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Dark Chocolate

Squatting over the toilet seat or Sitting down on the toilet seat?

I did my homework...staying at the Marriott this year.

The Marriott charges a $100/per day deposit fee.  So if you spend 3 nights at the Marriott, expect to make a deposit of $300 on top of your daily rate charge.  If you use cash or debit, they will automatically charge you for the deposit fee and expect payment up front (yes, this will show up right away on your debit card).  Best bet is to charge on a credit card - the deposit just ends up as a hold on your account and clears after you check out - pending of course there are no damages to the room since you checked in.

I'll have to call them direct because last time I checked with them they told me there was a $50/Night incidental deposit, meaning 3 nights would be a deposit of $150 and it's been that way for the last 4 years that I stayed at the Marriott however if they have recently adjusted their policy by twice the amount, I would need reevaluate the room the split I have going. Still, I appreciate this heads up.

According to the Marriott staff, its $100 per night if you pay cash. Its $50 dollars a night if you use a debit card.

Thanks for clarifying this.  Now I don't have to cry :'( as much when they put that deposit on my credit card.

Rice Crispies Treats >o<

Is this just for a snack or an actual meal?

O_O But there so good. XD

I make my own Rice Crispies treats

*bows down*

Home made ones are probably better.

They are. I make them 5x bigger than the ones in the package.  ;D

During the winter holidays (Thanksgiving and sometimes Christmas) I hand make rice crispie treats and shape them into the size of an actual turkey leg.  To give it a "skin" look I dip the "leg" into melted chocolate and let it set.

Now I want to make some tomorrow...I think I'll treat my Logistic staffers mini rice crispie "turkey legs" for their hard work.... :D

The first thing I eat at Fanime...melon bread.  I want to cook Takoyaki this year, but I doubt the Marriott staff wouldn't approve of the cooking aromas wafting from the Logistics room... :-\

But what I always look forward to is our annual HOT POT outing!!!!! 

OK. First I read the google map for directions on how to get to the convention.

At first I felt lost.Yesterday was my second try and I think I found it.

I drove for 2 hours looking for the streets(I saw the clock so yeah, I was somewhat lost)>_>.

Anyway,I saw a building that said convention so I think I found it.It had a giant Duck on top and had a big field next to it.

So is that the place the Fanimecon is held or am close?I know the street Almaden blv so I think I'm close. I heard its close to SJSU and I did see a big field with Baseball players practicing and big signs saying San Jose Giants. So was the place with the giant duck it or am I way of? Thank You

You are close...the building with the giant Duck is the Children's Museum.  The convention center is two blocks east (think of driving towards the hills) of the museum.  The biggest landmarks that will help you are the Marriott and Hilton hotels.  The convention center is nestled between them.  So if you know Almaden Blvd, get familiar with the San Carlos cross street.

You've gone way off course is you see the baseball field with the San Jose Giants sign. That is way South of downtown, that's right across the street from Spartan Stadium (2-3 miles or so away from the convention center).

Hope this helps.

Well...having stayed at the Marriot last year, I'm not sure if they charged me the deposit. If they did, it cleared after I paid at check-out.

Now, is this $2/ day convention charge and tourist tax a new thing? It's not automatically included into my hotel cost from what I can see in the Fanime hotel confirmation e-mail. However, last year I was not charged these two items at check out either, it was just the total 3 night cost plus 10% city tax.

The tourist tax has always been there when you travel to big cities...but it is such a minute cost that you don't really notice (on my confirmation it states that Tourist tax is $0.10 per room/per night). 

As for the $2 convention charge...the SJCC has the adjoining hotels to the SJCC charge a use for a "Hotel Business District Assessment" fee.  I'm sure you can read into that. 

And don't forget the hotel tax...10.07%

I figured Momoi Halko is enough of a MusicFest all by herself.  ^_^

I am so excited that she'll be at Fanime this year!  I saw hear a couple of years ago at AX and I loved her stage presence.  Her fans that followed her from Japan made the show even more entertaining as they encouraged the rest of the audience to dance along with glow sticks.

Note to self: Buy glow sticks.

