To old-school Fanimecon-ers

otakuya · February 20, 2006, 09:43:05 PM

Upon passing by the Santa Clara Convention Center yesterday, I realized that the old home of Fanime, the Westin Hotel, is no more! They changed to the Hyatt Santa Clara. I don't know if it is of any significance for anyone here now, unless FC moves back there.

Hyatt or Westin, it'll always be known as the old home of Fanime, and the place where I first attended an anime convention.

Tsubasa · February 20, 2006, 09:51:26 PM

Wow, who'da thunk? I think that venue had more character than the SJ Convention Center, but there are obviously other perks afforded by the current location.

The now-former Westin is home to some of my best con memories. My favorite Fanime of all time was probably 2002. Good times.

Tuplica · February 20, 2006, 11:31:18 PM

Awwww! I agree, I felt it had more character (or was overall just more fancy-schmancy upscale). Pity, I loved the Westin. They had such a great hotel and the beds were deliciously comfortable... Aw, well. Wouldn't be staying there again anyway, most likely. ;)

JorgeRPG077 · February 20, 2006, 11:48:48 PM

I say Yay?

:D

That's good news to hear, I liked the place when I attended fanime from 2000-2004, despite the idiot employees at the Westin. I'm glad that they changed the name of the hotel and hopefully, replaced all of the bad seed employees as well.

astroboy · February 21, 2006, 05:46:38 PM

I enjoyed the free parking but the wealth of restaurants within walking distance at our current location makes up for it.

The nice thing about the old place was you can walk from one end of building all the way to the other and back again several times and not feel sore by the end of the day. The same cannot be said of Fanime's current home.

Chloe · February 21, 2006, 08:09:47 PM

Yeah, that'd be true~

2003 was my first time, but I used to drop off my brother there all the time, it sure means something though. I guess it's convient having it in SJ Convention now, but surely, as you mentioned before, the Santa Teresa will be known as it's old home~

Tuplica · February 21, 2006, 08:19:01 PM

Never felt sore myself walking from place to place (and I usually stay at the Hilton) but maybe that's because I'm not staff. You guys are probably running all over the place all the time, right?

Generally speaking, I like the new con center. I liked the luxuriousness of the old con center, quite true, and I ADORED the outdoor passing areas where you could get some air (be free of the fanboy/girl/etc stench) and just enjoy the weather, but... I'm used to the new con center now. It works well enough.

~~Loktera~~ · February 21, 2006, 09:02:25 PM

Some of the best Fanime's did happen over there. Kinda amazed at how long ago it was though... But the con outgrew the old venue... This little crab needed to shed its old shell and take on a newer, bigger, comfier one.

Shinsengumi · February 22, 2006, 12:57:50 AM

Fanime 2003 I was my first anime convention ever, I thought 2004 was going to be in the same place but moved it to San Jose but I remember that.

PassingTheBuck · February 22, 2006, 08:12:20 AM

Quote from: astroboyI enjoyed the free parking but the wealth of restaurants within walking distance at our current location makes up for it.

The nice thing about the old place was you can walk from one end of building all the way to the other and back again several times and not feel sore by the end of the day. The same cannot be said of Fanime's current home.

The free parking is gone at Santa Clara, it is charge by the hour now....

Bummer...

Craige...

the otaku god · February 22, 2006, 08:38:33 PM

i'm sorry but i never really liked the santa clara too much. my most fun days at fanimecon were the foothill days.
who with me?!

i felt there were a lot of video rooms and a movie theater. also the dealers room had good deals back in the days, lots of live programming and tons of pannals. thats just how i feel. thats why i'm trying to bring back that feel in my video programming.
mabe there should be another con agian at foot for old times sake.

Leishu · February 23, 2006, 02:32:13 AM

I have many fond memories at foothill... but one sums it up best:

There was this one cosplayer who dressed as Ryouga from Ranma 1/2 at the last year at Foothill. He would go back and forth between rooms, asking for directions and, true to character, would walk in the opposite direction of whatever advice he was given. That's in-character cosplay for ya. I also recall seeing Nausicaa at one of those years, don't remember which and, of course, Death and Rebirth. Those were the days. ^_^

ININ · February 23, 2006, 09:45:54 AM

I'm with the Foothill group, too. Gosh, I feel old ^^

Fanime 2003 was my best Fanime at the Santa Clara Convention Center. Everything was close together. Although today Fanime has outgrown the Santa Clara Convention Center. And I liked the free parking back then.

