DC sakura matsuri '10 report
Apr. 11th, 2010 04:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rose_of_painI don't normally write an entry about the sakura matsuri but this year I had a really good time so feel its actually worth writing about.
Woke up pretty early, got into Yosuke, and got on metro. There was a HUUUGE crowd of tourists at the fare card machines. Made me so glad I had extra money still on my smart card. lol I was like "*zoom past crowd* XD" and the actual train wasn't crowded really at all. lol 'Cause they were all too busy being dumb tourists trying to figure out how to do the fare cards. And you can so tell 'cause they block the gates and don't know what to do and never know what train to get on. lol There was a train at the platform and I get on and no one was on 'cause it was on the left side and all the tourists were like "no that's not the right one, we want the other direction. *stays and waits on right side*" ....Shady Grove is the last station on the red line. It only goes ONE DIRECTION. XDXD
Anyways, was my first time riding on metro in cosplay so that was a little weird. Was going to get off at Federal Triangle but I was looking in the window at Dupont Circle and was like "...oh look I wasn't the only cosplayer on here" at the reflection I see of a group getting off. "...wait a minute. I know that Fai! *runs off train* Tohma!" XD So I just followed her and her group for a while. Was a little confused why they got off at that stop but I think they wanted to try to avoid the crowds at the other stations? Either way meant a bit of walking. XD Though I had nothing better to do as no one else I knew had arrived yet. Ended up going to watch the parade for a bit with them...which I have never seen before. I only go to the street festival. Like never to the parade. XD
It was...hm. Kinda odd. Like this is the sakura matsuri right? So shouldn't the parade be a bit um...more Japanese themed? It was basically just marching bands and various groups and a few cartoon balloons (though lol Tohma got a very phallic photo of the cucumber from Veggie Tales right next to the Washington monoument XD). There was only 2 or 3 Japanese themed parts of it from what I saw with them and we saw most of it. Like there was the sakura matsuri queens float (...I was amused by their "doll stands" they had to keep them upright on the float. Made them look...even more fake and doll-like XD), a taiko drum float (THANK GOD FOR THAT!), and like one for the ambassadors. They even had like an Elvis impersonator and Miss America there. O_o It was kinda of an odd themed parade in my opinion. Though at least it had horsies.
Ren and Courtney called as they had managed to run into each other right after getting off metro so I went to go find them. ...and somehow I got kinda lost on the way. I don't know how. Like I know this part of DC pretty well! I think I just went down too far and missed the street I was supposed to turn on and instead ended up having to do this HUGE loop 'cause I couldn't cut through anything so it was like better to just go up and around at that point (should have gone the other way, duuur) and somehow ended up in front of the white house. *headdesk* So then I had a pretty far walk to get to the actual freaking festival. At least I got some good walking in? Pffft.
Found Ren and Courtney though the latter decided to run off with Brian and we never saw her again. XD Lame. But then found Jensen, who was waiting for Tohma. I realized then I probably should have dragged Tohma with me and that way it would have been easier for her to see both of us. XD Oops. Then went over to hang with Mimi, Dana, Anita, and Kevin which was very nice. Sat in this little section to the side where there weren't too many people (though scary tourists on segways kept steering kinda close...). Eventually Ren and I got a little tired of sitting though and we headed off. Mostly 'cause it was close to the doll meet time. But we realized we were both kinda hungry so stopped to eat first. Heh all you people who complain about the lines. If you're smart you can get good food for cheap with no line actually. But maybe that's just 'cause the food I like isn't the most popular. XD As I went to the same stand I usually end up at and there was a tiny line and everything was like just $5 which was a pretty good deal. Compared to the teriyaki place the whole world was in line for. XD Even the suishi place didn't seem that crowded which surprised me. Guess tourists want to stick with their Americanized Japanese food. Well that's fine with me! Makes it easier to get my authentic food. Though I promised Ren I'd split something with her since she had no money on her and of course she's a little pickier than me. So ended up getting just plain teriyaki chicken with rice (...but I wanted udon T_T;) which wasn't bad and a lot cheaper than the other place.