I did my homework...staying at the Marriott this year.

The Marriott charges a $100/per day deposit fee.  So if you spend 3 nights at the Marriott, expect to make a deposit of $300 on top of your daily rate charge.  If you use cash or debit, they will automatically charge you for the deposit fee and expect payment up front (yes, this will show up right away on your debit card).  Best bet is to charge on a credit card - the deposit just ends up as a hold on your account and clears after you check out - pending of course there are no damages to the room since you checked in.

There is also a $2/day convention charge for the hotel, 10% city tax and a low.0007% tourist tax on top of your nightly charge.

Hope this helps those checking into the Marriott. Lay those ground rules to your roomies so they don't go rock star in your hotel room and you get left with the hefty fees.

Also, you can't request roll-away beds in a double/double (fire hazard)...only in King bedded rooms only.

If you are staying at other hotels...don't be afraid to call and ask them for info.  They are really nice....score 1 for Marriott for taking their time to answer my questions.

hmm coolio  ;D ... soooo..... since theres so many band geeks in here (sorrie for my use of language) do you think making a colorguard/drumline kind of thing for the fanime masquerade would be a good idea? or bad idea? (i dont' want to bring bad face to it)   ::)  (i need to check out the rules of the masquerade because i heard that theres NO tossing of any sort?)

sorrie it went off topic. i think i want takoyaki now >:3

off topic...My winter percussion did Yakitate! Ja-pan a couple of years ago for our winter show (it's on YouTube).  I want my PIT to do it this year at masquerade, but I haven't asked them yet.  We even had our props painted of the Yakitate! characters and had shelves of bread....back to food so back on topic ;D

Hope you make takoyaki soon...now I want to make some!

whats and wheres san jose mitsuwa? ohh and one more question. i think you posted on the dress center dress thread but what winter percussion/school are you from/teaching?  ;D
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Mitsuwa is a Japanese supermarket located off of Saratoga Ave./I-280 in San Jose.  I got my electric takoyaki/okonomiyai grill there...I went to the SF one thinking they would have a better selection there and in SF J-Town in general, but I wasn't able to find an electric one.  Mine makes just about 2 dozen takoyaki's per batch.

Yeah...I did post on that thread...I teach at Arroyo High School in San Lorenzo. 

ive heard their takoyaki isnt too great.

At this rate, i think im abandoning my search for it. Im about to just go buy a grill and make it myself *nods*

a good.. 30 - 40 dollar investment lol

I got an electric takoyaki maker (actually has removable griddles, one for takoyaki and the other for okonomiyaki) for about $45 total (including tax) from San Jose Mitsuwa last year...get it now before the dreaded sales tax hike on April 1st.

Ever since then, I have been throwing Takoyaki parties at home and at school with my anime club students as well as my marching band and winter percussion students.

You can get everything at the market, including the flour mix - just add egg and water.  I usually use cabbage, tako (of course), tenkasu (looks exactly like Rice Krispies), pickeled red ginger, and thinly sliced mochi (I usually get the dry thin sliced ones for Shabu Shabu....it adds a great gooey texture to the takoyaki!).  I added cheese once to try to imitate the takoyaki chips I had, but found it too cheesy tasting...you may like it though.  Don't forget the bonito flakes, sauce and Kewpi mayo!!!

If I run out of the savory fillings...I then make Chocoyaki!!!!  Just toss a few chocolate chips and sliced mochi in the molds and you now have a dessert!  The trick is to add the batter in the molds and let it cook a bit before you add the chips and mochi.  Other wise, the chips will sink and you'll have burnt chips.  (Hint: you can fix this buy mixing the chips in a little bit of flower before adding to the batter...helps keep them afloat).

....I must have some free time if I am able to reply to this post during winter percussion season.....

Here goes...

Arroyo High School (came in during 8th grade...didn't have middle schools back then...I had to learn how to mature really quick in front of the intimidating Seniors...)

