Tag: cosplay

History lives at English Village Fete in Balboa Park.

House of England tent featured British food in San Diego, a distant corner of America.
House of England tent featured British food in San Diego, a distant corner of America.

As you might have read in my last post, lots of folks converged upon Balboa Park today in a variety of historical costumes. They were celebrating the beautiful park’s one hundred year anniversary.

Most of these participants headed to the International Cottages area in the early afternoon, where a costume parade, chivalry event, dramatic performance from Shakespeare, and other activities took place. The House of England held an English Village Fete on the lawn.

I missed most events but did capture some fun pics…

Buckingham Palace Queen's Guard in front of the House of England cottage.
Buckingham Palace Queen’s Guard in front of the House of England cottage.
British bobby on patrol talks to a gentleman at unique Balboa Park event.
British bobby on patrol talks to a gentleman at unique Balboa Park event.
Attire from different periods of history were seen at the English Village Fete.
Attire from different periods of history were seen at the English Village Fete.
Lots of Union Jacks and gifts celebrating England were for sale.
Lots of Union Jacks and gifts celebrating England were for sale.
This nice lady in a bonnet was selling honey produced in San Diego.
This nice lady in a bonnet was selling honey produced in San Diego.
There was even a model train display on the lawn during the fun event.
There was even a model train display on the lawn during the fun event.
England is a member of the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages.
England is a member of the House of Pacific Relations International Cottages.
Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom inside the House of England cottage.
Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom inside the House of England cottage.
People in period costumes enjoy some treats inside the small cottage.
People in period costumes enjoy some treats inside the small cottage.
Beatles display on a wall inside the House of England cottage.
Beatles display on a wall inside the House of England cottage.
A cool Alice in Wonderland exhibit features the Mad Hatter.
A cool Alice in Wonderland exhibit features the Mad Hatter.
Some guys are repositioning the Union Jack at cottage door.
Some guys are re-positioning the Union Jack at cottage door.
Sherlock Holmes tries to unravel a mystery. Who's that scruffy, suspicious-looking guy walking around taking pictures.
Sherlock Holmes tries to unravel a mystery. Who’s that scruffy, suspicious-looking guy walking around taking pictures?
Local Shakespeare expert talks about the Bard and his contributions to literature and our everyday language.
Local Shakespeare expert talks about the Bard and his contributions to literature and our everyday language.
Event attendees listen intently to a talk about the Elizabethan era.
Event attendees listen intently to a talk about the Elizabethan era.
Many penny-farthing bicycles could be spied around Balboa Park today.
Many penny-farthing bicycles could be spied around Balboa Park today.
Join us for a nice cup of tea!
Join us for a nice cup of tea!

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Victorians, suffragettes and steampunk in a park!

San Diego Costume Guild members help Balboa Park celebrate its centennial.
San Diego Costume Guild members help Balboa Park celebrate its centennial.

Today a really cool event was held in San Diego called the Balboa Park Centennial Informal Gathering. A bunch of history lovers, park supporters, assorted clubs and organizations (including the San Diego Costume Guild) gathered together in Balboa Park and everyone wore period attire. The idea was to recreate what Balboa Park might have looked like one hundred years ago, when the 1915 Panama-California Exposition opened.

During my walk through the park, I saw folks everywhere wearing fancy dresses and hats . . . carrying parasols . . . sporting old-fashioned police and military uniforms . . . wearing suffragette sashes or steampunk goggles . . . riding high-wheeled penny-farthing bicycles . . . and lots of puzzled tourists looking about in complete astonishment. It was great!

