Scribble At Large: Roar

We're on a late call at the office. It's a good call, although we're all here past our bed times. As such, I've drawn a dinosaur. I was out for work until 11 last night and am hoping I'm not out this late again. Then again, if I am, it'll be OK if I'm on one of those fancy BBC America trains.

Apropos of nothing, tomorrow Heise and I are going shopping for instant ramen.

Swag At Large: Community Panel A Week Away

One week from today, NYC's Paley Center is hosting a Community panel and premiere screening. The full cast will be live-streamed from LA, and those in attendance will get to see a brand new episode before it returns to TV on March 15!

For tickets, head to paleycenter.org.

Prior to the screening and panel, NYCC will be leading a Greendale Pep Rally, including a costume contest, poster contest, and trivia contest. Prizes will include tickets to New York Comic Con, Community merchandise, and some collegiate goodies as well. We'll have instant ramen, mac and cheese, and other dorm room chow as well as a big old stack of old college books picked up today from the Strand Bookstore. Among the textbooks we'll be giving away at Paley...

Ideology, Politics, and Government in The Soviet Union, Seventeenth Century French Drama, The United Nations 1986 Juridical Yearbook, Catcher In The Rye Cliffs Notes, Selected Poems of Johnson and Goldsmith, George W. Bush vs. The Super Power of Peace, Modern Capitalist Planning: The French Model, Origins of The Cold War, Creativity and Taoism, The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual, and A Guide To Modern Management Methods (published in 1954).

Finish up your Kickpuncher costume, polish up on your Greendale trivia, and we'll see you a week from today at Paley!

Caturday

Guests At Large: Charlaine Harris Comes To C2E2

We've got a list in the office of names we lust after.  There are a dozen or so creators and entertainers we really, really want at our events who we've been unable to welcome.  They're women and men fans write to us about daily -- and they're people we're big fans of as well.  Today, we're very, very excited to cross one of those names off our list.  Fanboys and fangirls, author Charlaine Harris is coming to the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo!  Harris is the author of the Sookie Stackhouse novel series -- the basis for HBO's crazy, steamy True Blood!

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NYC At Large: High Line Concept Meeting

We've previously talked about the High Line, the above ground park built atop old, raised subway tracks.  The last phase of the project was given a green light earlier in the year, and on March 12, the park will be revealing their first concepts of this final phase of the High Line.  The super important bit to us -- beyond the general brilliance of the project -- is that when complete, the High Line will end at the Javits Center.  You'll be able to walk from Union Square to the Javits atop a carpet of green.  It'll be awesome, and to be among the first to get a glimpse, head out to March High Line Community Meeting...

Monday, March 12
7:00 - 8:30 PM
Public School 11 Auditorium
320 West 21st Street

Lunch At Large: Today's Meeting Is Brought To You By Planet Pizza

We've got a big team meeting today, with both the NYCC and BEA teams having one of those fancy corporate think tank retreat thingies. But while most corporate retreats are off in the woods between immortal pines and serene waters, ours is in a Norwalk, CT conference room.

It's OK, though, as there's pizza.

UPDATE: Think tank's wrapped and we've got roughly one pizza left.  It's a Frankenstein pizza pulled together from the remnants of other pizzas, but if you'd like three slices of pepperoni, three slices of mushroom, or one slice of cheese, it's over by Jenny and Fitch now.

Commute At Large: BBC On Metro-North

First spotted by @geeksdenmom, BBC America now has a series of ads winking at Top Gear, Graham Norton, and Doctor Who on Metro-North trains. Nothing puts a smile on your face at 6 AM like this.

Despite getting back at midnight, I'm on my way to the office for a day of super important meetings. I pray passing out 15 minutes into each is acceptable.

Back to the posters, one of these will soon enough be hung from the wall in my office. Probably isn't a smart thing to confess to this crime in advance, but I got home at midnight and it's going to happen.

