Golden-Con was Solid Gold!

Last weekend, several of my friends and I attended Golden-Con: Thank You For Being a Fan 2023. The weekend convention honoring The Golden Girls sitcom brought back great memories, while creating many new ones. Tommy Else and Tony and JoAnne Feddeler and had a fantastic time.

Although I got the byline in this article, I share credit with Tommy, Tony and JoAnne and thank them for their contributions.i I also thank them for sharing my fun at Golden-Con.

Following its successful debut last year, Golden-Con returned to Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk. The organizers did a great job of offering exhibits and events for every level of fan. I was mostly interested in meeting actors from the show or its spinoff “Empty Nest,” while my friends enjoyed seeing inside jokes, garments, props and recreated sets.

I really looked forward to meeting Kristy McNichol, Dinah Manoff, David Leisure and Doug Cox and all exceeded my hopes. They were extremely friendly and engaging, sharing stories and laughs from “The Golden Girls” and other projects they did.

One of the highlights was Dr. Melinda McClanahan's presentation about her sister Rue, who played Blanche. It was informative, heart-warming, and entertaining. That was just one of the many special events during the convention.

The exhibits were incredible. Tony and JoAnne took advantage of several photo ops including the iconic couch.

Admittedly, my friends are more knowledgeable of the show, although I am a fan, also. After leaving, we had fun exchanging our favorite moments.

For all the fascinating things at Golden-Con, my biggest takeaway might have been from the crowd. There was a palpable sense of happiness and warmth. Everyone was in such a great mood. In a room filled with strangers, everyone felt like family.

Now, I turn over this recap to Tommy, one of the biggest fans I know.

As soon as I arrived to Golden-Con, I immediately saw the camaraderie between everyone there. Fellow fans and enthusiasts hugging each other, happy to either meet in person for the first time, or see them again.

All of the staff, vendors, and talent were just wonderful. There was a real sense of fun and community in the air.

It was great to see the wide array of collectibles and memorabilia. From Golden Girls merchandise, outfits worn on the series, to incredibly creative artwork of all types commemorating the show and it’s unforgettable characters.

Being a pretty hardcore fan myself, I appreciated the real deep cuts you’d see in everything from the merch to even the lanyard. Specific lines from a single episode, a photo of an iconic scene, or the cosplay from various memorable episodes.

The highlight for me was meeting David Leisure, who could not have been a nicer human being. I was truly honored to get to talk with him, get a photo, and see how truly funny and playful he is in real life. He was truly a delight.

How about one more testimonial?

A diehard fan himself, Tony added, “It was a Golden Day at the Golden-Con! I loved the layout and the presentations!”

When I asked Tommy, Tony and JoAnne to help me in this coverage, I knew Tommy loved the show, but I didn't realize Tony and JoAnne matched his dedication. I figured together we could present different perspectives. On the personal side, it was fun seeing how much they all enjoyed the weekend.

We all applaud promoters Zack Hudson and Brad and Brendan Balof, along with their staffers. They were all extremely helpful, friendly, organized and fun. Their attention to detail and readiness to help anyone was impressive. This group sets the bar high for convention management.

All day, I resisted the urge to break into the iconic theme song, although I did hum it a little at times. Seriously though, I don't think anyone would have complained, because everyone was simply having a wonderful time. Some of us even had a slice or two of cheesecake.

Needless to say we all had a blast, and look forward to next year!