All posts by Piercing Ken

I'm a Freelance Music Photojournalist from NYC and Founder of the Heavy Metal website PiercingMetal.com; I created this blog site to showcase the other things in life that keep my interest or catch my attention. Believe me that is a lot of stuff to talk about when it comes down to it. I hope you enjoy what we are delivering because there is so much to share as a resident of this bustling metropolis.
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PiercingMetal Goes To Heroes & Villains Fan Fest 2016

This weekend, the Meadowlands Exposition Center played host to the “Heroes and Villains Fan Fest” and its the type of convention where fans of shows like “Arrow”, “The Flash” and “Legends Of Tomorrow” could meet the cast of players and get photo ops with them for a nominal fee. There are also scores of vendors and cosplayers wandering around and I would be one of the attending press at the event. My coverage of the time that we spent at the event can be found on my PiercingMetal website and you can check it out by clicking the graphic below.

Logo - Heroes and Villains Fan Fest

As usual the means to comment on this little signpost has been disabled but I welcome your topical thoughts on the collection of narratives over on the PiercingMetal site. See you over there 🙂

Official Website: http://www.heroesfanfest.com

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PiercingMetal Goes To “Hey! Ho! Let’s Go: Ramones and the Birth Of Punk” Exhibit

Yesterday I headed out to Flushing Queens to the Queens Museum because the “Hey! Ho! Let’s Go: Ramones and the Birth Of Punk” exhibit was still running and I didn’t want to miss my chance at seeing it. I grew up on the music of the Ramones and even used to play in a band that focused on their tunes a number of years ago. It’s not a bad ride but it is on the long side. You’ll need the “7” train from the city and you head to Mets/Willets Point then walk a half dozen blocks. While I like to present most of the museum stuff here on PiercingKen.com since this exhibit focused on the legendary Punk band I felt that it belonged here. Click the logo below to be transported to our narratives. There are three in total and a LOT of photographs. See you over there.

Logo - Ramones

The means to comment has been turned off for this post because I’m only using this as a signpost but you can leave topical thoughts on any of the narratives over on PiercingMetal.com that might spark you to do so. I hope you like this one as it was a lot of fun to attend.

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Hurray: Second Annual Play Fair to Return to New York in November 2017

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As many of you readers might recall, a number of Toy Fair 2016 adventures were posted right here on the Chronicles Of PiercingKen website. It’s a practice that I plan on continuing with at future events based on my findings. This year’s event was extra special since it featured a brand new event called “PLAY FAIR” which allowed the general public the means to explore some of what I see at Toy Fair with their children. What a great idea that was. I’m now pleased to share this press release with you that announces the events return in 2017 during a different month and with an expanded program, you can read that below and to review my findings of the 2016 Play Fair just click on THIS LINK.

logo-play-fair

The Press Release:
Public Play Expo to Double in Size at Javits Center

NEW YORK, NY | June 13, 2016 – The second annual Play Fair, a public celebration of play and entertainment for all ages, will nearly double in size at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center when it returns to New York City on November 4-5, 2017. A joint venture between the Toy Industry Association (TIA) and LeftField Media, Play Fair offers families and media the opportunity to enjoy interactive play experiences with new toys, games and popular characters, as well as purchase new and exclusive products.

Halls 1A and 1B of the Javits Center will provide Play Fair 2017 with 150,000 square feet of contiguous space for brands to unveil new toy lines and encourage hands-on activities among thousands of play enthusiasts, and 10 dedicated panel rooms will allow for increased and more varied programming and events.

“Play Fair’s massive exhibition area will accommodate returning brands with increased presences and welcome new first-time exhibitors, and our dates will now position Play Fair at the heart of the pre-holiday season,” said Greg Topalian, president of LeftField Media. “Planning is already underway to expand character photo ops, develop an elaborate art and crafting space, build a children’s book and author pavilion, expand our feature stages and create a hands-on video game experience.”

