Otakon 2024 – page 1
Okay, before we go any further, let me be clear that I had a good time at Otakon, I am thoroughly glad I went, and I’m very much looking to head back again next year… but WOW this weekend kicked my butt. Seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever felt my age at a con quite as hard as I did this time around. Summers in DC are not to be taken lightly, to say nothing of just how big and spread out Otakon in particular is. Even as I write this on Monday, my feet are still in considerable pain, and probably will be for the better part of the week. Let this be a lesson to you, kids: at least TRY to get into better shape during the weeks before a big con. I thought I’d at least gotten myself into better walking-around shape, but I was already completely RUINED by Thursday night. Speaking of which, tune in next time to see what I was getting up to before Otakon proper kicked off…
The Convention Center is deceptively huge, if I hadn’t been getting in long walks the past couple of months, I would have been totally done in. I was only there on Saturday and part of Sunday, and I managed to walk a total of almost 11 miles in that time!
I say this as a joke, but it’s honestly pretty close to true that I’ve lived in actual towns smaller than that convention center.
Oh yeah, the Heat Index Friday alone was 108. DC does not play around with that weather.
Not even kidding, I spent my first few months living in DC in an apartment with no AC. In the summer. I still have no idea how I lived long enough to ever move away.
They dropped an interesting bit of info during closing ceremonies for people that didn’t notice it.
In the 30th Anniversary Exhibit area, they drew the layout of the very first Otakon on the floor of the room, at full scale. The first Otakon would literally have entirely fit within the space of that one room. Great example of how big the convention has gotten.
Holy Cow! Yeah, I had no idea about that!
Kicked your ass? When I saw the boot I was expecting Grumbles to walk over you, possibly stomping along the way!
I mean, that would have been accurate as well.