Big Apple Adventures: Costumes, Crowds and Cheap Entertainment

Oct. 17

November is right around the corner, which means the final installment of The Hunger Games series will be in theaters! I found out earlier this summer that there was an exhibit in Times Square featuring props and costumes from the movies, and knew I had to go see it before the final movie is released.

On my trip to NYC in fall 2012, I was ecstatic that Discovery Time Square (the same host for The Hunger Games exhibit) was featuring an exhibition for the Harry Potter series. It was incredible, but I was disappointed when I was told that photos were not allowed. With that being said, I was pleasantly surprised when I learned that only flash photography was prohibited for this exhibition.

It was definitely exciting to see all of the elaborate costumes featured in the series. It also gives you an idea of the size of the actors who wear them. I was surprised by how tall Jennifer Lawrence is, especially next to Josh Hutcherson, whom I always heard was on the shorter side. In fact, many of the mannequins wearing his costumes were on a raised platform to make up for the height difference. Poor Josh! (On a side note, I was stunned at the petite sizes of the Harry Potter costumes!)

Pictures below: Effie’s reaping day outfit; some of Katniss’ most famous outfits

  

Although I still felt it was worth the money, I didn’t walk away from this exhibition in awe like I did with the Harry Potter one years ago.

After I left, I decided to head to Rockefeller Center to see if there was anything new to see since I hadn’t been to the area since my first visit to the city back in May. Nothing had changed, but I felt it was a nice enough day outside for a spontaneous selfie.

I did make a quick run into the NBC Experience store, which had been one of the highlights of my two 2012 trips. I was extremely disappointed in May to find that their inventory had decreased and that they no longer sold merchandise from most of my favorite NBC shows. Now, however, it is called the Today Show Pop-Up Shop. There is nothing but Today Show merchandise. How sad! I’m so glad that I was able to see the store in its prime.

I ended my trip to the city with a visit to the largest discount store I’ve ever seen: Jack’s 99 Cent Store. My mom and I both love dollar stores, so needless to say I was in heaven.

Oct. 24

Yesterday was a busy day in the city for fall festivities, so Summy, Mindy, and I all met up to see what was happening. Our first stop was to Tompkins Square Park in East Village for a Halloween Dog Parade.

Although there was a grandstand where dogs took turns modeling their costumes, the rest of the event seemed like just a crowded mess. I have no idea if there was a formal parade at any point during the event, but during the short time we were there it was nothing but crowds of people hovering around dogs and taking pictures.

Here were some of my favorites:

We could only handle the suffocating crowds for so long, so we left the park to go find a place for lunch. East Village is a really unique neighborhood and the three of us enjoyed wandering the streets before we decided on Paul’s Da Burger Joint.

Delicious burger (and filling!) for a very reasonable price; we were all pleased.

Despite being quite stuffed from our lunches, the three of us walked well over a mile towards Chelsea. It took us a lot longer than we expected…guess we were still digesting.

Along the way we passed Entertainment Weekly Fest, but sadly I saw no one of interest (a.k.a a celebrity) hanging out at the entrance…just a security guard making sure people like me didn’t hover like a creep. (Kidding!)

Nearly all of the fall festivals happening in NYC took place at the same time, so when we eventually got over to the High Line for their Halloween celebration, everything was being put away. I guess it was mostly for little kids though, so it doesn’t seem like we missed much!

It was Summy’s first time visiting the High Line, so we walked the entire length of the path. Although it’s normally quite peaceful, the lingering crowds from the festival meant it was almost as crowded as Times Square. I still enjoyed the views, even if it was a pretty chilly and cloudy day.

Our last stop together was a nearby Dunkin’ Donuts, where I indulged on a pumpkin cheesecake donut. After the disappointing pumpkin froyo from Pinkberry, I needed my pumpkin fix.

So, to recap what I learned this weekend:

The Hunger Games is just as much about the wardrobe as it is about fighting to the death in an arena.

People will flock by the hundreds to go see dogs wearing costumes.

NBC apparently only has one program: The Today Show.

I was not cool enough to be invited to EWFest.

The number of dining options in NYC can make your head explode. So much food and so little time.

Big Apple Adventures: New York Comic Con

After months of anticipation, I finally had my chance to go to the second largest comic convention in the country: New York Comic Con.

During my last two years of college, I decided to go to the Wizard World comic con in downtown Columbus because of the Walking Dead actors that often attended. It was a much more intimate setting to meet the actors, and I had the chance to interact with Chandler Riggs, Scott Wilson, Norman Reedus and Andrew West during my two visits. My only complaint was the panels were often mediocre; I didn’t even attend any in 2014.

