Category Archives: Features

Features, PiercingKen Says

BroadwayCon 2024 Briefly Takes Over The Piercing Ken Instagram

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It was back in July when “The Chronicles of Piercing Ken” was back on point at the always interesting BroadwayCon for 2024. Held at the New York Hilton Midtown, it pretty much amounts to a theatrical version of a comic convention. There are panels and special guests and performances and also a whole bunch of themed cosplay. During the event that month I did a number of interviews and snapped a bunch of photos but my anticipated “Instagram Takeover” fell off of my planning schedule and just sat there – Until now. My quest to catch up to stuff finds me sharing this special feature now so please be aware that in addition to this presented image, there is an Instagram Takeover of the Piercing Ken Profile. It’s primarily cosplayers but that’s fine by me since I snap so many of those during the New York Comic Con for the PiercingMetal side of the creative coin. I’ll begin your jouney with this cool pin that they had the merchandise table. Clicking on this will bring you over to the profile and then I say click those hearts and chime in if you have something topical to add to the mix.


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Features, Tours and Festivals

Fanatics Announce The Return Of Fanatics Fest NYC in June 2025

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The Press Release:
Fanatics has announced plans for the return of Fanatics Fest NYC – the immersive, interactive festival which captivated fans and collectors of all ages for the first time this past summer – which will take place from June 20 – 22, 2025 at the Javits Center in New York City. The multi-day event transforms New York City into the epicenter of fandom, collecting, and culture, and in 2025 will bring together even more of the preeminent athletes, leagues, teams and brands under one roof for an experience like no other.

In August, the inaugural Fanatics Fest NYC hosted more than 70,000 fans across three days and based on the strong turnout, positive fan sentiment and social buzz, the 2025 event will be bigger and better. With significantly more space added for next year’s event, fans can expect an expansive schedule of live, on-site programming, panels and discussions; larger superstores and autograph zones; a much wider array of exclusive collabs and products; more space for league and brand activations; and a larger trading card and collectibles exhibit.
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Features, Tours and Festivals

New York Travel & Adventure Show Announces Return To Javits Center for 4th Year

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The Press Release:
The Travel & Adventure Show, America’s Favorite Travel Show Series, returns to New York Jan. 25-26 for its fourth year as New York’s Largest Travel Show. Taking place at the Javits Center, the 2025 show continues to expand and boast even more exhibitors, bigger trip giveaways and plenty of opportunities to pick up insights and tips courtesy of some of your favorite travel experts.

As the largest Travel Show in the U.S., The Travel & Adventures Shows provide guests with a one-stop platform to explore new destinations and book trips for the upcoming year, supplying extensive information from nearly 600 destinations, hotels, cruises and tour operators on site to provide their best insights.

With over 30 travel sessions available at the show hosted by industry notables, guests will leave the show with ample information on where to go on their next trip. Attendees at the New York Show can enjoy an informative and entertaining lineup of speakers including sessions with Phil Keoghan, host and executive producer of CBS’ “The Amazing Race” and ‘Tough As Nails” discussing the best ways to check destinations off your bucket list; Andrew McCarthy, director and travel writer conducting a reading of his newest book, “The Longest Way Home;” Travel expert and CBS Travel Editor Peter Greenberg chatting about tips for 2025 travel; Pauline Frommer editorial director of the “Frommer’s Guides” sharing the travel lessons she’s learned from her father, among many others.
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Features, PiercingKen Says

The Toy Foundation Announces 2025 “Toy of the Year” (TOTY) Award Finalists

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The Press Release:
From a doll hidden behind a magic mirror to a sound-sensing robot, to dozens of toys that innovate beloved play patterns, the 2025 Toy of the Year® (TOTY®) Award finalists, announced today by The Toy Foundation™ (TTF), represent the most sought-out toys just in time for the holiday season. Known as the “Oscars of the toy industry,” the TOTY Awards celebrate the creativity of the global toy community and serves as a key fundraiser for TTF’s year-round philanthropic work supporting children in need.

Between now and January 10, 2025, play-lovers of all ages can visit ToyAwards.org to vote for their favorite playthings in each of the 16 categories, browse toys, and make shopping lists for the holidays. Finalists were announced this morning by a group of well-known content creators who serve as TOTY ambassadors. See the full list of finalists below.

Winners in each category, as well as the coveted overall Toy of the Year winner and the People’s Choice winner (based solely on consumer votes), will be announced at the TOTY Awards gala on Friday, February 28, 2025, at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. The celebration kicks off Toy Fair® 2025 (March 1-4, 2025) and includes the induction of seven trailblazers into the esteemed Toy Industry Hall of Fame.
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Features, Interviews

Exhibitor Chats @ Curve New York, Summer 2024: Part 2

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Back in August, “The Chronicles of Piercing Ken” was once again in attendance for the Curve New York expo. For those in the unaware, the Curve Expo is a trade show that focuses on intimates like lingerie but also showcases swimwear and assorted accessories. The show runs in tandem with the NY NOW show and while that trade show takes place on the main expo floor of the Javits Center, the Curve Show is up in the River Pavilion. Since the general public is not permitted at such an event, I like to bring our audience into the mix as best as possible and in addition to some social media posts and website feeds, I did some exhibitor interviews as well. While the videos are all resident on the Official Piercing Ken YouTube Channel, I’ve also collected them in posts like this to add to the website content. The journey continues with the “okko” brand and our one on one chat with the company founder Phoebe Kunitomi.

Learning About “okko” at Curve New York, Summer 2024


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