Tag: events

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

Rare movie props, original art at Comic-Con Museum!

An iconic prop: the famous phaser used by William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk in the original Star Trek television show.

A very special exhibit is on display during San Diego Comic-Con week. You’ll find it at the Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park. Famous one-of-a-kind movie and television props, original artwork and collectibles can be viewed before they are auctioned off this coming Sunday, July 28, 2024!

Comic-Con Museum Presents: TCM | Julien’s Auctions 2024 Spotlight Series: Harry Potter and Other Heroes will excite fans of the Harry Potter movies, Batman movies, and X-Men movies. In addition, two historic, one-of-a-kind objects in the museum gallery will delight those who love the original Star Trek television series!

Visitors to the museum will see a whole roomful of props and artwork, all of which could belong to you at the end of this week! (The auction of the Star Trek props, including William Shatner’s phaser and communicator, will be held separately later this year.)

To learn more, check out the Comic-Con Museum’s website by clicking here! It explains: Highlights of the auction include an array of iconic costumes, production material, and beyond from various productions of the Harry Potter film franchise; Marvel’s greatest superheroes and their most high-octane pieces will hit the auction block featuring original storyboard illustrations by storyboard artist Gabriel Hardman from the X-Men blockbuster X2; and from DC Comics’ Batman Begins, items wielded by Christian Bale, such as a stunt grapple gun prop and batarang prop. Plus, Other Surprises Crash the Party!

I took a few photos of the exhibit for you to enjoy. Head up to Balboa Park and see everything for yourself before the online auction in the museum’s auditorium on Sunday!

The Comic-Con Museum in San Diego’s beautiful Balboa Park.

An original Hogwarts invitation envelope from the production of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

An original knight’s head prop from the production of the chess game scene in the film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

Marker ink on card drawing on Batman by artist Bob Kane, the character’s co-creator. The Superman drawing is signed by co-creator Joe Shuster.

An original grapple gun prop used by Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman in the Christopher Nolan film Batman Begins.

Original production storyboard from X2: X-Men United, by artist Gabriel Hardman.

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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!

Pirate ship arrives for San Diego Comic-Con!

This morning the Voodoo Ranger pirate ship arrived for Comic-Con 2024. It crept silently across the bay and pulled up to the dock behind the San Diego Convention Center. Unsuspecting citizens on shore were no doubt startled by the sudden arrival of the fierce marauders!

No, the crew wasn’t really that fierce. Because they were friendly members of the Maritime Museum of San Diego, and their supposed “pirate” ship was actually the seaworthy Spanish galleon replica San Salvador, one of the amazing ships in the collection of the world famous museum. San Salvador used its motor this morning, but it does sail.

Would you like to see photographs of the galleon San Salvador being built years ago in San Diego? Yes? Then click 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!

Preparations outside Comic-Con: 2 days to go!

Preparations are well underway for all the activities outside the San Diego Convention Center during Comic-Con 2024!

I walked through San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, along MLK Promenade and around the convention center a couple times today, curious to see what all is going on. I took a bunch of photos! (You might notice I haven’t sharpened or edited them.)

First, The Penguin banners were going up along the trolley tracks across from the convention center…

There’s going to be an Unknown Comics Pop-Up Store in the Gaslamp.

Workers were getting The Lodge ready for Paramount+.

Batman: Caped Crusader posters pasted to a downtown San Diego wall.

The two Star Trek/Dr. Who offsite locations now have outside graphics.

Workers were adding superhero graphics to the Marvel Contest of Champions Ferris wheel.

The Marriott Marquis now has Dragon Ball graphics above the front entrance.

Workers were preparing the Dragon Ball offsite on the Marriott Marquis Marina Terrace.

Here I’m walking down the bayside boardwalk toward the Hilton.

Abbott Elementary’s A.V.A. FEST has added their big slide. Happy people will plunge into a ball pit.

Work is finally underway at Adult Swim’s offsite: the Pirate Parrrty!

Workers are putting up the big FX wrap on the Hilton promoting What We Do in the Shadows.

Peeking into the FX offsite. Looks like a topiary garden.

More photos of the FX activation at Comic-Con.

