We begin our trip to this convention in much the same manner as any other, nearly 4 hours behind schedule. As dawn rose approached, we once again found ourselves in the Wide state of Ohio, ever so slowly approaching the Pennsylvania border. By noon we had reached D.C. and a few wrong turns later we arrived at the beautiful Hyatt Crystal City. Check in at Katsucon was quick and easy and this was the fastest I have ever gotten my badge for a con and before long I'm enjoying what the con had to offer. I explored the 3, yes 3 floors the con is spread over for the next hour, visiting the huge dealer’s room which literally took up 2 of the largest rooms at the con.

There are many great dealers here including Michigan’s own Wizzywigs and the wonderful people from MegaTokyo.
The first problem of the convention came as I wandered Artists alley.

There are a large number of artists here who are bereft of tables due to a problem with table reservations. At least a dozen artists sent in payment to Katsucon for their tables and didn't have one when they arrived. This problem all but disappeared after a few more hours as I watched the Vice-Con chair personally setting up extra tables in artists alley for these folks. Catastrophe averted. Friday also held the finals for "Anime Name That Tune", a game show run by the same talented man that was stuck running the failed Cosplay at Anime U.S.A. last year. This being a championship round hosting the best of the best competitors from around the east and mid-west, making for edge of your seat entertainment through the entire competition.
Saturday: Valentines day, the day of the Cosplay.com photo shoot and the Cosplay contest.

The lines started early for the Cosplay contest and it's times like these I'm glad to be a reporter as I walk past the diligent fans and enter the main events area where the judges are having their own brand of fun as they wait for the contest to begin.
Valentines day brings out the best and worst in cosplayers apparently as the main event on Saturday night had plenty of both. (*photographers note, I apologize for the blurriness of the pictures, this is what happens when staff refuses to let press people use a flash*)

Among the best was this skit done to "He had it comeing" from "Chicago",

and this GaoGaiGar skit near the end.
The worst skit was easy to identify. Someone got up on stage wearing half a hat with a Meowth headpiece on it and street cloths and did a poor impersonation of Meowth trying to rap. All this skit was, was annoying.
As a Special note I have a personal award for most improved Cosplayer at this con.

The man on the right is the "worst Cosplayer" from last years Anime U.S.A., I feel he should be congratulated on a job well done for such an improvement in skit quality in the last few months, I hope someday though you will participate in a skit that doesn't rely on music.
Sunday: The final day of the convention was highlighted by a strange occurrence. In the middle of the day the hotel staff shut off the escalators to the lobby and all of the elevators.

After much digging I learned that 2 or more cases of Food Poisoning had occurred within minutes of one another, and the lobby was closed while emergency services responded. Within an hour everything was back to normal and the con wound to a close in the normal manner.

My final summation of this con is that despite the horrible trek over the mountains and the 10 hour drive to get there, this convention is defiantly one well worth going back to, no matter who you are.

B.P.