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Best of Dragon Con Wednesday Through Friday 2019

Panels, Wallops, A Mai Tai, A Wonder Woman T-Rex, Random Celebrity Sightings, and Parking Lot Karaoke!

Wheeeew, We were busy!

Fandom. Nerdom. Fanatics. Whatever you want to call it descended on downtown Atlanta as the first few days of Dragon Con came and went, but thank goodness it’s Friday. Welcome home to Dragon Con 2019! Wednesday is the new Thursday with the welcome home party and even a T-REX dance party in the Hilton. Thursday is quickly becoming the new first must-do night with their fun late night parties like the End Game Neon Party and late night tunes, like The Tomb Tunes. There’s also $6 Mai Tais at Trader Vic’s! Finally, Friday is the first full day full of panels, parties, and more. Let’s check out all the Friday shenanigans in depth!

First, the Wallops. We snaked like a super hero this evening, while hanging out with Hight Road Craft Ice Cream out of Marietta, GA (local!). A little ball of deliciousness has a delicate ice cream center, cookie dough outside, and crispy shell. Our favorite was definitely the sweet cream ice cream and cookie dough, but the almond was also very good. Wait, they ALL were good. What a nice bunch of people to hang out with for a while! You should check out their large wallop and background you can take a picture with! It’s bigger than your head! They are going to be in the pool area of the Hyatt Regency Saturday too until 6 pm (or gone). Get Walloped!

Second, panels. There are so many tidbits, behind the scene jokes, and more that you find out about actors and even shows that you didn’t know that are a complete surprise to everyone. The best things that happen can be surprise guests, show spoilers, story lines that COULD be, and more. Here’s some of the best of the panels:

THIS PORTION OF OUR ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS FROM LUCIFER AND GOTHAM. Like this afternoon, we got to hear from Aimee Garcia and DB Woodside a few interesting things about Lucifer currently airing on Netflix. DB said in the first season that his character Amenadiel was to fall in love with the demon Maze, but she was going to die. He is so distraught that he brings her back to life and that’s how he looses his powers and wings. Interesting. He does lose his wings in season one into season two, but it wasn’t for this reason. Fox was hesitant about this story line and it got scrapped. Then, Aimee, is hoping her character, Ella, turns out to be God (and so did one fan who asked about it). In the comics, Elaine Bella is a character that turns out to be God and with name Ella… could be? Probably not, but it is a fan theory and a rumor around the lot.

As for Gotham that just ended it’s run on Fox, we got to spend some time with a bunch of the main actors like David Mazouz, Sean Pertwee, Robin Lord Taylor, Maggie Geha, and SURPRISE Donald Logue showed up. Right off, Robin Lord Taylor is a blonde(!). So, he had a wonderful story about how Jada Pinkett Smith took him under her wing and really showed him the ropes of acting on a series, almost like her character Fish Mooney mentored Cobblepot, who became Penguin and he was eternally grateful. He also said he really used Danny Devito’s Penguin and his “look” as a roadmap to his character. Beyond that, it was interesting to hear that Fox/the producers didn’t tell the actors what roles they were auditioning for in the beginning. Sean P said if he knew he was auditioning for Alfred he would have done things differently. David M mentioned they said his scene for audition was that his brother has just died and he is having a hard time with it. So interesting to hear this! What struck us is that these actors were all very close. Donald Logue said this was the closest, most family like cast he’s worked with and that means a lot seeing as he had just done Sons of Anarchy, Vikings, and a stint on SVU. They all hugged when he showed up. He wasn’t supposed to be at the panel, so it was a treat for all!

On the way back from dinner, we were walking by the Marriott and we ran into a man standing on the street talking to another cosplayer. He turns around and it’s Mark Sheppard. If you watched the show Supernatural on the CW and the demon, Crowley, rings a bell, you know who we’re talking about! I (Liz) asked for a selfie or photo but he said it was against the rules, so we can’t give you a proof of encounter, unfortunately. But, I did get to waved to his wife Sarah who was on Facetime with him, and he was very nice. We told him we were big Supernatural fans and left it at that. SPOILER We hope he gets to come back for the final season.

