GAAM vs. Show

This was seriously awesome!!! I really had no idea what to expect from GAAM...Games, Art, Music.....ok.....boy did they deliver on all accounts! Games- gamers everywhere!! Serious gamers like they make their own program video games, how cool is that! And you got to walk around and try out different games, I really don't know how to play and I still had a great time! Art- really cool artwork all kinds of different pieces hung up in a gallery you could walk around and look at and purchase also.Music- dang go DJ!! Lol.....we were out there dancing away!! The music was AWESOME!! Dance floor was packed and everyone was sweating and dancing it up, So. Much. Fun!!! We woke up this morning like that was so much fun last night.....people went all out with some fantastic costumes, food trucks were out, FREE beer, great company, fun games, awesome music,beautiful edgy artwork = great night out....so happy to be able to go! :)

Super fun event! Like Vanessa T., I had no expectations of this gathering. The costumes were fabulous and the actual gamers came from all over to attend. Everyone was so cool.Although I didn't have the time to appreciate the art displayed, I enjoyed the people watching and the outside courtyard the most. So much imagination and everyone seemed to really be into it. Just wished I had the opportunity to watch the dance off downstairs...Overall, this is a serious group of partying gamer geeks (in a good way) and I was so glad I came representing JaxYelp. Can't wait for next year! 5 Stars!

Second year in a row for me! This time in costume!I was the Ghostbuster without a pack. Last year I went alone. This year this place was full of friends. It was the most fun I had in a long time!

This. was. awesome. Seriously so much fun. My only (tiny) complaint was how warm it got, but that's because there were so many amazing folks there. Let's start with the art. There was a beautiful -- seriously beautiful -- watercolor of the scene from "Avengers: Age of Ultron" of Black Widow calming Hulk. There were pen-and-ink drawings, paintings, digital art... So many styles and subjects and fandoms represented that it was both humbling and inspiring to those of us for whom stick figures require serious effort. There were several areas with music -- and one dedicated cosplayer (Dante from Devil May Cry) who carried around his own personal soundtrack. All of the music, though, was geek-themed and amazing. The tap group Noise Complaint charmed everyone with their version of "Uptown Funk," retooled to be Avengers-themed. The line, "Don't believe me? Just watch" became "It's the Age of Ultron" while the dancers tapped out the rhythm in sync. Three food trucks participated: The Happy Grilled Cheese, Delish Kebabs Inc., and Danilo's Famous Lumpia. I didn't sample any of the food -- I was too engrossed with the costumes and the music and the art -- but even in the open air of the courtyard, they all smelled delicious! I know from experience that Happy Grilled Cheese is a treat.The costumes, though, really stole the show. There were Avengers aplenty, including a Hulk costume entirely painted shades, a truly fantastic Captain America, and several gender-bent options that ranged from jaw-dropping good to jaw-dropping funny (intentionally so). DC characters, including several Jokers at various stages of life, Harley Quinn, and Batman, crashed the party. And there were more gamer-oriented costumes like Princess Peach, the aforementioned Dante, and an "N7" soldier from Mass Effect. And, mind you, these are the attendees, normal folks who are enthusiastic enough about their fandom to dedicate hours to perfecting an authentic or funny costume.The price point is a little high. Early birds could attend for as little as $25 per person, but tickets at the door -- and there were only a few left -- were $50. I'd definitely consider $25 to be worth the price of admission. Don't get me wrong: the event was absolutely *worth* $50, but I'm not sure I'd have paid that much, because I'm an utter cheapskate. When you take into account that drinks and food were both for-pay, except the free Aardwolf Belgian Pale Ale, which is awesome for those who like it, but it isn't my cuppa, the cost of admission was a little steep. The main draw was the awesome costumes and the art and for that, for $25, I'd be in again next year. The lesson learned? Find more cool people to go with and buy my tickets early.[Disclosure: I won a free ticket to attend this event via Yelp, but only to attend. This review is unsolicited and full of my honest opinions.]

#ILoveGAAM! Lots of fun, great cosplay, free beer, video games, dancing and food trucks. Need I say more?

Ive been going to these events since day 1 and it always gets better each time! The people who run this event are amazing and always put their all into it. The art is amazing, the food is always great, the vendors are amazing, and the drinks are always bountiful! Plus they ALWAYS give to charities. Its a fun time with a great purpose! They take care of you and make sure you have a grand time. I highly recommend attending their events in the future :)