Totally Legit BABSCon'23 Recap · 4:03pm Apr 16th, 2023
Things have been pretty non-stop IRL ever since I got back last week,
but now I finally have time to put together my pic-tastic recap blog for my trip to:
BABSCon'23
Thursday
I flew out of Boston early Thursday morning. Because I was late to confirming my flight online, I didn't get much choice of a seat. As a result, I got a great view of the wing and the New England spring weather /s.
Still I got to watch the sun rise over the fog at 30,000 ft.
I read a book, watched The Goonies and Shrek, and caught a nap during the seven-hour non-stop flight against the wind to San Francisco. I touched down in time for lunch (west coast time). And being back on the west coast for the first time since 2014, there was only one place I wanted to go.
I've waited nine years and another seven hours to get my goddamn Double-Double!
After eating, I checked into my hotel room with ScarletRibbon. Our room was on the sixth floor on the atrium side. The whole hotel was a big square ring and the atrium was enclosed with a giant skylight. A pity the pool was closed. I had brought my swim trunks too. I had the perfect shirt for the Community Guests meet and greet. By the time I registered, they had already printed the Con book, so I wasn't able to be "officially" added. Oh well.
The line to pre-register Thursday night.
Friday
Look who I found wandering around.
Apparently Shining had gone missing and the door to Twilight's hotel room was locked. 
Later on there was a live-action cosplay chess game. But the two people playing it didn't really know how to play, so I hijacked the panel and won both games of chess in style. (The first of many that weekend.)
Later on that night, I joined the 18+ Toasty Writers panel along with Katrina Salisbury (the VA of Yona), Tony Fleecs, NoWacking, Charlotte Fullerton, and Gillian (G.M.) Berrow. We all got to tell and listen to some funny 18+ stories and Q&A.
After that was the Community Guests panel with Nowacking (again) and DustyKatts.
And then the Mares panel which I also crashed, and we got to present and defend who was best mare.
After that it was off to the After Dark vendor hall, where photos were NOT allowed. Not that I could post any of it here. Also, there were a couple big names in there that I did not expect, on both sides of the tables. But I did post a few pics of the swag on my Discord Server. I got Twilight Sparkles Secret Smutfic Folder, the expansion to the core card game, as well as Cards Against Equestria, a new mouse pad, and a daki that I now have to fight with the wife over since it is so comfortable.
The entire deck is extremely NSFW. I highly recommend it!
The After Dark banner went missing Sunday morning.
I sure hope whoever grabbed it has the perfect place for it above their writing desk. 
Saturday
I bought Tony Fleecs' Stray Dogs, and he signed it at his comic panel, promising that it would absolutely make me cry if I read it on the flight home. (Spoilers: It totally did.)
There was a Plushie Meetup and photo-op.
note the bat-ponies on the ceiling.
There was a cutie mark tattoo artist in the vendor hall.
Sunday
Sunday was more subdued. Between all the panels that weekend there was card games and tabletop games, and of course the hotel parties at night after the 18+ events. But as all good things came to an end there was the Charity Auction where I got a Viking Chess set and caught one of the Queen Quake plushies that got thrown into the crowd.
Mine!
After that was Closing Ceremonies where we all got to do a sing-along with DustyKatts.
After that was the long, six-hour flight home with the wind, back to Boston on Monday, then driving home from the airport, and then trying to sleep while still buzzing on west-coast time. And then getting up early for work Tuesday morning. It's been a busy week and a half hosting judging and hosting another writing contest with Mother's Day just a month away. But it was a great trip and it was good to see everyone!
I like how you look plus nice hat.
After so many years of Covid it's nice to see people having fun together again.
Looks like you had a lot of fun!
These cons always look like such a blast. But I do have a question, I thought the Smutfic expansion to TSSSF was unavailable anymore. When I did a search, all I found were a bunch of links to the art. If anyone could point me to where they're selling physical copies of the expansion, I'd really appreciate it.
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At BABSCon. Come next year.
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I bring the fun!
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Yes indeed!
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So do I! Thank you!
That seems like such a fun venue! I got to attend not only my first MLP con, but my first con in general back in February when my sister and I went to Harmonycon here in Dallas. I definitely recognize that Cadence fursuit from there! It was so fun and I deeply regret not going to one sooner. I’m trying to save up (recent financial ass-kickings) so my sister and I can attend EFNW in august. It’ll count as an early birthday present for her, and just a general treat for the both of us.
I’m glad to see Babscon was a lot of fun! It’s great to see the fandom still so alive and with such love for each other.
Fuck dammit I wish I could’ve gone!
They say you live your best life but I’m pretty sure Shakes is what happens when a whole bunch of peoples’ best lives all come together in one person.
Thanks for all the photos and the commentary it’s not a pony con without you and your awesome recap posts.
Had a lot of fun at the Mares panel, though I'd argue it was a bit more than just arguing over who is the best mare. Also saw your awesome catch in person since you were only a few seats away from me. They really threw a lot of the plushies into the area since I remember the people around getting around 3 - 4 in total.