GeekChic Pick Of The Week: An Exciting Ecto Excursion

Each week, we're proud to showcase one NYC event -- as selected by our friends at GeekChicNYC. This week? Do you smell something...

Ghostbustour, a self-guided walking tour of NYC, proves only one city has a building specifically designed as a super-conductive antenna to pull in spiritual turbulence. Just one metropolis has pizza worthy enough to satisfy the gluttonous rampage of a class five, full-roaming vapor like Slimer. And only New Yorkers truly relate when Dr. Ray Stanz asks, "Listen. Do you smell something?" Download a FREE map and videos to your mobile device and find out why NYC is where a demigod would want to hang out.

Want to get more news about nerdy events in NYC? Sign up to get them delivered daily into your inbox by GeekChicNYC.

NYCC Masquerade Deadline Officially Extended

NYCC has officially extended our Masquerade deadline due to Hurricane Irene. Submissions were originally due on August 28, but the ReedPOP offices lost power over the weekend -- and you really had better things to do with rain pelting your windows than sign up for a cosplay competition. You may continue to submit entries to NYCC's Masquerade until 11:59 PM New York Time on September 4th -- and if you submitted an entry during the hurricane, we recommend you resubmit your information. NYCC will now reach out to all entries with their acceptance status on September 12th.

Enter online here...

http://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/Whats-Happening/Events-R-Z/Saturday-Masquerade/

Happy Monday

Monday. The sun is shining. The birds are singing. Metro North is down and Norwalk's underwater.  To your right, you'll see a picture snapped at the ReedPOP offices just minutes ago.  We're not at work today. No biggie.  Our Blackberries are down. HUGE PROBLEM! Due to our office being powered down, we're unable to access our email and folders remotely, leaving us all feeling kinda odd, distant, and aimless.

We may be back tomorrow.  Maybe.  Dunno yet.

What I do know is we've extended NYCC and NYAF's Masquerade deadline. Twas supposed to wrap on Sunday night, but we're keeping it live for the next week. I haven't been able to check to see if we were even able to receive submissions on Sunday, so you may want to resubmit later in the week if you tried to send us something last minute during the storm.

Now, back to eating panic cookies.

Hurricane At Large

So, I get back from Singapore only to face an earthquake and now a hurricane. Great, just great. Half of Team ReedPOP is out at PAX in Seattle this weekend, safe and sound and snug in front of the warm glow of Halo: Anniversary. The rest of us are scattered around the tri-state area. We're prepared. Maybe. We'll be safe. Maybe. This weekend could be a non-event or bring about the end of civilization as we know it. Either way, we're all in it together as the MTA's shut down, and I'm stranded here in NYC.

I'm less worried about the hurricane than I am rampant looting, ironic cannibalism, gangs led by despotic 12-year-olds, rats stealing babies, and Netflix going out.

Cable's my main concern, actually, as BBC America's got an all-day Doctor Who Marathon going on now, wrapping up at 9 PM with the Doctor Who Mid-Season Premiere, "Let's Kill Hitler". As soon as this episode airs, though, I don't care if we devolve into Gangs of New York. In fact, if we do, I'm hoping to scoop up a space in the post-hurricane oligarchy. I'd like to claim the fiefdom of Woodside Bay and the Astoria Archipelago.

I'll be tweeting pictures of the end of days until the power goes out at @nerdyorkcity.

Caturday!

From io9!

Masquerade Deadline Is ALMOST Here!

Cosplay is a unique and beautiful part of fandom, and the New York Comic Con and New York Anime Festival celebrate the world of costuming through our Saturday Night Masquerade. NYCC's Masquerade is a costume showcase that is part fashion show and part talent show with prizes on the line... The Masquerade's winning team takes home prizes from our contest's sponsors and $1,000 in prize money! The Masquerade is your chance to have your costume and talent recognized in front of thousands of fans and — if your costumes are good enough and your performances daring enough — win an over-sized, novelty check!

Want to take part? There’s still time, but not much. Find all the details online and submit your application by 11:59 PM on August 28th!

Singapore At Large: ¥30,000 To Blow

Ah, Tokyo. Such a magical land. Sweet tofu pudding. Astro Boy T-Shirts. Cookies shaped like boobs. Half pint cans of Asahi. Robot toys that sell for $1,000.

Japan has an ancient and honorable culture.

