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November 29
1957 - Incorporation of Mint Canyon Chamber of Commerce; became Canyon Country Chamber [story]
Frontier Days


The summer “con” season is upon us — a time to gather, cosplay and enjoy the company of like-minded fans.

Many people have heard about San Diego Comic-Con, the annual multi-genre entertainment and comic convention, which is the largest annual comic and pop culture festival in the world. It attracts more than 130,000 attendees each year.

A victim of its own success, tickets are now virtually impossible to obtain by the average person.

In addition — originally showcasing primarily comic books and science fiction/fantasy-related film, television and similar popular arts — Comic-Con has since expanded to include a range of pop culture across nearly every genre, including horror, Western animation, anime, manga, toys, collectible card games, video games, webcomics and fantasy novels.

Anime Expo, once a quiet little convention attracting young fans of Japanese anime, has also exploded into a “mega-convention” attracting more than 100,000 to the downtown Los Angeles Convention Center over the Fourth of July holiday.

Part of the fun of these conventions is “cosplay.” Many attendees who don the costume of a favorite superhero, or anime character, and spend hundreds of dollars and many hours of labor crafting unique and spectacular costumes to wow fellow fans.

If you like to “people watch” there’s nothing more fun than grabbing your camera and visiting one of these conventions. Cosplayers love to pose for photos. If you ask, cosplayers often will pose in character for your camera.

Conventions are a great place to see the “stars” of various sci-fi, anime and pop-culture genres. Autograph sessions, vendors, exhibitors, meet and greets, artists’ alley, masquerade, and special lectures and appearances add to the convention experience.

Conventions are becoming more and more “family-friendly” experiences with mom and dad in costume, and kids in tow.

For many people, annual conventions are like a “family reunion,” where they meet up with old friends who share a like-interest and a place where they can be “themselves.”

cosplay girls

Southern California

Los Angeles Anime Expo
July 4-7
Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St., L.A.
Known as “AX,” this is a celebration of popular Japanese art and culture. Anime Expo features more than 800 hours of programming, panels, and workshops.
Info http://www.anime-expo.org.

San Diego Comic-Con International
July 18-2
San Diego Convention Center, 111 W Harbor Drive, San Diego
The Comic-Con website states, “Obtaining a Comic-Con badge can require the persistence of Superman, the patience of a Watcher, the ingenuity of Tony Stark and the readiness of Batman.” That’s pretty much all you need to know.
Info www.comic-con.org.

comic-con cosplay

Long Beach Comic Con
Aug. 31-Sept. 1
Long Beach Convention Center, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach
A celebration of comic books and pop culture that showcases the exceptional works of talented writers, artists, illustrators and creators of all types of pop culture. Entertaining and educational programs for all ages, guest signings, and meet and greet sessions with celebrities, as well as vendors and exhibitors.
Info longbeachcomiccon.com.

Nostalgia Con
Sept. 28-29
Anaheim Convention Center, 800 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim
Billed as the “World’s Reunion of the Icons and Pop Culture Legends of the 1980s,” this pop-Americana convention includes concerts, celebrity panels, meet and greets, music artists from the 80s through today, collectible cars, sports legends, pop culture icons, cosplay, retro merch drops, video arcade games and break dance competitions.
Info http://nostalgiacon80s.com.

WonderCon
April 10-12, 2020
Anaheim Convention Center, 800 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim
Now owned by the same folks who put on San Diego’s Comic-Con, WonderCon is the sister show embracing all the main aspects of SDCC, including comics, movies, TV, animation, the masquerade and more.
Info www.comic-con.org/wca.

Elsewhere
If the SoCal convention “scene” is too crowded and too hard to access, there are many conventions around the country that attract many of the same vendors and “stars” as the bigger conventions. There are also different “genres” of conventions not seen in SoCal.

Dragon Con
Aug. 29– Sept. 2
Atlanta, Georgia
A meeting place for fantasy, from comics to cosplay to wrestling and puppetry. It hosts an annual parade with fans decked out in the most imaginative and inventive attire imaginable.
Info www.dragoncon.org.

South City Comic Con
Sept. 15
San Mateo Event Center/Fair Grounds, 1346 Saratoga Drive, San Mateo
This year’s featured guest will be Bob McLeod, best known for co-creating and illustrating “The New Mutants” for Marvel Comics. He has penciled or inked all the major characters for Marvel and DC, including Spider-Man, The X-Men, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, GI Joe, Star Wars, The Hulk, Conan and more.
Info http://southcitycomiccon.com.

Mouse-Con
Nov. 3
Crowne Plaza Inn, 45 John Glenn Drive, Concord, CA
This Disneyana fan convention held in Northern California features panels and talks by Disney artists and others, as well as vendors.
The Inaugural Mouse-Con in Bakersfield will be held Jan. 26, Kern County Fairgrounds, Building 4 (The Arts Building) 1142 P St., Bakersfield.

