We pick interesting products and trends for you!
Grant Gustin all suited up but not too flattering they say? I honestly love the suit. It’s retro, real and I’m sure the show has nothing to worry about. If you ask me, the suit makes for a gritty look. The only thing I would worry about for a new television superhero series is how well they will tell the storyline about the Flash and his episodic adventures. Oh, and how well the special effects will be when they come into play.
Click HERE for the rest of the review on Screencrush.com
SWEDE FEST will be held in Fresno, California, this Saturday, May 17th at the Tower Theatre. The venue was launched in 2008 by Roque Rodriquez and Bryan Harley and is now held in three locations, Fresno, Tampa Bay, and Palm Beach.
The idea to re-make a Hollywood hit film with video production essentials (literally just with a camcorder) and a great deal of far-fetched imagination came from Michel Gondry’s 2008 comedic hit movie, Be Kind Rewind, starring Jack Black, Mos Def, Danny Glover and Melonie Diaz.
Now if you haven’t seen the film that sparked this craze – this is just a partial spoiler. The owner of a video store (Danny Glover) reluctantly has to take a business trip, leaving the video store in the hands of his less-in-reliable employee played by Mos Def, who promises nothing will happen while he’s gone. In short, an accident erases every video tape in the store which obviously becomes problematic for business, so Mos Def’s character along with his friends played by Jack Black and Melonie Diaz, creatively find a way to re-film the movies for their customers- and calling them SWEDED!
Popular SWEDED scenes in Be Kind Rewind were the remake of Hollywood hits: Robocop, Men in Black, Ghostbusters and The Lion King.
Click SWEDE FEST for more information about this upcoming event.
If you didn’t catch Zoo Station – The Complete U2 Experience at this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown San Francisco, I advise you to catch them at their next up-coming venue in Walnut Creek. I had the opportunity to catch this band play several times and have never been let down by how energetically and sound-fully they impersonate and simulate the real thing (U2). The band’s vocalist even calls himself Bonalmost (Bon-Almost), as if not quite, but pretty damn close to the real Bono.
Bass guitarist – Scott Schulman / Lead singer – Joshua Fryvecind / Drummer – Skott Bennett / Lead guitarist – Mike Horne
For more information about their up-coming performances click here: http://www.zoostationsf.com/gigs/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zoostationsf
This weekend at San Francisco’s Hunter Point Naval Shipyard, Building 116, Monica Denevan is having an Open Studio for art lovers and collectors. So if your interested in viewing black and white photography with fantastically composed and captured aesthetics on culture, stop by Hunters Point Naval Shipyard for a visual delight.
TIME/LOCATION : May 3rd and 4th, 11 – 6 p.m.
Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, Building 116.
Click here to go to her website: Monica Denevan and for her facebook : https://www.facebook.com/monicadenevanphotography
With tasteful bareness, cult articles and a bit of kitsch comes BelleSf, today’s epoch magazine that uniquely celebrates art, culture and nudity in a vintage style that is edgy and very San Francisco!
The magazine will have a foundation of thought-provoking and insightful articles to stories relating to the world and San Francisco life, and of course nude photography that is akin to Playboy magazine’s soft-lit and sensual style of the 70s.
“The Eddie” from Ramen and a Half interviews Rookies is Punk’d at Fanimecon. ROOKiEZ is PUNK’D is a Japanese punk rock band from Shibuya, Japan, that was formed in 2005.
They’re very well known in their home country and have spread a niche of fans in cities of Asia countries and in the US. They’re hoping to go places and share what they have to offer to the music world.
This was an interview done last year. We apologize for the rough interview package because we had audio issues, but we decided to pull it out of the vault and put it together as best we can for the fans.
The majority of their Official Website ROOKiEZ is PUNK’D is in Japanese, but you can google them and find plenty of information.
They will also be at AnimeNEXT in June 6-8th, 2014. You can still Pre-Register.
I love classic Folk Guitar music, but there’s nothing better when it’s mixed with original creative pop riffs, smooth vocals and an entertaining way to play. I should have blogged this video awhile back when I was personally surfing for the latest Folk jams and stumbled across-ed it. Here’s Shakey Graves performing at the SXSW Utopia Session with his song Dusty Lion.
