SDCC has come and gone...

... and I wasn't there. This is what we are left with.

Left to Right: Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark/Iron Man), Clark Gregg (Agent Coulson), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Chris Evans (Captain America), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner/Hulk), Joss Whedon (Director), Kevin Feige (Producer)

Call me excited.

BON JOVI - The Circle Tour - Toronto (Day 2)

July 21st, 2010 - I've Tweeted it, I've Facebook'd it, and I've said it in person. That Bon Jovi concert was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! When bands are around long enough, like these guys have been, with a fan-base that are of all generations, and selling out concerts all around the world... you know you'll get a great show!

As I mentioned last week, I won 4 tickets to see Bon Jovi. Section 229, Row 13, Seats 101-104. I was pretty jazzed about the win, and more so about going to the concert. It was just a matter of finding who would be the other three going.

I had offered up a pair of tickets to my friend, who was at the Argos game with me, and his wife. Unfortunately, his wife doesn't care for Bon Jovi, so he passed on them. Offered up the pair to another friend and his wife, but was turned down. Offered the pair to my Special Events Manager at work (who gave me the pair of Argos tickets), but sadly, company policies prevented her and her guest from coming to the concert (Management and Staff can't hang out, outside of work).

While the offer was on the table for my manager, I actually got an offer to buy the pair from me. Once it was confirmed that my manager wasn't allowed to go (stupid, but understandable, company policies that I actually knew about, but still offered it to her, cause she is just all kinds of awesome to work with, and this was more of a "Thank You" for kindheartedness over the years), I sold them for a higher price than I was originally expecting. It was still cheaper than what it normally would have cost to buy tickets in that section (I would say "face value", but these tickets actually have no face value).

As for the other ticket, I decided to take a friend of mine, who I've known for the past ten years, after working with her at the AMC Theatres near my place. She seemed pretty happy for me when I won, cause she loves Bon Jovi, but has never seen him live (I found out the last two, the night of the concert). So, I took her.

Left Danny at home, to find my copy of Scott Pilgrim Vol. 6. Well, he at least gave me some reasoning, for me to not feel bad for totally choosing a girl, and money, over him. Several years ago, we each bought a pair of tickets to a Leafs/Red Wings game. The weird part was that they ended up being four seats next to each other, while we were on different computers, trying to pick up a pair (miscommunications, left us with four tickets). Then he wanted to go with his buddies, and sold off the pair that I paid for, and left me at home to watch the game on TV (and the Leafs totally destroyed the Red Wings that game).

Anyways, I picked up my friend from her work, then headed down to Real Sports Bar & Grill for dinner, before the show. I figured, after going there before the Argos game, we'd have plenty of time to eat and get their for the 7pm start time, to see the opening act, Kid Rock. Yeah, umm... that didn't work out as planned. Ordered beers and food around 6:10pm, got our beers about 10 mins. later, app about 15 mins. after, placed the order for our second beers another 10 mins. after. The manager comes by about 10 mins. after, and asks if we wanted to order more drinks, though we tell him we're actually waiting on those beers already. He gets them for us, then I ask about the entrées. Tells us the kitchen got killed with two parties, and he'll check on them. About 10-15 mins. later, we get our food, which the manager tells us as he's placing them on the table, that these are being comped. Paid for the beers and app, then we were on our way.

Get to the Rogers Centre, grab us some more beers, then finally off to our seats, for the final song of Kid Rock's act (Bawitdaba).


We were that far away, but had an absolute blast

Here is the set list, that was played for that show.

Happy Now
We Weren't Born To Follow
You Give Love A Bad Name
Born To Be My Baby
Captain Crash & the Beauty Queen from Mars
In These Arms
Lost Highway
When We Were Beautiful
It's My Life
We Got It Going On
Damned
Bad Medicine with Pretty Woman (Roy Orbison Cover)
Lay Yours Hands on Me
Turn The Page (First time this song was ever played live!)
Make A Memory
I'll Be There For You
Runaway
Someday I'll Be Saturday Night
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Keep The Faith
Hallelujah
Wanted: Dead or Alive
I Love This Town
Livin' On A Prayer

Bon Jovi was on for an amazing 2 1/2 hours. There were very few songs that I haven't heard them before (I started listening to Bon Jovi, when Cross Road was released). But I have been listening to a lot of Bon Jovi songs, since I got the tickets (had to familiarize myself with these songs).

And I'll leave you with some crappy photos that I took (need to get myself a better camera for events like these).

From the Bon Jovi concert

I wasn't really that close, but the show was absolutely amazing. Better photos to come...

Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

Bon Jovi Concert - Intermission

Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

I will read this!

Unfortunately, not today. I'm about to head out to pick up a friend, and head down to the Rogers Centre for the Bon Jovi Concert (2nd Toronto show for The Circle Tour).


Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

Scott Pilgrim vs the World New Game Trailer

I can't wait! I just know that Danny and I will be playing this the day it is released.

Just got in...

... Supergirl by Ryan Kelly.

Commissioned this earlier this year, and was hoping to pick it up at TCAF, but since it was a busy show, and with his workload, things got delayed.

This arrived in the mail yesterday, but I was a little busy to scan and post this then, so here it is!

