Hofbräuhaus Chicago is the place to celebrate Oktoberfest this year

Disclaimer: The Fandads were invited to attend the opening of Oktoberfest. All thoughts, opinions and full stomachs are our own. 

Last Friday the Fandads were invited to celebrate the beginning of Oktoberfest at Hofbräuhaus Chicago in Rosemont, IL. This is the second time that we were invited to this event and it was a lot of fun and let us tell you about it if you have never been.

Star Wars Rebels Season 3 Review

When Star Wars Rebels first started I was excited about a new Star Wars show that would not only give us new characters, but it would also be considered cannon for the movies that came before and after it. I remember watching it and immediately loving the fact that there were two strong female characters in the show and those two: Hera and Sabine instantly became my daughter's favorite characters. 

Take home The Lion King and Born in China with Disney

Big announcements from Wizard World

Q&A sessions with standout celebrities David Tennant (“Doctor Who,” “Jessica Jones”),  John Barrowman (“Arrow,” “Doctor Who”), Michael Rooker (Guardians of the Galaxy , “The Walking Dead”) and casts of “Firefly” and “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” and WWE® Superstars, sci-fi speed dating, anime, cosplayer and comics creator sessions, adult and kids costume contests and more highlight the programming offerings at the 20th annual Wizard World Comic Con Chicago, August 24-27 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Most programming is included as part of the standard event admission and is in addition to the live entertainment options (magic, dancing, music, etc.) all weekend.

Some highlights of the more than 120 hours of panels scheduled include:

Interactive Q&As with David Tennant (Saturday, 1:30 p.m.), John Barrowman (Sunday, 1 p.m.), Michael Rooker (Friday, 1 p.m.), Dean Cain (“Supergirl,” “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” Saturday, noon), Paul Bettany (Avengers: Age of Ultron, Saturday, 11:30 a.m.), Danny Trejo (Machete, Death Race: Inferno, Sunday, 2:15 p.m.), Gene Simmons (KISS frontman, Saturday, 10:30 a.m.), John Cusack (Say Anything…, HIgh Fidelity, Saturday, 4:30 p.m.), Christian Kane (“Leverage,” “The Librarians,” Sunday, 11:30 a.m.), Loni Anderson (“WKRP in Cincinnati,” Sunday, 2:30 p.m.) and many others Group sessions with the casts of “Firefly” (Summer Glau and Jewel Staite, Saturday, 2:30 p.m.), “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” (Cobie Smulders and Elizabeth Henstridge, Saturday, 12:30 p.m.), “Doctor Who” (Alex Kingston, Jenna Coleman and Catherine Tate, Sunday, noon) and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (Nicholas Brendon and Charisma Carpenter, Saturday, 5 p.m.)

Wrestling talk with WWE® Superstars Roman Reigns™ (Thursday, 5 p.m.), Alexa Bliss™ (Thursday, 6 p.m.),  Kevin Owens™ (Friday, 3 p.m.), Charlotte Flair™ (Friday, 4 p.m.) and The Hardy Boyz™ (Saturday, 4 p.m.)

Creator-themed hours featuring industry superstars Rob Schamberger, Clinton Hobart, Mike Grell, Dean Haspiel, Barbara Slate, Alex de Campi, Trevor Muller, Danny Fingeroth, Joe Harris, Steve Geiger, Lani Sarem, Genese Davis, Maggie Thompson, Dr. Travis Langley, Victor Dandridge and more

Anime-themed sessions with Wizard World’s own Mogshelle and Laycee and others

“Nothing Stays Dead in Comics,” featuring Wizard World Editor in Chief Brian Walton on the cyclical death and rebirth of comics and the relaunching of Wizard

Wizard World Concert: Performed By World Of Warcraft Composer Jason Hayes and Video Game Band “Critical Hit” (Saturday, 5:30 p.m.)

Sci-Fi Speed Dating sessions (tired of lookin' for love in Alderaan places?) (Thursday 6 p.m., Friday 4, 6 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.(LGBTPQ), 1, 3:30, 6 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.(LGBTPQ), 1, 3:30 p.m.)

Kids programming all four days, including story time, face painting, puppet shows, dance parties, magic, learn to draw, (and Kids 10 and under are free every day with paid adult)

World-famous Wizard World Comic Con Adult Costume Contest, Saturday at 7 p.m. and Kids Costume Contests on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Cosplay with special guests Brit Bliss, Mogshelle, Papa Bear, Princess Morgan, Termina Cosplay and more, throughout the weekend

Unless noted, programming events take place in the designated General Programming Rooms or show floor stages at the convention center. VIP tickets or additional costs may apply to ensure access to select activities, as noted.

