Romance Is A Place Called Ten Forward

Name the most romantic spot you've ever had the pleasure of visiting, and I'll bet that Ten Forward has it beat.  The bar or lounge of Captain Picard's Enterprise can serve as a moody relaxation spot, a place for friends to gather after a tough away mission, but with its majestic windows and sweeping views of the whole of the galaxy itself, Ten Forward sets a romantic tone like no other.

Love Hurts Or Scares A Starfleet Captain

Love me!  Captain Jean-Luc Picard gets into a Fatal Attraction like scene with an emotional alien.

A stalker isn't funny to the one being stalked, but in the Next Generation episode, Liasons, Picard gets the stalker like treatment from an odd woman named Anna.  Turns out she's just one of those wacky aliens who wish to study the perplexing concept of human love.  Where's Glenn Close when you don't need her?

Imzadi - The Betazoid Concept Of Beloved

Of all the many alien races depicted on the various Star Trek shows and in the movies, those of the planet Betazed may be the most romantic one of all.  The Deltans - first seen in ST: The Motion Picture - could be considered the most sexual, but for the similarly telepathic and empathetic Betazoids, there's a concept they call Imazdi - translated basically as one's beloved.

In The Next Generation, Counselor Deanna Troi calls her new crewmate Will Riker her Imzadi - right off the bat in the pilot, Encounter As Farpoint.  These two were romantically linked before their tour of duty on Captain Picard's Galaxy class starship, and that blazing romantic torch song never really ended. By the time of their marriage in Star Trek: Nemesis, Riker and Troi have seen the ups and downs of a romance which could only be properly encapsulated by the concept of Imzadi.  Interesting note:  A platonic love or deep friendship can also be characterized as Imzadi.

Not The Hell Your Whales

Spock and his Vulcan mind meld made for some memorable episode moments as well as in the feature films.  One of the more thrilling and awe inspiring moments - not to mention hilarious - was a highlight in the Leonard Nimoy directed film, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.

After mind melding with the two humpback whales, Spock learns that Gracie is pregnant.  What follows is a race to remove George and Gracie from captivity and time travel them to Captain Kirk's era to tell that pesky probe what to do with itself.  With recent news of SeaWorld's announcement to permanently suspend their whale performance act, it's a sure thing Enterprise's science officer would have approved wholeheartedly.   

The Skant Beguiles

Do the Skant!  No, it's not a new dance craze nor a slick and hip, hip-hop rhyme.  It's what Deanna Troi wore occasionally on Star Trek: The Next Generation's debut season.  Somewhere in between a skirt and a pair of pants lies the beguiling mystery of the skant.  

For the record, the guys weren't immune to the fashion faux pas either. Infinite Diversity Infinite Combinations, indeed!  Sung to The Hustle - Do the Skant!

Demora Sulu

Mister Sulu, fire phasers - and, by the way, is that your daughter? Indeed, as a bridge officer on Captain Kirk's Starship Enterprise, Hikaru Sulu (George Takei) is a very busy Starfleet professional.  However, in his personal life, he still found time to have a family.

Demora Sulu - Actress Jacqueline Kim

50th Anniversary Art Exhibit

Set phasers on fun for the Star Trek 50th Art Exhibit

The Playful Star Trek On MSN

MSN picks up on my Fusion interview with a great presentation.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/other/sex-in-60s-star-trek-was-more-futuristic-than-the-technology/vi-BBnHMnO?ocid=st

Chekov's Flame - Irina Galliulin

The Way To Eden is an original Star Trek episode which posits the notion of finding paradise.  We're not talking just a relaxing resort - like Risa - or a Willy Wonka style place with enough chocolate to rot out even the strongest sweet tooth.  In this episode, the fun and wacky space hippies wish to journey to the biblical paradise itself - Eden.

Along the way, Ensign Chekov, played by Walter Koenig, meets up with an old flame, Irina Galliulin.  The two haven't seen each other in years, and sadly, Galliulin slickly manipulates Chekov to help our space hippie cause.  You can almost hear Chekov sing, Love Stinks! The character was originally supposed to be Joanna McCoy - Dr. McCoy's daughter - but was rewritten.

Sexy Tech

The tech toys on Star Trek are many - for every taste and preference. From Starship Enterprise itself - in all its many incarnations - to the sleek phasers and cool communicators, the universe Gene Roddenberry created beckons with so many wonderful toys.

Starships

Phasers

Tricorders

Communicators

PADDs

Fun & Fully Functional

Data is a marvel of technology.  He admirably serves the Starship Enterprise under Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), and his fellow officers and crewmates admire the ever resourceful and sentient artificial lifeform.

Oh, and perhaps most importantly of all - Data (Brent Spiner) is killer in the bedroom. Just ask Tasha Yar. 

Janeway's Way

The simple philosophy of Captain Janeway is as follows: