Posted Under "Conventions"

A gun and knife show may not sound like something everyone would enjoy. If you’re not a hunter or outdoorsman, why would you want to attend this event where hundreds of people are buying, selling and swapping all types of survival gear including archery equipment, military collectibles, army surplus?

There's something for everyone at the Gun & Knife Show.

Think outside of the box. The show’s displays easily appeal to different interests. People interested in history might enjoy viewing military gear from World War II. It would be neat to see a WWII rifle up close and wonder what soldiers from 100 years ago thought as they carried it into battle. Students of martial arts might be intrigued by historic swords from around the world.

My favorite things to look for at these types of events are MRE’s – Meals Ready to Eat. These are self-contained meals that provide nutrients for soldiers who are on the go. A typical MRE contains an entrée, side dish, crackers, dessert and instant coffee. It may be hard to believe, but speaking as the wife of a retired Air Force Guardsman, I know these can be quite tasty. I swear the potatoes au Gratin tasted as though they were made from scratch. These could be handy for a picnic or—let’s face it – they could be valuable for last-minute meal prep around the house.

The Fort Wayne Gun and Knife Show will be held at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, May 19 at 9am – 5pm and Sunday, May 20 at 10am – 3pm.

This will be the last Gun & Knife Show at the Coliseum until October.
All local and Federal laws will be observed. All firearms must be unloaded while on Coliseum property.

For more information visit them online.

So it’s hard to believe, but I’ve been blogging now for Visit Fort Wayne a little over a year. This is the first post I’ve written that’s allowed me to revisit an event about which I’ve written already: Summit City Comic Con. (Read my original post here.) The convention returns to Fort Wayne for its third year on May 12, 2012, at the Grand Wayne Convention Center in downtown Fort Wayne.

What’s happened in the world of comics since last year’s Summit City Comic Con? Well, Marvel’s Summer 2011 event, Fear Itself, has come and gone, and we now find ourselves knee deep in the “next big thing,” Avengers Vs. X-Men. The DC relaunch is in full swing, with most books on their ninth issues. While some of the original 52 series have been canceled, we recently saw the launch of several “Wave 2” titles, including one  I’m really excited about, Earth 2.

My view at last year's event

As usual, there will be all sorts of talented comic-type folks for you to meet. I’m psyched that Gabriel Hardman, who’s recently done some killer work on Secret Avengers, will be there. Check out www.summitcitycomiccon.com for a list of artists like Hardman whose commissioned sketches can be pre-ordered.

Want to read something but aren’t sure what? Here are some books to look out for at the show: Daredevil, all of Marvel’s “Ultimate” line (X-Men, Spider-Man, and Ultimates), Batman, Aquaman (yes, Aquaman!), Swamp Thing, and Animal Man. Now, these are all titles published by the “Big Two” – Marvel and DC. If you’re looking for something a little different, try some of my favorite indie titles like The Walking Dead, Mouse Guard, and Saga.

If you’re new to the world of comics or a longtime fan, Summit City Comic Con has something for you. Tickets are $10 in advance or on the day of the show, with admission for kids under 12 free with the purchase of an adult ticket. Visit them online for more information.

Join us in downtown Fort Wayne for Summit City Comic Con!

Back for it’s 3^rd year, Summit City Comic Con will take place on Saturday, May 12, from 10am to 6pm, at the Grand Wayne Center. Sponsored by 3 Rivers Federal Credit Union and Huntington University, this year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever, with over 100 creators present.

According to the convention’s founder Zack Kruse, “Our primary goal is to promote comics as an art form and get people to turn out and experience the community and medium that we all love.”

A sketch by Gabriel Hardman

This year’s line up boast creators like Gabriel Hardman (Secret Avengers, Hulk, Planet of the Apes), Mike Norton (Spider-Man, Young Justice, Battlepug), Tom Scioli (Captain America: Hail Hydra, Godland, American Barbarian), and Katie Cook (Fraggle Rock, Star Wars), to name a few.

Admission to the event is $10.00 and tickets are available at the door. Children 12 and under will be admitted for free with a paid adult admission.

