Saturday, October 10, 2026

NYC - To Do 08Oct26 (NYCC 2026 Comi-con, Flushing Meadows Sunrise)

New York - To Do
New York - To Eat

NYC - To Do
 Check out Instagram @ABBATRAVELS
USD93.09 for New York Comic Con 20yrs 2026
(Thur Opening Day Ticket)
Opens from 10am-7pm

Thursdays are great if you wanna get first look and have much more wiggle room to roam around the alleyways and check out the tons and tons of Merch spread across the floor. 

*Fellow queue goer. All waiting about 1.5hrs before doors open at 10am. Death note on the L and Ghost Rider on he right.*
ABBATips:
- If looking to pre buy Merchandise, do it before hand. You can queue but it takes about 20mins or more. The crowds varies throughout the day so you probably can swing back again when it thins down by half at times.

*Pic L to R Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister),
Shaquille O'Neal 4time NBA Champion, Idina Menzel (Elsa from Frozen and Broadway's Wicked.) As seen in the Autographing and picture taking located at basement level.*
- Download the app prior to note which Celebrities are appearing for a signing or taking pictures with. Gives you a great idea of where to be at to meet or even catch a glimpse of your favorite artists. Some mentions apart from those seen here, Peter Weller (Robocop), Grant Gustin (The Flash) , Sebastian Stan (Winter Soldier) just to name a few. The celebrity line-ups change daily so remember to note who's coming and when!

*Walter Jones, (MMPR), James Saito (Shredder from TMNT),
Mick Foley and Kane from WWE. As seen around the main show floor.*
- Explore the various, alleyways to spot some of your favorite movie, tv & wrestlers personalities are located in discreet booths, corners located all over the huge hall. You can just go up to them and have a chat for free. Signing and selfie pics usually costs extra. 

ComicCon was pretty much the Main Hall which spread across the huge space, and the basement level where the queueing begins along with Artist Alley and Autograph signing were. The top floors at the corner, 4 and 5 are largely utilized for panels.

Basement
Largely Artist Alley and Autograph Signing

*Opportunities to meet & greet with Artists of your fav comics like Ryan Ottley, the primary long-term artist who joined with issue #8 and illustrated the vast majority of the 144-issue run*
Main Floor
This spans across the whole length of the building which roughly groups comics, merch and some large standout displays.

This is where you'll get most of your merch, discover celebrity personalities spread throughout at sometimes in discreet corners and loads of cosplayers everywhere.

*Costumes from the upcoming and much anticipated Avengers: Doomsday with Robert Downey Jr. taking on the role of Victor von Doom. *
*All 3D printed live sized X-men 97 display and the creator behind it. Amazing work!*

*Meet and greets with voice actors like Cal Dodd (pictured here), who voices Wolverine in X-Men 97. There were many other famous voice actors like Jim Cummings who voiced Winnie the Pooh for over 30years and much more spread out throughout the show floor.*
All about the Merch. There's ALOT to get through. 
Retro classics to modern creative tongue-in-cheek ones as well!


*Retro classics and prop replicas.*
*All those Saints thou. Darth Vader the Redeemer.*

*Quirky pop culture.*
*Throw back with Johnny Number 5 from Short Circuit shoes pictured on the left.*
Embracing 20years of Pop culture in NYC with cosplayers who brings the fun and creativity to these events.
@thepaparazziboys

*From L to R (X-men, Polaris, Xena Warrior Princes and Adam West Batman.*
*Gym Bro Skeletor, Ramona Flowers, Yzma and Kronk from The Emperor's New Groove.*
For couples
For Families

*
Pic L The Invincible Family and Brother Sister Team ,Johnny and Sue Storm.*
For Group-ups

*Gotta give it up for Handsome Squidward.*
*The Han Solo does have some resemblance. Forest Gump in the middle and spiderman from Brand New Day bath house scene.*
*Pic L, Rufio from Hook, Ghostbusters 2, and Agent Smith from Matrix.
*The Incredible Hulk and Sauron*
The quintessential of the Comicon experience. What caught me by surprise was the strong anime presence as well so there's a mix of everything. Also that there weren't a lot of Jaw dropping huge booths or plenty of swag that they were giving away. Swag yes, but often involving long queues as well as those grab and goes were largely anime carded headbands from various shows. 

The amazing thing here were the opportunity to chat with, meet and greet many of your favorite voice actors, tv and movie stars personalities and the artist! One for the memory books to have such a large concentration of Celebrities, creatives all in one area.

The cosplayers are always a huge crowd draw and unlike at Los Angeles Anime Con with more hired professional models, this is all fan driven. 
You maybe interested in some of these other pop-culture events:
Melbourne - Supernova 2015 (George Tekai, Dolph Lundgren, Jason David Frank, Christopher Lloyd etc.)
London - LFCC 30July2016 (RVD,Jon Heder,Carl Weathers,etc)
London - MCM 28Oct2017 (Anthony Mackie, Hayley Atwell,Andrew Scott, etc
Perth - Supernova 29Jun2019 (Elijah Wood)


Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Sunrise about 7am
The 1964 World's Fair Grounds
It was here the Mustang was publicly unveiled and became one of the most successful new car launches in American History.

