Biggest Little Fur Con 2019


My suit heads in the hotel room.
While my first BLFC the year before was a somewhat last-minute plan in which I stayed off-site, a bit more forethought went into the 2019 edition. We snagged a main hotel room, and finally I would know the joy and luxury of staying at the con's hotel, the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino.

In the weeks leading up to the event, I entered an unprecedented state of con prep productivity. I finished my new fursuit, Cash, who I had failed to complete in time for FC'19. My friends and I decided to make Pokemon-sonas before the con, and I finished 4 Pokesona badges for us on top of completing 2 acrylic paintings to enter in the art show.

All of that while working full-time was quite impressive for me...it seemed a good sign that a great BLFC lay ahead.
Biggest Little Fur Con 2019 was held in Reno, Nevada from May 16-19th.


My Saint Christopher and Wepwawet pieces hanging in the art show.
My bus journey to the SeaTac Airport started early on Thursday morning. I had a comical amount of luggage with me compared to the other riders, but luckily I made friends with a nice older woman at the bus stop who was on her way to visit family in Korea. She helped me in getting my massive suitcase and bags up the steps of the bus. After finally getting to the airport and making it through security, I had time to enjoy some iced coffee and Sbarro before boarding the plane to San Jose - the first leg of my trek.

Unfortunately, the flight was severely delayed, and my stress was only exacerbated by the annoying kid sitting behind me and kicking my chair the whole time. When we finally landed at SJC, those of us heading to Reno all rushed to our connecting flight, which had thankfully been held for us. The flight was totally packed, but I just felt grateful to have caught it. It was only a brief journey, and soon I was able to look out the window and see the GSR down below, calling out to me in the distance.

After getting my bags I waited for the complimentary shuttle from the airport to the GSR. A huge gaggle of furries waited with me. Fursuit heads and furry graphic tees all around. When the shuttle finally arrived, I was impressed that all of us AND all our luggage were able to fit. It was just after 5 PM when I finally made it to my destination. I headed straight for the GSR Starbucks, where I immediately ran into Mint! Kasey, Jay and Labov soon appeared too, and I was able to give Kasey the little dog figure I found while thrifting that reminded me of their fursona. Once I got drinks for Jovian and I, I was at long last able to head up to the room.


Two handsome cowboys in the elevator.
After registering for the con, I headed to the art show setup and hung my two paintings. It was an exciting feeling to see my work hanging at a con for the first time. I then hung out with Greg for awhile, and soon joined a group for that time-honored BLFC tradition: hitting the buffet. It was incredible.

Later, I fursuited in Cash for the first time, ran into lots of friends, and enjoyed an old fashioned made by Proggy in the hotel room.

Friday, of course, involved the necessary Wal-Mart trip to stock up on groceries. I had already brought along my blender and some ingredients for tropical cocktails in my luggage, but the rest of the liquor needed to be purchased. Not to mention a decent supply of Pedialyte.


The start of the Black Eyed Susan, on the big screen.
Jovian and I checked out the William Hill Sportsbook at the hotel, which also includes a racebook - that is, an area to bet on horse races and watch them on huge screens, while chilling in your own little cubicle that even has its own miniature TV. As racing fans, it was truly heaven on earth...especially the fact we were experiencing it while simultaneously attending a furry convention. And they even let you smoke cigarettes there!

That weekend was the Preakness Stakes, which, for the uninformed, is part of the Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing and therefore one of the most important American races each year. So we knew we'd be camping out at the racebook for awhile on Saturday. But for Friday, the main event was the Black Eyed Susan Stakes - the Preakness's counterpart for female horses. Not feeling particularly attached to anyone in the race, Jov and I were able to just sit back and relax as we watched Javier Castellano guide the filly Point of Honor home to win by a half length.

On Saturday, Jovian and I, of course, had to stop by the inflatables panel. I allowed Gambling Garfield to play with some of them. We met some fursuiters who were cuddling with a massive husky plush amidst the inflatables, and learned it was made by Plushlife, a company we both decided we might have to look into buying from someday.


Gambling Garfield making friends.
The Dealer’s Den, just like last year, was great and there were many repeat visits throughout the con. Once again, the highlight was the Rabbit Valley Comics booth, which we shopped at multiple times. This year there were signs around the booth indicating that this would be Rabbit Valley's final time lugging their inventory to a con, and from now on it would be online orders only. This was really sad news to me, but the upside was that great deals were being offered as a result.

Around 4 PM, it was time for the Preakness. Jov and I made our way to the racebook, spending some time deciding what bets we wanted to place. We bonded with a group of three old men, unaffiliated with the convention, seated behind us. When a couple friends arrived to watch the race with us, they were a little caught off guard to see a random old guy call Jovian by name and offer him a light for his cigarette.

