Hello Dear Readers, did you miss me? I was in New Orleans but now I’m back and ready to bring you the latest Pressing Matters. We’re going to talk about a variety of subjects today and here they are ... Marvel Fans going to Comic-Con - Assemble! • Vinylmation event at Downtown Disney’s D Street • Ridley Pearson book signing • D23 – What’s coming up? • The 32nd Annual Gilroy Garlic Festival • Aquarium of the Pacific and a BOGO • The Walt Disney Family Museum’s August Events • Kevin Kidney & Jody Daily and the Rocket to the Moon Sculpture • Toy Story Cake pops
The big event this weekend (well, starting today really) is Comic-Con, if you’re headed down there and you’re a Marvel Fan, you’re going to want to stop by the Marvel Entertainment Booth #2329 because they’re going to have something special for you to see:
Gazillion Entertainment, a leading developer, publisher and operator of massively multiplayer online (MMO) games for all ages, today revealed that the action-packed Super Hero Squad Online will be showcased at San Diego Comic-Con in the Marvel Entertainment booth. Dozens of Marvel's iconic Super Heroes, combat missions, and social spaces will all be available for all con-goers to play.
The action doesn't stop there! In a world premiere, Super Hero Squad Online's fully customizable headquarters system will be unveiled. Players can kit out their personal headquarters, based on the iconic S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, with collections of trophies earned by completing quests and mini-games. Additionally, players will be able to choose from hundreds of different items to customize their personal HQ. Once players are done customizing, they can watch their HQ come alive with a realistic physics system that allows them and their friends to interact with their creations.
• Developers from The Amazing Society will be holding a panel on Sunday, July 25th from 10:00am - 11:00am in Room 7AB, entitled "Super Hero Squad Online: How We Built the First All Ages Marvel MMO." Join the team for a fun and interactive Q&A.
• Additionally, Super Hero Squad Online team members will also be participating in the Marvel Animation Panel on Friday, July 23rd from 12:45pm - 1:45pm in Room 6BCF.
For more information about Super Hero Squad Online visit: http://www.heroup.com
Love ‘em or hate ‘em, Vinylmation seems to be ubiquitous at the Disney Parks right now. If you’re a fan then you don’t want to miss the Vinylmation Artist Signing and Meet & Greet scheduled for Sunday, July 25, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m at Anaheim Downtown Disney’s D-Street. Steven Miller the Project Manager for Disney Trading notes:
The particularly cool part is this event will feature the core Vinylmation art team from Disney Design Group including Thomas Scott, lead designer for Vinylmation; Eric Caszatt, Senior Graphic Designer (known for the previously discussed Vinylmation Oh Mickey!; and Lin Shih, production artist, who has designed figures, packaging and other three dimensional product modeling. Donald Ferro, Product Developer for Vinylmation, and I will also be there to meet with Vinylmation fans. It’s not often that the artists visit the West Coast, so I’m happy we will be holding this event.
For more information visit this link.
Ridley Pearson will be at the Disneyland Resort this weekend to sign his latest book, Kingdom Keepers III: Disney in Shadow. Here are the details:
Don’t miss your chance to meet acclaimed author Ridley Pearson when he appears at the Disneyland Resort to celebrate the National Launch of his newest book, Kingdom Keepers III: Disney In Shadow. In addition to signing his newest novel, Ridley will also be signing several of his best-selling novels: Kingdom Keepers III: Disney After Dark, Kingdom Keepers II: Disney at Dawn, among others. Author Ridley Pearson will be signing his new book on Saturday, July 24 from 2p.m. – 4p.m. in Brisa Courtyard, located near World of Disney Store. Books will be available to purchase at World of Disney Store.
Like Disney book signings usually are, you will need to purchase your book from the World of Disney Store in order to get it signed (and only two items per person will be signed). In other words, don’t count on bringing books you already have to get signed because that isn’t going to happen. Also, it’s been my experience that the Disney people don’t always have enough books on hand (some times they really underestimate their audience). Not saying that will be the case with this signing, but if it’s truly important to you to get Ridley to sign a book for you ... I’m just sayin’ ... get there early. For more information visit this link.
