Saturday, September 14, 2013

Knowing is Half the Battle - DFW GI Joe and Action Figure Show

On Saturday, September 21, 2013 the DFW GI Joe and Action Figure Show II will be held in Grapevine, Texas.  I talked with Keith from the Dallas-Fort Worth GI Joe Collector's Club about the upcoming toy show.














The Fine Details:
DFW GI Joe and Action Figure Show II
September 21, 2013
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Grapevine Convention Center
1209 South Main Street
Grapevine, TX 76051

Admission:
$5.00
$10.00 for families
Free admission for Boy Scouts in uniform as well as military, police, fire fighters, and other law enforcement with valid ID












Be sure to check out the show's Facebook page as well as the home of the GI Joe Collector's Club for more information!


Note:  All above information is provided based on contents of the websites maintained by the conventions in question.  Any inaccuracies are not the responsibility of said conventions or Convention Awareness Project - Texas.  This is a free service to both conventions and convention goers and errors are certainly possible.  Please consult the websites of the individual shows for further information when planning to attend any given show.

Visit my table, The JediCole Universe, if you want to get one of these incredible 20" x 8" Executive Order 66 prints!  Just $5 each or 2 for $9!  


They are printed on heavy stock, fully licensed, and produced by C2 Ventures (published in 2006).

Thursday, August 22, 2013

The Show Must Go On! - An Open Letter to the Texas Convention-Going Community

Welcome to my labor of love.


The Convention Awareness Project -TX website went live on Tuesday, January 1, 2013 and featured what is intended to be the most comprehensive listing of conventions in Texas to be found anywhere on the internet.  Spawned from a personal dedication to the Texas convention scene and as an offshoot of two live Convention Awareness Day events held in past years, it was my express purpose to create a one-stop resource for convention goers to discover every single show being held in the Lone Star State.  Furthermore, I wanted to feature more than just a month-to-month listing, so I began to seek out interviews with the organizers and promoters of the shows featured.   

Co-hosting $1 Star Wars Auction, All-Con 2010 (Addison, TX)
For the early part of the year these ends were achieved remarkably well.  I received tremendous support from convention organizers when it came to utilizing this resource for free promotion of their shows.  And frankly I had more time at my disposal to seek out such interviews and meticulously search for conventions of fan interest that had escaped my initial sweeps in late 2012 and early 2013.  In more recent months it has been a challenge to simply keep the listings updated as new shows come to my attention.  Various constraints have left this site wanting for attention and new content. 

The Mighty Placeholder hosts Super-Hero Sunday, All-Con 2011 (Addison, TX)
This has been bothersome to me and my plan is to put a greater effort into this site now that my primary home on the internet, The JediCole Universe, is running at full steam with a compliment of recurring features.  I will be reaching out to the promoters of conventions coming up between September and December to obtain interviews and return to more detailed features on all upcoming conventions week to week.   At present I am also compiling the initial 2014 listings so if you are aware of any conventions coming up in Texas in the new year, please drop me a line here.  

Attending 2011's Universal Collectibles Show (Fort Worth, TX)
When I created CAP-TX I had the fan community in mind first and foremost.  Support and praise for this site from said community has been nothing short of amazing.  While you can find listings for every one of the shows I cover here on the internet somewhere, mine is the only site that brings them all together in one place with links to the individual sites of each convention for your convenience.  An unexpected offshoot of this site was as a resource for convention vendors.  As a former show dealer of over 20 years I was amazed that this use of the site had not occurred to me from the outset.  Furthermore, an artist friend of mine wrote to me this year to express her gratitude for this site as a means to find more venues to showcase and sell her work.  

JediCole's Morning After, All-Con 2011 (Addison, TX)
Through various channels, including hundreds of postcards I have distributed at conventions in the state, word is spreading about Convention Awareness Project - Texas.  If you have friends who enjoy attending conventions please link this site from your Facebook or other social media sites, ask your local comic shop to request postcards for this site, and let the promoters of your favorite shows know about my efforts.  

Moderating a panel with Tim Taylor at Strip! Dallas Webcomics Expo 2012
We are fortunate in Texas to have one of the larger convention scenes in the United States, one which grows every year.  Supporting such shows, large and small, will insure that we always have plenty of conventions around the state during the years to come.  My personal goal with this site is to generate excitement for, as well as awareness of, the Texas convention scene.  Having missed out on many a show in my day it seemed the best possible service to fandom to create and maintain such a website.  

