PUDDLE is almost here, so I thought I’d post a few tips about what to e
ect for those of you have not attended before.
We’ll start with Friday. If you arrive on Friday, don’t feel shy about walking around the hotel or sitting in the lobby with a doll. Others will be doing the same and looking for people to talk with. If you have nothing else to do, hanging out in the lobby is a fun way to meet some people before Saturday. Most of the hotel staff is well used to this behavior!
Around 5:30 pm anyone who is interested is invited to meet in the lobby and carpool over to Mitsuwa Mall for dinner and shopping. (Some years we even been able to take one of the hotel shuttles over.) Mitsuwa has Japanese restaurants, grocery store, bakery (my personal favorite!), and bookstore. The store has changed since last year and is even more awesome, carrying some anime figures and other new stuff.
Mitsuwa gets pretty crowded, so just look for other doll fans and sit with or near them. It’s impossible to all sit together, but it’s still a great opportunity to chat with others before Saturday.
If you live in the area and can’t attend on Saturday, you are welcome to join us at Mitsuwa or at the hotel afterwards.
After we return from Mitsuwa, around 7:30-8:00, we meet in the lobby for an informal tea party and meet. You are welcome to bring things to buy, sell, or trade. We sit around, chat, admire each other’s dolls, and play. Most of us don’t stay up too late because PUDDLE starts early on Saturday!