Anime NYC 2018

Anime NYC is an anime convention that debuted in 2017 and returned again this fall due to last year’s success. Located at the Javits Center like most of NYC’s biggest conventions, it was similar to NYCC but focused primarily on anime and Japanese culture. This year it was a 3 day weekend event running from November 16-18. I attended Saturday, the busiest of the 3 days, for a few hours to check it out. Compared to last year’s event, it has definitely grown in size and attendance, but in content, I feel like it stayed more or less the same. In Artist Alley, I saw the same artists as last year as I recognize them from the photos I took last year, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it would be nice to see more talent and more varied types of artwork featured and different wares. The actual con floor had a few more vendors than last year with some new indies as well as a bigger presence with more sponsors and well known names.

What I like about this con is that they don’t check tickets until you walk onto the con floor. NYCC scans your badge before you even walk into the building. So if you’re there just to cosplay and take photos, you can do so without having to pay for a ticket, which is nice for those who rarely make it onto the floor or if you only want to check out the floor for just a day but want to hang out with your friends on the other days outside the halls.

This con, due to being a newer con and concentrated on a certain niche, is also a lot less crowded and congested than NYCC, so there’s plenty of room to walk around without feeling like someone is breathing down your neck or walking too uncomfortably close to you. Of course there are still lines everywhere, but they are much shorter waits. A smaller con also allows more intimate interactions with your favorite artists and vendors. They’ll have more time to interact with you, take the time to talk to you and invest in you to draw you into their booth. It doesn’t feel like a “NEXT!” culture.

There were some missed opportunities however. I noticed the same food trucks there as every other convention I attended this year. For an anime con, they could’ve invested more in drawing in food trucks or food vendors more relevant to Japanese and anime culture. It’s NYC. There’s no shortage of Asian food, I’m sure. I even stumbled upon Japan Fest earlier this year walking through the streets of the East Village one day.

What I didn’t like about this convention, is the same as all other pop culture conventions I’ve attended so far. There’s not a lot of exclusive merchandise to be found among the vendors on the floor. A lot of it is the same stuff I can easily find here in the states, through a simple Google search, for probably a cheaper price. So it deters me from buying anything on the floors. For an anime convention, I was hoping to find rarer wares. Clothes, toys, makeup, novelties that I could only find walking through the streets of Takeshita and Shibuya. I would be more willing to pay more for those wares. Like Secret Honey clothing or exclusive Sailor Moon Creer Beaute Miracle Romance products. All these vendors need to up their game. 

One of the cutest and favorite cosplays I spotted was Kotoko and Sumomo from the Chobits series, one of my favorite animes. It’s a really cute love story, easy and quick to watch and get through. I had wanted to cosplay Kotoko once upon a time but got lazy but I hate wearing wigs and it’s hard to find a person to commission what you want just right.

I bumped into Vampybitme on my way out, as she was on her way out of the con. She was really sweet to me and my sisters, as my sister shyly spoke Vietnamese to her. It’s funny meeting her up close, as we’re basically the same size. I admire her for turning this into such a successful career and how she gets to partner with so many companies and travel all over the world, especially Japan. Man, I would love to be able to jet set to Japan. Alas, the West Coast Asians and their ability to take chances and invest in riskier careers! The East Coast Asian in me could never make that jump, even though my heart is a West Coast Asian in my fashion style and certain reckless natures. But maybe it would’ve been different had my parents raised me on the West Coast. We’ll never know.

I attended in my casual Sailor Moon Crystal cosplay for the day and got some quick shots from my photographer friends as well. It took me a while to develop the Sailor Moon hair, from trial and error over the years and never wanting to wear a full out wig because I always felt it looked so fake and terrible. It’s really hard to find a GOOD Sailor Moon wig so I’ve always tried to incorporate my own hair with some simple clip on hair pieces. I’ve finally found my own style of how I like to look as my interpretation of Sailor Moon and I’m pretty happy with it. I didn’t do the front bangs because I didn’t want to cut my bangs just for this con. But I like how natural this looks on me as my own style. If only the moontails weren’t so easily tangled, I’d probably wear this hairstyle all the time because it’s so easy to throw together.

Anyways, I’m not sure if I’ll be attending again next year since this year’s content didn’t exactly wow me. It’s still nice to check out for a day for a few hours but I would mark this convention as one you only need a day out of, not a weekend pass necessarily. If you’ve never been, it’s fun to check out and see for yourself since everyone goes for different reasons. But if you’re a seasoned con goer, this might be one and done.