Costume Contest judging, All-Con 2009 (Addison, TX)
Remember - You Can't Go If You Don't Know!

Cole "JediCole" Houston
Founder, Convention Awareness Project - Texas

P.S. If you would like to be a part of CAP-TX by writing feature articles on upcoming shows, your personal convention experience, or aspects of convention-going (costuming, volunteering, show production, etc.) please drop me a line.


Thursday, March 28, 2013

Texas Conventions Lose an Unsung Hero


There are those of us in the convention scene here in Texas that seem to be everywhere.  Convention fixtures among whom I count myself.  Those of us who not only attend or sell at conventions but also have a presence that leaves a lasting impression.  You may not know all of these folks by name, but you know the people of which I speak.  And one of these folks simply can’t be missed in a crowd – PurrKayla!  If you have attended conventions in the Dallas/Fort Worth area especially (as well as Austin’s Wizard World incarnations) you have undoubtedly seen our favorite feline super-hero.  And you may well have met Tom as well, her husband, assistant in super-heroics, and constant companion.



On Friday, March 22, 2013 I received the sad news that Tom had passed away.  I have had the privilege to have known Tom and PurrKayla for a number of years now.  And further to have, in some small way, been a part of launching the very public convention presence they shared.   If you ever met or saw PurrKayla at a convention you would never forget her.  She loves conventions, fandom, and above all the kids to whom she is the most approachable super-hero in the world.  And you likely saw or even met Tom, her unassuming number one fan, ever just outside of the spotlight because that is where he preferred to be.  He was not PurrKayla’s sidekick so much as the Alfred to her Batman, the Jarvis to her Avengers – always there for whatever is needed.

There is another hero with whom I am most familiar, the Mighty Placeholder.  He is most often seen at All-Con and is known as “the hero’s hero”.  I feel that convention goers need to know there was another hero’s hero, the hero to not only PurrKayla but  to all of us who strive to enhance and celebrate the richly diverse convention scene.  His name was Tom. 
He was the hero behind the hero, the star behind the star.  And all of us who frequent conventions in Texas, especially in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, owe him a debt of gratitude. 

Farewell my friend.

Cole “JediCole Houston
March 28, 2013

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Fun With Deadpool in April

From the very first convention I ever attended, a small hotel show put on by Duncanville Bookstore back in the early 80s, I have been silly for conventions.  As an attendee, a vendor, a panelist, an emcee, and even a producer, I have had a history with the Texas convention scene that spans three decades.  And even with all of that history I can still be taken by surprise when someone in the convention community reaches out to me.  Thus was the case when Chris of North Texas Comic Book Shows asked if I might be interested in moderating a panel discussion on the Marvel anti-hero Deadpool!















Needless to say the answer was yes!  Very interested, indeed.  And while Deadpool is not a character who’s exploits I have followed, I have moderated discussions with a lot less to go on at the outset.  And this is more than just the character in the mix.  Deadpool artist Carlo Barberi and Deadpool: Merc With a Mouth writer Victor Gischler will be guests of the next North Texas Comic Book Show on Saturday, April 13, 2013 in Dallas.  If you are planning to attend be sure to check out the panel as I talk all things Deadpool with two of the folks behind making him one of the most popular characters in the Marvel Universe! 




But there is so much more!  The North Texas Comic Book Show consistently brings you a variety of dealers selling comic books, action figures, Hot Wheels, original art, toys, and collectibles.  You never know what you will find at this show.  And they always have some fun surprises in store.  Stay tuned for more as we get a bit closer to April.  I hope to see you there!

Monday, February 25, 2013

All-Con 2013: Have You Ever Wondered What Monopoly Would Be Like If It Was Fun?


So if you were wondering what that cash-clutching baby in the top hat was all about (and what it had to do with the JediCole Universe) then your answer is now here.  As part of ongoing, cross-website pre-show coverage of All-Con 2013, the following is an explanation and more.


This intrepid little fellow is the official mascot for Life Isn’t Fair Monopoly, a variation on the game created by Mrs. JediCole nearly a decade ago.  After thorough play-testing it was brought to All-Con 2007 with scheduled open play on Friday night.  While the game attracted only a handful of players the first night, word of mouth insured a much larger group the next night.  And while there was nothing scheduled for Sunday, she was tracked down by some of her repeat players and an impromptu game was played at the hotel bar!


