54 APRIL 20 - APRIL 26, 2018 BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP
Geek Fest 2.0 brings the fun for Bay Ridge
BY JAIME DEJESUS
JDEJESUS@BROOKLYNREPORTER.COM
The ‘geeks’ were out in full force
once again in Bay Ridge.
Popular neighborhood
store Gotham City Games, 503 84th
Street, which sells retro and contemporary
games and toys, hosted its
second annual Brooklyn Geek Fest
on Saturday, April 7 and Sunday,
April 8.
During the growing tradition,
lovers of games, comics, toys, cosplay
and more gathered at the Best
Western Gregory Hotel, 8314 Fourth
Avenue, to celebrate their inner geek.
According to organizer and owner
of the store Ralph Pugliese, this
year's event was extended to two
days to add to the gaming fun.
“At first I was worried about doing
the two days because I wasn't sure
if there would be enough interest
for both days, but I think the way it
turned out, it was the best thing to
do," he said. "It worked out great. It
gave us more time to spread out the
events. It allowed us to focus more on
the kids and the contests. They loved
that part.”
Similar to last year, cosplay was
the biggest hit of the weekend. Both
adults and children dressed as their
favorite movie and gaming characters
for this year's festivities.
“During the contest, the adults
and the kids probably had at least
double the participants compared to
last year,” Pugliese said, adding that
everything was better sorted. “The
tournaments were better organized,
packed and had their own separate
rooms. Each tournament had at least
30 people play in each of them."
This year's event also saw an uptick
in vendors.
"We also added five new vendors we
somehow fit in there," said Pugliese.
"We had more variety in purchases.
We really diversified in terms of comics,
video games, toys and collectibles
this year.”
As far as big winners, a youngster
won the popular Nintendo Switch.
“A kid won it in the mystery box
and he was really excited about it,”
Pugliese said. “He didn’t have one
and really wanted one which was
awesome, and it didn’t go to someone
that already had one. He wanted one
for his birthday.”
As far as the costume contests,
attendees were once again creative,
many of them returners from last
year's Geek Fest.
“The guy who won was dressed as
Wesley Snipes from 'Blade.' It was
awesome," Pugliese said. "A guy
dressed as the Predator came in
second. It was just a great outfit. We
had 50 people just spectating.”
As far as the kids' contest, which
took place on Sunday, everyone
walked away with a prize.
“The grand prize winner was a girl
dressed as Deadpool and she won a
spending spree,” he explained. “She
got $50 to spend at any venue she
wanted, but we only gave her one
minute to spend it. It just added to
the fun.”
Pugliese is thrilled with the growing
success of his events and hopes to
keep the tradition going strong.
“It’s amazing. We’ve been owning a
shop for over four years and you see
the same people and you’re friends
with them,” he said. “The hundreds
of people that came I know on a
first-name-basis and their family. I
know a lot about them and have a lot
in common because Bay Ridge is a
great community and a great gaming
community."
Photo by Jerry Bimbo
Photos by Thomas Perruggia
Scenes from this year’s Geek Fest.
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