*The reflection pools and the quiet in the morning at 645am*
Unisphere
*World's Fair 1964*
*Built for the 1964–65 World's Fair, this giant stainless-steel globe represents Earth and symbolizes humanity's hopes for peace and global unity. It stands about 140 feet (43 m) tall. It weights about 408tons in totally, about 2 Fully loaded Boeing 747s.*
*The changing of the colors as the sun rises.*

*MIB Filmed on location featuring the Unisphere and Observation Towers.*

New York State Pavilion &  Observation Towers
*The three towers were designed to give visitors panoramic views of the World's Fair. The tallest rises about 226 feet (69 m), and the towers are now iconic remnants of the fair's futuristic architecture.*

*As seen in Ironman 2 opening sequence.*
Enjoying the morning glow

*Capturing moments*



*All the feels.*

Friday, October 2, 2026

Manchester - To Do 01Oct26 (Day Trip out to Liverpool - The Three Graces & Beatles Statue, Statue of Captain F.J Walker, Royal Albert Dock Liverpool, Moose, China Town, Liverpool Cathedral, St Luke's "Bombed Out" Church, Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, St George's Hall, Walker Art Gallery)

Manchester - To Do
Manchester - To Eat

Manchester - To Do
Liverpool Day Trip Out
Travel time about 1hr door to door.
Manchester Oxford Road Station -> Liverpool Lime Street
Any permitted route return Journey £24.70
Purchase is very easy via the machines.
*Grade I is the highest level of listed-building protection in England. It means the building is considered to have exceptional architectural or historic interest. Only a small proportion of listed buildings receive Grade I (2.5%) status; below it are Grade II* 5.8%.*
Sunrise 7am

The unique charms of Liverpool

*Their public transportation looked very much like the logo from Monsters, Inc.
*Sunrise located in front of the Beatles statue.*
(Pier area)
(24hrs)
Sunrise by The Waters open 24hrs
The Three Graces & Beatles Statue
(From L to R Royal Liver Building, Cunard Building and Port of Liverpool building.)
Royal Liver Building GI

This is probably Liverpool's most recognisable building, topped by the famous Liver Birds; its clock faces are actually larger than Big Ben's. 

Legends has it that the two birds are called Bella and Bertie. This was by far the most beautiful and standout amongst the three.
One faces the city while the other faces the River Mersey, symbolically watching over Liverpool and its siloes, legend says if they ever fly away, Liverpool would cerise to exist. 
Cunard Building GII*
It was the headquarters of the Cunard Line, whose ocean liners connected Liverpool with the world.
Port of Liverpool Building GII*
Its huge dome and Beaux-Arts design were built to project Liverpool's importance as a global port.
The Beatle Statues
Pictured from L to R, Paul McCarney, George Harrison, Ringo Star and John Lennon. Donated by the Cavern Club where the Beatles became Liverpool’s greatest cultural symbol.
Click here for ABBA location of the Three Graces and Beatle Statue

Statue of Captain F.J Walker

He was Britan’s most successful U-boat (undersea boat/submarines) hunter of WWII and credited with sinking 20German U boats. 

Royal Albert Dock Liverpool
Opened in 1846, the dock is an extraordinary complex of historic warehouses and is now one of Liverpool's main cultural areas. A lifestyle place with plenty of dining options over here.
Click here for ABBA location of Royal Albert Dock Liverpool.

Moose
Awesome breakfast eats that opens early. Highly recommended for their breakfast eats.
Ordered On:
01Oct26
Fed 1
Half and half eggs Benedict £14.75
*Awesome they allow even up to three of the flavourings so you can try a little of everything.*
Iced Latte £3.90
*Oat or Soy milk and ice available also and no additional charge!*
Total £18.65
Really great place to grab a meal before or after taking a walk around the historic waterfront. Staff were super friendly and helpful with orders and lots of little additions like asking for free delicious maple at no additional charges. 
Same chain as the one in Manchester. Click here for review.

China Town

Europe's oldest Chinese community. Just a quick photo op over here before a short hop to Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral found just up the road. 
Click here for ABBA location of China Town.

Liverpool Cathedral GI


*The Welcoming Christ*
Huge interior and there's a cafe inside as well, similar to that at Chester cathedral.
This is the enormous Anglican cathedral and is described by Visit Liverpool as the biggest cathedral in Britain.

*The classic and the modern.*

*Cafe located within the Church grounds.*
*Pic right, in Memoria of those who fought in the war.*
St Luke's "Bombed Out" Church
(Opens 11am)

The church was badly damaged by an incendiary bomb during the Blitz in 1941 and was never rebuilt as a conventional functioning church.

All Together Now is a tribute to the Christmas Truce of 1914, when British and German soldiers briefly stopped fighting, met in No Man’s Land and shared a moment of peace. It is famously remembered for an impromptu game of football.
Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
(Opens 10am)
This is Liverpool's Catholic cathedral, and its modern circular/conical architecture is almost the complete opposite of Liverpool Cathedral.
It is a striking 1960s modernist cathedral, built above Lutyens’ unfinished crypt, famous for its colorful crown of stained glass with colors changing throughout the day. The modern design built above the old.

*Holy water font reflecting the beautiful stained glass.*

*Intense depictions of the stations of the cross.*

St George's Hall
(Opens 930am)
G1

This gigantic Grade I-listed neoclassical building sits directly opposite Lime Street and is one of Liverpool's great architectural statements. Opened in 1854, it has served as a concert hall, courthouse and civic centre for more than 170 years. See only, giving off Roman-like vibes. Could not go in.
Click here for ABBA location of St George's Hall.

Walker Art Gallery

(Free to enter)
*Carving softness into a hard material.*
*Adam and Eve found to have eaten the forbidden fruit and subsequently cast out the garden of Eden.*
Liverpool’s “national gallery of the North,” home to an impressive collection of European art spanning centuries. A lovely curation with an excellent spread over the times. Great for a pop-in. 
Click here for ABBA location of Walker Art Gallery.
Liverpool had tons to offer and has a very easy walking/cycling route. For waterside vibes, loads of beautiful architecture, home to cultural phenomenon the Beatles, plenty of free to view museums, there’s a little something for everyone.