BTW, I'm curious, what is the latest of the founder of Fanime. I forgot his name. Is it James? I do remember he was married and played the piano, if I'm not mistaken :)

gmontem · February 23, 2006, 02:14:51 PM

Ahhh I remember the good old days when the Registration section used to be in the hotel side until that one year when it moved to the SCCC area. I didn't know about the move so imagine the long walk I had to endure. For some weird reason pre-reg night closed the earliest (which I didn't know either) so the place was closed by the time I got there. Bwahahahaha! *wipes a tear* Oh nm I didn't like those memories. *shakes fist at SCCC*

gmontem · February 23, 2006, 02:19:45 PM

Quote from: ININFanime 2003 was my best Fanime at the Santa Clara Convention Center. Everything was close together. Although today Fanime has outgrown the Santa Clara Convention Center. And I liked the free parking back then.

If I got the years correctly I think 2003 was my best year, too! By some stroke of dumb luck I was only able to attend Fanime on Sunday. I felt uninspired to take pics when I got there and so ended up with only a half dozen shots. lol. At least I got a pic of the Kuroneko-sama plush doing it with the Ein plush at the Fanime booth....

Sunara Ishi · February 25, 2006, 02:00:19 PM

I liked that one also... The SJ one still feels odd to me though its more convienent... >.> (also started going when it was at the sccc...)
I miss the anime rooms... It was nice to have them so close together.
They had great placement, the placement that anime rooms at a con should have... XP

I think my fave was either the 2003 or 2004... /hmm... (I only went one day in 2003.... >.>)
I still have my tote bag. XD
Those were the years where I spent the most money, too... >.>
And learned my lesson as a n00b... >.>

Quote from: gmontemAhhh I remember the good old days when the Registration section used to be in the hotel side until that one year when it moved to the SCCC area. I didn't know about the move so imagine the long walk I had to endure. For some weird reason pre-reg night closed the earliest (which I didn't know either) so the place was closed by the time I got there. Bwahahahaha! *wipes a tear* Oh nm I didn't like those memories. *shakes fist at SCCC*

I remember that. It was a lil annoying... >.>

Quote from: astroboyI enjoyed the free parking but the wealth of restaurants within walking distance at our current location makes up for it.

The other thing I remember.. ^.^;; I was OMG! There's nothing around except by car but I have no car= cryz... The food at con was ok but not that good... I think I just went the whole day w/o food.... >.>

Mach5Motorsport · February 28, 2006, 04:43:43 PM

Damn....This is getting nostalgic. Just like the KOR Movie working title. 8)

sigh.......they charge for parking now???? wow, see what happens when the Hilton sisters takes over!! :shock:

~~Loktera~~ · February 28, 2006, 11:38:37 PM

Quote from: Mach5MotorsportDamn....This is getting nostalgic. Just like the KOR Movie working title. 8)

sigh.......they charge for parking now???? wow, see what happens when the Hilton sisters takes over!! :shock:

They need money for new purses and strips of fabric they call clothing...

Tuplica · March 01, 2006, 12:03:04 AM

Quote from: gmontemAhhh I remember the good old days when the Registration section used to be in the hotel side until that one year when it moved to the SCCC area. I didn't know about the move so imagine the long walk I had to endure. For some weird reason pre-reg night closed the earliest (which I didn't know either) so the place was closed by the time I got there. Bwahahahaha! *wipes a tear* Oh nm I didn't like those memories. *shakes fist at SCCC*

You too?? When I went in 2003, I assumed it'd be in the same place it was in 2002. It only made sense to me. So my friend and I hiked all the way over to where it had been only to realize that it'd moved. I felt so stupid! She ended up asking for directions and we got back to where we were supposed to be, but yeah... And pre-reg did close so early back in those days.

Vanessa · March 01, 2006, 01:14:02 PM

Quote from: LeishuI have many fond memories at foothill... but one sums it up best:

There was this one cosplayer who dressed as Ryouga from Ranma 1/2 at the last year at Foothill. He would go back and forth between rooms, asking for directions and, true to character, would walk in the opposite direction of whatever advice he was given. That's in-character cosplay for ya. I also recall seeing Nausicaa at one of those years, don't remember which and, of course, Death and Rebirth. Those were the days. ^_^

Wow. I remember this as well. I attended fanime when it was at the Foothills College. damn. Now I feel really OLD.