One of the most looked forward to Indie Game for 2014 is The Witness, created by Jonathan Blow, who also created the popular game, Braid, a game based on the simplicity, the innocence and the motivation of an teen-adult life in the magical realm of forces and struggles. Hence, life isn’t simple, but it’s attainable when you search and struggle for it. Jonathan rendered the nature of life in Braid , but what to expect from The Witness and what will it’s theme really mean overall – we hope to find out soon from players, reviewers and the creator himself. Here’s a snippet interview from Game Life WIRED
Click here for the list of most looked forward Indie Games for 2014
For those of us that don’t know, there are Star Trek fans of the original 1966 series that have chosen to boldly re-create and go where a fan must go in order to fulfill the five year mission that the original series never completed for the final frontier. The original series was cut short of two years and Star Trek fan, James Cawley, founder of Retro Film Studios, has produced episodes as if the show hadn’t been cancelled!
Star Trek Phase II (formerly known as Star Trek: New Voyages) Click here Star Trek New Voyages to go to the website
Art about robots is art about our future culture as artist, Pixel Pancho, conveys humanity emotionally interconnected and intermixed with androids and pop icons. 
As with any art like the classics of Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci to Mexican mural artists such as Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros, we can see the glorification of humanity in all its elements of beauty, love, chaos, destruction and yes, even the propaganda – that art leaves you to think and feel your own thoughts of what is the meaning of this?
Ramen and a Half’s Jonelle Marie interviews pioneering cosplayer model – Yaya Han, at New York Comic-Con.
Cosplay Model – Yaya Han
Back then when the term “Cosplay” was unheard of – Yaya Han and very few alike, simply loved the art of creating costumes of super heroes, villains, and not to mention fantasy and science fiction characters in between. The art of what became Cosplay for them was simply how convincing, how imaginative, and how ornately detailed their costume design can be from make-up to inseam.
Yaya Han : www.yayahan.com facebook/yayahan yayahan.bigcartel
I RIDE has just been released on amazon.com and you can find it at your local participating WalMart, but what I’d like to tell you here is my personal take behind the making of the film.
Documentary filmmaking can be tough, unpredictable at times, and you have to capture it as best as possible every step of the way.
I’ve had the opportunity to take part in the making of Daron Ker’s “I Ride” and I would like to tell you my experience from the past to the present. There were moments that I had to endure and moments that I enjoyed behind the making of the film, because the physical path, the communications involved and the decisions made during filmmaking is what ends up shaping the story.
Initially I was introduced to Daron Ker and Marcus Bruno through Stephen Jang. We all had nine to five jobs and Daron was the only one at the time with funds to begin making a film about a biker band that played to America’s motorcycle culture movement. The inception to make I RIDE began by meeting the Fryed Brothers Band back in 2005.
While we enjoyed NYCC by day we ended up dining at NINJA NEW YORK by night.
Our host of Ramen’s other Half, Jonelle Marie, shares her first impression of fine dining in Tribeca’s one-of-a-kind Ninja New York Restaurant!
While there, we were looking for that secret door – you know, the one you would open and discover the artistry of Ninja acrobatic sword fighting and trickery like a James Bond flick, but it was impossible. The place was a maze and when we asked to take us to your leader, they sent us numerous of Ninja PR henchmen to divert us from straight answers about what laid behind the echoing walls of their zigzagging cave-like paths that only Batman would appreciate. Though mystified by their stories, we had one of the most entertaining dining night outs I’ve had in a long time.
I would have to say Ninja New York is one of the most entertaining and delightful places to dine if you’re looking for fun and hearty authentic Japanese cuisine food. And you’re almost guaranteed not to have a dull moment from your first step in and out of this place!
Ramen and a Half interviews Andrew Sumner to find out what Titan Entertainment Group is all about at New York Comic Con. 
First and foremost our team at Retrenders reviews many of Titan Books and we’ve grown to love what they do, because we simply love the content they publish and re-publish. Titan Entertainment is known to reinvent and revive content that had once had their moment in time from cult classics novels, comics, and they publish niche content about historical arts, artists, musicians, early filmmakers and much more. It’s as if Titan reflects on fascinating content and say – “This is entertaining – let’s revive it!”
Titan Entertainment Group is also an official licensee of Doctor Who products and works with popular media entertainment and culture. You can find out about their latest releases and featured products at Titan Merchandise.
The Central Valley is well known for putting on the best of Lowrider Car shows and this one took place in Lindsay, California. Here you can meet the pioneer and founder of Lowrider Magazine himself, Sonny Madrid, and actor Danny De La Paz, who starred in films American Me and Boulevard Nights. His most recent film is “Kill Kapone“. I was only able to catch Danny as he was having a conversation with Lindsay’s Lowrider Car Show Promoter, Ruben Gonzalez.
