I’m heading to Houston, Texas for Comicpalooza, a massive pop culture expo that feels more like San Diego Comic-Con than a traditional gaming convention. Between surprise thunderstorms, humid Texas heat, incredible anime-inspired Itasha cars, celebrity guests like Pam Grier and Edward James Olmos, and exploring downtown Houston’s murals, parks, and food spots, this trip turned into way more than just convention coverage. I also checked out Replay Games, a cool retro game store, where I even found a rare Sharp Famicom Titler capture device I’d never seen in person before. From tacos and espresso to skyscraper views and retro treasures, this Houston adventure had a little bit of everything.