Monday, June 01, 2015

What I Did For Work This Weekend

I mentioned in the comments earlier that I attended Awesome Con in Washington, DC on Saturday. I went with my podcasting colleagues to record our latest episode, focused on technology's impact on entertainment culture. We interviewed several convention-goers, as well as Ming Chen and Bryan Johnson from Kevin Smith's SMODcast network.

It's hard to capture the insane, goofy, good-natured fun of Awesome Con. It was a subculture's joyful yawping celebration of itself. It had speed-dating, took seriously the equality of women, and featured hundreds, if not thousands of people costumed in all manner of fantasy gear - I saw Wolverines, Doctors Who, Lara Crofts (boy, did I), Warios, Wookies, elves, and Spocks, to name a very, very few.

I could've stayed there six hours and not seen half of the incredible sights, but here are a handful of pictures of people being their own damn selves.

This was taken at the magical weapons check-in station, a mandatory stop for convention-goers. Really.

This costume wasn't even in the top 100 most incredible getups I saw.
Sulu was there.

Love wins out.
I went to high school with the guy on the right.
He's on the Prince William County (VA) Board of Supervisors,
and as sweet-spirited a guy as you'll ever want to meet.

28 comments:

TR said...

Rob - you look good in that last picture. Why did you keep the backpack on?

TR said...

That Leicester City incident in Thailand is horrendous on so many levels.

Not sure if you all have seen/read it, but DO NOT look it up on your work PC.

mayhugh said...

Rob - did you dress up? If not, did you feel "underdressed"?

rob said...

i wore a yo gabba gabba t-shirt. there were lots of normally-dressed folks in and amongst the true believers, so i didn't really feel out of place.

and that leicester city shit? what in the hell?

Danimal said...

a week of "firsts" beginning now...
this first first was not planned. sitting at a "vino volo" wine bar, yes, a wine bar in the airport. I like wine. I drink it often but never in an airport for some reason. when you download the vino volo app, just by downloading and registering, you get a $2.00 tasting (this location's tasting is currently Cakebread...) at any and all vino volo locations ANYTIME. that, my friends, is stealin.
the next first: Nashville. have been to a lot of places but Nashville ain't one of 'em. an 8 am meeting tomorrow but no biggie. staying in a hip spot of town from what I hear, so if we've got any Nashville rec's out there, let's hear 'em.
the 3rd first: park city Utah...arrival late tomorrow but will be there all day wed with some work to do obviously but probably close to half a day of dan time. hit me!

Danimal said...

oh I almost forgot...an app called tunity. allows you to listen to your airport bar muted television on your phone or ipad.
today's "danimal travel tips" sponsored by... (bloggers choice)

zman said...

I think these are just a bunch of old photos rob took at the Marketplace circa 1992-1996.

mayhugh said...

Danimal - good place for breakfast is Puckett's Grocery - https://www.puckettsgrocery.com/nashville/index.php. It's either in or in walking distance of the main business district (which, in Nashville, is about 2 blocks up from the bars and music places).

TR said...

I have been cursed by not being able to "unsee" the Leicester City video in Thailand. If I had to rank the top "just plain wrong shit" going on in the video, it would be tough. You'd want to say the slurs are the worst thing, but they're not surprising, considering the background and entitlement of the players. The arguably worst thing is the position the dude got into to allow a woman to do a specific thing. The second worst thing? Allowing/encouraging your mate to film it. The third worst? Doing that at all. The fourth worst? Doing that with a bunch of your bros in the room. The fifth worst? Happily being filmed while knowing your dad was the MANAGER. And on it goes...

Sorry to rehash such a gross thing, but it was one of the more disturbing things I've seen since in a while.

Danimal said...

Read the story....won't be watching video.

Currently in my 3rd honky tonk of the night...hangin out w a couple of Eric Church roadies.

Danimal said...

4th spot....layla's....had to come in bc it is bluegrass after all. As of 3 seconds ago I was the only one at the bar. Miller High Life. $4.50?!

Mark said...

Biscuit Love is a really good spot in Nashville. They serve...biscuits. Lots of varieties. The Pharmacy has tons of beer, good drinks and burgers.

It's a bit out of the way but Prince's Hot Chicken is worth the trip. Hot Chicken is a Nashville specialty. Prince's is the originator.

Danimal said...

Fan of nashville. Hi Gheorghies.

T.J. said...

what azi said

Mark said...

This past November was my first and only trip to Nashville. I dug it. I'd like to go back again as this trip was a short Friday afternoon to Sunday Gator Football road trip.

mayhugh said...

Big fan of Nashville and Charlotte. They are both easily accessible, small enough to get around but a lot of options for what to do at night.

zman said...

Like my johnson.

Clarence said...

Thanks, Slider.

Danimal said...

HaYUGE fan of this town and all I was able to experience were the touristy joints. But had a f'ing ball last night and was flying completely solo. Banged up like a mofo though so am paying the penance.
Ate near my hotel at a joint called Whisky Grille (I think that's the name) before heading out, out. Our waitress is the backup signer for Tom Keifer, formerly of Cinderella. Good girl, former AI (season 10) singer. One of the Winger brothers is also in the band. Fuck yeah.

zman said...

Only the penitent man shall pass.

T.J. said...

Blatter Relieves Himself. #AdiosSepp

Clarence said...

Sepp is Swiss, more specifically a resident of Zurich, so it should probably be #UfWiderluegeSepp

zman said...

And #UfWiderluegeRoger. I still can't believe Nadal and Djokovic have to play each other in the quarters. These two play epic, epic matches against each other. This should be the final.

Clarence said...

This chap Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is impressive today. He's been lazy in stints, but he looks to be a bit of a beast.

Danimal said...

Just made biscuit love. Need a nappy.

zman said...

You hit the nail on the head. Tsonga is frustratingly inconsistent. When he's on he can beat anyone (he beat Federer at Wimbledon). But he's rarely on for an entire match. He seems to give no fucks at all on one point, then plays balls out the next, but he's French so it's likely a cultural thing.

Mark said...

Biscuit Love will do that, Danimal. Totally worth it though.

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