Saturday, May 24, 2014

SDCC 2014: Where Da Parties At?

Comic-Con is not just about exhibition halls, panels and long lines. Once the events wrap up in the evening, that is when some of the real festivities begin at the many cool, fun parties held around the town. These parties range from the elaborately themed, to the more casual and cosy fan hangouts.

If you are not intending to inflict more mental and physical torture by camping out for either Hall H or Ballroom 20, why not head to a party, grab a drink (or two) and gather some respite before madly charging on for another convention day?

Plus, there could be a bonus where you might meet or bump into someone cool at one of these parties!

So where are Da Cool Parties at this year's Comic-Con?

Red Dot Diva says to check this list out:

WEDNESDAY, 23 JULY

Friends of CCI Breakfast - Added 8 Jul 2014

The widely-known resource forum and community will be having their annual breakfast meet-up before the convention begins.

They will be devouring morning noms at the loft area of Broken Yolk from 8 AM to 10 AM, on a "rolling table" basis.

Do register here at the Friends of CCI so that they can keep track of the number of people attending.

To join Friends of CCI, click here!


Enchantment Under the SDCC - Updated 8 Jul 2014
This will be the 2nd year that SDCC Unofficial Blog and Outside Comic-Con Blog will be hosting a party for readers and fellow bloggers.

Venue: Henry's Pub, 618 5th Ave, San Diego
Time: 8PM - midnight

The event is for 21+ only, with Udon and Boom! Studios as sponsors.



THURSDAY, 24 JULY

Fan Party at NerdHQ
NerdHQ is an alternative geeks' hangout outside of the convention center hosted by The Nerd Machine (which is founded by actor Zachary Levi, and his partners David & Courtney Coleman).

This year, NerdHQ will continue to hold their events at Petco Park.

A NerdHQ fan party is usually held on Thursday night at zero cost, and this is open to the public as well. Red Dot Diva has yet to attend a NerdHQ party, but from all accounts that she's read, it is an energetic and super-fun hot spot!

For more info, follow the Twitter handles of Zachary Levi and The Nerd Machine.


MTVu Fandom Award/ MTV Fan Fest - Added 7 Jun 2014


This big announcement about Grammy-Award winning band Linkin Park being at San Diego for a concert was flashed all over the interwebs since last week. Just yesterday, MTV posted more details about the joint efforts with Linkin Park headlining for the two major events that will be held on the first day of Comic-Con!

Venue: Petco Park
Admission: Free, and for Comic-Con badge holders

On Sunday 8 PM ET/ PT, the channel will air the best moments from the MTVuFandom Awards. The 60-minute special honours all fans, their achievements, their favourite obsessions, and beloved TV shows, and so on. Nominees and voting categories will be available at a later date.

Fans can also enter MTV's Ultimate Fan Experience at LinkinPark.MTV.Com for VIP access + band meet and greet at the Fandom Awards! The page and link will open on 17 June when Linkin Park releases their new album "The Hunting Party". (Linkin Park also have the information on their own website.)

There will not just be live music at the party, MTV promises "food, drinks, games and giveaways", making this another hot spot for geeks to rock their socks off at Comic-Con!


Boom Studios' Drink-Up at Comic-Con - Added 2 Jul 2014
This will be indie publishing company Boom Studio's 9th Annual Drink-up at SDCC! And it is open for everyone interested!

There will be a cash bar but the party is always hopping with a lot of interesting people and industry folks, so this party stop might be the one for you.

Venue: Odysea Lounge, Hilton Bayfront
Time: 9 PM onwards


Munky King Party - Added 11 Jul 2014
This annual affair hosted by designer toy company Munky King is happening at the following place:

Artists get together to battle it out and collaborate at this creative shindig, with the crowd helping to decide who gets to level up.

Venue: Basic Urban Kitchen & Bar, 410 10th Avenue
Time: 9 PM onwards till late!
FOC, open to all


SDCC Female Geek Bloggers Meet-up - Added 16 Jul 2014
Calling all female geeks and geek bloggers who will be at Comic-Con! The Nerdy Girlie is organizing a meet-up to network and get to know each other better!


For more information, check out this link.

Venue: McFadden's Saloon, 731 5th Ave.
Time: 7:30 - 9:30 PM
FOC, but please do RSVP at their Facebook event page

Think Geek and Black Milk Clothing gift cards will be given away, and a group photo is planned at 8:30 PM!