Needless to say, Life Isn’t Fair Monopoly has been a much-anticipated aspect of All-Con ever since.  With such elements as Welfare, dependant children, and a lottery, this truly is Monopoly if it was fun to play.  Each player starts the game with property and going to jail has a few twists of its own, including potentially framing another player!  You can go from rags to riches to rags during the course of a game of LIF Monopoly, something that would never happen in traditional game play.


If you are attending All-Con 2013, be sure to be a part of this long running tradition.  Mrs. JediCole will be hosting up to three separate boards (Veteran Player and New Player boards plus one additional as back up should the crowd exceed last year’s turn-out) on Friday and Saturday night.  Be sure to sign up each day as there are only eight players per board each night and those chairs fill up quickly.

Life Isn’t Fair Monopoly*
Presented by Catherine “Mrs. JediCole” Houston
Friday 11 PM – 2 AM in the Maple Room
Saturday 11 PM – 2 AM in the Maple Room

*Life Isn’t Fair Monopoly is open to all paid attendees of All-Con 2013 (up to 24 players over three boards).  Preregistration on the sign up sheet outside the Maple Room is highly recommended.  Unclaimed chairs will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Monday, February 18, 2013

Want to Attend Staple! For Free? Then Tell Me Why


Late this week the details of Staple! The Independent MediaExpo (along with an interview with the founder) will appear on this very website.  In the mean time I would like to give you the opportunity to attend this amazing event for free!  “Uncle Staple” was goodly enough to forward a pair of passes to the show (held March 2-3, 2013 in Austin, Texas) to share with those who frequent this site.  Now I just need to find them a new home!


If you are able to attend Staple! next weekend then please send me an email and briefly explain why you should get the free passes.  I will look over all of the entries and choose the most compelling explanation as the winner.  The lucky recipient will be notified by email and the passes will be mailed right away.  Please be sure to be able to reply to your email promptly so I can get the tickets to you in time should you win, or include a mailing address with your entry to save some time. 

This contest will close on Friday, February 22, 2013 at 12 PM Central (so as to be able to get the tickets in the mail as soon as possible).  Use “Send Me to Staple” in the subject of your email so I know it is not spam.  I look forward to reading the reasons why you should go to Staple! 

Friday, February 15, 2013

Find a Little Bit of Everything at G.A.T.O. Con This Weekend

This very weekend the campus of Texas A&M - Kingsville will play host to G.A.T.O. Con!


This convention brings gaming and anime fandom together with a variety of other genres under one roof.  From cosplay to sci-fi to just about anything that interests fans, G.A.T.O. Con continues a fine tradition of filling a weekend with fun.  

But don't just take my word for it.  Here is what Cory, founder of this convention, had to say in a recent interview...



Podcast Powered By Podbean


The Fine Details
G.A.T.O. Con 
February 16-17, 2013
Saturday: 9 AM - 11 PM
Sunday: 9 AM - 8 PM

Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Memorial Student Union Building
700 University Boulevard
Kingsville, TX

Admission:
Both Days - $30.00
Saturday - $20.00
Sunday - $15.00
$10 per day discount with TAMUK, military, or high school ID.  Children 10 and under accompanied by parent or guardian are free.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Sci-Fi Expo Brings a Ton of Guests (and a Ton of Fun) to DFW This Weekend!

If you like your conventions chock full of media guests then you need look not further than Irving, Texas and this year's Sci-Fi Expo!



One of the Dallas area's longest running conventions, the Sci-Fi Expo yet again brings a vast array of celebrity guests to appeal to every taste and genre.  Comic book, film, television, and other guests abound in this convention extravaganza.  And they have a cavernous dealer room in the bargain!  


This year's line-up includes such favorites as Gil Gerard and Erin Gray of Buck Rogers fame, Edward James Olmos, Tricia Helfer, and James Callis from Battlestar Galactica,  Bruce Boxleitner and Cindy Morgan from Tron, Christopher Lloyd and Lea Thompson from Back to the Future, and Laurie Holden and Danai Gurira of The Walking Dead.  Do you sense a theme here?  Other media guests include Avery Brooks, Billy Boyd, Sam Witwer, Kevin Sorbo, and many more!  