After that we went to the doll meet over at the sackler gallery garden. Love that place. It's so pretty even though the tree was of course not in bloom. Was a little afraid Ren would be bored out of her mind with me playing with the dolls and all. But she got her camera out and was having a blast taking photos of the dolls and people. I think her photographer instinct was kicking in like woah. XD Can't blame her as that area is so pretty. We also took turns taking photos of each other around the garden. I hope the ones I took of her came out ok considering my wig kept getting in my eyes each time so I couldn't really see how it looked half the time. ^^;; Meanwhile Micheal (the doll I brought with) got quite a bit of attention. lol I had no idea my last minute kimono out of fabric from Mom's stash would get so much praise.
We meant to go find Courtney after that but she was a distance away and we really wanted to actually view the vendors a little bit since neither of us had gotten a chance to. So we wandered down both ends and such. Ran into Tohma on the way and my friend Shannon from college! Which was a nice surprise as I haven't seen her since I graduated. Then we headed back to the food stands as we got kinda hungry again. But I was like "gaaaah I want my udon dammit!" so got that even though Ren isn't a big fan of it. But oh that hit the spot. T_T We tried to call Courtney again but her phone had died and by the time we realized "durr we should just call Brian" she had already left. Oh well. XD And we realized it was like close to 5 at that point and that we were the only ones left around. XD So after we stopped to watch a really cool Japanese dance group (lol we both like stopped mid-walk to the metro station and starred like "ooooh") figured it was about time to go home, which was a little sad 'cause I hadn't really gotten to hang out with Ren since Otakon and I wish the time hadn't gone by so fast. Oh well hopefully we'll find a way to hang out again soon and then there's AZ coming up.
And well Ren seemed to think it was more crowded than last year. While I disagree. I thought it was about the same and perhaps a little more spread out this time? 'Cause it didn't seem as chaotic to me as it did last year. This time they seemed to have it a little more prepared for the large amount of people. I'm really glad I wasn't working this time around as we were really limited in what we could do last year and I didn't like feeling like a Disney mascot (having to pose with a ton of tourist kids and babies in strollers was getting a bit annoying. I hate having to give them fake smiles and pretend I think they're cute...lol). So this year was like..."FREEDOM!" and I actually got to do what I like to do at the event. There was the usual amount of weabos around and for the most part they were easy to avoid. Though I did have one incident of having this Kenshin kid (ohgod! I know I've seen that face and heard that voice before! I think he did the same thing to me at a con once!) who was suddenly INMYFACE "OMG YOSUKE!!!" ...which was absolutely terrifying. lol And got the usual "where did you buy that costume?!" "...I made it?" "OMG WOW!" "...*walking away now*" Pfft if he wasn't so scary I would have done a mini advertising but he was too scary to offer a commission to. lol Though I really gotta start mentioning that when people do that whole "where did you buy that?" thing like "I bought it...from ME!!! XDXD" or something...
But yes, it was a good time! Even though I now have a slightly sunburned face (and hand...wtf! lol Only my left one. Never had that happen before...) and my body aches like woah from all the walking. ...doesn't help that my period decided to start last night too so I'm like "...wow body you REALLY hate me today." XD
~Lyn
Woke up pretty early, got into Yosuke, and got on metro. There was a HUUUGE crowd of tourists at the fare card machines. Made me so glad I had extra money still on my smart card. lol I was like "*zoom past crowd* XD" and the actual train wasn't crowded really at all. lol 'Cause they were all too busy being dumb tourists trying to figure out how to do the fare cards. And you can so tell 'cause they block the gates and don't know what to do and never know what train to get on. lol There was a train at the platform and I get on and no one was on 'cause it was on the left side and all the tourists were like "no that's not the right one, we want the other direction. *stays and waits on right side*" ....Shady Grove is the last station on the red line. It only goes ONE DIRECTION. XDXD
Anyways, was my first time riding on metro in cosplay so that was a little weird. Was going to get off at Federal Triangle but I was looking in the window at Dupont Circle and was like "...oh look I wasn't the only cosplayer on here" at the reflection I see of a group getting off. "...wait a minute. I know that Fai! *runs off train* Tohma!" XD So I just followed her and her group for a while. Was a little confused why they got off at that stop but I think they wanted to try to avoid the crowds at the other stations? Either way meant a bit of walking. XD Though I had nothing better to do as no one else I knew had arrived yet. Ended up going to watch the parade for a bit with them...which I have never seen before. I only go to the street festival. Like never to the parade. XD
It was...hm. Kinda odd. Like this is the sakura matsuri right? So shouldn't the parade be a bit um...more Japanese themed? It was basically just marching bands and various groups and a few cartoon balloons (though lol Tohma got a very phallic photo of the cucumber from Veggie Tales right next to the Washington monoument XD). There was only 2 or 3 Japanese themed parts of it from what I saw with them and we saw most of it. Like there was the sakura matsuri queens float (...I was amused by their "doll stands" they had to keep them upright on the float. Made them look...even more fake and doll-like XD), a taiko drum float (THANK GOD FOR THAT!), and like one for the ambassadors. They even had like an Elvis impersonator and Miss America there. O_o It was kinda of an odd themed parade in my opinion. Though at least it had horsies.
