by John Beard

Cons or conventions are characteristically known for their ability to bring individuals from all walks of life together to examine, discuss and celebrate a common interest. Now with that being said the only cons or conventions I’ve ever attended were home and boat shows some twenty years ago with my parents. So it suffices to say that I have no idea what to expect when it comes to attending Dreamcon. 

Knowing what I do about RDC World who happens to be the host and presenter of Dreamcon, I’m expecting nothing less than to have to wholeheartedly defend my stances on multiple anime subjects; from One Piece being the most unnecessarily long anime to what anime has the best character development (it’s my hero academia). With that being said, I’m looking forward to discussions, debates, and insider information from guest speakers and everyone in attendance. Conversation creates comradery and helps build relationships that last beyond the con itself. 

After trying to convince the whole con that Naruto is just a half-decent anime at best, it’s time to make a run for the food and drink vendors. Now as I mentioned earlier this would be my first con in a good while so I’m looking for a variety of foods and drinks to choose from. I’m hoping that there will be a lean towards Japanese cuisine to reflect what our favorite characters eat on the shows. Themed food and drinks that reflect anime and manga are starting to become more commonplace at smaller scale restaurants and drinking establishments just think of the DBZ-themed ramen bar. 

Last but not least, I’m ready for the cosplay. I feel that a good measure of how well a con is doing overall is the lengths people will go to make their cosplay come to life. Let’s be honest if you go to a con and not one person is dressed up it basically sets the tone for the rest of your stay at that con. 
Overall I’m expecting Dreamcon to have at least these few key elements throughout the convention. Now if RDC has any other tricks or treats up their sleeves for those of us attending that will just act as the cherry on top of what I hope to be a very engaging convention. 

ReplyForward

Here’s the RSVPS we have been waiting for hope to see you all there.

IGN’s Official SDCC Party featuring The Expanse: Belter Party
What: Dedicated to our fellow humans born on the Asteroid Belt, this party will feature cosmic cocktails and delicious eats that are out of this world. Attendees will dance the night away with select cast members of The Expanse.
When: Thursday, July 18 Time TBD
Where: The Amazon Prime Video Experience at Comic-Con, MLK and 1st, San Diego, CA 92101
Important Info: For our parties, 21+ to attend, ID required.

The Boys: World Premiere Fan Screening and Party
What: Cast & creators of The Boys will join fans for an exclusive 2-episode sneak preview ahead of the series premiere.
When: Friday, July 19 from 7 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. PT
Where: The Amazon Prime Video Experience at Comic-Con, MLK and 1st, San Diego, CA 92101
Important Info: For our parties, 21+ to attend, ID required.
The series is rated MA.
PUBLIC / GENERAL ADMISSION RSVP: https://rsvptheboys.eventbrite.com

Carnival Row: Come As You Are Party
What: Come as you are! Whoever you choose to be, your individuality will be celebrated at this closing celebration of the 50th Annual San Diego Comic-Con. As you enjoy a drink or a few, be on the lookout for characters from Carnival Row, enjoy a sneak peek of the upcoming series, and dance to live DJ performance.
When: Saturday, July 20 from 7 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. PT
Where: The Amazon Prime Video Experience at Comic-Con, MLK and 1st, San Diego, CA 92101
Important Info: For our parties, 21+ to attend formal ID required.
PUBLIC / GENERAL ADMISSION RSVP: https://rsvpcarnivalrow.eventbrite.com

 

Hey Ballers, this is Terry posting personally. above is not just a picture off the internet. It is my fathers home, my childhood home. This has affected me in ways I’m still trying to get use to. I cannot just stand around in central Texas doing nothing. Myself and a few others are looking to load up a couple of supply trucks and take them down as soon as we get the all clear for the roads but we need help. Anything you can give us will go a long way. If you have supplies already please message us and we will find places for you to bring it. Thank you so much, we are #texasstrong

 

SAN DIEGO, CA – July 17, 2017 – IMDb, the world’s most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content, today announced that for the second year in a row, writer/director/podcaster Kevin Smith will host three days (July 20-22) of original celebrity video interviews, the IMDboat party, a 90-minute live show (IMDb LIVE at San Diego Comic-Con, Presented by XFINITY) and other exclusive convention coverage aboard the IMDboat (#IMDboat) at San Diego Comic-Con® International 2017. Celebrities who are scheduled to appear include the casts of Arrow, Doctor Who, The Flash, Vikings, The Walking Dead, Preacher and more.

