What’s Coming Up in September

Well, it’s the last day of the month, so I’m squeaking this list in just in time! I’ve been to WorldCon, Pi-Con, and Mary Shelley’s birthday party this past month, while fighting off the determined spambots who really want to advise you all about their fine medical products.

Everyone should remember that September 19th is International Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Multiple Locations
Sept. 23rd: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary Screening

Connecticut
The Connecticut Renaissance Faire opens the weekend of the 26th

Massachusetts
Sept. 1st: Author Appearance: Ethan Gilsdorf (With Harry and the Potters)
Sept. 12th: Women of Comics
Sept. 20th: Boston Comic Book & Toy Collector’s Spectacular
Sept. 25th-27th: MaulCon II
King Richard’s Faire opens Labor Day weekend

Rhode Island
Sept. 12th: Sci-Fi Film Fest

New York
Sept. 21: Joss Whedon hosts Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog
Sept. 25th-27th: New York Anime Festival

Montreal
Sept. 19th-20th: Montreal Comic-Con

Sci-Fi Film Fest

The Rhode Island Science Fiction Club will be hosting a Sci-Fi Film Fest at the Warwick Public Library in Warwick, RI on Saturday, September 12th from 10:00am to 4:00pm. The free event will feature classic and modern films; sci-fi art prints will be sold to benefit the library. For details see http://risfc.org/meetings/.

[Thanks to James of RISFC for the alert!]

Author Appearance: Ethan Gilsdorf (With Harry and the Potters)

On Tuesday, September 1st at 7:00pm, author Ethan Gilsdorf will present his non-fiction book Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks: An Epic Quest for Reality Among Role Players, Online Gamers, and Other Dwellers of Imaginary Realms at the Harvard Book Store in Cambridge, MA. It’s going to be more than your standard book reading and signing event, though, according to the store’s website:

In addition to the usual reading, Q&A, and book-signing, for this event there will be a trivia contest with prizes; prizes for anyone arriving in costume as his or her favorite fantasy character or creature (elf, orc, warrior, wizard, Harry Potter, etc); a reception with snacks and beverages; and an acoustic performance by Harry and the Potters that will start around 8:30.

For more information visit http://www.harvard.com/events/press_release.php?id=2330.

Boston Comic Con

Boston Comic Con will take place at the Back Bay Events Center on the weekend of October 24th-25th! Check out their very long guest list at http://www.bostoncomiccon.com/.

[Tipped off by http://www.conventionscene.com/2009/08/19/boston-comic-con-returns/]

Women of Comics

That’s Entertainment in Worcester, MA will be hosting a “Women of Comics” event on September 12th from noon to 6:00pm featuring artists Tara McPherson, Becky Cloonan, Hilary Price, Hwan Cho and Melissa Dejesus. They will be sketching and signing comics. For information about the store, visit http://www.thatse.com/; the event also has a Facebook entry at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Thats-Entertainment/46993884729#/event.php?eid=114044568518&ref=mf.

[Tip via http://www.conventionscene.com/2009/08/16/ma-women-of-comics/]

Rock and Shock 2009

The Rock and Shock convention will return to Worcester, MA the weekend of October 16th-18th to bring you a mix of music and horror fandom. The guest list includes actors Malcolm McDowell, Derek Mears, Doug Jones, Jason Mewes, Margot Kidder, and Kane Hodder, among others, as well as writers and artists. Musical performers include Jim Rose, the Misfits, and Insane Clown Posse. According to the website:

Forget what you know about horror conventions and music fests because we’ve got news for you. MassConcerts, New England’s largest indie concert promoter and WAAF, Boston’s top rock station are teaming up once again to present the 6th Annual Rock & Shock – the only event of its kind in the Northeast.

We are not like other boring horror conventions! We were the first to blend horror conventions with music. So while fans can meet their favorite horror film stars, directors, writers and bands during the day – at night we have well-known national bands performing each night next door at The Palladium…That’s why this event is called Rock & Shock.

