Off to see Chicago

[Crescent Pulsar]

Like his own reaction? But I don't think it will be a problem. I'm sure that he probably just took a detour concerning something specific, and didn't mean any harm by it. Besides, it doesn't help that we make it more comfortable for people to say what's on their mind.

Hold on... I just thought of something. By "anime central", do you mean to call Chicago the center of anime in the US, or is that the name of the con?

[Spokavriel]

Crescent take a look http://www.acen.org/ <at that site.

[talonhunter]

Anime Central is just the name of the con, cause for some strange reason, people thinc of Chicago as the central point of the united states. As for lables, titles and such, I personally try them on for a fit and the procede to do everything In my power to break them. I dont do it to be malicious, conforming, or confrontational. If people want to wear a lable and it makes them feellike they belong or it gives them the self power to engauge in daily life, and as long as it dont hurn anyone else, I leave it alone. but those who use them to justify belittling others and injury of them on some level, then I take it personal...Sorry about the rant.
People will call themselvs what they will, we can only hope to educate them and show them a better way.

Back to ACEN... who are this years guests...*^-^*

[lwf58]

ACen is just the name of the con, of course. Probably come out of "anime in the central US region", I'd imagine.

If there's a center of anime in the US, it isn't Chicago by any stretch of the imagination. LA might still have a legitimate claim to that title, or as much of one as any place does.

The US's biggest anime convention is in Los Angeles every summer. It's called Anime Expo, or "AX". There are a bunch of smaller conventions in various cities in both northern and southern California every year.

The nation's oldest continuously operating anime club is also in Los Angeles county (C/FO - the "Cartoon Fantasy Organization", in business since 1977 and still operating today). The C/FO used to be a national chain of loosely related clubs that used the original's LA club's name and mascot.

That lasted until the club voted in new officers from Texas and the club headquarters shifted there. The Texas shift put the club in the hands of people who turned out to be irresponsible and who led it into a conflict with the law. After that, the national organization collapsed and the various member clubs took on new names and lost what little association with the others they ever had. Only the original LA club kept the name and mascot character.

Hmm. About time for a reminder of what I opened this topic for. Is anyone else going there?

[lwf58]

Back to ACEN... who are this years guests...*^-^*

Look at the site, www.acen.org. The list is divided up into international, US, and Music guests. I'm not about to try and edit them into a list!

[Spokavriel]

Maybe it's for the time zone? I mean there aren't allot of conventions in the Central Time Zone. Or at least not as many as say Eastern or Pacific.

[Comartemis]

Anime Central is just the name of the con, cause for some strange reason, people thinc of Chicago as the central point of the united states.

Way back when the west was young, Chicago was a jumping-off point for settlers headed west, and it was a big hub of railroad traffic and commerce between the east and west coasts for a long time after that. So in a manner of speaking, Chicago used to be the central point of the US, or at least one of them.

Of course there's probably a healthy dose of local prejudice built into that statement, so take it with a grain of salt.

[Spokavriel]

Chicago was second to St. Louis in everything other than Entertainment for most of it's existence unless the people were seeking to explore the north more so than the west.

[Comartemis]

Yeah, well... we've had the best pizza in the world since Giordanos opened for business, the best hotdogs since god only knows when, and the most entertaining cross-town sports rivalry since the Cubs and the Sox tried to practice on the same empty lot when they were kids. So there!

[Spokavriel]

I will NEVER agree on the Hotdogs. Tried many places there and nothing comes close to a Dirty Water dog out in Manhattan.

[talonhunter]

I would agree with Spokavriel to a point on the dogs, but my persmal faves are not boiled or steamed, but flame kissed or split grilled, and nothing beats the taste of a deep dish pie from a woodfired oven.

[Spokavriel]

I was just saying something I know is better than everything I found in Cook County. I really can't decide on an absolute best HotDog I just know that all the contenders so far are not from Chicago.

[talonhunter]

too true, although they haven't found new and intresting things to call Chili, unlike they do in Cincinatti..( mean really, meat, spagetti sauce with some cyanne powder, cheese and onions...even though it is pretty good)

[Spokavriel]

I know this one place that melted Cheddar and added Chili powder to it along with minced onion and mashed stewed tomatoes to make their "Chili Sauce" If they had at least cooked their onions and Chili powder with some beef to flavor it... But no they didn't want any Beef in their "Creation" and used Turkey franks. It was interesting but not what I would call good. So yeah I've had some experience with fake Chili.

[talonhunter]

Well there is Chili and there is CHILI...but this isn't a place for that, this about Larrys trip to the wilds of ACEN in 12 days