C2E2: Anouncements!

Guests, Marvel Dinner and Muggle Quidditch!

Exhibit Hall Hours Friday, March 18 1:00pm - 7:00pm Saturday, March 19 10:00am - 7:00pm Sunday, March 20 10:00am - 5:00pm Location West Building at McCormick Place Chicago, IL
This is Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2) Show Manager Lance Fensterman giving you the weekly behind-the-scenes glimpse at what's going on in the world of the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo. This week we have some C2E2 2011 fun for ya to get you pumped up for March. A couple solid events, more guest announcements that are just awesome and some deadlines you don't want to forget!
Matt Fraction, Joe Quesada and  C.B. Cebulski at C2E2!
If you waited all week for another blast of top notch guests, we think this might do the trick....Matt Fraction, Joe Quesada and C.B. Cebulski will be at C2E2! These three Marvel Entertainment superstars from the world's largest and most dynamic comics publisher join the C2E2 guest list. Now that is a Marvelous guest line-up!   Check out their full bios and read below for more announcements that will rile you up a bit!
Avatar Press at C2E2!
We are excited to add some of the best creators in comics to our guest list! The creators from Avatar Press including Jacen Burrows, Rich Johnston, Michael DiPascale, Mike Wolfer, Matt Martin, William Christensen and Dheeraj Verma will be joining us this March in the windy city. Check out their bio's here and get ready because there's still more to come!
Who Wants To Go On  a Date With Marvel?
The Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo kicks off Friday, March 18, but when the sun goes down and the show floor closes, we want to keep the party going and have reservations at one of the hottest restaurants in town with some of the most well-known people in the comic biz. And we want you to join us! We've setup a five course meal with wine pairing at Topolobampo, owned by Top Chef Master Rick Bayless. If this award-winning restaurant doesn't entice you enough, wait until you hear who you'll be dining with... C.B. Cebulski, writer and talent scout extraordinaire hosts this once-in-a-lifetime dinner with Brian Michael Bendis, award-winning comics creator and a writer who's reshaped the Marvel universe and Chief Creative Officer of Marvel Entertainment, Joe Quesada. Yeah, that's right. This is your chance to be wined and dined with some of the most important people in comics. It all takes place at 8pm on Friday, March 18 and includes a five course meal and wine pairing. It is open to only eight fans. The cost is $500, but the opportunity is priceless! Tickets will go on sale Thursday, January 27 at 12pm Central Time at C2E2.com. There are only 8 spots available so plan your reservation now. Please note, you must be 21 or older and present a valid ID to attend the dinner.
Muggle Quidditch at C2E2
Calling all wizard fans, sports fans and any comic fan looking for a sweepin' good time! The sport of wizards comes to C2E2 this March.  This past fall, 750 players from over 46 colleges and high schools from around the country participated in the International Quidditch Association's fourth annual World Cup in New York City. That event launched the game into the spotlight, with over 10,000 spectators in attendance and more than twenty million more watching media coverage of the event on forty channels. Now the IQA is bringing the game to C2E2, with two college teams leading an exhibition match, followed by open matches for attendees to sign-up, learn the game and start playing! While you might be wondering how "Muggle Quidditch" works without the magic, flying brooms or even Harry Potter, check out C2E2.com for all the details.  For more information on the sport of muggle magic check out www.internationalquidditch.org.
Saturday Night Masquerade Deadline Approaching
Our Saturday Night Masquerade taking place from 6 to 9pm on Saturday, March 19 will be a costume showcase that is part fashion show and part talent show with prizes on the line. Did we just say prizes? Yes! The Masquerade's winning team takes home prizes from our contest's sponsors and $1,000 in prize money! The C2E2 Masquerade is your chance to have your costume and talent recognized in front of thousands of fans. To participate in the C2E2 Masquerade, you must fill out the Masquerade Registration Form and submit it to C2E2 by 11:59pm Central Time on January 30, 2011.
Deadline to Get Free $25 Gift Card is Coming!
Snag a Free $25 Gift Card Code for awesome film and gaming collectibles! This is your chance to get a FREE $25 gift card code towards the hottest film and gaming collectibles such as Star Wars, Marvel, Disney, LOTR, Halo and World of Warcraft and more from SideshowCollectibles.com. How do you receive your very own free gift card code? It's simple; buy your tickets to C2E2 between now and January 31. As a bonus for buying your ticket before January 31, you will score a FREE, gift card code worth $25* at SideshowCollectibles.com good towards over 175 select, amazingly cool items! The FREE, promotional card code savings is good towards select, specially marked, in-stock products. One gift card code per order/per person/per household. Must be 18 years and over to redeem. Gift card information will be e-mailed within five business days of the purchase of your ticket. Codes expire within thirty days of date of generation or by March 2, 2011, which ever comes first. Void where prohibited by law.

Don't forget to keep up with the latest C2E2 news on our official blog  -- Medium at Large -- as well as follow the show on Twitter -- @C2E2. Get your ticket for C2E2 today!

Lance Fensterman Show Manager Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) lfensterman@reedexpo.com