Aldrin, ‘Star Trek: TNG’ cast at Comic Con
Silicon Valley Comic Con is setting its sights on the final frontier with the first series of guests announced Thursday for the April event. Astronaut
Buzz Aldrin, who made the Apollo 11 moonwalk with Neil Armstrong in 1969, and most of the cast of “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” are scheduled to be at founder Steve Wozniak’s ultimate geek bash.
“Star Trek” star William Shatner, who filled the big ballroom at the inaugural Silicon Valley Comic Con, will moderate a 30th anniversary reunion event featuring Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, Michael Dorn, Marina Sirtis, LeVar Burton and Gates McFad
den. Yeah, we noticed Patrick
Stewart is not on that list, too, but the more shocking omission is noted pop culture nerd Wil Wheaton. Organizers say more cast members may join the panel, so we like to think there are always possibilities.
Aldrin, meanwhile, will be one of the “Science and Technology Luminaries” speaking at the event San Jose convention. He’ll be joined by renowned physicist Sabrina Gon
zalez Pasterski, video game designer and private astronaut Richard Gar
riott and Escape Dynamics cofounder Laetitia Gar
riott de Cayeux, a pioneer in using beamed energy propulsion for space flight.
The first Silicon Valley Comic Con drew an announced attendance of 60,000 people over a weekend in March. It was not without its issues, though, and Wozniak and Silicon Valley Comic Con CEO Trip Hunter clearly have responded to fan concerns about overcrowding by increasing the convention’s footprint in downtown San Jose. In addition to the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, SVCC announced plans to hold events April 21-23 at the convention center’s South Hall, City National Civic and the California Theatre.
A three-day, adult general admission pass is $99, with discounts and other less-expensive passes available for single day visits, kids, seniors and military personnel— though the “Star Trek” event appears to require a separate ticket. VIP passes, with perks like priority access to panels, are available for $250 or $550. Get more information at svcomiccon.com.
WRESTLING FOR A CAUSE: “Fighting for Acceptance” is a charity event Sunday in San Jose that will bring together Northern California’s Wrestling for Charity and SoCal’s Empire Wrestling Federation.
The 5 p.m. event at the Broken Spoke Western Saloon on Saratoga Avenue is a benefit for Craniofacial Acceptance Month, a time to recognize people with facial differences and anomalies instead of stigmatizing them. And we’re talking about some serious stuff here, not just having a lot of freckles or a particularly prominent nose. About 20,000 kids are born with abnormal facial defects in the United States, and while many are corrected by reconstructive surgery, not all can be.
Tickets are $20 for VIP ringside, $12 for general admission and $10 for seniors and military personnel, with proceeds benefiting the Children’s Craniofacial Association, UCLA’s Pediatric Craniofacial Program at Mattel Children’s Hospital nd AboutFace-USA. Get tickets at https://wfcwrestling.ticketleap.com/fighting-for-acceptance.
TRIBUTE TO TRANE: Craig Bright is bringing together an all-star lineup of Bay Area musicians for a tribute to legendary jazz saxophonist John Coltrane on Sunday at Cafe Stritch. “We have coming on the same day, at the same venue, some of the best jazz talent around,” Bright says.
Eddie Gale, Michael Skolnik, and James Graves will serve as emcees for the concert, which runs from 1 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Musicians and singers include Howard Wiley, James Mahone, Tim Lin, Akira Tana, Matt Clark, Tiffany Austin and George V. Johnson. And Cafe Stritch’s regular piano is being subbed out for a Steinway Model B Concert Grand thanks to Steinway Piano of Los Altos.
Tickets are $30 and can be purchased in advance on Eventbrite.