Peacock’s offsite in Gaslamp Square, recreating the ancient Roman stadium Circus Maximus, now has a handsome exterior.

Baja Rick’s at Gaslamp Square now has graphics promoting the Olympic Games on NBC.

IGN is getting their balcony at the Hard Rock Hotel ready. Watch for celebrities here!

Workers are finishing up the AMC building wraps on the Hilton Gaslamp.

Getting the Peanuts offsite ready on Martin Luther King Jr. Promenade.

Not sure what this will be for.

The entrance is being created for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, just beyond Peanuts.

San Diego is nearly ready for Comic-Con in 2024! Preview Night is in two days!

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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!

See movie star hand prints in San Diego!

Hand and shoe prints in concrete of Arnold Schwarzenegger.

If you’re heading to San Diego Comic-Con this week, heads up! Did you know you can see the actual hand and shoe prints of major movie stars and celebrities in a Gaslamp Quarter restaurant?

The prints of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert Downey Jr., William Shatner, the actors who played R2-D2 and C-3PO, and even Michael Jackson can be viewed on the floor when you step into Mr. Tempo Gaslamp San Diego at 701 Fifth Avenue!

The building formerly was home to the Theatre Box movie theater. They had these hand prints brought in from Los Angeles, and they remain here to this day. Sadly, Mr. Tempo has dropped the Hollywood theme and many of the prints are now covered by tables. But it’s well worth stepping inside for a quick look!

By the way, the Shatner prints, if you can find them, were created here in San Diego, a couple years ago during Comic-Con!

Hand and shoe prints of The Hunger Games actors.

Hand and feet prints of Shirley Temple.

Hand and shoe prints of Humphrey Bogart.

Hand and shoe prints of Robert Downey Jr.

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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!

Marvel superheroes ride a Ferris wheel!

Deadpool.

A group of powerful Marvel superheroes have boarded the cars of a big yellow Ferris wheel in San Diego for Comic-Con 2024!

Beginning this Thursday, the superheroes, participants in the Contest of Champions, will be joining fans wheeling through the sky a short distance from the San Diego Convention Center. The superheroes, however, won’t be doing battle, fortunately–they are merely decorative wraps that have been applied to the Ferris wheel’s dangling cars!

The free ride promotes the Contest of Champions game available on Google Play. I posted a blog yesterday that contains more details about the ride, which you can read here.

Meanwhile, enjoy these photos taken this Monday morning. Workers were busy applying the wraps, and a few were captured by my camera…

Iron Man.

Guillotine.

Kushala.

Spider-Gwen.

Shuri.

Wolverine.

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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!

Comic-Con at San Diego public libraries!

Do you live in San Diego, but can’t make it downtown for Comic-Con this week? Why not celebrate Comic-Con 2024 at your local library!

Walking through San Diego’s Central Library yesterday, I saw a display of graphic novels. When I checked out the library’s website, I discovered that all sorts of creative activities can be enjoyed at many San Diego branch libraries that correspond with the phenomenon that is Comic-Con!

Many of these events are coming up in a day or two, so make sure to check out the website right away by clicking here.

At the Point Loma/Hervey Library, there’s Your Life as a Graphic Novel Memoir: Take-Home Art Journaling Kits.

At the College-Rolando Library, there’s Mini Comic-Con (adapted for adults with ASD).

At Oak Park Library, there’s Anime Club for Young Adults.

Sketch Night: Comic Con Edition is a virtual event on Zoom, by the San Diego County Parks and Recreation Department in conjunction with staff from SDPL.

At the Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library, there’s Super Hero Workshop with ClicBitz San Diego.

At the Rancho Bernardo Library, there’s Kids Craft: Paper Superheroes.

At the Clairemont Library, there’s Superhero Preschool Storytime at the Library.

And, finally, at Pacific Beach Library, there’s Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever.

Click here to learn all the details!

And by the way, the Central Library will have their 4th floor IDEA Lab open during Comic-Con, where cosplayers can make repairs to their costumes. There will also be comic-theme makes and photo ops according to this sign that I spotted nearby!

There’s more! If you’d like to score a cool collectible, come down to the Central Library to get your 2024 Commemorative Comic-Con Library Card! It was designed by John Jennings, author, graphic novelist, New York Times Bestseller and 2018 Eisner Winner!

