Photos: How to throw a Star Wars-themed, body-painting Bitcoin party

By Fusion Staff  |  March 6, 2015 | 5:43pm
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A long time ago (or rather, just over a month ago) in a galaxy far, far away (actually, in Palo Alto) there was an epic party. It was thrown by a group of young Bitcoin stars who hope that the crypto-currency will restore freedom to the galaxy. The party was, as you may have guessed by now, Star Wars-themed, and it involved copious amounts of body paint.

If you are a crypto-geek, you might be thinking, “That sounds amazing! Please help me replicate it, Yoda.” Much to learn, you have. But we can guide you with a photo essay of the proceedings.

The force was strong with the racially-diverse crew of Bitcoin ballers. They started their pre-game session at 8:30 a.m. on a Sunday morning, with bagels, tea and water-proof FAB body paint. They had hired Elizabeth Nguyen, a physical therapist who does body painting as a side gig, to ink them up for the big night. The first person to go under the brush was Joel Dietz, the resident in charge of the single-story house called the “Love Nest” where the party was set to take place.

Dietz got a black tribal tattoo painted on his face, chest and left arm. The pattern evoked the psychedelic Guy Fawkes mask taped to the wall; he looked sort of like a modern version of Luke Skywalker, one who prefers temporary tats to a Jedi’s robe.

He did have a light saber (and he may have vanquished the woman to the right with it). It was behind that coffee table, near the karaoke machine.

Frank Sowokinos, a friend of the bunch, showed up while Dietz was getting his paint on. George the dog came with him. He didn’t dress up, but his name was Star Wars-themed all the same.

While he awaited his turn at body painting, he showed us his permanent tats. We could totally imagine Han Solo sporting this one:

Though we’re not sure Solo hearts PB&J sandwiches as much as Sowokinos does:

While Sowokinos was in the backyard enjoying some sun and a smoke, Jessalyn Ballerano was in the kitchen, metamorphosing into Chewbacca, Han Solo’s loyal hairy Wookiee friend.

The transformation was complete. Ballerano was ridiculously good at imitating Chewbacca’s signature vocals, which in case you didn’t know, were a mix of bear, badger, lion, seal, and walrus calls.

Dietz and his girlfriend, Marion Vogel, got the house Star Wars-ready. There weren’t a lot of decorations, but famous lines from the movie adorned the doors and walls.

You can’t have a Star Wars party without some reference to the opening crawl:

Meanwhile the body painting continued in the kitchen. Kelly Kerry ChowChow, who used to work at a venture capital firm, went as the Death Star, the menacing spacecraft with a killer laser.

Angela Morente’s avian look was inspired by the Millennium Falcon.

Some Star Wars karaoke happened. Fusion’s own Pendarvis Harshaw and Dietz sang Weird Al Yankovic’s “The Saga Begins” to the tune of American Pie.

Sowokinos morphed into Darth Maul, the light saber-toting Sith Lord from The Phantom Menace.

He traded in the saber for George.

Dance! Dance! Revolution-style videos with Star Wars-themed songs were loaded up for a galactic dance-off.

Even we jumped on the body-painting bandwagon. Fusion’s Daniela Hernandez has always had a soft spot for R2-D2.

With the body-painting sessions wrapped up, it was time to party. Eric Smalls, the founder of stealth bitcoin startup Manna, came in Millennium Falcon gear.

Stragglers let themselves in throughout the afternoon. One guy showed up with a box cut out to look like a Storm Trooper helmet.

Now you know how to throw such a party yourself. Do…or do not. There is no try.

Daniela Hernandez is a senior writer at Fusion. She likes science, robots, pugs, and coffee.

“I write about the future (Associate Producer at @ThisIsFusion).

I write about the past (publisher of #OGToldMe).

Oakland, CA raised me.”

 
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