The Lowrider Car Show proudly brought together a floor full of classic to modern Lowrider vehicles showcased at McDermont Field House & Sports Center in Lindsay, California. We talked to Sal Sierra about his 1936 Pick-up Truck along with a few other Lowrider and aficionados themselves: Roy Tolentino, Alfred & Mary Torrez, and Yoli Preciado. Even the Mayor of Lindsay, Ramona Padilla, had a few words to say about the car show.
Some of the car clubs that could be found at the show were: Lindsay’s Finest, Nuestro Pride, Nuestro Estilo, Rollerz Only, and Brown Effects.
FILMED: Short Doc / Magazine Style (Shot on the Fly)
Produced & Edited by Johnny Moreno.
I apologize for those that I was unable to film and interview. Telling everything about Lowriders definitely needs an in depth – present to historical visit about Lowrider culture and the people that are involved and making a difference. This video is simply a taste about the Lowrider world.
Yes, it was a long weekend for the Ramen crew, but here is an “End-All” rundown on what “The Eddie” and Ramon have accomplished at Big Wow Comicfest. And not to mention, being a bit silly and fatigued from a long adventurous weekend.
Hosts: Eddie Ballar and Ramon Angel
Producer: Johnny Moreno
Executive Producer: Stephen Jang
The “Eddie” and Ramon have made it to the end of the line – sort of like coming to the end of the yellow brick road in the Wizard of Oz, but here at Big Wow! Comicfest, we’ve come to the end to meet Stan Lee!
We also get to talk to a couple more cosplayers, three girls promoting Castle Corsetry and a local comic artist, and we interview Ivy Doomkitty to find out about her role at Big Wow! Comicfest.
“The Eddie” was able to get a brief interview with Japan’s famous adult manga (comic) artist or Hentai (perverted) comic artists, Toshida Maeda. Click on his name to view his website.
He’s very well known and we feel pretty lucky have interviewed him. His comics may be for adult eyes only, but he definitely has solid good advice for anyone – including young artists wanting to get into comics and make it as a career.
The Ramen Crew caught up with Darrel Guilbeau at FanimeCon for a one on one interview on voice acting for Anime. 
He has been a voice actor for several anime series such as Durarara!, Nura, and even video games, and continues to take on new projects. The Ramen crew completely sees Darrel doing just about anything – not just anime, but television comedy to film. He’s completely down to earth and has a kid-around personality.
Recorded May 25th 2013 at FanimeCon.
Host, The “Eddie” Ballar with Co-host, Reyson Sioson.
Produced by Johnny Moreno.
I’ve sat in front of the television with my laptop and literally chatted via skpe, twitter, and even shot a facebook comment while watching a FIFA world cup soccer game. In some cases I made a long distant call to rub a score into my best friend’s face! Wouldn’t it be nice if there was an available platform with the game on screen with updated twitter & facebook comments, and Skyping with friends or family joining in on the game to have the ultimate social game experience! Well look no further – Steven Turner has developed the platfom and it’s called Simul TV. “The Eddie” gets the scoop!
This segment opens up with the Ramen crew’s “The Eddie” finally getting Alodia Gosiengfiao to give our Ramen and a Half show a shout out.
The Ramen crew felt a bit like a paparazzi, though we haven’t exactly dodged crowds, leaped over people, or body-checked anyone aside at any convention yet! The only thing we managed to dodge are off topic questions, loud hand-clapping and voices that over powered us from hearing our subject, Alodia Gosiengfiao FHM.
In this segment we get plenty of new surfacing information about our Mistress of Cosplay.
So here’s Panel Interview CUTS 2 – raw and lightly cut – which means I did very little editing. So it’s
STRICKLY FOR THE FANS to hear first hand answers from Alodia herself :
– Her Cosplay beginnings
– What she likes about being a Cosplayer
– Her stumbled upon opportunities
– Video Game influences like Final Fantasy
– Cosplay pointers
– Her first reaction as Guest of Honor at AX 2013
– The Fan that came all the way from Germany to see her
– Costume making
– Her make up – her eyes & contact lens of choice and why?
PREVIOUS MAGAZINE STORIES FROM ANIME EXPO 2013:
Alodia Panel Interview CUTS: Finally we get some answers!
ANIME EXPO 2013: Sleeping Cosplay? Batman & Spiderman duo? Mortal Come back?
AX 2013: Adventure Time & X-Men Cosplayers Collide
AX 2013: Captain Falcon & Crew!