IMDb’s expanded Comic-Con 2017 presence includes the following: the addition of a massive LED screen located on the back of IMDboat so that fans on the street can watch live as Kevin Smith interviews leading celebrities; IMDb street teams who will will give away swag bags to fans at Comic-Con; and more off-boat editorial coverage, such as breaking news from the Convention Center floor, trending stories and daily recaps.

“IMDboat was the epicenter of Comic-Con 2016 and I’m excited to be the sweaty, sunburnt master of ceremonies again this year, talking with some of my favorite stars and filmmakers on the top deck,” Kevin Smith said.

“For the second year in a row, IMDb will create unique, multi-platform Comic-Con coverage that celebrates, chronicles and broadcasts the action from the world’s biggest celebration of fandom,” said Rob Grady, IMDb’s COO. “IMDboat is a floating video set for interviews and coverage, a hub for exclusive fan experiences and sponsor activations, an oasis for talent and an industry meeting and networking space. Our goal is to create unique experiences that make IMDb an even more engaging daily destination while empowering hundreds of millions of IMDb customers all over the world to virtually attend Comic-Con.”

About IMDboat at San Diego Comic-Con 2017
IMDboat, which is accessible by invitation only, will serve as a gateway to top entertainment brands and properties including Comcast’s XFINITY, Activision’s Call of Duty WWII, EuropaCorp’s
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets distributed by STXfilms, LEGO® Star Wars™ and Amazon Rapids by creating a must-stop destination for talent, industry VIPs and fans. The boat will be docked at Fifth Avenue Landing, immediately behind the San Diego Convention Center, and opens to invited guests on Thursday, July 20.

Events on and around the IMDboat at Comic-Con include:

• From Thursday through Saturday (July 20-22), IMDb will produce original video coverage on the open-air top deck, including Kevin Smith’s interviews with the casts of Arrow, Doctor Who, The Flash, Vikings, The Walking Dead, Preacher and more.

• On Thursday (July 20) from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. PDT in room 6A in the San Diego Convention Center, Kevin Smith will moderate IMDb’s first-ever Comic-Con panel, “Kevin Smith’s Comic Book Movie Trivia Mayhem Panel, Presented by comiXology and IMDb.” Kevin will be joined by a panel of pop culture expert contestants (including: Fatman on Batman’s Marc Bernardin; Julie and Shawna Benson, writers of The CW’s The 100; and DC Comics’ Batgirl and the Birds of Prey) who will play a competitive round of comic book movie trivia. Col Needham, IMDb founder and CEO, and comiXology CEO David Steinberger will judge the panel, awarding points based on the creativity of the answers.

• The second-annual IMDboat Party, Presented by XFINITY will take place on Friday (July 21) from 7:30 to 11 p.m. PDT. Special guests include: Kevin Smith; notable celebrities; industry influencers; IMDb, Amazon Studios, Amazon Rapids, XFINITY, Atom Tickets, LEGO® Star Wars™, Twitch, STXfilms and SModCo executives; and more. This is an invitation-only event.