You know those D23 folks are always cooking up fun things for members to attend, and they’ve got a couple of things coming up I thought I’d mention - just in case you hadn’t heard (or maybe needed a reminder). This first one’s not for me, but hey, maybe it’s for you:
Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam premieres on Disney Channel September 3, 2010 at 8 p.m. PST/EST, but D23 Members and their guests get to rock out a month early! A screening will take place at The Walt Disney Studios on August 7th – tickets are available starting July 27th at 10:00 am PST.
For more information visit this link.
Now, this one is for me:
Disneyland '55 at the Disneyland Resort - This year is the 55th anniversary of Disneyland Resort, and D23 is celebrating this milestone year with the premiere of Destination D: Disneyland '55, a brand-new, two-day event that illuminates the fascinating history behind Disney's flagship park. Destination D: Disneyland '55 will take D23 Members on a mesmerizing journey through the design, creation, debut and magical history of the world's first Disney theme park. The event will offer two full days of special presentations, panels, screenings and guest speakers that give fans an inside view of this fascinating era in Disney history and let them meet and talk with key figures in Disneyland's history. Tickets for the September 24th & 25th Destination D are $125 & are now on sale.
For more information visit D23’s website at this link.
Finally, this last press release arrived while I was away, but is still current. D23 is hosting a Disney film festival at all three ArcLight Los Angeles locations. If you've never been to one of these theaters you're in for a real treat; they're state-of-the-art, immaculate, and have quality concessions, with even a restaurant in the Hollywood location.
Beginning August 2, D23 and ArcLight Cinemas present classic Disney movies throughout the month of August, and The Walt Disney Archives have assembled an exclusive collection of classic movie posters from more than 70 years of Disney history. (This poster wall will be displayed from July 14 to Aug. 31 at ArcLight Sherman Oaks and ArcLight Pasadena.) At each screening, moviegoers will be treated to Disney trivia and prizes courtesy of D23.
The focus is on science-fiction and fantasy at ArcLight Hollywood on Mondays:
Aug. 2: Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)
Aug. 9: The Rocketeer (1991)
Aug. 16: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)
Aug. 23: The Black Hole (1979)
Aug. 30: Escape to Witch Mountain (1975)
Animated classics are in the spotlight at ArcLight Sherman Oaks on Tuesdays:
Aug. 3: Cinderella (1950)
Aug. 10: Pinocchio (1940)
Aug. 17: Alice in Wonderland (1951)
Aug. 24: The Jungle Book (1967)
Aug. 31: Peter Pan (1953)
ArcLight Cinemas in Pasadena will be home to musicals on Wednesdays:
Aug. 4: Newsies (1992)
Aug. 11: Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)
Aug. 18: Pete’s Dragon (1977)
Aug. 25: Mary Poppins (1964)
You can purchase tickets, reserve seats and print tickets at home by visiting www.ArcLightCinemas.com. Tickets are $12.50 at ArcLight Sherman Oaks and Pasadena and $13.50 at ArcLight Hollywood. ArcLight members will receive $1 off each ticket when purchased online and printed at home.
Normally, I wouldn’t be caught anywhere near garlic (sadly, I’m allergic) let alone talk about it, but I’ll make an exception in this case to tell you all about the 32nd annual Gilroy Garlic Festival:
The “Ultimate Summer Food Fair” the Gilroy Garlic Festival is three days of food, beverages, arts & crafts, and live entertainment. TV's Top Chef Fabio Viviani returns for the 2010 Garlic Festival to conduct cooking demonstrations on July 24 & 25 and host the $5,000 Garlic Showdown on July 25. The festival will be held at Christmas Hill Park in Gilroy, CA., 30 miles south of San Jose off Highway 101.
