With my birthday rapidly approaching, my parents decided to get me tickets to the Science Meets Imagination (SMI) exhibit at the Franklin Institute (Philadelphia). So Wifey and I packed up the boy-os, Mom came too, and we headed down the SureKill Expressway early today.

There was a lot of trepidation, 2 boys, whose combined age is 4, can be a handful on a good day. But today, they presented with noses full of snot and a general malaise, as did their mom. It turns out, it was just what the doctor ordered, the colds were enough to take the edge off. But this isn't about toddler illness, it's about Star Wars.

For a pure prop bonanza, the Magic of Myth exhibit at the Smithsonian was better. SMI was more about the technology in the movies, and what do we have that correlates to it. For a kid that did not know a time without prequels, that did not know the dark times (late 1980's) this thing was the greatest. Among the interactive offerings was a make your own lego mag-lev train (not to take with you, however), a working ridable hovercraft, programmable mini-R2's that navigate a maze (if you program them well), and a station to test various wheel types to work over different terrains.

New this time around prop-wise was some prequel items. Padme's PM Tatooine outfit, the Kashyyk beach model and a pair of Wookiee costumes , Sebulba's podracer and the lightsaber collections were my personal favorite (although its hard to pick a favorite when its all great). Who knew, Palpy's lightsaber hilt is almost the smallest, probably second only to Yoda?

I made a point of getting a picture with the boys next to the Han and Chewie costumes. If anyone else gets a chance to go, please check the label on Han's costume, I think its wrong. I think its labeled as ANH, but there's no blood stripe on the pants. On a sadder note, the Vader costume from ANH is really starting to show its age, as is the Snowtrooper costume. With the rebels props you can't tell, since they are supposed to look beat up and old to begin with.

The Millennium Falcon Experience was worth the extra $5. For the first time I've found anywhere, here's a description. Continuing the SMI theme, you sit in a mock up of the Falcon cockpit (worth $5 alone) as Anthony Daniels narrates an explanation of distances on the solar system, galactic and intergalactic scales, as well as faster than light travel possibilities. The images are all hi-res images from NASA and such. I was in with some kids, they sat in the pilot and copilot seats. After the show, I made certain to have a seat in that left hand chair. Awesome.

Big thanks to the Carrida Garrison of the 501st. 2 stormtroopers, a vader, scout trooper, jawa, and boba fett patrolled the museum lobby. The costumes were phenomenal, as one would expect. I thanked them in person, I extend my thanks again here. The boy-os were a bit scared of the crowd they attracted, so pictures were a no-go, but they loved watching from afar.

I'm not sure where the exhibit heads next but the Delaware Valley and surrounding areas have until May to see it, its worth the trip.