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Last Minute Costumes of 2019

October 28, 2019 by Nichole Harwood

By Madison Spratto and Nichole Harwood

Calling all procrastinators! Do you need a costume for our Haunted Halloween House Party on October 31st? Halloween is just days away, which means it’s crunch time on finding the perfect costume. But no fear, here is a list of some fun, easy last minute costumes that anybody can pull off!

Smarty Pants: While you’re at the store stock piling candy for trick-or-treaters, pick up a bag of Smarties and boom, you have a costume! If you are really tight on time and don’t have the necessary crafting skills, feel free to keep them in a wrapper. If you want to ensure your costume won’t fall off, pick up a cheap pair of jeans and grab some hot glue. Best part? At the end of the night you have a snack.

Men in Black. This costume can go from work to party with only the addition of sunglasses. Just because it’s men in black doesn’t mean ladies can’t participate (cue Laura Vasquez), just grab a black blazer and dress pants and you have an easy, quick costume.

Fifty Shades of Grey. No, this isn’t what you think. Take a stroll down the paint sample section of Home Depot and you got your costume. Pick out 50 grey samples and some tape, and you have your easy costume that will ensure some laughs. Of course if you have some more time, buy a few props and you may be mistaken for Christian Grey himself.

Breadwinner. If you’re big into puns, you’ll be big into this costume; all it takes is a few plastic medals, sweatband, and a couple loaves of bread.

Photo Courtesy of Minnesotababy.blogspot.com

Alien. If you have the time, becoming an alien really just takes glitter, and a lot of it. No need to get the expensive stuff, temporary hair dye and face glitter can be found in stores such as Walmart; the total costume coming to just over $30. Get a shiny shirt and some leggings to finish the look off.

Miss Universe: Who doesn’t like getting an award? Show everyone that you are truly the center of the universe by dressing up as Miss Universe. This costume is a great excuse to not only buy a new dress, but buy flowers for the most important person in the universe. You!

Bob Ross and Art: Looking for a last minute costume idea for not just one but two? Then dive into your artistic side and dress up as Bob Ross and one of his fantastic pieces of art! As Bob Ross said “There’s nothing wrong with having a tree as a friend.”

Clown: Do you need a costume that can literally be put together with only the contents of your makeup bag? Well here you go! Everyone may not love clowns but they sure love how easy it is to dress up as one!

Inside of a Dryer: Are some of you socks missing the other pair? Put them to good use for Halloween and go as the inside of your dryer! Considering it costs nothing you literally have nothing to lose!

Superman…kinda: Did you have your heart on being a superhero this Halloween but literally forgot about that dream until the last minute? Lucky for you Superman is the easiest superhero to pull off! Find your favorite hero’s shirt at your local Walmart and shove it under a button up shirt and your halfway to becoming the Man of Steel himself!

Courtesy Photo by Courtesy photo by nomadentrepreneur.com

Get your tickets for the Haunted Halloween House Party on Oct. 31st at Effex right here!

2019 Summerween Costume Ideas

July 19, 2019 by Nichole Harwood

By August Edwards

If you’re like me, you have no idea what to wear for Summerween 2019, and you love being the center of attention. I’ve compiled a list to help you achieve all of your Summerween dreams for Saturday, August 10^th at the Salt Yard.

Courtesy of www.marthastewart.com

1) Area 51-themed: Something (Twitter) tells me that this Area 51 raid is a hot summer topic. Come as an alien, a citizen with a heart of gold, or even the Air Force. We can’t stop all of you from storming this cool, trendy costume concept.

Courtesy of www.makeupbyrenren.com

2) Any animal, really: Let’s face it; we all might just end up here anyway. Have a pair of nondescript-animal-ears-on-a-headband laying around? Do you have paint or some opaque-ish substance to create a snout, whiskers, or smear under your eyes (in a raccoon-like fashion)? A fur-colored shirt? You’re good, my friend!

Courtesy of gmispace.com , scholastic.com, halloweencostumes.com

3) A Teacher: Sexy! Knowledge! Scorn! Teachers have made some of the biggest impacts in our lives; let’s pay a hearty homage to them by putting on our best, homiest tie or ill-fitting slacks. Remember that sweater Mrs. Howard always wore? Feel free to spice it up and make our beloved teachers the best versions of themselves. You can even put one of those old apples on your counter to good use as a prop!

Courtesy of loudwire.com
4) A Rockstar (Who’s Music You’ve Never Heard): We all know that one song—we don’t need to know their whole story, for cryin’ out loud. Slap on a wig, dabble with some spicy guy-liner, and carry around that ukulele that you store in your closet (folks will get the gist). If someone asks you about discographies, or whatever, you can always distract them by buying them a drink.

5) Your Favorite Brand Mascot: Did someone say “I’m sponsored”? Everyone will recognize you in that bald cap, white eyebrows to match the t-shirt, and an inexplicable, singular, gold hoop earring—that’s right, it’s Mr. Clean! Be the Geico Gecko of the ball while supporting the corporation close to home.

LOOK INSIDE: Sabaku Con

May 15, 2019 by Nichole Harwood

Sabaku Con returned to Albuquerque May 10-12 bringing with it another great opportunity for all of Duke City’s cosplayers to dress to impress. Enjoy multiple galleries of images from this year’s event.

