DragonCon: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Without a doubt, I would consider the DragonCon experience to be a positive one.  It wasn't perfect, but it was definitely something everyone should experience at least once.



Photo Courtesy: insouciant-tumblr

The Good:

Obviously, Joe Manganiello rocked my world, but he wasn't the only uber-hot celebrity on the premises.   I also got a chance to see Misha Collins in the autograph signing area.  Sadly, cameras were not allowed in there and I didn't get a picture.  But let me assure you that the man is even better looking in person.  My one regret is not ponying up the cash for a photo session with him.  I missed the Supernatural panel Saturday due to a conflict.  I do, however, have the memory of his gorgeous face burned into my retinas.

My other big celebrity squee came from the panel with the Buffy cast. I attended their Sunday panel and it featured James Marsters (Spike), Nicholas Brendon (Xander), Eliza Dushku (Faith), Claire Kramer (Glory), Julie Benz (Darla), and Mercedes McNab (Harmony).  Our seats weren't very good. Even though we arrived more than an hour before it started, the line already took up three floors of the Westin hotel.  So yes, my pictures suck.  It was all audience Q & A.  The cast joked about how David Boreanaz was always flashing people and farting on set.  They talked about how scary it was to prepare for "Once More With Feeling" and then how gratifying it was when it paid off.  James talked about how hard it was to film the scene in the bathroom when Spike tried to rape Buffy and how it put him in therapy.  But I've got to tell you, Nick stole the show on the panel. He was self-deferential and funny as hell.  A great hour!

The parade was also fantastic.  The crowd was enormous and the participants were all letting their freak flags fly.  I think my favorite group consisted of the Mortal Kombat characters, but there were representatives of just about every sci-fi or fantasy genre you can imagine.  Plus, I had some great geeky-chicks behind me narrating every group that walked by. "Oh look, there are the Browncoats."  -- "Oh look, there is the giant spaghetti-monster."  Without them, I would have been lost.

The Bad:

I don't have too many complaints.  The lines sucked. Food and drinks were overpriced. The hotel staff and volunteers were on a slight power trip.  Oh --and the seats were too close together at the panels.  There are some pretty big people in this world and I happened to sit next to one such lady at a True Blood panel. She was seated before I was and literally took up half of my seat.  I had to watch the whole thing perched on the edge of my chair.  I know the organizers want to fit in as many people as possible, but that was not cool.

The Ugly (You Know):

This one is really too easy.  I saw more tits & ass at this convention than possibly an entire lifetime of Mardi Gras parades growing up in New Orleans.  And very few of the folks had the bods to support being nearly-naked.  --This is not a value statement on anyone's size. I assure you, I do not have the figure to pull off a mesh body suit.  But then again, I was kind enough to wear jeans and a cotton shirt while I walked around the hotel.  If only I had thought to bring eye-bleach when I packed my clothes.  And if only I'd had the foresight to take pictures of all the male superhero characters who didn't think to wear a cup.  Then you could be scarred for life too!