Dallas Comic Con January 30-31

Thanks to Matthew Warlick of Space-Gun Studios for reminding me that the Dallas Comic Con happens this weekend, January 30-31, 2010. For those of you in the Dallas/Ft. Worth region, here's the con info:

Richardson Civic Center
411 W. Arapaho Rd.
Richardson, TX
Saturday: 11:00 am to 6:00 pm
Sunday: Noon to 5:00 pm
Admission: See HERE

Artist's Alley, special guests from film and television (Adam West, Sean Patrick Flanery, Charisma Carpenter), and a full schedule of Q&As, and an original art auction are just some of the featured attractions.
Featured artist include Tim Sale, Adam Hughes, Michael Golden, Jim Mahfood, Terry Moore, Mark Brooks, Matt Sturges, and many more. Check out the link above for a complete listing.

If you attend the show, take some pictures and I'll get them posted to the Comics Buyer's Guide site. Enjoy the con!

S.P.A.C.E., April 24-25, 2010

Three comics events on my personal list of Comics-Shows-I-Must-Attend-Someday are (in no particular order) the Baltimore Comic-Con, Mid-Ohio Con, and S.P.A.C.E.

With a little luck and careful scheduling on my part, I have a real chance at attending S.P.A.C.E. because it has moved from the usual March date to April 24-25 this year. It has also changed venues and will be held here:

Ramada Plaza Hotel & Conference Center
4900 Sinclair Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43229
Toll free: (877) 609-6086
Until April 2, the hotel has a block of rooms at a special convention rate of $79 per night, mention the con.

One of the most unique aspects of this show is that it focuses entirely on small and independent publishers. This is a creator-driven show with absolutely no interest in pop culture -- this show is all about the comics. In addition to the wide variety of exhibitors, S.P.A.C.E. will have special guests and workshops -- the announcements regarding these and schedules for them will be updated to the show site, so become a frequent visitor to stay up on the latest happenings. Check out the S.P.A.C.E. site for the great lineup of exhibitors already comitted to the show because you're bound to find several people whose work you admire and several more that you'll enjoy. Show hours are Saturday 10:00 am to 6:00 pm and Sunday 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Admission is $8 for the weekend pass or $5 daily.

I had the opportunity to talk with S.P.A.C.E. founder Bob Corby, and he was kind enough to share his insights for my next column in Comics Buyer's Guide magazine (issue #1665). It should hit newsstands and your favorite comic shop at the end of February. (If your local comics shop doesn't get CBG, ask them to order it for your pull list -- there's great stuff in every issue.)

Bill Jacobs Chevy Swap Meet

Bill Jacobs Chevrolet in Joliet, Illinois, will host its 37th annual swap meet on Sunday, January 17, 2010. Presented by the Great Lakes Region chapter of the Vintage Chevrolet Club of America, the first swap meet of the year is guaranteed to cure cabin fever.

Show hours are 8:00 am to 1:00 pm, and admission is $4.
Bill Jacobs Chevrolet is located at 2001 W. Jefferson in Joliet.
For more information, contact Jim McDonald: (708) 485-3633 or click the links above.

I attened last year's swap meet and was thrilled to find that the show was completely sold out of vendor spaces. I suspect the same will be true this year. In addition to the car parts -- which aren't limited to Chevrolets, so you Mopar and Ford fans shouldn't stay home -- there are always some interesting varieties of collectibles from Hot Wheels cars to slot cars to the two lunchboxes I picked up last year. (For those of you with long memories, the guy with the California Car Dusters is still attending this show and is still set up in the same spot! I remember him from when I was just a little kid attending the show with my dad.)

A few years ago, I couldn't find the swap meet in the Old Cars Weekly Show Calendar section, so I emailed Jim McDonald and reminded him that the show listings are free. Last year, the show was in the listings, and this year, they have an ad in the Show Calendar section. Thanks Jim, I hope the swap meet is a big success for the club.

Toy Shows: January 8-10

The winter toy show season is upon us, and I'll do my level best to bring you the interesting places to go in the world of toy shows. If you know of events in your area, please add them in the comments below.

Farm Toy Shows
January 8-10, Urbana, IL: 6th Annual Illini Farm Toy Show sponsored by the Illinois Farm Bureau District 12 Young Leaders at the Hanford Inn and Suites, 2408 N. Cunningham Ave.
Hours: Fri. 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.; Sat. 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., farm toy consignment silent auction from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; Sun. 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For more info call (217) 247-2644.

January 9, Peotone, IL: 19th Annual Peotone FFA Farm Toy Show at the Will County Fair Atrium, West St. and Wilmington Rd.
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For more info call (708) 258-3236.

January 9, Burt, MI: Saginaw Valley Toy Show at Albee Township Hall
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For more info call (989) 777-9819.
 
Toy Trains
There are quite a few train events happening this weekend. Classic Toy Trains magazine maintains one of the most comprehensive show calendars in this hobby. Click HERE to see what's going on in your area.
 
Have fun and remember to support your local toy shows!