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Showing posts with label McCormick Place. Show all posts
Showing posts with label McCormick Place. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

INCOMING: Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo C2E2 2013


Check out our original photos from C2E2 2012 Saturday above


 
R2D2?    No....C2E2!!!




Yeah, OK... maybe both.   R2D2 @ C2E2

 



Du-Jay & Sagezilla dug C2E2 and can't wait for 2013

 



It's bigger on the inside....



This year's Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) will be their biggest by far. Tickets are selling earlier and faster than ever.  As of the final week of February, VIP tickets are sold out; 1-Day ticket sales are up 65%; and 3-Day ticket sales are up 78%. This is an overall increase of 64% compared to last year! 



**Meanwhile, their exhibit space is also growing...at this point, they are 25% larger than last year.** 



This is great news as it means that the Midwest - and Chicago, in particular - is becoming a center for pop culture enthusiasts similar in scale to New York and San Diego. 




Have you gotten your tickets yet?   Don't miss out.   Click here and order your tickets as soon as possible.   ChiIL Mama will be there...will YOU?!   We'll have photo filled recaps, individual features, hot new releases, reviews, and free downloads for you.   So check back with ChiIL Mama/ ChiIL Live Shows like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often!!


C2E2 2013, April 26-28, 2013 at the West Building at McCormick Place.

Check out their main site here for special guests and more.
  
Our ultra favorite thing about C2E2 isn't one show or genre even...it's mash ups and context!   We swung by Micky D's on the way out and it was beyond amusing to see the comic book world superimposed on reality. It's all about context.  As realtors are fond of saying...location, location, location.



"Welcome to McDonalds, may I take your order?"
 


  

We also love to see the colorful mash ups that organically happen in the crowd as everyone's story lines intermingle.   





Steampunk was a growing presence at C2E2 12, and we bought a fabulous corset & a wooden mustache monocle.

 

We also bought a unique ocarina necklace & a "teacarina" musical, pottery tea cup/instrument among other finds.  






Sagezilla and Du-Jay enjoyed the show, and it's fairly family friendly.   There were a ton of kids of all ages there, and there was plenty for kids to see and do, particularly for tweens and teens.    


Kick Ass fam friendly fun at C2E2

Sure, there's a plethora of the usual comic book boobs n gore...so skip it with the littles if they're very young and easily freaked out, or if you're uber conservative.  Otherwise, dress up and come on down!



Of course we're suckers for any excuse to play dress up, and enjoy seeing adults who are reeeeeally into what they're into, and we dig comics, anime, Dr. Who and games.   That means C2E2 is right up our alley.








First time we ever quoted Mr. T around Sagezilla, she thought we said "I'm Winnie the Pooh", and used to repeat it in a booming Mr. T impression.  To this day I still can't hear "I pity the fool" without laughing.

 

We saw many fun freaks, and even derby zombies from The Outfit!

 




 There were loads of graphic artists, actors & writers about.







Promises...promises



We're a little bummed.   These Romanian artist guys took a steam punk photo of Sagezilla & Du-Jay and said they'd anime the kids and send us the sketch via e-mail after the show, and it never happened.    Was that supposed to read get your sketch a year from today?!

We're coming back to find you for C2E2 2013, so start sketching... long haired boy and tiny but mighty grrrrrl, or they'll kick you in the kneecaps!




You can even get inked up permanently, with some new scars, if you're brave & of age.   I do have 4 tattoos, but not from C2E2.   We just stuck with the kind of ink you turn the pages on!



We also saw another of our big favorites--Threadless--and stocked up on more, cool, artist designed t's!   They give back to the community and work with kids for free, at Girls Rock Chicago camps, 826Chi Writing Workshops and more.




Sage spent her "helpful works" cash on a bunch of seriously rockin' handmade fimo necklaces another kid had made.  They were one of a kind and one of the coolest thing we saw at the whole show because they were so creative.   She also bought a Shawnimal Ninja necklace.   



Du-Jay bought Activision Skylanders, one of his Wii favorites.

 

We also ran into one of our favorite author/artist duos... Kim & Dino, of Traegonia fame.  




We gave away a set of their excellent books to one of our lucky readers in December, as part of our huge Holidaze Giveaways.  





 The Traegonia books are a middle grade, eco-friendly fantasy series our family really digs!!  Highly recommended.   Check out their main site right here.



