I live in the heart of downtown LA, just north of the Convention Center. It seems like every other week I’m stuck in traffic while people in anime costumes engaging in cosplay are crossing the streets in herds, leaving me to wonder how on earth I could have missed the memo that there was yet another convention in town. After doing some research, I discovered that there are conventions for everything from porn to cake celebrity impersonators. These are just a few highlights from the extensive list:
Adultcon – Watch as your small-screen porn star fantasies are brought to life at this pornographic film trade fair. Known as the “official porn mecca,” attendees get to meet porn stars such as Sasha Grey and Tori Black in person, take photos, get autographs, choose from an assortment of magazines, DVDs and other products, as well as enjoy on-screen performances. The event is offered three times a year (twice in Los Angeles and once in Las Vegas Valley, Nevada) for your convenience, in the event that you can’t make it to the first two. Or for the super dedicated fan who attends all three.
AnimeCon – This is the first convention to receive major backing in the anime industry and was the first anime-specific convention in California. For those of you not familiar with the term, “anime” are colorfully animated and graphic Japanese productions that are either drawn by hand or computer-generated. AnimeCon has many rivals in the industry, which sparked the infamous “con wars” with opponents including Anime America (sounds like a potential movie starring the cast of Grandma’s Boy, if you ask me).
Celebrity Impersonators Convention – Want to hang out with Liza Minelli and Kramer from “Seinfeld?” Well, while we can’t do that for you, we can tell you about the annual Celebrity Impersonators Convention in Las Vegas, which attracts over 150 celebrity doppelgangers who perform in stage shows and offer classes for those who also aspire to go into the celebrity impersonation industry. Put those networking skills to work as you rub shoulders with the “industry.” Or at least what appears to be the industry. We’re sure that tons of passersby have mistakenly thought it was their lucky day, asking to take a picture with “Brad Pitt” only to realize later that it wasn’t really him. Or perhaps they never knew…because the impersonator was that good.
Comic-Con – People dressed up as characters from “Doctor Who?” Stars from your favorite fantasy/horror/sci-fi shows sitting on panels and answering audience questions? Comic-Con is every comic book/TV lover’s dream, with enough toys, games, novels and anime/manga available for a lifetime. This is the largest convention of its kind in the world, according to Forbes, and is a four-day event that is held in the San Diego Convention Center. Still on the fence about it? In 2010, over 130,000 people attended. So it’s kind of a big deal.
International Cake Exploration Convention – All you had to mention was the dreaded “C” word in order to get my attention. Exploring cake? Where do I sign up? With over 4,000 sugar artists, cake vendors and decorators from around the world, this is their big event of the year. Take a walking tour and browse through hundreds of elaborate cake displays while cheering on the competitors seeking the title of Master Sugar Artist. Got some last minute cake drama on your hands? There’s even an on-site Cake Hospital where all injured cakes can receive treatment at the hands of specialists and look as good as new again.