Info http://www.mouse-con.com.
cosplay sakura

Sakura-Con
April 10-12
Washington State Convention Center, 705 Pike St., Seattle
The Pacific Northwest’s biggest anime convention, Sakura-Con attracts more than 20,000 attendees. A comfortable, fun convention with vendors, autographs, panels, Japanese cultural arts and presentations, bonsai exhibits, a large artists’ alley and numerous anime viewing rooms, as well as gaming, masquerade and contests.
Info http://sakuracon.org.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT LINKS
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Tuesday, Nov 28, 2023
Porsche Santa Clarita’s last Cars & Coffee event of the year will be held Saturday, Dec. 2, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. All makes and models of cars are welcome.
Tuesday, Nov 28, 2023
The city of Santa Clarita has announced a solo exhibition by Xu Shuai, “Chaos Coordinate System,” which will be on view through March 25, 2024 at the Newhall Community Center, 22421 Market St., Newhall, CA 91321.
Friday, Nov 24, 2023
Theatre in a Week is back in Old Town Newhall with more original one act comedies, again written by Barry Agin, chronicling the shenanigans of the season, all prepared in one week.
Friday, Nov 17, 2023
The Melissa Etheridge: I’m Not Broken Tour will appear on stage at the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center on the campus of College of the Canyons at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 4.
Wednesday, Nov 15, 2023
The Jazz on Main is returning with its speakeasy jazz concert at Hart & Main in Old Town Newhall.
Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1957 - Incorporation of Mint Canyon Chamber of Commerce; became Canyon Country Chamber [story]
Frontier Days
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Henry Mayo Recognized as L.A. County Celebrates 40 Years of Trauma Care
This holiday season, give the Gift of Life. Honor or remember a loved one through the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Foundation’s Gift of Life program. Sponsorship levels range from $25, $50, $100, $250, $500 and $1,000.
Dec. 11: Light Up a Life Ceremony at Henry Mayo
Porsche Santa Clarita’s last Cars & Coffee event of the year will be held Saturday, Dec. 2, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. All makes and models of cars are welcome.
Dec. 2: Cars & Coffee Toy Drive to Benefit SCV
Join the Triumph Foundation for dinner on Thursday, Nov. 30 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Route 66 Classic Grill in Canyon Country and 10% of your dinner tab will go to support Triumph.
Nov. 30: Eat-for-A-Cause Fundraiser to Benefit the Triumph Foundation
The Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation asks Santa Clarita residents to make a paw-sitive impact on pets this holiday season.
Make a Paw-sitive Impact on Pets During the Holidays
Local foster youth recently enjoyed a “Friendsgiving” hosted by Fostering Youth Independence, an annual event that is one of the ways FYI builds a caring community for these vulnerable youth who are aging out of the foster system without a permanent family.
FYI Hosts ‘Friendsgiving’ for Foster Youth
The city of Santa Clarita has announced a solo exhibition by Xu Shuai, “Chaos Coordinate System,” which will be on view through March 25, 2024 at the Newhall Community Center, 22421 Market St., Newhall, CA 91321.
Solo Art Exhibit ‘Chaos Coordinate System’ at Newhall Community Center
Two hiking programs, Rise and Shine and Sunset Strolls and a baby/toddler program, Little Ones Nature Hour, are offered at Vasquez Rocks Natural Area and Interpretive Center in Agua Dulce this season.
Vasquez Rocks Offers Hiking, Little Ones Nature Hour
Child & Family Center has received a $15,000 grant from the Boston Scientific Foundation. The funds will support Mental Health Services for children, youth and adults who don’t have any insurance.
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In the State of California, you have several options when you’d like to recycle a mattress, all at no cost to you.
Mattress Recycling, Disposal Available in SCV
Los Angeles County Assessor Jeff Prang has released the 2023 Annual Report, providing a comprehensive overview of the Assessor's Office activities, achievements and key initiatives throughout the past operating year.
County Assessor Issues 2023 Annual Report
During this windy, winter season in the city of Santa Clarita, don’t forget that yard waste, including all raked leaves, belong loosely (not bagged) in your green organics container.
City Increases Street Sweeping to Weekly, Next Six Weeks
Students at Castaic High School will enjoy an expanded music program, thanks to funding from California Credit Union through its Fall 2023 Teacher Grant program. Eugene Kim, a performing arts teacher at Castaic High School earned a $500 grant to help fund the band and color guard field show.
California Credit Union Awards Grant to Castaic High School Teacher
Help make a difference in the life of a child by donating a new, unwrapped toy at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station lobby anytime between Tuesday, Nov. 28 through Monday, Dec. 18.
SCV Sheriff’s Station Annual Toy Drive
Members of the Rotary Club of Santa Clarita Valley recently celebrated an annual tradition of delivering turkeys for the holiday season to those in need in the SCV.
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The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station issued a warning for holiday season shoppers who have purchased goods online during CyberMonday sales to be aware their packages may be targeted by mail theives.
LASD Warns Consumers of Package Thefts
1950 - CalArts grad Ed Harris ("A Beautiful Mind," "Apollo 13," "Westworld") born in New Jersey [link]
Ed Harris
It came down to turnovers and made free throws.
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The Santa Clarita Public Library is thrilled to unveil its newly redesigned website, residing under the same domain - SantaClaritaLibrary.com.
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No. 9 College of the Canyons was on the wrong end of a 5-0 result vs. No. 1 Chaffey College in the second of the 3C2A Southern California Regional playoffs on Tuesday, Nov. 21. 
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College of the Canyons ended its season with a 42-13 loss at Citrus College in the 2023 Western State Bowl on Saturday, Nov. 25.
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Big Chicken Valencia, a popular local eatery known for its delicious chicken sandwiches, is thrilled to announce its partnership with the Santa Clarita Boys and Girls Club for a special holiday toy drive.
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Princess Cruises is gearing up for a momentous occasion one year from today as Caribbean Princess prepares to embark on its first-ever voyage from Port Canaveral, establishing a new homeport in the heart of Central Florida.
Princess Cruises Gearing Up for Port Canaveral Inaugural Voyage
SCVNews.com
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