Ren and Courtney called as they had managed to run into each other right after getting off metro so I went to go find them. ...and somehow I got kinda lost on the way. I don't know how. Like I know this part of DC pretty well! I think I just went down too far and missed the street I was supposed to turn on and instead ended up having to do this HUGE loop 'cause I couldn't cut through anything so it was like better to just go up and around at that point (should have gone the other way, duuur) and somehow ended up in front of the white house. *headdesk* So then I had a pretty far walk to get to the actual freaking festival. At least I got some good walking in? Pffft.
Found Ren and Courtney though the latter decided to run off with Brian and we never saw her again. XD Lame. But then found Jensen, who was waiting for Tohma. I realized then I probably should have dragged Tohma with me and that way it would have been easier for her to see both of us. XD Oops. Then went over to hang with Mimi, Dana, Anita, and Kevin which was very nice. Sat in this little section to the side where there weren't too many people (though scary tourists on segways kept steering kinda close...). Eventually Ren and I got a little tired of sitting though and we headed off. Mostly 'cause it was close to the doll meet time. But we realized we were both kinda hungry so stopped to eat first. Heh all you people who complain about the lines. If you're smart you can get good food for cheap with no line actually. But maybe that's just 'cause the food I like isn't the most popular. XD As I went to the same stand I usually end up at and there was a tiny line and everything was like just $5 which was a pretty good deal. Compared to the teriyaki place the whole world was in line for. XD Even the suishi place didn't seem that crowded which surprised me. Guess tourists want to stick with their Americanized Japanese food. Well that's fine with me! Makes it easier to get my authentic food. Though I promised Ren I'd split something with her since she had no money on her and of course she's a little pickier than me. So ended up getting just plain teriyaki chicken with rice (...but I wanted udon T_T;) which wasn't bad and a lot cheaper than the other place.
After that we went to the doll meet over at the sackler gallery garden. Love that place. It's so pretty even though the tree was of course not in bloom. Was a little afraid Ren would be bored out of her mind with me playing with the dolls and all. But she got her camera out and was having a blast taking photos of the dolls and people. I think her photographer instinct was kicking in like woah. XD Can't blame her as that area is so pretty. We also took turns taking photos of each other around the garden. I hope the ones I took of her came out ok considering my wig kept getting in my eyes each time so I couldn't really see how it looked half the time. ^^;; Meanwhile Micheal (the doll I brought with) got quite a bit of attention. lol I had no idea my last minute kimono out of fabric from Mom's stash would get so much praise.
We meant to go find Courtney after that but she was a distance away and we really wanted to actually view the vendors a little bit since neither of us had gotten a chance to. So we wandered down both ends and such. Ran into Tohma on the way and my friend Shannon from college! Which was a nice surprise as I haven't seen her since I graduated. Then we headed back to the food stands as we got kinda hungry again. But I was like "gaaaah I want my udon dammit!" so got that even though Ren isn't a big fan of it. But oh that hit the spot. T_T We tried to call Courtney again but her phone had died and by the time we realized "durr we should just call Brian" she had already left. Oh well. XD And we realized it was like close to 5 at that point and that we were the only ones left around. XD So after we stopped to watch a really cool Japanese dance group (lol we both like stopped mid-walk to the metro station and starred like "ooooh") figured it was about time to go home, which was a little sad 'cause I hadn't really gotten to hang out with Ren since Otakon and I wish the time hadn't gone by so fast. Oh well hopefully we'll find a way to hang out again soon and then there's AZ coming up.