A full list of Wizard World Comic Con Chicago programming is available at http://wizardworld.com/programming-entertainment/chicago (subjects, guests, times and rooms subject to change).

Wizard World Comic Con events bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop culture: movies, television, gaming, live entertainment, comics, sci-fi, graphic novels, toys, original art, collectibles, contests and more. Show hours are Thursday, August 24, 4-9 p.m.; Friday, August 25, noon-7 p.m.; Saturday, August 26, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, August 27, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Kids 10 and under are admitted free with paid adult.

In other big news...

As the saying goes: “Nothing stays dead in comics.” Pop-Culture leader Wizard World, Inc. today announced the digital re-imagination, re-conception and re-launch of Wizard, as part of a new digital initiative which includes WizPop, a daily pop-culture news service reporting on the biggest stories of the day in pop-culture, entertainment, and fandom. WizPop will also feature a weekly round-table reviewing the relevant news of the week. Bridging video, editorial and convention operations, the revitalized Wizard digital initiatives will speak to fans worldwide in Wizard’s distinctive snarkily-smart voice.

The predecessor to the re-constituted Wizard was Wizard Magazine: The Guide to Comics, had a wildly successful run for nearly two decades as the respected and widely-followed voice of comics and fandom.

Brian Walton, the former Editor In Chief of Nerdist and Vice President of Editorial Operations at Legendary Digital Networks will serve as Editor In Chief of Wizard in addition to his role as Director of Content for Wizard World. Luke Y. Thompson, formerly of Nerdist, Topless Robot, Deadline, and OC Weekly, has joined Wizard World as Associate Editor. 

WizPop the daily video news service will share the uniquely authoratiative point-of-view of Wizard covering the larger universe of all things pop-culture.

In addition to standing as a daily digital presence, plans are in the works to return to publishing Wizard as a premium quarterly magazine.

From “Casting Calls” to “The Drawing Board,” classic Wizard Magazine columns will be revived as web-based articles and regular video features. Wizard and WizPop will feature news and reviews of the latest in comics, tech, movies, gaming, TV, music, and toys. Also returning will be the hallmark in-depth feature interviews with some of the biggest names in the comics and entertainment industries.

“To a generation of fans the Wizard name has stood at the intersection of entertainnment and pop culture. By introducing Wizard and WizPop as vibrant digital incarnations, Wizard World will expand its pre-eminent position in the industry to connect and interact with millions of fans every day,” said John D. Maatta, Wizard World President & CEO. “With the triumverate of Wizard, WizPop and the Wizard World live convention platform we have created a 24 hour a day digital and live experiential platform serving the fans of pop culture—the Wizard experience and the on-going conversation doesn’t stop when a Wizard Comic Con ends.”

On August 25, at the 20th annual Wizard World Comic Con Chicago, Wizard and WizPop will launch at www.wizardworld.com.

Check out the first episode of WizPop at http://wizd.me/7ge0.

Moving forward one word at a time

Every week it is the same routine with my son and my wife. I pack my backpack with my laptop and he hands me his water bottle to hold on one of the side pockets designed to hold water bottles. We get in the car and make the 15-20 minute drive to the children pediatric center for his appointment. We walk into the office and check in at the front desk and take a seat until it is his turn.

Sharing and Making Memories of "Yesterday" with Paul McCartney

Whenever people ask me what Fandads is about I always answer: "It's Gil and myself writing about sharing our love for all things geeky with our kids." There is no limit on what the geeky things can be. We share with our children our love for comic books, handheld games and even music. We never force anything onto them: if they like it, they like it, if not, no big deal. 

Pushing myself to the Limit (Sporty Dad 109)

In mid-June I did something that I did not think I would ever do: I ran the Spartan Super and Spartan Sprint on the same weekend. Completing these two races is a big deal for me because there was a few times during the Super that I just wanted to stop and not do it anymore, but I had a goal for myself and that was to finish no matter what. Not only was finishing these races important to me, but I felt I had to prove something to myself.

What to do in Chicago this weekend!

Hey friends, here is another segment in our What to do in Chicago this weekend. There are some fun activities to do in this weekend in the city and hopefully you will have fun at some of them.