For more information visit: http://www.gilroygarlicfestival.com/
The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is a terrific place to spend a hot summer afternoon and yesterday they twittered about a discount they’re offering to their Twitter followers:
Discount for our Twitter Followers! Buy one adult admission, get one adult admission FREE to the Aquarium of the Pacific
Since I’m one of their followers and since they said share this with anyone, I’m sharing it with you, my Pressing Matters Readers. What’s the catch? You’ve got to have a coupon to present at the ticket window, and here’s the link to grab that coupon (you won’t find any links to it on the Aquarium’s website): http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/web_coupon/information/d-twtr1007 Hurry though, as the offer is only good through July 31st. For more info on the Aquarium of the Pacific visit: http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/ or follow them on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AquariumPacific
Looking ahead to August, the Walt Disney Family Museum has some great things planned for visitors. They always offer a film of the month and August’s selection is:
Swiss Family Robinson (1960): A family … a shipwreck … a deserted island … What should they do to survive? Build a home (in a tree), protect themselves (from pirates, of course), and fall in love! Living on an uninhabited island doesn’t sound so bad after all. 1:00pm and 4:00pm in the Theater (except Tuesdays and August 13, 14, and 21.)
The museum will also be hosting what sounds like some terrific lectures. If I lived near by, I’d be planning to attend to be sure:
August 13 + 14 – Two Guys Named Joe: Academy Award-winning animator and renowned animation historian/author John Canemaker presents an illustrated lecture on Joe Grant (1908-2005) and Joe Ranft (1960-2005), two unique and important creative influences on the art of storytelling at the Walt Disney and Pixar studios. Join us for a book signing following each discussion. 6:30pm in the Theater (August 13); 3:00pm in the Theater (August 14)
August 21 – Inside the Tree House with Swiss Family Robinson Actor Tommy Kirk: An adventure of a lifetime! Learn what it was like to salvage food, live in a tree, build new inventions, and explore the island. This presentation will give you an inside look at what it was like to work with Walt and be a member of the Swiss Family Robinson cast. 3:00pm, Theater
For more information visit the museum’s website: www.waltdisney.org Facebook page: www.facebook.com/thewaltdisneyfamilymuseum or Twitter: www.twitter.com/wdfmuseum
I debated about including this next item because if it’s anything like the popcorn box that was available on Disneyland’s 55th, it could be long gone by the time you read this. But then I decided to include it because, a) It’s really terrific, and b) It cost a lot more money than the popcorn box so maybe it won’t sell out so fast. If it’s gone then do forgive me for tantalizing you, if it’s not, hey ... you can buy one. I just wanted to make sure you heard about this series of sculptures if you haven’t already (they were still available online as I wrote this).
Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily are the designers of just about the coolest Disney collectibles around and they’ve come up with five pretty fabulous replicas of vintage Disneyland attraction vehicles. I love Walt’s car and I want the Jungle Cruise boat. The first of these sculptures was released this week:
Rocket to the Moon is made of resin and metal and will be issued in an edition size of 500. This replica (one of five nostalgic attraction vehicles in honor of Disneyland parks 55th Anniversary) will be signed by Kidney and Daily and will be released Tuesday, July 20, 2010. It retails for $165.
For more information or to purchase this sculpture visit this link.
We’ll wind it up today with something that’s kind of silly but also loads of fun and looking over the directions, doesn’t seem like a whole lot of trouble to make. Popular blogger, Bakerella, is famous for her cake pops. What’s a cake pop? A nice little round ball of cakey goodness that anyone with an oven and a boxed cake mix can replicate and Bakerella came up with some darned cute cake pops for Toy Story 3.
So ... I was thinking, it’s about time to go see Toy Story 3 again, don’t you think? And what better snack to take to the movie theatre than Hamm and Potatoes? The kiddies will love it! Bakerella shows you how to make Hamm and Mr. Potato Head-shaped Cake Pops: http://www.bakerella.com/hamm-and-potatoes/
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And that should do it for this week's... |
