Images From Pittsburgh Anthrocon, 2011

Here's a sample of the shots I took around this years Anthrocon Convention, which I missed last year. It seemed bigger and from what I heard they were very short of hotel space.

I'm not sure if the shots capture it, but the total level of creativity and invention seemed higher with a larger number of purely invented characters and creatures.

My impression is that this has gone somewhat more mainstream with a smaller percent of people fitting the geek stereotypes and large number of folks who-um, look cute without a fur suite if you know what I mean.

There was also more obviously hand crafted gear, which often showed even more expressiveness.

Pittsburgh, Superhero Block Party: Fantasy, Furries, Performances Downtown

Each year the Furry Fest gets better and more creative as the city embraces it.

From The Toonseum Website

Two of downtown’s most eclectic and innovative nonprofit arts organizations are teaming up to bring you a day of superhero-themed activities for the whole family!

Parents and kids aged 6-12 will enjoy a host of activities, including a Superman sound effects workshop, make-your-own superhero costumes, outdoor jazz, free comic books, and a special matinee performance of Midnight Radio: Superhero Edition!

All activities are located on the 900 block of Liberty Avenue downtown.

Activity Schedule

(Participants may attend any or all events.)

12-8pm ToonSeum : Superheroes: Icons & Origins Exhibit

12-1:30pm August Wilson Center: Family Reading Series: John Henry Storytelling & Folklore

12-1:30pm Bricolage: Make your own mask Activity

12-8pm Musicians Courtyard: Make your own cape Activity

12-8pm ToonSeum: Make your own logo Activity

2-3:30 Bricolage: Midnight Radio Superhero Edition! Live Theatre Performance

4pm Bricolage: Superman Sound Effects Interactive Workshop

Afternoon, August Wilson Center: Courtyard Jazz

Time TBD: Live Music

TBD, Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership: Cookies & Comics Free stuff.

Free!

As Promised: Furries ! Shots From Anthrocon 2010

I really was hoping for a set that somehow represented the diversity of Fandom. Fully dressed furries were just a part of it--although, there seemed to be an whole lot of them this year. Many people just had unique T-shirts or were carrying a stuffed animal or in many, cases showed an interest in some other fantasy type character from pirate, to fireman. Actually, the whole vibe was a cross between Halloween and a Dead concert. Still, the furries grabbed the spotlight.

Almost all these shots are by Jean and were taken in or very close to The Weston Hotel.



Even though we didn't attend, we were able to roam the first few floors of the hotel.



The start of a Furry dance party, which turned into a photo-op. (Furries like photo-ops)







Furries support local economy.



Part two later. Thanks Jean for all these amazing photos.

Weekend Right To Life Convention meets Furry Right To Yiff Convention meets The TypewriterGirls Gone Furry @ Future Tenant

Gee, I gotta hope these two crowds meet somehow but the Right to Life folks are at the airport. It's Furry Weekend! I'm scared it might be the last one. Why is the mayor and City Counsel so silent on this issue? Five years ago, there were no condos in the Strip and I think Brillobox wasn't even here. Also, last year the Furries freaked out the Mets and the Pirates got a win out of it.

Special event: Fur is word-er : TypewriterGirls Gone Furry @ Future Tenant Tonight!

Call it a shenanigan-filled, dada-bred poetry cabaret, a celebratory welcome to Anthrocon 2010 or an evening of off-beat unclassifiable entertainment.

On Friday, the Typewriter Girls will team up with the Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails, the Bridge City Bombshells, plus comedian Gab Bonesso, some area poets and others for an evening of controlled artistic chaos loosely organized under the title “The Typewriter Girls Gone Furry.”

The impetus for the evening is Anthrocon 2010, a convention that begins today at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center of “Furry” fans who identify with animals and often dress or act like animals.

Events planned to get attendees in touch with their inner beast include the Bridge City Bombshells performing feats of “Furry Burlesque,” an open bar with themed drinks such as “When Minks Make Love,” a performance by the local band the Hood Gang, and the Typewriter Girls exploring the question of what happens when your pet stuffed monkey wants to become a furry, too.

The evening gets under way at 7:30 p.m. Friday when doors open at Future Tenant, 819 Penn Ave., Downtown. Performances begin around 8 p.m.

Admission: $10, which includes an open bar.

Details: 412-325-7037 or http://typewritergirls.net/ or www.futuretenant.org.

See my furry post and shots from last year.

A Very Furry Fourth

I think this was fourth year Pittsburgh has hosted the largest convention of people with an um interest in animals; animal cartoons, animal games, Sci fi animals, stuffed animals and even a lot of folks who like dressing up as animals.Why? Best not to know probably, but one has to admit that they make a very nice picture. A lot of these suits are very fine and I think many of these characters and costumes are personal inventions. Some for example had invented sports team logos.

I finally got to see a little of this in person and me and my girlfriend got these shots of A Furry outside the hotel, a big furry drinking party outside of Tonic and a Furry Bunny on the Convention Center Walkway. (I will post that when I can)

The NY Mets who have been struggling with injuries were and were in town to do a make up game with the Pirates on July 2nd had the misfortune of spending a long night in the Furry Hotel. Broadcaster and former Met star, Keith Hernandez had this exchange with his broadcast mate the next day.

Hernandez: What are they called..?

Cohen: …wolves…

Hernandez: Ferriers..? All’s I know is I got in the elevator with four of them and the odor was horrific. [Camera shows the Pirate Parrot again.]

Cohen: Not the Pirate Parrot. He’s a natural mascot.

Hernandez: I had to get off. I’m not lyin’. I was on the 17th floor, goin’ down. I had to jump off on the 10th floor. I almost passed out.

Cohen: Guess those costumes don’t breathe very well. But it was, it was something, we walked into the hotel last night, comin’ from Milwaukee, and there was a, a, person in a wolf’s costume. And another person in a dog costume.

Hernandez: I saw a guy with, with his pet beaver. He had his hand, he was stroking it, he was petting it. [Long pause.] I’m serious! It was a, like a stuffed animal, and he was comforting it. Very bizarre.

Cohen: It’s a different world.

For the record-- all the furries I saw seemed very clean, from a safe distance and were all very happy to be photographed.

Jean McClung took most of these shots.