Spider-Man: Homecoming Review #SpiderManHomecoming #Updated

Within the first, say 15 to 20 minutes, of Spider-Man: Homecoming, I knew that Sony has finally given us the Spider-Man movie that we have been waiting for. The movie had everything that you would expect from reading an issue of Spider-Man: humor, tough decisions, action, and a lot of heart. Now, full disclosure, I am a huge Spider-Man fan and going into this movie I was a bit worried, but I walked out of the theater with a big smile on my face and it stayed until the next day. 

Cars 3 Coloring Sheets and giveaway

Disclaimer: The Fandads have partnered up with Fandango for this giveaway and receive compensation for this team up. All thoughts and opinions are our own. 

We previously did a post with some activity sheets for Cars 3 and we have some coloring sheets to keep you and your children busy if you want to relive revisit some of your favorite characters from the hit movie. There is also a giveaway, but you must keep reading.

Transformers: The Last Knight Premiere and Review

Last week the Fandads were invited to the U.S Premiere of Transformers: The Last Knight. The premiere was held at the Civic Opera House in downtown Chicago and had everything you could ask for in a premiere: a red carpet, inflatable Transformers and celebrities. This was the first time that the Fandads have ever been invited to a premiere of a movie and it was a pretty memorable experience. 

The Adventure Continues, #ThanksBaby

Disclosure: The Fandads have partnered with Life of Dad  and Pampers for this promotion. 

Remember those mornings when you would just wake up and not want to get out of bed? There have been many times in my past that I would wish that the days would just fly by. A lot of the times I would not want to get out of bed, but I knew that I had classes to attend and a job to go to, so I did it. I would go through those monotonous days and just feel like this is what my life was going to be. To quote Aesop Rock "Wake, Work, Sleep" and that is not what I wanted for my life.

Resident Evil Vendetta One night only Screening

Hey friends, what's better than playing Resident Evil on a big screen television? How about watching a Resident Evil movie at the theaters. Yes, friends Fathom Events is having a special one night only screening on June 19th of Resident Evil:Vendetta. Now, while this is not the Milla Jovovich Resident Evil, this is the third in a series of computer animated Resident Evil movies.

Cars 3 Activity Sheets and Screening

Lighting McQueen is heading back to the big screen in Cars 3 later this month and to get your ready for that day we have some cool activity sheets for you and your children. From a race track maze to building an actual race track to race with your children, we have got you covered. For our friends in Chicago, we have something extra for you, keep reading to find out what.

Wonder Woman Premium Statue Giveaway

Disclaimer: Sideshow Collectibles is an affiliate with Fandads and they are sponsoring this contest. All thoughts and opinions are our own.

With the release of the new Wonder Woman movie the Fandads have the fantastic opportunity to be involved in an awesome giveaway with our friends at Sideshow Collectibles. Sideshow is giving our readers the opportunity to win this fantastic Wonder Woman statue. All you need to do is click on this link and and write "Fandads" in the box that asks where you learned about this contest.

Handcrafted with austere beauty and fierce determination, Princess Diana of Themyscira dons her iconic costume of stars and stripes, sworn to protect the world and uphold her mantle as Wonder Woman. Granted divine superhuman powers and superior combat skills, the warrior princess is ready to gracefully accept any challenge, armed with her golden Lasso of Truth, indestructible bracelets, and tiara. The Wonder Woman collectible figure carries a long spear across her shoulders, and her iconic shield grasped firmly at her side - but above all, she carries the Amazons’ message of peace and justice.

Contest ends June 8th. 

Pretty simple and easy to do. Enter today!

Wonder Woman review and giveaway.

It is kind of crazy when you think about it, but Wonder Woman has not had a big screen appearance in all of her 75 years until Batman v Superman came out last year.  The movie itself was decent, but when the chords from the electric cello drops and she appears on screen you sat up in your chair and probably said to yourself, “Oh, things are going to get good now.” Well friends, not only did it get good, but her first full-length movie took that to another level. Yes, Wonder Woman was worth the wait.

What to do: The Tattoos and Fighting Edition

Looking for some fun stuff to do in the Chicagoland area this weekend or something you can do at home. Check out our latest episode of What to Do! (Still taking suggestions for a better title for this.)

Despicable Me 3 Tattoo Parlor

If you are in the downtown area and want to get a holographic tattoo by a few minions, head on over to Millennium Park this weekend for the Despicable Me 3 Traveling Tattoo Parlor. At the parlor kids of all ages can get a holographic tattoo and pose for a photo or two.