Finally, we ran across something cool tonight, a parking lot karaoke party. A bunch of random people, belting their favorite songs, behind a car, and a bunch of people around cheering them on. It was a lot of fun and interesting to watch everything go down.

That’s a wrap for now. More on Saturday and Sunday to come!

HYATT REGENCY ATLANTA – THE DRAGON CON 2019 FOODIE AND DRINK AFICIONADO DESTINATION

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 8/27/19

HYATT REGENCY ATLANTA – THE DRAGON CON DESTINATION FOR 2019
Hotel to Offer ‘Mission to the Moon’ Burger, Legendary Voodoo Bucket & More!

Hyatt Regency Atlanta will once again welcome thousands of guests for this year’s Dragon Con – the largest multi-media convention focused on fantasy, science fiction, gaming, comics, literature, art, music and film. Dragon Con 2019 is expecting some 85,000 attendees with an estimated local economic impact of $93 million.

Hyatt Regency Atlanta has been a central hub and popular gathering spot for the convention since it first took place at the hotel in 1987.

The hotel’s Twenty-Two Storys gastropub will feature the “Mission to the Moon Burger,” honoring the Moon Landing’s 50th Anniversary. The double grass-fed burger ($17) is served with star shaped tots and topped with:

– Galaxy Bun
– Blue Moon Ale Infused Caramelized Onions
– Crater Cheese
– Chicharrones
– Garlic Aioli

New for 2019: High Road Craft Ice Cream “Wallops!” – Super Premium ice cream wrapped in handmade cookie dough and covered in chocolate (the ‘Snack Super Hero’) – in partnership with Atlanta’s own hand-crafted ice cream maker.

The famous Voodoo Bucket, a mix of select rums and fresh fruit juices ($14).

The 22 oz. “Phantom” slushie ($16) adult beverage – back by popular demand!

They will also have local beer from Scofflaw available, more information to come.

DRAGON CON ANNOUNCES TOP GUESTS FOR 2019 CON

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 8/12/19

Thursday, August 29th to Monday, September 2nd

GEORGE TAKEI, DAVID TENNANT, AND ONCE UPON A TIME’S LANA PARRILLA LEAD ALL-STAR LIST OF CAPED CRUSADERS, SPACE EXPLORERS, AND DENIZENS OF THE SUPERNATURAL 

Guests from Star Trek, Star Wars, Gotham, Shazam!, The Orville, Doctor Who, and other top television shows and movies will meet their fans at Dragon Con

George Takei, Lana Parrilla, and David Tennant lead a long list of celebrity guests headed to Dragon Con, Atlanta’s internationally known pop culture, fantasy, science fiction, and gaming convention, for Labor Day weekend.

Scottish actor David Tennant, the Tenth Doctor of Doctor Who fame, makes a career of bringing fans’ favorite characters to life. Other noted roles of his include Jessica Jones’s Kilgrave, the voice of DuckTales’ Scrooge McDuck, and most recently the demonically charming Crowley of Good Omens.

Known for playing Hikaru Sulu in the original Star Trek television series and its first six feature films, George Takei has had a varied career as an actor, writer, and community activist. Fans of ABC’s Once Upon a Time will recognize Lana Parrilla for her award-winning role as the Evil Queen and Mayor of Storybrooke from the show’s nine-year run.

Other top guests from television and movies including Zachary Levi from this summer’s superhero hit Shazam!, Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca from the last four Star Wars movies), Doctor Who’s Catherine Tate and Freema Agyeman, and David Ramsey from CW’s Legends of Tomorrow and other Arrowverse programs will be among the fan favorites on hand to lead discussions, talk with fans, and sign autographs during the five-day convention.

An estimated 85,000 fans will travel to Atlanta from all 50 states and several foreign countries to take part in Dragon Con 2019 – filling downtown Atlanta over Labor Day Weekend, August 29 to September 2 – with events and activities across AmericasMart Buildings #1 and #2 and five host hotels – Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Marriott Marquis, Hilton Atlanta, Westin Peachtree, and Sheraton Atlanta.

