1st Annual Atlantic City Boardwalk Con set for May 14-17, 2015

FIRST ANNUAL ATLANTIC CITY BOARDWALK CON (ACBC)

MERGES COMICS, COSPLAY & “ALL THINGS GEEK”

IN ONE DESTINATION EXPERIENCE

ACBC takes place May 14-17, 2015, in Atlantic City, New Jersey

The first annual Atlantic City Boardwalk Con (ACBC) will bring together the worlds of comics, cosplay and “all things geek” with the quintessential experience for the first time in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The inaugural event will offer unique and never-before-seen workshops and activities for fans of all ages.

ACBC will be held May 14-17, 2015, at the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The first full-sized convention of its genre in the city, ACBC will “officially” kick-off the 2015 East Coast Spring comic convention season.

Attendees will be able to meet and interact with guests and experts taking part in ATLANTIC CITY BOARDWALK CON, including publishers such as Marvel Entertainment, BOOM! Studios, Aspen Comics, and Top Cow. Celebrity Guests such as Michael Rooker (Guardians of the Galaxy and The Walking Dead) and Manu Bennett (Arrow, Spartacus and The Hobbit), Comic Artists and Writers including Phil Jimenez (Wonder Woman, Fables, X-Men, Wolverine), Humberto Ramos (Amazing Spider-Man) and Frank Tieri (Iron Man and Wolverine). In addition, ACBC has the comic book legend Stan Lee as a Special Guest of Honor, with a special one-on-one on stage interview by New Jersey native, Kevin Smith.

“We’re taking a different approach to the traditional comic conventions that fans are familiar with. From our floor layout to our panels and beyond, we’re creating a different look and feel to the ACBC show,” said Mike D’Alessio, founder of ACBC and CEO of NJ-based marketing agency, Promoguys Marketing Group. “We want to provide attendees and fans with a stand-out convention experience, and we believe that what we’re creating will do that. We want to break down the 4th wall and let the fans really get to know the industry and the players in it. In addition to the line-up, the Atlantic City Convention Center is an amazing space that can accommodate all of the activities and features we want to include in order to make this a truly unique experience.”

ACBC also seeks to add to the revitalization of Atlantic City that has been occurring since Super Storm Sandy hit the region two years ago. With a rebuilt boardwalk, great new attractions, renovated hotels and casinos, Atlantic City is a premier destination for a comic convention.

ACBC will feature a variety of activities and classrooms for attendees, including:

· Workshops and classes taught by industry leaders, including the “Emerging Creator Program” which will provide artists, writers and programmers with one-on-one time with industry professionals
· A “Midnight Masquerade” Parade down the famous Atlantic City Boardwalk
· 50,000 square feet of Cosplay space and seven gigantic screens and backgrounds for FREE Cosplay photo ops.
· Cosplay “War-room” that features costume changing areas, costume repair stations, costume creation stations, body paint stations and more
· The first-annual coronation of “Miss Cosplay USA” with Manu Bennett

“My vision for the ACBC was to provide a truly fan-focused experience that offers attendees a variety of activities that they will want to attend,” continued D’Alessio. “I’ve been working and attending comic conventions for 20+years and I wanted to make ACBC different. Our goal is to not blend in with the other cons, but rather, to stand out and pave our own way.”

Tickets to the convention are available by visiting www.doacbc.com.

ACF 2045: J-POP Summit Festival and Japan Film Festival of San Francisco scheduled for July 2014

 NEW PEOPLE ANNOUNCES DATES FOR 2014 J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL

AND THE RETURN OF THE JAPAN FILM FESTIVAL OF SAN FRANCISCO

The Bay Area’s Largest Japanese Pop Culture Festival Will Return

For 6th Consecutive Year To Showcase The Best In Modern

Japanese Film, Food, Fashion, Music And Entertainment

At Weekend-Long Celebration Scheduled For July 2014

NEW PEOPLE, a dynamic entertainment destination bringing the latest examples of Japanese popular culture to North American shores, and the J-POP Summit Festival Committee have announced the dates for the 2014 J-POP Summit Festival.

The popular annual celebration of Japanese pop culture, music, art, anime, fashion, and film will return to San Francisco’s Japantown and will also present another special J-Pop concert in Union Square the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, July 19th and 20th, 2014.

