Archive for the 'Events' Category
October 21st, 2009, 4:45 pm by Jayson Peters
 On Friday Sam Weller, the authorized biographer for sci-fi author Ray Bradbury, will appear at Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe as part of the store’s “Food for Thought” series. Weller, a journalist and professor at Columbia College in Chicago, is the author of The Ray Bradbury Chronicles: The Life of Ray Bradbury, which describes the writer who envisioned rocket travel to outer space but never learned to drive a car or operate a computer.
Bag lunches for the event are available for $5.50 at the adjacent Wildflower Bread Company; just call (480) 838-9773 and as for the “Food for Thought” special.
Posted in: Books • Events • Sci-Fi & Fantasy • Changing Hands • Ray Bradbury • Tempe | Post a Comment »
October 21st, 2009, 10:19 am by Jayson Peters
 Photo: Tor Books Author Brian Sanderson, who was chosen in 2007 to complete Robert Jordan’s “Wheel of Time” series after the novelist passed away, will appear next month in the Valley to promote the release of The Gathering Storm. Sanderson will meet fans Nov. 16 at the Scottsdale Public Library.
The book, which releases Oct. 27, is the 12th volume in the fantasy epic that fuses elements of European and Asian mythology.
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Posted in: Books • Events • Sci-Fi & Fantasy • Scottsdale • Brian Sanderson • Robert Jordan • Wheel of Time | Post a Comment »
October 20th, 2009, 3:05 pm by Jayson Peters
Just as back in April, Fry’s Food Stores is sponsoring free general admission this weekend (Oct. 24-26) at the Arizona Science Center.
 Special discounted pricing will be offered on four of the Center’s ticketed experiences, including shows in the Dorrance Planetarium, movies in the IMAX Theater, a ride across the Evans Family SkyCycle and entrance into ROBOTS: The Interactive Exhibition.
The science center is also hosting a variety of hands-on demonstrations and activities throughout the weekend that include “Stomach This! A Digestion Demonstration,” “Elephants Toothpaste,” “Super Taster,” “Combustion,” “Static Electricity,” “Seeing Inside the Eye” and more.
In addition to free admission, guests will be able to try free samples of Fry’s products 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
But be on your best behavior — or not — because recruiters from the TV reality show Supernanny will be on site each day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Posted in: Events • Free stuff • Science • Arizona Science Center • Phoenix | Post a Comment »
October 16th, 2009, 2:25 pm by Jayson Peters
The International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival is now under way through the weekend at MADCAP Theaters in Tempe.
In addition to more than 50 films, the festival will also include parties, a gore girl competition, and discussions with filmmakers and directors. A VIP all-access pass costs $100, a flex pass of four individual screenings costs $25 and single-screening tickets cost $10.
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Posted in: Conventions • Events • Horror • Movies • Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Post a Comment »
October 13th, 2009, 8:40 am by Jayson Peters
 It’s not too late to order the signature orange collection boxes of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, an annual drive to raise funds for needy children worldwide — but if you don’t want to chance it, the campaign’s Web site has printable labels designed to turn any can into an official UNICEF collection canister.
Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is an easy way to teach kids — and adults handing out candy who might have some spare change — a charitable lifestyle. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Events • Holidays • Halloween | Post a Comment »
October 3rd, 2009, 8:23 pm by Jayson Peters
 Conventioneers are gathering this weekend at the Phoenix Mesa Marriott for LepreCon 35, which this year is being billed as a “relaxacon” or smaller fan gathering instead of a full-scale convention, due to the organization’s involvement with the larger WesterCon and last month’s North American Discworld Convention.
Next up: the International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival, Oct. 15-18 at MADCAP Theaters in Tempe, which Emily Behrendt previewed here.
And here are other local conventions in the offing, as seen in the “Local Convention Calendar” list on the right-hand side of the page:
- Saboten-Con: Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, 2009, Hilton Phoenix East/Mesa
- Dark Con: Jan. 14-17, 2010, Grace Inn Ahwatukee
- LepreCon 36: May 14-16, 2010, Phoenix Mesa Marriott
- Phoenix Comicon: May 27-30, 2010, Phoenix Convention Center
- RandomCon: July 9-11, 2010 (tentative), Grace Inn Ahwatukee
As always, if you see something I’ve neglected or messed up, send an e-mail to the address in the sidebar or tweet @nerdvana. Or, just leave a comment below!
