Now in its 27th year, Big Apple Comic Con Hosts A Seasonal Celebration for Geeks and Nerds — The Christmas Con

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Parent Category: Expos and Conventions

Category: Previews

Published on Monday, 11 December 2023 21:10

Written by Brad Balfour

Event: 4th annual Christmas Con
When: Saturday, December 16th, 2023
Where: New Yorker Hotel
Doors open 10 am – 7 pm (early admission 9 am)
www.bigapplecc.com

Founded and owned by comic book maven Michael “Mike Carbo” Carbonaro, the Big Apple Comic Con began in 1996, filling the auditorium of Manhattan’s St Paul’s Church on 10th Ave. In the late ‘90s, BACC moved to the Metropolitan Pavilion, and for 13 years was at the Pennsylvania Hotel on 33rd St. and 7th Ave. across from Madison Square Garden. Since 2018, BACC’s home has been in the amazing, iconic 1929 Art Deco New Yorker Hotel (fully restored by Wyndham) at 401 8th Ave — across from MSG on the west side. The BACC is an essential NYC comic book and pop culture collectible event, a national hub for collectors and traders, with some of the greatest collectible books being exhibited, and traded.

Over its 27 years, the BACC has evolved and changed, taking the reins from previous comic con masters such as the late Phil Seuling. It also experimented with promoting rock collectibles and sports cards. Now, Big Apple Comic Con — NYC’s original comic con — presents the 4th annual Christmas Con, a party with loads of gifts, prizes, and special events to celebrate Christmas and NYC’s love affair with the world of comics and pop culture collectibles. It’s a Christmas Party. Though the central theme is comic books, the convention features a large range of pop culture elements including original artwork, science fiction/fantasy, film/television, cosplay, animation, anime, manga, toys, horror, collectible card games, video games, and fantasy novels.

The BACC Christmas Con features over 100 exhibitors, plus artists, guests, and cosplayers, panels, seminars, and workshops with our guests and professionals from various fields along with feature previews of upcoming films.

Of course, there’s its renowned Cosplay contest, packed full of the most outrageous NYers. Cosplay has been an integral and vital part of fans’ pop culture heritage. The love of the art has led to cosplayers revitalizing conventions by creating a dynamic link between the worlds of comics, animation, cinema, and real life.

Though it's special focused on talented up and coming artists from the NYC area, the guests include top-flight masters and cutting edge innovators:

Jim Steranko: legendary author and artist, whose real surreal imagery transformed comic book visual art.

Larry Hama: (G.I. Joe, The ‘Nam, and Bucky O’Hare) Ink Pot award winning Artist, Actor, Author,

Jim Rugg: (creator of Street Angel which kicks butt, the coolest stuff ever) Eisner Award winner.

Ed Piskor: (creator of the world phenomena Hip Hop Family Tree Omnibus) Eisner Award winner.  Rugg and Piskor host the super popular YouTube program Cartoon Kayfabe! (If you ain’t listening you ain’t thinking comics).

Bill Tucci: the inimitable award winning creator of Shi (4 million copies sold) A Child is Born (perfect gift for Christmas).

Alitha Martinez: 2018 Eisner Award, and GLAAD Media Award winner (World of Wakanda). Innovative, versatile (Iron Man, Moon Girl, Black Panther, Nubia, Archie), a complete master of the craft and culture, Alitha’s unique style and humane vision emerge whatever subject she creates.

Paul Kirchner: Underground Comic artist/author legend (Awaiting the Apocalypse, Dope Rider, The Bus)

Ken Landgraf: Indie comic cult icon (New York City Outlaws, Strangers, Blind Justice, Ink Zeitgeist, Apocalypse 5000, Atomic Hercules. If you think out of the box, you're gonna find Ken has been there).

Keith Williams: Master artist and inker of hundreds of comics, from Marvel to DC and back.

Sean Chen: Artist and editor worked for Valiant he produced X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Harbinger, and Rai and the Future Force (RFF #9, sold over 900,000 copies). Then for Marvel he drew Iron Man for over three years, along with Wolverine, Elektra, and the maxi-series X-Men: The End. (The next master blaster!).

Lou Manna: he qworked on Thunder Agents, The Young All Stars, Infinity Agents, and is a consummate stylist.