Singapore At Large: From America At Love

It's @lfensterman, @armstrongmike, any my last full day here in Singapore. We're at the Reed Singapore office, and here's a little gift we're leaving our friends. A stack of comics from Midtown Comics in NYC and an assortment of classic American Candies from Dylan's Candy Bar.

All this plus a pile of goodies from Japan. Robin's got red bean paste buns from White Canvas and Tokyo Bananas from Kipi.

The Pop Rocks are going to cause a fatality.

Singapore At Large: Nomnomnom

We've been staying at the Mandarin Oriental here in Singapore. Each morning, we're greeted with this - their breakfast buffet. Now, while the typical breakfast buffet at an American hotel features some cold cereal, stale bagels, and old fruit, that ain't what you find in Singapore.

Singapore, a crossroads of cultures, content, and food, represents this well at every hotel I've stayed at out here. American Favorites. Dim Sum. Traditional Japanese. Soup Stations. Indian Staples. Fresh Baked Breads. Juices Squeezed Before Your Eyes.

Justin Sevakis, who's stayed at the Mandarin Oriental before, has sung its praises ever since, and it did not disappoint.

My every morning in Singapore's started with pink guava juice, lentil dumplings, and something called upamo. I don't know what upamo is. Some kind of savory couscous paste with cashews and onions. All I know is it was delicious.

Can't wait to go back home to cold pizza and concentrated orange juice.

Singapore At Large: Asian Avengers Assemble!

Above is probably my favorite picture from STGCC, C.B. posing with with Asian Avengers.  Continue on to see STGCC's last day in pictures.  Some guests.  Some crowds. Some bubbly.  Some Paramore.

View the gallery here!

Read more »

Reminder! Masquerade Deadline August 28th!

Cosplay is a unique and beautiful part of fandom, and the New York Comic Con and New York Anime Festival celebrate the world of costuming through our Saturday Night Masquerade. NYCC's Masquerade is a costume showcase that is part fashion show and part talent show with prizes on the line... The Masquerade's winning team takes home prizes from our contest's sponsors and $1,000 in prize money! The Masquerade is your chance to have your costume and talent recognized in front of thousands of fans and — if your costumes are good enough and your performances daring enough — win an over-sized, novelty check!

Want to take part? There’s still time, but not much. Find all the details online and submit your application by 11:59 PM on August 28th!

Singapore At Large: DHL

@lfensterman, @armstrongmike and I are busy meeting with HL and Michelle at the Reed Singapore offices, talking just a wee bit about STGCC 2012. Can I talk about our 2012 talk? Not yet. Can I show you the view out the window? Yup.

It's the DHL Singapore office. Check it out. The whole damn thing is yellow and red.

That is all.

Singapore At Large: Photo Finish

The STGCC Cosplay Contest has come to a close, and STGCC at large is winding up. The Costume Contest featured contestants from Singapore, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines dressed as characters from Monster Hunter to Iron Man, with judges including Cosplay Diva Kipi, COSMODE's Jacky Dosai, and our own Lance Fensterman.

STGCC 2011, on a much larger scale, saw this same convergence. I'm proud and humbled to have had Western greats including Paul Levitz, Andrew Bell, and Kieron Gillen under the same roof as Kishida Mel and Itou Shizuka.

It's been a fun year building STGCC 2011. Of course, "fun" means tiring and "year" means the six months we actually had to plan the convention. And I couldn't think of any better people to have spent a fun year with than the Reed Singapore people (HL, Mel, Jo, Robin, Sharon, Rita, Michelle, Paul) and the ReedPOP people I shanghaied (Jacky, Mike, Bri, Kim, Kristin). And you. Like any ReedPOP event, its lifeblood are its fans and exhibitors. The local community. It's been a fantastic journey. We learned a lot and grew a lot between 2010 and 2011, and there's already a lot we want to do in 2012. And we want to do it with you.

We're a part of the community in Singapore, and we want to grow it with you. Seriously, fans, professionals, press, exhibitors, and everyone in Singapore and South East Asia, we built this show for you and with you, and I and all of us are excited by what we did together at the Singapore Toy, Game & Comic Convention this year and what tomorrow will together bring.

Of course, right now, I'm most interested in what tonight will bring. Sleep.

