MISTI-Con 2019: Day 4 and Day 5 Recap

I am finally back from a long but fun and eventful Harry Potter convention called MISTI-Con. All I can say is that I had a fantastic time! The Wizarding Though the Ages theme was perfect for this year. Despite the location and date change from previous MISTIs, the magic is always there! I always look forward to reuniting with old friends and making new friends. We all get to step away from the Muggle world and we embrace the magic around us at MISTI-Con. The con provides a safe and judge-free environment for fans to geek and nerd out about fandom. Everyone dressed up as witches and wizards or even magical creatures or bring life to inanimate magical objects. I saw some very creative cosplays like a howler who was shouting about with Mrs. Black to the renfaire like Luna Lovegood.

I will be recapping the convention in a few posts. I always make a schedule prior to each MISTI with programming I would like to attend but I like to be flexible since most of the best moments are not scheduled. It's always being somewhere at the right time. The schedule is an outline for me but I have to say that I have some programming that I made sure I attended.

This is my 4th MISTI-Con and I hope to attend future ones. If you have never attended a Harry Potter convention, I am hoping you will in the future if you are a huge Potterhead. You will make long-lasting memories of a lifetime! Maybe I will see you a future Harry Potter convention whether it be something like MISTI or perhaps even Leviosa or CONjuration.

Check out my recap for Days 1 and 2 and Day 3.

DAY 4: SUNDAY, JULY 21, 2019

The last full day of MISTI-Con! Although it's bittersweet, we all made the best of it. Jess and I woke up early despite the Founders's Ball running into late hours the night before. We wanted to see the Puffs Play: Watch Party since there was a Puffs panel later that day. Unfortunately, I couldn't see Puffs live on Wednesday before the Con so this is the next best thing. It was extremely hilarious despite me being super tired. I was eating my breakfast and drinking my coffee during the watch party since it was at 8:00 am in the morning.

Afterward, I went to the History of Magic of New York panel which was fabulous. I don't know too much about paranormal lore in New York so it was interesting to learn about it with some New Yorkers. The Puffs: The Original Trio Reunion panel started around 11:00. Jess and I saw my sister in the crowd and sat next to her. Unfortunately, Langston couldn't attend the event to do something at SDCC. However, Julie Ann and Zac were in conversation with Clay being the moderator. I am so glad that this panel happened because it was very insightful to hear from the actors about their experience being in the Puffs and also to ask questions. Jess and I didn't know they were doing photos after the panel so we ended up missing that.

Jess and I went to the Common Room and hung out with a lot of people including Dariti and Nessie. There were free snacks there and it was a good time to unwind and catch up with people before more programming for the afternoon and evening. I love how Walburga Black and a Howler ended up visiting the Common Room. I was fortunate enough to have recorded some video of both Mrs. Black and the Howler having a shouting match. It was hilarious!

Jess and I wandered up to the Grand Pre-North hallway and saw Nigel playing acoustic guitar and singing near the Evercrumbly and Witch hat display. There was a nice group of people enjoying time away from the craziness of the con. Jess and I were trying on hats and fascinators as well. I love Evercrumbly's millinery but it can be quite pricey. However, they are all top quality hats and fascinators. I own one Evercrumbly hat but am looking for another hat or fascinator that calls to me. Just like wands, the hat chooses the wizard. We went outside to take some photos briefly. My phone actually animated some of the photos I took of Jess and I. The animation with Jess looked awesome because it really looked like she was battling it out with her wand.

Jess and I parted ways and I attended the Herbology: The Darker Side of Herbs panel where we learned a lot about herbs that are poisonous but also about protection herbs. All attendees were able to make protection amulets at the end of the panel which I thought is a unique addition to the programming. I bumped into Seamus at that panel and we chatted for a bit while waiting in the amulet line.

I met up with Jess after the Herbology panel and we both attended the SLUG Club Meet-Up (Special Lego Users Group) which was pretty much a Lego meetup. We talked about what collections we have and which ones we want. Jill was asking me about the Lego Harry Potter games so we discussed that for a bit too. Jill had a block building contests where a volunteer will have to build a Harry Potter item within an allotted amount of time. We had two people build the Burrow and one person who built Buckbeak. Ni had their Button Pin Swap Meetup which was awesome because we got to see Ni's fabulous pin duster with so many pins! It was nice to chat about pins with other pin enthusiasts.