Mahdi Khene: indie publisher, musician, is the creator of the remarkably alternative Bootleg Spiderman, and Steel Streets (Ho Ho Ho, new stuff happinin’)

Peter Kuper: Spy vs. Spy Eisner Award winner (Anyone ever read Mad needs to meet this man).

Other events include Mike Vallely -- skateboard legend, author, actor, and musician for Black Flag --  signing collectibles and "Blvd of the Eagles," his semi- autobiographical new graphic novel. Of course, the famous Cosplay contest, and an ugly Christmas sweater contest, with prizes by partner Ultimate Wireless.

And yes, Santa Claus will arrive at the 40th floor of the New Yorker Hotel and slide down the chimney (elevator) with a huge bag of gifts for our little fans.

The BACC is an NYC comic book and pop culture collectible event and is a national hub for collectors and traders. Some of the greatest collectible books are exhibited and traded there. As noted, BACC has now been transformed into the Christmas Con — the perfect place to grab all your current and classic comics for gift giving galore. For fans of any genre films, music mags, action figures, and much more, visit BACC‘s Christmas Con, as I will be doing. 

To learn more, go to: www.bigapplecc.com

APAP|NYC 2024 Brings Together The Performing Arts World

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Parent Category: Expos and Conventions

Category: Previews

Published on Friday, 08 December 2023 15:29

Written by Brad Balfour

 
Bringing together the performing arts world, APAP|NYC, which runs January 12 - 16, 2024 at The New York Hilton Midtown, is the annual gathering of the performing arts presenting, booking and touring industry and the members conference of the Association of Performing Arts Professionals. The conference will have an extensive line up of panel discussions, networking events, and pitch sessions. Forums and Affinity Groups are meeting sessions for those looking to learn and the Annual Member Meeting/Town Hall will open things up for spirited discussion.

During the conference the APAP Honors celebrities trailblazers and innovators in the performing arts world with This year’s honorees are seven-time Grammy winner and two-time Oscar nominee Terence Blanchard; game-changing dance and arts managers Lisa Booth and Deirdre Valente; Lincoln Center’s Chief Artistic Officer Shanta Thake; nationally renowned arts researcher Randy Cohen; prominent arts philanthropists John W. Brown and Rosemary Kopel Brown; and emerging dance artivist Ruby Morales. Booth, who died earlier this year, will be awarded posthumously.

To learn more, go to: https://apap365.org/conference/

APAP NYC 2024
January 12 - 16, 2024

The New York Hilton Midtown
1335 6th Ave.
New York, NY 10019

U.S. Book Show Brings Together Authors, Editors, & Industry Voices

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Parent Category: Expos and Conventions

Category: Previews

Published on Thursday, 04 May 2023 14:40

Written by Brad Balfour

Combining authors, editors, movers and shakers in the publishing world, the U.S. Book Show is now in it’s third year. Organized by Publishers Weekly, the U.S. Book Show runs May 22 to the 25th as a hybrid event online and at the NYU Kimmel Center (60 Washington Square South). Speakers include the CEO of Barnes & Noble, James Daunt, who will present a keynote on the trials of book selling and the future of Barnes & Noble. 

Each day of the Show has a different focus. Day one is the American Association of Literary Agents presenting a day of in-person educational programming designed for agents, editors, and publishing professionals. John Chrastka, Founder and Executive Director of EveryLibrary, speaks on rampant book bannings while Edward Melton (Executive Director of the Harris County Public Library) looks at post-pandemic digital trends in libraries. Day two looks at the expanding world of graphic novels and comics. Speakers include Jeff Smith (Bone), Mattie Lubchansky (Boys Weekend) and Aidyn Arroyal (Freaking Romance). Day three has alternating tracks of panels focusing on books for adults and YA/Kids, with speakers including Meg Wolitzer (The Female Persuasion) and Candice Iloh (Salt the Water).

“Our goal is for conference attendees to leave with a wealth of practical insights and actionable takeaways that they can leverage to offer their clients the highest level of representation,” said Regina Brooks, AALA vice-president and CEO of Serendipity Literary Agency. “We also envision networking opportunities to foster relationships within the publishing community that will lead to new business and collaborations. We can’t wait to see the impact this experience will have on literary agents’ continued success.”

To learn more, go to: https://usbookshow.com/

U.S. Book Show
May 22 - 25, 2023

NYU Kimmel Center
60 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012