Hockey & Exhaustion || MagicCon Chicago 2024

[@Ladyjessica0]

I will say, I love that Graham’s dedication to cinematography is so high, he walked into the room, set up the camera, walked out of the room with all the shit he was carrying just to come back in again. While in pain from his overloaded arms. It’s the little things that make Graham’s blog awesome.

[@Mogg001]

This video is literally where I realized that he was doing things like that; it's always so natural feeling that I never noticed him doing that before

[@rachelrainbowphoenix]

I paused the video to go gush to my spouse about exactly this! Graham Stark is S tier vlogsman 💯

[@3dpprofessor]

I thought he'd actually call this out. Because I had the same thought.

[@donuteater3353]

When he does a voice at the end of the day, he tilts the camera to a dutch angle. He's insanely good at this.

[@sstanfo1]

It's not surprising to me. He's been making video sketches and blogs since before youtube was a thing.

[@bustedsim]

Serge enthusiastically being a morning person amongst a group of trying-but-failing-to-be-enthused night owls who couldn't sleep anyways, is SUCH Serge energy. 🤣🤣

[@Fourleggedfreak]

😂 love the Serge energy. Sergergy?

[@jarzz3601]

ooh band name serge and the night owls

[@helenm1085]

Could you describe it as a... Surge of energy?

[@pharmacistjudge]

As a person who wears a white lab coat to MagicCon, I had several people who thought I was supposed to be at the dental convention.

[@PrestonDLuffy]

“Sir, sir, the annual dental association entrance is this way, you’re walking towards a convention hall for a children’s card game.”

[@vanatrix1942]

9/10 dentists agree that gum health is more important than card games

[@lordhosk]

Graham caught one of the most common unexpected sights in Chicago. a group of Naval Trainees wandering around. The US Navies Basic training site is just north of town, every enlisted and many commissioned sailors in the US navy for the past hundred years has gone to Great Lakes Naval Station, and when they get passes for the day they just kinda wander around Chicago aimlessly.

[@TonyOstrich]

I will also never tire of hearing Kathleen say "FINALLY I GET TO SPEAK" as if it's the first time. You two are great together and I hope one day I can find someone even remotely close to as fun as you seem together. Cheers.

[@baltmatrix]

Serge: "Cowabunga dude." (while doing the Vulkan 'live long and prosper' hand sign)

[@mladjo2505]

The ninja turtles have 3 fingered hands, he was just imitating that

[@OctopusOwl]

Y’all masking up for these events just makes me happy. No more con crud!🎉

[@nerothewizard]

The little nod at 13:15 might have been to my sister and me! I remember seeing those three LRR guys coming into the hall and greeting them as they walked past. Super glad you guys were able to go to MC Chi-Town! If you'll all indulge me, I have two stories that involve LRR folks, both of which happened on Sunday: 1) The overwhelming amount of attendees made logistics nigh impossible at this particular Magic Con, so when LRR's signing was on the docket, I had NO IDEA where it was supposed to happen. As I'm trying to parse that out, I spy Serge strolling swiftly past me, and to get his attention, I tap him on the arm. Yes, THAT arm, the one with fresh stitches in it. It makes me feel a little better about it knowing that others did the same thing because honestly, I thought I'd killed him. What made it worse is after he'd recovered and pointed me in the right direction of the signing table, another con-goer bumped into him from behind...on the same arm. I don't think I've ever felt quite as bad for someone as I did in that moment. 2) Having been informed of the location of the meet-and-greet, I started to head that way, only to run across the Bens (Wheeler and Ulmer) signing some things for a fan. I stopped and addressed them only to find out that the m+g line had been capped, just like basically every other line that weekend - way to break the attendance record Chicago! Realizing that this was my only chance to do so, I asked Wheeler if I could show him something I'd been able to locate earlier that day and he agreed, so we quickly ran over to the nearest table and I pulled out my deck box full of the weekend's bounty. And there they were: all 5 pack-foil German Zendikar fetches and a German foil Gatecrash Godless Shrine to boot. Wheeler's exclamation of "Holy shit!" warmed my heart. The weekend was insane, chaotic, crowded, and a TON of fun. I'm very glad my sister and I were able to attend, and I can't wait to go to the next one.