Breakfast At Tiffany's

I’ve been wanting to dine here since it opened last year. Unfortunately upon it’s debut, there was a lot of wrong information given out on how to get a table. At first we were told it’s first come, first serve only - no reservations. And then when we stopped by with the intent on waiting it out for a table, we were then told it was reservations only. And after that, we realized reservations are very hard to come by and they’re snatched up as soon as they open up. Harder than trying to buy NYCC tickets, actually. You have to wake up and be on the website on the dot when those reservations open up, which are 30 days in advance. Well, that’s what my sister ended up doing to snag a reservation for me so that we could finally try it out.

Reservations are only available through Resy.com to The Blue Box Cafe with a max of 4 guests. When we got there, we discovered why. The actual cafe is very small, ironically, even though it’s inside Tiffany’s flagship store on 5th avenue, which could very easily have more tables if they wanted to devote more space to it. But I guess this is how they retain its exclusivity and elitism.

Although honestly, walking into this reservation, I did not have high expectations of the food. I knew from the get go from other reviews and food blogs I follow that this wasn’t a place you come to for the food. You come for the experience and for the gram. And that’s what it was. It was beautiful for the gram. Every girl in that room was there to take photos with their boyfriend or their friend. To live out that same Breakfast at Tiffany’s dream.

We ordered and sampled a bit of everything on the menu, from the breakfast, lunch, tea tower, different teas, and the Tiffany box Celebration cake. The food was okay but nothing to rave about. I did enjoy my tea however, the White Wedding, a white tea blend of Chinese white peony and jasmine teas, lavender, rose petals and orange blossoms. It was light and sweet and for once I think I nearly drank the whole pot! The tea tower was so pretty and grammable but the food was disappointing. The sandwiches themselves didn’t taste that fresh and sweets, I wasn’t too crazy about. The Celebration cake was really pretty and presented to me with a silver candle, as another birthday cake to add to my count. The cake itself, however, a little lackluster. Both icing layers and cake layers were dense and too much. I like my cakes a little fluffier, fresher and a light sweet taste. It was cute to see how they cut it though and view the cross section of the cake. It’s one of those aesthetically pleasing things.

All in all, I’d say this is a one and done experience. I’m glad I finally got to do it and experience it for myself to make up my own mind about it. There wasn’t a “hype” so I can’t say it lived up to anything, but it was beautiful to sit in and finally just be there. I always love visiting Tiffany’s so while I may not be returning to the Blue Box Cafe, I’ll always be visiting the store here and there to browse new pieces of jewelry.

The movie itself was actually not an influence on me but rather the Gossip Girl books, funny enough. I read them growing up and then loved the show when it came out. Blair Waldorf’s character is one of my favorites and her love for that movie is really cute. And when I grew up enough to actually see what it was all about, I did like the jewelry, and as I grow older, they appeal more and more to me. Tiffany’s is timeless and classic. Their pieces I’ve found go with almost anything I wear. They may be basic sometimes but sometimes that’s all you need. A quick simple basic piece to complete an outfit. I bought and splurged on a pair of pearl earrings years ago to treat myself from CVS depression and they’re my favorite pair of earrings, despite how simple they are. They simply just go with everything and always look classic.

And their service has been impeccable. Somehow I’ve had to repair my earrings a few times over the years (the pearl would fall off the post on one) and every time Tiffany would fix and live up to its service expectations. Everyone has been nice and understanding and patient. I’ve never felt Pretty Womaned in that store. And the service department is just cute. They even take your drink order while you wait. And the drink waiters are cute boys in suits!

Tiffany has also recently launched a new “home” line with everyday ordinary items for purchase. Obviously they’re all overpriced bougie items but it’s still really cute to view. A lot of them were on display on the 4th floor where the cafe we dined was located. The Tiffany luggages were so cute but I know they’re a waste for me since I’d never be able to fit my travel in there. I always pack way more than those small luggages can fit. Their baby line is also adorable with that bear. Maybe one day when I have money to just throw away, hahaha. And on a child, no doubt. That’ll be the day. Bougie baby. My baby would be bad and bougie.

Anyway, in conclusion, if you’re interested in visiting the Blue Box Cafe, just know this is definitely one of those places you go for the experience and decor, not the food. And you’ll have a good experience. Just make sure you bring a friend who’s great at taking photos for you for the gram so you don’t waste it. Because if you didn’t gram it, it never happened, right?

Mickey: The True Original Exhibition

I had the pleasure of attending the press preview of the Mickey: The True Original Exhibition in the city, located right next to the location of this summer’s Pint Shop, at 60 10th Avenue, New York, NY 10014. The cost of admission is $38 and it’s running from now until February 10, 2019. Like most pop-ups, the Mickey exhibit is available by time slot so you have to purchase your tickets in advance online and enter according to the time you selected. You do not have to purchase a ticket to access the retail store inside though if you just want to view and buy the merchandise.

