Windy City Pulp and Paper Convention, April 23-25

The 10th Windy City Pulp and Paper Convention takes place April 23-25 at the Westin Lombard Yorktown Center Hotel. Fans of paperbacks, original art, movie memorabilia, old time radio, science fiction, pop culture, mystery, noir, and pulp culture are sure to love this show. After hearing some wonderful comments about Windy City, I'm looking forward to making my first trip to the con.

I'll try to update here and I'll definitely include a complete write-up for my column in Comics Buyer's Guide magazine. Looking forward to meeting Steve Haffner of Haffner Press. I reviewed The Collected Captain Future: Volume One from Haffner Press for CBG a few issues ago (if you love space pulp, you'll love this collection of Edmond Hamilton adventures) and I can't wait to see what else is in the works.

Here's the con info:
Windy City Pulp and Paper Convention
April 23-25, 2010
Westin Lombard Yorktown Center
70 Yorktown Shopping Center
Lombard, Il 60148
630-719-8000

Click on the link above for the show schedule.

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

This weekend, the midwest's largest gathering of independent and small press publishers happens in Columbus, Ohio, with the 11th annual Small Press & Alternative Comics Expo (S.P.A.C.E). This show is all about the comics and includes everything from mini-comics to sketchbooks. It's a grand collection of writers and artists who publish their own stuff. If you've ever wanted to take that leap and jump in to the world of comics, then this is the show you can't miss.

The S.P.A.C.E. website is a place you'll want to visit, as well. Contact info for all of the creators is available, so if you can't reach the show, you can still get their comics. And don't miss the free S.P.A.C.E. Anthology 2010. What a terrific idea! I hope they do this every year -- it's 113 pages of comics contributed by the show's exhibitors as an introduction to their work and the kinds of comics you'll discover at the show. The Anthology is available through a free download on the S.P.A.C.E. site.

Small Press & Alternative Comics Expo
April 24-25, 2010
Ramada Plaze Hotel & Conference Center
4900 Sinclair Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43229
Saturday: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Sunday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Contact: Bob Corby via email, bpc13@earthlink.net

April: Poetry Month

In honor of Poetry Month, the good folks at Writer's Digest have dared you to write a poem a day throughout the entire month of April. Robert Lee Brewer's blog, Poetic Asides, is the host of the festivities and he's not only issuing the writing prompts, he's also writing. I imagine that this is to show us that it can be done, which is good because I managed a contribution for the first day and haven't attempted it since.

The task for Day 1 was to "write a lonely poem." My attempt:

Trains missed leave behind
solitary passengers
looking to the future
on empty platforms

It was fun to switch my brain to the compact construction of poetry. Pick out a prompt from the 15 already posted and give it a try. Then post your efforts in the comments.

Sketch Card Benefit Auction

Sometimes while reading other blogs, a topic strikes me as too good to pass up, and I post it here. Thanks to my friend Chris Thorne (his blog is Sketchbook by Chris and you can find the link in my bloglist), I learned of the 3rd annual Sketch Card Benefit Auction held by Comics for Cures.

Artists (including Chris) are creating sketch cards and donating them for this auction to benefit the American Cancer Society. Last year's event raised more than $6,000 and they're hoping to do even better this year. So spread the word, bid on some cards, and do what you can for this worthwhile cause.

The dates were moved -- here are the new dates:
May 1: deadline for all artists to submit materials
May 15: auction starts on eBay
May 22: gallery show at Comics 2 Games in Florence, KY

And here is the rest of the good info:
3rd Annual SKETCH CARD BENEFIT AUCTION AND GALLERY SHOW FOR AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY

Comics 2 Games is hosting a SKETCH CARD GALLERY SHOW and Benefit Auction for the American Cancer Society. Proceeds will go to the AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY.
Location: Comics 2 Games, 8470 US 42., Florence, KY 41042 phone: 859-647-7568.
For more information about participating or attending the event email: Sketchcards@bluelinepro.com or call 859-282-0096.

C2E2 April 16-18, 2010

It's a great weekend to be in Chicago, the weather will be in the 60s (which is fabulous for the Windy City this time of the year), the Cubs will take on the Houston Astros for a three-game set at historic Wrigley Field and the coolest event in comics is coming to McCormick Place -- C2E2.

Check out the link above for more information, but there is definitely something for everyone at this convention. From the A-list guest stars like Neil Gaiman, Alex Ross, Peter David, Geoff Johns and many more to the special Dr. Who screening on Friday night, C2E2 is an event not to be missed.

And you can count on the con food in Chicago to be a whole lot better than in San Diego (where the pizza is dreadful and don't get me started on the hot dogs).

LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra in concert

On Saturday, April 17, 2010, the LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra will present its spring pops concert, State Fair: A Blue Ribbon Event at the LaPorte Civic Auditorium. The concert will begin at 7:30 pm.

Guest vocalists, the LCSO Children's Choir, juggler Thomas Misch, whistler Hans Martin Werner, and a pie-baking contest are all features of what promises to be a delightful downhome evening with the orchestra. I think the only things missing are cotton candy and elephant ear vendors!

Tickets are available at the door -- $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, students and children are free. If you can't attend and would like to make a donation to the orchestra, there is a handy button on the main LCSO website.

Here's the evening's Program:

RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN: Selections from State Fair
"Our State Fair"
"It Might as Well be Spring"
"It’s a Grand Night for Singing"

ROSSINI: "William Tell Overture"
SAINT-SAENS: Theme from BABE ("Symphony No. 3, Finale")
WENDEL: "Under the Big Top"
ANDERSON: "Clarinet Candy"
HAYMEN: "Pops Hoedown"
BERNSTEIN: "Theme from Magnificent Seven"
SCHWARTZ: "The Wizard and I"
GOLDRICH: "The Alto’s Lament"
O’BOYLE: "Country Overture"
GILPIN: "Why We Sing"
QUEEN: "We Are the Champions"
Sing Alongs, and fun for the whole family

Trivia 41

This weekend, the world's largest trivia contest returns to Stevens Point, Wisconsin! Trivia 41: The Dark Side of the Contest is a title so cool, I wish I bought the T-shirt. It's not too late to register your team for this year's event, you have until 6:00 pm on Friday, but don't wait that long.

Thanks to the Internet, your team doesn't have to travel to the Stevens Point area to participate -- you can spend the weekend listening to the questions on your computer. And even if you don't have a team, test your trivia knowledge just for fun and frustration.

Enjoy the contest, and special good luck wishes to my friends on the team -- Yaargh v. The Point Sewer System (colorful team names are highly encouraged).