[@Just_Like_Aerin]

New G vlog right as I sit down to eat breakfast? A blessed day indeed

[@baltmatrix]

My head canon is that 'SWEBAGARR" is Wheeler's mating cry.

[@dizzycriminal]

If anyone has the original video the clip is from I would be very grateful

[@insane0042]

I admire Graham's commitment to the bit, that he went inside and setup the camera with all the stuff and went back out to just record himself come in with all the stuff still!

[@floataway3]

15:34 My apartment elevator has that voice! Lobby creeps me out, but the worst is my parking garage: Parking.... Level... ONE~~~~ The pauses between each word, with the one in a completely different tenor and weirdly elongated makes it seem like my elevator had a much better journey than I did.

[@kevinbowrin8385]

Editing and production was on point, good work!

[@slidetrombone]

An informal ranking of the simultaneous Chicago events' respective likelihoods of breaking out into *"TEETH! TEETH! TEETH! TEETH!"* chants: 1) MagicCon 2) Blackhawks Game (during a fight) 3) Dental Society Midwinter Meetings | | 4) Blackhawks Game (not during a fight) | | | | | | | | 5) Women's Heart Disease Gala Luncheon

[@TehAmelie]

That pigeon (10:40) looks like it's just ordered a couple of guys to break your legs and it wants you to say something about it so it can laugh in your face.

[@ryantellsjokes]

I'm pleased as hell I appeared in the meet and greet portion. Seeing/meeting the LRR crew was a highlight of my Magic Con.

[@robyngwendolynshiloh5277]

Same!!!!! Was so fun to see them!

[@simoo1]

no ones cares dude

[@taknarian]

I still distinctly remember meeting all of you guys and having that small breakdown as I told you about how you guys gave me a reason to keep going. I will never forget it ever, you’re my favorite people outside of my fiancée I’ve ever met…

[@kellis7870]

It was a blast to play D&D with Kathleen on Sunday morning! Someone had to dispense justice and get the contraband back

[@Viewers_Like_You_]

100%! It was an absolute ball to be impromptu tour guides for those tourists from Spaldheim. Many thanks to Kathleen for running the game! 10/10 would D&D again.

[@BenjaminKlahn]

@7:30 I think what most people don't realize is that you can just straight up walk under the bean. There's a whole mirrored well going up inside and the structure is *three* stories tall.

[@zackreph939]

Thanks again for the "G filmed with the wrong lens jumpscare"-prevention edit, the attention to detail is noticed and appreciated.

[@Jjdude101]

Omg seeing Serge and Graham towering over Olivia was my favorite lol

[@ChiralWolf]

Very amusing that Graham mentioned the Nolan Batmen as being more New York-y as they were filled in large part in downtown Chicago lol

[@marcushead9985]

Right? It's kind of funny how backward Graham got it. Gotham in the Nolan movies is much more Chicago--because it's filmed there. For a while, the saying about the comic book Gotham was "Metropolis is New York by day, Gotham is New York by night." *One of New York's real life nicknames is Gotham City and is the reason DC Comics' Gotham has that name.* (That said, Gotham seems to have been canonically put in New Jersey recently, and the Batman v. Superman movie had Gotham and Metropolis as across the bay from each other or something.)

[@Voidhawk42]

I've heard it said that "Metropolis is New York during the day, Gotham is New York at night."

[@corpocracy]

And Pittsburgh! Especially the 3rd movie has tons of Pittsburgh in it.

[@diamondmagus]

It was super great to meet all the LRR folks, and I'm incredibly delighted to see myself in the Friday line-up shot.

[@TheTerribleTrigon]

Hey, I'm in this video! I had a great time at the event LRR hosted; thank you so much for some excellent signatures and memories!