The J-POP Summit Festival is the Bay Area’s premier annual Japanese pop culture celebration featuring a variety of live bands and artists, pop culture panel discussions, film premieres, fashion shows, DJ dance events, interactive games, celebrity appearances, and much more. Many of the attractions are free to attend. The Festival is hosted by J-POP Summit Festival Committee in cooperation with the Japantown Merchants Association. Additional details will be forthcoming at www.J-POP.com.

In 2013, J-POP Summit welcomed more than 80,000 people to Japantown and nearly 10,000 more music fans to the Festival’s first-ever concert held in Union Square that featured Japan’s Ambassador of Kawaii, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, as well as Kylee, Daichi, and LoVendoЯ. The downtown San Francisco Union Square stage will host a compelling line-up of J-Pop artists again next year.

Also returning as part of the 2014 J-POP Summit will be the second annual Japan Film Festival of San Francisco, the only full-fledged Japanese film festival held in the Bay Area. The week-long series of live-action and anime film theatrical premieres will run Saturday, July 19th through Sunday, July 27th at the NEW PEOPLE Cinema and will be highlighted by red carpet events featuring appearances by prominent Japanese directors and actors, as well as several lecture presentations, workshops, autograph sessions, and film industry networking opportunities. Additional information will be available at: www.JFFSF.org.

Showcasing cutting edge Japanese fashion has always been a popular aspect of the J-POP Summit. 2013’s theme of “Making Kawaii Universal” resonated with thousands of attendees that savored leading brands as well as live shows featuring top models from the bustling Harajuku fashion scene including Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. Next year’s programming will present even more brands and icons to highlight a wide selection of exclusive designs, apparel, and accessories only available for a limited time during the Festival.

The 2014 J-POP Summit Festival also will present the return of the POP GOURMET Food Festival, which will delight attendees with a scrumptious array of innovative Japanese and Asian-influenced cuisine along with Japanese sake and teas. Festival-goers will be able to enjoy popular local gourmet food trucks and exclusive sake tasting by premier sake distillers/distributors on an even bigger scale.

“The growth of the J-POP Summit Festival has been phenomenal since our very first one in 2009 that also marked the Grand Opening of the NEW PEOPLE complex,” says Seiji Horibuchi, the President/CEO of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. and Chairman of the J-Pop Summit Festival. “The J-POP Summit Festival has become an integral part of San Francisco’s summertime fun and after 2013’s tremendous success we are planning even bigger and more exciting programming for 2014. Stay tuned for news and updates as we begin announcing artists and events early next year!”

About J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL
The J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL is an annual Japanese Pop Culture celebration that features live bands and artists from Japan, pop culture panel discussions, film premieres, fashion, food, art, and celebrity appearances. The Festival is hosted by NEW PEOPLE in cooperation with the Japantown Merchants Association. In 2013, the two-day event attracted 80,000 attendees.

About NEW PEOPLE, Inc.
Based in San Francisco, California, NEW PEOPLE, Inc. (www.newpeopleworld.com) offers the latest films, art, fashion, and retail brands from Japan through its unique entertainment destination as well as through licensing and distribution of selective Japanese films. NEW PEOPLE Entertainment (www.newpeopleent.com), a film division of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. strives to offer the most entertaining motion pictures straight from the "Kingdom of Pop" for audiences of all ages, especially the manga and anime generation, in North America.

ACF 1224: Cosplayer Jessie/RuffleButt in Hatsune Miku outfit

Photograph (c) LJinto

This Thursday, November 10th, 2011, there's a HATSUNE MIKU one-night-only special event set for 9 U.S. cities. (See ACF 1206 for info and details.)

I'm planning to go to one of the two screenings in New York and thought that, in anticipation of that event, I'd feature this photo of cosplayer Jessie, a.k.a. RuffleButt, wearing a costume she made of Hatsune Miku from Vocaloid 2. It's not an official Miku Outfit, but is based on a fan design by artist 29 bit.

For Jessie/RuffleButt's cosplay page, click here.

ACF 1192: Some more cosplayers at the New York Comic Con

A tough looking, well endowed (and supported) booth babe

An obliging foursome posing for several shutterbugs

Another booth babe

As I was heading to the subway this quartet was heading to The Con

ACF 1189: Cosplayers at "The Con"

Paid myself a little visit to the New York Comic Con (a.k.a. "The Con") this afternoon.
This foursome from Kill Bill: Vol. 1 were the first cosplayers I photographed there.

