Thursday Morning Superhero: SDCC Off-Site Edition

Yesterday was an eventful open to what will be another exhausting experience at San Diego Comic Con.  Hop Con once again delivered a wide variety of tasty beverages and delicious food a short hop from the madness of the convention.  Last week I focused primarily on the happenings inside the convention center, but this week I thought I would highlight three off-site locations that can be enjoyed without a badge.

Nerd HQ:
The Nerd HQ is returning to the children's museum located right across the street from the convention center.  What started as a small off-site event put together by Zachary Levi to provide fans with an intimate experience at SDCC that would raise money for charity, has grown into one of the hottest off-site events in San Diego.  The Nerd HQ features a number of panels throughout the convention with the opportunity to play some video games, snag photo ops with celebrities, and raise money for Operation Smile.  I will be attending the Nathan Fillion panel on Friday and am curious what surprises the Nerd HQ will bring this year.

South Park 20th Anniversary:
Has it really been 20 years since the debut of South Park?  I never imagined the type of cultural impact this show would have, but Matt Stone and Trey Parker have done a remarkable job using this crudely animated show as an effective means of social commentary.  To celebrate 20 years fans can enjoy a sculpture garden inspired by the show and immerse themselves in the world of South Park. It is going to be at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Promenade and looks amazing!

Image courtesy of HBO

Game of Thrones:
The Game of Thrones is setting up shop across from the Omni and are delivering fans the chance to check out the Hall of Faces.  The first 500 attendees each day get a Funko Pop and an exclusive poster and fans should have the opportunity to upload their picture to become No One and have their face featured with the others who have done the same.  The Iron Throne will likely be there again as the Game of Thrones off-site has become a staple in the Gas Lamp.

POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.

Thursday Morning Superhero: SDCC Off-Site Events

My hands are shaking a bit as I type this because San Diego Comic Con is only two weeks away!  In two, short weeks I am going to be attending panels, battling the masses for swag, and attempting to soak in as much as I can in the Gas Lamp in the name of science.  While the action inside the convention center is the main event, the off-site offerings have dramatically improved each year.    Today I will give you my top four off-site events of 2015.

1. Conan at Comic Con - Conan O'Brien has announced that for the first time ever, he is going to tape four shows during Comic Con.  He is going to occupy the Spreckles Theater in downtown San Diego and tape shows on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  The demand for tickets far exceeded the supply and like many others, I am waitlisted and hopeful I still might be able to attend.  The guest list is sure to impress and I can only imagine what types of hijinks Conan and Andy will get into in San Diego.  While it looks unlikely I will be in attendance, I am excited to watch all of his shows from Comic Con.

2. Funko Fun Days 2015 - Last year's surprise hit for me was attending Funko Fun Days.  I had no idea what to expect, and after three hours of madness, I walked away with a huge smile on my face and had turned my brother into a Funko Pop! collector.  This year Funko moved into a bigger location and still managed to sellout within a matter of hours.   I am very much looking forward to a fun night with fellow collectors that includes good food, good drinks, and some fun giveaways. 

3. Hop Con 3.0 - My brother and I have made The w00tStout Festival an annual tradition and I can't wait to begin my SDCC experience enjoying some gourmet food paired with exclusive brews.  Wil Wheaton has packed even more star power into the event this year, which includes Greg Koch, Drew Curtis, Aisha Tyler, Kevin Eastman, Dave Johnson, Mitch Steele, Kris Ketcham, Richard Rossi, and Alexis Light.  SDCC can be a very overwhelming experience, and events like this are the perfect calm before the storm.  There will be over 35 beers on hand, including seven that can only be had at this event.   I am getting thirsty just thinking about it!

4. The Nerd HQ - The Nerd HQ, presented by Zachary Levi and The Nerd Machine, is back again and is moving into a new venue.  The Nerd HQ will be moving into the New Children's Museum in downtown San Diego in its largest venue to date.  While the larger venue made me wonder if it would remain as intimate as it has in years past, the Conversations for a Cause are limited to only 200 tickets each.  In the chaos that is Comic Con, I have found the Conversations for a Cause to provide a great relief to the madness and give the fans a truly unique and personal experience.  The Nerd HQ is also partnering with IGN and AMD and will feature an entire floor dedicated to gaming.  Raising funds for Operation Smile, I am happy to see that this labor of love is returning once again.


POSTED BY MIKE N. aka Victor Domashev -- comic guy, proudly raising nerdy kids, and Nerds of a Feather contributor since 2012.