10 Things About NYC Comic Con 2019

By Dom Bewley

It wasn't too long ago that geeks were considered outcasts. Shunned by society for their supposed wizard robes, d20 dice and extensive knowledge of J.R.R Tolkein's novels. But today, geek is chic. Monstrosities like The Big Bang Theory, juggernaut franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the rise of gaming into the everyday have catapulted geeks into the stratosphere. And now the hub of geek, Comic Con, has become the go-to place to meet your heroes. If you fancy attending, or already have your ticket clenched in your sweaty fist, you need to know what to expect. So here are 10 things you need to know about NYC Comic Con 2019.

When is it?

NYC Comic Con runs from October 3 - 6, in the year of our lord Kevin Feige, 2019.

And where do I go to get my fill?

Well, my dear friend, NYC Comic Con 2019 takes place at the Javits Convention Center at 429 11th Avenue. Onward!

Why should I go?

If, like us, you're any kind of modern media consumer, you've surely dipped your toe in the comic-adjacent pool. There are countless comic-related films, TV shows, and video games around these days. Some might be pretty obvious, the aforementioned Marvel movies. You know, the ones that dominate the multiplex every year for the past decade. Others, like the Kingsman series or Amazon's TV series The Boys, are also adaptations of graphic novels. So the better question is, why wouldn't you go?

Here's a snapshot of the best things on offer this year.

Dr Who?

Well for starters, all you Whovians will not want to miss the talk with Christopher Eccelston. For all non-Whovians, he was the first Doctor in the modern reimagining of Doctor Who.

He'll obviously be talking about that, but also expect him to speak on his roles in Marvel's Thor: The Dark World, and TV's underappreciated The Leftovers. He might even discuss his role in 'the most early-2000's film imaginable', Gone in 60 Seconds. Don't hold your breath though. He probably doesn't want to remember it. 'Catch a Conversation' with Christopher Eccleston from 11am til 12pm on 3 October.

He's a wizard, Hagrid!

Right after, you get the chance to sit down with the cast and creatives behind stage behemoth Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. They'll be talking about how they brought the magic of the books and films to the stage. Fans will see never before seen photos and videos from behind the scenes. If you've not yet caught the show, or want to know more about it, check it out. Behind Harry Potter and the Cursed Child takes place between 1-2pm on 3 October.

Mr J?!

If you're a fan of DC's Harley Quinn, Comic Con 2019 has you covered. All-day on Friday 4 October, head to Hudson Yards Loft for an interactive exhibit about the past and present of one of DC's most enigmatic villains. Explore her first appearance in Detective Comics, through to her recent movie appearances, including some sneak peeks at the upcoming Birds of Prey. They've got props, costumes, and sketches for all to see, as you don't even need a ticket or pass to attend. So really, you have zero excuses.

"How you doing, ya old pirate?"

That's right, Lando Calrissian himself Billy Dee Williams will be at New York Comic Con this year. From 11am - 12pm on Friday, expect a full recounting of his time playing the galaxy's favourite rogue. That includes his return to the franchise in The Rise Of Skywalker, so any Star Wars fans chomping at the bit for new info before December dare not miss out.

Now you've got a Hulk

For all fans of video games and Marvel, NYC Comic Con 2019 has just what you need to scratch both itches. Come check out the Marvel Games Panel between 3 - 4pm on Friday to hear from the minds behind the upcoming Iron Man VR and Avengers games. You're sure to catch some never-before-seen gameplay of both. And we're also promised some unannounced exclusive reveals and surprises too.

"Make it so."

Jean Luc is back, baby. It's been nearly 20 years since we last saw Captain Picard on the big screen (and even longer since we saw him every week on TV). But he's back, thanks to the upcoming Star Trek: Picard CBS series. So of course, none other than the man himself Sir Patrick Stewart will be in attendance at NYC Comic Con 2019. Enjoy a sit down with the cast and creative crew behind the anticipated new show on Saturday 4 October between 1:45 and 2:30pm. Did I mention that Sir Patrick Stewart will be there? We are not worthy.

You go, girls

And round off the weekend with a look at how women have shaped the world of comics with the Women of Marvel panel on Sunday 5 October from 12:15 - 1:45pm. Hear from the best talent in the industry, as they talk about their creations, what it's like in the industry, and what the future may hold.

Now you're primed and ready for NYC Comic Con 2019. Let us know if you're going, and what you're looking forward to while you're there. And while you're there, why not check out a Marvel and DC Superheroes walking tour, or get a refresher on who won big at this year's Emmys?