Singapore At Large: Marvel Your Universe

Going on right now, at the same time as Kipi's photo op on the other side of the hall, is Marvel's big panel. C.B. Cebulski, Kieron Gillen, Stephen Segovia, Leinil Yu, Carlo Pagulayan, Mico Suayan, Harvey Tolibao, and Ben Ang all sitting together on stage. Pop culture titans - one a massive publisher and the other a tiny Japanese girl - both across from each other at STGCC. Singapore is a crossroads of thoughts, ideas, and cultures, and the Singapore Toy, Game & Comic Con very much represents this convergence.

C.B.'s just as cute as Kipi, too.

Singapore At Large: And Here's Kipi

So. Much. Cute.

Singapore At Large: The Kipi Line Experience

Kipi's coming to the Walk of Fame shortly. She's not signing. Instead, as a cosplay guest, she's taking photos with a few hundred of her closest friends.

Singapore At Large: 501st

Did you know the 501st have a branch in Singapore? They do.

Singapore At Large: Stopping By SingPost

Benjamin Ang posing at the SingPost Booth. Ben was chosen to work with Marvel after last year's STGCC. Last year, he waited in lines to meet artists in Artist Alley. This year, he's in Artist Alley. It's his first time in any Artist Alley, too, and is adorable.

His parents came by last night, too.

Singapore At Large: Pretty Normal Sunday

Sunday at STGCC has begun. It's Kids Day, meaning lots of little ones running around. Also, we've got seiyuu Itou Shizuka stopping by. And our big Cosplay Contest, too. Lance is a judge. I'm sure that'll go swimmingly.

Oh, Paramore's here. They're playing a concert in Singapore tonight, and they've come by STGCC. Here they are doodling on our Graffiti Wall.

Singapore At Large: Saturday Photos

STGCC's Saturday has come in gone, bringing with it crowds of people and sold out exclusives.  Oh, so many people.  We had a long, long line well before 6 AM to get in for the Hot Toys exclusives, and these pictures cover it.  See Saturday's line as well as general shots of the booths and show floor, plus a few blurry pics from the ZANEEDS concert.

Click here for the full gallery!

Read more »

Singapore At Large: I Don't Know

I really don't know.

Singapore At Large: Vocaloid DJ Night

ZANEEDS, Kipi, and Reiko on stage for Singapore's first Vocaloid DJ Night. Hatsune Miku. A genuine culture-defining phenomenon? A god of anime fans' own creation? Yes and yes.

Singapore At Large: Cross-Pollination

Japanese STGCC guest Kishida Mel stopping by the Marvel booth, doing his own take on the Hulk.

Singapore At Large: MvC3

SGFighter is a cool local social club for Singapore's twitchy finger set. They're at STGCC for the first time with a con-wide Marvel vs. Capcom 3 tournament that's been flooding the aisles with competitors and cheers.

A 12-year-old girl kicked my ass.

Singapore At Large: Multitasking

Harvey Tolibao signing and posing for some photos for the press at the very same time. He's very talented.

Harvey created the STGCC exclusive Merlion cover to Captain America #1 only available at the Marvel booth at the Singapore Toy, Game & Comic Convention this weekend.

Singapore At Large: My Hero

C.B.'s my hero. No, not because all the fans love him. And not because all the ladies love him, either.

No, he's my hero because he brought me MOS Burger for lunch.

Swoon.

Singapore At Large: I Think You Can See The Justice League

Caught my breath after a whirlwind Harvey Tolibao signing at Marvel, and I wanted to send you this picture of the DC booth. You can see bits of it in between everyone here.

Paul Levitz held a signing here at 1100 and Ardian Syaf will be here at 1300. Paul will then be back at 1515.

Swing by to see them, pick up a variant Flashpoint comic, and pose with a larger-than-life Justice League mural.

Singapore At Large: It's Alive

The STGCC show floor is open! Catch Mike all weekend at DC and me at Marvel. Here's the already-long line for the Marvel Merlion variant.

Today's Marvel booth signings, presented in Singaporean 24 hour time...

Harvey Tolibao - 1100
Kieron Gillen - 1330
Carlo Pagulayan - 1430
Stephen Segovia - 1530
Harvey Tolibao - 1630

Singapore At Large: Hot Toys Line

Here's the start of the STGCC Hot Toys line. A steady flow of people since 6:30 AM when the doors opened. Running smooth, too. Big props to the Reed staff guiding fans up and all our fans, too, remarkable cool and calm despite being outside since way too early for a super sexy Secret Project Iron Man.