Orlando At Large: Skylaw

We've boarded. Mike got a First Class upgrade because he's a fancy Gold SkyMiles member. I'm a dinky little Silver and have the honor of being bumped to the exit row. Surely, they don't realize I'm a terrible choice for this and the power's already gone to my head.

I'll be issuing edicts to my Economy class subjects while enacting skylaw upon Armstrong and his fellow fat cats in First Class.

As I can't send photos from the air of the tacos and cookies which shall soon be littered in great mounds around my exit row throne in adoration, I give you this last shot from Orlando -- the elevator in the Peabody Hotel reserved just for their ducks.

Orlando At Large: It's Raining

Rain! It's thundering outside, and Danielle says there's a tornado watch. We're all at the airport now, but flights have been halted because of the weather. I ended up spending an extra night in the UK because of airport issues, and I can only hope Mike, Travis, Danielle, and I will be stuck in Orlando an extra night, too, (and hit up Gator Land before new flights in the AM). Nothing official yet, and we'll probably still get out tonight fine, but we could be enjoying another day or fresh-squeezed Florida OJ.

PS: So, the Bossk post from earlier today's now been covered by the gents at TheForce.net. Just to state this officially, Bossk is not the mascot of Celebration VI. He's awesome, but he's not going to be the center of our promotional campaign. Bossk is Mary's favorite character, though, which the Orange County Convention Center clearly knows, so their table cards were a very warm welcome.

PPS: Wedge Antilles is my favorite character. OCCC take note.

Orlando At Large: Pirate Golf

Meetings are done for the day and we've got a few hours until the flight. As such, we're do the mature, responsible thing to do. Adventure Cove: Pirate Mini Golf.

It should be stated this is the second closest mini golf to our hotel. We had to walk past a Hawaiian-themed mini golf place to get to this clearly superior pirate joint.

The game's between @armstrongmike, @TJAllen77, and @petertatara over the most gentlemanly wager of beers. Birthday boy Travis has taken an early lead.

UPDATE: The game's wrapped. Peter came in at 63, Travis at 49, and Mike clenched it with 41 -- including four holes in one.

Orlando At Large: Here Be Bossk

We're in the Orange County Convention Center. We just had a fantastic lunch in the Osprey Lounge with quite-possibly-the-best convention food ever. We're now in another planning meeting, and I just wanted to show off these little welcome cards the OCCC set up.

Important to note is Bossk is front and center. Bossk isn't the biggest or most prolific Star Wars character, but he is Mary (from Lucasfilm)'s favorite character. And the OCCC knew this.

They're good.

Orlando At Large: Chocolate Calzone

See these? Some delicious jammy chocolatey duck cookies. (Yeah, Peabody goes all the way with duckies.) They were left in my room along with some fresh fruits and gooey cheeses.

You're seeing a pick of them as it was too dark to take shots at dinner last night. We went to Tu Tu Tango. International Drive is one of Orlando's main drags, stretching from horizon to eternity with every chain restaurant you can image. Surprisingly, nestled between a TGI Friday's and Friendly's is Tu Tu Tango, a locally owned food, art, and music experience every night.

There's always a local musician playing and artists working - with their paintings lining the walls. The food is tapas, small plates of bold, fun, flavor-packed cuisine. We had curry chicken eggroles, steak skewers, pineapple glazed-falafel, empanadas, alligator jambalaya, and about twenty other dishes, followed up by two mad, mad desserts -- the chocolate calzone and the banana, caramel, ice cream pizza.

Oh, it was good.

Alas, all my pictures are too dark or of Danielle eating ice cream off an artist's palette.

Orlando At Large: Ducks

These are ducks. In the Peabody Hotel. Splashing around. They're part of a (drunken) tradition, and they march to this central fountain each day at 11 AM and march out at 5 PM. Between these two times, they generally waddle about, swim, and quack. Pure awesomeness.

Fun Fact: A duck's belly feels like a water balloon.

Orlando At Large: Airport Sushi

I'm on my way to Orlando! A nice chunk of the ReedPOP team will be down in sunny Florida for the next two days for Star Wars business. We're meeting with various vendors and partners... and ideally have enough time for alligator wrestling.