[Read more…]

Con-Jikon returned to Albuquerque

November 30, 2018 by Kori Kobayashi

Con-Jikon returned to the Ramada hotel in Midtown on Nov. 17-18 to once again help Albuquerque dive into the creative world of anime and gaming.

The anime and gaming convention was created by students from the University of New Mexico in 2013. This year marked the sixth convention for the event. On top of engaging with fans of the anime and gaming community Con-Jikan strove to inspire attendees with its programs. The convention kicked off with an free day that took place Nov. 16 before the regularly scheduled convention giving attendees a free taste of what they could look forward to for their weekend.

Featuring an array of guests including the voice talents of Michele Knotz and James Carter Cathcart the convention promised a day of fun for attendees. Cosplayer’s flooded the halls of the convention as they showcased an array of characters from their favorite video games and animes. In a special treat cosplayers even received the opportunity to compete with each other during Con-Jikon’s Masquerade on Nov. 17 where both novices and professionals pitted there talents against each other in front of a panel of judges. Contestants let there creativity unleash as they not only showcased their outfits but performed choreographed dances or acts. Some winners included a dark comedy routine by a Michael Myers and Jason cosplay from their respective horror movies and video games as well as a Holo and Kraft Lawrence cosplay from the anime Spice and Wolf who splendidly performed to the song The Fox by Ylvis.

Those interested in competing in games were not left disappointed either as interested individuals were given the chance to participate in a Super Smash Bros tournament and Fortnite tournament in which they were able to play against other competitive attendees.

Competitions were not the only thing that attendees were able to look forward to however as an array of panels were also available including one titled “Original Character and Comic Museum” that tackled the origins of many of popular fictional heroes who began as original characters including the likes of Marvel’s Deadpool and Detective Comic’s Harley Quinn.

Outside of the panels and competitions attendees of the event were able to enjoy merchandise from multiple local and nonlocal businesses. Many of the merchandise matched the theme of the convention and included prints of famous gaming and anime characters as well as hair pins and accessories.

Con-Jikon ended with closing ceremonies on Nov.18 with the conventions official twitter page posting a picture of another one of the activities it had made available to attendees, a drawing board which allowed participants to draw freely on sheets of white paper posted. At the end of day two the board was filled with the art of several attendees.

“Here’s our drawings board at the end of Day 2. Again we would like to thank all of the artist who decided to contribute to the image board. With that we will see you again next year,” Con-Jikon tweeted to both new fans of the convention and old.

Images by ABQ-Live intern photographer Naomi Romero

2018 Aki Matsuri Japanese Fall Festival

October 8, 2018 by Gabriel Aro

Recently, Albuquerque celebrated Japanese tradition and the welcoming of autumn with its annual Aki Matsuri festival on Sunday, September 23rd at Veteran’s Memorial Park. The event was hosted by New Mexico Japanese American Citizens League (NMJACL) and provided plenty of vendors showcasing custom crafts, delicious food trucks, and plenty of entertainment, from traditional folk dances to a ramen eating contest.

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Albuquerque Comic Con 2017

February 6, 2017 by Kori Kobayashi

Albuquerque Comic Con was absolutely crazy this year with awesome celebrity appearances, amazing costumes, events and vendors. Both locals and those that travelled to ABQ to experience Albuquerque Comic Con at the Convention Center got a weekend full of photos, friends, celebrities, competition and all the things we used to love as kids.. and still do as adults. Check out the 2017 Comic Con Video below and all the photos from this year’s event in 4 different galleries.

COMIC CON 2017 GALLERIES : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Images by ABQ-Live staff photographers: Martin Saenz, Gia Henley and Andrea Sanchez

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Albuquerque Comic Con 2017 – 2

February 6, 2017 by Kori Kobayashi

Gallery 2 – Albuquerque Comic Con was absolutely crazy this year with awesome celebrity appearances, amazing costumes, events and vendors. Both locals and those that travelled to ABQ to experience Albuquerque Comic Con at the Convention Center got a weekend full of photos, friends, celebrities and all the things we used to love as kids.. and clearly still do as adults. Check out the 2017 Comic Con Video and all the photos from this year’s event in 4 different galleries.

COMIC CON 2017 GALLERIES : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

[Read more…]

Albuquerque Comic Con – Cosplay Competition

February 6, 2017 by Kori Kobayashi

Gallery 4 Cosplay Competition – Albuquerque Comic Con was absolutely crazy this year with awesome celebrity appearances, amazing costumes, events and vendors. Both locals and those that travelled to ABQ to experience Albuquerque Comic Con at the Convention Center got a weekend full of photos, friends, celebrities and all the things we used to love as kids.. and clearly still do as adults. Check out the 2017 Comic Con Video and all the photos from this year’s event in 4 different galleries.

COMIC CON 2017 GALLERIES : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

[Read more…]

Albuquerque Comic Con – 3

February 6, 2017 by Kori Kobayashi

GALLERY 3 – Albuquerque Comic Con was absolutely crazy this year with awesome celebrity appearances, amazing costumes, events and vendors. Both locals and those that travelled to ABQ to experience Albuquerque Comic Con at the Convention Center got a weekend full of photos, friends, celebrities and all the things we used to love as kids.. and clearly still do as adults. Check out the 2017 Comic Con Video and all the photos from this year’s event in 4 different galleries.

COMIC CON 2017 GALLERIES : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

[Read more…]