We've got the full line already inside, snaking around Level 3 of Suntec. If you want one of the Hot Toys exclusives, I recommend getting to Suntec now.

Singapore At Large: The Early Bird Gets The Toy

It's 5:50 AM on Saturday, and we're here at Suntec. Here's the line to get in and get the Hot Toys exclusives. When the doors open, if you want the Hot Toys exclusives and are a VIP, go to the VIP Desk on Level 3. If you're anyone else - a fan with a ticket, a fan with a confirmation code, or a fan wanting to buy a ticket - head to the Hot Toys Desk also on Level 3.

Singapore At Large: Friday Photos

Here we go, fanboys and fangirls, photos from STGCC Day 0.  We've got some pictures from the zoo as well as pictures of the show floor coming into being.  They're not in any real order, as I'm just now getting back to my room.  It's been a fantastic day, but it's also been a long day, and Mike and I and the whole STGCC team will be up and at Suntec at 5:55 AM.  Doors to the building open to the public at 6:30. We want to make sure the Hot Toys ticket giveaway goes smoothly, so we'll be there bright and early. I hope someone brings muffins. Poppy seed muffins.

Click here for the photo gallery.

Read more »

Singapore At Large: Dinner With Friends

We're at the Palm Beach Restaurant. All of us. C.B., Paul, Kieron, Andrew, and Fletch as well as Leinil, Mico, Harvey, and Stephen. And Kipi, Kishida-san, and Jacky from COSMODE. There's chili crab, butter crab, pepper crab, yam rings, whole fish, and bottomless pitchers of Tiger Beer.

Awesome to see Kipi, a bib around her neck, diving into a chili crab, and super awesome to see Jacky. I haven't seen the dude in two years, and I'm very excited he and COSMODE are at the show.

Oh, the Tiger Beer really is endless. There's a Tiger Beer Girl constantly refilling our glasses. After every sip, it's made full again. Have I had one glass? Five? No idea.

I need to be at the convention center at 6 AM.

Singapore At Large: Where Peter Spends His Money

This was scribbled on Maharani's wall. She's G36 in STGCC's Artist Alley. She had adorable Doctor Who goodies last year and will again this time out.

I will spend the next two days talking to her about River Song. Maybe she'll see Fright Night with me.

Relatedly, I got on the show floor. It looks brilliant, and I'll have pictures of it online later tonight.

Singapore At Large: Top Of The World

Fletch and Mike have joined the party. We're all up atop the Sands SkyPark, gazing down over Singapore and the sea. There's a bar up here with the most brilliant name - Ku De Ta.

A storm's coming. Rolling in across the ocean, it's like a solid curtain of blue and grey suspended from the sky, with the ships and everything else on the water simply erased.

Time to head inside and maybe hit the TWG Tea Shop.

Singapore At Large: Lunch

Lunchtime. C.B., Paul, Andrew, and Kieron are at a little place called Westlake. They've got Coke with sugar cane, neon green chopsticks, and awesome pork buns.

And Tiger Beer.

Does the Tiger Beer factory do tours?

Singapore At Large: Rowwr

STGCC starts tomorrow. Today, C.B. Cebulski, Paul Levitz, Andrew Bell, and Kieron Gillen are at the zoo. We've seen some alligators and wart hogs thus far. Now, time for the white tigers.

I'm told there are over 350 species here. Including monkeys. Monkeys have eluded me on my every trip to Singapore thus far. I've be told monkeys have been around. I've been told I've heard monkey calls. I've been told there were monkeys above me in trees. But I've yet to see a monkey. Until today.

There will be monkeys.

Singapore At Large: Hot Toys

A shot of the Hot Toys booth being built at STGCC.  The picture comes from the convention's Facebook page -- facebook.com/singaporetgcc -- which has some last minute exclusive images, as well.

Online tickets wrap up at 11:59 PM Singapore time today.  Haven't got yours yet?  Click over to singaporetgcc.com now.

Singapore At Large: Time For Bed

I can't handle this. I'm going to bed.

Singapore At Large: Koi Pond

So, Media Day is over and I've been sent back to my hotel to sleep. Instead, I'm wandering Suntec City Mall. And, just a stone's throw away from The Fountain of Wealth is this - a koi pond. And you can buy food for the fishies, too.

Outraged I didn't know about this pond until now, half-sleep and almost stumbling into it.