[@Vindexrix]

Olivia and Serge are entirely too much sunshine ❤

[@mewr11]

Gotham is definitely Jersey, not Chicago. A few Batman films have been *filmed* in Chicago, but Wakanda is a set in suburban Atlanta so I wouldn't put too much stock into that.

[@robertabugelis3962]

I'm from Chicago, and have been in California for months now. Your hotdog footage has my mouth watering. How dare you!!

[@plundypops]

Kathleen: Finally! I am not silenced! I can say anything I want and no one will stop me! G: What do you want to say? Kathleen: Nothing, just wanted to let people know.

[@Nebula6622]

As a fan of the Chicago Blackhawks and a fan of magic the gathering this video has both pleased me and made me sad cause I have to remember how bad the Hawks were this year

[@MrMetalsoup]

The quality of these vlogs still abolsutely staggers me, this is first-monitor content right here!

[@EricChoiniere]

I appreciate the dedication it takes to setup the static camera shots, but I extra appreciate you keeping the coats on your arm for the return to the hotel room shot 😅

[@ahabwolf7580]

I used to work in Chicago and your description of its drivers is spot on lmao.

[@jackvogel701]

As a poorly travelled student near Chicago, seeing so many places I’ve been frequently is such a cool experience I’m not used to :) it was fun catching wheeler and making him sign my eggs

[@cleoj6370]

"Turns out you can just say yes to stuff."

[@ericostby]

It was great to finally meet some of the LRRsfolk at this Con (also stealth background cameo around the 26:00 mark, good job me); hope to see you again in the future!

[@matthewsherman1355]

I love how supportive and loving Kathleen and Graham are if each other's projects.

[@Quiltfish]

The view from the train reminded me so hard of Elwood's apartment from Blues Brothers. Say what you want, Chicago has a *feel*.

[@jackielinde7568]

Didn't his building get blown up? I seem to remember an explosion and officers rising up out of the rubble.

[@Quiltfish]

@@jackielinde7568 Blame Carrie Fisher

[@jalt687]

Loved the video, love Chicago. Given Serge asking about works set in Chicago, there are a number. Ones that immediately come to mind The Jungle (Upton Sinclair), Native Son (Richard Wright), Raisin in the Sun (Lorraine Hansberry), The House on Mango Street (Sandra Cisneros). Oh and The Fugitive in terms of movies.

[@Blue_Lotus_Designs]

We were glad to be able to see and chat with you both times you've been in Chicago! Happy to see you all had a great time.

[@Reaperofsouls99]

You really are a fantastic film maker. I say this with utmost respect, I don't care about the content, its just fun to watch!

[@DeadnCold]

That walk by at 4:38, you are a brave man. I don't think I would leave my phone sitting where it wasn't in my direct reach and view anywhere outside in any major city, let alone Chicago..

[@MarkTinberg]

cities are full of perfectly nice people just going about their day, the tourist areas might have some professional pickpockets and petty thieves, but that isn't as common a problem as you might think elsewhere in the city. The bigger the income inequality the more likelihood that someone will need that money more than you does go up though, but even then if you stumble into a poorer neighborhood, as long as you don't make an ass of yourself the residents and maybe even the local petty criminals will most likely leave you alone.

[@CurseTheCosmos]

OP’s comment made my eyes roll directly back into my head. Graham has been visiting cities for years. Give me a goddamn break.

[@funguille]

Orxolon here,thanks for more Graham,i just can't get enough!love it!

[@mythdom]

Chicago was an awesome event and I look forward to seeing your side of the adventure. It was a blast drafting with Graham at the LRR chaos event and playing in Kathleen's DnD game. I look forward to getting reminded of everything that happened through the vlog. Thank you Graham for being so awesome! Also @19:00 my dad is a dentist and I can fully corroborate that those dentists will get plastered after the event.

[@KingOfDoma]

Gotham is canonically in New Jersey. Do with that what you will.

[@DrinkToForgetThermo]

I mention that stupid 1930's panel every time I get the chance. It's canonically jersey city, across the river from Manhattan

[@pharniel]

Always weird when y'all eat somewhere that I've been. I do always enjoy your travel vlogs.

