Blerdcon Is Trying To Become Your First Choice in All Things Convention

I’m watching my partner in nerd, my co-founder Omar try to conquer a shaved ice from the Blerdcon BBQ event that’s larger than the mass of hair he has been growing out over the last few years. He’s losing. I chose a simple smoothie that I downed in about seventeen minutes. Lauren won this particular sweepstakes with some fruit blended medley that was neither mediocre, nor messy. This is my first time at Blerdcon (its second year of existence) but after a weekend there, it’s apparent this is a metaphor for the convention itself. Everyone can get something specific they are looking for. Sometimes you go simple. Sometimes you bite off more than you can chew. But its always on your terms. After the success of Blerdcon’s launch last year, BNP invested heavily this year, hosting panels and sending more folks to cover it. The word was that Blerdcon exceeded expectations by providing space, an abundance for every kind of nerd, with a bend towards inclusion for marginalized voices. This year, it succeeds in that, in spades. There is no shortage of either content or personality on display. Custom pops by Eboni Aegis Setting For a new con, the setting of the Hyatt Regency in Alexandria, VA worked out well for accessibility to events, panels, etc. Even parking (the scourge for an outsider of DC like myself) was readily available for those traveling via car. And folks traveled in droves. What I imagined would be a well attended on a small scale con, and what I witnessed was a well-attende…