FRIDAY, 25 JULY

4th Annual Star Wars Fan Breakfast - Added 19 Jun 2014
The annual breakfast meetup by SWAN and Rancho Obi-Wan is super-popular, and true enough minutes after the event was announced, available tickets were all snapped up.

However, you can put yourself on the waitlist. Email information is right here.

Other than meeting fellow Star Wars fans for breakfast, the meetup is also to benefit Rancho Obi-Wan.

Venue: Edgewater Grill in Seaport Village
Time: 7.45 AM


Sony Online Entertainment Block Party - Added 11 Jul 2014
This is a great event to attend for those who do not have a Comic-Con pass for Friday. Or in need of an escape from the hectic convention centre and Gaslamp area.

Have some food, fun and games with the Sony Online Entertainment crew at their campus!

Venue: 8928 Terman Court
How to get there: Shuttle service from Marriott Marina & Marquis, waterfall area
Time: 12 PM to 6 PM
Open to everyone, but please do RSVP on their FB event page.


Click pic above for larger view
Orphan Black #CloneClub Meetup - Added 16 Jul 2014
Here's a real Cloneclub for all the "Orphan Black" fans to hang out! The event is jointly organized by BBC America and Tumblr, and has a load of fun activities, like a Clone Yourself photo booth, Cosima makeovers, and more!

Venue: Southpaw Social, 915 J Street
Time: 1 PM to 3 PMOpen to everyone, and first-come first-served. No Comic-Con badges required!



Sherlocked Comic-Con 2014
This is one hot fan party for one hot TV series, with lots of sleuthing fun, games, prizes and cool swag set for the evening. Tickets were snapped up as soon as the party was announced.

But if you are still keen on attending, you can put yourself on the waitlist, just in case there are ticket returns.

Venue: San Diego Public Library
Time: 7 PM - 10 PM
Under 21's allowed

For more information, head to this link!


The Marked Men Party
What if you have a mashed-up love for pirates and "Game of Thrones"? Well then... here's a party just perfect for you!

The Marked Men Party will be held on the 4-HMS Surprise - the ship from the "Pirates of the Caribbean"! There will be debauchery, sword-fights, treasure and ... booze, of course! Red Dot Diva will let the pirate chief FanBoy Brandon do the talkin':



Check out the fee required to parley an invitation on board the ship by heading to this event booking page.

Venue: 1492 North Harbor Drive
Time: From 8 PM till late

Website: http://www.markedmenparty.com/


"Not Quite Teen" Teen Wolf Fan Meetup
Meet up fellow fans of the series and wolf down some chow at Horton Plaza!

Venue: The Panda Inn restaurant, Horton Plaza
Time: 7:45 to 10 PM
Cost: $34.99 per person
For those 18 years and up.

Click here to register!


The OneRing.Net's Lake-town Luau - A Tolkien Celebration
- Added 25 Jun 2014
To celebrate the last year of new Lord of the Ring movies, popular website The OneRing.Net is holding a luau at Shelter Island, with food, drinks, games and a costume party planned for those attending.
You do not need to have a Comic-Con badge to join.

Here are the details:
Venue: Kona Kai Resort and Marina, 1551 Shelter Island Dr
Time: 7 to 10 PM
Cost: Check out the registration page for more details.

Click here to register!


"The Last Ship": CraveOnline Conquers the Con Party - Added 11 Jul 2014
TNT's new series "The Last Ship" is teaming up with CraveOnline to host a part on an actual ship!

Psychedelic rock duo MGMT and Canadian artist Grimes will be performing live during the rock-out event.

Venue: USS Midway, 910 N Harbor Dr
Time: 7:00 - 10:30 PM


10th Annual Heroes vs Villains After Party Added 20 Jul 2014
This is a party by Geek Knight Productions and there will be fun and dancing as DJ Marcel and DJ Quolee Kid spins the tunes.

There will also be body painters on site for you get your face and body decorated! A cosplay contest kicks off at 12:30 AM and if you are already in costume, you can get in free before 11 PM!

Venue: Rich's San Diego
Time: 10:00 PM - 2:30 AM
Cover charge: $10


SATURDAY, 26 JULY

"A Night on Zombie Island": Prom of the Undead (The After-party of Zombie Walk: San Diego) - CANCELLED!!
- Updated 20 Jul 2014
For years, the organizers of Zombie Walk: San Diego have relied on sponsors to fund the annual event. With major sponsor FEARnet no longer joining the zombie apocalypse this year, Zombie Walk: San Diego has sought for contributions from attendees to hold the Zombie Prom after-party.