[@finks1]

Wait a vlog on a convention that happened THIS YEAR!?! This is the future!

[@JacketedRock717]

As someone who is local to Chicago normally it sucked that I wasn’t able to make the convention due to currently being in a different state for school but I’m glad you got to enjoy Chicago. And that is definitely not too many things on a hotdog that’s the only correct things to put on a hotdog.

[@NotCainNorAbel]

Loved every minute. Let Kathleen SPEAK!

[@EricOrang]

The fact that their were people at that con not masked up is wild to me. Cons have always been a mess of germs even before covid, you'd think we'd at least keep the masking going at those if nothing else.

[@LyingTube]

The Chicago franchise includes Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Chicago PD, and Chicago Justice. However, of the four, Justice only got 1 season in 2017, whereas the other 3 are still going strong. PD is basically The Wire Lite, Med is generally "here is medical problem but also dramatic interpersonal conflicts", and Fire is generally pretty solid.

[@Harkzoan]

I love that you prolonged your suffering to walk in, set up a camera, walk out again just to have the shot of coming in to drop everything off.

[@qtheplatypus]

We had one of those at uni. When she said “Going down” we’ll neurons where activated 15:47

[@mcinnisboy]

Engagement! This was a fantastic vlog. Thanks for sharing

[@ArdenDag]

It was great to meet you all and happy to have jammed some Canlander with Serge (and many others in the LRR & Canlander discord communities). I can't wait to meet yall again at another con!

[@thomaschoma8914]

Serge's inability to plan is very funny.

[@ZephyrKelsey]

I’m just imagining walking into the dentist conversation and they’re also sitting around tables jamming games of magic, it’s just where they go to hide their hobby from their spouses

[@JephLewis]

I also enjoy seeing Shivam in blogs. Because he's awesome!

[@Ranakel]

I haven't seen so much crossover between card games and teeth since Incryption!

[@baltmatrix]

Is there a pic of the SmikSlaw card anywhere?

[@TheDave413]

C2E2 was 2019, not 2017. I remember because I met the LRR crew. We brought them root beer and Gooey Butter Cake (which was shown and consumed in a G-Vlog of that weekend)

[@gtginger10]

So bummed I missed seeing you there! Hope you had a great time!

[@jackvogel701]

Ayy yolk! One of my first Chicago brunch experiences

[@stuartwhyte4274]

Native Chicagoan here. You have to try a Chicago style hot dog at least once. You will be pleasantly surprised how good it is. Also, I always took Gotham as the NY analogue, and Metropolis as the Chicago analogue. Because Clark grows up in the Midwest, I always figured he got a job in the big Midwestern city, ie Chicago or Cleveland or Minneapolis. Glad you got to try out some cool spots in the city. I think I’ll have to check out Intelligentsia and that bakery next time I go back home.

[@TheAngryRedBird]

It was wonderful seeing y'all again in Chicago just 9 months after first meeting in Minneapolis. I didn't show up in this set of vlogs but that's alright, just seeing you guys again was worth it. As someone who is close enough to Chicago to go there a handful of times a year, I have to say your comment about drivers in that city is 100% accurate. That is the majority of the reason I always take Amtrak into the city and Uber, or have someone who actually can manuver the city do it, versus doing it myself.

[@spinebustertee]

What is chicken if not really old egg?

[@Binbuster]

Interesting fact: a few hours south of Chicago is Metropolis, IL. Home of Superman! As a Chicagoan our hotdogs are a liked taste. As long as you eat a normal one without ketchup!!!

[@iwriterobots]

hey that's me! [ *points to the cut where you fought your round one opponent in the the chaos event off camera* ]

[@dmitriwillguard]

Chicago dogs are done up with, yes, yellow mustard, diced onion, tomato wedge(s), dill pickle spear, sweet pickle relish, and celery salt. Sport peppers are optional but delicious.

[@LilyTheOtter]

So happy i got to see you all again/some for the first time! Wish i had been more prepared with gifts and such, but you all were so nice and filled up my jojo pose playmat with signatures. Hopefully i can run into you all again sooner than later!