And as always they have a great variety of comic book guests including writer/artist George Perez, Adam Hughes, Michael Golden, and Steve Erwin to name a few.  You can see the entire guest list right here.  And did we mention the huge number of dealers that will have collectibles galore there?

The Fine Details:
Sci-Fi Expo
February 9-10, 2013
11 AM - 7 PM Saturday
10 AM - 5 PM Sunday
Irving Convention Center
500 Las Colinas Blvd.
Irving, TX

Admission:
$40.00 Priority 2-Day Pass
$25.00 Saturday General Admission 
$20.00 Sunday General Admission
$5.00 - Kids 5-12 (per day)
Free - Kids 4 and under 

By the way, this show is HUGE!  And so is the venue.  Be prepared by checking out the floorplan so you know where to go when you go.  The Irving Convention Center is a massive building so be prepared to log some miles.  Also it is highly recommended that you arrive early for the best parking (this center has a huge parking garage but there is a fee to park for the day, so keep that in mind when budgeting your day at the Expo). 

C2 Ventures has been putting on conventions in the DFW are for close to 20 years now and they always pull out the stops.  There is literally something for everyone from celebrity and media guests to the independent artists and publishers who exhibit there, to that previously mentioned ton of dealers selling all manner of cool stuff. If  you are not able to attend the Sci-Fi Expo, be sure to check out their other upcoming shows - Dallas Comic Con (May 2013) and Fan Days (October 2013).  You will see more coverage of these shows in the future right here at Convention Awareness Project Texas.  

You Can't Go If You Don't Know!






Saturday, February 2, 2013

Attention Collectors! Get to San Antonio This Weekend!

Yes, if you are an avid collector of Hot Wheels, comic books, action figures, statues, or other pop culture favorites then in just one week there is an event in the Alamo City that you just don't want to miss! 




I am of course talking about the very first Texas Collectibles Expo, brought to us by the folks at Texas Comic Con.  This one day tabletop show promises a variety of collectibles dealers offering their wares from 65 tables.  And you can even meet me, "JediCole" Houston at the show!  I will be there promoting this very site as well as the parent site, The JediCole Universe while selling a few things from my collection.  Drop by and get your official JediCole Universe trading card (while supplies last) and learn more about what is coming up at Conventions all over Texas.

Of course there will be a whole lot more to be seen at this great show.  Collectibles of every kind and likely some bargains to be had in the mix.  Expo producer Kris tells us more...



You Can't Go If You Don't Know!

The Fine Details:
Texas Collectibles Expo
February 9, 2013
9 AM - 5 PM
Mariott Courtyard
11605 State Hwy 151
San Antonio, TX 78251

Admission: $5.00 (Adult)
Children free with adult supervision.

Below is a layout of the show floor for the Texas Collectibles Expo.  "X" marks the spot where you can find the table for The JediCole Universe.



JCU Trading Card Available at Texas Collectibles Expo!


There is more to JediCole (founder of CAP-TX) than Star Wars.  Discover for yourself at the parent website of this site, The JediCole Universe, today!


Special thanks to Stuart Baulk of Midnight Movie Cowboys for assistance with the audio file for this feature.

Get Your Game (Roleplay/Tabletop/LARP) On at OwlCon!

In just under two weeks the campus of Rice University in Houston, Texas will again become a gamer's paradise!



OwlCon is a gaming convention with a lot of history.  At just over 30 years old it has been around longer than many of the games being played this year!  A quick overview of their 2013 lineup reveals no less than 61 different board and card games (think "Ticket to Ride", "Battlestar Galactica" and "Puerto Rico" rather than "Monopoly" and Texas Hold 'Em) along with rich variety of miniatures (historical and other) and roleplay (tabletop and live action) games.  But don't just take my word for it.  Here's what Angelo of OwlCon XXXII had to say...


You Can't Go If You Don't Know!

The Fine Details:
OwlCon XXXII (a.k.a. OwlCon 2013)
February 15-17, 2013
Rice University
Houston, TX

Friday, February 15 
Convention Building 6:00 PM - 1:00 AM
Primary Gaming Slots 8:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Dealers 6:00 PM - 12:00 AM

Saturday, February 16

Convention Building 9:00 AM - 1:00 AM
Primary Gaming Slots 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
                                    3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
                                    8:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Dealers 9:00 AM - 12:00 AM


Sunday, February 17

Convention Building 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Primary Gaming Slots 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
                                    3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Dealers 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Admission:
Weekend Pass - $25.00 (preregistration*)
                           $30.00 (at the door)
One Day Pass - $18.00 (preregistration*)
                          $20.00 (at the door)
*Preregistration ends Friday, February 8, 2013.
Currently enrolled students, faculty, and staff of Rice University receive a discount on admission.  See the OwlCon website for details.


