The best conventions in NYC guide

Get your silicone ears and Infinity Gauntlets ready: The biggest pop culture event in North America—New York Comic Con—is filled with can't-miss panels, celebrities, shopping and all the cosplay costumes you could ever fantasize about. If you're feeling a bit dazed from hot-gluing your costume together (although, you could also hit up a Halloween store in NYC), we've got you covered with the basics, from ticket prices to awesome Super Week events.

If you shop at Sephora more than your local bodega, this conference is for you. Register for a full-day of glamorous fun, and explore booths created by cosmetic, skin-care and hair-care brands such as Milk Makeup, L’Oreal and Not Your Mother’s. Since beauty is more than, well, products, famous bloggers, YouTubers and celebrity guests like Gigi Gorgeous, Drew Barrymore, Dove Cameron and Gabrielle Union speak during empowering panels with themes like “FIT-nasty,” a body-positive chat about how to deal with body shamers, and “Life Hacks,” in which the pros share their tips and tricks for getting that perfect Beyoncé glow. Most importantly, you walk away with free beauty swag!

Let’s get lit…erary! Whether you read nonfiction, sci-fi or romance novels, there’s an event for everyone and every genre at this fest. Geek out during talks hosted by some of your favorite authors (i.e. Margaret Atwood), and prepare for endless squealing during celebrity panels, including a chat between Chad Michael Murray and author Heather Graham about their collaborative title American Drifter. Also on the lineup, Marvel star Krysten Ritter speaks on her psychological suspense novel Bonfire, and Kevin Hart hosts a Q&A for his work I Can’t Make This Up: Life Lessons. 

This brunch-focused food festival in Brooklyn features late-morning grub from 50 participating restaurants, including Chalk Point Kitchen, Butter & Scotch and Manousheh. Beyond bites, you can gulp down bubbly at an open mimosa bar, lay down in a dimly-lit hangover lounge or shop brunch-related products at a BrunchCon market. And for those that aren't too hungover to socialize, there's even speed dating!

Gender-bending costumes are highly encouraged at this two-day expo covering the best of pop culture for the LGBTQ community. Check out incredible panels hosted by talented queer writers like Simon Graves and Scott William Simmons as well as cartoonist Sara Goetter and artist Sara Eileen Hames. A word of advice: Save your energy (and your best cosplay look) for the bumpin’ after-parties.