In addition to Play Fair’s move to the pre-holiday shopping season, the event will grow to add a third day.
Continue reading Hurray: Second Annual Play Fair to Return to New York in November 2017 →

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This Just In: ReedPOP To Debut BookCon at NY Comic Con 2016

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It’s very rare for me to repeat myself (well, in blog posts as opposed to casual conversation) but in this case it was very necessary since the news related to both the NY Comic Con and the Book Con events. It seems as though this year, the massive event will also have a space where Book Con will be held and you can read the whole shebang right below.

Logo - Book Con

The Press Release:
REEDPOP TO DEBUT BOOKCON AT NEW YORK COMIC CON
BookCon @ NYCC to Host R.L. Stine, Danielle Paige, Ann. M. Martin and Others
October 6-9 as New York Comic Con Expands Programming
Options and Footprint in New York City

NORWALK, CT – June 8, 2016 – ReedPOP, the world’s leading producer of pop culture events, is writing a new chapter for BookCon – the one-of-a-kind consumer book event where storytelling and pop culture collide – by debuting BookCon @ NYCC as part of New York Comic Con 2016. BookCon @ NYCC marks the first expansion of the BookCon brand reaching a whole new audience of book lovers. Access to BookCon @ NYCC is included with a valid NYCC Badge for that day and will bring books to life through a series of Panels, Autographing Sessions, Meet and Greets and more for four full days of content. BookCon @ NYCC will be hosted a short walk from the Javits Center at Hudson Mercantile (500 West 36th Street) during NYCC – October 6-9, 2016.

The initial guest list for BookCon @ NYCC brings together bestselling Authors with the hottest new talent in publishing, including beloved children’s author Ann M. Martin (The Baby-Sitter’s Club series, Missy Piggle-Wiggle and the Whatever Cure), YA sensation Danielle Paige (Dorothy Must Die, Stealing Snow), Chuck Wendig (Star Wars: Aftermath, Star Wars: Aftermath: Life Debt) and Naomi Novik (Temeraire series, League of Dragons). R. L. Stine (Goosebumps) will also be at BookCon @ NYCC to discuss his new middle-grade novel Young Scrooge: A Very Scary Christmas Story. This is only the start of a power-packed lineup that will continue to be unveiled leading up to the event in October.

The world’s most influential publishers will have their authors present including Gallery, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Bloomsbury, Del Rey and others. Gallery will also showcase the new Millennials of New York book by Connor Toole and Alec Macdonald. Created by the top editors at Elite Daily, Millennials of New York is a satirical social media phenomenon done in the photo essay style of Humans of New York that parodies the plights of millennials today such as waiting for a brunch table or taking the perfect selfie.
Continue reading This Just In: ReedPOP To Debut BookCon at NY Comic Con 2016 →

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Book Expo America Returns To NYC For 2017 Event

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My longer tenured readers know that I have been attending the Book Expo America event at the Javits Center for a few years now but this year the 2016 event had moved to Chicago, IL and despite being informed that we could wander as press once again – the logistics were just not doable for me. There were just too many demands on my time right here in NYC to be travelling for a convention. I hated to miss it but was quite pleased when I saw this image on the main site for the BEA.

Photo - BEA 2017 - NYC Return

Yep, the Book Expo America is returning to NYC for the 2017 event and since its in tandem with the still growing Book Con, you can most likely expect that to be here as well. Sorry Chicago, this convention belongs to the Big Apple and you cannot have it. I’m going to mark this down on my schedule and vie for press credentials once again should my time permit my attendance. Sometimes its better than others for my outlets and I do enjoy attending and seeing familiar PR reps in person for a change. If you are a blogger that focuses on the written word then you should look into doing the same. Perhaps some of you newer readers would like to peruse the posts from the past years conventions and if you said “yes” to that, you can click on THIS LINK.

Official Website: http://www.bookexpoamerica.com/