[@thisshouldsay2K]

"Here's another weird observation. I'm in the elevator right now." That would have been a comedically perfect spot to end that thought.

[@TheMetalupis]

Was great seeing you in Chicago, glad you had a good trip

[@Hawkwreak]

A delightful vlog as always, but please. Someone. What is a cruffin... Am I right in presuming its basically like.. Croissant pastry but... with the muffiny form factor?

[@GrahamStarkVlogs]

Precisely

[@brendaneichler5244]

29:17 Listen, you already said Gotham is basically Chicago; it's reserved for Batman to brood on.

[@leogr1003]

so fun to see you enjoy my city :)))))) glad you had a good time in chicago!!

[@Hydraas]

The gardens are eepy is my favourite quote

[@Malkmaven1107]

The "One Chicago" Franchise which was also created by Dick Wolf has 3 shows currently active (Fire, P.D. & Med) There was a fourth show, Chicago Justice that only lasted one season

[@MarkDStroyer]

GVlog technology update: It would seem the wide-angle attachment has been dropped? I do think it makes it more watchable without the vibrating edge fringing.

[@9clawtiger]

I probably made this comment before: Voice actors have solved the meta for saving your voice at a convention: A headset wired up to a portable speaker. No more projecting, and you look like a popstar.

[@OldMan_PJ]

Was 2017 when you visited the Cards Against Humanity folks? I couldn't find the vlog.

[@Ghost26968]

40:15 this might've been something that was done during the pandemic for social distancing reasons, and they they either decided to keep it/forgot that that sign existed

[@artifex_amandalastname2297]

Elevator capacity limits are sometimes leftover COVID-related distancing restrictions

[@nicholaslapoint243]

hey my first LRR credit as "background mullet". a role I was born to play

[@Fourleggedfreak]

I went to Dragon con in Atlanta like three years in a row and every year it was during a big Braves game. Half the hotel was con goers and half was Braves fans. So you can imagine xD we always had fun getting stuck in the elevator with some sports fans and trying to explain to them what all the weird costumes were about

[@saiconjr]

1:24 Did Serge's order come first? Eggs-istential question here

[@cpeterso]

Welcome to the Windy City, hope you have a great stay!

[@Taylorphotostudio]

what's funny about the Nolan movies "having more New York in them" is that two of the three Nolan movies were filmed in Chicago!

[@PantherAssaultCannon]

Thanks for another great vlog

[@seantazelaar9807]

As a Chicagoland native born and raised that is definitely how we do it here for hot dogs and places like gene and judes will kick people out if they ask for ketchup. Also, the kind of hot dog we use is vienna beef

[@ScienceKing]

More "chi CAH guh" than "chi CAH gaaahhh" but good attempts! Glad to see my home area treated you well.

[@ninjZ666]

8:38 didn’t it come out at some point that Gotham City was in New Jersey? I feel that was a public awakening for a little bit

[@stioachim]

Tomato (diced, not sliced) in hotdogs is awesome! The classic hot dog here in Chile is tomato, avocado (pureed), and mayo, additional condiments to taste.

[@HummerCanuck]

Anyone know where the lofi Satie comes from?

[@SketchyDetails]

I love GVlogs, particularly because I know that when theres video of him entering a room, its the second time he entered the room😂

[@ScottofOakland]

Very smart wearing masks in that convention center! I would do the same. Getting sick suuuuucks.

[@SnyperWolf101]

Does anyone know the brand of Graham's shoes? They look suspiciously similar to a pair of Propet, but they are different enough that they could be a whole different brand Either way, they look amazing. And considering that Graham always seems to be wearing them on trips, probably comfortable and well constructed too

[@grauekatze]

G is a vlog master.

[@jessicaengle3160]

The Fugitive, the film with Harrison Ford, features the city very prominently.

[@inajar7947]

Ghost jumpscare at 6:36 ?!

[@mweepigeon]

whoo, I made it in one of the shots!

[@cowmark67]

The US version of Shameless, which is fantastic btw, is set in Chicago.