Slog - Comments on An Offer I Couldn't Refuse http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse What was I supposed to do when my friend Trent texted me on Saturday, around noon, asking me if I wanted to buy a pint of Monarch Rum, put it in a Coke bottle, and walk down to the Convention Center to gawk at Sakura-Con? You can't say no to that shit. Sakura-Con hits Seattle once a year. It's the oldest and most well-attended anime convention in the Northwest. It's ten years old. You can always tell it's here if you walk downtown and you see high school kids in costumes. Crazy costumes. Costumes that they all had to make,... Copyright 2008 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 12:10:03 -0800 Wed, 11 Apr 2007 12:49:44 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Max Solomon dude looks dead on charlie chaplin

]]> Max Solomon http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690628 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690628 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 12:32:07 -0800 Comment by kt thanks ari!!

]]> kt http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690632 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690632 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 12:40:35 -0800 Comment by SkylarP I do so hate to expose my geekiness for all the world to see, but that, my friend, is no Boba Fett. Clearly, it's Jango Fett, Boba's father/clone/mentor from Episode II. Note the blue jumpsuit and lack of dents and scratches in the armor.

Sigh. I wish I could go to Sakura-Con. ;)

]]> SkylarP http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690634 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690634 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 12:42:03 -0800 Comment by SkylarP Darn, the post was edited before my snarky comment was posted. Curses!

]]> SkylarP http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690638 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690638 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 12:46:49 -0800 Comment by Monique I too enjoyed the geek watching on Saturday. I got a sweet pic of a girl dressed up like Kitana from Mortal Kombat...=D

]]> Monique http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690642 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690642 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 12:51:48 -0800 Comment by Ari Spool Haha, yeah, I got a call from our receptionist telling me I was wrong, wrong, wrong. It sucks, because that was the one thing I was actually familiar with!

]]> Ari Spool http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690643 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690643 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 12:51:50 -0800 Comment by Ari Spool Hey #5, we got a picture with that girl, too, but on film not digital, so it can't go online. She was very stoic.

]]> Ari Spool http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690644 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690644 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 12:52:54 -0800 Comment by The_Pope_Of_Chili_Town How much do you want to bet that of the few adults there a good 85% of them were violating some court order regarding their proximity to minors?

]]> The_Pope_Of_Chili_Town http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690649 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690649 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 12:56:57 -0800 Comment by Whatevs IS there a more genuine person in Seattle than TV Coahran?

Not likely.

]]> Whatevs http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690652 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690652 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 13:01:34 -0800 Comment by Ari Spool Yeah, Whatevs, he's the best. I love that kid to pieces.

]]> Ari Spool http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690654 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690654 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 13:03:32 -0800 Comment by Joe Dude, just google "cosplay"

Also, you might mention to your friend Trent that if he's going to insist on being in so many pictures, he needs either more shirt or less gut.

]]> Joe http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690655 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690655 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 13:05:49 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle My son's friends went to Sakuracon and dressed up as Team Rocket members, complete with a pokeball they borrowed from him.

And @8 - man, you must hang out with pervs a lot.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690684 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690684 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 13:32:00 -0800 Comment by ha choo Ari: Great Post.
Joe @ 11: What's your deal? Ari's friend Trent looks fine by me you seem like a bit of a jerk.

]]> ha choo http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690686 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690686 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 13:34:09 -0800 Comment by Andrew It's funny how the hipster with the gut looks more ridiculous than the cosplayers hahahaha

]]> Andrew http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690690 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690690 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 13:38:14 -0800 Comment by Jeff Hey, dudes imposing weight restrictions on photo opportunities - fuck off. The Stranger ain't no modeling service, and just cuz' you'd prefer not to look doesn't mean that A.) you know jack shit about it or B.) that other people wouldn't appreciate it. Standards of attraction are subjective, and you're kind of dicks for being snarky about it.

Not all hipsters are skinny coked-out eurotrash - as much as you want them to be.

]]> Jeff http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690713 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690713 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 13:57:19 -0800 Comment by The_Pope_Of_Chili_Town @12- nope, just work in a prosecutor's office.

]]> The_Pope_Of_Chili_Town http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690732 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690732 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 14:20:38 -0800 Comment by longball We caught these kids at the Red Lion after having a few too many on the terrace. There were so many people taking camera phone pics of them that i fear i am now "that staggering drunk dude" in the background of about 1000 My Place photos. I think the free taco buffet remnants all over my face were enough to make me stand out, even in this crowd.

]]> longball http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690745 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690745 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 14:46:40 -0800 Comment by cow I hadn't been to SakuraCon since 2001 (when it was 300 people in a tiny, horrible hotel in Everett). There were over 11,000 people there this weekend, and it was absolutely fantastic. The reaction of the poster was one I felt and one everyone I knew felt -- we went expecting to peoplewatch and be amused, and it turned out to be an awesome experience. Nice job, everyone.

(I was one of about three White Mages wandering around.)

]]> cow http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690750 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690750 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 14:50:06 -0800 Comment by elswinger I Googled cosplay and got a few porn sites in the first 25.

