[Anime North]/One Week and Counting

Well, it's only one week until Canada's premiere anime/Japanese culuture/gaming convention, Anime North, and we'll be there to cover as much of it as we can. Why do we say that? Well...for starters, there's only two of us heading up the Great White North (okay, okay...it's Toronto, not exactly that different) to cover things and unlike some other events we just can't be in that many places at once as easily. If someone has a Tardis we can borrow...let us know! It'd make life so much easier for these things. 

Not only does the convention take up the Toronto Congress Centre but events are also scheduled in the Doubletree International Plaza Hotel, Sheraton, Crowne Plaza, Radisson Suites and Marriott on top of that! Yeah, lots of venues, lots of walking, lots of probably getting lost too as we're not always the best with directions...(Definitely bring the comfy shoes or sandals for this one!)

If you're curious to see the whole schedule and just how they use all this space, check out the con overview page on Anime North's website. There's so much going on and in so many different places that it'd be mad to try and list it all here.

So, instead, here are the things that we'll definitely be trying to cover:

• The convention as a whole, as we experience it
• The JRave on Friday night (featuring DJ Initial P)
• Masquerade
• Skit Contest
• AWOI, Chii Sakurabi and Umbrella concerts
• Maid Cafe "Cafe De*Lish" and Butler Cafe "Cafe Nocturne"
• and of course the Cosplay and general madness of the entire weekend!

Stuff is seriously spread out!

With those things definitely on our list and trying to get through the madness that is 300 vendors tables plus another 250+ artists of varying degree, 24,000+ attendees and six venues of mayhem, it's going to be a very interesting weekend for Carrie and myself. (Plus Canada's Wonderland on Friday before the con for an InsanityLurksInside park review!) Even if we only get to a few of them, I'm sure whatever we get to will be interesting and strange (when are they not, eh?). We're also hoping for another sit down with Chris Cason as well since the last time we got together, at Tekko X-2 in Pittsburgh, was hilarious (some might even say "educational") and getting it on tape this time would be great.

Again, will we get to everything? Probably not, we're only two people after all and we won't run ourselves ragged either, it's just not our way. Regardless of that, we'll get as much as we can to show you all just how crazy and wondrous this event is as we've heard some great things, but we'll see, right?

Now that you've seen a little of what we're looking forward to and maybe checked out their site some, you're probably wondering if you can partake in the madness as well. That, I'm afraid is a bit tricky. At this point the convention is 100% sold out of weekend passes and they have none available at the door. (They have been out for about a week or so now actually.) Sorry on that one if you've been procrastinating. This is a massive event with a very large attendance after all so that shouldn't be too surprising that they've set a limit and it's already been reached.

That said, if you're looking for just checking things out for a day (and you happen to already be in Toronto that weekend), there's still hope yet! Day passes are still available (in limited number) and able to be purchased at the door. How much? Well here ya go:

Friday	$35 CDN / $35 USD
Saturday	$45 CDN / $45 USD
Sunday	$35 CDN / $35 USD

So, there ya have it. We're getting ourselves ready and if anyone out there is going, don't hesitate to hit us up! We're always game to meet up with people and just hang out over coffee, a beer (or both) or just while enjoying the insane mayhem that conventions bring us. See everyone in 7 days!