Things To Do In San Diego: July 19-22, 2013

Sorry about the bummer diary post...I really do love Comic-Con, I just think I'm a little too tired to really reflect on how awesome it is sometimes. Today is probably the busiest and most fun day of the Con if you let it be so, and it leads right into a night of awesome San Diego music, too. So even if you're not into the Con, there is a ton of stuff to see and do today. Friday through Monday archives are after the jump.

Rosey's Diary: Thursday at The Con

This might be a very premature assessment, or maybe I'm just tired, so forgive me if I'm speaking too soon, but it is very possible that I have outgrown Comic-Con. Or, perhaps, it has outgrown me. You know those people who go on and on about how it used to be before the overnighters camped out for Hall H, or before it was taken over by the studios and you just wanna punch them in the face and tell them to get over it, that the event has grown to include all aspects of pop culture and if you really just want to trade comic books, I'm sure e-bay still has room for you? Well, I guess I'm on the other side now. I love the pop culture, but I barely watch TV. When I do, it's late night with Chelsea Lately on E! or Watch What Happens Live on Bravo. I feel like I kinda have no idea what is going on at the Con.

This all came smacking me in the face when I was on an elevator to the Wired Insider lounge at the Omni. I'm riding up the elevator with at least two actors from Game of Thrones but I skipped the whole last season. Besides Facebook and Twitter spoilers, I paid no attention (despite paying a shitload for premium channels on cable). So I kinda recognized the actors, and that they were commenting on how awkward the elevator wraps were with Sophie's face so huge, but I was not in tune enough to chat them up. When the elevator doors opened, they were swiftly escorted off as people swooned, and I realized I'd just missed a huge photo op.

No big deal, right? I mean, we were at the Wired Cafe at the Omni, my favorite part of the Con every year. There's open bar, DJ Artistic is on the decks, the food is good, and there's sponsors around to entertain and giving swag. My first stop was getting my hair did like a viking. I mostly just looked chola, but it was cool. Then I got some henna- a rune on my left arm and later a dragon on my right.

We had a fun moment when that Barack Obama impersonator from the campaign rolled through. That guy is legit and looks just like him. But mostly my afternoon consisted of hanging around and people watching, drinking some blueberry-cherry-vodka concoction, and being very, very lazy.

After the Wired Cafe closed, I had a couple hours to wander. I attempted a Movies on Demand party at the Hard Rock but was denied, so I strayed toward the Children's Museum. Along the way there were some cool areas, like the History Channel's Vikings setup, where you can compete in a longboat race. Fun, but I was on my own and continued on.

 Eventually I walked back toward Hotel Solamar to visit a friend. He took me upstairs and handled the drink situation for me, and I was finally feeling relaxed, mostly because I didn't have to be anywhere. I was also excited because Darren and Nova were heading down to check things out, and eventually met me on the deck for a very brief period. On our way out, I had to snap a pic with Kristen Schaal, who acted every bit annoyed to be asked for a photo as one would expect from her comedy.

 Darren and Nova went on their way, and I ventured to Petco for MTV2's Party In The Park. It was cool to have easy access and no line, but since Tim was working in Chula Vista, I was on my own and have to admit it was not that fun to experience alone.

 I tried to shoot New Politics, then suddenly recalled the last time I tried to shoot them at 4th and B and all the handstands and pop and locks and breakdancing just couldn't be captured by my cameras.

Eventually Tim returned and met up with me at the MTV2 event. We had a drink and then went to the Haven party. Another one of those things that should really be more flexible, but I was on the list and he was not, so they wouldn't give him access. So stupid. But perhaps a blessing, because we decided to call it a night. I came home and unloaded and biked to Soda Bar and back home which brings me to now...2am...and ready to crash out. Recounting the night, maybe I'll eat my words. I love the Con. I love the energy, the anxiety, the headache of 1000 emails, the celebrities, the drinks, the lounges, the parties, the swag, the food, the funky smells, the tired feet. It is five days of the year and I bust ass to be there, to be among the press, to  have my moments of access. But at the end of the day, I'm beat and pronouncing I'm over it. Until the sun comes up and I'm ready for yet another day. Who knows what awesome or trainwreck or both awaits me tomorrow. 

