I have to admit this was a con I did not have high expectations about, and it was all me, not so much the con. Well, let me rephrase. No, I did have some expectations, because the organizers of Emerald City Comic Con also organized and promoted Rose City Comic Con. . . and they did not disappoint. It was well organized and line control was most excellent. The only line I did not appreciate was the horribly long lines at the snack bars, but they had no control over that. I also found parking to be a complete bear and just about when I was about to give up in ever finding a parking spot, when a high school buddy texted me with a solution. I was able to park at the hotel parking lot she was staying at. Thank you, Anneliese! 

After attending such large conventions, like ECCC and Phoenix Con, Rose City felt small, but also was more intimate. I'm sure this will change when word of mouth gets out about this con. 

I only attended the first day (Saturday) because I thought I could squeeze what I wanted to do in one day. Boy, was I wrong. I felt rushed as I jogged from one venue to another. Next time, I better buy a ticket for both days and plan to stay the night in Portland. This year, I brought my youngest son, Joey. This was his first con ever. He has been asking me for a while and with this one so close and me not working the con, in addition, much smaller then Seattle's con, I thought this one would be a perfect one for him to get his feet wet. And he enjoyed himself immensely. 

We entered the Portland Convention Center and I grabbed his hand. I heard him sigh, as he mumbled, "Mom, I'm 13 now." I dropped his hand and walked with him towards the escalators. I had been at this convention center a few months previously for a different con, and assumed the layout would be much the same, and for the most part it was. We walked up to the ticket counter and purchased two Saturday passes. Then after briefly walking into the main hall, to get lay of the land, I dragged Joey to his first panel. He was hesitant and not sure he would like, but I think he had a good time, even though he was not aware of the show the actor in the first panel was in. However, this morning he started watching. . . Stargate SG-1. 

Yes, the first panel was all about Christopher Judge (Stargate SG-1). A fellow Oregonian, he attended University of Oregon, back in his youth. I thoroughly enjoyed the striptease act as he whipped off the shirt he had been wearing and changed into an Oregon football jersey. He led a rowdy and humorously entertaining panel about himself and the pranks played on Stargate with fifteen minutes on the topic of farting alone. What is it about boys and their bodily functions? I do have to give props to the emcee, Jesse Blaze Snider. He was quiet entertaining is his own right and did a good job moderating the panels. In addition, major kudos, for emceeing all the panels, and he quoted, "with only one potty break." Although, I had met Christoper Judge before, I had not gone to a panel with him. I enjoyed it and learned some new things. I did not know that Independence Day was supposed to be the second movie to a three movie Stargate trilogy. Yep, it was supposed to be about the aliens revenging us for killing Ra. Wow! Now, I'm going to have to watch Independence Day again and see if I catch that. 

After the first panel, Joey and I grabbed some lunch and then went our separate ways. He walked around the different booths, while I waited in line for David Giuntoli's autograph. I have become a huge Grimm fan over the past year, although, I also have to admit, I am a little behind on season two. Thank goodness for Amazon, where I was able to purchase Grimm Season Two. The DVD were on my front porch by the time I returned from the con. Yay! Looking forward to viewing them soon and hopefully will be all caught up by the time the series returns on October 25th. I really enjoy the show, and although dark, I find it very edgy and really has some terrific writing (not only dark, but wonderful touches of humor) and a fantastic bromance. David was super friendly and even let me take a selfie with him leaning over the table. 

Then I took a picture of the Batmobile and walked through the exhibits, gaming booths, and comic and other merchandise vendor booths where I caught up with Joey, He has become a huge Dr.Who fan over the summer and found a TARDIS he wanted to buy. I bought it for him and then we went back upstairs to the panel rooms. I wanted to sit near the front for David Giuntoli's panel, but knew it would require sitting in the room watching the previous panel. Joey, didn't appear to mind, as he enjoys the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Therefore, we attended a panel with Lee Arenberg and Martin Klebba. It was another engaging and lively panel and I'm glad we went. The third panel, was with David Giuntoli. He received a very warm welcome. I think filming and staring in a show based in Portland, Oregon, helped his popularity at the Rose City Comic Con, but he was fun to listen to and engaging with the audience. I know he had to be very careful with giving away plot details regarding the upcoming season of Grimm, which lead to some hilarious answers to some of the questions from the audience. He also is very genuine when he says he loves Portland. 

After David Giuntoli's panel, Joey wanted a picture with Jewel Staite (Firefly). We were in luck as at that very moment was her photo op time. I paid for the picture and he stood in a long line, waiting for his turn. I told him to remember to smile when he got up there. On a side note, I have to give huge props to the company who handled the photo-ops at this con, as the pictures were ready to be picked up less then ten minutes after they were shot. Wow! At most cons, I have waited one to two hours and sometimes even longer for the photos to be printed. Joey was not too thrilled with the way the photo turned out - he thinks he has a "deer in the headlight" look and then complained that I did not tell him they snapped the picture so fast and no one told him they were doing it. He only heard, "Next." Think I might have to Photoshop a smile onto his face. After Joey received his picture, we walked up to Alexis Cruz's (Stargate SG-1) table and talked with him briefly.  I told him I loved him as Skaara in the original Stargate film and in the television series Stargate SG-1. He suggested a picture with us and him and I said "Sure." He's not very tall, both Joey and I tower over him. 

The con for the most part was wrapping up for the day (except for some late evening activities) and Joey and I headed out the door for the two and a half hour drive home. It was a long and exhausting day, but we both had a good time together and on the drive home he asked, "When is the next con?" 

I wish I wasn’t so shy. Sometimes it can be down right embarrassing. While attending the Wizard World Portland Con this weekend I got the opportunity to meet Henry Winkler (Happy Days), Dean Cain (Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman) and Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead, Burn Notice).

This was the first time Wizard World brought their con to Portland, Oregon and the little I saw I thoroughly enjoyed. I didn’t think it was going to be well attended (almost as much as a bust as PopCon LA had been), but was surprised by the size of the crowds. My biggest complaint was how they only used one floor for everything. It got very crowded in the autograph area and very confusing which line to stand in since the lines intertwined.

Henry Winkler is just the sweetest man and I loved his positive, uplifting, and enthusiastic panel. I actually got up the nerve to ask him a question. At his autograph table, he was standing up shaking hands and giving hugs. Dean Cain is just a cutie and super friendly. He chatted with my friends (Elaine and her friend Barbara) and I at his table and shook our hands and personalized our autographs. I look forward to seeing him again at Phoenix Con later this year. Had a great time at his panel too, and I learned new things about him. I did not realize he was a screenwriter. Will have to ask him about screenwriting next time I see him. "Ugh! I come all this way to go to these cons and pay all this money - open your mouth and speak Anne!"

I was only able to attend Saturday (so we crammed in a lot in a short amount of time). In addition, it was the only day Bruce Campbell could attend and I really, really wanted to meet him, since I absolutely love him in Burn Notice. I went to his panel and had a great time. He is quite the comedian and had the audience in stitches. Then my friends and I stood in line for hours to get his autograph. I finally get to the front of the line. He asks what I do for a living and I swear what came out of my mouth was not English. *Facepalm*

Oh well, maybe I can make up for some of my awkwardness next weekend at the Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC). I am looking forward to being a "Minion" again this year.