• Thursday through Saturday (July 20-22) from 2 to 4 p.m PDT, select fans will have the opportunity to come aboard the IMDboat to relax and unwind in the IMDb Fan Lounge as space allows. The IMDb Fan Lounge will offer fans early (beta) access to play the new Call of Duty WWII before it hits stores and other special experiences. While aboard the IMDboat, fans can also get a closer look at Amazon Rapids, a children’s reading app featuring illustrated short stories told through the lens of characters chatting with each other. To be eligible for entry at check-in, fans can show a social post on one of their social media accounts that features the #IMDboat hashtag. Information about how to access the IMDboat will also be provided by IMDb street teams as they distribute swag bags and interact with fans. Additionally, affiliate restaurants in downtown San Diego will be distributing IMDb coasters that display trivia questions. Fans who post the correct answers to these questions on their social media accounts (along with the #IMDboat hashtag) will also be eligible for entry. Space is limited and during this time frame, fans will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis. In addition, for the first time, convention goers can watch Kevin Smith’s celebrity interviews and other exclusive IMDb Comic-Con coverage on a massive LED screen mounted to the IMDboat (facing the Convention Center).

• On Saturday (July 22), beginning at 3:30 p.m. PDT, Kevin Smith will host IMDb LIVE At San Diego Comic-Con, Presented by XFINITY, a 90-minute live-streaming show broadcast on IMDb, Twitch (twitch.tv/TwitchPresents), and Twitter. The show will feature Kevin Smith’s wrap-up analysis of the convention and conversations with special celebrity guests.

• To celebrate the July 1, 2017, launch of IMDb Ticketing, Powered by Atom Tickets, IMDb street teams will be in heavy circulation in San Diego, giving away swag bags to fans. In addition to other fan-favorite items, the swag bags will contain Valerian and The City of a Thousand Planets-themed special offer cards (including a “buy one, get one free” ticket offer or a $5 off ticket purchase discount which fans can redeem when they purchase Valerian and The City of a Thousand Planets tickets on IMDb’s website or mobile apps).

To follow IMDb’s exclusive Comic-Con coverage, which includes breaking news, expert analysis, original celebrity interviews, trending information, a 90-minute live show, field pieces shot around the convention (featuring fans, cosplay and top stories of the day), daily Comic-Con recaps, and more, visit http://www.imdb.com/comic-con, follow #IMDboat on Twitter or visit IMDb’s official Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/imdb), Snapchat (www.snapchat.com/add/imdblive) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/imdb/) pages. Coverage will be accessible by IMDb’s more than 250 million unique monthly visitors worldwide via IMDb’s website, mobile apps and social media accounts (including Snapchat and You Tube). IMDb’s2017 San Diego Comic-Con special section, located at http://www.imdb.com/comic-con, features preview coverage, a welcome video message from Kevin Smith, a Comic-Con events schedule and more.

To watch video highlights of IMDb’s original celebrity interviews aboard the The IMDboat at Comic-Con 2016, go to: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5831312/videoplayer/vi2319562521.

About the Launch of IMDb Ticketing, Powered by Atom Tickets
On July 1, 2017, IMDb (the #1 movie website in the world) and Atom Tickets (the cutting-edge mobile movie ticketing platform) launched IMDb Ticketing, Powered by Atom Tickets. Fans in the U.S. and Canada can now conveniently purchase movie tickets on IMDb.com, on IMDb’s mobile optimized website and on IMDb’s leading iOS and Android mobile apps.

IMDb Ticketing, Powered by Atom Tickets, offers fans the most convenient way to plan a night out at the movies. With this new service, fans can login and pay via their Amazon account, browse showtimes for movies in their area and skip the lines by purchasing tickets and preordering concessions (where available).

“We are thrilled to team up with Atom Tickets, who share our spirit of innovation and customer obsession, to offer fans our new, convenient and fun online movie ticketing solution,” said Rob Grady, IMDb’s COO. “The launch of IMDb Ticketing, Powered by Atom Tickets reflects our commitment to being the daily destination fans rely on when deciding what to watch and where to watch it. We will continue to collaborate with Atom Tickets, innovative studios and top exhibitors to provide IMDb customers with exclusive movie-going experiences and special offers tied to the hottest new releases, like our current Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets nationwide promotion.”