 

 

Come on out and play.   C2E2's a must see for geeks, gamers, pop culture enthusiasts, families and YOU!

Sunday, February 10, 2013

ChiILin' At Chicago Auto Show #CASGM #greatcarhunt #CAS



ChiIL Mama's photo recap of Media Day Thursday--Sneak Peek at Chicago Auto Show 2013


I WON A COBALT BLUE CAMARO AT THE CHICAGO AUTO SHOW!!   Yeah, alright it is just 3" long, but now that I have your attention....   

There were some dramatic unveilings Thursday and some serious hot wheels....and I don't just mean the toys...though you can WIN one of those, too, in the Chevy exhibit.  Two people launch cars simultaneously and if you get yours in the funnel--you're a winner, baby.  These special edition Chicago Auto Show 2013 Hot Wheels are sure to be a favorite.   

Pictured above:  Eric Bjorklund assembles the Chevrolet Camaro Hot Wheels exhibit Wednesday, February 6, 2013, in preparation for the Chicago Auto Show in Chicago, Illinois. The auto show opens to media on Thursday, and to the public on Saturday. (Photo by Steve Fecht for Chevrolet)

Good thing McCormick Place has an expert band of pros on hand to keep the cars spotless.  I think I already got my finger & nose prints pressed up against some of the windows, hungrily peering in.  And I may have even drooled a bit on a few hoods.  We particularly dug the special edition, life sized Hot Wheels Camaros in my absolute favorite color--one brand new release & a classic car from my birth year....   (Sorry, no spoilers, if you have to ask...go find out yourself.)



Fred Quinn details the Hot Wheels Chevrolet Camaro  Wednesday, February 6, 2013, in preparation for the opening of the Chicago Auto Show in Chicago, Illinois. The auto show opens to media on Thursday, and to the public on Saturday. (Photo by Steve Fecht for Chevrolet)




ChiIL Mama's covering as much of the show as we can catch during media previews this Thursday and Friday.   Since we actually are looking to replace my RAV4 this year, I'm extra excited.   Check back with ChiIL Mama/ChiIL Live Shows like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often.   We're editing some rockin' video footage from our 2 Cadillac test drives Thursday and Buick's amazing philanthropy with Samaritan's Feet Friday!   

We'll have those clips and lots more stills, features, and great CAS tips for you in the coming week.








Even GM execs and sports celebs got in on the action with Samaritan's Feet and Buick!!   We'll have a full photo and video filled feature soon.




ChiIL out indeed, Chi IL!   Chevy's gotten smart with the Smart phone charging stations.   So when your phone dies from envy....shooting video & stills of all the amazing autos, you can revive it at Chevy's chill charging spots and revive your tired feet in a comfy seat as well.   The auto show's HUGE, so put on your walkin' shoes!


The new Chevrolet Silverado is shined up Wednesday, February 6, 2013, in preparation for the start of the Chicago Auto Show in Chicago, Illinois. The auto show opens to media on Thursday, and to the public on Saturday. (Photo by Steve Fecht for Chevrolet)


Special shout out to GM for bring us in and wining and dining us.   It was great to see our friend and long time associate "Cadillac Connie" and meet new friends among the GM ranks as well.   GM's got an impressive social media presence, and it's been a pleasure working with them for the past several years.   We had a chance to do 3 GM extended test drives for a week, this past year, and have past and future coverage up under the tag #greatcarhunt.   Check out our photo & video filled adventures with the hot orange Camero SS, Equinox and Suburban!   We have loads more coverage to come.

That said, we're objective journalists here, and not exclusively in anyone's pocket.   Our blog is first and foremost for YOU, our readers, so we're being pretty equal opportunity, checking everyone out for our Chicago Auto Show coverage.   I've been a happy RAV4 driver since 2000, so we're not writing off Toyota quite yet,  and we also own a newer Montero Sport we've been pretty satisfied with.   We've been checking out Subaru, VW, Nissan and Ford's midsize crossover offerings as well.

Once again, check back with us early and often, for loads more Chicago Auto Show 2013 coverage.   Then get out there and experience CAS13 for yourself!




The 2014 Corvette Stingray drives onto the turntable in the Chevrolet exhibit Wednesday, February 6, 2013, in preparation for the start of the Chicago Auto Show in Chicago, Illinois. The auto show opens to media on Thursday, and to the public on Saturday. (Photo by Steve Fecht for Chevrolet)

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