Archive for the 'Events' Category
July 24th, 2009, 12:01 am by Jayson Peters
San Diego Comic-Con may be all the rage right now, but the Valley is known for its robust convention schedule as well. Here are some highlights of upcoming events:
North American Discworld Convention
A U.K. tradition comes to America with the first North American Discworld Convention Sept. 4-7 at the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel, 60 E. Fifth St.. This event celebrates the long-running series of satirical fantasy novels by British author Terry Pratchett, who will be the guest of honor. The guest list also includes novelist Diane Duane.
Memberships are $30-$90, $45 ages 6-11 and children 5 and younger get in free.
Information: http://www.nadwcon.org
DarkCon
The Dark Ones will gather Jan. 14-17, 2010 at the Grace Inn at Ahwatukee, 10831 S 51st St., Phoenix.
Announced guests for this convention include: Martin Klebba, a little person who has appeared in the Pirates of the Caribbean films and various episodes of Scrubs, and in 2011 will star as 4-foot-tall vampire hunter Apollo Thorne in an adventure-horror flick of the same name; and John Wick, an author and game designer behind games for White Wolf and Upper Deck.
Programming includes A Mad Hatter’s Tea Party (Victorian or Edwardian costumes a must), Wild Wild West Poker Tournament, games, workshops, demos, and art show and more. Registration is $40 in advance or $5 more at the door.
Information: http://www.darkcon.org
Posted in: Events • Gaming • RPGs • Sci-Fi & Fantasy • Ahwatukee • Conventions • DarkCon • Discworld • Phoenix • Tempe • Terry Pratchett | Post a Comment »
July 23rd, 2009, 10:56 pm by Jayson Peters
Star Wars’ iconic soundtrack is preparing to go on tour.
As reported by The Associated Press:
 "Where is my horn section?" “Star Wars in Concert” will feature a symphony orchestra and choir performing composer John Williams’ music from the six Star Wars films. The performances will be narrated live by C-3P0 actor Anthony Daniels and accompanied by a three-story-tall high-definition screen displaying movie footage synchronized to the live music.
The event comes to Jobing.com Arena in Glendale Oct. 4.
Image: Lucasfilm/20th Century Fox
Posted in: Events • Music • Glendale • Star Wars | Post a Comment »
July 20th, 2009, 2:21 am by Chris "KeL" Adams
 If comic book fans had a Mecca, it would be San Diego, specifically, this Wednesday to Sunday. This is the week that the stars (literally and figuratively) in the nerd universe align in San Diego. Geeks of all stripes will descend upon southern California in droves. Yes, this is the week of Comic-Con, the longest running and largest comic book convention in the United States. The con is four solid days (and one three-hour preview night) and 2.6 million square-feet of pop culture paradise.
Last year over 125,000 people packed the convention center and that number will probably be eclipsed this time around given how quickly tickets sold out. In addition to vendors, the biggest draw is the blockbuster panels the convention hosts every year. All aspects of the entertainment industry have realized what an important marketing opportunity Comic-Con is. They break out the biggest stars and announcements for maximum impact. There’s far too much to attempt to cover here. The Comic-Con website has the full list of all the panels and events, but here’s a quick rundown of the highlights.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Comics • Events • Movies • Sci-Fi & Fantasy • avatar • Comic-Con • Conventions • San Diego | Post a Comment »
July 17th, 2009, 2:23 pm by Jayson Peters
 Tyrese Gibson Tyrese Gibson, aka Sgt. Epps in Transformers and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, will sign autographs and promote his new comic-book creation Mayhem! 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday at Atomic Comics, 3155 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler.
You can get more information on this surprise event at the store’s Web site.
Talk about a true Renaissance man: actor, R&B singer-songwriter, rapper, model, MTV VJ and now comic book mogul. The book is about a gun-slinging vigilante who bears a striking resemblance to Gibson. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Comics • Events • Movies • Atomic Comics • Chandler • Mayhem! • Transformers • Tyrese Gibson | Post a Comment »
July 16th, 2009, 11:06 pm by Jayson Peters
 NASA If you want to celebrate the 40th anniversary of mankind’s giant leap to the moon, you don’t have to travel the more than 230,000 miles the Apollo 11 astronauts did in 1969. You could just drive to Tucson.
