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Thoughts of Joe Bear 01/25/23 - Anthro New England 2023
3 years ago
Today is my 56th “Bearthday” - I’m shocked I’ve reached this age so fast!!! Still, I’m healthy for the most part, and able to travel to different events I’ve never been to before. One such ‘event’ just concluded in Boston called “Anthro New England.” Originally, my plan was to take it easy after an AMAZING “Further Confusion” 2023 “2000’s MILLENNIUM EDITION” (Next Journal) - but, after driving home on Tuesday of Post-FC, I had only one day to sleep in my own bed before flying out to Boston on a free United plane ticket (Thank You, MileagePlus) and staying with my roomie 
Anthrocoon) at the impressive Westin Seaport District Hotel, the new home of ANE (after being at Park Plaza Hotel in downtown Boston for several years.) It was my first time back to Boston since 2009, when I visited with the family. Now, I was now attending my first ever Furry Convention on the US Eastern Seaboard!! And, I had so much FUN!! I’m going to paste the details from my roomie “Anthrocoon” (Bob Nelson) as he was my driver and part fursuit handler as well. I’ll have more to write later, with pictures!! Thanks to 
DaiCymru for being there too, as we had good times together while he was ANE Staff holding GOH responsibilities. More to come.. Bear Hugs, Joe G. Bear
****Last year turned out to be the final Anthro New England to take place at the Park Plaza in Boston, as this year was the debut of our new home--the Westin in Boston' s Seaport District. It also would be Joe G Bear's first East Coast con, and he roomed with me (first face to face meeting). Had a great time though dampened by a lingering cold/ cough.
I picked up Joe at the airport and we got to the hotel; grabbed room and our badges. There was opening ceremonies and (after some room confusion) Dan Wolfie's fun "Railroad Safety" panel (cartoon clips). Cirrus did Game Show Grab Bag later.
My Classic Cartoons panel went very well, with clips played and audience participation. I am doing it again at Furcationland (Maine, April) and Anthrocon (Pittsburgh, July)
I read the schedule wrong and missed out on a panel about MBTA History (it was to end at 5:30 not start then!) I enjoyed panels on convention history, a scholarly look at the furry fandom,
how to fly in fursuit (best advice: don't!), Cirrus' Wheel of Furtune (I was a contestant) and so on. Only saw a bit of Animal Music: tail end of Full Color, and Sarah Rose (nice originals).
Fursuit parade: tried to be there with Joe but didn't last long due to my cold.
I was part of the individual and group fursuit pictures (nice). Joe and I had two good meals at M.J. O'Connor's (their sister restaurant in Back Bay is next to Park Plaza) and a really fun post-con meal at
Union Oyster House--with Runtt Wah, Jasper, Dai, and Joe. Funny and lively talk!
On Mon. I was able to get Joe to the airport (it started to snow really hard!) but was pleased to drive him around a bit, showing him our two previous hotels--the Park Plaza in Back Bay and the
Hyatt Regency in Cambridge. Joe's laughter and good spirits showed how much he enjoyed this con, and I only wish my cold had ended earlier. Still had a good time.
More later if I think of it. It went by way too fast. The hotel is AWESOME. Great breakfast buffets!
Oh and quite a bit of the audio I recorded is at http://www.anthrocoon.com
Anthrocoon) at the impressive Westin Seaport District Hotel, the new home of ANE (after being at Park Plaza Hotel in downtown Boston for several years.) It was my first time back to Boston since 2009, when I visited with the family. Now, I was now attending my first ever Furry Convention on the US Eastern Seaboard!! And, I had so much FUN!! I’m going to paste the details from my roomie “Anthrocoon” (Bob Nelson) as he was my driver and part fursuit handler as well. I’ll have more to write later, with pictures!! Thanks to 
DaiCymru for being there too, as we had good times together while he was ANE Staff holding GOH responsibilities. More to come.. Bear Hugs, Joe G. Bear****Last year turned out to be the final Anthro New England to take place at the Park Plaza in Boston, as this year was the debut of our new home--the Westin in Boston' s Seaport District. It also would be Joe G Bear's first East Coast con, and he roomed with me (first face to face meeting). Had a great time though dampened by a lingering cold/ cough.
I picked up Joe at the airport and we got to the hotel; grabbed room and our badges. There was opening ceremonies and (after some room confusion) Dan Wolfie's fun "Railroad Safety" panel (cartoon clips). Cirrus did Game Show Grab Bag later.
My Classic Cartoons panel went very well, with clips played and audience participation. I am doing it again at Furcationland (Maine, April) and Anthrocon (Pittsburgh, July)
I read the schedule wrong and missed out on a panel about MBTA History (it was to end at 5:30 not start then!) I enjoyed panels on convention history, a scholarly look at the furry fandom,
how to fly in fursuit (best advice: don't!), Cirrus' Wheel of Furtune (I was a contestant) and so on. Only saw a bit of Animal Music: tail end of Full Color, and Sarah Rose (nice originals).
Fursuit parade: tried to be there with Joe but didn't last long due to my cold.
I was part of the individual and group fursuit pictures (nice). Joe and I had two good meals at M.J. O'Connor's (their sister restaurant in Back Bay is next to Park Plaza) and a really fun post-con meal at
Union Oyster House--with Runtt Wah, Jasper, Dai, and Joe. Funny and lively talk!
On Mon. I was able to get Joe to the airport (it started to snow really hard!) but was pleased to drive him around a bit, showing him our two previous hotels--the Park Plaza in Back Bay and the
Hyatt Regency in Cambridge. Joe's laughter and good spirits showed how much he enjoyed this con, and I only wish my cold had ended earlier. Still had a good time.
More later if I think of it. It went by way too fast. The hotel is AWESOME. Great breakfast buffets!
Oh and quite a bit of the audio I recorded is at http://www.anthrocoon.com
ANE can brighten up a cold, dark winter. The schedule was indeed hectic and my cold made it tough. Not being in the best of physical health (had it not been for the cold, I could have kept up with you on the fursuit walk)--but the con perks up my mental health. The first one in snowy '15 was sure a spirit lifter, coming after a hospital stay and weeks off from work. THIS year, I had to deal with work the night before the con and went straight to work after the con.
Dratted cold! Kept me coughing but at least no laryngitis for my panel--slight raspy voice. Will try to learn the finer points of helping someone into a fursuit--the cold I had made it tougher. At least the photo room gave me a chance to recover a bit and take part in the group photo. Winter weather and all are a drag. ANE is the solution and it was a joy to be with you.
Sun night at Union Oyster House was a riot! If only I didn't have to go back to work the next day. At least in summer I'll be on a nice long trip with cons like AC. "In warmed up weather let's, get together and do it again"'--Beach Boys
As for your time in Boston...it's more than a feeling.
Anthrocon is another perfect attendance con for me, from Albany to Valley Forge/Philly to Pittsburgh and starting in 06, I fell in love with the Steel City (locals, scenery, etc). The cheesesteak vibe returned with Furrydelphia and Furpoc (Cromwell & Stamford CT) is a nice smaller con attracting many from New England and NYC.
Portland ME hosted the far too brief Pine Fur Con and now we return for Furcationland.
But the folks at ANE _get it_. How to run a con, 101. Yinzerville is great too, an' 'at...with views from the inclines, Fox Chapel, and Raccoon Creek State Park in Beaver County ("fireworks gonna run all night, here at Anthrocon I'll hold you tight"). Primanti Bros sammiches--my treat, Joe, next year.
But oh, Boston are our weird way of talking.
("I do NOT talk funny, I am sure!"--Moon Unit Zappa)