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Free Things to Do in New York City
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Free Things to Do in New York City

The City of Dreams - New York City - is the ultimate destination for workers, students, and all of the human folk across the globe. Living in New York can truly be a dream come true and teach you so much about life in a metropolis that it will always be an experience to remember. That being said, it's not the cheapest city in the world. And, with so many things to see in New York, such as museums, restaurants, parks, and iconic attractions, it's easy to lose track of time and expenses while you're there. Lucky for you, there are plenty of free things to do in New York City! Here is a list of the best things you can do for free in the Big Apple. Including: Central Park High Line Staten Island Ferry New York Public Library and more! Free Things to Do in New York City: Central Park Arguably the most famous park on the planet, Central Park needs no introduction. The backdrop for countless movies and TV shows, its 843 acres of verdant delight are enveloped by the towering concrete of Manhattan. For locals, it's a quick escape from the city's hustle and bustle. For you, it's an excellent excuse for some free fun! If you need to burn off some calories from all the food, get your walking boots on and go exploring! There are tons of lakes, ponds, and bridges to explore, as well as trees to sit beneath with a book or picnic. You could also visit the Conservatory Garden, a free garden full of seasonal flora, fountains, and sculptures. Need some holiday snaps? You'll find tons of Grammable things ripe for the taking. You can even hike in Central Park, thanks to the North Woods. This 40-acre stretch of land includes trails, waterfalls, and opportunities to see some birds. Nice. And, if you've got some spare cash, consider taking a guided bike tour of the park's best bits to see it all in one fell swoop. Free Things to Do in New York City: High Line The High Line is a park built on an old elevated train track. And, given it's the former New York Central Railroad track on the west side of Manhattan, it's guaranteed to offer some of the best views in the city. You can walk through the gardens, check out the contemporary art exhibits and performances, and savor delicious food with your friends and family while getting a unique perspective of the city. Free Things to Do in New York City: Staten Island Ferry Staten Island is where the famous rap ensemble Wu-Tang Clan first came together. So, if you're a fan and want to see where the members grew up, why not take the Staten Island Ferry? Not only will you receive a lesson in NY hip hop, but you'll pass the iconic Statue of Liberty, one of the most photographable monuments on the planet. You can board the ferry at the St. George Terminal on Staten Island or the Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan. The ferry ride takes approximately 25 minutes and operates every day of the week. Free Things to Do in New York City: New York Public Library Bookworms and students rejoice! The New York Public Library is free to visit! And yes, most libraries do offer free entry. While the NYPL name encompasses over 90 libraries in the city's limits, we're talking about its most famous location - the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. And oh my, is it grandiose. Each room and floor has unique architectural features and many activities besides reading. For students living or studying in NYC, it can get a little mundane to work and hit the books at home. That's why the Rose Reading Room is so popular. This peaceful and spacious area allows anyone to set up shop and study to their brain's content. Image courtesy of legacy1995/Shutterstock Free Things to Do in New York City: Museums No good city would be complete without a comprehensive list of museums, and New York is no different. And if you're looking for free things to do in the Big Apple, some of the best are free too! The American Museum of Natural History is arguably the best of its kind on the planet. Featuring 28 interconnected buildings housing 45 permanent exhibition halls, a planetarium, and a library, you can spend literal hours wandering around. And, with recent additions like the gargantuan Titanosaur to eye up, it'll delight both kids and grown-ups alike. If you're interested in more recent history, learn all about New York at the Museum of the City of New York. It's a mouthful, but there's no better place to chart the city's rise from settlement to metropolis. Free Things to Do in New York City: Times Square Times Square is one of the most iconic spots in New York; with bright lights, street art, and performances, you can take in the true blue New York energy at Times Square. It is also one of the best places to take pictures and indulge in some good food from across the globe. Or, if you want to upgrade your experience, take a guided tour and get the low down on the area's history. New York - a city so nice they named it twice; it is hands-down one of the best cities in the world, and getting the chance to live and study there is truly a dream come true. Make sure to make the most of your time and save some money by exploring these free things to do in New York City. If you are in New York for a longer stay, consider your accommodation options. AmberStudent is an online student accommodation that helps you secure a home of choice on your study abroad journey. This is a great choice for international student housing. And, if you're looking for things to do in New York City that aren't free, the New York Pass has got you covered. Featuring all of the city's best bits, including entry to the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, and the Guggenheim, it's the best way to see it all for one low price!
Dom Bewley
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Fall Review: 5 Must-See Art Exhibitions in NYC