This is YuffieBunny Cosplay, one of my cosplaying friends, at the

Head Kandi booth, #177. My picture doesn't really do her justice.

A pair I saw walking by and who were kind enough to let me snap them.

Two booth babes.

ACF 740: NY Comic Con & Anime Festival 2010 Image Set #5

Here's what probably will be my final set of some Alexandria Cruz's images from the recent NY Comic Con and Anime Festival 2010. Alexandria's on the right in the last picture. To her left is cosplay singer Sneko Chan.

Thanks to Alexandria's many pictures, I got a bit of the feeling of what it would've been like to have been there, but alas, circumstances prevented my presence this year. Hopefully next year I'll make it and have a slew of my own pictures to post, as I have in previous years.

Whenever possible I've used her captions. And again, my apologies if any errors have been made in identification.

RAMONA-ON-SKATES

Sweet-decora-lolitas!

Carla Razuri & Koga Echevarria

Cosplay singer Sneko Chan & Alexandria Cruz

ACF 739: NY Comic Con & Anime Festival 2010 Image Set #4

Here's another set of some Alexandria Cruz's images from the recent NY Comic Con and Anime Festival 2010. Whenever possible I've used her captions. My apologies for any errors in identification.

Very hot young cosplaying damsel (my caption)

Vincent Kira Villamil & Paloma Lansberry

TAI-LEE!

X-MEN-GANG

ACF 737: NY Comic Con & Anime Festival 2010 Image Set #3

Here's the third set of some Alexandria Cruz's images from the recent NY Comic Con and Anime Festival 2010. Whenever possible I've used her captions. My regrets for any inadvertent errors in identification.

Bad ass chick

HATS

Fair maiden (my caption)

Another pair with dynamite costumes (my caption)

ACF 734: More images from New York Comic Con & Anime Festival 2010

Here are some more pictures of great examples of cosplay from NY Comic Con and Anime Festival 2010. All photos are courtesy of Alexandria Cruz. Apologies for any identification errors i might have made.

Blade Runner

WINGZ

Two female cosplayers (my caption)

ACF 732: Some cosplay images from NY Comic Con and Anime Festival 2010

I was majorly bummed that I wasn't able to make it to the combined NY Comic Con and Anime Festival 2010 last weekend. Fortunately, one of my great Facebook friends Alexandria Cruz was there and has allowed me to repost some of her photos. She can be seen at the right of the bottom of today's three photos. I'll be posting some more images in the days to come.

Female Green Lantern

Death Note

Paloma Lansberry & Alexandria Cruz

ACF 716: NY Comic Con and NY Anime Festival begin tomorrow!!!!!

New York Comic Con

and

NY Anime Festival

These two great events have combined into one mind-blowing extravaganza this year. They will run from October 8 - 10, 2010, at the Jacob K. Javits Center on 11th Avenue just above 34th Street. Full info at the two links provided above. Lots of super events will be taking place, and hard-core cosplay individuals will abound, I'm sure.

Sadly I won't be there to cover it and take pictures, as I have in the past, at least at Comic Con. I just found out that there's no #1 trains running from 242nd street (I'm near the 238th Street stop) and 168th Street, due to track work. Curse you MTA. How dare you schedule such work on this weekend.

But if you're in town or can get here, don't miss this combined event. It's going to be a zoo, but a glorious one!

ACF 382: NY Anime Festival - more day two pictures

Here are a few more pictures from yesterday, the second day of the NY Anime festival.

Today, Sunday, September 27th is the third - and final - day of the festival.

The crowd on Saturday was huge, and a think it'll be fair to say the festival was a big success.

Once again, the homepage of the NY Anime Festival is here.

P.S. - My understanding is that next year, from October 8th to 10th, the New York Comic Con and the New York Anime Festival will be held jointly. Can't wait to see that crowd! Mark your calendars.

ACF 381: NY Anime Festival 2009 - pictures from day two

Today was the second day of the New York Anime Festival 2009, held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on the west side of mid-town Manhattan.

There were lots and lots of folk attending, many in costume. Thanks to all the nice people who allowed me to take pictures and to post them here.

Some of the action was literally on the floor.

I'll post some more pictures tomorrow, which will be the last day of the festival.

The NYAF Exhibition Hall will be open tomorrow, Sunday, September 27th, from 10 AM to 5 PM. Homepage of the New York Anime festival is here.