Category: Guides

The Speakeasy #041: Con Hangover, Survive the Con

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Drink #041: Con Hangover
Survive the Con

With con season on the brain, we realized we’d never really done a con survival guide for the podcast. And the con survival we’d done for the blog is now years old so we hope we have at least learned a few new things since then. So get hyped for con season as we delve out advice on potential convention options, running panels, avoiding bootlegs in the Dealers Room, and much more. Dave from ANN’s Astro Toy helps out in our Dealers Room segment about bootlegs, too!

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And now your helpful bartenders at The Speakeasy present your drink:

Con Hangover

2oz Gin        
1oz Irish Cream        
1oz Scotch        
2oz Vodka   

Directions:     
Mix together with crushed ice in a glass and garnish with mint leaves.

No Case Too Small: Sword Art Online

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The case in question is episodes 5-6 of Sword Art Online

narutaki Let’s not get into a whole discussion about the rest of Sword Art Online, alright? I liked a lot of the episodes in the first part of the story. This murder in a safe zone case of course stuck out. And thanks to a comment on the last installment of this article series, I realized I had neglected this mystery for No Case Too Small.

Since Sword Art Online takes place inside an MMO there are certain structures and rules set-up by the game that can’t be broken by just simply wanting to do so. One of those is safe zones which prevent “player-killing.” So when Asuna and Kirito stumble upon what appears to be a murder in progress, everyone is understandable alarmed.

Asuna and Kirito are on the case after talking with a witness and former guildmate of the victim. The guild had broken up after the death of one of their members, Griselda, and suspicions about the rare tem she was going to sell before her death. Perhaps the victim’s husband is taking revenge? A ghost perhaps?

Then a second murder happens right before their eyes.

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Otaku NYC: Udon West

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narutaki As the name implies, Udon West, specializes in thick, slightly chewy Japanese wheat noodles. Much like ramen, you can get udon with various broths and add-ins, spicy to mild. One of the things I love best about Udon West is their penchant for adding fried things into the soup. You must get some of their delicious tempura goodness in your udon, you simply must.

At Udon West the prices are low and the service is quick. I really enjoy the atmosphere at the St. Mark’s restaurant; it feels intimate, local, special. You can see them cook up a storm mere feet in front of you from the long bar that hugs the kitchen. There are a couple of small tables in the back as well but the place is quite small. You can easily be out of luck for getting a seat during busy periods.

Also, you need to keep your eye out when looking for the entrance. St. Mark’s is busy and bright with a lot of nooks, Udon West is down a couple of steps and set back a little from the sidewalk. It is an easy place to miss among the bustle.