New York City is an art mecca, home to some of the most prestigious art museums in the world. Although the Metropolitan and the Museum of Modern Art are great -- the city is chock-full of smaller galleries and lesser-known museums which house hidden gems. By compiling a list of unmissable exhibitions currently or about to be on display, we hope to provide an insider's guide to the best contemporary art exhibitions NYC has to offer. Fight-or-Flight Where: Swiss Institute, currently showing through Dec. 29 Who: Jill Mulleady What: A conceptual exploration of the building itself, Fight-or-Flight is a multi-media exhibition by Los Angeles artist, Jill Mulleady. It features a fictional narrative of the land the Swiss Institute stands upon. Beyond the art, the space itself is a must-see. Originally built to house a bank in 1954, the structure has been converted into a multi-floor gallery. Situated right in the heart of the once-punk, now-trendy East Village, the Swiss Institute is the kind of noncommercial space (entry is always free) that rarely exists today. The gallery remains relatively unknown so therefore it is a must-see for contemporary art lovers. Specifically, Mulleady's show evokes questions of what New York was and what it will become. EVERY DAY I PRAY FOR LOVE Where: David Zwirner Gallery, Nov. 9 - Dec. 14 Who: Yayoi Kusama What: Yayoi Kusama is a globally renowned artist. She is best known for her use of polka-dots and her forever Instagram-able Infinity Mirror Rooms. A product of a difficult childhood, Kusama has suffered from hallucinations from an early age. What does she see? You guessed it, lots of dots. She rose the ranks of the contemporary art world in the 1960s. Her work is deeply personal; she's gone on record stating that creating art has kept her from committing suicide. EVERY DAY I PRAY FOR LOVE will debut new installations, paintings, and sculptures by the 90-year-old artist, and of course - a new room. Her exhibitions are always a huge draw (the gallery told ArtNews they're suspecting over 100,000 visitors) and space is limited; so be sure to get there early before the line gets too long. You'll feel very local standing in line in Chelsea, New York's art district - we promise. Basquiat's "Defacement": The Untold Story Where: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, currently showing until Nov. 6 Who: Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, and more. What: Even after his death, Basquiat remained one of the most famous artists in the world. Born and raised in New York, he's become synonymous with the city itself. Basquiat's rags to riches story captivated the art world. He ran away from home at the age of fifteen, sleeping in local parks. But by the mid-1980s, he was one of the most popular artists alive. This exhibit specifically focuses on how social injustice shaped the artist's life. The centerpiece of the exhibition is The Death of Michael Stewart, a painting that commemorates and protests the killing of a graffiti artist by NYPD officers. Also on display is work by the late artist's contemporaries (and other distinct New York personalities), Keith Haring and Andy Warhol. The exhibition serves as a portal into the Downtown art scene of yesterday; however, with its theme of social justice, it also feels chillingly current. Additionally, the Guggenheim Museum is an iconic building. Because of its circular, Frank Lloyd Wright design, the art house is one of the most famous buildings in the world. Nobody Promised You Tomorrow: Art 50 Years After Stonewall Where: Brooklyn Museum, currently showing through Dec.9 Who: Mark Aguhar, Felipe Baeza, Morgan Bassichis, Anna Betbeze, David Antonio Cruz, and more. What: This year marked the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, which took place at the Downtown gay bar of the same name. A police raid of the local drinkery turned into a protest and marked the beginning of the modern gay liberation movement. A few months ago, New York hosted the World Pride Parade to commemorate how far the community has come. Now it's the art world's turn. Featuring work from over twenty post-Stonewall artists who identify as LGBTQ+, this multi-media exhibition provides an exciting glimpse into contemporary queer art. Looking forward as opposed to looking backwards, No Promised You Tomorrow is a bold testament to collective resilience and required viewing for straight and gay folks, alike. Partial View of the Whitney Biennial 2019 Where: Whitney Museum of American Art, currently on display until Oct. 27 Who: Selected artists from the previous Biennial. What: As the title suggests, the Whitney Biennial comes once every two years and provides a snapshot of what's going on in the contemporary art world. Taking over four of the museum's six floors, the massive exhibition is arguably the most important art event in America, because it introduces curators and audiences to lesser-known artists. Being featured in the Whitney Biennial can make or break your career. Sadly, the 2019 Biennial has officially closed. But the museum has left a smaller distillation of the art extravaganza up for display on the sixth floor. We couldn't think of a better way to close the year than looking at the future of American art. As a bonus, the museum is also located at the foot of the Highline. The once above-ground subway line has since been converted into a public park, and provides a beautiful view of the Chelsea neighborhood. And if you're hungry, you're not far from the Chelsea Market, a massive indoor food court.
Go City Expert
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Empire State Building - Interview with Jean-Yves Ghazi

