The Great Allentown Comic Con in Lehigh Valley

November 19 and 20, you are cordially invited to "Get UR Geek On" at The Great Allentown Comic Con.

The Lehigh Valley's largest comic & pop culture convention attracts artists, celebrity guests, dealers, and comic book geeks of all ages. Smurfs, Disney, Star Wars, zombies, Star Trek... this show has something for every comic lover.




At: Merchants Square Mall, 1901 S. 12th Street, Allentown, PA 18103 (just off Lehigh Street, behind the Toyota dealership) Hours: Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 10am-5pm

Admission Cost: One-Day Pass $8 per adult, Two Day Pass $10 per adult
- free for children 12 years-old and under accompanied with an adult
- $1 per pass will be donated to epilepsy awareness
Don't want to pay? The GACC is looking for volunteers. You'll eat free and meet guests and dealers. Email for info.

And while I appreciate the show's effort to promote local attractions (Crayola Factory, Lehigh Valley Mall, Historic Bethlehem, Sands), there are a few places that are even closer to Comic Con that are worth checking out, too.

All of these recommendations are within a 3.5-mile radius of Comic Con:

Go to The Brass Rail for cheesesteaks (3015 Lehigh Street), Louie's Restaurant for Italian (2071 31st Street SW), or Amigo Mio Cafe for Mexican (545 Cleveland Street).

Drop in at Drop Me a Line Costume Shop (1050 Lehigh Street) and Double Decker Records (808 Saint John Street) - two unique indie stores. Catch a screening of "The Skin I Live In" starring Antonio Banderas at The Civic Theatre (19th Street) on Sunday at 1:30. It's a 2-hour film in Spanish with English subtitles. Then visit my friend Steph at Step in 4 Mor (1823 W Allen St) and try on some fabulous shoes.

Comic Con is also close to the South Mall, (3300 Lehigh St) which has the only Stein Mart in the Lehigh Valley. You'll also find a drive-through Starbucks in the parking lot and Gypsy Rose antiques mall inside.

May the force be with you.