There is more to JediCole (founder of CAP-TX) than Star Wars.  Discover for yourself at the parent website of this site, The JediCole Universe, today!


Special thanks to Stuart Baulk of Midnight Movie Cowboys for assistance with the audio file for this feature.


Friday, February 1, 2013

You Can't Go If You Don't Know - February 2013 Update

It is a brand new month and like most this year it is chock full of conventions here in the Lone Star State!  If you don't want to miss out then you owe it to yourself to watch this post.  If other shows come to my attention they will be automatically added to the list, thereby altering what you might see today.  I have already had to add two shows to the February listings and that was before the end of January!  Note: All conventions mentioned below in red have links to the CAP-TX features specific to the individual show, many with organizer interviews!



So what does this second month of the new year have to offer the convention goer?  Why there is the (recently added) monthly DFW Toy & Diecast Show as well as the Texas Collectibles Expo (where I will be found next weekend, please stop by my table and say hello).  The recurring Awseome Toy Collectors Show is coming as well.  



If collectibles are not your thing there are two conventions that focus on anime, the adult anime fan Ushicon leads the monthly offerings along with GATOCon, a show that includes anime as one of its various focus themes (check their website for details on the mix), Con DFW returns for the sci-fi literary crowd, and OwlCon offers something for everyone in the realm of tabletop and roleplay gaming!  And Furry Fiesta brings together furries of every species (would that be right?) under one roof at the hotel that also plays host to All-Con and FenCon later in the year.

And of course there is C2 Venture's voluminous extravaganza of fandom, the Sci-Fi Expo!  




Individual profiles for each show (with details on location, pricing, etc.) will be forthcoming in the next few days and weeks along with interviews with the convention producers whenever possible.  Keep checking back for all the details. 

February
8-10 Ushicon 2013 (Round Rock, TX)
DFW Toy & Diecast Show (Arlington, TX)
Texas Collectibles Expo (San Antonio, TX) 
9-10 Sci-Fi Expo (Irving, TX)
15-17 Con DFW XII (Addison, TX)
15-17 OwlCon XXXII (Houston, TX)
16-17 GATOCon 2013 (Kingsville, TX)
17 Awesome Toy Collectors Show (Houston, TX)
22-24 Furry Fiesta 2013: Time Travelers Ball (Addison, TX)


And this is just February!!!

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

CAP-TX All-Con 2013 Coverage Begins...SOON!

What does this little fellow have to do with All-Con 2013?  



This and other questions about All-Con 2013 (Addison, TX; March 8-10, 2013) will be answered in the coming days and weeks as the official Three-Site Pre-Show Coverage of All-Con begins in earnest.  



Special coverage of a variety of aspects of this amazing convention can be found here, on The JediCole Universe site, as well as my other podcasting home, the United States of Geekdom.  To kick off this coverage I am publishing a very important announcement.  

Headlining guest for 2013, Sylvester McCoy (Doctor Who, The Hobbit) has cancelled his appearance due to conflicting professional obligations.  All-Con is offering an impressive line-up of guests and the most voluminous quantity of programming in its nine year history, so if you love a good weekend show packed full of more things than you can imagine, buy your membership today!  Find out for yourself why this is the most highly recommended convention I will be covering all year. 


Saturday, January 26, 2013

Convention Alert! Mini A-Kon is TODAY!

To say tracking of conventions in Texas alone is a challenge (albeit a fun one) is an understatement.  Just yesterday no less than eight new shows were added to the mix for the rest of 2013.  Then this morning I got an invitation via Facebook to yet another show!

For those who want a head start on the fun and festivities of A-Kon 24 at the end of May there is a very special event today only.  My apologies for this short notice but I only found out less than half an hour ago!  The event is, of course, Mini A-Kon VI in Denton, TX.  


