I spent the weekend ensconced in the Doctor Who universe at Chicago TARDIS. While I am not the devoted Whovian my friend Tony is, I enjoyed the experience.

Debuting on BBC Television service in 1963, Doctor Who is listed in Guinness World Records as the longest-running science fiction television series. Using a spaceship disguised as a British police box, Time Lord Doctor Who travels through time saving lives and helping those in need. After running through 1989, the series was revived in 2005.

Founded in 2000 by Alien Entertainment, Chicago TARDIS is the Midwest’s largest Doctor Who event. Held every Thanksgiving weekend, it’s an event organized by fans for fans. Its name pays homage to the time-traveling space ship TARDIS (Time and Relative Dimension in Space) because fans can figuratively travel through all years of Doctor Who.      

Like most such conventions, Chicago TARDIS featured meet-and-greets, panels, exhibits, vendors and more. While Tony looked for collectibles and met a few of the actors, I liked learning more and absorbing myself in the unknown universe. Despite attending hundreds of pop culture conventions, TARDIS is my first specifically devoted to one franchise.

The convention was extremely well-organized, with knowledgeable, helpful and pleasant staffers. The beautiful Chicago Westin Lombard is a wonderful place for any convention. The sprawling, spacious venue, featuring several ballrooms and wide common areas, allowed for plenty of room, even with huge crowds.    

Harry Caray’s was our restaurant of choice several times. Conveniently located within the Westin, it saved time while serving excellent meals. The turkey burger, topped with sautéed mushrooms and served on a brioche bun, was the big star because of its layers of flavor.  

I especially enjoy TARDIS every year because I am not a big Doctor Who fan. Although that might sound strange, it is because I have no real agenda. I simply go and have fun wherever it takes me.

— John Wroblewski, online writer