The parlor will be near the Chase Promenade South and will run Saturday through Monday from 11am to 6pm. 

Looking to fight with old friends?

If you have a Nintendo Switch Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers  is now available to buy through the Nintendo eShop. The fighting game features the full Street Fighter II roster, plus two new roster additions – Evil Ryu and Violent Ken – as well as a host of new single- and multiplayer features. 

Some of these features are:

•  Co-Op Battle: In this new mode, players can join forces in teams of two as they battle together against a computer-controlled opponent. Players share a health bar and can coordinate attacks to perform powerful combos.

•  "Way of the Hado": In "Way of the Hado" mode, players can fight enemies in first-person using the Joy-Con controllers. Iconic special moves like the HADOKEN can be activated using the motion controls of the Joy-Con.

•  Two graphic modes: With the simple push of a button, players can change between the game's classic pixel art and modern high-definition graphics.

•  Arcade Mode returns: The classic Arcade Mode returns in Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers. After battling through all the computer-controlled characters in the game, players can view character-specific endings.

•  Color Editor: Customize characters and costume colors using this new mode. Players can now bring their favorite character into battle with more style and personality than ever before!

So there you go. Get yourself a tattoo this weekend and show how tough you can be virtually by fighting other fighters from around the world.  Enjoy you weekend friends! 

Another Fantastic Time at C2E2!

C2E2 has come and gone and the Fandads were there to take in all the wonders it had to offer, and this year did it offer some goodies for the entire family. The Fandads went down there with a few missions and were we able to accomplish them? Keep reading to find out.

Silicon Valley Season 3 review and giveaway.

Disclaimer: The Fandads were supplied with a review copy of Silicon Valley Season 3 and all thoughts and opinions are our own. 

HBO continues to deliver the strong and smart comedies and Silicon Valley had been one that I have been watching since season 2. That's right, I did not start watching this show when it first premiered. I caught a few episodes of the second season and had to go back to watch the first season and catch up. Clearly, that was a smart move, because this show is great, especially if you are in the tech industry like some of us bloggers are. 

One door closes, another one will open, eventually

So here it is again. That feeling of disappointment. That feeling that I let others down. I get this feeling every now and then, but today it just hit me at the worst time.

Today I was running late for work due to shoveling the March snow in the morning. Yeah. You read that right. Snow in March. Well, anyways I woke up early to shovel the snow and then I had to drive my children to my in-laws house and drop off the car and head to work.

The snow ensured that everyone would drive like they have never seen the powdery stuff before. The normal five minute ride almost tripled and I'm including the return trip home.

When I got to work I had a message from the recruiting department if I had a minute to talk.

Here's a thing about me; even though I post a lot of things for the Fandads social media pages, I try to keep some personal life moments to myself. There have been plenty of times when I would mention something to someone or post something online and it falls apart.

A few examples. I used to work for a marketing and promotion company once and sometimes I would be in charge of setting the itineraries up for artists that were coming to town. I would call the stores, set up times and pass it to my manager for approval. I would usually get "since you made the itinerary, you can ride along with artist "so-and-so" for the in-stores." I would let me friends know and then, either the artist cancels or something else comes up that I can't go.

There have been many other instances like that, but I don't want to bore you with my bad luck stories.

Ok, so what's the point in all of this and why was someone from recruiting messaging me? Well, since the week I returned from Dad 2.0 I had a few interviews with another department at the company I'm currently working for. This new position would be permanent and will help me in achieving my goal of providing for my family.

Well after a few weeks and constant prodding by co-workers I found out today that I did not get the position. I made a point of not saying anything to anyone in fear that I might jinx it. My wife obviously knew and just told me to let her know when I hear something. She knows I don't like talking about things like this until it's official.

Being told I wasn't getting the position stung. I had, what I thought were two pretty stellar interviews. We were laughing and intrigued  in what we were saying to each other, so I thought my shot was good. I knew not to get cocky though and just decided to wait and see what will happen.

So after all of this build up and receiving the news today I feel like I let my family down. I feel like this could have been the beginning of something bigger, but now it won't be.

Am I sad about this? Yes. Yes I am, but I know when one door closes another one will open. I'll let myself feel disappointed about this for awhile, but as soon as my train reaches my stop and I step out the door to walk home, those feeling of sadness will stay on the train and keep going. I'm not going to stop and will keep moving forward.