]]> elswinger http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690775 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690775 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 15:37:04 -0800 Comment by stresskitten Wait. You mean people can do things OTHER than what the hipsters enjoy and decree cool, AND HAVE A GOOD TIME?!?!? Sincerely and honestly and without irony, even? What is the world coming to?

(I spent the weekend at Norwescon, down in SeaTac, a big general-interest science fiction/fantasy convention. I've been going for years, and somehow my life doesn't seem to be rigidly geeky and uncool. I heard SakuraCon was a blast--anime isn't my thing, but I'm so happy for everybody who had fun.)

]]> stresskitten http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690780 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690780 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 15:49:33 -0800 Comment by Jonah S Dude. Ari.
I'm totally gonna smuggle you into next years Emerald City Comic-Con (in my backpack no less) and watch your mind boggle at the grown men dressed up as Cobra Commander dropping Jacksons to get their pictures taken with Chewbacca, who has certainly seen better days.

]]> Jonah S http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690789 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690789 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 16:03:08 -0800 Comment by Rachael V Hey Ari,

Any way I can get a larger copy of the pic with the 'Blue space creature'? That's my friend Jade, I'm sure she'd love a copy of it.

]]> Rachael V http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690801 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690801 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 16:23:12 -0800 Comment by Ari Spool It was just a cameraphone, so I think that's as large as it's going to get. You are welcome to yank that one, though!

]]> Ari Spool http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690805 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690805 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 16:28:28 -0800 Comment by slash fan Actually, slash fiction (at least among American fans) means fanfiction with male/male romance, whether or not it's sexually explicit. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slash_fiction .

Slash is mostly produced by females, from teenagers to middle-aged women. The post later today about "porn for women" is obviously missing the boat on this. Lots of chicks dig guy-on-guy, just like guys dig girl-on-girl.

]]> slash fan http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690835 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690835 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:07:49 -0800 Comment by Rachael V Oh well, thanks anyway. BTW, in my experience the thing about them kissing each other is a lot about pent-up sexual energy with the cosplay a convienent excuse to let it out a little bit. The costumes do add some anonymity to the mix, but even people who know each other may use their charactres to express a side of themselves they wouldn't normally. Doesn't mean they necessarily want to hook up though.

]]> Rachael V http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690838 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690838 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:12:59 -0800 Comment by alienjukebox They also had a panel on con flirting and a "no paddles" rule (the yaoi paddles must have gotten out of hand a few years back).

]]> alienjukebox http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690858 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690858 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:34:25 -0800 Comment by T.v. coahran Yah saturday was the best time i ever had. I didnt know i was gonna find anybody to go down there with me. im pretty sure ari was the right person to ask.. i tried sending some of the pictures i got of her, but she didnt post any. she's a way better poser than me. also, i have a gut so deal with it. youre probably ugly

]]> T.v. coahran http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690881 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690881 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 18:26:27 -0800 Comment by T.v. coahran Oh yah! i went back sunday & did music in the lobby. my link goes to pictures. [im wearing a long coat so to cover my horrible gutness]-Trent

]]> T.v. coahran http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690888 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690888 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 18:47:24 -0800 Comment by Jeff Fuck the biters, man, let the gut swing free.

]]> Jeff http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690900 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690900 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 19:19:50 -0800 Comment by crush'n ohhh yeah!! I'm so very flittery & crush'n on all ya'll .esp ari for her writing. and for the gut exposure throughout her posts!


crushing4ariŠ

]]> crush'n http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690909 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c690909 What the Mon, 09 Apr 2007 20:01:30 -0800 Comment by Andy Actually, last year was the first year they had it at the Convention Center. Before that, it was held at the Hilton next to the airport, so you'd only get a few people downtown who wore their costumes for the entire weekend (most people were in Sea-Tac).

]]> Andy http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c691230 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c691230 What the Tue, 10 Apr 2007 11:55:54 -0800 Comment by Gabriel I'm still wondering if there were any boffing matches. I mean, what's the point of dressing up like Pokemon without some good ol' BDSM LARPing?

Pika-pika.

]]> Gabriel http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c691343 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c691343 What the Tue, 10 Apr 2007 13:59:51 -0800 Comment by Sean Hey Ari, next year contact our publicity people and we should be able to get you Press badges for the event so you can go around and see everything. I was the Director of Programming for the event, so I helped organize and schedule a lot of the events you saw going on.

]]> Sean http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c691361 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c691361 What the Tue, 10 Apr 2007 14:10:31 -0800 Comment by Sakura Sneak I managed to sneak in, to hang out with a friend there. I was an outsider in anime-land as well. I made an interesting connection in my head the day after- Sakura con used to be in the boonies, but this year it's downtown... Just like pride was last year. And these kids are sexual deviants for sure (boys crossdressing, the girls into Yaoi aka hot Man-on-Man action). Sakuracon is an Animesexual Pride parade. I dig it.

]]> Sakura Sneak http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c691922 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/04/an_offer_i_couldnt_refuse#c691922 What the Wed, 11 Apr 2007 12:49:44 -0800