At Washington D.C.’s lone celebrity-driven weekend of the year, the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the term “nerd” as in “that nerd prom” is an executive level “diss”.
In San Diego at Comic-Con, it is a badge of honor.
The more “Nerd” in your party, the better it probably is, especially if it is a “HQ” or hosted by the king @Nerdist himself.
TheWrap picks 6 invites worth getting stressed over:
Entertainment Weekly Comic-Con Celebration
Saturday, July 11, 9:00 p.m. – late
Float at the Hard Rock Hotel
Logline: The most glam and least geek of the posh parties. As a party professional, it is the one I want to go to.
Tip: The guestlist is so dense that when I attempted to screen shot it and insert it here, it looked like morse code.
Playboy and Gramercy Pictures’ “Self/Less” Party
Friday, July 10, 10 p.m.
Parq Restaurant and Nightclub
Logline: Last year, Playboy’s massive outdoor party got shut down early. I’ve been asked about this one several times, so get there early.
Tip: It’s safe to assume Holly Madison is not on the guestlist.
Nerdist and Geek & Sundry Dance Party
Friday, July 10, 10p.m.-2 a.m.
Petco Park
Tip: A year before Entertainment Weekly put the “Batman v. Superman” troika of Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, and Henry Cavill on their Comic-Con cover, Nerdist patron saint Chris Hardwick led their 2014 SDCC panel. You know the @Midnight host has celebrity gravity, so there will be more losers than winners in the forthcoming hashtag war “#GetMeOnTheList”.
Crave Escape
Friday, July 10
Aboard the USS Midway
Logline: Just in time for the reboot of “Top Gun”, you can attend a muscular, pyrotechnic-laden music bash aboard a retired aircraft carrier. Cold War Kids, Bad Suns, and Cathedrals are performing. Their Gaming Cosplay Fashion Show propels the “wacky runway trend” that first gained steam with basketball players walking the walk during NBA All Star Weekend.
Tip: CraveOnline is hiding passes to the party around San Diego. Check their social media feeds for clues.
Wired Cafe
One Day Only: Thursday, July 9
Omni Hotel, 6th Floor
Logline: This talent and industry hideaway is a respite from the noise.
Tip: It is only one day this year. Kick back early, or else you may find yourself scheduling a drinks meet-up at the Gaslamp TGI Fridays.
Zac Levi and David Coleman’s Nerd HQ
The New Children’s Museum
Friday, July 10, 10 p.m.
Logline: Mainstream stars, geek stars, and Joss Whedon come here to let loose because there is no press and few photos. Whedon was “dancing his face off in the corner” last year, I’m told.
Tip: There are panels and gaming sampling opportunities open to the public throughout the daytime hours, and two other public facing parties on Thursday and Saturday nights. With “Star Wars: Battlefront” and “Project Morpheus” game test drives available, Nerd HQ and partners 48 Communications made an app that will let people claim a time to play without having to wait in line for hours.
Also Keep an Eye Open For
Buzzfeed Super Power Hour: BF always zigs where others zag, aiming for the under-served happy hour slot. CW is their party partner, so expect network president’s Mark Pedowitz’s stable of supernatural, superhero, and super-telegenic stars to be at altitude. (Friday, July 10th, 5-8 p.m., Altitude Sky Lounge at the Marriott Gaslamp)
“Square Enix: The Experience”: This active monstrosity taking up a whole city block requires courage. The build for “Just Cause 3” will feature a 150 ft. zip line, a “Hitman” kill training facility, and “Deus Ex” body augmentation speed course. For those missing that festival in Indio. they will also have a beer garden. (7th Avenue between Island and Market, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., open to the public.)
Assassin’s Creed Experience 2015: Sick of just watching “American Ninja Warrior” on NBC? The hit game franchise allows fans to “parkour like a master assassin” on a mega obstacle course. (MLK Promenade Park, 3rd Ave @ K St., Thursday-Sunday 10 a.m.- 6 p.m., open to the public)
Morgan Spurlock’s Geeks for Peace: Kevin Smith hosts, the “Band from TV” performs, and there is an art show to go along with the fundraiser for Kids for Peace. (Friday night, July 10th at the Monkier Warehouse)
All events are private and by invitation only except where noted.
Not on the list?
Send questions, invites, additions, new talent bookings, and your own SDCC party stories to the comments or to the author, Mikey Glazer here.