I was feeling attached to Anothertwistafate, a horse who was, at the time, trained by Blaine Wright. Blaine is a major trainer at our local Washington track, Emerald Downs, and it's pretty rare to see a local trainer make it to the big leagues, so I was quite biased and formed a couple small bets around my hope of seeing Anothertwistafate finish in the top 3. Meanwhile, my dad had caught a news segment about the competitor War of Will, and had a good feeling about the horse, so he texted me asking to place a $20 win bet for him. I had to admit...it did seem like War of Will had an excellent chance. But logic was not winning out this time - I was too emotionally invested in others in the race.


Gambling Garfield is fed a cigarette from off screen while waiting for the start of the Preakness.
The Preakness was a thriller from the start, with 20-1 shot Bodexpress dramatically unseating his rider right out of the gate and running the race on his own accord. In the end, poor Anothertwistafate finished in 10th place...but War of Will was piloted to a 1 1/4-length win by Tyler Gaffalione! I excitedly texted my dad about his victory while Bodexpress gleefully ran the entire racecourse a second lap before he was able to be apprehended. I cashed my dad's ticket and he kindly told me to keep half of the winnings.

Afterwards, Proggy, Jovian and I decided to hit the pool. The weather wasn't ideal, but it meant not a lot of other people were swimming. We had a great time splish splashin' around and sharing some laughs until we headed back to dry off.

Wanting to put my share of the Preakness winnings towards a nice dinner, I was glad I wasn't the only one who was down to go to the GSR's steakhouse that night. I shared a table with Proggy while more friends dined at the table behind ours. I was impressed by Proggy's massive, expensive seafood appetizer. We each tried a different cocktail, and I went for a filet mignon with potato puree, which kicked ass. From there, it was another late night of suiting, hitting the dance, kicking back on the astroturf, and generally fuckin' around.


Piro and I meet Zuel!
I spent some time suiting that day, with Piro accompanying me for awhile. The main event of the night that everyone was gearing up for was Knox's poolside DJ set. After a long day of general fun 'n' friendship, we gathered by the pool, myself in full fursuit. I had a great time mingling in the crowd and dancing with other suiters, but by the time I decided to de-suit and hop in the pool, I hardly had a chance to swim before the pool area had to close for the evening.

Of course, the merriment did not end...I continued suiting and hanging out, and partook in a group diner meal around 1 AM or so, with Momi Hyena and I both in full fursuit and Proggy wearing Rio's head and paws. As for what else happened that night? Well, I don't remember anymore. But I'm sure it involved staying up late and having fun and drinking a lot.

It was a slow start on Sunday. Jovian and I had plans to wear my fursuits for a photoshoot with Atmus. I had time to get a sandwich before Atty met us in the room and took some shots of Cash and Rio engaged in various antics. We then moved down to the pool area for some poolside pictures.


Spotted outside the flea market.
Later, we joined up with a group of friends heading to a nearby flea market. A nice break from the con setting. I didn't end up finding anything of interest besides a cow apron to take home to my roommate, but had fun nonetheless. Soon it was back to the hotel for more meandering and Dealer’s Den browsing. I checked out of the art show - unfortunately, neither of my pieces sold, but just the experience of seeing them hanging up was enough for me.

Eventually I joined in a big group hot tub sesh, which was extremely fun. I decided to be a bit more conservative in my spending near the end of the weekend, so I didn't succumb to the desire to have a frozen cocktail delivered to me tub-side...but the temptation was hard to resist.

Jovian and I took to the casino floor for a round of slots, and won nothing. Later it was time to join some other friends and head to a fursuit cuddle party we'd been invited to in a hotel suite. It was a relaxing time, just hanging out in a pile on the floor. After awhile most of the attendees' attentions were turned to Greg and Jae engaged in a battle of throwing increasingly creative insults at each other.


Momi, Proggy, and I.
When the party wound down, it was your usual Sunday night at a con - more hotel exploring, drinking, and dancing, trying to milk as much social time as possible out of one evening. Proggy wore Cash's head and paws and we stayed up until at least 4 AM, dancing, watching fursuits, and hanging with the few friends able to stay awake. But of course...it had to come to an end.

After checking out of the hotel the next morning, I left my bags with the front desk and mingled with my remaining friends at the casino bar and on the astroturf. I squeezed in one last visit to the racebook, watching a couple races and checking the race cards at various tracks all on my lonesome. There was one last activity left for the weekend, though: a group of friends and I took a Lyft to In-n-Out. It was my first time going. Pretty good.


What will they order?
And after that...it was back to get my bags and wait for the complimentary shuttle back to the airport. My flight, once again, ended up being delayed! It was a rough trip home while feeling hungover and exhausted, and I didn't get to where I was staying for the night until sometime around 1 AM. Meanwhile, little did I know, another bit of trouble was brewing: the bag containing Rio's head and paws was going to be driven back to Washington by Ren so as to lighten my load, but it must have fallen off the very full luggage cart, because it didn't end up in Ren's car!

It took several tries of both Ren and I contacting the GSR and the convention, but eventually...the bag was found. It wasn't until July that it was shipped to me from the GSR. In the end, Rio made it home safe. Just another exciting memory to top off a fine BLFC.


A couple photographs by Atmus.


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