Pacific Media Expo 2009: Day 2

November 8, 2009 by super-no1

During a three-day convention, the second is the usually the busiest. It’s the only day where you get a full-day of programming. There was heavy traffic for the second day of Pacific Media Expo, an Asian pop culture convention currently going on at the Los Angeles Airport Hilton. Saturday’s events got off to an early start with Western Regional Tournament for the World Eskrima-Kali-Arnis Federation, which is devoted to Filipino martial arts. This day-long tournament featured full contact weapons sparring and forms and drew competitors from all over the western region of the United States.

Just in time for lunch, a Kogi BBQ truck rolled into the alley tucked in behind the Hilton for a three-hour stint. The Kogi trucks are somewhat local icons. The menu is very limited but features unique dishes such as Korean BBQ burritos and tacos and kimchi quesadillas. Wherever these trucks go, large crowds follow and Pacific Media Expo was no exception. Before the truck showed up, the line of people waiting to place their orders was approximately 50-75 people. For people at the end of the line, it would be nearly one hour before they reached the head of the line to place their orders.

The dealers hall, artists alley, and boutique shops continued to do steady business. Attendees were able to buy anime good, Asian foods and snacks, designer label clothing, fan art, books and calenders, and grooming products.

Saturday’s concert had an afternoon time slot this year and featured solo local acts Poel, Nobu Albatross, Kiryu, and the band Lemon Drop Kick. A larger than expected crowd showed up to support these local acts. With a surprise announcement, guests of honor UchuSentai NOIZ performed another brief concert to the delight of convention attendees.

In the evening, it was time for cosplayers to take the stage with the CosFest masquerade competition. The contest featured nearly twice as many entries as last year. The audience was treated to skits, performances, and costume displays by the show’s competitors. Competition was fierce for the cash awards given out to the top performers in various categories.

At many anime conventions, most days typically end with a late-night dance. For Saturday night’s dance at Pacific Media Expo, guest of honor Takuya Angel served as the DJ. The dance was delayed for over one hour, but for fans, it was well worth the wait. Pacific Media Expo continues through Sunday November 8 in Los Angeles.