I ended up going back to the room since Jess and I had time prior to the Closing Ceremonies and Feast. Since we were hungry, we ended up snacking on some food before heading to the Grand Ballroom. The food was delicious with some of the best mashed potatoes I've had in a long time. I know Jess even went up for seconds for the mashed potatoes. They had really good cheesecake too. We ended up sitting with Kira, Kira's mom, Jenny and a few other people. The entertainment MISTI had that night was fabulous! GeekLifeRules had a wonderful Cosplay Cabaret where performers got into character and sung in character. We were graced with the presences of Umbridge, Lily, a 1920's speakeasy singer, Ginny and Moaning Myrtle. There was even an interpretative dance by someone representing a Thestral. Moaning Myrtle was freaking hilarious and probably one of my favorites of the show. Of course, Lawrence was up on stage serenading us.

During the Closing Ceremonies and Feast, the staff mentioned they are taking a much-needed break and they are not sure when the next MISTI will occur. They didn't want rumors spreading about how this is the last MISTI since things like that spread like wildfire on social media. However, they are taking a hiatus for now. It was bittersweet. A lot of people were very understanding but I know some people were teary-eyed. MISTI is a second family for most and it means so much to them. MISTI is a place where you can escape the Muggle world and you can embrace the magic within with other liked-minded people. MISTI is where your forge friendships and your bonds between old friendships grow stronger. MISTI helps you believe in yourself when you struggle in the Muggle world. MISTI is what a lot of people say is some of the best days of their lives. It's is euphoria!

Afterparties occurred once we were dismissed from the Closing Ceremonies and Feast. There were Disney and Broadway singalongs in the Westchester, Karaoke in the Ballroom, board games in the Common Room and people just hung out and had a good time while enjoying the last night of MISTI Everyone wanted to make the best out of the situation of not knowing if this is the last MISTI.

Jess and I stopped by the Disney and Broadway singalong first before taking photos near the Mirror of Erised. We saw Kira and a few people playing board games in the Common Room and watched Golden Snitch, Snitch Snatcher: The Quidditch Game play in action. We spotted a Badger puppet poking into the doorway of the Common Room and being the Hufflepuff she is, Jess went to greet the badger. Afterward, Jess and I then played a few rounds of Harry Potter Guess Who before heading to the Karaoke. We ended up bumping into a lot of people at the Grand Ballroom and the Multifunction room. Jill convinced Jess to sign up for a duet for the Karaoke but the line was so long. I don't think they sang until 1:00 am and they were the second to last act for the night. During the waiting period, I met up with Caroline, who I met earlier at the con, and we chatted for a bit while she was waiting for a ride. Kira, Jenny and I did a Wizard's Unite fortress battle or two outside of the Doubletree. It was a great night full of memories. Everyone was reminiscing over the amazing moments of the con but they wanted to hold on to every fiber of magic possible before returning to the Muggle world.

DAY 5: MONDAY, JULY 22, 2019

So today isn't really the fifth day of the con but it is leaving day for most people. People were tired while they were rolling out their luggage to the lobby. I saw people nodding at each other and we all knew that meant we are tired but the con was worth the sleep deprivation. We hugged and said our goodbyes before hopping into our Uber to head to the train station to head back to Boston. Jess and I went our separate ways once we got to South Station.

Overall, we both had a fabulous time at MISTI-Con. It's always a magical long weekend to escape from the Muggle world. I also have some posts on Instagram under #NicoleAtMISTICon if you want to check that out. I will cherish all the memories I made with old friends and new ones too! MISTI-Con was an unforgettable experience! If you love the Harry Potter fandom, I highly suggest you attend a Harry Potter convention or at least attend Harry Potter themed events. They invoke happiness like Felix Felicis! You won't regret your time at a Harry Potter convention.

MISTI-Con 2019: Day 3 Recap

Happy birthday, Harry Potter. I want to thank J.K. Rowling for creating Harry Potter and allowing a fandom to emerge into something so meaningful and exuberant. The Harry Potter fandom has grown over the years and it's pure magic! Despite our differences, we can all congregate in one location to celebrate what Harry Potter means to us. Many of us have struggled and have conquered many obstacles. What keeps us going are the relationships and memories we make with each other through Harry Potter. Our Harry Potter family is strong and will always be there with us. 

