Miscellaneous
While most of my favorite stuff this year was games and anime, there were a few other activities I enjoyed, as well.
BAND-MAID
I first saw BAND-MAID live at the Gramercy Theater in New York City back in 2019, so when they announced their U.S. tour this year, I absolutely had to go again. I love this band, and seeing them live is an amazing experience. Well this time we saw them in Boston, and after waiting in line for literally 12 hours, we also got barricade spots right in front of lead guitarist Kanami. It was fantastic. They had so much energy and the crowd was super responsive. It was seriously an amazing time and I cannot wait for them to come back to my neck of the woods again.
RetroGameCon
I finally got to return to my favorite local convention, RetroGameCon, for the first time in years, and it was so much fun. I’ve watched this convention grow from really tiny roots over the years, and seeing its success always fills me with a lot of warmth and happiness. There is so much to do, from a plethora of vendors to stage shows, panels, tournaments, and an impressive lineup of vintage computer and console games that are free-to-play. Getting to experience the breadth of what gaming has had to offer over the decades is legitimately some of the most fun I’ve had, and seeing how younger kids react to what I grew up with is fascinating. If you’re ever able to attend, I highly recommend it.
Longwood Gardens
I am a sucker for flowers of all kinds, and Longwood Gardens is one of my absolute favorite places to visit for its extensive collection of flora. This year we went during their Christmas Lights exhibit, and it was absolutely stunning. We’ve been to the exhibit once before, as well as visited during the summer, but there’s something really ethereal and fantastical about seeing all the flowers and trees covered in lights and garland. It was a lovely endcap to the year.
And that’s my 2022 in Review list! I hope this past year treated all our readers well, and that 2023 brings you joy and safety. Here’s to another year of games, anime, and all-around goodness~