And well Ren seemed to think it was more crowded than last year. While I disagree. I thought it was about the same and perhaps a little more spread out this time? 'Cause it didn't seem as chaotic to me as it did last year. This time they seemed to have it a little more prepared for the large amount of people. I'm really glad I wasn't working this time around as we were really limited in what we could do last year and I didn't like feeling like a Disney mascot (having to pose with a ton of tourist kids and babies in strollers was getting a bit annoying. I hate having to give them fake smiles and pretend I think they're cute...lol). So this year was like..."FREEDOM!" and I actually got to do what I like to do at the event. There was the usual amount of weabos around and for the most part they were easy to avoid. Though I did have one incident of having this Kenshin kid (ohgod! I know I've seen that face and heard that voice before! I think he did the same thing to me at a con once!) who was suddenly INMYFACE "OMG YOSUKE!!!" ...which was absolutely terrifying. lol And got the usual "where did you buy that costume?!" "...I made it?" "OMG WOW!" "...*walking away now*" Pfft if he wasn't so scary I would have done a mini advertising but he was too scary to offer a commission to. lol Though I really gotta start mentioning that when people do that whole "where did you buy that?" thing like "I bought it...from ME!!! XDXD" or something...
But yes, it was a good time! Even though I now have a slightly sunburned face (and hand...wtf! lol Only my left one. Never had that happen before...) and my body aches like woah from all the walking. ...doesn't help that my period decided to start last night too so I'm like "...wow body you REALLY hate me today." XD
~Lyn
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no subject
Date: 2010-04-11 10:42 pm (UTC)And THE FOODS. We waiting in the EPIC line and got curry...totally worth the wait though...
Also, I think I know what Kenshin you're talking about. He came over while our Hetalia group was trying to gather.... I don't know him, but I believe he did know someone in the group or something. He actually walked up next to me and started talking to a few of us..and then he like, leaned all of his weight against my side. It was kinda ...weird, like..'I don't know you, why are you all up on me?' @__@
no subject
Date: 2010-04-13 04:51 pm (UTC)Oh! I saw people with bowls of the curry and was all "...they had curry this year?!" XD But I still prefer my udon, silly thing that I am.
Did he have a kinda bright wig on and was pretty thin and kinda femme in the way he talked? XD Sounds like him though as he doesn't seem to understand personal space as he was seriously RIGHTINMYFACE! And I'm still trying to figure out where I've seen him before. If it was at the previous matsuri or if it was at a con and pfft can't remember. Just that it was very similar encounter.
btw I think I did see your group at one point but I wasn't sure if it was you and I'm shy about saying hi and stuff. XD
no subject
Date: 2010-04-13 08:30 pm (UTC)That sounds like him. I KNOW I've seen him somewhere too, but..I just can't place 'im. It's weird...but I think it was probably at a con somewhere though, I didn't go to the festival last year. :/
Hahaha, it probably was us. There were so many people around though, we were all having trouble finding each other while occupying the same intersection (12th and Pennsylvania kept EATING people, or something)... you mention being with a Fai, I think we spotted them from a distance...because Fai is pretty noticeable, we were all thinking 'oh wow, they must be really hot in that!' I might have looked right at you and just not known it, thanks to the crowd. lol
But yeah, I need to just like, give you my number or something, and you can just text me next time you think you've seen us. :D That way you don't risk going up to random strangers, lol.
no subject
Date: 2010-04-11 11:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-13 04:52 pm (UTC)I did but its only from the doll meet. lol Anita took some photos when I was hanging with them and Ren has ones on her camera of us in the garden in our cosplays but she tends to take a really long time to get her photos up. None of the actual festival. Pfft. Mostly just 'cause I've been so many times it feels silly taking photos of it.