Tag: pop culture

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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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!

Wizard of Oz cosplay at San Diego Comic-Con!

A fun Wizard of Oz cosplay photo meet-up was held today in San Diego for Comic-Con 2024. A small group in steampunk Wizard of Oz costumes joined a few other cosplayers near the Marriott Marquis fountain.

The gathering might have been small, but the cosplay was fantastic, as you can see from my photographs taken shortly after noon!

We’re off to see the Wizard…

Wizard of Oz cosplay at Comic-Con 2024 includes Tin Man, Glinda, Dorothy, Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion, and the Wicked Witch of the West!

The great Wizard of Oz himself has brought along a small Glinda and Wicked Witch! And there’s another Wicked Witch! Yikes!

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!

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!

Pirates, cosplay, and San Diego Comic-Con fun!

The crazy good times at Comic-Con 2024 in San Diego have begun!

I took one final walk late this afternoon, a couple hours before the San Diego Convention Center would open its doors for Preview Night. And what did my camera capture?

Fun people! Creative activities! Cool sights in every conceivable direction!

And Comic-Con hasn’t even begun in earnest! I can’t wait for tomorrow!

Reporter for IGN prepares to go on camera in San Diego’s Gaslamp during Comic-Con 2024.

IT’SUGAR candy store in the Gaslamp has exclusive tokidoki merch for sale.

Crowds are growing in the Gaslamp near the San Diego Convention Center on the afternoon of Comic-Con Preview Night.

Dragon Tamer cosplay!

Batman nemesis Penguin has brought his Gotham Ice truck to San Diego. Uh, oh!

Banners on Harbor Drive indicate Heroes At Work.

Have a question about Comic-Con? Ask this friendly guy!

Here comes Tinker Bell!

Do you dare enter the Adult Swim Pirate Parrrty offsite? You have to pass through this gigantic skull!

It’s a pirate parrrty! And one heck of a big nose ring!

These pirates seem awfully civilized. What are they really up to?

These guys can spell A.V.A. FEST. They get a passing grade.

Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed cosplay! Very cool!

Fans are already exploring the Dragon Ball offsite.

Here’s the end of the line for Dragon Ball exclusives, I believe.

Hot Wheels is back again with their cool truck!

However, the Sharpie truck is stuck in Harbor Drive traffic.

Looking for a restroom? Watch for this sign!

Part of the Bathroom Battlestation under construction. Looks like he needs a laxative.

Cool artwork by a local artist along MLK Promenade.

I’m now back to Fifth Avenue looking at the Omni Hotel’s big FOX Animation Domination building wrap.

My goodness! These Borderlands Psychos seem to be everywhere!

I’ve seen this caricature artist in Balboa Park.

Gambit cosplay!

Batgirl 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!

Wednesday’s morning walk outside Comic-Con.

It’s Wednesday in San Diego. This evening thousands will converge on the San Diego Convention Center for Comic-Con 2024 Preview Night.

This morning during my walk around downtown everything was still relatively quiet. Most offsites for Comic-Con were still getting ready. Vendors and event participants could be seen trickling in toward the convention center through the Gaslamp Quarter and from nearby hotels.

I took these photographs during my walk…

Quiet on early Wednesday morning at the Those About to Die offsite in Gaslamp Square.

SpongeBob graphics now fill the Hard Rock Hotel! Check it out!

SpongeBob greets guests at the Hard Rock Hotel’s front desk!

The Petco Park Interactive Zone has more to go before it’s ready.

Before you know it, crowds will be visible everywhere around the San Diego Convention Center.

Hulu animated show graphics adorn the elevators at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.

Bart Simpson is loose in the hotel!

The big FX offsite is quiet on Wednesday morning.

Adult Swim will be having a pirate parrrty on the green!

Do pirates and dinosaurs go together?

The IMDb Boat appears about ready.

The entrance to the long green Hulu animayhem tunnel.

It was early. Few people about.

I didn’t realize pirates could board ships so easily.

The A.V.A. FEST is looking ever more festive.

Blessed and Pressed.

The Dragon Ball offsite is looking just as cool as ever.

Setting up the transportation tent near Harbor Drive.

This will be the Bathroom Battlestation offsite, on First Avenue just north of Harbor Drive. The Mr. Beast Labs offsite is also supposed to be on this parking lot–where cars are still parked! Better get busy!

I love Peanuts. Two of their classic television specials in the window of their offsite activation along MLK Promenade.

The Subway sandwich sign spinners are ready on Fifth Avenue!

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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!

Goku statue rises at San Diego Comic-Con!

A big, awesome statue of Goku has risen in San Diego for Comic-Con 2024!

The cool statue will welcome visitors to the Dragon Ball offsite activation, located on the Marina Terrace behind the Marriott Marquis hotel. I was told by Daniel, the first in line for the offsite, that it will open this afternoon at 4 o’clock, before the start of Comic-Con Preview Night! It’s free to the public, and they’ll be giving out swag!

When I walked past this morning it appeared that the Dragon Ball site was mostly set up and ready to go. Among other things, the activation will be promoting the upcoming anime series Dragon Ball DAIMA, which features Goku as a leading character.

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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!

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!