Despite the kickstarter project held to fund the party, advance ticket sales have been slow. Hence, the organizers have decided to cancel the zombie prom.

Please refer to the following regarding refunds, if you have already bought tickets or contributed to the kickstarter project:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sdzombiewalk
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@sdzombiewalk


SlamCon (details still not confirmed)
This little party started as an impromptu thing at Comic-Con 2011. And for the next two years, the Saturday night get-together hosted by actors Todd Stashwick and Brea Grant, writer Deric A. Hughes and comic artist Dennis Calero, has become one of the coolest hangout for the weekend.

There are no special tickets or passes necessary for SlamCon. The party is an open invitation to fans and industry folks (especially TV show writers!) alike. Last year, SlamCon was held at the Manchester Grand Hyatt's Redfield's Sports Bar. As for this year, the venue, date and time is still TBA, but it should still keep to its usual Saturday night. You will have to keep checking the Twitter account @slam_con for details of the party when you are at Comic-Con!!


Digital LA's Comic-Con Party (details still not confirmed) - Added 28 May 2014
It's difficult to find anyone not plugged into the digital world these days.

Digital LA is the largest LA-based digital networking group that covers a broad spectrum of pop-culture, start-ups and media content. They have been holding a Comic-Con party annually for the a number of years and this year, they intend to do the same. However, details of the party are still pending.

You can still register at their Eventbrite page first so that information will be sent to you once they are firmed up. Click here!

For some fun party photos of Digital LA's 2013 Comic-Con party at Hotel Solamar, check out their Facebook page!


SUNDAY, 27 JULY

The Primatech Heroes/ Zachary Quinto Fans Meet-up (Dinner & Drinks) - Updated 2 Jul 2014
With the upcoming 2015 reboot of "Heroes Reborn, why not join us for a casual dinner and drinks before you head home from Comic-Con? It will be a swell way to get to know more Zachary Quinto and "Heroes" fans!

After dinner, there will be a swag swap. Do bring the SDCC swag that you want to exchange or give to those coming for the meetup!

Venue: Brian's 24 (24-hour bar/ grill) at 828, 6th Avenue
Time: 7.30 PM till late (option to hang out at the pub for drinks after dinner, for those above 21 years)
Food and drinks at your own costs
FB Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/128215267955/

Registrations has been closed but feel free to join the group for the swag swap and drinks at the venue from 9PM onwards! 


"Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." Fan Dinner
- Updated 25 Jun 2014
ShieldTV.net organizes the first ever SDCC fan meetup for lovers of popular TV series "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."

Venue: Henry's Pub, 618 5th Avenue
Time: 5 - 8 PM
Cost: Free of charge
Information: Click event page here

The venue is open to all ages only up to 9 PM, and entry will be on first-come, first-served basis. So do head to the party early!



If you are already planning or having a cool party during Comic-Con, send me the details!

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Updates:
28 May - Added Digital LA's party registration info and link
7 Jun - Added MTV's Fandom Awards/ Fan Fest
8 Jun - Added details of Zombiewalk After-Party, possible parties for "Sin City 2" and The Mary Sue
13 Jun - Added Teen Wolf Fan Meetup
19 Jun - Added info about registration being closed for Heroes fan meetup. Added info on 4th Annual Star Wars Fan Breakfast.
22 Jun - Change of venue for Heroes fan meetup. Please note!
25 Jun - Added venue for "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." fan dinner, and The OneRing.net's luau celebration!
2 Jul - Added info about Boom Studio's annual Drink-up!
8 Jul - Added info on Friends of CCI Breakfast. Updated venue and other information for Enchantment Under the SDCC event.
11 Jul - Added info on Munky King Party, "The Last Ship": Craveonline Conquers the Con Party and Sony Online Entertainment Block Party
16 Jul - Added info on SDCC Female Geek Bloggers Meet-up, Orphan Black #CloneClub Meetup
20 Jul - Zombie Prom has been cancellled!! Added: 10th Annual Heroes vs Villains After Party

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There are lots of stuff happening at Comic-Con. To keep track of what's happening in and out of the convention centre, follow these blogs!

SDCC Unofficial Blog
Outside Comic-Con
The Nerdy Girly
Crazy 4 Comic Con

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