Balboa Park Centennial Celebration marks 100 years of a truly amazing place.
Balboa Park Centennial Celebration marks the 100 year anniversary of an amazing place.
Folks in old-fashioned dresses and nostalgic garb were walking up and down El Prado.
Folks in old-fashioned dresses and nostalgic garb were walking up and down El Prado.
This 19th century fashion predates 1915, the year of the Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park,
This 19th century fashion predates 1915, the year of the Panama-California Exposition in Balboa Park,
Two elegant ladies paused to smile for my camera in the park's central plaza.
Two elegant ladies paused to smile for my camera in the park’s big central plaza.
Some people dressed for the occasion enjoying the warm San Diego sunshine.
Some people dressed for the occasion were enjoying the warm San Diego sunshine.
Lots of very fancy hats could be seen everywhere I turned.
Lots of very fancy hats could be seen everywhere I turned.
Many in historical costumes would reenact a political march in support of Votes For Women.
Later in the afternoon, folks wearing historical costumes would reenact a political march supporting Votes For Women.
Two suffragettes with Votes For Women sashes follow a guy dressed in World War I era military uniform.
Two suffragettes with Votes For Women sashes follow a guy dressed in World War I era military uniform.
Back in 1915, the right for women to vote was an important issue and movement.
Back in 1915, the right for women to vote was an important issue and movement.
A display in the Balboa Park Club building included Women's Rights memorabilia from a hundred years ago.
A display in the Balboa Park Club building included Women’s Rights memorabilia from a hundred years ago.
Some people had steampunk goggles in the International Cottages area, where event participants converged.
A few people sported steampunk goggles. Event participants converged on the International Cottages lawn area.
Visitors from Balboa Park's past seem to come to life before my very eyes.
Visitors from Balboa Park’s past seem to come to life before my very eyes.
A bustle of Victorian activity in front of the House of England cottage.
A bustle of Victorian activity in front of the House of England cottage.

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Comic-Con morning near the convention center.

Huge Resurrection ad on Petco Park baseball stadium.
Huge Resurrection ad on Petco Park baseball stadium.

Early this morning, shortly after sunrise, I headed down toward the Gaslamp to see what was going on at 2014 San Diego Comic-Con. Thousands of people had gravitated around the convention center and were waiting in long lines to be the first inside and attend popular panels.

I walked from the east side of Petco Park, over the Harbor Drive pedestrian bridge, and past the Hilton Hotel to the back of the convention center. I then walked back around to the front and across the street to the Gaslamp trolley station. Here is what I saw:

Sleepy Hollow covered bridge recreated in Petco Park parking lot.
Sleepy Hollow covered bridge recreated in Petco Park parking lot.
This big Once Upon a Time banner is falling off Petco Park!
This big Once Upon a Time banner is falling off Petco Park!

I walked a bit northwest along Tony Gwynn Drive to get this picture.

Workers push huge Homer Simpson eyeball into a big yellow head.
Workers push huge Homer Simpson eyeball into a big yellow head.

Now I’m across Harbor Drive directly in front of the Hilton.

Homer's Dome area opened on Friday behind the convention center.
Homer’s Dome area opened on Friday behind the convention center.
One of the fun Simpsons games set up on the grass by the Hilton hotel.
One of the fun Simpsons games set up on the grass by the Hilton hotel.
Gotham skyline contains Riddler's and Penguin's not-so-secret lairs.
Gotham skyline contains Riddler’s and Penguin’s not-so-secret lairs.

This is between Homer’s Dome and the San Diego bay.

A long zip line lets daring Comic-Con guests fly past Gotham City!
A long zip line lets daring Comic-Con guests fly past Gotham City!
Comic-Con fans wait in long lines for popular panels.
Comic-Con fans wait in long lines for popular panels.
Vehicle from Into the Storm, a new movie about storm chasers.
Vehicle from Into the Storm, a new movie about storm chasers.
Fan sitting by the bay behind San Diego Convention Center looks wicked.
Fan sitting by the bay behind San Diego Convention Center looks wicked.
Looks like a huge Godzilla is on the rampage in San Diego!
Looks like a huge Godzilla is on the rampage in San Diego!
The fearsome monster rises darkly into the sky and now I'm worried.
The fearsome monster rises darkly into the sky and now I’m worried.
Smiling Wonder Girl is here to handle the dire situation!
Smiling Wonder Girl is here to handle the dire situation!
Someone inside this costume will keep us all safe, thank goodness.
Someone inside this costume will keep us all safe, thank goodness.
News reporter talks with very elegantly dressed Star Wars characters.
News reporter talks with very elegantly dressed Star Wars characters.
Cool cosplayers were in front of the convention center before it opened.
Cool cosplayers were in front of the convention center before it opened.
Batman zoomed by. I used Gimp cartoon mode to make blurry pic fun!
Batman zoomed by. I used Gimp cartoon filter to improve blurry pic!
Captain America and others head across Harbor Drive to the Gaslamp.
Captain America and others head across Harbor Drive to the Gaslamp.

