Your Online Life, in Person at Intervention

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Parent Category: Expos and Conventions

Category: Previews

Published on Thursday, 19 August 2010 05:00

Written by Bree Rubin

People spend hours every day reading blogs and webcomics and watching indie videos and shorts. If you've ever wondered what it would be like to party with all of your favorite online personalities in one weekend, then you will want to go to Intervention being held in Rockville, Maryland at the Hilton Washington DC/Rockville (1750 Rockville Pike) Friday September 10th through Sunday September 12th ,2010.

In its inaugural year, Intervention brings creators of online indie content, such as blogs, animation, music, videos, and webcomics to their fans. As the digital world grows and matures, the importance of these communities cannot be ignored.

From Friday through Sunday, attendees will be treated to nearly 24-hour programming including gaming, panels, workshops and discussion groups if you're looking to get involved with your own web-niche. There is a vendor room with over 40 webcomics, New Media experts and artists. 

On Friday night, enjoy a burlesque-style figure drawing session with the famed Molly Crabapple and Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School. If you want to see artists duke it out on the big paper, the rising phenomena that is Super Art Fight comes to bring drawing battle to a fever pitch. DJ Subvert hosts two goth/industrial dance parties for everyone to burn off some of that extra energy. Don't miss a performance by the naughty fandom troupe, Cosplay Burlesque.

The extensive list of guests includes: 

• Evil, Inc.'s Brad Guigar
• Megatokyo's Fred Gallage
• Loldwell's Caldwell Tanner
• IHL's James Hatton
• Sticky Comics' Christiann
• Nerd Comics' Bree R. and Ami Bogin
• The System's Ross Nover
• Hello with Cheese's Darren Gendron& Bryan Prindiville
• Erfworld's Rob Balder
• DC/Marvel artist Rob Granito
• Dueling Analogs' Steve Napierski
• Sluggy Freelance's Pete Abrams

For more information and registration details, visit: InterventionCon.com

Intervention
Sept. 10th-12th
Hilton Washington DC/Rockville
1750 Rockville Pike
Rockville, Maryland 20852-1699

First Lincoln Center Fashion Week Features Over 90 Designers

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Parent Category: Expos and Conventions

Category: Previews

Published on Wednesday, 11 August 2010 18:20

Written by T. T. Maloney

From September 9th-16th, 2010, thousands of fashion industry professionals will gather to see over 90 of the world's most established and up-and-coming designers present their collections for Spring 2011 at the first Lincoln Center Fashion Week.

IMG Fashion has unveiled the initial line up of shows from these designers for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week's first season in Lincoln Center's Damrosch Park.

"We are tremendously excited about our new home at Lincoln Center and overwhelmed by the response of so many designers who will be showing with us as part of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week this season," Said SVP and Managing Director of IMG Fashion Peter Levy, "The opportunity to facilitate such a large number of shows and events within the new footprint of the event bodes very well for the new location."   

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week will present the following designers:

• Nicholas K
• Project Runway
• Toni Maticevski
• Richard Chai
• Ruffian
• Christian Siriano
• Bensoni
• Farah Angsana
• VERRIER
• Concept Korea
• Richie Rich
• Tadashi Shoji
• BCBGMAXAZRIA
• Duckie Brown
• Michael Angel
• Buckler
• EDITION Georges Chakra
• Ports 1961
• Alexander Berardi
• Academy of Art University
• Lacoste
• Binetti
• Cynthia Rowley
• Prabal Gurung
• ADAM
• Yoana Baraschi
• Mik Cire
• Charlotte Ronson
• Z Spoke by Zac Posen
• Venexiana
• Derek Lam
• Timo Weiland
• Lela Rose
• DKNY
• Rebecca Taylor
• Rebecca Minkoff
• Hervé Léger by Max Azria
• Diane von Furstenberg
• Trias
• Global Glam Collection
• Custo Barcelona
• Tommy Hilfiger
• Vassilios Kostetsos
• William Tempest
• Jenny Packham
• Carolina Herrera
• Carlos Miele
• Diesel Black Gold
• Tracy Reese
• Donna Karan Collection
• TONYCOHEN
• Monique Lhuillier
• Yeohlee
• HerchcovitchAlexandre
• Perry Ellis
• Elie Tahari
• Monique Péan
• Badgley Mischka
• Vera Wang
• Rosa Cha
• Max Azria
• Bibhu Mohapatra
• Dennis Basso
• Luca Luca
• Sophie Theallet
• Tibi
• Narciso Rodriguez
• Toni Francesc
• Bill Blass
• Tory Burch
• Michael Kors
• Nanette Lepore
• General Idea
• Adrienne Vittadini
• Gottex
• Milly by Michelle Smith
• Odd Molly
• Anna Sui
• Mackage
• Ralph Lauren
• Andy & Debb
• Isaac Mizrahi
• Davidelfin
• Argentina Group Show
• Calvin Klein Collection Women's
• J. Mendel
• Rebecca Moses
• Naeem Khan
• IVANAhelsinki

Among the designers returning from previous seasons of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week or those showing for the first time as part of the lineup include:

• Betsey Johnson
• Bibhu Mohapatra
• Bill Blass
• Buckler
• Cynthia Rowley
• Derek Lam
• Jenny Packham
• L.A.M.B.
• Rosa Cha
• Ruffian
• VERRIER
• Vivienne Tam
• Zang Toi

Opening Day, Thursday, September 9th, will kickoff with Nicholas K in the Studio venue and will also include the Project Runway/Season 8 finale in the Theatre and past Project Runway winner Christian Siriano in the Stage. Former Heatherette guru Richie Rich will close the historic first day with a Studio show.   