Things To Do In San Diego: July 18, 2013

I've added a few events to the listings, including non-Con events like the really cool Lantern Festival at Hoover High or the South Park Walkabout, but I also added a few more Con things, including a Petco sponsored "Yappy Hour" at Hotel Indigo on Friday (open to the public) which will have dog treats and Star Wars photo opps for you and your dog as they launch a line of Star Wars pet gear. I also added the Metallica show which is supposedly happening at Spreckel's. Thursday archives are after the jump.

Rosey's Diary: Comic-Con Day 1: Preview Night

Comic-Con 2013 is here and I will just start by saying that I did not follow my own rules and it made for kind of a rough day.
I guess while some people fall into ruts, I've been the opposite...summer has been amazing and I spend my days running around with Darren and Nova going to the beach or parks or museums and by the time I usually leave them around 10 if I'm going out or midnight if I'm not, I'm pretty exhausted. So email and posting and all of the things that I used to incorporate have been neglected. Which means that this week, after rollerskating and going to the beach (and subsequently being stung by jellyfish), and going to parks and babysitting Zane with an afternoon at the zoo, and bike riding and running errands and laundry and, well, living, I still had to catch up on Casbah stuff and emails and Comic-Con rsvps. All of this to say, I haven't had much sleep this week, and that is already a bad way to start Con. But suck it up, right?

My Comic-Con Partner-In-Crime, Tim Pyles

So noon rolls around and Pyles picks me up for our weekly Casbah meeting, we run a couple errands, and we head to Mission Brewery where we were generously hooked up with liquid pleasure because Pyles is all famous and kind of a big deal. I unintentionally had two Carracks, which is a 10.2% beer, as well as tastes of a few others.
Around 3:30, we decided to get our badges with a meandering stroll past the Hilton and I was feeling great. Nice and loopy with beer and no breakfast or lunch. I got my badge easily, but Pyles' had a problem, which we later learned was because he was pulling up his 2012 registration. Oops.

Once squared away, we sat on the roof deck of the Convention Center chatting with some boys from Brazil until doors opened. What was I doing? I had no goal of buying any exclusives or waiting in lines to get more posters that will never end up on my walls. So Pyles went off on his own and I meandered through the hall. I was enjoying myself but still pretty buzzed, even after a couple hours had passed and I'd indulged in some nachos. There is obviously so much to take in and so much to see (and smell- yikes!), but once I'd walked the convention floor and seen what I wanted, I had to go. I texted Tim and was off wandering downtown for something to eat. I stopped by the SDCCblog Party at Henry's to say hi to Xavie, but it was packed so I knew food was not in my future there, so I continued on. I dropped in at Ciro's, but now that they're doing personal pizzas, the slices in the counter looked like they'd been there awhile, so I decided on Valentine's and ate. Finally. But it was too late. It was around 9 or so and I had a massive pounding headache.

 Pyles came and met me and we decided that we'd had enough of Preview Night and walked back to the car. I was home by 9:30, had water and aspirin and passed out on my bed fully dressed. I woke up at 3:45 and have been up ever since, cleaning my house, staying current with email and posts and listening to music and writing letters to Rachel Maddow and looking at my schedule for Thursday. This is generally my favorite day of Con, so hopefully all the moving pieces fit together and I get my fill of parties and events and lounges and press roundtables. And Darren and Nova are coming down to wander the streets so maybe I'll get to hang with them, too, because though fun, Wednesday was just a little less exciting without them.

The $52 My Little Pony that I will *not* be buying for my nieces

This one's for Nova- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles out of Legos

$57,750 comic. Holy shit. 

As always, Frank Kozik signing his KidRobot collectibles

Things To Do In San Diego: July 12-15, 2013

What a week! I definitely have a diary coming but I have so much email pouring in for ComicCon, plus Casbah and NBC work and babysitting and keeping busy with Darren and Nova during her summer vacation that I'm barely getting sleep (and loving every minute of it). Between San Diego Pride this weekend and Comic-Con International starting on Wednesday, all I really need is a day to write and do laundry. Maybe I know what I'm doing Friday night. Weekend Archives after the jump. Listings through next Thursday after the jump, and keep checking back as I add more Con stuff to the evolving list.