Doctor Strange Portal - LEGO 30652

 I hit the toy aisle at Target about once a week, sometimes there's new stock but it's not what I'm looking for. Shockingly, my local Target got in zero Guardians Legends figures, like there isn't even a hint that they got anything. But, I did have a little squee moment when I spotted this on an endcap.

Dr. Strange is one of my all time favorite comic characters and while I do have the set from his first movie, I couldn't pass up this little set to have another LEGO Strange that I can keep on my desk.

Had That Toys & Collectibles

 

After it opening about two years ago, I finally stopped in to Had That, a toys/collectibles shop in Salem. It's not like it's out of the way, it's only about a 15 minute drive from my house but it became one of those things where you drive by and say "Oh yeah, have to check that out some time" and then you don't. Mrs Dex and I had a day off during the week and were in the area so we decided that was the day.

It's not a large place but it is packed with all kinds of nostalgia! While it's mostly toys, they do have a few short boxes of comics and a display case with the latest Pokemon cards.

Salem Horror Fest 2023

 aka April Monthly Media Recap, Part II 

 

For the past five years, Salem has been hosting an annual Horror Fest that's two weekends of independent horror films and shorts along with a few special events and celebrity appearances. They get hundreds of submissions from around the world, somehow narrow them down, and squeeze them into two weekends. 

 

The festival organizer is an amazing trans woman and Salem is super LGBTQ+ friendly so a lot of the selections feature themes and/or creators that are LGBTQ+. Part of what I love about SHF is that it gives me the chance to see things that wouldn't usually hit my radar and that are usually very different from what the big studios are putting out.

 

Prior years have been virtual which is great because you can watch the movies on demand on your own schedule. It's not as easy to sit in a theater for several movies a day, especially when the movies you want to see are back to back and don't leave time to duck out for a bite. But I have to say, it's so much more fun to see these movies with an actual audience and to have the chance to chat with other like minded folk!