(no subject)
For anyone who's interested, as promised here's a list of conventions I thought were noteworthy. I listed the main factors I could come up with each convention so that you didn't have to waste time lookng for them on the websites. Of course, I couldn't possibly list all the rules, policies, panels, guests and programs for each convention so if your interested you can check those out on the con website. I'll try to update this list when new information becomes available, but enough banter... here's the list:
tekkoshocon
March 31-April 1
http://www.tekkoshocon.com/
travel: 4 hours, 54 minutes
Pre-registration by 3/15/06: $40 (3 day pass)
At-the-door:
Friday-Only $25.00
Saturday-Only $30.00
Sunday-Only $20.00
Weekend $45.00
Hotel: SOLD OUT Radisson Hotel Pittsburgh (would need to rearch nearby hotels)
Costuming?: Cosplay, Hallroom costuming
General Thoughts: Sounds like a pretty good con. Pre-registration is a bit pricey and the nearby hotel is sold out. Any chance the costumes will be done by March is pretty slim.
animepunch
March 31- April 2
http://www.animepunch.org/
travel: 6 hours, 15 minutes
Pre-registration by 3/17/06: $25 (Saturday and Sunday)
At-the-door: $35 (Saturday and Sunday)
Hotel: Holiday Inn Columbus/Worthington
$79 per night (must mention anime convention) www.holidayinnworthington.com
Costuming?: Cosplay, Swim Cosplay
General Thoughts: Another March convention, meaning chances of attending are somewhat unlikely. Cosplay contest at a hotel swimming pool!? Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen... It's also quite a drive...
Anime Boston
May 26-28
http://www.animeboston.com/
travel: 6 hours, 25 minutes
Pre-registration by 4/24: $45.00 (3day pass)
At-the-door:
Full Membership (3 days): $50.00
Friday-Only $30
Saturday-Only $30
Sunday-Only $25
Hotels:
Boston Back Bay Hilton, 2 Double Beds $185/night (must request the "Anime Boston 2006" rate)
Sheraton Boston Hotel SOLD OUT
Costuming?: Masquerade, Hall Costume Contest, Cosplay Human Chess, The Anime Dating Game, Cosplay Photo Station, Staff-Vote Costume Contest
General Thoughts: This one is definately on my priority list. The panels, guests, and programs all sound pretty cool, and who wouldn't want to play a round of human chess? The nearby hotel rates are pretty scary, but perhaps a little research could find a less expensive one?
Anime North
http://www.animenorth.com/
travel: 2 hours, 54 minutes
Pre-registration:
Until March 17 - $35 CDN, $30 US
From March 18 to April 21: $45 CDN, $40 US
At-the-door:
Weekend admission $45.00 CDN, $40 US
Friday-only $25.00 CDN, $22 US
Saturday-only $30.00 CDN, $26 US 9
Sunday-only $25.00 CDN, $22 US 10
Hotel: MUST use the group/convention code AME in order to book a room
Rates
Single/Double: $120/night Single/double room (1 to 2 people)
Triple: $140/night Triple room (3 people)
Quad: $160/night Quad room (4 people)
Costuming?: Not yet available
General Thoughts: A small yet fun, close by convention. Unfortuately, it's the same weekend as Anime Boston, and I'd much rather be there.
animenext
June 16-18
http://www.animenext.org/
travel: 5 hours, 44 minutes
Pre-registration:
3-day (before Apr 1) $35
3-day (before June 1) $40
At-the-door:
3-day $50
Friday-only $25
Saturday-only $35
Sunday-only $25
Hotels: (mention AnimeNEXT for rates)
Holiday Inn Meadowlands $109 per night (1-2 people)
Amerisuites $119 per night (1-2 people)
Embassy Suites $175 per night (1-4 people)
Courtyard by Marriott $119 per night (1-2 people)
Costuming?: Masquerade, Hall Cosplay Contest, Live Action Role Play
General Thoughts: Not far from NYC, this one seems like a good possibility. June is usually a really stressful, busy time of the year.
The Garden City Anime Festival
July 14-16
http://www.gcaf.org/
travel: 1 hour, 48 minutes
Pre-registration:
(Canadian) $25
(American) $21
At-the-door:
(Canadian) $35 Weekend, $20 Day
(American) $28 Weekend, $16 Day
Hotels: QUALITY HOTEL from $109 to $119 (Canadian) (GARDEN CITY ANIME FESTIVAL rate)
Costuming?: MASQUERADE, Cosplay Feud, Cosplay Limbo, Cosplay Volleyball, Cosplay Twister, Cosplay Auction
General Thoughts: A small convention, but also very close. There's a lot of costume related activites that I've never seen done at other cons, might be worth checking out.
