Tag: entertainment

Photos of Dragon Ball offsite at Comic-Con 2024!

The vast entertainment empire that is Dragon Ball is on full display in San Diego during Comic-Con 2024. Their free-to-the-public offsite activation, on the Marina Terrace behind the Marriott Marquis hotel, is a feast for the eyes to anyone who loves the movies, television shows, anime, manga, video and card games produced by Dragon Ball.

I must admit I’m no expert when it comes to Dragon Ball, but I love looking at all the graphics and detailed figurines on display. And there’s the gigantic statue of Goku, too!

I saw excited kids and adults wandering about trying to take it all in. Visitors to the offsite can try their hand at video games and learn how to play the Dragon Ball card game. They can even make Son Goku models. I was told that if you arrive at the offsite between 9 am and 11 am, you get free stuff including an awesome swag bag. I’ve done that in past years. It’s well worth it.

I wandered about like everyone else on Thursday and took some cool photos…

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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!

Comic-Con fun in the Petco Park Interactive Zone!

Every year at San Diego Comic-Con the Petco Park Interactive Zone offers lots of free family fun. In 2024, if you like being creative, playing games, winning prizes, getting free stuff, and chowing down on tasty food, there’s a lot of fun!

On Thursday I entered the zone to see what I might see. And it was hard to miss the 21 foot tall Exploding Kittens statue of Devilcat. From its feline derriere I extracted a super cool Exploding Kittens Good vs Evil party card game!

Then I checked out the Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree photo op. Something weird was hatching from an enormous egg…

Then came perhaps my favorite activation. The Sharpie Creation Station! Visitors could check out a new line of Sharpie Creative Markers by making art by the Sharpie bus. Cool!

Then I entered the Attack of the Metallic Menace, which informs people about the dangers of smoking. Check out the creature inside! I believe I remember it from last year…

The ever popular Hello Kitty Café truck is here…

And other food trucks are present, including “We Slaughter Barbecue” with its The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 50th Anniversary graphics!

There are plenty of picnic benches to sit at while eating and people/cosplay watching…

Finally, I enjoyed walking by the Game of Thrones Legends activation where there are several cool and spooky sculptures! I heard an announcement that someone playing the game was winning a prize, too!

The Petco Park Interactive Zone is located in the Lexus Premier Parking Lot adjacent to the Padres ballpark. It’s right next to the Harbor Drive pedestrian bridge.

The fun opens at 10 am each day of San Diego Comic-Con!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!

How an Adult Swim(s) into a Pirate Parrrty!

Is this how a pirate parrrties? If you’re at San Diego Comic-Con in 2024, the answer is yes!

The Adult Swim Pirate Parrrty on the Green is a big, happening offsite activation that the public can freely enjoy behind the San Diego Convention Center. It starts each day at 1 pm and goes late into the night until 10 pm, through Saturday.

I swam into the piratical fun this mid-afternoon after a practically nonexistent wait in line. The first 1000 people to enter each day get free merch. I missed that.

But I did get to observe lots of would-be pirates having a blast, peering into silly porthole peepholes, taking their aim at a dunk tank, climbing an inflatable shipwreck and into the jaws of an alien monster, seesawing on a shark, beanbag tossing into the mouth of an friendly alien, riding a dinosaur…

Um, a dinosaur among pirates? It’s Adult Swim. When Rick and Morty are present, anything weird is possible.

Later in the evening there would be entertainment (on Thursday, Battle For the Booty wrestling) plus raffle prizes and DJ laser sets. You know pirates can get pretty wild.

Find more details about the Adult Swim Pirate Parrrty on the Green by clicking here!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!

Crazy creative fun outside Comic-Con 2024!

It might seem like chaos. It is certainly a bit crazy. It’s what happens when thousands of creative, fun-loving people gather together all at once and have a big party. That’s what it’s like in downtown San Diego outside the convention center during San Diego Comic-Con!

There is cosplay–costume play–everywhere you turn. There are new movies, television shows, video games and more to explore with fun activations. There are new discoveries around every corner. There’s just a big crush of humanity, and everyone is smiling and having a good time. Adults can be a kid again and not worry what others think. Kids can dream and see the possibilities of human creativity.