A fourth presentation space called the Box will be utilized for designer presentations, industry forums, press conferences and other activities.    

The new venue will boast a number of technical enhancements to adjust with the changing needs of the fashion community including: a more gracious lobby to better accommodate designer guests; modified runway theaters and modular designer spaces that support advanced production capabilities; expanded lighting and digital design resources; new décor and increased venue/runway sizes and enhancements as well as a comprehensive digital upgrade to the event, including a new website, registration, credentialing and seating system, digital signage and various other improvements.    

The city, working with IMG Fashion and Lincoln Center, has embarked on a coordinated effort to ensure Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week takes place in an efficient and organized manner. Led by the citywide Event Coordination and Management Office, city agencies – including the Transportation, Police, Fire, Buildings, Parks and Recreation and Sanitation Departments together with the Mayor's Community Assistance Unit, and New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) – are coordinating issues related to pedestrian access, ancillary parking, community resources, traffic flow, and opportunities for local businesses.   

According to IMG, each year, the 232,000 attendees at the two Fashion Weeks generate new economic activity for New York City businesses, accounting for more than $466 million in direct visitor spending and contributing to $1.6 billion in annual tax revenue to the city's fashion industry.

For the businesses surrounding Lincoln Center specifically - the restaurants, hotels, and retailers - as well as the thousands of caterers, security, and service workers staffing the shows, relocating Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week will result in economic benefits. More than $40 million annually is spent on meals at local restaurants; nearly $30 million on taxis, car service, and public transportation; and an additional $56 million at area hotels, said IMG.   

Title sponsor Mercedes-Benz is joined by DHL, American Express, Maybelline New York, W Hotels Worldwide, TRESemmé, AOL Inc., ideeli, Cambria Cove, Starbucks Frappuccino Coffee Drink, Kim Crawford Wines, EFFEN Vodka, FIJI Water, as well as the following media outlets The New York Times, Women's Wear Daily, and Getty Images.

Over eight days more than 100,000 guests will pass through the new Lincoln Center tents.

The new location at Lincoln Center provides Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week attendees with convenient transportation and access to the event via subway, buses, taxi and car service.

By subway, the 1 train goes directly to the 66th Street/Lincoln Center Station as well as the 1, A, B, C, D service to the 59th Street/Columbus Circle stop.

By bus, the M5, M7, M10, M11, M66 and M104 lines all stop within one block of the Lincoln Center campus.

Cars can pick up and drop off at the main steps main steps between 63rd and 64th Streets on Columbus Avenue and will have a designated waiting area on 65th Street. In addition, there will be a taxi stand near 62nd Street and Columbus Avenue.    

For more information, please visit: www.mbfashionweek.com

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
Lincoln Center's Damrosch Park

Animation Con Otakon 2010, a Baltimore Fave

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Parent Category: Expos and Conventions

Category: Previews

Published on Monday, 26 July 2010 22:49

Written by Bree Rubin

Otakon -- one of the largest and longest-running American conventions for Japanese animation and culture -- kicks off festivities in Baltimore Maryland's Inner Harbor, June 30th through August 1st, 2010. Known for its non-stop video screenings, wild costumes, and exclusive international guests, the convention is a highly anticipated event by fans of Japanese entertainment media.

The influence and popularity of Japanese animation and comic books (called manga) has exploded in recent years with the tidal successes of titles like Pokemon, Final Fantasy, and Bakugan. Not just cartoons for children, many of these animated films and franchises, such as the classic action epic Akira or the highly dramatic Second World War epic Grave of the Fireflies, are geared toward and appreciated by adult audiences. You can even get your fix of high-production quality animated pornography, often called hentai.

The name of the convention is a shortening of the Japanese word, otaku (nerd, fanatic) and convention, and is so well-known even world-wide that there is a best-selling Japanese video game with a character also named Otakon. Now in its 17th year, Otakon takes over the entirety of the huge Baltimore Convention Center, packing nearby hotels, restaurants, and sidewalks full of colorful attendees.

Fans often attend the convention (and traipse around the city streets) dressed as characters from their favorite films, games and comic books. The elaborate, eye-catching (and often revealing) costumes, once an oddity to Baltimore locals, are now accepted as a routine parade that marches in once each summer.

Screenings of Japanese movies and television shows are offered around the clock and an enormous dealer's room allows an American audience to purchase media, games, merchandise and Japanese novelty items. There is even a room for up-and-coming visual artists to present their work for admiration or purchase. Multimedia activities and games abound. Oddly enough, the convention has enacted an official vuvuzela ban across the entire convention center.   

The convention welcomes notable guests spanning many genres and media from both home and abroad. One of the most notable of this year's lineup will be Peter S. Beagle, author of classics such as The Last Unicorn, for which he also wrote the screenplay. Director and animator Hiroshi Koujina, also attending, is well-known to anime fans for titles such as Escaflowne: The Movie and Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew. Avant-garde fashion designer H. Naoto, culture researcher and writer Takamasa Sakurai, animation director Koji Masunari and many other names join the list of Otakon guests. Musical guests include the Japanese ensemble Eminence Symphony Orchestra and a highly-anticipated performance by shamisen duo the Yoshida Brothers.  

Always a fun, if bizarre event celebrating the most pop of Japanese culture, Otakon 2010 is sure to be another success for its fanbase. Weekend-long registration can be purchased for $75 at the door, but expect long lines for which the convention is widely known. For more information and a detailed schedule of events and convention offerings, visit the Otakon website at: www.otakon.com

Otakon 2010
July 30 - Aug 1, 2010
Baltimore Convention Center
Baltimore, MD USA