ACTIVITIES

• May 10: Comics Workshop for kids at the Allen County Public Library
• May 11: pre-show party at Dash-In
• May 12: Convention
• May 12: After party at Dash-In

DAY OF SHOW ACTIVITIES:

• Kids costume contest
• Panel discussions/spotlights
• Meet comic book creators, get/purchase individualized sketches and commissions from creators
• 501^st is present (Star Wars Stormtrooper charitable organization)
• Bingo card for raffle

For more information, visit www.summitcitycomiccon.com.

If you enjoy studying your family’s lineage, you do not want to miss the Indiana Genealogical Society Annual Pre-Conference and Conference to be held at the Allen County Public Library April 27 and 28!

The IGS Pre-Conference is Friday, April 27, 2012 from 9:00am – 6:00pm and will give attendees research time in the library. Topics of the day will include:

• Indiana County Genealogists Show N’ Tell
• Social Media for Our Societies
• Ask the Experts Panel

Pre-conference registration only:
Pre-registration – $5
Registration at the door – $7

The IGS Conference takes place at the nation's largest public genealogy library - right here in Fort Wayne!

The IGS Annual Conference is Saturday, April 28, 2012 from 9:00am – 6:00pm. Debra S. Mieszala is the featured speaker.  Debra is a Certified Genealogist specializing in forensic genealogy, 20th century research, and the Midwest. She does genealogical research for the military to help locate family members of service members missing in past wars, and formerly did adoption-related research as a Confidential Intermediary in Illinois. A national-level lecturer and author, she has taught at the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy and been published in the “NGS Magazine,” “The Digital Genealogist,” and “OnBoard!” Her talks will include:

• Lessons from a Snoop: Collaterals and Associates
• Bringing Our Soldiers Home
• Digging Through Documents Word By Word
• Patently Unique: Locating Patent Records, Online and Off
• Second features:
• What’s New with FamilySearch with Michael Hall from FamilySearch
• Finding Indiana Records and Research in FamilySearch with Michael Hall
• Becoming an Expert on Using Ancestry with ACPL librarian, Melissa Shimkus
• Writing a Book Using Family Tree Maker and Microsoft Word with Curtis Sylvester, President of the Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana

Registration:
IGS members – $30
Non-members – $40
Registration at the door – $45

For more information, visit them online.

Give yourself the day. That’s the theme behind Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne’s own Tapestry event, held in Fort Wayne on Friday, April 27. The keynote speaker is Patricia Heaton, Emmy Award winner, Ohio native, sitcom actress. producer and best-selling author.

This mother of four will speak at this year’s event, following in the footsteps of past keynote speakers such as Patty Duke, Marie Osmond and Molly Ringwald. Kendallville Mayor Suzanne Handshoe will also be present as she discusses “Breaking the Mold” at the breakfast program.

Heaton will share her insights on marriage, motherhood, and raising four sons, and how she’s able to balance all that with her career. Her uplifting and humorous glimpses into her personal and professional life will inspire Tapestry guests to make the most out of every day.

Other events at Tapestry include a breakfast program, followed by 13 breakout sessions attendees can choose from ranging from dancing lessons to financial planning and everything in-between, as well as shopping at the many booths lining the perimeter of the Coliseum’s Expo Center.

Tapestry, an annual event at IPFW since 2002, has become a day of education, renewal and inspiration for women from all walks of life. Proceeds from the event go toward raising scholarships for female students at IPFW.

Presentation of the 2012 scholarship winners will also be a part of the event, which takes place from 8 a.m to 4 p.m. There are several types of registration, beginning at $65 per person. For full details visit the event’s website. Group and corporate tables are also available at the event.

To stay up-to-date follow Tapestry on Facebook and Twitter. Since it began, the annual Tapestry event has raised more than $450,000, and 30 IPFW students have received scholarship. A projected $38,500 in scholarships will be awarded this year.

The event also features a shop boutique, trade show exhibits, silent auction tables and breakout sessions specifically geared toward women. At the lunch and networking sessions, attendees can connect with old friends and coworkers or meet new ones from the Northeastern Indiana area.

All events take place at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, located at 4900 Parnell Ave., on the city’s north side. Registration is required. Information on how to register can be found online.