Welcome to another edition of Con Flashback, your regular trip down San Diego Comic-Con memory lane with the Ublog. This week we take a look at the wonderful world of offsites and some of our favorites (besides Nerd HQ because we would all say that!). If you want to suggest a topic, make sure to send us a tweet using #ConFlashback

Andy Wagner

To be perfectly honest, I’ve never spent a lot of time at SDCC offsites. I always figured since I was one of the lucky few to actually get a badge, I wouldn’t take it for granted, so I mostly stayed inside the convention center. Don’t get me wrong; I’d walk around downtown a little, and I always hit up Nerd HQ, but that’s everyone’s favorite offsite.

Last year was different. By Sunday, I had already seen what I wanted to see in the convention center, so I decided to dedicate Sunday to offsites and swag. Who cared that it was hot and humid? I had sunscreen and water, so I was good to go.

While I explored the offsites, I came across Comic-Con HQ’s setup right next to the convention center and decided to check it out. I’m glad I did. As soon as I got in, as long as I signed up for a free trial, I got a ton of free swag, including Blu-Rays and posters. And there were celebrities just a few short feet away being interviewed by CCHQ talent. They had booths, drinks, celebrities; it was like a mini-SDCC right next to the convention center. As I walked through the crowd, I was even lucky enough to bump into Isaiah Mustafah (the Old Spice Guy), who was nice enough to take a selfie with me. I played some games, got my picture taken, and had an all-around good time.

Since last year was their first year, I doubt it will be the same this year, especially now that they’re officially partnered with San Diego Comic-Con. However, I am hopeful that they keep the small, intimate atmosphere they had last year. I’ll definitely be checking it out again.

Robert Warners

I’ve experienced some really good offsite events but I think my favorite (besides NerdHQ) was The Impractical Jokers Block Party from last year. I’m a big fan of the show but I’ve never made it to any of the events they have done in the past couple of years in San Diego. Last year they threw a big party at Petco Park on Saturday night that included all kinds of Impractical Jokers themed swag, free food and drink coupons from various food vendors, a big screen that screened a new episode of the show, as well as a few events set up for kids like a tight rope and a makeshift corn maze.

Of course the Jokers themselves were at the event and would come out into the crowd at various times to sign autographs and take pictures. There was music playing all night, lots of dancing, lots of laughing, and over all a very good time. We got a spot in the grass and watched the episode that screened a long with a few hundred people and the Jokers. I also got to interview the Jokers at the event but regardless if that had not happened, my feelings for the offsite event wouldn’t change one bit. It was a great night that I got to spend with my family and had a really good time. Who knows what kind of offsite, if any, the Impractical Jokers will have this year but it will be hard to top in my book.