Cup O' Joe In Reno
I took a half day off from work Thursday to head to Reno for the opening of Biggest Little FurCon. No fursuits, no extra paraphernalia, just me and an overnight bag. Ok, I brought a cooler with some beer, sue me! Sheesh!
Really glad I made the trip. Reno is less than a two hour drive straight up 80 from work. No traffic to speak of once outside Auburn. I just coasted into town, stopped quickly to get some gas, then proceeded to check in to my room (with a slight housekeeping delay). I arrived on "Day 0" of the con, meaning evening check in plus a dance later in the evening. Most people would be checking in the next day, but there were a significant number of my friends already there. Had some hang out time downing beers in my room with Dogbomb and Bart the Husky, picked up my con badge without having to wait in any line whatsoever, got some delicious AYCE sushi at the sushi place in the lobby while watching the Warriors down the Nuggets to move on in the playoffs, gambled a bit, and chatted it up with a few others along the way. A pretty chill evening by convention standards, but well worth it and great fun nevertheless.
While there I also got a glympse of the ballroom the Western Rabbit Show would be held in. The show is the primary reason I wouldn't be able to stay for the entire con, as my mother-in-law would be in town the next day for it to show her rabbits. Tina was concerned the noise from the convention (especially the dances) would stress the rabbits out if our groups were located too close to each other. While both areas were on the same floor and shared a common hallway, the ballrooms were quite a distance apart, so I relayed that to her to ease her fears.
I managed to get about 3 1/2 hours of sleep before I woke to my alarm at about 4:30 so I could get ready to head back over the pass and to work. Man! Driving 80 over the Donner Pass at sunrise in great weather is a must-do experience! Already beautiful scenery made even more beautiful by the rising sun! Didn't start feeling laggy till I got into work, which made the day seem very long. Wobbled my way through it though!
About the con itself? Lots of upside for it. I understand this afternoon it surpassed the first year convention attendance record with almost 700 attendees. I'm glad to see it. The organizers really worked hard to get this together and promote it as a unique experience so I'm glad they're getting some payoff from that work. There's way more things to do at this hotel then you'd have time to experience in three days. Mix in a well-run con then you just have even more things to experience.
Wish I could have stayed longer, but there's always next year and that awesome, easy drive!
Really glad I made the trip. Reno is less than a two hour drive straight up 80 from work. No traffic to speak of once outside Auburn. I just coasted into town, stopped quickly to get some gas, then proceeded to check in to my room (with a slight housekeeping delay). I arrived on "Day 0" of the con, meaning evening check in plus a dance later in the evening. Most people would be checking in the next day, but there were a significant number of my friends already there. Had some hang out time downing beers in my room with Dogbomb and Bart the Husky, picked up my con badge without having to wait in any line whatsoever, got some delicious AYCE sushi at the sushi place in the lobby while watching the Warriors down the Nuggets to move on in the playoffs, gambled a bit, and chatted it up with a few others along the way. A pretty chill evening by convention standards, but well worth it and great fun nevertheless.
While there I also got a glympse of the ballroom the Western Rabbit Show would be held in. The show is the primary reason I wouldn't be able to stay for the entire con, as my mother-in-law would be in town the next day for it to show her rabbits. Tina was concerned the noise from the convention (especially the dances) would stress the rabbits out if our groups were located too close to each other. While both areas were on the same floor and shared a common hallway, the ballrooms were quite a distance apart, so I relayed that to her to ease her fears.
I managed to get about 3 1/2 hours of sleep before I woke to my alarm at about 4:30 so I could get ready to head back over the pass and to work. Man! Driving 80 over the Donner Pass at sunrise in great weather is a must-do experience! Already beautiful scenery made even more beautiful by the rising sun! Didn't start feeling laggy till I got into work, which made the day seem very long. Wobbled my way through it though!
About the con itself? Lots of upside for it. I understand this afternoon it surpassed the first year convention attendance record with almost 700 attendees. I'm glad to see it. The organizers really worked hard to get this together and promote it as a unique experience so I'm glad they're getting some payoff from that work. There's way more things to do at this hotel then you'd have time to experience in three days. Mix in a well-run con then you just have even more things to experience.
Wish I could have stayed longer, but there's always next year and that awesome, easy drive!