I'm at La Guardia right now waiting for my flight. Left the house at 5:00 AM. Caught a cab at 5:02. Was at LGA by 5:20. Now, I've been sitting here, tweeting, reading up about my Delta Silver Medallion privileges, and snapping pictures of airport sushi.

For a mundane blow-by-blow of the entire trip punctuated by furious expletives, follow me at @petertatara. The high points, though, will be right here. And, as a spoiler for the highest point: CHOCOLATE CALZONE!

Comedy At Large: Nerdist In NYC

ReedPOP pal Chris Hardwick was in NYC on Friday night taping a Comedy Central special, and after an odyssey that involved train delays, peanut butter and pickle sandwiches, and a line that wrapped around a block, we got in.  And not just got in.  Got the super bestest seats ever.

Following the show, Hardwick took the above photo.  We added the text.

Caturday

NYC At Large: Castle And Community (And NYCC) At Paley

ABC's Castle, NBC's Community, and NYCC are coming to the Paley Center in March!  Paley's a fancy-pants museum of television, radio, and new media, and the New York Comic Con team have a crush on the place.  We run our events in what-are-pretty-much warehouses, so to see Paley -- built of granite, marble, and carpets not turned to ribbon -- we swoon.  And come March, we want you to swoon with us as we co-present two special events featuring premiere screenings and panels with cast live streamed from Los Angeles!

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Snacks At Large: Culinary Patriotism

Twinkies. Now, while some may say apple pie is the most traditionally American food, I'd disagree and argue it's none other than the humble Twinkie.  The Twinkies (and Mini-Muffins) pictured here will shortly be on their way to Singapore. They're a care package for the folks working on the Singapore Toy, Game & Comic Convention. They introduced me to teh tarik and laksa, and I gift them with partially-hydrogenated vegetable oils and food-grade yellow dye number five.

God Bless America.

Cats At Large: Caturday

Foodies At Large: Chef Stephanie Izard At C2E2

Since the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo's first year, we've conducted a dinner bringing together professionals and fans at one very special Chicagoland restaurant.  Last year, we were honored to welcome Top Chef Master Rick Bayless to the show and to host our dinner at his Topolobampo -- a dinner including Marvel's C.B. Cebulski, Brian Michael Bendis, and Joe Quesada.  This year, we're super excited to announce Top Chef Winner Stephanie Izard will be at C2E2, and we'll be hosting a comic creator dinner at her restaurant, Girl & The Goat.

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Posters At Large: Super Top Secret

The 2012 Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo posters have arrived!  Jackie dropped of these slick and shiny beauties yesterday, and they'll shortly be out in the wild at Chicago retailers.  I don't have an OK yet to reveal what the poster is -- that's coming soon -- but you can see a nice and blurry photo above.  Any guesses on who or what's featured on C2E2's 2012 poster?

Snacks At Large: Cornucopia Of The Damned

At the end of December, I misappropriated some ReedPOP funds to fill a cabinet with communal snacks. This #SecretSnackStash was fat with cookies, candies, chips, and colas -- all the refined sugars and salts one prefers to dine on whilst stress eating. This, though, was at December's close. How long does $100 worth of sweets last within the ReedPOP office? Turns out, just about one month. We got down to one last bag of potato chips the last day of January, and it's been empty since.

Until now.

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Nerdist At Large: Chris Hardwick At C2E2 And Much More

Chris Hardwick.  This dude is everywhere these days.  What started as a homegrown blog has evolved into a nerd media juggernaut spanning podcasts, web video, print, television, and live-events.  In the past year, Chris has published a book, emceed panels at San Diego and New York Comic Cons, and hosted shows on AMC and BBC America.  Not to mention interviews with the likes of Matt Smith, Jimmy Fallon, Nathan Fillion, Zach Galifianakis, and the Muppets.  All this is to say we're a fan of Chris and of Chris's Nerdist Industries.  And, today, we're excited to announce we're partnering together to bring Nerdist to C2E2 and NYCC and a whole lot more.