Northern Anime
July 22
http://www.northernanime.ca/
travel: 3 hours, 45 minutes
Pre-registration:
Mail-in Registration
Before 4/31 $15.00, after 4/31 $17.00 (Canadian)
Online Registration
Before 4/31 $15.00, after 4/31 $18.50 (Canadian)
At-the-door: $20.00 (Canadian)
Hotel: not listed...
Costuming?: Masquerade/Skit Contest
General Thoughts: Another small, collage-run con, this one being only one day. Limited information is available for this year's con.
otakon
August 4-6
http://www.otakon.com/
travel: 6 hours, 25 minutes
Pre-registration:
before 7/24 $50, after 7/24 $60
At-the-door: $60
Hotels: there's a lot, so just go here for the list: http://www.otakon.com/hotels.asp
Costuming?: Not mentioned but there's bound to be a Masquerade and a few other events
General Thoughts: Here it is folks, the big one (at least as far as East Coast cons are concerned). Last year over 23,000 people attended, and it's expected to be even more popular this year (although there has been some upset over their new stricter fanart policy). I'd love to go, but it might be a bit overwhelming for a first con... we'll see.
Canadian National Anime Expo
September 1-3
http://www.hobbystar.com/ComicConToronto2006/CC_Main.asp
Travel: 2 hours 58 minutes
Pre-registration: not available to July 1st
At-the-door: not yet listed
Hotels: Intercontinental Toronto Centre website (mention Canadian National Expo)
$169 / night CDN
$140 / night USD
Costuming?: Masquerade and probably a hall costume contest
General Thoughts: This a large expo covering comic books, sci-fi, horror, anime, and gaming. I think there's a general pass that covers the entire expo or a special rate if you only want to attend one area.
Bakuretsu Con
November 3-5
http://www.bakuretsucon.org/
travel: 6 hours, 32 minutes
Pre-registration: coming soon
At-the-door: not yet listed
Hotels: Not yet listed
Costuming? Cosplay Contest, Live Action Role-Play
General Thoughts: Information is very limited but I'll keep an eye on this one as conventions this late in the season are hard to come by.
tekkoshocon
March 31-April 1
http://www.tekkoshocon.com/
travel: 4 hours, 54 minutes
Pre-registration by 3/15/06: $40 (3 day pass)
At-the-door:
Friday-Only $25.00
Saturday-Only $30.00
Sunday-Only $20.00
Weekend $45.00
Hotel: SOLD OUT Radisson Hotel Pittsburgh (would need to rearch nearby hotels)
Costuming?: Cosplay, Hallroom costuming
General Thoughts: Sounds like a pretty good con. Pre-registration is a bit pricey and the nearby hotel is sold out. Any chance the costumes will be done by March is pretty slim.
animepunch
March 31- April 2
http://www.animepunch.org/
travel: 6 hours, 15 minutes
Pre-registration by 3/17/06: $25 (Saturday and Sunday)
At-the-door: $35 (Saturday and Sunday)
Hotel: Holiday Inn Columbus/Worthington
$79 per night (must mention anime convention) www.holidayinnworthington.com
Costuming?: Cosplay, Swim Cosplay
General Thoughts: Another March convention, meaning chances of attending are somewhat unlikely. Cosplay contest at a hotel swimming pool!? Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen... It's also quite a drive...
Anime Boston
May 26-28
http://www.animeboston.com/
travel: 6 hours, 25 minutes
Pre-registration by 4/24: $45.00 (3day pass)
At-the-door:
Full Membership (3 days): $50.00
Friday-Only $30
Saturday-Only $30
Sunday-Only $25
Hotels:
Boston Back Bay Hilton, 2 Double Beds $185/night (must request the "Anime Boston 2006" rate)
Sheraton Boston Hotel SOLD OUT
Costuming?: Masquerade, Hall Costume Contest, Cosplay Human Chess, The Anime Dating Game, Cosplay Photo Station, Staff-Vote Costume Contest
General Thoughts: This one is definately on my priority list. The panels, guests, and programs all sound pretty cool, and who wouldn't want to play a round of human chess? The nearby hotel rates are pretty scary, but perhaps a little research could find a less expensive one?