I took loads of photos today. I’ve got lots of blog posts coming up, so stay tuned! But first let me share a bunch of semi-random shots taken today (Thursday) that give you a taste of the wonderfulness of Comic-Con 2024.

I promised to mention the smiling group that’s in the the next photo. They were out and about promoting Quirkies, which offers all sorts of cool merch. Thank you for the refrigerator magnets!

If you see this Rick and Morty truck, walk up to the passenger window and you’ll probably get a cool pin!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!

Evolved apes rule San Diego at Comic-Con!

It’s day one of San Diego Comic-Con 2024. This morning I walked into the Forbidden Zone at the free Comic-Con offsite Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes not knowing what I might encounter. I found a very cool activation, and evolved apes that rule!

Waiting in line for this activation, located on MLK Promenade, took perhaps 15 minutes, and was definitely well worth it. If you’re a fan of any of the ten Planet of the Apes films, starting with the classic Charlton Heston movie in 1968 (my favorite–best movie ending ever), you’ll absolutely love what you find!

There are lots of props and models and costumes and photographs from the movies, and then a live falcon for a cool photo op, believe it or not! Then you can learn how to walk like an ape, as actors have done in the making of these films. You use crutch-like arm extensions and it’s not as easy as you’d think. At the end of the activation there’s a photo booth, and you can snag a free poster.

Check out some photos. In the darker areas, my camera doesn’t perform terribly well, so I guess you’ll have to go see everything for yourself! Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is open 10 am to 7 pm during Comic-Con 2024.

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!

Peanuts celebrates 75th anniversary at Comic-Con!

The beloved cartoon Peanuts created by Charles Schulz will celebrate its 75th anniversary next year. The San Diego Comic-Con 2024 activation for Peanuts is anticipating that big milestone with lots of free fun for the family!

The Peanuts offsite is located along MLK Promenade and is open during Comic-Con from 10 am to 6 pm. There’s seldom a big line, so don’t expect a big wait.

I dropped by this morning to check out what the Peanuts folks were offering this year!

Here come some photos.

As you can see, there are several backdrops for photo ops, lots of Peanuts merch and collectibles for sale if that’s what you want, information about the history of Charles Schulz and his comic strip and the animated holiday specials, and when you go back outside there’s a Camp Snoopy where you can relax and watch classic Peanuts animated cartoons!

And I noticed lots of smiles!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!

Thursday morning lines, cosplay at Comic-Con!

Star Wars cosplay at Comic-Con 2024 in San Diego.

Thursday morning, a couple hours before Comic-Con 2024 would open at the San Diego Convention Center, downtown was already buzzing with activity.

Fans were patiently waiting in lines for their favorite outdoor activation to open later in the morning. (One of the major offsite activations was just beginning to set up.) Plus, cosplay could be seen around the convention center, the Gaslamp Quarter, and elsewhere in the city!

Enjoy these photos from my Thursday morning walk outside Comic-Con…

An early Thursday morning line for Paramount+ offsite The Lodge.

The Star Trek and Dr. Who offsite Friendship is Universal still has work to do.

Unknown 9 Awakening statue appeared overnight, seemingly.

Unknown 9 Awakening video game graphics at Lou and Mickey’s.

Gobbling some breakfast near a vampire and a witch.

BoxLunch Collective setting up a canopy on MLK Promenade.

I wonder what’s in this box?

I hope the Bathroom Battlestation doesn’t roll away!

The Mr. Beast Labs toxic waste truck has finally arrived. I got a photo over the high fence.

Why aren’t these guys wearing hazmat suits?

Demon Slayer cosplay by the Hot Wheels truck!

Dragon Ball cosplay.

Waiting in line to board the Voodoo Ranger. Kinda early for beer, isn’t it?

IMDb Boat decked out for San Diego Comic-Con 2024.

I turned around for this quick photo.

Star Wars cosplay on the Harbor Drive pedestrian bridge.

Lots of fans were arriving from the hotel buses.

Walking along near the Gotham Ice truck.

Fans heading toward the San Diego Convention Center on early Thursday morning for Comic-Con 2024.

Star Wars cosplay. Very cool!

Donut Bar pop culture treats outside the Provisional on Fifth Avenue.

Star Trek cosplay.

Loki cosplay.

More cool Star Wars cosplay!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!

