Glimpse of Yesterday · 1:46pm Aug 28th, 2022
As a reminder, I’m at Everfree Northwest and thus this week’s card blog will be delayed. Here are some snippets of the con thus far to tide you over:
I sit in the lobby, having arrived long before housekeeping has prepped my room. Tinkling keyboard music provides a background as I catch up on what I missed during my flight. The music stops, and I realize someone nearby had been playing it. One of his friends hands me a sticker of Rarity giving a sidelong glance over a copy of the Foal Free Press.
A cosplaying cheer squad performs a routine to Dash’s CHS pep rally song in the lobby. The Mane 6 and Trixie perform, with Dash leading and lip syncing. Sunset watches by the speaker, having taken a more managerial position in the group. Trixie has a hat. Applejack does not. The routine feels incomplete without it.
Eating chorizo hash at the in-house brunch restaurant, I listen to someone discuss the Air Force vocational school to a guy with Anonfilly tattoos covering his left biceps. A server walks by, guiding a man with tattered wings and a Chrysalis plushie to their table. Classic Tom & Jerry cartoons play on mute, and I wonder if they would normally on a Saturday morning or if this is part of the hotel trying to accomodate us. Admiral Biscuit is three tables down, dining with Rescue Sunstreak. If either notices me, neither says anything.
A man walks through the lobby with a leaf blower. I experience a moment of uncertainty as I wonder if this is obscure cosplay or just a man who wandered into Equestria-on-Earth while just doing his job.
I spot Monochromatic’s Pikachu hat from across the lobby. By the time I get to her, she and her entourage have already left, presumably making their way to the vendor hall. I do get to greet Bookish Delight and Shaxbert, though.
A Sonata Dusk cosplayer sits in a chair, staring into the middle distance in the stupor of the decaffeinated. Fins decorate the straps of her mask and the ankles of her glittering, scaled pants.
I pass a man in the halls of the hotel. Poking out of his bag are Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and a Swedish flag.
I meet a man adjusting the 3D-printed robotic limb that slides over his left arm. He tells me how if you haven’t cursed the suit at least three times, you’re not cosplaying; you’re just dressing up. Privately, I consider it gatekeeping. I still appreciate his dedication and craftsmanship, and thus I nod along, expressing only my appreciation for both.
I stow my backpack in my room to appear relatively normal as several other authors and I go out for lunch. Then I remember that Horizon’s facemask literally says “Furry Trash.”
(In case it isn’t clear, I’m having a wonderful time. These are just some of the experiences that stick out to me.)
There are so many cozy vibes emanating from this post. Sounds like a great start to the con
This is one of those ephemeral mysteries, a fleeting thought for something that’s not supposed to be paid attention to. And now, I will also wonder whether it’s an intentional kindness or not for far longer than is reasonable, and make no effort to find the answer as ephemeral inconsequential mysteries ought not to be solved.
That all sounds lovely, and the cozy nostalgic feel really comes through from the mix of experiences and familiar faces. Whatever Brony conventions are nowhere near as big as they used to be, they still seem to be plenty sizeable* and packing in what makes them great for so many.
* I recall Everfree Northwest saying on Twitter last year that EFNW 2021 had attendance of 1,600-odd people. Thus, based on restrictions and lockdown climate being far less oppressive now, I'm guessing attendance between 2,000-2,500 for this year.
Me, I'll be heading to only my second pony con in October for UK PonyCon, and that's firmly a close-to-1000-in-attendance con, and more all-gens, family-friendly. But of a different beast, though somewhat more to my tastes, frankly.
We have got to meet at a con together at some point. First time either of us actually manages to attend one on the opposite side of the pool*, though I think that might be easier for you to do. Reading this is already getting me itching for whatever one I'll go to next, which will probably end up being Epona23. Still sad I couldn't make it to Gala. Enjoy yourself there.
*Realistically speaking you can't really justify crossing the ocean just for a two day event, so it would probably be as part of a ~week-long / 2week trip that happened to have the con in the middle of it.
When I still had the time and money to do cons I found smaller ones more enjoyable to mega cons with 80k plus attendees.
Well, ponies are fuzzy by default, and I'm pretty sure horizon is a pony. I've heard some rumors to the contrary, but those just sound silly...
Sounds excellent
Ah, cons, the final front- wait, no that's social interaction.
In all seriousness, glad to hear it's still fun. Personally, I don't think I could survive a pony con, in several senses of the word.
Sounds like a fun time! Meanwhile I'm just chilling at home, playing Wixoss at my LGS and Lancer this afternoon.
5682380
He's legally considered an undisguised changeling at this point, and it's treated as an endearing character quirk that he still thinks he's fooling anypony.
aww ty for sharing these so i may be there vicariously, FoME
I have not seen you at the con to say hi! I would like to do so!
I hear your epic facial hair has gone absent.
lol wow
At least there wasn’t a fire alarm mishap this year, eh?
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We got the mandatory convention fire drill out of the way on Thursday this year, before the con officially started.
Great seeing you there at EFNW, FoME!
Always such an amazing weekend. :)
Glad it sounds like it went well. :)