Maybe you already know about The Curse of Katsucon, but just in case: It always snows during whatever weekend Katsucon falls on, without exception. And, since the con hotel is right on the water, it's always messy, with icy roads and occasional traffic shutdowns. DC doesn't have the infrastructure to handle snow, so it's best to be prepared for the apocalypse if you ever make the trip.

I prefer Otakon, especially now that it's right in downtown DC. They also moved it from the sweaty crotch of August to mid-July, so the city is green and beautiful and the weather is perfect. I'm friends with two of the people who organize the artist alley, and they put a lot of care and attention into making sure that they have a diverse group of people every year. They've also started to do character checks on their shortlist so that they can weed out the anti-fandom crowd, which I appreciate.

Unfortunately, the big local gaming convention in DC, MAGFest, is... idk, "a lot of dudes and a lot of drinking" is probably the best way to describe it. I hear it's gotten less gross, so maybe I'll give it another shot next year? I know you like PAX East, and I'd love to be able to go. One day! I hope you have a great time this year!!!

Btw, your cosplay photos are consistently amazing. Just in case you need to hear that from another person. I can't even begin to imagine how much effort goes into those projects, but I am always blown away.