Count on seeing a cosplay afficiando or two this weekend at Montreal’s all-out bonanza of comics, sci-fi, fantasy and everything geek. (Tehosterihens Deer)
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Montreal’s hit convention Montreal ComicCon is back again at Palais des Congrès this weekend with guests such as Elijah Wood (The Lord of The Rings), Georges St-Pierre (UFC), and James and Oliver Phellps (Harry Potter).
The convention starts today at 1 p.m. and closes at 9:15 p.m., and opens back up at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The convention is always a fun-filled area with comics, action figures, manga, and anything to satisfy your inner geek.
Here are some tips to help with money, food, travel, and cosplay when going to ComicCon.
Money
The most important aspect of being at a con is having money.
When at the convention, there will be dozens of items that will catch your eye, and when you find that item you really want, you reach into your wallet and find nothing.
Then you ponder why you spent $150 on an action figure you’ll never touch.
Don’t let this happen to you! Plan accordingly. Before you leave for the con, plan on what you want to buy ahead of time and stick to it. Think of that comic book you’ve always wanted, that celebrity you want to say hi too, and think of transportation.
Set a specific amount aside on what you’ll spend and bring extra in case of an emergency. Don’t waste it on a Hello Kitty doll, and use your visa or debit card only in case of an emergency.
Prices will be listed online or at the convention.
Food
Montreal is home to world-famous cuisines and restaurants, and luckily, Chinatown is located minutes away from the convention centre.
Top-rated restaurants are the Noodle Factory, Qing Hua Dumpling, and Beijing restaurant. The convention centre also has restaurants and fast-food areas to satisfy one’s quick need for food, but for better taste, one must go to Beijing restaurant and order General Tao, fried rice and duck. Chinatown meals tend to cost from $10-$20 and the walk is five minutes from the con’s doors.
Travel
The convention centre is roughly a 15-20 minute drive from Kahnawake, but count on more time than that because of bridge and other construction.
Parking near Palais des Congrès is easily $20 and can be more thanks to the thousands of people the convention brings. A pro tip is to park your car at the Angrignon metro, which costs $11 for 24 hours or $7 for a few hours. Either way it saves money and gas including the $6 two way metro pass. Metro station Place d’Armes is directly underneath the convention and is one of the easiest ways to get in. With stops and delays, the metro ride will be roughly 20-25 minutes.
Cosplay
Perhaps the best part of ComicCon is the costumes and attire. Most attendees dress up in costumes due to their passion and love for a specific character. Some dress to impress, while others do it for the fun of it.
Traditionally there is a costume contest with cash prizes and the competition can be stiff. People spend hours and hundreds of dollars perfecting their costumes in order to catch the naked eye, get photographed or to enter the contest.
If you are going to the ComicCon be prepared for heat. The halls and rooms have air conditioning, but due to the thousands of attendees being around, the temperature rises. A tip to help in this scenario is to bring deodorant and spray because if you’re in a bodysuit all day walking around, it can get nasty and sweaty and no one wants that.
Teho.deer98@gmail.com