That’s where the University of Arizona’s Lunar Planetary Laboratory will be hosting a public celebration packed with lectures, science activities for kids and interaction with UA scientists who worked on many Apollo missions for NASA.
Hit the jump for details — and be sure to check EastValleyTribune.com this weekend for exclusive content marking man’s first journey to the moon.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Events • Technology • Apollo 11 • Free stuff • history • moon landing • NASA • Science • Tucson | Post a Comment »
July 11th, 2009, 1:26 pm by Jayson Peters
 Warner Bros. Do you know the difference between a Howler and a Horcrux? Do you know what form your Patronus will take when called to defend you from a flight of Dementors?
Then get out your cauldron and prepare a magical dish, because here’s an event you’ll enjoy. The “Geeks of Greater Phoenix” will hold a Harry Potter discussion group and potluck 2 to 5 p.m. July 12 at Spazdog Comics, 21610 N. 35th Ave., Suite 162, Phoenix. (That’s about a block north of Loop 101, before you hit Deer Valley Road, and a block west of Interstate 17.)
Just bring a dish to share and make fun of those Muggles to your heart’s content. It’s a great way to brush up on your Quidditch before Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince hits theaters on July 15. You can find recipes for some Hogwarts-inspired treats all over the Internet.
Posted in: Books • Comics • Events • Movies • Harry Potter | Post a Comment »
July 8th, 2009, 12:10 am by Jayson Peters
 Local boy Tony Parker, artist on the comic adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (AKA Blade Runner), will make signing appearances in July at Atomic Comics stores.
You can catch Parker in Mesa on July 15, Phoenix and Paradise Valley on July 18 and Chandler on July 19.
For more information, visit Atomic Comics’ Web site.
Posted in: Comics • Events • Collecting • Tony Parker | Post a Comment »
July 6th, 2009, 11:29 pm by Jayson Peters
 You can celebrate Legoland’s 10th birthday this month without loading up the family and driving to Carlsbad, Calif.
The Arizona Science Center is hosting a model building competition July 15 and showing off what they’re calling the world’s largest Lego birthday cake. It’s nearly 10 feet tall, made of more than 100,000 bricks and features miniature replicas of some of Legoland California’s most popular attractions.
The competition is judged in three age categories: 9 and younger, 10 to 15 and 16 and older. Guests of Arizona Science Center are welcome to build their birthday-themed model anytime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., with a winner from each category to be announced at 4 p.m.
Winners will reportedly receive a prize package valued at more than $300 that includes Lego play materials, a two-day family four-pack of Park Hopper tickets to both Legoland California and Sea Life Aquarium and one-night accommodations.
The science center is at 600 E. Washington St. in downtown Phoenix.
See also:
LEGO, Disney in deal for ‘Toy Story,’ ‘Cars,’ ‘Prince of Persia’ kits
BrickArms brings modern warfare to LEGO world
Happy 50th birthday, LEGO!
Posted in: Events • Arizona Science Center • LEGO • Phoenix | Post a Comment »
July 2nd, 2009, 12:01 am by Jayson Peters
 FiestaCon, a gathering of sci-fi and fantasy fans, starts today at the Tempe Mission Palms and runs through the weekend.
Guests include sci-fi author Alan Dean Foster; fantasy artist Todd Lockwood; genre-bending novelist (and former Disney comic book writer) Diana Gabaldon; and Aprilynne Pike, author of the New York Times bestselling novel for young adults, “Wings.”
For more details, read my earlier post. Have fun!
