Geek Tree 2024 returns to the Star Trek universe, adding one long-wished for ornament: the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701B. The Geek Tree is a long-running tradition in my house. It dates back to the late 1990s, when my wife and I realized my geeky ornaments threatened to overwhelm the family tree. We exiled them to their own, smaller … Read more
Behold the firepower of this fully armed and operational Geek Tree! Continuing Nuketown’s new tradition of themed Geek Trees (because I have way too many geeky ornaments), this year, I went with a Star Wars theme. It features 48 ornaments ranging from Luke Skywalker (1997) to Obi-Wan Kenobi (2021). The geek tree itself is a 9-foot tall narrow artificial tree … Read more
It finally happened … the Geek Tree is at capacity. A few years ago, I bought myself some time by getting a 9-foot-tall narrow tree (replacing the earlier 6-foot-tall version). The new tree bought me some time, but alas unless we get a bigger house (so I can get a bigger tree) I’ll need to … Read more
Board games and role-playing games vied for dominance under the Geek Tree this year with the arrival of Roll for the Galaxy, Pandemic Legacy: Season 1, and Vault of Dragons as well as the RPG books Eberron: Rising from the Last War and Alien: The Role-playing Game. Roll for the Galaxy (Amazon / Website): The Race for the Galaxy is one of my gaming group’s favorite … Read more
The last Ornament-a-Day entry is dedicated to the only geeky ornament left on the family tree: 2012’s Darth Vader Peekbuster. Given that the family tree is where the wrapped family presents go and since this Vader is designed to detect and scold would-be present peekers, it’s entirely appropriate. This battery-powered, Christmas-themed Vader wears his traditional black armor … Read more
Hallmark released two new Star Wars Storyteller ornaments in 2019: The Imperial Star Destroyer and the Y-Wing. Like the other Storyteller ornaments, they feature LED illuminated regions (the cargo bay on the Star Destroyer, the cockpit on the Y-Wing) that slowly rotate through different colors. Powered and connected by Hallmark’s proprietary Keepsake power cord, the two new ships join … Read more
Star Trek Beyond is one of my favorite Trek movies. Unlike the derivative and uninspired Star Trek Into Darkness that preceded it, Beyond is an original story focused on exploration as well as the optimistic future that Trek embraces. Unfortunately, it didn’t do great in the box office, leading to a lull in new cinematic Star Trek offerings but that didn’t stop Hallmark from releasing the … Read more
Geeky tree toppers are hard to find. Sure, there are tons of angels, stars, and other toppers out there, but there are very few that fit in with the Geek Tree. For a long time, it was only Santa Yoda that fit that role. And then I found the Weeping Angel. Inspired by the now-classic … Read more
Two of the newest editions to the Geek Tree are Rey and Kylo Ren, as they appeared in Star Wars – Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. The pair, which were sold together in one box, are wielding their personal lightsabers: Kylo has his signature red, surging Sith blade while Rey has the inherited blue blade … Read more
The oldest ornament on the Geek Tree – and the ornament without which there would be no Ornament-a-Day – is the Shuttlecraft Galileo. Released in 1992, the Galileo is a string-powered ornament. The ornament’s lighting is simplistic – just the cockpit lights up – but what truly makes it special is the voice of Leonard Nimoy. Triggered by a button, it features … Read more