How tall is the Empire State Building? 1454 feet. Four million people visit the Empire State Building every year The building has its own zip code: 10118. Valentine’s Day is the only day that couples can get married on top of the Empire State Building. The Empire State Building was started and finished in a record-breaking 20 months. See more Empire State Building facts. As modern life continues to move at pace and buildings stretch skyward to accommodate and entertain its city residents, there's one building in particular that remains the jewel of New York's skyline: the Empire State Building. Since its conception, it has been a towering symbol of ambition and imagination - a feat of human endurance, ingenuity and financial resolve. As many as 3,400 men worked on the building every day to assemble its skeleton in record time and it cost an estimated $41 million to build at the time (around $558 million by today's standards). Since its unveiling, it has proved to be fertile ground for inspiration. Films such as Sleepless in Seattle (1993) and King Kong (1933) gave the building as much prominence in film as it's had in our collective imagination ever since. But what's it like to be at the helm of one of the Seven Wonders of the World? We had the honor of catching up with Jean-Yves Ghazi, the Director of Empire State Building, to find out. Thanks for taking the time to talk to us. Innovation has been at the forefront of the building's design since it was conceived. How have you kept this spirit of innovation alive in 2019? Our guests love the building. They adore the outdoor views. However, they weren’t too crazy about the queuing process. So four and a half years ago we embarked on this project [the ESB's new exhibit, second floor galleries], during which time we assembled best-in-class teams to design content and expand the overall experience. This creative, intelligent approach ensured that the ESB continues to inspire our visitors, and places them at the forefront of everything we do. We kept getting feedback from our visitors validating our endeavor to take the ESB in an experiential direction. We learned how deeply the connection with the building runs when it comes to our guests - it really is a profound thing. This insight motivated us to create experiences that would help fuel their pre-existing emotional connection with the building. For those unfamiliar with the second floor galleries, can you give us a bit of a summary? Sure! The second floor galleries is an interactive journey into The Empire State Building's legend and history. Telescopes mimic the original survey markers, and guests can watch short film clips of actors reenacting day-to-day interactions that would have occurred on the street outside in the early days of the building’s construction. They can then explore the building through different decades, interact with touchscreens and ride in a simulated elevator. Spatialized audio, jets of air, as well as an optical illusion with a one way mirror on the floor will make them the feel like they're looking many floors down the shaft. It really is a unique experience. That's before we mention the massive, digital rendering of King Kong... Haha, yes. You can touch King Kong’s hands which have broken through the walls. It's pretty spectacular, thanks to HD displays and 4D media elements. It feels like he's right outside the window! Incredible. Immersive exhibits aside, the Empire State Building has obviously had such an effect on the collective imagination throughout the world. In what ways did it inspire you as a child? Here in New York, we have a tendency to not visit attractions in the city unless we have family visiting. So when my family came over from abroad to see me back in 2001, of course they wanted to see the Empire State Building. It’s a day I’ll never forget. My family were absolutely blown away by the experience. Fast forward to today, and I’m fortunate to lead the most iconic landmark in New York City – one of the top iconic attractions in the world. It’s a tremendous responsibility, but it’s such a privilege too. Having been in the hospitality business my entire career, I love the reaction our guests have when they visit. It reminds me of the same emotional connection my family had when they came to see it. Speaking about it being an integral part of people’s memories, what is the most fantastic story you’ve seen or heard while working at the Empire State Building? We see lots of proposals, and probably the most elaborate one was when a guest started putting down rose petals completely unannounced before getting down on one knee in front of everyone. Once a year – during Valentine’s Day - we also host weddings. (Who doesn't want to be married at the top of the Empire State Building?). Every year we host a unique crowd of close-knit families coming together to celebrate the big day. These are the moments that feel so special to me. But let’s not forget that while these weddings are special moments in their own right, it’s all the other moments – the smiles, the gasps you hear as people gaze over the top of the building, and the laughter of visitors engaging with our exhibits – that we create every day. They’re all absolutely priceless. Sustainability is something that you take seriously. Can you describe the steps the Empire State Building has taken to reduce its impact on the environment? Buildings use around 40% of a city's total energy, and in dense urban settings like New York, commercial buildings account for up to 75% of energy used. The Empire State Building, through its energy-efficiency program, has continually beat its energy-efficiency guarantee, from year one. We're exceptionally proud of this achievement and have the ambitious aim of surpassing our targets, year after year. Cutting-edge technology minimizes your energy use. But how have you leveraged it to change the way you tell stories? It’s an interesting question! Technology continues to evolve, and the way to tell these stories is with speed, accuracy, and ease of access. All of our exhibits including the interpretive panels come in a range of languages to encourage effortless interaction. From an accessibility perspective and from a technological perspective in general, I can tell you that it has had a significant impact on our ticketing process whereby we introduced ticketing kiosks that include other languages. As technology evolves, we’ll deliver information in a meaningful, fun, and practical way. What new exhibits are in the pipeline that you’re excited about? You'll have to come and find out! Our second floor galleries exhibit is still so new, but the positive reaction from our guests have been phenomenal - we're absolutely thrilled. We'll continue to enthral and delight our visitors from around the world - so watch this space. A huge thank you to Jean-Yves Ghazi for this incredible interview. And if you want more of the best things in the city we've got just the thing.
Suz Pathmanathan

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