One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Geek Worlds Converge in LA This Weekend with Two Expos
Finally in Los Angeles: Comic and cool kitsch shows (Image of DCon 2010 Lee Joseph)
While San Diego can still lay claim to ComicCon, the center of the fanboy and fangirl universe shifts north this weekend for two shows: DesignerCon at the Pasadena Convention Center on Saturday and Comikaze Expo at the LA Convention Center on both Saturday and Sunday.
Now in its sixth year, DesignerCon, has become an annual art and design convention that brings together collectible toys, designer apparel and urban, underground and pop art. Dozens of artists and vendors have signed on for DCon including Furry Bones, Bugs and Plush, Mr. Toast, Booty Babe, Scott Wilkowski, Gustavo and Paul Wilson. Goodie bags with special giveaways will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for $5.
Events throughout the day include live painting, the World's Biggest Blindbox Time and a LEGO Speed Build. There's a DCon after party by Baby Tattoo at Equator Cafe in Pasadena from 7-10 pm.
Further down the 110 Freeway, Comikaze Expo takes over the LA Convention Center, focusing on comics, horror, sci-fi, anime and gaming—touting the appearances of perennial convention stars like Mark Hamill, Stan Lee and Elvira. This is the first Comikaze Expo, and organizers are expecting 60,000 attendees and more than 300 vendors, who run the gamut from 1821 Comics to Skylight Books and Zombie Survival Goods.
There are gaming tournaments both days, including Mario Kart, Magic: The Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh and Warhammer. Comikaze also has an interesting panel lineup that includes topics that sound awesome like Fangirl Foods: Comic Books and Food, Steampunk 101, New Voices in Horror and Paleontology with Morgan Fairchild. (Yes, that last one is not a misprint.)
We'll try and hit up both shows this weekend, so follow @christineziemba for live tweets and pics.
DesignerCon 2011
Saturday, Nov. 5 from 10 am to 5 pm
Pasadena Convention Center, Exhibit Hall A
Tickets: $5 online pre-sale, $7 at the door
Sponsored message
Comikaze Expo 2011Saturday, Nov. 5 from 10 am-5 pm; Sunday, Nov. 6 from 11 am-5pm
at the Los Angeles Convention Center
Expo passes: $12 day pass/$20 both days
Gaming passes vary from $5-$50, depending on the game and whether you want to enter the Expo.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
