Let's see. There was soooo much going on and so much fun, where should I begin?
Best booth in the vending area: Fallout 3. Between 1950's kitch, cold war era propaganda art, airstream trailer and post-apocalyptic stylings, their booth had style even after someone took out one of the mannequins. Plus, they gave away hand puppets in their big theater demo.
Best Fun While In Between Stuff: Button exchange. It was like a scavenger hunt without leaving the building.
Best Panel: Wil Wheaton. Don't get me wrong, Gabe and Tycho are awesome, but there's something about Wil that makes him feel like a long time friend, so you're rooting for him before he even opens his mouth. Then he starts talking about experiences you had in the form of experiences he had and you like him all the more. As one of the PAX tweets said; "This is the real keynote speech. No disrespect to Levine, but Wil's one of us."
Best reason to stay at the convention until way after midnight: Felicia Day singing for John Coulton on "Still Alive."
Best Way to get to Seattle: PAXtrain, FTW. (Although honestly, I find the uber expensive cabin the only way to go. But it's not too bad when you consider it's a hotel room, too.)
Most Inexplicable: Darkest of The Hillside Thickets. Cthuloid metal band and all around really nice guys. The lead singer had LEDs the guitarist tentacles, and the bassists had on furry pants that made them look like Torgo from 'Manos Hands of Fate.' They were a lot of fun and pretty good if you like that kind of driving beat.
Best Use of craft objects: The zillions of pipe cleaners passed out by enforcers each year in the final Omegathon round line. The creativity on the part of bored attendees is both frightening and amusing.
Most Unusual Swag Catch: I am now the proud owner of a Champions skateboard deck. Does anyone out there in the ether who knows my mad coordination skillz think that's a good idea?
Best Enterprising Capitalism: Cookie Brigade. Baking and hawking cookies in the lines in exchange for donation to Child's Play- the Penny Arcade charity. I don't know if I'm allowed to announce the total, but suffice to say at about a buck a cookie (that's what mine averaged) the shear amount of sugar and flour donated to the cause would rival a major bakery. Actually, it's been announced as $5,380.
Plus, one person asked for my ginger molassas recipe. :)
Best Thing About PAX: Ownership. PAX is everyone's so everyone tends to add their bit, creating something new or innovating. It's just part of the makeup of this demographic that things don't get left alone. I think that's what I like best of all, is how most of the con goers think of it as their convention, not just one they attend. At least, that's how I feel about it and that's why I'll be back next year.
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