Things have been pretty busy here in the ol’ studio. I am currently gearing up for 3 River Comicon on Saturday and Sunday. I’ll be at table 65 with a nice stash of new and classic merchandise. I’ll be taking commissions too.

Right now, this is the only con I have scheduled for the summer, so if you’re anywhere near the South Hills of Pittsburgh, come by and check out the show.

Somehow, I’ve never attended 3 Rivers Comicon before, despite the fact that it’s painfully close to where I work and I already know a bunch of the people running it. But I’ve already observed a neat trait about the venue that should put this one on your radar.

3 Rivers Comicon takes place in a mall.

Yes, much of the 3 Rivers Comicon will be held in an old department store area in Century III mall (the main expo hall is in the big storefront that’s sometimes used as a seasonal store for Halloween and stuff.) This seems very novel to me. It’s reminiscent of those stories you hear about vintage cons in the 70’s that would just pop up wherever they find a space.

Just in case the idea of holding a con at a mall still feels off to you, allow me to list some advantages of the shopping mall venue:

• Free parking. A comicon has free parking. Let that sink in.
• Outside food is painfully close.
• It’s not downtown, so you don’t have to deal with superfluous crowds and traffic.
• You usual shopping and errands are probably on the way, so a few hours at a con can easily fit in around your weekend chores.

If any of you parents want to bring your kids, it’s hard to imagine a more kid-friendly space. The shopping complex is not far from the regular suburbs, so your kids won’t be intimidated by the bustle of the city. Are they bored or overwhelmed by the convention? Just take the kids to an empty part of the mall where they can have some quiet time or run around for a bit before returning to the show. And if you still have to leave early for any other kid-related emergencies, at least you didn’t blow over $50 on parking, admission and snacks. (In fact, kids 8 and under get in for free on Sunday)

But don’t let this kid-talk discourage other adults. There’s a lot of grown-up stuff too, like the traditional art auction, industry panels, and even a VIP beer tasting party on Saturday Night.

Right now, it’s unclear what will happen to this mall in the next year. This may be your last, best chance at the convention-in-a-shopping mall experience. I suggest you don’t miss out. I know I won’t.