Without further ado, let us continue with Day 3 of the MISTI-Con Recap. 

I am finally back from a long but fun and eventful Harry Potter convention called MISTI-Con. All I can say is that I had a fantastic time! The Wizarding Though the Ages theme was perfect for this year. Despite the location and date change from previous MISTIs, the magic is always there! I always look forward to reuniting with old friends and making new friends. We all get to step away from the Muggle world and we embrace the magic around us at MISTI-Con. The con provides a safe and judge-free environment for fans to geek and nerd out about fandom. Everyone dressed up as witches and wizards or even magical creatures or bring life to inanimate magical objects. I saw some very creative cosplays like a howler who was shouting about with Mrs. Black to the renfaire like Luna Lovegood.

I will be recapping the convention in a few posts. I always make a schedule prior to each MISTI with programming I would like to attend but I like to be flexible since most of the best moments are not scheduled. It's always being somewhere at the right time. The schedule is an outline for me but I have to say that I have some programming that I made sure I attended.

This is my 4th MISTI-Con and I hope to attend future ones. If you have never attended a Harry Potter convention, I am hoping you will in the future if you are a huge Potterhead. You will make long-lasting memories of a lifetime! Maybe I will see you a future Harry Potter convention whether it be something like MISTI or perhaps even Leviosa or CONjuration.

Check out my recap for Days 1 and 2 here.

DAY 3: SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2019

Jess and I visited the Common Room first thing in the morning since Dave and Alyse posted something on Facebook about having some delicious bagels and cream cheese that they picked up that morning. Yum! Dave and Alyse are so sweet. The first panel of the day was Credence and Fantastic Beasts: Harry Potter, but Not Safe for Children? Lorrie's panel was very interesting and I love how there is a panel that incorporates the Fantastic Beasts series. Fantastic Beasts is darker than Harry Potter for sure. I feel like some Harry Potter fans do not venture out reading or watching the Harry Potter spinoffs such as Harry Potter and the Cursed Child or the Fantastic Beasts series. However, I will soak up anything related to the wizarding world as much as possible and I do like the first Fantastic Beasts film. I found Crimes of Grindelwald more of a filler. Hopefully, the third film will spark my interest once again.

Afterward, I went to see if Krissy needed help setting up for the Bewitching Bazaar since her primary staff responsibility was the craft faire. Everything went really well and the layout was good along Salon 1, Salon 2, Grand Pre-North hallway and part of the Multifunction room. There were so many talented artisans and crafters! There was something for everyone from enamel pins to wands to candles to even crocheted magical creatures. Madam Malkin's Clearance Rack was in the corner of one of the salons and a lot of people were finding great deals.

This time around, I didn't see any clothing that I liked or fit me. However, I scored a couple things from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter which include a Ravenclaw wise mug and a 9 3/4 enamel pin. There was an awesome wax seal set with the Chamber of Secrets'entrancece snake design and a hardcover notebook with the Hogwarts emblem which I snatched up immediately. The notebook's Hogwarts emblem is in some kind of metal and the book is some kind of material that mimics leather. It will be fantastic to use to jot down some Harry Potter ideas or notes. The outfit above is what I ended up wearing for the first part of the day. Yay for a new wand holster and a new wand which I will talk more about in the next paragraph. The Weasley twins found me at the Bewitching Bazaar and took a selfie since they approved of my Weasely Wizard Wheezes apron.

Multifunction room section of the Bewitching Bazaar

In terms of the other vendors, I ended up picking up my Kickstarter wand at The Wandcrafter aka Carol after I found the perfect wand holster and Ravenclaw beaded bag at the Blibbering Humdingers's table. I saw Jess looking at wands at OrchardWorks since she was trying to find one that was calling to her. I saw Ni, dressed up as Resurrection Lily Potter, looking at wands at one point as well. Dave and Alyse were wandering around and Dave was able to reunite with his Drumstrang cosplay group. Dave, Jill, Rachel, Bess and Lynn had summer linen Drumstrang outfits complete with belts and the walking sticks. I also found a Fleur with butterflies coming from her hand, a golden snitch, Luna with a lion head hat, SLUG club party Luna, two MACUSA witches all dressed up in 1920ish clothing, Quidditch Harry Potter and I even found two Hogwarts's Founders. Irvin was dressed up as Kreacher and was running around with a frying pan yelling out how he was going to battle and fight on the behalf of his master Regulus. It was quite hilarious! I believe the last thing I picked up at the Bewitching Bazaar is a key fob with Luna's Spectrespecs on it. I volunteered for part of the craft faire to help out but it seemed like most people were all set with everything.

