Heroes & Villains Fan Fest 2015

One of the best things about a new convention is not knowing what to expect - will it be crowded or small? Active or uneventful? How will they utilize the space? It’s a joy to learn the answers to all these questions, and to see what the con will bring. So it was with an open mind and optimism that I went to Heroes & Villains Fan Fest in San Jose.

Matthew Reports: SacCon October 2015

When SacAnime moved to the Sacramento Convention Center, I was hoping that SacCon - its parent convention - would make the same move too as well. But after January 2013, the convention was still at the Scottish Rite Center until this year when it finally made the move but not to the convention center. Instead, they went north to the McClellan Conference Center.

Nate Reports: J-Pop Summit 2015

This summer has been such a ride for me. I mean with a great time at this year's FanimeCon and my return to Anime Expo after two years, it has been such an exciting summer this year. And who knew that the ride would take me back home for this year's JPop Summit. As a fan of JPop music, I was happy to check out this year summit. But there were a lot of changes that had to take part in order for this JPop summit to happen. Let's just hope these changes gave a significant improvement from JPop Summits of previous years.

Ray Reports: TouhouCon 2015!

So, I skipped two California conventions I've previously been to this past summer, Anime Expo and Sac-Anime. Part of this is to save money for a convention I've been wanting to attend for over a year.

Said convention is TouhouCon, a convention based in Southern California centered around Touhou Project.

Before we get into the actual report of this convention, a little elaboration is in order for those who are unfamiliar with Touhou.

Kraken Con Fall 2015: Robbie's Report

This was bound to be a unique Kraken Con from the get-go, and it most certainly was. This Autumn’s Kraken Con was held on the USS Hornet Museum, making for a new and different convention experience that will be remembered fondly for a long while.

Sac Anime Summer 2015: Robbie's Report

The lead-up to this Sac Anime was full of excitement and anticipation, with a bevy of fantastic guests announced. Actors from Futurama, Legend of Korra, Power Rangers, and more were due to be in attendance, so I was anticipating a great convention. Sac Anime had been an enjoyable convention in previous years, although a change in staff and management meant anything could happen. So let’s see what did.

Convention Eats: Raku Sushi/Coin-Op Game Room

Convention Eats: Raku Sushi

Location:  805 Harbor Blvd, West Sacramento, CA 95691

Cuisine: Japanese/Sushi

The front of Raku Sushi. (Photo Credit: KCRA A-List) Note: Photo is outdated as restaurant has moved across the street

If there's one thing Sacramento has plenty of, it's sushi restaurants. From Roseville to Folsom to Downtown Sacramento to Elk Grove, the region is littered these types of restaurants. SacAnime is close to two sushi/Japanese restaurants: Mikuni's (very upscale) and Bento Box (not that upscale but still good).

But if you want to take your sushi game to the next level, there's the buffet sushi restaurants.

Conventions Eats: Tako Korean BBQ

Conventions Eats: Tako Korean BBQ

Location: 3030 T St, Sacramento, CA 95816

Cuisine: Korean/Mexican Fusion

(Photo Credit: Rick Keller Photography & PoVimaging)

Op-Ed: Ghosting

NOTE: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the California Conventions Blog.

The view from the Sacramento Convention Center 2nd Floor Terrance, before they restricted access to this spot at the Winter 2015 show

Op-Ed: Airsoft

NOTE: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the California Conventions Blog.

Also, the contents of this Op-Ed contains strong subject manner. Reader discretion is advised.

My photo shoot of Jonah from Jormungand at Wizard World Sacramento 2014. (Photo Credit: Yiu Ma Photogrpahy)

Back when I did my three Jonah photo shoots - Kintoki-Con and SacAnime Summer 2013 and Wizard World Sacramento 2014 - I had to be very smart about how I carried my props because as you can see, it looks almost like a real FN P90 with a holographic sight, something you would see special forces use. For the most part, I followed policy that most airsoft stores, ranges, and fields would use: carry your airsoft in gun bags (or in my case, a backpack) and used them only when you were ready to. They took zero tolerance to those who would carry them without a bag.

But then two things happened in the past year or so: conventions started to crack down on airsoft, and Ferguson.

Anime Expo 2015 Day Negative Zero and Day Zero - I'm Coming Home

I'm coming home/I'm coming home/Tell the world I'm coming home/Let the rain wash away all the pain of yesterday/And though my kingdom awaits, they'd forgiven me for my mistakes/I'm coming... home!