ANIME EXPO 2013 : In line to see Alodia and we meet Kirito & Asuna Cosplayers
ANIME EXPO 2013 Masquerade: Thomas Depetrillo’s EVA-01
Jessica Nigri : Part 1 of 3
Jessica Nigri : Part 2 of 3
Jessica Nigri : Part 3 of 3
ANIME EXPO 2013 Masquerade : Ornament Tree Wings
Hey Hey Alodia from ANIME EXPO!
Each story is not just an interview, but one of the many interesting and entertaining things that happen at Anime Conventions. They’re short, sweet and you might find yourself liking our content!
There’s been an interior Design, Art and Fashion for the home and crafts going on this weekend. “Think about the moment we live in and all the images from post, modern to impressionism – like the styles and periods of great paintings influencing and changing to what we call modern today.” 
Just as images change for the age of art, so does home interior and craft designs. If you happen to be in SF and if you’re interested in getting to feel how contemporary décor may serve you or if you’d just like to see some interesting styles, designs and crafts – there’s an event taking place this weekend that will showcase these innovative interior home designs first hand at the American Craft Council Show – a showcase of 230 of the best contemporary home décor, furniture, jewelry, and clothing artists from across the country.
It’s one of the largest craft shows in the world!
Sunday, August 4: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more details click here: http://shows.craftcouncil.org/sf
Tile art from Justine Tartarsky & Clive Bridges. Take a look at their website site www.artontile.com . This is just one of the many interesting designs and things you’ll get to see.
What’s going on here? Well, it’s early in the evening and some cosplayers are snoozing while others are trying to keep up with photographers. We lead in with cosplay model, Vampy Bit Me, who happens to be from the San Francisco Bay Area.
In this segment the Ramen Crew really caught some random images, a cosplay snoozing, and of course the other 99 percent getting their photo’s taken every which way and loving it. Interestingly enough, we caught a Batman and Spiderman dynamic duo cosplaying on the ground floor. Ryan Turney tells us how he used dye sublimated lycra to create his outfit and Danny Lopez shows off his Batman cowl mask which is made by professional prop maker, Shawn Reeves. Then we get a flash back taste of Mortal Kombat!
We pretty much interviewed the obvious of course… other than eat breakfast then cosplay, eat lunch then cosplay and then catch dinner and hit the cosplay night life, but for those who come from afar or from next door to the Anime Expo convention center and perhaps maybe stayed up a wee bit too late the night before excitingly undecided in what cosplay will do …Well, we got one person to explain that!
Alodia Gosiengfiao’s image blew up with her sleek and sexy cosplay of the Cobra Baroness at 2010’s Comic-Con in San Diego and was recently featured as FHM magazine’s Cover Girl for the July 2013 issue, but she has been cosplaying for years in her home country, the Philippines, where she’s literally the Queen of Cosplay!
The Ramen crew was really hoping to get a one-on-one interview with Alodia, especially our host, The Eddie, but under the hierarchy of certain press privileges some things just didn’t work out. So instead The Eddie and Ame Garrucho caught up with a panel interview and made the best of what they could get!
During this interactive panel discussion, find out how Alodia got her start in cosplay and why? She even mentions wanting to work with Jessica Nigri! Which makes sense, because both of these girls are at the top of their Cosplay fame and continue to be creative and entertaining in their world of ubiquitous cosplay.
GETTING THE PANEL INTERVIEW: This interview panel CUT was shot on the fly with a Canon t3i DSLR and a Sony Bloggie respectively by our on the spot camera persons, Ame Garrucho and our Host- now in our credits as camera person, Eddie Ballar. Look forward for a STRICKLY FOR FANS Panel CUT of Alodia with our camera operator Johnny Moreno. I guess the Ramen Crew and The Eddie just couldn’t get enough of Alodia and would like to share whatever we could get for the FANS.
WEIRD TECH NOTE: The Sony Bloggie is far from being sharp compared to the to the Canon t3i DSLR, but The Eddie did give us the effect of being inside his mind like the movie “Being John Malkovich”. Obviously from asking question directly from behind the camera, and it doesn’t help that he’s closer to the bloggie mic than Alodia, who is like 20 feet away… “still entertaining and informational though.”
As I’ve heard, “Third time’s the charm!” I also believe that being persistent is always key. So finally, our Host, “The Eddie” interviews Jessica Nigri!
The Ramen crew had their doubts, but we persevered and got to find out that Jessica is just an all around fun and down to earth person. She’s just a busy-body when it comes to working at conventions, especially when Anime Expo 2013 hit an all time high attendance rate this year!
Johnny Moreno
Edward Ballar
GuestContributor
Ramon Angel
Al Woo
SW biko
Retrenders 