If you’re just joining us, Labor Day Weekend was Dragon Con — the biggest sci-fi/fantasy/comics/multimedia comics convention in the south, celebrating its 27th year in 2014. It’s in many ways comparable to a SDCC of the South, but without the Hollywood interference messing with the signal to noise ratio. It boasts guests from every nerdy…
DragonCon Dispatches: Day Zero and One
Thursday Dragon Con has become so embiggened over the years that Thursday, the day that used to be for checking in and kicking back, has now become as busy and populated as Friday used to be. It’s not an official con day — yet — but there were a few things for fans arriving early to…
Nine Worlds: Days 2&3
Saturday/Sunday: Life is not non-stop suffering and the meanness of white people My second day at Nine Worlds began with a very well-attended debate between several writers – including Joanne Harris, author of The Gospel of Loki – over which was better: dragons, werewolves, vampires, or warlocks. Topics covered included each species’ body odor, fashion…
Ladies Only: the Problem with Gender & Diversity Focused Panels
It’s time to change the way we do panels at conventions. Right now women, LGBTQ, and people of color are invited to speak on panels such as: GMing as Women Gaming as Other Diversity in Gaming Race in the Gaming Industry Queer as a Three-Sided Die I love the titles of these panels. They’re fun, badass,…
Con Diary: Gen Con wrap up
I’ve been home from GenCon for a few days, and I’m still overwhelmed with excitement (when I’m not sneezing or coughing). It was a truly amazing four days, both personally and professionally. The convention was huge, with attendance up 10% from last year, and events sprawling from the convention center into nearby hotels. Here are…
Con Diares: Ivy Goes to Otakon & Watches All The Anime pt. 2: I’m In Hell, This Is Hell
Is there any sound more gratingly condescending than the low-to-high slide of “hey, guys” coming out of the mouth of a convention volunteer staffer? They raise their hands to chest level, lock eyes with you, and smile sympathetically—it’s not your fault you skirted around the line, you’re just too stupid! “I’m a dealer, actually,” I…
Nine Worlds Diary: Day 1
This past weekend was full of thoughtful analysis, lovely people, and cheesy dance moves. Ideally that’s what all my weekends would be like, but this particular one was spent at Nine Worlds Geekfest in London. Nine Worlds is distinct for its focus on inclusivity and exploring the relationships between geek media and its fans. As…
GenCon Guide for Grownups Part II
Once you’ve gotten through your first day or two of GenCon, you may want to level up your experience. You’ve wandered the Exhibit Hall for hours, photographed the coolest cosplayers (after asking nicely and stepping out of the way, of course), and pretended to be elves with a bunch of strangers. Now you’re starving because…
GenCon Guide for Grownups Part I
GenCon is staring us all dead in the face, so it’s time for a little pep talk. It is the largest gaming convention in North America, and has been running for forty-six years. There are tabletop RPGs, card games, video games, board games, Live Action Role Playing (LARPs), cosplay, anime, art, workshops, panels and more….
Con Diaries: Ivy Goes To Otakon & Watches All The Anime, Pt. 1
Earlier this year, when my boyfriend was booking his appearance at Otakon, he casually asked me if I wanted to go — free badge, free hotel — and I readily agreed, desperate for any sort of mini-vacation. I had been to Otakon before, as as tween. The last year I went, I was fourteen years…
WWAC Roundtable: A Post-SDCC14 Rundown
If you were not at San Diego Comic Con this year, congratulations! You and countless others watched from afar, bitterly whispering to yourself “one day I’ll go”as you scrolled through the endless stream of announcements pinging your phone. You may also be saner for having stayed home, with more money in your pockets, too. It…
Conventional Parenting
Planning on taking a wee one along to a convention? As with any outing involving children, good planning is required to ensure fun is had by all involved. We’ve been taking our daughters, aged six and eight, to Toronto’s FanExpo since our eldest was two months shy of bursting from my womb, and we’ve learned…