Hilary Booth... of course!

AP article on Katsucon explains why if it seemed crowded, it was. They were estimating a crowd of 9000 people! Looking through more Fansview photos, it looked like I missed a "Last Exile" group in the costume contest. I can also see why the preliminary stuff asked for no more Sailor Moon groups.

Today was frustrating. I had opted to go only for Saturday at Katsucon this year, since the bulk of the activity seems to be then. Since the main panel I wanted to attend at Katsucon was fairly early in the morning, I had hoped I could go by the hotel and get my Saturday registration beforehand, so I didn't have to stand in line all morning. Big mistake. When I reached the front of the line, I discovered they didn't have the Saturday badges yet. Hopefully I can get there early enough tomorrow to make Murata's panel and signing.

The only bright side is they've moved to a hotel actually attached to the Underground. They've turned the corridor leading to the Marriott as their registration area, so I haven't even seen the hotel inside yet. The lines were quite long and tiring and that corridor was hot. Unfortunately the weather is supposed cold this weekend, with flurries possible on Sunday, so I will be less fannish this year. I'll do the funny t-shirts at Media West like I always do.

BDaltons is completely gone from Crystal City, so I couldn't even console myself with a bookstore trip. Even Borders at Pentagon City was less than stellar, although they were having a buy three get the fourth free cd sale, useful for post Grammy music. I actually liked Joss Stone's part of the Joplin tribute, even if most people were understandably more taken by Melissa Etheridge's return. It took me a honest minute to remember why she was bald.

Home from the first partial day at my inaugral anime convention. It was certainly... educational.

( Katsucon report, day 1 )