I knew that NYCC was going to be a great opportunity to meet more of the cast, as they have had a panel here for years. When I looked online in August to find when tickets were going on sale, I was shocked that they had already been sold in May. I decided, however, that it was worth spending the money to buy a Saturday pass through Stubhub, even if I was paying well above sticker price. The only problem was that the list of programming/entertainment guests was far from being finalized, and changes are often made last minute. I didn’t even know if there would be anything catered to my interests on Saturday but I took the risk. With Columbus comic con, I didn’t even bother buying a ticket until right before the event to be sure it was worth my time/money.

I found out last month that there would be a special screening of the premiere episode of the X Files revival (followed by a panel/Q&A) on the day I’d be attending. Talk about luck! I was concerned though that not only was Gillian Anderson not listed as attending (who is overseas filming a movie), but there was no mention of actors David Duchovny or Mitch Pileggi doing any autographs or photo-ops. To top it off, there was no panel for The Walking Dead at any day of the convention this year, and no actors to meet either. I guess they had a premiere party at Madison Square Garden on Friday night, but you had to be one of the lucky people to have a ticket (and you can guess by my bitterness that I was not one of them).

Since The X Files screening was about the only thing I had to look forward to at the convention, I was desperate to get a wristband for access. I was crazy enough to get up at 6:00 a.m. to make sure I was at the convention center a few hours prior to opening. I thought I was being clever by being there early. I was wrong. Instead, I showed up to find that the line to get into the building went on for blocks. I can’t even begin to imagine how early those people got there!

At that point they were already allowing people into the building, so I jumped in at the end of the line and made my way inside, where I was directed to the lines for the panels. I can’t describe how relieved I was when I got my wristband! I doubt I would have enjoyed the rest of the day if they had reached capacity before I arrived.

When the doors opened at 10 a.m., I made my way to the show floor which hosts mostly vendors. It was so early in the day that getting around was no sweat; there was hardly anyone in there! I thought Oh, this isn’t so bad! By the time I returned to the floor later, however, it was so crowded that it felt like you could barely move without bumping into someone’s costume. There was also a nearly 10-minute line for the bathroom. Yikes.

Picture below: the show floor in the morning

The building itself was enormous, and there was a lot more ground to cover than at the Columbus con. I barely made it through half of the show floor when I decided to stop for a lunch/snack break to refuel before getting back in line around 12:30 for The X Files screening. I have to say I was pretty disappointed that none of the other fans in line said anything about my Mulder shirt. I was just as bummed that I didn’t see anyone else sporting any X Files gear

Before the screening, we were told that there were men in suits walking around the room with night vision goggles to ensure no one was recording the episode to leak it. I’m not even kidding. Fox (the network, not Fox Mulder) meant business!

I obviously won’t give away any spoilers, but I will say that it was surreal to be watching a new episode seven years after the last X Files movie, and months before the rest of the country gets to see it. Plus, it was the first time David and Mitch were seeing the episode, as well.

The panel (which also featured series creator Chris Carter) was rather uneventful in my opinion. The Q&A was also quite cringe-worthy. I’m happy to say that I at least got to attend an X Files panel where most of the cast was present, even if I didn’t meet them and they were pretty far away from where I was seated. The highlight though was definitely the episode itself. As soon as it ended, my reaction was “That’s it? Where’s the rest?! I need episode 2!”

Pictures below: terrible quality images of the panel; me in my X Files gear

After the panel, my exhaustion from the early wake-up time (and a week of poor sleep) was starting to catch up with me. It was actually only 3 p.m. and it felt like midnight. I spent the rest of my time checking out the other rooms of the convention, but I admit that at that point I was pretty much just stumbling around taking pictures of things here and there. I’m pretty sure I was accidentally bumping into people and was surprised I didn’t knock over any displays. It didn’t help that the crowds had been rolling in non-stop since noon!

By 4:30 I was completely beat and decided to call it a day. I grabbed some dinner (pictured below) outside at a food truck and then dragged my butt back to the Port Authority Bus Station.

Am I glad I went? Yes, but I do not think it was worth the amount I paid. This is not the fault of the convention organizers; tickets are reasonably priced. It’s the third-party sellers who are to blame. I was also extremely disappointed that there were no entertainment guests from The Walking Dead or The X Files doing autographs and photo ops. Again, not the fault of the convention, but unfortunate nonetheless.

Will I return in the future? Possibly. But next time I will either try to buy a ticket for a better price when they are first released, or wait closer to the convention (to see who will be there) before spending the money.

So, to recap what I learned this weekend:

Even if you think you’re getting in line early for something in NYC, there are about 500+ other people with the same idea.

I care enough about a TV show to get up at 6 a.m. for a special screening.

Don’t expect actors to do autographs just because they’re at the convention for a panel. (Boo.)

There are pros and cons to both large and small comic cons.

Mac and cheese from a truck can be quite delicious.

I now have to wait three months to see episode two of the X Files revival. The struggle is real.