Anime North
http://www.animenorth.com/
travel: 2 hours, 54 minutes
Pre-registration:
Until March 17 - $35 CDN, $30 US
From March 18 to April 21: $45 CDN, $40 US
At-the-door:
Weekend admission $45.00 CDN, $40 US
Friday-only $25.00 CDN, $22 US
Saturday-only $30.00 CDN, $26 US 9
Sunday-only $25.00 CDN, $22 US 10
Hotel: MUST use the group/convention code AME in order to book a room
Rates
Single/Double: $120/night Single/double room (1 to 2 people)
Triple: $140/night Triple room (3 people)
Quad: $160/night Quad room (4 people)
Costuming?: Not yet available
General Thoughts: A small yet fun, close by convention. Unfortuately, it's the same weekend as Anime Boston, and I'd much rather be there.
animenext
June 16-18
http://www.animenext.org/
travel: 5 hours, 44 minutes
Pre-registration:
3-day (before Apr 1) $35
3-day (before June 1) $40
At-the-door:
3-day $50
Friday-only $25
Saturday-only $35
Sunday-only $25
Hotels: (mention AnimeNEXT for rates)
Holiday Inn Meadowlands $109 per night (1-2 people)
Amerisuites $119 per night (1-2 people)
Embassy Suites $175 per night (1-4 people)
Courtyard by Marriott $119 per night (1-2 people)
Costuming?: Masquerade, Hall Cosplay Contest, Live Action Role Play
General Thoughts: Not far from NYC, this one seems like a good possibility. June is usually a really stressful, busy time of the year.
The Garden City Anime Festival
July 14-16
http://www.gcaf.org/
travel: 1 hour, 48 minutes
Pre-registration:
(Canadian) $25
(American) $21
At-the-door:
(Canadian) $35 Weekend, $20 Day
(American) $28 Weekend, $16 Day
Hotels: QUALITY HOTEL from $109 to $119 (Canadian) (GARDEN CITY ANIME FESTIVAL rate)
Costuming?: MASQUERADE, Cosplay Feud, Cosplay Limbo, Cosplay Volleyball, Cosplay Twister, Cosplay Auction
General Thoughts: A small convention, but also very close. There's a lot of costume related activites that I've never seen done at other cons, might be worth checking out.
Northern Anime
July 22
http://www.northernanime.ca/
travel: 3 hours, 45 minutes
Pre-registration:
Mail-in Registration
Before 4/31 $15.00, after 4/31 $17.00 (Canadian)
Online Registration
Before 4/31 $15.00, after 4/31 $18.50 (Canadian)
At-the-door: $20.00 (Canadian)
Hotel: not listed...
Costuming?: Masquerade/Skit Contest
General Thoughts: Another small, collage-run con, this one being only one day. Limited information is available for this year's con.
otakon
August 4-6
http://www.otakon.com/
travel: 6 hours, 25 minutes
Pre-registration:
before 7/24 $50, after 7/24 $60
At-the-door: $60
Hotels: there's a lot, so just go here for the list: http://www.otakon.com/hotels.asp
Costuming?: Not mentioned but there's bound to be a Masquerade and a few other events
General Thoughts: Here it is folks, the big one (at least as far as East Coast cons are concerned). Last year over 23,000 people attended, and it's expected to be even more popular this year (although there has been some upset over their new stricter fanart policy). I'd love to go, but it might be a bit overwhelming for a first con... we'll see.
Canadian National Anime Expo
September 1-3
http://www.hobbystar.com/ComicConToronto2006/CC_Main.asp
Travel: 2 hours 58 minutes
Pre-registration: not available to July 1st
At-the-door: not yet listed
Hotels: Intercontinental Toronto Centre website (mention Canadian National Expo)
$169 / night CDN
$140 / night USD
Costuming?: Masquerade and probably a hall costume contest
General Thoughts: This a large expo covering comic books, sci-fi, horror, anime, and gaming. I think there's a general pass that covers the entire expo or a special rate if you only want to attend one area.
Bakuretsu Con
November 3-5
http://www.bakuretsucon.org/
travel: 6 hours, 32 minutes
Pre-registration: coming soon
At-the-door: not yet listed
Hotels: Not yet listed
Costuming? Cosplay Contest, Live Action Role-Play
General Thoughts: Information is very limited but I'll keep an eye on this one as conventions this late in the season are hard to come by.