If you're a Tolkien geek/freak/-phile, Toronto's the place for you this weekend. From July 1 to July 4, the Sheraton Centre Toronto will play host to this year's Gathering of the Fellowship, a Lord of the Rings-themed event that promises to draw hundreds of Middle Earthers... er, Eartherians... Earthiacs. Nerds.

Celebrities in attendance will include New Zealand's Bruce Hopkins, who played Gamling the plighted Rohan dude in the Peter Jackson films, as well as Craig Parker, who played the enigmatic girly-man elf Haldir of Lorien. Parker will also MC a costume masquerade on Monday, July 3.

Also on the bill are "leading scholars and language specialists, costumers, musicians, artists, armorers, and crafts people," according to the event's organizers.

For the first time, the event will also feature discussions on non-Rings fair, specifically content based on C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia series of books.

All told, a big, sweeping geek fest if there ever was one. More info at www.gatheringofthefellowship.com.
 
 

It's true: Quality kids games are hard to find. Sure, there's lots out there, but few that are both good and genuinely kid-friendly. Fortunately, GamersGate online games portal has an entire section dedicated to quality family fare. Go ahead, check it out!