Fans of anime will gather at the North Branch of the Denton Public Library today to celebrate their favorite genre of animation.  This free event offers a glimpse into what A-Kon itself is like (on a much smaller scale) and is absolutely free!  There will be voice actors from Funimation on hand, an Art Show and a Cosplay Contest.  Plus you will find local artists, open gaming, anime screenings, and other activities all afternoon.


The Fine Details:  
Mini A-Kon VI
Saturday, January 26, 2013
10 AM - 5 PM
Denton Public Library North Branch
3020 North Locust
Denton, TX 76209
Admission: Free

Remember, You Can't Go If You Don't Know!

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Steampunk Comes to San Antonio This Weekend!

The new year is only just getting going and already I find myself covering another show and yet again in San Antonio, Texas!  So it is shaping up to be a great weekend to find yourself down that way!



The event in question is something of a mini convention for those who are really into steampunk in its various incarnations.  This is one of the most unique conventions I've ever encountered as it is something of a formal gathering of enthusiasts but is very much open to those who are keen to discover this community.  In other words, no steampunk costume required!  This is of course The Gray Ball to be held over two nights at the historic Spanish Governor's Palace over the course of two nights.



Presented by the San Antonio Neo-Victorian Association, this unique spin off from Aetherfest is the first of a series of such events to be presented throughout the year.  I spoke with Pablo, one of the producers of The Gray Ball about this weekend's festivities...



The Gray Ball
January 18 and January 19
5 PM - 10 PM (both nights)   
Spanish Governor's Palace
105 Plaza de Armas
San Antonio, TX  78205

Pre-Registration (through January 16, 2013 only, see website link)
Ticket prices include both nights of the event, single night tickets are available only at the door.
$35.00 Standard
$55.00 VIP
$150-$200 Chrononaut Pass

At the Door (limited availability)
$40.00 (both nights)
$25.00 (Saturday or Sunday only)

Check back in the coming months for news of future such Steampunk events in San Antonio including the upcoming Arcadian Clockwork this spring!

Eckman's Card, Comic, and Toy Show Says Goodbye...Sort Of


This Saturday, January 19, 2013, marks the end of a chapter in Texas convention history.  After 20 years Eckman’s Card, Comic and Toy Show will be presenting their final incarnation at the Live Oak Center just outside of San Antonio, TX.  While this, thankfully, does not mark the demise of the show itself, it does bring an end to something of a tradition in Texas.  A tradition I knew precious little about until last October.  NOTE: The Eckman's website has extensive information on the new venue in New Braunfels but this weekend's show is in Live Oak!


As a convention dealer off and on for easily 30 years I had head the name Eckman’s mentioned more than once by colleagues.  All too often I was told that I really needed to get on the waiting list for this show as it consistently brought in the crowds.  So much so that it was said that you could expect to be on the waiting list for tables for as much as a year!  Few if any are the collectibles shows that can boast that level of dealer loyalty.  But unfortunately I was never personally able to sell at one of these shows and had only attended the penultimate one just about three months back.  And what I saw was as impressive and spoke of the show’s history and importance as a local venue for collectors.

Dale Eckman, the show’s founder and namesake, was very much in presence throughout the day.  In him I saw something of myself when I produced my own Comic, Toy, and Collectibles Swap Meets some years back.  Here was the heart of the convention zipping here and there, trading jokes and greetings with the vendors, engaging those attending, and generally having the time of his life.  He appeared to be a man very much in his element.  And he was adding to the fun by personally leading a procession of costume contest (it was near Halloween after all) hopefuls around the entire center in view of all.  When a convention is simply a venue for buyers, the addition of anything that makes it an event helps make it more than an opportunity to spend money (on admission) for the purpose of spending more money.

The event itself was a collector’s dream.  The massive space was packed with tables that served as the temporary home for sellers of comic books, statues, toys, books, and collectibles from every decade.  From the latest Hot Wheels Batman vehicles to vintage tin lunchboxes (including the Planet of the Apes lunchbox that was popularized in the 70s on Welcome Back Kotter), there really was something for everyone on hand.  I personally scored a Star Trek: The Motion Picture Arcturian action figure (c. 1978) for a mere $7.50!  And that was just one of my many purchases on that autumn Saturday.  But for every new addition to my collection I had to pass on two or three other offerings at various tables as my budget is not unlimited.


