What an awesome weekend! In fact, it was so awesome that it’s hard to know where to begin, so I’ll just start at the beginning. Every year I go to the Exposure Photo & Video Imaging Show in Toronto where there are reps from all the big camera and accessory companies as well as free seminars all day long. This year was extra special because Colonel Chris Hadfield was scheduled as the keynote speaker on Saturday.
Two of my friends from high school joined me this year, and we decided to make it a real girls’ weekend, so we got a hotel room in Toronto for Friday night and went out for dinner. As we were approaching the restaurant, we kept noticing strange looking things walking down the street, and I really started wondering what the heck had happened to the city of my childhood! There were bunnies, creatures with wings, a man with a mushroom on his head, and people wielding all varieties of other worldly weaponry. It started to seem like Toronto had been taken over by beings from another world.
After supper, the area around the restaurant was overflowing with these “creatures” and my curiosity overcame me, so I sparked up a conversation with a couple of them. It turns out that we had stumbled upon an annual event called Anime North, Canada’s premier fan run anime convention, with a primary focus on anime, manga, and Japanese culture which attracts over 20,000 people. Phew, my city was safe after all!! We ended up walking around to check out all of the amazing costumes, and everyone I asked was more than happy to pose for photos. It ended up as the unexpected treat of the evening, and we had a blast! Now, unfortunately it was dark out and I only had my iPhone handy, so some of these pictures are a little grainy, but you will definitely get the feel of the event.
photos from the loonybin 
Great photos, Cindy.
Looks like a lot of fun for the ‘locals.’
Thanks Vicki :). Do you know what the best part was? Most of them were in their teens and 20’s I would say, and although I’m sure there are a lot of adults who think these conventions are crazy and a waste of time, there were no problems whatsoever. We saw no drunken behavior or violence, and they were all very polite and pleasant to talk to. I was very impressed!
You couldn’t have timed your visit better. I’m glad you had fun. 🙂
I know ;). It was such a pleasant surprise!
The third guy looks positively dangerous… and some of the girls are really well built…
Nah, they were all totally harmless and very willing to stop and pose for photos. And yes, I can just picture you there with your tongue hanging out watching all the bodacious ta-ta’s. LOL!!
Hey I might be getting on but nothing wrong with my eyes and brain… LOL
I feel exactly the same way :). That’s why my friend and I wore a bib to a movie starring a bunch of hot guys LOL!!
Wow this looks so nerdy and fun, I love it!
It looked like they were all having a great time, and it was fun for us just to walk around and check it out. I’m so glad we stumbled upon it :). By the way Becky, you really need to check out that book I’m reading called Bird Box. It is totally freaking me out!! There are so many unknowns that the suspense is incredible. It’s really a rather clever book.
Funnily enough I came across it on a list the other day as well, I think it was for short reads? Do you have any idea how long it is, lol? Ooooh, that sounds great! I haven’t read a scary book in ages, but I’m not sure my tbr pile can withstand many more books, LOL.
It’s only a couple of hundred pages. You should try and fit it in :).
Definitely other-worldly but what fun you must have had! Did you want to find a costume so you could fit in?
Yes, I wanted to be Pikachu from Pokemon. He has always been my favourite. He’s just so darn cute :).
Wow,these people really go all out! Love the blue dress with all the crinolines!
I know! Some of the costumes were really intricate, and they must have put a lot of time and thought into them.
Good grief!
LOL!! It was fun, really :). I’m not saying I would ever want to dress up like that, but it was interesting seeing how elaborate some of the costumes were.
I love it when people let loose and have fun
Me too :), and like I said to someone else, the best part was that there were thousands of people milling around and there wasn’t a single problem. No violence, no drunkenness, and they were all really nice.