This Blog Has Officially Moved

Hi!

This blog has officially moved to its permanent home at thegenretraveler.com.

This version of the blog will be taken down before the end of 2007. All posts have already been moved.

- The Editor

Movie Theme Park Planned for Shanghai China

An alliance of Hollywood notables working with Shanghai Film Group Corporation (SFG) are planning to develop a major Movie Theme Park "incorporating 4D technologies for what will be the first "East meets West" state-of-the-art theme park development in Asia," according to a press release from Nations Trust Ltd.

The park is part of a three phase project that also includes

• redevelopment of SFG's studio back lot "Old Nanjing Road" Movie Set (circa 1949), transforming it into "Shanghai Nights" enchanting "city walk" entertainment complex (Phase I); and


• "the construction of the film and television shooting base, the construction of the film post-production base, theatre complexes, film and TV co-productions, CG animations, international distribution of films and TV series, entertainment and leisure projects" (Phase II)

The theme park is Phase III.

Nations Trust Ltd. has worked seven years to develop the "Hollywood China Studio" and Movie Theme Park concept. Over five years, the project is estimated to require $1.5 billion. SFG, who presently owns the Crown Plaza Hotel in Shanghai, anticipates Nations Trust Ltd. raising additional funds to build a world class "Hotel and Galleria" within the "Shanghai Nights" complex.

Two More Upcoming Events

Aug. 10-12, 2007
2Pi-Con
Clarion Sovereign Hotel
West Springfield, Mass.
Guest of Honor: CE Murphy
pi-con.org

Aug. 17-19, 2007
Con-Version 23
Calgary Radisson Hotel
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Guest of Honor: Jack McDevitt
www.con-version.org

Not Yet Opened, But Booked for Comic Con 2008

Thinking of going to Comic Con next year? Well, the venue certainly is going to be right. Although not scheduled to open until the fall of 2007, Hard Rock Hotel San Diego has already been secured through Travel Planners Inc. to host the 2008 attendees of Comic-Con International. The hotel has arranged for 300 rooms during the event, as well as space for private media events associated with the convention.

Located across the street from the San Diego Convention Center, the 12-story, 315,000-square-foot Hard Rock Hotel San Diego has more than 40,000 square feet of unique meeting space, a lobby lounge and rooftop pool bar created by Rande Gerber, a fourth floor urban garden overlooking the Gaslamp Quarter, a live concert venue, fitness club and more.

“We are excited to offer attendees of [Comic Con] the ability to enhance their experience by staying at Hard Rock, the ideal stay and play environment,” said Melissa Olsen, Hard Rock Hotel San Diego’s Director of Sales.

The hotel will also host the celebrities and high-profile guests in attendance at the 2008 Comic-Con. Every year, Comic-Con welcomes the most well-known names from the film and television industry, including actors such as Angelina Jolie and Samuel L. Jackson, director Kevin Smith, and the entire cast ensembles of such television series as Lost.

Comic-Con International is a non-profit organization dedicated to the comic and related popular art form industry.

For more information on the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego, visit www.hardrockhotelsd.com.

Top 10 Amusement Parks Outside Orlando

TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel community, announced on Friday the top 10 amusement parks in the U.S., according to traveler popularity and TripAdvisor editors. Many of them offer thrills and chills for genre travelers. And, of course, with Halloween coming up in a few weeks, many of these parks are gearing up for a good scare.

1. Hershey Park, Hershey, Penn.
The chocolate lovers park -- you can pretend it's Willy Wonka's factory, if you so desire. ;-)
www.hersheypa.com/attractions/hersheypark/index.php

2. Busch Gardens, Tampa, Fla.
The African theme of this park is pure fantasy.
www.buschgardens.com/BGT/default.aspx
Howl-O-Scream begins Sept. 28

3. Cedar Point Amusement Park, Sandusky, Ohio
Halloweekends begins Sept. 14
www.cedarpoint.com

4. Six Flags Fiesta Texas, San Antonio, Texas
Fright Fest begins Oct. 6
www.sixflags.com/fiestaTexas/

5. Family Kingdom Amusement Park, Myrtle Beach, S.C.
www.family-kingdom.com

6. Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, N.J.
Fright Fest begins Oct. 6
www.sixflags.com/greatadventure/index.aspx

7. Paramount's Kings Island, Kings Island, Ohio
FearFest began on Friday!
www3.cedarfair.com/kingsisland/

8. Ober Gatlinburg Ski Resort and Amusement Park, Gatlinburg, Tenn.
www.obergatlinburg.com

9. Coney Island Park, Brooklyn, New York
www.coneyislandpark.com

10. Paramount's Carowinds, Charlotte, N.C.
Scarowinds begins Sept. 27
www3.paramountparks.com/carowinds/

So, did this list include your favorites? If not, let us know your favorite theme parks and tell us why it should have made the list.