Singapore At Large: Small Group Sessions

Paul, C.B., and Kipi are holding small group interviews now. That's Robin rocking the blazer and red sneakers. Mike and I are eating these amazing sweet potato and cheese springrolls. They also have mint oreo cheesecake. I thought they were "mini" oreo cheesecake, but they're not. And I don't like mint.

Again, Robin's wearing red sneakers.

Singapore At Large: Singapore All-Stars

Paul Levitz, Kipi, C.B. Cebulski, and Benjamin Ang all on stage.

Singapore At Large: Kipi!

Kipi Q&A with Reiko at the Media Day. This is Kipi's first time in Singapore despite cosplaying all around South East Asia. There's a sea of flashbulbs for her here.

She's an amazing personality, a high level cosplayer so big she's become a celebrity herself.

Huge huzzah and kudos to Robin for bringing her to STGCC!

Singapore At Large: Media Day Begins

Meet Reiko. She's hosting today's STGCC Media Preview. She has a shiny hat. She's also got some crazy announcer skills.

Singapore At Large: Hard At Work

We're prepping for the STGCC Media Day. Here's Mike busy at work hanging up a Bushiroad poster. My job? Taking a picture of Mike.

Singapore At Large: Proof

Here we go! A screencap from @sarahcoldheart. There's C.B. and I and a stack of STGCC show exclusives. First time I got to touch the Marvel Merlion variant. Very cool. The SingPost exclusives are awesome, too. They've got a Tokidoki figure collaboration and a gorgeous Spider-Man 50 comic book cover stamp set.

Singapore At Large: Behind The Scenes

Behind the scenes at AMLive. Just wrapped. C.B. and I went live in front of all of Singapore. Talked about comics, girls, kids, toys, Asian artists, and STGCC exclusives. From here, we're off to STGCC's Media Day, including an interview from the BBC.

Gotta behave on that one.

Singapore At Large: AMLive!

C.B. and I are at the MediaCorp Studios right now, preparing to do AMLive!, a morning show here in Singapore. It's a live show. I've not slept in 27 hours. At least I'm wearing a jacket. That'll make me look like I know what I'm talking about.

Tune into Channel NewsAsia in just a bit to see C.B. and me gab about comics, movies, toys, and games.

Singapore At Large: Go To Sleep

Huge props to bloggers and vampires @syzzlyn, @ampuibodeki, and @herebegeeks. Love their warm words of welcome, but you guys should all be asleep.  Really. You've got a busy weekend ahead, and I'll be seeing you all soon.  But, if you're planning on staying awake, click over to C.B. Cebulski's Eataku.com, where he's already in the thick of sharing his Singaporean culinary adventures.  I'll leave you with this photo from Eataku.

Yup, Kickapoo Joy Juice.

Good to be in Singapore again.

Singapore At Large: Singapore At Night

We've arrived. Mike and I now stand in our hotel rooms, and that dark, blurry picture you see is the view from my room - The Suntec Convention Center.

C.B.'s been here for a few days now and Paul's plane's just touched down. Kieron will be on the ground tomorrow. Everything else is shaping up as well. We'll be getting you updates throughout the weekend right here as well as on Twitter - @armstrongmike and @petertatara.

Right now, though, it's time to explore the hotel. TWG tea in our rooms and a MOS Burger across the street? Thank you, Singapore!

Space Camp in NYC: GeekChic Pick of The Week

Each week, we're proud to showcase one NYC event -- as selected by our friends at GeekChicNYC. This week? The Final Frontier...

Show of hands, er "Likes": who was envious of Joaquin "Leaf" Phoenix in SpaceCamp? The few viewers of I'm Still Here know there's no need for jealousy. Get the NASA experience without the cost or time commitment of actual camp. Chelsea's landing a day of 3D environments, video games and astronauts to explain this dark-matter matter. (Eventi Hotel, August 17th, 10AM to 4PM, free)

GeekChic doesn't go into it, but the crew of the final shuttle launch will be at the event. So, it's well worth your while.

Want to get more news about nerdy events in NYC? Sign up to get them delivered daily into your inbox by GeekChicNYC.

Singapore At Large: Tokyo Stopover

And we've landed at Narita. Mike's answering emails. I'm answering emails. Lance is answering emails. Ah, the fun of international travel. This picture's of our gate. It looks kinda like any other gate in any other airport. Nothing magical here.

On the flight over, the dude next to me was drinking white wine and ginger ale. Is that a thing?

Anywho, back to emails.