During Comic-Con, you can also obtain this year’s commemorative library card at the San Diego Public Library’s booth in the San Diego Convention Center. They’ll be at Booth 5523!

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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 creativity, outdoor fun before Comic-Con!

What the heck is that green thing? It’s part of another fun, surprising offsite being created outside the San Diego Convention Center before Comic-Con 2024!

What I love about walking around before Comic-Con is the mushrooming creativity. Sure, the offsite activations, building and trolley wraps, and carnival rides are all about marketing movies, television shows, video games and whatnot–but it is creativity that brings delight to the buying public. Art and storytelling are an essential part of it all.

So it’s now Sunday afternoon before Comic-Con 2024. Several days to go before the pop culture convention officially opens. I’ve already posted lots of photos the past few days. But more stuff keeps materializing!

Local artist Shirish Villaseñor has begun painting the windows of the Starbucks at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. It’s a SpongeBob SquarePants theme celebrating the cartoon’s 25th anniversary! (She has some big community mural projects coming up in San Diego which I hope to cover in the next couple months.)

The smile of a friendly artist!

The FX offsite and building wrap are getting ready. Like most Comic-Con offsites, it opens on Thursday.

Hulu’s Animayhem has returned in 2024. They’ll have a huge offsite behind the convention center.

I’m pretty sure you can’t slide inside this huge green pipe.

Some sort of fun factory.

A big swing ride at the A.V.A. FEST. Woo-hoo!

That cool Star Trek wrap is now 100% complete on the Marriott Marquis.

Crates have arrived for the Dragon Ball offsite. It’s going to be awesome as usual!

A big Dragon Ball wrap is being placed on part of the Marriott Marquis.

The second side of a trolley wrap design that I hadn’t been able to photograph earlier. The Boys.

The big, fun Marvel Contest of Champions Ferris wheel under construction along MLK Promenade.

More spooky Immortal Universe graphics placed on the Hilton Gaslamp.

A wider look.

My goodness! Wrapping the large Hard Rock Hotel all around with SpongeBob graphics takes many days of work.

The Lodge by Paramount+ is starting to look like a lodge.

The transforming power of human creativity.

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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!

Big carnival rides pop up for Comic-Con!

A pair of big carnival rides have popped up outside Comic-Con in San Diego!

It’s several days now until Comic-Con 2024 commences, and today a big swing ride and a Ferris wheel are being installed for two different outside activities that will be open free to the public!

The YOYO swing ride that you see in the first photographs is part of the family friendly A.V.A. FEST offsite, which will also include a ball pit and water squirt game. The carnival-like activation promotes the ABC series Abbott Elementary.

You can join the fun starting Thursday behind the San Diego Convention Center. It will be hard to miss!

On the other side of the convention center you’ll be able to freely ride the Marvel Contest of Champions big Ferris wheel, also starting on Thursday. (To ride you must play an exclusive Marvel Contest of Champions quest on your phone.)

The Ferris wheel is located on the grassy side of the Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter hotel, alongside Martin Luther King, Jr. Promenade. It will be hard to miss too!

Learn more about this activity here.

What fun!

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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!

Building the Circus Maximus in San Diego!

The ancient Roman chariot-racing stadium Circus Maximus is presently being built in San Diego! Workers are putting the structure together in downtown San Diego’s Gaslamp Square!

Admittedly, this Circus Maximus might be more of a minimus, seeing how it’s vastly smaller than the Roman ruin. It’s going to be a super cool offsite during Comic-Con 2024!

Comic-Con fans who enter the stadium (which I previously and mistakenly assumed was the Colosseum) will get to actually ride simulated chariots! While hundreds of tiny Romans cheer!

The whole experience promotes Peacock’s new series Those About to Die. As you can see in the next photo, the new Gaslamp Square video screen operated by MTS is showing an advertisement for the Roman gladiator show.

Circus might also describe activities outside Comic-Con once the international pop culture convention begins. Massive crowds and loads of craziness! The good kind!

UPDATE!

Whoa! Check it out! Later on I saw this…

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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!