Scott Pilgrim Vol. 6 Launch Party!

I won't lie, I didn't expect this kind of turnout for the launch party. I was expecting about 100-200 people for the launch, and Bryan Lee O'Malley signings. I've been to a few store signings over the last 5-6 years, and never have I seen any of them surpass 100 people (Danielle Corsetto at Paradise Comics, was the busiest signing I've been to). I didn't count, but I would say well over 500 it has been reported that over 2000 people were at this launch party! (See: Comics212: "Love Live Scott Pilgrim")

Sadly, I didn't stick around to the end, or even until midnight, to pick up the book. I took off at about 11pm. I arrived a little after 9pm.

The night was still pretty amazing! The costume contest was pretty cool, but I was at a bad angle to snap some pics. When I did move into a better position, my batteries were dying, and I was saving them for one shot.

Ellen Wong (Knives Chau) & Me!

My god, is she gorgeous! I think I'm in Love

*UPDATE* Oh, look! Here's a sketch of Knives Chau, that Bryan Lee O'Malley did for me, back in 2006.



Congrats to Bryan Lee O'Malley on the launch of the final volume of Scott Pilgrim! And Congrats to Chris Butcher (and everyone that helped put on the signing) for such a successful turnout!

Crowd Shot of the Scott Pilgrim Launch Party!

Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

Scott Pilgrim Launch Party TOMORROW!

Argos Home Opener!

Back from the Toronto Argonauts home opener. I've never watched a CFL game live, and I watch very few on TV (mainly just the Grey Cup, but I haven't even seen that in a few years).

I was fortunate enough to score a pair of tickets to this game (took a friend of mine), through my work, as a little reward from my lovely Special Events Manager. She's an amazing person, and the type of person that is easy to love... not to mention, she's been a treat to work with for nearly the past 8 years.

Since I don't really follow the CFL, I don't even know who's on the Argos. But I do remember several of the past players (Raghib "The Rocket" Ismail, Mike "Pinball" Clemons, Doug Flutie, Damon Allen, to name a few).

Then I notice Pinball is on the sidelines, hopping the fence, and going to his seats (w/ family), seven rows infront of me and my friend. Several people are coming up to him, he's chatting away with them, signing autographs. So, I jumped at my chance at an autograph (I've gotten his autograph before... nearly 20 years ago), which I posted in the post below. I also got my photo with him:

Damon Allen was also sitting four rows behind me, with his family. However, he did not look approachable at all, so as much as I wanted an autograph from him, I didn't really try to get one.

During the game, there was a little Twitter contest going on the Jumbotron. The contest was to Tweet to the Toronto Argonauts (@TorontoArgos), with the tag #BonJovi, and finally, with the name of the Bon Jovi playing at the time. Busted out the Blackberry, opened up Twitter, and typed as quickly as my thumbs could on that small keyboard, while my friend was telling me the song.

The prize, 4 tickets to the Bon Jovi contest at the Rogers Centre, on July 21st, 2010.

I WON!!!

Quite excited about the win, even though the tickets are at the opposite side of the Dome, in the 200 levels, and I would assume near the back row. I haven't been to a music concert that's played in a stadium, or in a venue. Still trying to figure everything out, whether or not I'm going (most likely am), and who I'm taking.

That was really the high-point of the game for me.

Oh, and the Argos came back to win the game!

Mike 'Pinball' Clemons' Autograph

Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

At the Argos Home Opener!

So what am I watching?

Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network

Events Updated

I've updated the sidebar with some upcoming events. Three take place this week (one tomorrow, two on Wednesday). One takes place in two weeks, and one in five weeks.

Sick Kids - Sketches for Pledges

DATE: July 6th, 2010

TIME: 9AM-4PM

LOCATION: 320 Front St. West - Lobby

GUEST: Francis Manapul, Agnes Garbowska, Daniel Wong, Briana Chan, Vince Sunico, Paul Limgenco, Gerard De La Costa, Khanh Nguyen, Arnold Trinidad, Marvin Law, "Gogz" and "Marv" of Powie Studios

---

X-Men Day @ the Silver Snail

DATE: July 7th, 2010

TIME: 10AM-8PM

LOCATION: Silver Snail (Toronto) - 367 Queen St. West

GUEST: Marvin Law

---

An Afternoon in Paradise with Agnes Garbowska

DATE: July 7th, 2010

TIME: 1PM-4PM

LOCATION: Paradise Comics - 3278 Yonge St.

GUEST: Agnes Garbowska

---

Scott Pilgrim Volume 6 - Midnight Release Party!

DATE: July 19th, 2010

TIME: 9PM-2AM

LOCATION: The Beguiling - 601 Markham St.

GUEST: Bryan Lee O'Malley

---

Michael Cera Day at Stadium Comics

DATE: August 13th, 2010

TIME: 10AM-9PM

LOCATION: Stadium Comics (@ Shoppers World Mall) - 499 Main St. South (Brampton, ON)

SUMMER GLAU COMING TO FAN EXPO CANADA!

I am quite excited about this addition to the Guest List. Summer Glau (Firefly, Dollhouse, Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles) has been added to the SFX Guest List for Fan Expo Canada.

Also, Tickets have gone on sale for Fan Expo Canada. Check out the info here.