I learned of this exhibit over the summer, when the walls were already heavily decorated outside, and Disney had started advertising heavily for Mickey’s birthday in advance through special Oreos, Goldfish and other food merchandise and such you can buy at your local supermarket. The Highline ended up being an area this summer that I would visit multiple times since this block is so popular for quick temporary pop-ups. I was even here a few weeks prior for the Brandless pop-up.

Upon checking in, you are given a limited edition set of Mickey ears and pin to commemorate the exhibit and Mickey’s birthday. The waiting area before you’re officially introduced into the exhibit has a map of all the rooms you can walk through, as well as a few quick backdrops for cute selfies. There’s also a list of all the artists who contributed to the exhibit. From there, you walk into a huge room where they play a quick video about Mickey and his contribution to the world over the years and his evolution. Videos and photos are highly encouraged throughout the entire exhibit so don’t worry about overdoing it. The next room showcased Walt’s Oscar from his work with Mickey and the Steamboat Willie film. You can watch two different versions of the film too in a dark room, the original and a modern day interpretation. There’s even a lifesize steamboat for you to walk on to and take photos. My gripe with this room and a few other rooms in the exhibit though, is the lighting isn’t that great. It was hard to take photos in some areas due to this. For pop-ups, this is a big faux pas. Lighting is key for grammable photos. One of my favorite rooms was the Ink and Paint room but it was hard to capture nice photos here because it was so dark and the light changed too quickly between patterns. Same thing with the Sorcerer’s Apprentice room. There was so much potential but dampered by low lighting.

As we walked through the exhibit, we saw many different variations of Mickey, seen through the eyes of all the artists that contributed to it, as well as original artwork and pieces. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable, as well as helpful if you need a hand with taking photos. I found some rooms were very monochromatic and some rooms were splashes of color. Of course, I enjoyed the splashes of color more. Towards the end of the exhibit, you’re given a sample of Ample Hills Creamery ice cream, with flavors designed specifically for the exhibit.

Towards the end, there’s a room where you can play Mickey trivia with other guests on the Google home Mickey, and then view a collection of old Mickey Mouse memorabilia and merchandise throughout the years. The exhibit finishes into the retail store, which hides the neon room, the psychedelic room of hidden Mickeys. The lighting in this room also makes it hard to capture photos nicely.

So what is my review of the exhibit? Honestly, compared to other pop-ups I’ve attended, I think the $38 price tag is a bit steep for the content. I appreciate all the art and displays you can view, but it’s lacking the interactive, fun aspect of pop-ups like The Color Factory and Rose Mansion. There wasn’t a lot of different, hands-on, fun things you could really do other than take photos, but even the photos felt a little flat. I felt there were a lot of missed opportunities. There was so much potential but this pop-up didn’t take full advantage of it. The only food sampling is the ice cream and we were given a very modest portion of it as you can see our cups weren’t even filled. They could’ve given away a lot of other Mickey shaped treats and food like the Oreos and Goldfish. Or even have the famous Mickey bar available, even if for purchase. I didn’t feel it had the magic of Disney in it or the fun factor. It’s more for the art and museum goers. It’s very “museum-like” than it is a pop-up, but with not enough content really to make the entrance price worth it, in my opinion. You are given ample time to walk through and view everything at your leisure, however. And I did feel that every one was very friendly. I never felt rushed. I went on press day so it wasn’t crazy crowded but I did read a few other reviews on Google stating that they’re very good at only allowing a limited amount of people in at a time so you never feel crowded or have the problem of other people in your photos or feel rushed to take your photos because someone’s waiting behind you.

So ultimately do I think this pop-up is worth a visit? Yes if you’re an art lover and museum goer and don’t mind paying a steeper price for pop-ups. But no, if you’re looking for something more interactive with that wow-factor. I’m more on the interactive, fun, wow-factor spectrum for pop-ups, so I wasn’t really impressed to be honest, nor in love with the palette of colors used in this exhibit. It felt like a lot of red, white and black, instead of the pop of color world that I prefer for Mickey. And for the price, I think we could’ve received a few more freebies and cute Mickey treats, like the Sugarfina candy. I’ve also read that Mickey sometimes makes appearances for photos, but that’s not always guaranteed so I do feel that should be more consistent in the pricing as well.

Regardless, I did enjoy attending the preview day and being able to experience it to find out what the exhibit was all about. And again, Happy Birthday to a true icon that I grew up with, Mickey Mouse. Without him, the Disney World of imagination would not have been possible. It all started with a mouse to launch one man’s amazing dream that he wanted to share with the world.