-Orchestra from 93'-97'
-Marching Band 2 years (joined my Junior year when the percussionist from marching band accidentally broke my cello the year before. I vowed to look after the cellos by joining the band...but I fell in love with percussion since then)
-Concert Band & Jazz Band 96'-97'

Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets 98' & 99' (PIT)

San Jose State Marching Band 97'-....I don't remember...about 6 years or so...I didn't major in percussion...cello was my thing...but now I want to go back and get my BA/BM in percussion.

What I do now...
-Subbing as I am an unemployed music teacher due to state budget cuts, but looking around for a full time teaching gig now....
...To pass the time I have been helping out my husband teaching marching band and winter percussion this year....I told myself that last year would be the last time, but here I am again 11 years later.

...winter percussion is taking over my life till the day after NCBA Championships in Stockton.  Catch the show if you can at Granada HS, Foothill HS and/or Championships...Arroyo is doing a Winter Frolic...Classical music portraying fun in the snow...the uniforms were a nice idea in December...I hope it stays cold till Championships ;D

[approved school field trip]

You know...when they ask for roomates you would still have to pay. If you have 8 people, it is easier to get 2 rooms and have 4 to a room for the weekend among yourselves without the headaches of outside people. Just saying.

Yes that's true. But that was our original plan. As it turns out, we just do not have enough for all four nights for two rooms. From what me and the VP calculated, we need $1300+ the deposit. And each member going would have to pay up roughly $160 if I remember correctly. We just do not want to have our members to burn holes in their pockets just to get a hotel room. Not to mention that they need spending money on goods and food. -_-;
Getting the members to room with others is our cheapest option at the moment....

This is to both you and Sushi-

My advice? Drop ~250 dollars off the price by not staying Thursday night. I mean, I'm guessing you guys have classes that Friday, because most of the high schools are in session still, and I"m thinking the school might notice a pattern if 10 of the students that were missing were in the anime club and, oh look, there's a convention. Seriously, you really don't need to stay over Thursday night. the Dealers room doesn't even open til mid afternoon, I think the opening ceremonies are around 1 or 2 PM...it's just not worth it and you would save a LOT. Yeah it's fun/convenient to be there thursday night, but if you've got money troubles and trying to coordinate it with 10 people...beggars can't be choosers. That's mainly what I'm saying.

That will bring your hotel cost down to ~1000 dollars. Which is $100 per member. You're still going to have like 5 people in each room though the maximum occupancy is 4, but at least you're trying for  2 rooms instead of cramming 10 people in one room (as people have done in the past).

If you could find a parent to hold the room on their card, you'd be set...because the only other major obstacle I see is that you guys are all under 18 and therefore couldn't get a hotel room if you wanted to. Unless someone will be 18 by the convention...

Well, we are getting this approved by the school as a "field trip" on Friday, so they wouldn't really notice much, other then those kids went to a "field trip" on Friday.

Alright...somehow, our housing problem just resolved itself down to like 2 people ._.;;;
...So yeah...

....since this is an approved school field trip, you should be staying in hotel rooms that are booked under your anime club for LEGAL reasons.  If anyone at school (i.e. administrators) found out your club members were doing this and not following the proper rules of going on a sanctioned field trip (i.e. teacher/adult chaperon, assigned rooms for members, field trip/medical release forms, etc.) your club would be shut down and your adviser would be in deep doo-doo.

I now that the economy is rough and that you are all trying to save money, but you have to put things in perspective in terms of what a school club can do and can't do on a field trip.  Just because you aren't going to be on school grounds, doesn't mean that the school rules fly out the window.

So knowing that...we shall discuss this tomorrow at the anime club meeting.  You have been forewarned....

The 2009 Logistics Dept. are looking for a few good people to join our staff.  If you are looking for a staff position and want to be a part of this great convention, then Logistics may be for you!

Don't know what Logistics does?  Logistics are basically the ways and means for Fanime.  We help other depts retrieve the equipment and supplies they need to help run the convention from the Fanime office and other vendors.  We fulfill small odd jobs during the convention.  Logistics also helps arrange, clean, and inventory the Fanime Office in San Jose.  Most of the work that Logistics does is done before the con (even as early as February) and after the con. 

It may seem like a lot of work to do before and after the con, but the plus side is is that you get to enjoy the con more since most of the work load is pre and post con. 

