Saturday is going to be the most busy day. We woke up feeling refreshed and hungry. For a cheap start, we went to McDonald’s for breakfast, but it filled us up. Afterward, we made a stop at Walgreens to pick up some supplies. On the way there, Joe finally called and told us he was at the convention center. As far as we know, her was getting is badge. When we finished at Walgreens, we took the scenic route back on Market Street.

When we got back to the convention center, Joe was already waiting for us at the front of the fountains. He was already doing his job...taking cosplay pictures. That’s why we voted him as the club photographer. We stuck around the front for a little bit and we decided to go to the dealers hall. There was nothing new, except a lot more people. There was still actually a line to get in since it was still the morning hours. I browsed around for a bit then Joe and I went to the back area to sit down to chill. I took a little break while Joe got back up and went around shopping. Lawrence and Richard were also shopping, but I think Lawrence was looking around for more deals. We regrouped shortly after.

We were on our way to the Cosplay Posing panel in the Hilton. I thought that the panel was at the Marriott end of the convention center only to realize I was wrong. So we made a B-line to the HIlton. The Cosplay panel was a quarter done. For the remaining 45 minutes, we stayed and listened. The rest of the panel was very interesting. They were talking about how to do poses, correct the poses and gave a lot of tips for would-be photographers.

The next panel we went to was the Broccoli Entertainment panel. It was okay and somewhat interesting. We learned about the new products that will coming out. The next major release is Cosmode USA. Cosmode USA a parallel magazine to the Japanese version featuring cosplayers. Jon Kung, the marketing directior, also said the 20% of the magazine will feature American cosplayers. It will be out by late July, but a small shipment will be made in time Anime Expo in Los Angeles this July. “sola” from the “sola Project” will also premier as a manga of the anime this coming late July. I missed what was premiering next, but after that a manga, “Honoka, Level Up” will premier in August. After the announcements, Jon was taking questions and answers from the crowd and asking what licenses they might get.



After the panels, we made the B-line to the Loli-Goth Fashion Show at Stage Zero. We took the express route, underneath the concourse, to get the the stage that sooner. We stuck around for a little bit until the crowd got to much. This wasn’t for us. Next was Artist Alley. We just walked around browsing at all the artwork. I do admit that a lot of the art was art gallery quality even though they were amateurs.



When we finished Artist Alley, we went back outside to meet Alex and Tami to have a late lunch/early dinner. We were an hour early, but we made up for it by taking a lot more pictures. While we were taking pictures, some religious radicals showed up in front of the convention center. They were trying to convince con-goers of their evils. Soon after, a cosplayer who came as Jesus came out of the convention center to meet the radicals. It became a big mess. All the con-goers were chanting “Jesus, Jesus” over and over again. Cosplay Jesus stepped on a pedestal and the crowd became more animate. A Wolfwood cosplayer, from Cowboy Beebop, also showed up to preach his version of “the way.” It was just plain hilarious what happened...I guess to some people. Even some parents of some con-goers that were sitting nearby gawked at the those religious radicals. The event that turned in favor to the radicals are when some congoers who cosplayed Spartans (300) showed up and started poking cosplay Jesus. It was just bad taste for them to show up. I didn’t know the whole story of what happend, but that event was just... Eventually the local law enforcement came by to break up the crowd. It’s a good thing that everyone dispersed quickly. We all know how hardheaded “otaku” could be!

Alex and Tami met up with us after they spotted Joe and Richard. Since there was more of us, we couldn’t stick to our original plan. Instead, we walked down Market Street to find a restaurant to eat in. While we were walking, we found Gordon Biersch. Instead of eating inside the restaurant in which we had to wait 20 or more minutes, we ate outside in the patio instead. The seasonal beer they offered was excellent. It went down real smooth. The restaurant prices were average for food of that caliber.



When we finished, we saw the long, long masquerade line across Market Street. We got in line across the street. Alex and Tami went back to their hotel for a little bit and came back in line. Richard went back to the hotel while Lawrence and Joe went to take pictures down the line. I was holding the spot while I write this blog. I was getting real cold. Richard was supposed to get my jacket, but the line started to move so he stayed in.



Luckily we got to go to the balcony section of the masquerade. I set the video camera and recorded the entire masquerade, from the pre-show, the fashion show and all 46 skits. Damn it was long. But it was okay, it wasn’t too great. There was a combination of good, okay, and some excellent skits. I do believe that two of the skits were non-anime. They were doing skits on Avatar. WTF!!!! This isn’t a Nickolodeon con. It’s an anime con and Avatar IS NOT ANIME. IT IS ANIME-LIKE!!!! Get through your heads you clueless newbies!!!! We stuck around until they asked us to move out. They were announcing the award to the skits. We left the auditorium and went back to the convention center. Richard came down from the room to give me my jacket. We went inside the convention center to see what’s going on, but Alex and Tami left soon after when we sent into the gaming hall. Afterward, we wandered aimlessly and went back to the room. That’s the end of day 2. We only went to the room once today therefore no timely blog. Richard and Joe went to watch videos and hentai. Lawrence and I went to go watch JPOP/JROCK videos.