The live music takes place at The Palladium. The convention part takes place next door at DCU Convention Center. It includes horror film actors, directors, make-up artists, costume designers, film makers and distributors, tattoo artists, toy and model makers, costume contests, horror industry professionals and vendors, comic book artists & vendors, film screenings, CD and DVD vendors, appearances and signings with bands playing the Palladium, models and actors in costume, and many other artists and vendors. Also note that this event is so popular that vendor space is sold out every year.

For more information and a complete list of bands and guests visit http://www.rockandshock.com/.

[Tip via Arisia's mailing list]

Wild Ink

The “Wild Ink” fundraiser to benefit the Boston Comics Roundtable will be held on August 20th at 8:30pm at P.A.’s Lounge in Somerville, MA. Here’s how the organizers describe it:

“Wild Ink,” a live arts and music event, will be held at P.A.’s Lounge on Thursday, August 20th. “Wild Ink” is a fundraiser for the Boston Comics Roundtable, and will include amazing live comics creation, artistic head-to-head showdowns, the world’s most unusual live sketch gallery, big raffle prizes, and live music from Rotary.

Created in 2006, the Boston Comics Roundtable is a collective of comics creators in the Greater Boston area. Its mission: to network, teach, workshop, encourage, and publish the best and brightest artists and writers in the creation of comics. All proceeds will benefit the upcoming publication of Inbound #4, A Comics Anthology, featuring local artists taking on the strange but true history of Boston.

Note that this will be an 18+ event. For details visit http://www.bostoncomicsroundtable.com/bcr_event_wildink.html and http://www.paslounge.com/.

[Tip via http://www.conventionscene.com/2009/08/10/ma-wild-ink/]

“The Wizard of Oz” 70th Anniversary Screening

On September 23rd, movie theaters nationwide will screen a new hi-definition version of the classic movie The Wizard of Oz, and they’ll be making a big event out of it with additional material:

NCM Fathom, Warner Home Video and Turner Classic Movies present The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary Hi-Def Event featuring the first ever High Definition presentation in movie theatres nationwide of The Wizard of Oz. This One Night Event will take place in over 440 movie theatres nationwide on Wednesday, September 23rd at 7:00 p.m. (local time). In addition to the feature presentation of The Wizard of Oz, this exclusive event will include a special introduction by Robert Osborne, a classic film historian and host of Turner Classic Movies, followed by “We’re Off to See the Wizard,” a look into how L. Frank Baum’s classic novel was transformed into one of the most beloved films of all time including archival interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and rare musical outtakes. Also featured will be an exclusive clip of the Scarecrow, Ray Bolger, dancing in High-definition for the very first time.

To find a participating theater near you, visit http://www.ncm.com/Fathom/Premiere/WizardofOz.aspx and put your zip code into the search box. I have found theaters in ME, MA, CT, RI and VT on the list (poor NH doesn’t seem to be getting any love).

RiffTrax Live: Plan Nine from Outer Space

The team from RiffTrax provides movie-commenting comedy, and they do it best because they’re also the folks who created Mystery Science Theater 3000. On Thursday, August 20th, at 8:00pm, theaters nationwide will be participating in a simulcast event, during which the RiffTrax gang — Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy (Tom Servo) and Bill Corbett (Crow T. Robot) — will provide live commentary from a theater in Nashville while watching the ultimate in bad movies, “Plan Nine from Outer Space.” Free goodies have been promised!

There are too many theaters participating to list here; visit http://www.rifftrax.com/ and go to the RiffTrax Live page, then enter your zip code to find the nearest theater. I have been able to find participating theaters in MA, CT, VT, and ME.

Author Appearance: Jake Halpern and Peter Kujawinski

Authors Jake Halpern and Peter Kujawinski will appear at Brookline Booksmith in Brookline, MA to present their fantasy tale Dormia on Wednesday, August 19th at 7:00pm. See http://www.brooklinebooksmith.com/events/mainevent.html for more information.