Posted in: Books • Comics • Events • Art • Conventions • FiestaCon • Tempe | 1 Comment »
June 30th, 2009, 11:12 pm by Jayson Peters
Hot off the NBC Univeral Media Village press site, here’s Sci Fi Channel’s schedule of events for Comic-Con International, July 23-26 at the San Diego Convention Center:
SCI FI FEATURES FAN FAVORITE SERIES AND STARS AT COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL 2009
New York, NY – June 30, 2009 – In keeping with its longstanding tradition of hosting some of Comic-Con’s most popular, crowd-pleasing events over the years, SCI FI Channel will once again feature some of its biggest hits – as well as its highly-anticipated new series – at this year’s Comic-Con International, held July 23-26 at the San Diego Convention Center. Fans will have the opportunity to see their favorite SCI FI stars and get the answers to all their burning questions at each of the Channel’s star-studded panels, including Warehouse 13, Eureka, Sanctuary, Stargate Universe, and Caprica/Battlestar Galactica: The Plan.
In addition, SCI FI will take over a restaurant at the Hard Rock Hotel, re-branding it as Eureka’s “Cafe Diem” for the duration of the convention. The fictional local hot spot heavily featured in the popular dramedy, Cafe Diem will be the hub of all SCI FI activities during the week.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Comics • Events • Sci-Fi & Fantasy • Television • Battlestar Galactica • Comic-Con • Conventions • San Diego • Stargate • Syfy | Post a Comment »
June 30th, 2009, 12:49 pm by Jayson Peters
 A bestselling author and award-winning science journalist will give a free lecture Friday night, July 3, at the Arizona Science Center in Phoenix.
David Ewing Duncan will present “Experimental Man: What One Man’s Body Reveals About His Future, Your Health and Oour Toxic World” at Adults’ Night Out, a free event for anyone 18 and older. The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with Duncan’s presentation at 7 p.m. and a showing of Sharks 3D in the IMAX Theater at 8:15 p.m. (regular IMAX fees apply).
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Events • Arizona Science Center • Free stuff • Phoenix • Science | Post a Comment »
June 22nd, 2009, 11:22 am by Jayson Peters
They’re not really teenage anymore, right? But they’re still young at heart.
The Arizona Science Center will come out of its shell on Saturday to welcome the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and their Party Bus full of video game stations and ice cream bars. The raucus reptiles are shell-ebrating their 25th birthday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in downtown Phoenix. The event is free and open to the public. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Comics • Events • Gaming • Manga • Nintendo • Toons • Arizona Science Center • Free stuff • LEGO • martial arts • Mesa • Phoenix • TMNT | Post a Comment »
June 19th, 2009, 12:37 am by Jayson Peters
Itching to get back together with the rogues who helped you conquer the Tomb of Horrors or Castle Ravenloft back in the day?
Wizards of the Coast is holding another contest for D&D fans, this time to reunite a group of adventurers that has been separated over the years. Up to six friends can win a free trip in August to the biggest gaming convention of them all, Gen Con in Indianapolis. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Events • Gaming • RPGs • Conventions • D&D • Dungeons & Dragons • Free stuff • WotC | Post a Comment »
June 17th, 2009, 10:49 am by Jayson Peters
Via Outpost Gallifrey:
 Just announced: Special guests at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con include new Doctor Who series creator Russell T. Davies and the show’s lead actor, David Tennant (pictured). They will join former executive producer Julie Gardner and director Euros Lyn on a special panel on Saturday, 26 July, 10:00 am - 11:00 am.
Doctor Who spinoff Torchwood is also returning to Comic-Con, with star John Barrowman appearing on a panel also featuring Davies, Gardner and Lyn. Sharing space at that panel will be the new BBC America series, Being Human. Creator and writer Toby Whithouse plus lead actors Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow and Aidan Turner, talk about the inspiration for the show and what it’s like to play three twenty-somethings with secret double-lives – as a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost.
See also:
Posted in: Comics • Events • Sci-Fi & Fantasy • Television • BBC • Conventions • David Tennant • Doctor Who • John Barrowman • Russell T. Davies • Torchwood | Post a Comment »
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