And now I find myself looking forward to a return trip to Eckman’s to attend and cover their final show in Live Oak, Texas.  The city has sold the facility and necessitated the relocation of future such shows to San Marcos.  For this final fling, Eckman’s is offering free admission but are asking for a $1.00 donation to The Wounded Warriors Project.  If you are looking for a great venue to fill in blanks in your collection, you really owe it to yourself to make the trip to Eckman’s Toy and Collectibles Show!  And if you should happen to miss this one, you can plan ahead for their first show at their new home, the New Braunfels Convention Center (New Braunfels, TX) on Saturday, 2013. 

Saturday, January 18, 2013
9 AM – 4 PM
8101 Pat Booker Road
Live Oak, TX  78233

Admission: $1.00 donation to The Wounded Warriors Project

Look for me, Cole “JediCole” Houston out on the show floor shopping, photographing, and interviewing while also shamelessly plugging this site and The JediCole Universe.  Be sure and say hello if you happen to catch up with me.  I always like hearing from anyone who has seen my websites and enjoyed my writing and podcasting efforts. 

Now Get Out There and Collect!

Monday, January 7, 2013

You Can't Go If You Don't Know! - January/February Edition

As the slogan for this site reminds, "You Can't Go If You Don't Know!"  And it is with that axiom in mind that I present a listing of conventions and shows that are coming up in Texas in the remainder of January and all of February.   If you are aware of any conventions that are not on the following lists that occur over the next two months, please contact me with details.

January has seen one convention come and go but still has much to offer.  The Gray Ball is a unique Steampunk convention being held in San Antonio.  Little information is available on this show as its producers have yet to respond to my interview request.  Be sure to check out their website for what details may be found there.


This month also marks the end of an era in Texas conventions.  Eckman's Toy Show will be holding its last incarnation in Live Oak after an impressive 20 year run in the same venue.  This show will offer free admission, though the promoters are asking for a $1.00 donation for The Wounded Warriors Project.  Other groups exhibiting at the show will also be seeking donations for their favorite charities.

With several shows being held each year, Eckman's represents an amazing success story of the Texas convention scene.  Sadly I attended my first such show late last year, the penultimate edition as it worked out.  I highly recommend attending this show as they say farewell to  their longtime home.  I am working to arrange an interview with this convention's creator to discuss its long history, the loss of their venue, and the plans for their relocation to New Braunfels. 


January
18-19 The Gray Ball (San Antonio, TX)
19 Eckman’s Toy Show (Live Oak, TX)

February offers conventions around the state that appeal to a wide variety of genre fans.  From Ushicon's anime draw to Con DFW's sci-fi and fantasy literature offerings to the next huge Sci-Fi Expo with all of its many guests.  Look for more information and interviews on these shows in the coming weeks. 

February
8-10 Ushicon 2013 (Round Rock, TX)
Texas Collectibles Expo (San Antonio, TX) 
9-10 Sci-Fi Expo (Irving, TX)
15-17 Con DFW XII (Addison, TX)
15-17 OwlCon XXXII (Houston, TX)

Thursday, January 3, 2013

North Dallas Comic Book Show in Dallas, TX

Please note:  The CAP-TX website is designed to bring information on upcoming conventions in Texas on a timely basis.  As a result, announcements like the following have only a limited duration of viability.  As conventions profiled on this site come and go, the original announcements will remain for two months afterwards to provide links to help you find out more about the next annual, quarterly, or periodical incarnations of the conventions in question.  Any recorded interviews will be removed a week after the shows as most information within is pertinent only to the show weekend in question.

The Convention Awareness Project - Texas starts its run with a bang!  Or at least its first formal convention feature! 


In this case your host, Cole "JediCole" Houston speaks with Chris of this weekend's North Texas Comic Book Show in Dallas, Texas.  Check out the interview then all of the details below...


North Texas Comic Book Show
Saturday, January 5, 2013  9:30 AM - 5 PM
Sunday, January 6, 2013  9:30 AM - 4 PM
The Doubletree Hotel Dallas Market Center
2015 Market Center Boulevard
Dallas, TX 75207

Admission - $7.00 Adults, Children 12 and under are free

Special Guests:
Lou "the Incredible Hulk" Ferrigno
Appearing Saturday and Sunday.
Autographs start at $30, variable rates for other items or photo ops.

Just announced!
Peter "Chewbacca" Mayhew
Appearing Saturday only.
Autograph prices to be announced.






"You Can't Go If You Don't Know!"