Seaport Village is back to hosting apple-shaped families from Minnesota and the humourless, tanned beach cops are re-focused on sunburned tourists frantically enjoying their last hurrahs of summer holiday. The "normal" clientele has returned to local strip clubs, replacing zombies, Zorg and Sheldon Cooper in the Champagne Room; alternately, barmaids about town have, thankfully, removed their faux nerd glasses and Hello Kitty "I Love Nerds" t-shirts. (Please, leave hot nerding to the real hot nerds.)
The Gaslamp Quarter is still predictably lively with Happy Hours and summertime, bistro seating; but the dark-suited business folk of the downtown area are no longer treated to the lunchtime spectacle and wonder, not to mention parking and traffic jumbles, of Comic-Con. No more Leeloos leaning over the bar at Lou & Mickey's, no more Han Solos in line at Starbucks, no more Walking Dead at McCormick & Schmick's and no more Transformers trying to work the fountain dispensers at 7-11. Like a birthday night in Vegas, we are left with sore feet, curious bruising, singed tendrils, oddly placed piles of sunflower seed shells, mysteriously depleted bank accounts, and a faint, pleasurable memory that it might be fun and/or nuts to do it all over again next year ... but next time with an even better costume! (They're called boobs, Ed!)
The Con will return, kids, no worries there. It has been speculated for years that it could move to Anaheim. Well, at least through 2016, Comic-Con shall remain in America's Finest City; Hallowe'en in July is all San Diego's. Until next year, enjoy the slideshow of this year's scene, courtesy of our own Dr. Lucy and her EOS Canon Digital Rebel XT.
BTW, because I know you care, each con, I treat myself to a wee something: a Chewbacca tank by WeLoveFine, a Bettie Page parasol by Retro a-go-go, a Jetsons tee, etc. This year, it's my Evil Coffee Hour messenger bag by BeKyoot.com. Get one! "Cause Evil Coffee Hour is a brilliant idea and Christy Sanderson is a total doll who designs all the gear herself! It's what Japanese girls and I call supa kawaii! Cheers, Miss Christy, Tuxie Cat and Momocheet!
Authoress Jennifer Susannah Devore contributes regularly to the official San Diego Comic-Con Souvenir Guide. Read her articles here: The Simpsons, Peanuts & Tarzan!
All slideshow photos by Twisted Pair Photography with the exception of the following:
Rotten Tomato by Rebecca Lane; The Two Daphnes: Classic and Post-apocalyptic, all Conv. Ctr. exteriors and Once Upon a Time murals by J.S. Devore