Posted in: Conventions • Events | Post a Comment »
October 3rd, 2009, 7:00 am by Jayson Peters
Every week Mandy Zajac, the Tribune’s entertainment expert, shares her picks for cool things to do in her Get Out Weekend video. This week she had to squeeze in a fourth pick to accomodate “Star Wars in Concert,” 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale.
Here’s a sneak peek at 2:24:
And here’s a look back at the week in Nerdvana:
Dude, where’s my card? ‘Stoner Fluxx’ coming back into print
Looney Labs starts a new imprint for “adult-oriented” card games.
It’s no Tatooine: C-3PO’s impressions of the Valley
Be careful where you eat in Yuma. Talk about “slowly digested over a thousand years” …
Jocks bow to the nerds when fantasy meets football
Blizzard’s COO buys a chunk of the Steelers.
Weekend Reading
 Some links that caught my eye but didn’t merit their own blog entries.
‘Dollhouse’ debut is ratings deja vu
How exactly did this get renewed instead of ‘Sarah Connor’?
‘SNL’ staggers blindly F-word
Noob!
Free computer game for Yom Kippur
Don’t mess with a bitter old rabbi.
 From zombies to Venom
Spider-spinoff closer to reality.
Local events: ‘Star Wars’ deconstructed — the LEGO way
Book it to the LEGO Store and Barnes & Noble.
‘I sense a great disturbance on the server’
‘Star Wars: The Old Republic’ beta signups begin.
‘Paranormal Activity’ screenings this weekend in Tempe
Can you handle the terror?
C-3PO tweets as ‘Star Wars in Concert’ begins U.S. tour
Six million forms of communication, indeed.
Zombieland’s sense of humor alive and kicking
A review of the Woody Harrelson flick out this weekend.
Investor sues ‘Stargate’ computer game developer
Did MGM license the sci-fi brand to the wrong company?
Sith happens
Why didn’t Darth Vader cross the road?
Posted in: Events • Music • Nerdvana Weekly • Star Wars • Anthony Daniels | Post a Comment »
September 28th, 2009, 4:13 pm by Jayson Peters
 A couple of events coming to the Valley next month will help to usher in the release of DK Publishing’s LEGO Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary, due out Monday, Oct. 5.
The LEGO Store at Chandler Fashion Center will be invaded by Imperial stormtroopers for its event, 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 10. In addition, there will be giveaways of Star Wars-related LEGO toys.
The same day and time, Barnes & Noble at Desert Ridge Marketplace, 21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix, will hold a costume contest, LEGO building activities, games raffles and more.
If you’re in another geographical area, check the book’s official site to find a similar event near you.
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Posted in: Books • Chandler • Collecting • Events • LEGO • Star Wars • Phoenix | 1 Comment »
September 27th, 2009, 12:04 am by Jayson Peters
The last part of my interview with “Star Wars in Concert” narrator and C-3PO performer Anthony Daniels:
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
PHOTO: JAYSON PETERS, EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE
When Anthony Daniels visited the Valley Sept. 14 to promote his Oct. 4 appearance for “Star Wars in Concert” at Glendale’s Jobing.com Arena and get a feel for the venue, he found a warm welcome — but not warm enough.
He found the “ice palace,” as he called it, chilly in contrast to the triple-digit temperatures that greeted him on his first visit to Phoenix, and was graciously worried that the four local journalists meeting with him would be unconfortable!
We assured him it was a welcome respite from the heat, and settled in for a nice, long chat with the actor. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Events • Movies • Music • Sci-Fi & Fantasy • Star Wars • Anthony Daniels | 1 Comment »
September 24th, 2009, 5:22 pm by Jayson Peters
More of my interview with “Star Wars in Concert” narrator and C-3PO performer Anthony Daniels:
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
 Anthony Daniels has the distinction of not only being the only actor to portray the same character in all six Star Wars films, but also for having the first line in the first film produced - Episode IV: A New Hope - and the last line in the last film produced - Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.
It’s this bookending that mark him as a sort of voice of the Star Wars saga; Threepio, along with his handy counterpart R2-D2, serve as the eyes and ears and voice of the common man in sweeping galactic events, a technique adapted by Lucas from Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s characters in The Hidden Fortress.
PHOTO: JAYSON PETERS, EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE
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Posted in: Events • Movies • Music • Sci-Fi & Fantasy • Star Wars • Anthony Daniels | Post a Comment »
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