“We are delighted to have so many guests from so many of today’s most popular or, in the case of classic science fiction, best-loved shows and movies to join us this year,” convention co-chair Rachel Reeves said. “Overall, we will have some 400 guests – not just celebrities, but also actors, authors, artists, and other creators and experts – from across science, science fiction and fantasy worlds, comic books, gaming, and digital media.”

Known for playing Hikaru Sulu in the original Star Trek television series and its first six feature films, George Takei has had a varied career as an actor, writer, and community activist. Fans of ABC’s Once Upon a Time will recognize Lana Parrilla for her award-winning role as the Evil Queen and Mayor of Storybrooke from the show’s nine-year run.

Other top guests from television and movies including Zachary Levi from this summer’s superhero hit Shazam!, Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca from the last four Star Wars movies), Doctor Who’s Catherine Tate and Freema Agyeman, and David Ramsey from CW’s Legends of Tomorrow and other Arrowverse programs will be among the fan favorites on hand to lead discussions, talk with fans, and sign autographs during the five-day convention.

An estimated 85,000 fans will travel to Atlanta from all 50 states and several foreign countries to take part in Dragon Con 2019 –  filling downtown Atlanta over Labor Day Weekend, August 29 to September 2 – with events and activities across AmericasMart Buildings #1 and #2 and five host hotels – Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Marriott Marquis, Hilton Atlanta, Westin Peachtree, and Sheraton Atlanta.

“We are delighted to have so many guests from so many of today’s most popular or, in the case of classic science fiction, best-loved shows and movies to join us this year,” convention co-chair Rachel Reeves said. “Overall, we will have some 400 guests – not just celebrities, but also actors, authors, artists, and other creators and experts – from across science, science fiction and fantasy worlds, comic books, gaming, and digital media.”

Fans of Star Wars’ plucky soccer-ball droid BB-8 will have a chance to meet his puppeteers, Dave Chapman and Brian Herring. They will be joined by other puppetry guests this year at Dragon Con, including guests from Netflix’s The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance.

Dragon Con is set to celebrate Batman’s 80th Anniversary with four actors from Fox’s hit series, Gotham, including Sean Pertwee (Alfred), Robin Lord Taylor (Penguin), Maggie Geha (Ivy) and David Mazouz (Bruce Wayne).

Star Trek fans can debate the various merits of CBS’s Star Trek: Discovery versus Fox’s The Orville.  Anson Mount, Discovery’s Captain Pike, Shazad Latif, Emily Coutts, and Ethan Peck, as well as a crew of Orville cast members – Mark Jackson, Peter Macon, Chad Coleman, and J. Lee will be on hand to meet with fans, sign autographs, and lead panels about these space exploration fan favorites.

With no reason to wait for a reunion, Dragon Con will host seven cast members from CW’s Supernatural, which will end its incredible 15-year run in 2020. Mark Sheppard, Samantha Smith, Mark Pellegrino, Osric Chau, Ruth Connell, DJ Qualls, and Ty Olsson will all join Dragon Con fans for this year’s convention.

Farscape will celebrate its 20th Anniversary at Dragon Con, with Lani John Tupo, Anthony Simcoe, Rebecca Riggs, and fan favorite Gigi Edgley.

For fans of the MTV generation, Robert Englund, Freddy Kreuger from The Nightmare on Elm Street franchise will be joined by V castmates Jane Badler and Marc Singer, who also starred in 1982’s The Beastmaster.

This year’s convention will also feature main cast members from some of the most popular sci-fi, fantasy, and alternative historical fiction television shows including Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, iZombie, Legends of Tomorrow, Lucifer, The Man in the High Castle, the Stargate franchise, Warehouse 13, and Wynonna Earp, plus the pop duo Aly & AJ.

About Dragon Con

Dragon Con is the internationally known pop culture convention held each Labor Day Weekend (August 29 -September 2, 2019) in Atlanta. Organized for fans, Dragon Con features more than 3,500 hours of comics, film, television, costuming, art, music, and gaming over five days. For more information, please visit www.dragoncon.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.