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Twitter At Large: #OnTrain

I spend a lot of time on trains. I take the 7 Train to the Metro-North Train every day to and from the office. That's about four hours a day. That's 20 hours a week. That's almost a full day each week. It's called "extreme commuting". It's a lot of time. I try to be productive, though. I work. I write. I sleep. I tweet. If you're following @petertatara on Twitter, you've no doubt seen my #ontrain tweets -- insights and musings from me while riding the rails. As it's Sunday, and I've got nothing better to do, I present, twenty of my favorite #ontrain tweets from the past year.

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Cats At Large: Backpack Caturday

Volunteers At Large: C2E2 Is Looking For A Few Good Fans

By day, ReedPOP's @henchling is our Social Media Mistress. By night, she's our Volunteer Ringleader. The C2E2 Volunteer sign-up is now online, and if you're calm under pressure, fast-acting, possess enviable endurance, and look smashing in a brightly-colored uniform, we want to hear from you. Hold on. Wait. FULL STOP. We're not supposed to call em Volunteers any more. No, no. From here on out, they're Crew. Why the change in terminology? We're paying em. We piloted this program at NYCC, and we're proud to announce C2E2's previously volunteer positions are now all paid gigs.

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Ladies And Gentlemen, Donald Glover Is The 12th Doctor

A few days ago at Britain's National Television Awards, Matt Smith spoke about the actor who'll eventually replace him on Doctor Who. Now, Matt's not leaving any time soon. He's got a year left under his current contract, and I can't imagine him departing on the eve of the saga's 50th anniversary. This said, at some point, Smith will leave to seek his fortune in Hollywood. When asked about the actor who'll eventually be cast as the 12th Doctor, Smith said it'll be a "younger, cooler person than me". Clearly, he's only talking about one man. Donald Glover. MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

Movies At Large: The New G.I. Joe Trailer Is Pure Gold

Just spotted over at io9.com is the new G.I. Joe: Retaliation trailer.  It begins with the line "In the immortal words of Jay-Z" and keeps on spitting out gold until Bruce Willis makes an appearance at the end. God Bless, America.

Guests At Large: Finch, Ha, Igle, Morales, And More At C2E2!

It's been a busy week at ReedPOP, with us dishing up a heaping helping of new guests.  We're very pleased to announce David Finch, Gene Ha, Hilary Barta, Jamal Igle, Mark Brooks, Mark Morales, Matteo Scalera, Ryan Benjamin, Reilly Brown and Phil Hester will all be joining us this April at C2E2.  They're just the tip of the iceberg, too, as our Artist Alley list is now online with over 200 creators who'll be appearing at the show.  Click on over to our Guests Page to take a look at the Featured Guests who'll be out in Chicago and then view the full Artist Alley list for unabridged text.

Comics At Large: Watchmen Prequel Officially Announced

It's been rumored. It's been hinted at. It's been leaked. Today, it's been made official with DC Comics unveiling a series of Watchmen prequel books -- collectively called Before Watchmen. Launching this summer, this collection of eight books returns a team of one of the modern comic age's most iconic heroes to print for the first time in 25 years, and does it rightfully so with a team of some today's biggest and most talented creators: Brian Azzarello, Lee Bermejo, Darwyn Cooke, J.G. Jones, J. Michael Straczynski, Adam Hughes, Andy and Joe Kubert, Len Wein, Jae Lee, and Amanda Conner.

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Comedy At Large: Chris Hardwick Comedy Central Special

Nerdist.com's Chris Hardwick is coming to NYC on February 17th to shoot a Comedy Central special. The de facto spokesman for geek culture, Hardwick exploded last year, publishing a book, emceeing a dozen panels at San Diego and New York Comic Con, hosting Talking Dead on AMC, and helming a series of specials on BBC America. All the while running his Nerdist podcast empire. Now, Chris is set to appear on Comedy Central with a special taping at NYU. Want tickets? They're free. But they're limited. If you're quick, you can score your tickets to a night of Chris Hardwick now.