Welcome to this months Cruise Middle Earth“Getting to know…” questions that need answering.  It’s based on the old Getting to know you threads that I used to post on the message boards here on TORn, so those familiar with them will know that the questions can be a little crazy and the answers even crazier.

This month, in the lead up to ComicCon, we’re asking questions of the other stripey TORn Kitty and intrepid traveller, Garfeimao.

Thanks for joining us this month Garf.

Me: What, in your opinion, are the best places to visit in California?

Garfeimao: Hah, that’s funny, since I’m at just about the most touristy spot in all of California, Disneyland, right now. In fact, if you put these answers up pretty quickly, you may well get a bit of a scoop, since I’m at the Press Preview of the new Cars Land at Disney’s California Adventure in Anaheim, California. The’ve added Radiator Springs, a 12 acre park with 3 full rides and loads of shops and restaurants and new entertainment options, and it’s just adorable. They built up the background to look like the desert mesas and mountains you see if the film, including the waterfall and bridge sequence from the film. It’s really cool and very immersive, and the opening night party tonight was awesome. I ran into Andy Garcia, twice, Larry the Cable Guy (who voices Mater in the Cars movies) and I ran into Scott Hamilton, the Olympic Figure skater, among several other celebrities that were here.

Continue reading “Getting to know Garfeimao”

Did you know the creator of TMNT was a bigger fan of Tolkien than we ever expected? His wedding ring is actually a One Ring of Power! Today on our *LIVE* weekly webcast TORn Tuesdays, we have a very special guest: Kevin Eastman, creator of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (and also a dyed-in-the-wool Ringer fan)! We’ll talk about creating worldwide fan bases, Comic-Con experiences, and the power of mythology through popular culture. What is it like for a creator to deal with other people adapting / redoing his most famous creation? Come join the show via Stickam (account “theoneringnet”) using your own Skype login or come join us via our Live Event Page with our unique Barliman’s chat embedded in the show! Soon we will have live guests IN THE AUDIENCE at Meltdown Comics Theater in Hollywood for every weekly show!

Tune into our show at 5:00pm PDT (that’s L.A. time folks — click here to see when it is in your city!), and just click to our Live Event page.

Welcome to our collection of TORn’s hottest topics for the past week. If you’ve fallen behind on what’s happening on the Message Boards, here’s a great way to catch the highlights. Or if you’re new to TORn and want to enjoy some great conversations, just follow the links to some of our most popular discussions. Watch this space as every weekend we will spotlight the most popular buzz on TORn’s Message Boards. Everyone is welcome, so come on in and join in the fun!

Continue reading “TORn Message Boards Weekly Roundup – June 11 2012”

All the details are still being hammered out, but TheOneRing.net is working furiously to plan a trip for fellow fans to travel with us to New Zealand and attend the red carpet event in Wellington for the world premiere of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” on November 28.

Since the date was announced, TORn has been in contact with groups in New Zealand trying to arrange the best possible trip with finances, time away and itinerary as considerations. Highlights of the trip include:
* A visit to Hobbiton Movie Set near Matamata
* Lining the ‘Red Carpet’ for a world-class Wellington premiere party
* A visit to the Weta Cave
* A TORn & Red Carpet Tours costume party
* Other Wellington movie-related experiences, time permitting

Speaking of Red Carpet Tours, fans also have the option of joining a longer Hobbit tour with the trusted tour group long associated with TORn. You can read the itinerary here for the 14-day extravaganza.

TORn expects to finalize details and require a deposit in the neighborhood of $300 for the late-November event. Funds will be used to secure hotel rooms and make other binding travel arrangements. It is expected that the final price will include round-trip air from Los Angeles to New Zealand. Details will be announced as soon as possible but expect to leave just after U.S. Thanksgiving and return about a week later.
UPDATE: Yes, there will be land-only prices available.
Stay tuned for details but make arrangements now for this one-in-a-lifetime event!

I live near Allentown, PA and rarely have an opportunity to partake in any special events that would interest the Tolkien community locally. Today was a bit different. You see, the Allentown Art Museum is currently exhibiting  ‘At the Edge: Art of the Fantastic,’ the most comprehensive and largest exhibition of fantastic art to date in the United States.  When I saw an ad featuring Donato Giancola’s The Hobbit, I just knew I had to go! The presentation is quite impressive – showcase fantasy art from hundreds of years ago to present. If you ever wanted to see works in person, but really didn’t want deal with going to a convention convention, this showcase is a perfect opportunity. Tolkien themed works on exhibit: The Hildebrandt Brother’s Smaug and The Gift of Galadriel, Ruth Sanderson’s Galadriel, Mark Zug’s The Sands of Gorgoroth, Matthew Stewart’s Battle of Five Armies, Stephen Hickman’s Siege of Minas Tirith (triple WOW factor in person), Darrell Sweet’s The Slaying of Glaurung, and last but not least, Donato Giancola’s The Hobbit (Absolutely stunning in person – and gigantic!). The exhibit runs through September 9th 2012 in Allentown, PA.  [Allentown Art Museum]

 

Congrats to the following winners in our ‘One Man Lord of the Rings’ ticket giveaway!

3pm Show – Nikos F.
8pm Show – Jaynie T.

Winner should check their email for details. If you did not win, please consider supporting the New Jersey Performing Arts Center by attending this amazing show! I don’t think we’ve ever heard a bad review, so you are guaranteed to have a wonderful time. You can purchase tickets for this show right now! [Buy Tickets] [Entry Form]