Fun photos of a walk on Preview Night day.

A fierce dragon mural was the first thing I spotted on my Wednesday afternoon walk in downtown San Diego. It’s the day of Comic-Con 2024 Preview Night, and the action was picking up outside the San Diego Convention Center as you’ll see in my upcoming photographs.

That toothy dragon, by the way, was being installed in front of the Super7 shop, where they have a special Dungeons & Dragons theme this year.

Okay! On with the photos! Read the captions…

More graphics and activity inside the Sonic the Hedgehog Speed Café on Wednesday! Tomorrow Sonic himself will be making an appearance!

Fandom PARTY banner now hanging at the Hard Rock Hotel.

SpongeBob wasn’t squirting passersby…yet!

A peek over the fence of the Petco Park Interactive Zone. That’s one big hand!

The Petco Park Interactive Zone is taking form.

Many faces now appear behind FX.

The IMDb Boat’s big screen is active.

Balls now fill the A.V.A. FEST ball pit!

Lots of people are carrying swag bags as they walk about.

Photo ops everywhere, including at the Dragon Ball offsite.

Cool Comic-Con 2024 swag bag.

OMG! It’s Chucky!

The Bathroom Battlestation is being set up. Hopefully people don’t sit inside playing games on their phone for long. Other people have to go, too!

Barb’s Bashroom.

Looking down MLK Promenade past the Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes offsite.

Star Wars rebel pilot and his super cool Star Cruiser poses for photos!

The Crow poses in Gaslamp Square with his own movie poster!

Moxxi’s Borderlands bar entrance has appeared at the Hard Rock Hotel.

A line has already formed for the Unknown Comics Pop Up Store.

Captain America must have been here!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!

Horde of Psychos invade San Diego’s Gaslamp!

A horde of insane, terrifying Psychos was observed prowling about San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter today. The bandits, arriving from the Borderlands, meandered about Fifth Avenue, startling innocent civilians who merely wanted to have a good time at Comic-Con 2024.

I suppose this gang of Psychos thought the Vault must be located somewhere in the Gaslamp Quarter. I’m not sure how they hoped to find it, however. They didn’t appear too bright.

One approached me and I thought of running for dear life. But when it asked whether I was its mother, I could only feel sorry for the poor bandit.

Of course, these guys were out during Comic-Con promoting the upcoming movie Borderlands. And they were handing out Entertainment Weekly Comic-Con Special Issue magazines, too!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!

More activations appear before Comic-Con!

More offsite activations are appearing in San Diego outside Comic-Con 2024, just a day before Preview Night!

The Petco Park Interactive Zone has finally begun to materialize, and a couple smaller activations have suddenly appeared along the boardwalk near the Omni Hotel. I saw as I walked along MLK Promenade that two offsites in particular are really taking form.

First, behind the San Diego Convention Center, the IMDb Boat has arrived and is getting itself decorated in time for the start of Comic-Con.

Now over to the parking lot near Petco Park, where activations are being built in the Interactive Zone. I learned the next two photos show construction of the Elden Ring offsite.

Nearby is another activation–I don’t know what.

You’ll be glad to know those concrete stairs leading to the Harbor Drive pedestrian bridge are finally being repaired today. Remember them from last year? I was told by a friendly city worker that the bridge will be open tomorrow in time for Preview Night. Good thing!

Walking from the Petco Park Interactive Zone past the ballpark, you’ll find this new Dexter activation. I was told people will walk through it.

Next along the walkway is a super fun SpongeBob activation. It squirts water, streaming like a sponge! Workers were testing it as I approached, and it suddenly squirted some delighted kids!

Walking along Martin Luther King, Jr. Promenade, I noticed some superheroes were being placed on their feet. Yes, the Marvel Contest of Champions big Ferris wheel has been setting up for several days, but I thought these photos would be fun.

Further along MLK Promenade, the Peanuts offsite has its exterior graphics ready. I saw workers through the windows getting everything inside ready. Next year will be the 75th anniversary of Peanuts. Might as well celebrate early!

Then, lastly, I saw how Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is getting its front entrance ready. Lots of junglelike foliage. (I’m afraid I’m the guy who made the lame “off the rails” joke. You’re not going to throw that net over me, are you?)

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!