturday

This past weekend, I attended my second Salute to Supernatural Chicago aka SPN Chi. For those of you unfamiliar with this convention, it’s a convention dedicated exclusively to the CW show, Supernatural. Supernatural is a show about two brothers, Sam and Dean Winchester, going around the country and hunt monsters that are terrorizing towns, or families. The show has been on for 14 seasons, so a lot has changed. Characters have come and gone, multiple times, and no one truly stays dead. I won’t give too much away, but the boys have survived the apocalypse, being possessed by angels, and Lucifer, and pretty much anything else you can think of. Basically, the boys have been through a lot. The show will conclude with season 15 next year. I only attend Sunday, as its J2 day! (J2 stands for Jared and Jensen, the stars of the show and the guys that play Sam and Dean). The con technically starts Thursday night, as people with weekend badges can register, and even participate in the pajama party hosted by Kim and Briana, who will sometimes appear in Supernatural. There is also a bus tour in whatever city the convention is in that weekend, with Rob Benedict, who plays the one and only God. Friday has panels and photo ops with smaller cast members, and has karaoke that night. Saturday is the same, with the biggest guest of that day, Misha Collins, who plays the angel Castiel. Saturday night contains the Saturday Night Special, which is a concert by the conventions house band, Louden Swain, and some of the Supernatural guests singing. Sunday however, is the biggest day by far, with the most photo ops, and panels. This year, some of Jared Padalecki’s (who plays the wonderful Sam Winchester) ops, meet and greets, and autographs were moved to Saturday night, as he planned to run the Boston Marathon Monday morning. I was lucky that someone could take my shift Saturday so I could go to Rosemont and get my photo op with him. And let me tell you, it was worth missing work for (sorry Marshalls!). When it was my turn, I looked at him and told him I love him, and asked for a hug pose, which he delivered on. As I was walking away, he complimented me on my shirt, which was a shirt from his Always Keep Fighting campaign to raise mental health awareness. Basically, he is one of the sweetest people alive.

My J2 photo op! (I’m hugging Jared, and Jensen is hugging me). I dont have the Jpeg yet…

On Sunday, I also got an op with J2 that morning, which was another great experience. Last year, I was way too nervous to look at them and ask for the sandwich hug, but this year, I asked for it, while looking at them, and asked to hug Jared this time. It’s one of the best photos of all time. I later bought a CD from the Louden Swain table for them to sign. (It’s called Splitting the Seams and its amazing! Check it out!). After that, i had some time to kill, so i walked around and bought way too much stuff, so after spending a bunch of money, I sat in my assigned seat (yay for preferred seating), and watched the panels. I first watched the Welcome panel with the two hosts of the weekend-Rob Benedict and Richard Speight Jr. This then transitioned into Robs solo panel, which was fun to watch. This is also where it was announced that everything was pushed back by 30 minutes. After this, Ruth Connell, who plays the witch Rowena, did her panel, and her panel is always a riot, even if we are accomplices to her crimes. Her “crime” is taking toiletries from hotels, and giving them to the people asking questions. After this panel was the J2 panel. Louden Swain played their song, and they both came out, and sat down, ready to answer some questions. The panel was full of their J2 antics, and stories of their set life and families, and even reassuring that the show is about Sam and Dean. For the last question, they brought someone on stage (and i am eternally jealous of that person), and they got to ask their question on stage. The panel ended, and before they exit, they sign the banners that are adorning the stage.

My photo op with Jensen Ackles

After this panel last year, I left, because I had nothing else to do. This year, I had one more photo op so I had to wait. It was intermission, so i talked to some of the people around me while waiting for the Jensen solo op. When it was finally my turn, I was so tired, but excited. I walked up to Jensen, asked for a hug, and said thanks. There wasn’t a lot of interaction like earlier, because it was going so quick, and he did about six or more photo ops that day, due to Jared having to leave early for the marathon. (He is a true friend.) I waited around for my photo, and talked to more people, and finally the photos came out. I got mine, and was super happy with it, as I was with the two others and I could finally drive back home, and end my con experience for that day. This con is run by Creation Entertainment, and is expensive. I am not even going to go into how much everything is, but it’s pricey. I do preferred seating, where I get an assigned seat for the day, and then I have more money to spend on photo ops. Ops are pricey, but worth it, as Chris (the photographer), tries his best to catch glare or blinks in the photos, and lets you retake them. The experience alone is worth it. (I decided to do three photo ops this time as an early graduation to myself-totally worth it!)

This show has been a part of my life for a long time, and I’m sad its ending, but i’m grateful I get to go to conventions like this, and am able to see the actors that have been so important in my life. I said I wouldn’t go next year, but I probably will. The post con blues have set in, and so now i get to stare at my photo ops. Thanks for a great year! (Also, the photos of me and the boys are photos i took of the ops, so that’s why there’s glare or the coloring is off! I’m waiting for the jpegs)!!

See ya next year SPN Chi!

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