“IMDb is the global authority for everything movies, and we’re honored to provide fans with a seamless ticketing experience,” said Ameesh Paleja, CEO and co-founder, Atom Tickets. “Whether you’re using the IMDb app, mobile site or desktop site, you’re going to enjoy the fast, easy ordering process users have come to expect from Atom. We’re looking forward to serving new and loyal IMDb users through the exclusive offer to see Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets.”

To celebrate IMDb’s new movie ticketing service, Atom Tickets and IMDb are providing fans who buy tickets to Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets through IMDb Ticketing, Powered by Atom Tickets (on IMDb.com or IMDb’s mobile apps) with a discount of $5 off the ticket price at participating theaters beginning on July 17, 2017. This nationwide discount will be automatically applied at checkout, while supplies last. To participate, go to: www.imdb.com/valerian.

To learn more about IMDb Ticketing, Powered by Atom Tickets and to buy tickets, go to: http://www.imdb.com/showtimes/.

About Kevin Smith
Kevin Smith first came to attention as the writer/director of a film called Clerks. It’s been all downhill ever since.

About IMDb
IMDb is the world’s most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content. The IMDb consumer site (www.imdb.com) is the #1 movie website in the world with a combined web and mobile audience of more than 250 million unique monthly visitors. IMDb offers a searchable database of more than 185 million data items including more than 4 million movies, TV and entertainment programs and more than 6 million cast and crew members. Consumers rely on the information IMDb provides — including local movie showtimes, ticketing, trailers, critic and user reviews, personalized recommendations, photo galleries, entertainment news, quotes, trivia, box-office data, editorial feature sections and a universal Watchlist – when deciding what to watch and where to watch it. IMDb’s portfolio of leading entertainment apps (http://www.imdb.com/apps/) includes its popular “Movies & TV” app for iPhone, iPad, Kindle Fire, Android phones, Android tablets and its mobile-optimized website. To date, there have been more than 115 million downloads of IMDb’s mobile apps worldwide. IMDb’s X-Ray for Movies & TV Shows (www.imdb.com/x-ray) is a feature that revolutionizes the viewing experience by bringing the power of IMDb directly to Kindle Fire HD, Fire TV and Fire TV Stick. IMDb’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/imdb) and official Twitter account (https://twitter.com/imdb) are followed by more than 10 million passionate entertainment fans. IMDbPro (http://www.imdbpro.com) is the essential resource for entertainment industry professionals. This membership-based service includes comprehensive information and tools that are designed to help entertainment industry professionals achieve success throughout all stages of their career. IMDbPro offers members the following: detailed contact and representation information; IMDb profile management tools; exclusive STARmeter rankings that are determined by page views on IMDb; a casting service to post breakdowns and apply to roles, a mobile optimized website and more. Additionally, IMDb owns and operates Withoutabox (http://www.withoutabox.com), the premier submission service for film festivals and filmmakers, and Box Office Mojo (http://www.boxofficemojo.com), the leading online box-office reporting service. IMDb.com is operated by IMDb.com, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) (http://www.amazon.com). To learn more, go to: http://www.imdb.com/press.

About Atom Tickets
Atom Tickets is the first-of-its-kind theatrical mobile ticketing platform. Through its patent pending recommendation and personalization technology, Atom Tickets allows consumers to search for films instantly, invite friends, buy tickets, pre-order concessions and more. Enabled on more than 16,500 screens across the U.S., the platform’s innovative marketing capabilities help studios, exhibitors and brands maximize revenue opportunities. Atom Tickets is available as a free app in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store and online at atomtickets.com. For detailed information about participating theaters, go to: https://www.atomtickets.com/browse/theaters.

**TICKET GIVEAWAY ALERT**

Get ready to bust out your pastels and floppy hats because we’re giving one lucky winner a pair of hospitality passes to Victory Cup Derby Day & Polo Match on Saturday 5/6! See below for the deets!

