Looking for a concert-among-concerts, on a budget? Join the fun at Brokechella in San Francisco on April 18-19, 2015 with an awesome lineup of bands to check out. 

Brokechilla was created in response to the frustration on crazy, out-of-control priced concerts. While some single artist concerts are running a minimum of $100.00 for a nose bled seat, Brokechilla is charging $10-$20 for admission to the event. What? Yes, a whole day event! Brokechilla started out in a coffee house and now has outgrown its first venue and has taken over the music scene in size and popularity.

Brokechella is the considered to be the concert that is gentle on your pocketbook. The experience offers a great lineup of bands at rock bottom prices.

Info according to their website: This year, BROKECHELLA is back to 590 Santa Fe Ave, in the heart of Downtown. We’ve got 4 stages, a World Initiative, comedy and variety stage, a bigger than ever vendor fair, more puppychella, giant jenga puzzles, and so much more.

  Comic-Con is an outrageous outing made of all things comics, science fiction, and movies. This event started in 1970 when a group of fans all came together to put on the first comic book convention in Southern California. Even if you are not a big fan, attending one of these conventions will make you one or at least make you appreciate the energy of the fans. 


This is a great outing for the whole family, if you can handle large crowds and standing in a lot of lines. We stood in line three hours for tickets to the Masquerade Ball and then had to come back a few hours later and stand in line for an hour to just to get into the ballroom. Important to note,  this was one of the smaller lines. Here's a tip, you don't even have to go inside or buy the expensive tickets while waiting with your fingers posed over the buy-it-now option on your computer screen only to find out they sold out in five minutes last year, because just sitting outside and people watching is an event in itself.  Of course, I am not suggesting that it is not better inside. It is. But a lot of the activities are outside of the Convention center. You can see some of the most elaborate costumes walking by as the people stay in character from the vantage point of one of the restaurants that face the strip and the Convention Center. We were in awe at the amount of work that goes into one single outfit. We found everyone approachable for pictures and information. 

What I do recommend, if you are wanting to brave the fan storm, is that you do your homework! Download the Comic-Con app that tells you who, what, and where everything is. Then pick your top two items to do every day and prepare to stand in line chatting with all types of folks. While in line, you can people watch and visit. Bring snacks. What ever you do, bring snacks!  Because you really have to leave the convention for good food, it takes away of your time inside. Then again, you can people watch from some of the nearby restaurants as well.

Biggest tips I wish I had known: Wear comfortable shoes at all times. You will walk, walk, walk. Know the schedule before hand and come prepared to stand in long lines, be patient, maybe bring a good book or buy one autographed while you are there. Check the bus schedule! That is the most important. They start and stop at different times. We were on the red route about a mile away and after walking all the way there at midnight with tired kids after the masquerade, we found out they picked up in front of the Comic-Con starting at 11:30 pm.  Yep, that just happened. We had to walk all the way back. Last, always know what limited edition item you want to buy and get in line early for it. They sell out quickly and the lines are insane if you wait too long.  Look for the one thing that would make your trip worthwhile if you could score, and concentrate only on trying to get that. But don't be disappointed if you don't get one. You can always find it later on eBay.


The big granddaddy of them all is the one in San Diego, which is scheduled for July 9-12  2015.  Not to worry if you can't make it all the way to California, there a mini-cons all around the country to enjoy. The local one we attended made a great introduction, and the best part was watching the kids just stare gape-mouthed at all the creativity from the fans. To be honest, it was not just the kids, we were all in awe.

 For dates and locations of Comic-Cons near you check @ http://www.upcomingcons.com/comic-conventions
For the granddaddy of them all, check out  http://www.comic-con.org/frontpage

 Have you ever considered spending your vacation time volunteering on a mission trip? There are literally endless numbers of tour companies that offer trips that include helping those less fortunate. Some offer the opportunity to provide medical aid, build homes, visit orphanages, or even help out a Marine Conservation groups.
  You can take your trip as a family, as a couple, or even solo. Some trips are done in the United States and others require abroad travel. In the United States, at Global Volunteers, you can work with local people for a week of service in education, labor, and cultural projects. If you enjoy the ocean, then maybe choose a marine conservation project in Seychelles that includes counting turtles and helping identify marine species. If you are adventurous, you can climb Mt. Kilimanjaro while also providing equipment and services to those with special needs including the wounded vets that have taken the journey with K2Adverntures.

Marine Conservation http://www.responsibletravel.com/holiday/2280/marine-conservation-project-in-seychelles
Veterans assistance and build hospitals
http://www.k2adventures.org/about-us
Reservations in the USA
http://www.globalvolunteers.org/usa/