Diddy-Dirty Money - Coming Home (ft. Skylar Grey)

Wizard World Sacramento 2015

There’s one place in Sacramento I find myself going to multiple times a year: the Sacramento Convention Center. Normally it’s for Sac Anime, but this time around I was there for Wizard World Sacramento, for the convention’s second year. So, how did it go? Read on and we’ll take a look at the weekend of comics and cosplay.

Nate's Report: Fanimecon 2015 (Part 2)

Sorry for the delay everyone, but here is my 2nd part to my Fanime 2015 report!

Fanime 2015: Robbie's Report (Part 2: Sun-Mon)

Now then, before I can begin my report on the latest con, I still have a bit more of Fanime to finish reporting on. So, onwards to Sunday!

Fanime 2015: Robbie's Report (Part 1: Thur-Sat)

Ah, Fanime, one of the biggest anime conventions on this side of the state. With the construction long since finished and LineCon resolved, I was looking forward to this year’s convention. So without further ado, let’s take a look at how it went.

Ray Reports: Fanime(Con) 2015

As of this writing, I have attended ten years of Fanime. To think that I started attending in 2006, going for only three days and with no cosplay. It has become a staple of my yearly calendar, with me setting every Memorial Day weekend aside to attend Northern California's largest convention, almost always getting crash space to spend Thursday night through Monday morning in.

This year was a little unusual, in that budgetary limitations and hype for Anime Expo (which I'm sadly no longer attending; see below) required me to compromise a little. In the end I only had a room from Saturday night through Monday morning. Regardless, I strove to make the best ouf of the convention, even if being a "commuter" altered my view of the convention.

Nate's Report: Fanimecon 2015 (Part 1)

It’s the beginning of May and you check your Facebook. You end up seeing people working on costumes, putting up their cosplay plans, good food places, and a big feed of posts counting down to the big event. And soon you see yourself doing the same thing, working all around the clock to get everything done before the countdown goes to zero. The day comes when the event starts, you end up tired, but still hyped as it is beginning!

That was pretty much everyone who was attending Fanimecon. Everyone was finishing up their cosplays before the con starts and it didn’t help much knowing that there’s that one dude that counts down all the days before the convention begins. But amidst all of the last minute works, me and all of the attendees are hyped as ever that the wait is over. Fanimecon 2015 has begun and we can’t wait to see what they have this year!

Tally's Fanime 2015 Review

It's been a while, readers. I apologize for absence.
So, to make up for my absence, I will give you my review on FanimeCon 2015.

Since the last time I ventured to Fanime in San Jose, California, the convention area had changed. By convention area, I mean the layout. It's bigger than before, which is a plus in my book. Cleaner. No fountain in the way, despite how beautiful it looked. The added space was clean, in tact and perfect for gatherings. That is a plus one in my book.

Fanime 2015 Review by Lucas

Hello everyone, here is my review for Fanime 2015, hope you enjoy!

To begin, let me start off by saying that Fanime was a blast this year, and I really hope to come back again! One of the most difficult things about conventions, this one in particular was trying to do a little bit of everything. The nice thing about it is that there is a little something for everyone, but you really need to pick and choose. I’m going to do an overall review of the convention and point out various aspects in detail rather than detail the convention day by day.

Nate's Report: Krakencon Spring 2015

Well it has been a while since I attended a convention, in fact the last con I went to was Animation on Display and that was in January! Along with other cosplay events to pass the time, we are in the month on April where another convention comes into light with Krakencon Spring! For Krakencon, it looks to bring in many attendees after a long break of anime conventions in the bay area plus a prep for a much bigger convention that starts a month later (Fanimecon). Let’s see if Krakencon showcased a big impression for both me and the other attendees.

Convention Eats: Squeeze Inn, Sacramento, CA

Convention Eats: Squeeze Inn

Location: 1630 K Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

Cuisine: American

From Squeeze Inn's website

Back at SacAnime Summer 2014, the majority of the people that I was with were from the Bay Area and had vaguely heard of Squeeze Inn for its legendary cheeseburger that consisted of a "cheese skirt."

By the time their order had come out, they were in for a treat - and a shock.