So...does Logistics sound right for you?  Here are the requirements to be considered Logistics staff:

- Have a great attitude.
- Have to be at least 18 yrs old by March.
- Need to be able to lift 40 lbs or more (we carry large boxes)
- Is available to do pre-con work
(e.g. help clean and arrange Fanime Office in San Jose on specified days-usually weekends and some weekdays)

If you have further questions, you can post them, e-mail me, or meet me at the upcoming February 8th meeting.  I'll be wearing the bright orange jumpsuit.... ;D 

-Arlene
Logistics Dept. Head

e-mail: [email protected]

Everything was fine until we went to check in. The guy at the counter ran my card through four times, one for each person he said.

Many hotels are now charging a damage deposit when you check in - a safety precaution for them so they don't get stiffed by those who play rock star in their room.  I think it's about $50 a day.  The check in rep at the Marriott should have charged your card per room/per night....NOT PER PERSON.

Sorry that you had to go through that all.  My staff members weren't aware of the new damage deposit this year and had to cancel out on a night because they didn't have enough on their card to cover the expense.

I guess it is a lesson for all of us attending Con next year and plan to stay at either Hilton/Marriott/Crowne, etc....plan to put aside money for the damage deposit when checking in.

Are you talking about the one in Campbell?  I drove by there this evening as I was dropping off some DVD's back at Hollywood Video in the Pruneyard.

It was interesting to see the line out the door and wrapping itself around the building.  Seemed to be more ladies then guys lining up for the restaurant itself when I drove by.  Guess all the girls want to see their fellow girlfriends work at the place or got dragged to go by their boyfriends/guy friends.

I guess it's a big thing for one so young.  But the novelty wore off when I encountered the Hooters in SoCal advertising that they now offered children's menu.

Hey, at least they were making it a family friendly restaurant. :P

 

If you are willing to hop onto LightRail, ride it up north to J-Town.  There are a bunch of good restaurants to hit as well as the Nijiya Market with its wide variety of bento boxes and different sweet breads (i.e. melon bread, an-pan, etc.).

If you are driving to the con, take a quick detour up to Saratoga Ave in North San Jose(about 7 minutes with no traffic) and head over to Clover bakery in the Japanese market center (market center is called Strawberry.... something....).

Clover bakery has great sweet and savory Japanese style breads (ex. yakisoba-pan, okonomiyaki-pan, curry-pan, melon-pan, etc.) at unbeatable prices ($1.25-$1.75).  Two to three of these breads will fill you up and if you buy more, they can energize you throughout the day. 

If anyone wants directions to Clover, I'll be more than happy to post them later.

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Do you guys do NCBA or CCGC? I taught Indy high and Springstowne MS this year
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This year, we were in NCBA (got dropped down from Open to Scholastic [was hoping to get dropped down lower] because I had a very green group this year).  Last year we did both NCBA and CCGC....we were the group with the tight black spandex uniforms with bright neon splash of color.

whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat no perc?! for shame! for shaaaaaaaaaame!

I actually signed up my winter percussion ensemble (just the PIT) for Masquerade as a special performance group.  We're going to play music from a winter percussion show we did 3 years ago...Yakitate! Ja-pan.  I didn't have enough time to put a battery together for this, so the PIT ensemble will have to do.  They're going to dress up as chefs.  Hopefully we'll get a slot at Masquerade and be able to perform! 

If you'd like to see the full winter percussion show of Yakitate! Ja-pan, you can find it in YouTube under Yakitate! Arroyo High School Winter Percussion....(even though we didn't place at Championships, it was fun being in Open class for the first time...and watching my students marching their butts off  at 212 bpm.... :P).

I just remembered another crazy moment/day.....

It's the last day of con and my staffers and I were dressed in our Logsitics uniform (bright orange jumpsuits with FanimeCon Logistics logo on back) getting ready to clean up.

I must have had about a dozen attendees asking me where they could get jumpsuits like ours so that they could cosplay as Logistic workers for next year..... :shock:

I was touched that they wanted to cosplay the Logistics department...

:wink: