A Look Inside Des Moines's Retro Arcade

I am not a huge fan of arcade games, but I love arcades! The atmosphere of being surrounded by people having fun, hearing the sounds of old electromechanical gizmos, it's just a delight. My favorite place in Pittsburgh is an arcade - it's the place I got married. Needless to say, it was the hardest thing to say goodbye too when we had to move to Iowa last year. Luckily, we had Up Down to keep us entertained.

Adventure in Pittsburgh

I first moved to Pittsburgh for college in 2010. Like most of my fellow filmmaking students, my plan was to graduate and then save up money until I could afford to move to LA and find work in the biz. Then I met a girl, and five years after graduation I am still here. And now, because I love that girl so much, it is time for us to say goodbye to this city.

3 Rivers Comicon 2019

After Pittsburgh Comicon closed its doors in 2014, the Steel City was left without a true comic book convention. That was until 2016 saw New Dimension Comics, a local chain of comic shops, launch the first 3 Rivers Comicon. For three years they put the comic back in comic con at the dying Century III Mall. When the region’s once golden shopping center breathed its last breath, the 3 Rivers Comicon moved on to the Waterfront in Homestead. Did the mall take the con down with it, or has 3 Rivers Comicon found its new, permanent home?

The Wizard of Oz Comes to Life at Midnight Radio

It seems like I can’t review a normal play in this town. The mission of the Downtown-based Bricolage Production Company is to immerse artists and audiences in adventurous theatrical experiences. One such project is Midnight Radio, a live radio show in the style of old-timey radio dramas. Their current show takes audiences down a familiar yellow brick road.

My Adventure Plans for 2019

It’s officially spring… Well… It’s officially what calendars consider to be spring, which means it’s time to start packing up to head out into the wild world of geeky adventures. That means it’s time to start planning out what conventions and other events I am planning on heading to for the rest of the year.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Brings Pure Imagination to Pittsburgh

I’m not the biggest fan of Broadway, but I know a good time when I see it. So when Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory opened up downtown, saw my golden ticket and I took it in hand and jumped into a world of pure imagination. Check out my review of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory after the jump.

Sangawa Project brings a relaxing anime convention to Downtown Pittsburgh

I love all the geeky things to do in Pittsburgh and my all-time favorite is Tekko, the region’s #1 Japanese pop culture convention. The organizers of Tekko, the Pittsburgh Japanese Culture Society, host a sister event called Sangawa Project. Unlike Tekko, Sangawa is 18+ and has previously been held in a venue too far away for me to justify attending. This year, Sangawa was held right in the heart of Downtown Pittsburgh, so it’s time to check in with Pittsburgh’s anime convention for adults.

toyPAlooza Brings Retro Toys to Pittsburgh

I’ve always said that Pittsburgh is a geeky town with lots of geeky events. We have comic cons, anime cons, gaming cons, even a furry con. But one thing it has never had is a retro toy and collectible show. Holding its inaugural event this November, the toyPalooza Toy Show aims to fill that void.

Black Panther Costumes on Display at Heinz History Center

Ruth E. Carter is the Academy Award-nominated costume designer behind critically acclaimed films including Malcolm X, Selma, Do the Right Thing, and Serenity. Most recently, her work was featured in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Black Panther. I had the opportunity to see these costumes up close at the Heinz History Center.

Adventures in Pittsburgh Vol. 4: Bloomfield

Bloomfield is a small neighborhood in Pittsburgh sometimes known as our Little Italy. Due to its closeness to some major colleges, it’s become a home to lots of young people. It’s also the home to a few geeky shops that I was able to check out earlier this year. Hit the jump to see what Bloomfield has going for it!

3 Rivers Comicon 2018

I started going to cons in 2014. I met some friends at Tekko and they invited me to Pittsburgh Comicon. It was and still is one of the best experiences I’ve ever had at a fan convention. Unfortunately, that was the last year of the Pittsburgh Comicon and now it’s just a memory. There are still plenty of cons - maybe too many! - in this city, but none have truly captured the essence of Pittsburgh Comicon. But there is hope! Back for its third year is 3 Rivers Comicon, a convention dedicated to putting the comic back in comic con. Check out how it went this year after the jump.

REVIEW: Potted Potter

Last year saw the twentieth anniversary of the Harry Potter series and the tenth anniversary since the final book was released. Since the series concluded with The Deathly Hallows in 2007, J. K. Rowling has kept the wizarding world alive through a cavalcade of controversial moves that have left many wondering if Harry Potter really belongs to its author or its fans. As such, the past decade has been filled a myriad of fanworks from musicals and web series to charities and live-action roleplaying events. One group of fans have even taken up an impossible-sounding challenge: performing all seven Harry Potter books in just seventy minutes with only two actors. Does it work? Find out in my full review of Potted Potter after the jump.

Pittsburgh Retro Gaming Convention 2018

This past weekend was the Pittsburgh Retro Gaming Convention, a gathering of fans of all video games, new and old, to share their love of gaming. There’s vendors, tournaments, panels, and even music! This year’s convention was their biggest one yet!

Tekko 2018

Something smelled off at Tekko this year - and it wasn’t the ramen bar. Pittsburgh’s premiere convention for anime and Japanese pop culture has been, for the past 4 years, one of the highlights of my year and the best weekends of my life. This year? Eh. I just can’t put my finger on it, but I just didn’t have the life-changing experience that I usually get out of Tekko. That being said, I did still enjoy myself. Hit the jump to find out what I was up to this year.

Saturday Morning Update #65

Saturday Morning Update is a weekly series where I talk about my adventures in geek life from the previous week. Read on to find out a little bit more about what I did this week, including what I’ve been watching, reading, and playing.

REVIEW: Up and Away

I was never really crazy about plays growing up. I’d see them, have a good time, and move on with my life. I’d much rather see a superhero movie than a play. Luckily for me, there’s a new show in town that’s got the best of both worlds. Read on for my full review of the musical superhero comedy Up and Away.

REVIEW: Musical Thrones: A Parody of Ice and Fire

The final season of HBO’s mega-popular adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s fantasy epic may be a few long winters away, but Game of Thrones fans can still get a taste of Westeros through a fan-made stage production. Five actors. Seven seasons. One show. Hit the jump to check out my full review of Musical Thrones: A Parody of Ice and Fire.

REVIEW: One Man Dark Knight

Charles Ross is a Canadian performer who started doing geeky one-man shows in 2001 with the release of One Man Star Wars, a show so popular it went on the road all over North America. Ross’s unique style of storytelling was so renowned it earned him a spot on the stage at Lucasfilm’s official Star Wars convention, Celebration III. Star Wars was followed by One Man Lord of the Rings and now, Ross has a new one-man show about a little boy named Bruce.

New York Comic Con 2017

This past weekend I headed up to New York City for my first ever New York Comic Con! It was so exciting and there was so much going on I knew right away I wasn't going to be able to see everything at all. Check out the whole thing with a vlog after the jump!

Adventures in Pittsburgh Vol. 3 - Victory Pointe

Victory Pointe is an arcade and gaming cafe that boasts two jam-packed floors of gaming. But it’s more than just a place to play games. I first stepped foot inside Victory Pointe exactly two years ago, and on that day my life changed. Read on to find out why Victory Pointe is my favorite place in the world.