Big Wow! ComicFest 2015

This review may be a tad bit late, but considering my Big Wow reviews are usually posted close to Fanime anyways, I’m going to forgive myself for my tardiness. However, Big Wow! ComicFest this year was not too close to Fanime, being set instead at the same time as Star Wars Celebration and the San Francisco Cherry Blossom Festival. As such, in order to attend both Big Wow and CBF, my report will only cover Saturday, but it was a day well spent.

Nate's Report: Krakencon Spring 2015 Preview

It is nearly the beginning of May, which means the beginning of summer, which also means another summer of awesome anime conventions that fans will be attending to. But before the con season begins, there are the cons that are there to prep you up for the season and one of them is what I’ll be attending to this weekend and that’s Krakencon!

Back when the first Krakencon in 2013 where the gaming section was just 4 TVs

Star Wars Celebration 7

By Lucas Chang

This past weekend, April 16^th-19^th was Star Wars Celebration 7, and growing up on Star Wars, I had to attend this at least once.  So far, most of my reviews have been about Anime conventions, and a couple for Wondercon.  So this review will be a bit different than my previous reviews.

Animation On Display 2015: Robbie's Report

While I started the year with Sac Anime, I ended the month with Animation on Display (AOD), the latest iteration of the first convention I attended. Like last year, it was located in the SFO Hyatt, which proved to be a great location for the con, though not so much for getting food. Let’s look at how it went.

Ryan's Review of Taiyou Con 2015: Final Days and Final Thoughts (Changing Me)

"Like all good things....they have to end, right?"

Me in the hotel room Monday morning.

Ryan Reviews Day 3 Of Taiyou Con 2015 (Kimi no Kioku/Memories Of You)

It was those final day blues that every con-goer would know of...

Ryan's Review of Taiyou Con 2015 Part 2 (Beauty Of Destiny)

Many hours had lapsed as we all slept like babies, some would not sleep in anticipation for what beheld us in those few short hours.

Convention Eats: Pieology, Sacramento, CA

Conventions Eats: Pieology Pizzeria

Location: 1020 16th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

Cuisine: Pizza

I found out about this spot not during SacAnime, but from a post from Sacramento State's ASI Facebook post titled "10 Eats For Under $10." I had some time to check out this spot, which is about an average walk compared to other eateries down 16th Street. Some call it the "Chipotle of Pizza," and that sounds about right.

Matthew's Taiyou Con 2015 Review: Part 4 - Post-Con & Closing Thoughts

My copy of Carpe Diem packed away as we load up to leave Mesa.

Ryan's Prologue and Review of Day 1 at Taiyou Con (Sky's The Limit)

Prologue

Matthew's Taiyou Con 2015 Review: Part 3 - Day Three

By the time Sunday morning came, we were still hung over from the concert last night. And up on deck for today was the Lotus Juice solo concert and the private meet and greet for the VIP ticket holders, which three of the four people in the room had.

Matthew's Taiyou Con 2015 Review: Part 2 - Day Two

Matthew's Taiyou Con 2015 Review: Part 1 - Prologue + Day Zero + Day One

At first, I thought that this was going to be an ordinary trip to an out-of-state anime convention while taking some time off from work. But by the time both Ryan and I arrived back in Sacramento on 19th of January, we realized that it was more than ordinary; this was a journey that none of us would forget.

Ray Reports: Sac-Anime Winter 2015

I've gone over Sac-Anime at the Sacramento Convention Center twice before, so I'll stick to what makes this particular iteration stand out, as well as the usual food spot recommendations.

Sac Anime Winter 2015: Robbie's Report

As always, the new year and new con season kicked off with Sac Anime, and you can believe I was there to enjoy it. Those who’ve been following the blog know the drill by now, so let’s take a look and see how it went!

Ryan's Pre-Review of Taiyou Con 2015 (A Heartful Cry)

Hey guys its the start of the new year and you know what that means am I right?!

It's the start of con season again and man what alot of opportunity we got coming out the gates.
Sac-Winter, ALA, Otakon Vegas, and  AOD. But then again I'm not forgetting a big contender in the running's this year, Thats right I'm talking about Taiyou Con!

Matthew's Taiyou Con 2015 Review: Part 0.5 - Preview

Before I continue on with this preview, how many of you have seen this commercial?


I came across this while doing back research on Taiyou Con. If you vaguely remember that tune, you're not alone. The commerical is a paraody of the Montgomery Flea Market commercial (as shown below).