Young Frankenstein Musical Opens in Seattle, Ore.

"Roll, roll, roll en zee hay." For some reason, that's one of my favorite quotes from the 1974 Mel Brooks film Young Frankenstein. Well this funny, funny film is now a musical.

"The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein" will open for its World Premiere, pre-Broadway presentation, at The Paramount Theater in Seattle, Ore., on Aug. 7, and run through Sept. 1.

The production team includes Mel Brooks (book, music and lyrics), Thomas Meehan (book), Susan Stroman (director and choreographer), Robin Wagner (set design) and William Ivey Long (costume design). The stars of the show include Emmy Award-winning Megan Mullally (Will and Grace) and Tony Award winners Sutton Foster ("Thoroughly Modern Millie"), Shuler Hensley ("Oklahoma") and Roger Bart ("You're A Good Man Charlie Brown").

For more information, check out The Paramount's website.

Upcoming Events: Now thru October 2007

August 2007

Aug. 1-15
Artifacts of a Nether World
Art & Objects by Dan Chessher
Hyaena Gallery
Burbank, Calif.
www.hyaenagallery.com

Aug. 10-12
Horrorfind Weekend
Marriott Hunt Valley Inn
Hunt Valley, Md.
www.horrorfindweekend.com/state/maryland/august/

Aug. 11, 2007
LA Myth: A group art show
Meltdown Comics
Los Angeles, Calif.
meltcomics.com or myspace.com/lamyth

Aug. 24, 2007
23rd Annual L. Ron Hubbard Achievement Awards
The Caltech Athenaeum
Pasadena, Calif.
RSVP for reservations:
(323) 466-3310 or (800) 624-6504 in California
Outside California (800) 624-7907

September 2007

Sept. 7-9, 2007
Baltimore Comic Con
Baltimore Convention Center
Baltimore, Md.
www.comicon.com/baltimore/

October 2007

Oct. 5-7, 2007
Chiller Theatre
Hilton Parsippany
Parsippany, N.J.
www.chillertheatre.com
Note: Deadline to order advanced tickets is Sept. 22

Oct. 19-21, 2007
Screamfest
Wyndham Orlando Resort
Orlando, Fla.
Special Guest: Robert Englund
www.spookyempire.com

Oct. 12-21, 2007
Screamfest Horror Film Festival & Screenplay Competition
Grauman's Mann Chinese 6
Hollywood, Calif.
www.screamfestla.com

Gothicfest 2007 Tickets Go on Sale Wednesday

If you're interested in going to Gothicfest 2007, tickets go on sale at all Ticketmaster locations, as well as ticketmaster.com, Wednesday, Aug. 1, at 10am.

This is a 21 and over event. For more information, visit www.gothicfest.com or www.myspace.com/gothicfest.

Road Trip Tips

I just got these road trip sanity tips in my email today and since they compliment the cover story of the July 2007 issue of The Genre Traveler, I thought I'd pass the information along. Of course I've added my two bits to their tips, and edited out the blatant commercial they were pitching.

• Keep some snacks on hand to curb those “I’m hungry!” chants. Bring small quantities of a variety of food to minimize multiple rest stop breaks.
  [Editorial note: Avoid sugary snacks or you'll just have a bunch of hyped up kids in the car. Bring healthy snacks that don't need refrigeration, such as fruit (fresh or dried), trail mix, granola bars, etc.]
  
  


• Pack games that can be played on the road. Crossword puzzles, Soduku and other games that can be played with paper and pencil or have electronic versions are good choices.
  [Editorial note: Mad Libs is always a fun game and can involve the whole family.]
  
  


• Keep supplies on hand such as a first aid kit, a tire jack, spare tire, and jumper cables -- you never know when you’ll be in an emergency situation.
  
  


• Bring a frisbee, football, or baseball and mitt for the kids to play around with while you have to make gas or bathroom stops. This will give antsy legs a chance to stretch.

These tips were brought to you by Franklin, and, of course, edited by yours truly.

Harry Potter Fans Now Have a Wiki

Harry Potter Wiki recently launched and already has more than 1,000 articles on almost everything imaginable from the Harry Potter books.

Created by Wikia, Inc., the leading provider of community resources for building and organizing free content on every topic, Harry Potter Wiki is a fully editable website created and run by fans of the popular series. Whether you're a wizard, witch or muggle, you are invited to visit, read and contribute to the wiki.

In addition to information about the books and character, the provides little-known details about the places, magical creatures and wizardly objects featured in the books, current Harry Potter news and details about the associated films and video games.