TASTING TENT PASS: $100 value
Invite only

While Baller ATX has its roots planted in Austin, TX, there are events around the country that speak to the Austin spirit and vibe. One of these is Forecastle, which has rocked the gorgeous Waterfront Park in downtown Louisville, KY for almost 15 years, and will take place this Friday, July 15-Sunday, July 17. Your very own Baller ATX staff will be traveling to Kentucky this weekend and bringing you coverage on all things Forecastle!

Beginning as a small neighborhood event in 2002, focusing on music, art, and conservationism – Forecastle has grown into one of the largest music festivals in the country, and draws tens of thousands attendees from all over the world. This year’s headliners include The Avett Brothers, Alabama Shakes, Ryan Adams, and Death Cab for Cutie. Austin’s own Shakey Graves and Ghostland Observatory will also be lending their distinctively-Austin sounds to the musical magic filling Waterfront Park this weekend.

Featuring local eats, a Bourbon Lodge, and the Hunter S. Thompson-inspired Gonzo Bar, Forecastle’s unique style makes it a can’t-miss for festival lovers. We can’t wait to bring you stories and photos from the weekend, so stay tuned to Baller ATX for more!

Denver Beer Dinner

by Stephen Kluchin

After a long day of tomfoolery, sightseeing, and partaking of the best Denver had to offer, we had the unique opportunity to attend a Beer Dinner — a collaboration between Dude’s Brews by Dad & Dude’s Breweria and the Dunbar Kitchen & Tap House — to enjoy some cuisine and CBD infused brews.

Wait! CBD infused beer?! Isn’t that illegal?! Or so you may be asking yourself. I was curious about the subject as well, as the legalization in Colorado was at the state level and alcohol is federally regulated. First off, CBD is a non-psychoactive hemp extract. Also, after some quick research it seems like the brewery already hashed this out with the proper authorities (http://www.breweria.com/events/hembree-likes-to-make-a-splash-photoarticle-courtesy-westwood/).

The restaurant was nice, but felt a bit trendy. The staff were very nice and made sure to share what knowledge they had of the beers they would be serving. We even had the chance to speak to the brewer.

Now on to the feast!

Course #1: Meat & Cheese with Sativa IPA

  

Cheeses – Tillamook Extra Sharp Cheddar, Lincert Delice De Bourgogne, Cypress Grove Humboldt Fog, Wellspring Creamery Goat Brie

Meats – Applegate Farm Uncured Pepperoni, Crimenelli Calabrese, Applegate Farm Genoa Salami

I love charcuterie! However, this course was underwhelming, generic, and simple. The Sativa IPA was superb, smooth, and had a hoppiness that started strong and finished easy.

 

Course #2: Soup with Rye Ryeot Ale

 

Beer Cheese – Tilamook Cheddar, Red Rye Ale, Crispy Chicken Strips with Beer Batter

The beer cheese soup was very flavorful, but a little thin. The rye ale was a perfect contrast to the savory flavor of the soup. The chicken was tender and kept its crunch, but was tiny and served more as a garnish than a significant part of the dish.

Course #3: Pork Chop with Toffee Porter

Grilled Pork Chop – Apple Garlic Brine, Black Eyed Peas, Toffee Porter Jus

The pork chop was tasty but a bit dry. The black eyed peas were on point and savory. The toffee porter was tasty, salty, and sweet with a bit of coffee flavor and a hint of caramel. It contrasted well with the meal.

Course #4: Cake with Pineapple Express Honey Blonde

Pineapple “Upside Down” Cake – Cardamom Cake, Pineapple bits, Tart Cherry and Beer Syrup

The final course was the most anticipated one for me and it didn’t disappoint! The cake was light but not too sweet and paired exceptionally well with the tart cherry. The beer was light and fruity with a crisp finish.

The feast was worth the $40 price tag. Thanks for the awesome experience!

Please visit both Dude’s Brews by Dad & Dude’s Breweria and the Dunbar Kitchen & Tap House if you are ever in the Denver area.