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Cosplay and Comic-Con craziness in the Gaslamp!

Gentleman heads toward downtown's Gaslamp with a Spiderman tie.
Gentleman heads toward downtown’s Gaslamp with a Spiderman tie.

Except for the very last photo, I snapped these pics today in the early evening as I walked around downtown San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. 2014 San Diego Comic-Con is in full swing!

Cool Adult Swim car seems to offer free rides around San Diego.
Cool Adult Swim car seems to offer free rides around San Diego.
Steampunk guys heading down toward the center of cosplay action.
Mad Hatter guys heading down toward the center of cosplay action.
It's Spidey driving a pedicab and giving me a thumbs up!
It’s Spidey driving a pedicab and giving me a thumbs up!
Lifetime Channel is to hold a Witches event tonight in San Diego.
Lifetime Channel is to hold a Witches event tonight in San Diego.
Mobile advertisement for the Sin City sequel, A Dame to Kill For.
Mobile advertisement for the Sin City sequel, A Dame to Kill For.
This colorful shop is appealing to the huge Comic-Con crowd.
This colorful shop is appealing to the huge Comic-Con crowd.
Gaslamp Reading Cinemas has showings, including Star Wars Rebels.
Gaslamp Reading Cinemas has showings, including Star Wars Rebels.
Flash sign is a window wrap near Petco Park.
Flash sign is a window wrap near Petco Park.
Two hostesses at a local restaurant are dressed for Comic-Con.
Two hostesses at a local restaurant are dressed for Comic-Con.
Lady with gigantic identification card is promoting Community.
Lady with gigantic identification card is promoting Community.
Lady swings in middle of the cool Assassin's Creed obstacle course.
Lady swings in middle of the cool Assassin’s Creed obstacle course.
This happy family belongs to the Justice League.
This happy family belongs to the Justice League.
Oh my goodness! That might be the real Dark Knight facing me!
Oh my goodness! That might be the real Dark Knight facing me!
Witches were chanting in a circle by the Gaslamp trolley station.
Witches were chanting in a circle by the Gaslamp trolley station.
One witch hexes me with her spooky red eyes.
One witch hexes me with her spooky red eyes.
Superman is down but not out.
Superman is down but not out.
Is that an angry bird or a happy bird, I wonder.
Is that an angry bird or a happy bird, I wonder.
That arm looks downright formidable.
That arm looks downright formidable.
This fantastic beast is called the Giant Creature. It's piloted by a small alien on top. The creature was moving about for the nearby crowd.
Giant Creature catches the attention of Comic-Con fans near the Tin Fish.

This fantastic beast is called the Giant Creature. It’s piloted by a small alien on top. No, actually it contains four people who move the huge limbs from inside. The creature was slowly moving about for the nearby crowd.

Giant Creature is promoting a new fun phone app called Blippar.
Giant Creature is promoting a new fun phone app called Blippar.
Pedicabs become pirate ships and carriages for Once Upon a Time.
Pedicabs become pirate ships and carriages for Once Upon a Time.
This tough vehicle is from the upcoming Brad Pitt movie Fury.
This tough vehicle is from the upcoming Brad Pitt movie Fury.
Dead Island 2 ad on back of enterprising pedicab.
Dead Island 2 ad on back of enterprising pedicab.
Here comes Wonder Woman from the convention center across street.
Here comes Wonder Woman from the convention center across street.
This guy is Green Goblin of Mordor.
This guy is Green Goblin of Mordor.
Crazy people wearing shark heads were promoting Sharknado 2.
Crazy people wearing shark heads were promoting Sharknado 2.
Young Leia has Sharknado 2 chainsaw.
Young Princess Leia has a Sharknado 2 chainsaw.
Just a whole bunch of fun cosplay up and down the crowded streets!
Just a whole bunch of fun cosplay up and down the crowded streets!
Boy shows cool costume as I cross street in Mission Valley this morning.
Boy shows cool costume as I cross street in Mission Valley this morning.

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