Lyndhurst Mansion

Jess and I skipped our plans to go to Sleepy Hollow that late afternoon/early evening due to the intense heat. But I still ventured outside and went out to play Wizards Unite with Kira since there it was the first Wizards Unite community day from 2:00-5:00. I changed out of my outfit and threw on a simple Marauder's Map sleeveless dress before we headed to Lyndhurst Mansion. We cut through some trail in the woods to pass get to Lyndhurst. Kira has been there two times in the past couple of days and said there were a good amount of inns and traces in the area. She was right! We ended up staying there for a couple of hours and we even bumped into someone from MISTI-Con also playing Wizards Unite. I am so glad there were shady areas so we can sort of cool off while playing Wizards Unite. I was also toggling back and forth between Wizards Unite and Pokémon since there were pokéstops and a Mystic gym. Go Team Mystic!

I returned back to the hotel while Kira went to pick up some Chinese takeout for her mom and herself for dinner. I met up with Jess and we ended up going back to Capri for some yummy pizza and also some gelato. We also swung by CVS since Jess needed a couple more things for the weekend. The Founders's Ball wasn't until 8:00 so we had plenty of time to get ready. The Ball was so much fun! Jess and I were there for around four hours! Everyone was all dressed up and looked fabulous! Babs was located near the ballroom with her enchanted photo sessions and everyone took advantage of the photo sessions. I wish I took advantage of the professional photoshoots throughout the week but I had so much fun catching up with people and attending programming.

I loved Meka's 50's style Slytherin poodle skirt which she has been calling her snoodle skirt (snake+poodle = snoodle). Krissy sported her Regulus Slytherin outfit and Dariti and Nessie dressed up in dresses with a Lion and Badger. Jill was Rowena Ravenclaw and Ni was mini Snape with a helium like mini Snape voice. I ended up wearing my sequined silver dress with a time turner, Spectrespecs and the Ravenclaw beaded bag I bought earlier that day. I ended getting a Rum of Requirement drink at the Ball which had three types of rum, a splash of soda and ice. One of the best things during the night was a Harry Potter proposal on stage! Snape proposed to Narcissa and it was fabulous! Everyone was super excited and cheering "Always" when Nigel and Hilary were on the stage. I got a partial video of the proposal. I unfortunately didn't record the whole thing but at least I got part of it. The portion of the Ball that everyone looks forward to at every MISTI is the last song. Yes, it's sad there is a last song and that the dance will end but we always end the night with Journey's Don't Stop Believin'. There is something magical about ending the night with this song and yes, it's real for us!

My recap for Days 4 and 5 will be up later this week. Make sure to check it out. I also have some posts on Instagram under #NicoleAtMISTICon. MISTI is where I find MY people! It's such a magical gathering where you can truly escape the real world and just step into a realm where everyone is accepting and we can embrace what Harry Potter means to us. As I said before, it's real for us!

MISTI-Con 2019: Day 1 and Day 2 Recap

I am finally back from a long but fun and eventful Harry Potter convention called MISTI-Con. All I can say is that I had a fantastic time! The Wizarding Though the Ages theme was perfect for this year. Despite the location and date change from previous MISTIs, the magic is always there! I always look forward to reuniting with old friends and making new friends. We all step away from the Muggle world and we embrace the magic around us at MISTI-Con. The con provides a safe and judge-free environment for fans to geek and nerd out about fandom. Everyone dressed up as witches and wizards or even magical creatures or bring life to inanimate magical objects. I saw some very creative cosplays like a howler who was shouting about with Mrs. Black to the renfaire like Luna Lovegood.

I will be recapping the convention in a few posts. I always make a schedule prior to each MISTI with programming I would like to attend but I like to be flexible since most of the best moments are not scheduled. It's always about being somewhere at the right time. The schedule is an outline for me but I have to say that I had some programming that I made sure I attended.

This is my 4th MISTI-Con and I hope to attend future ones. If you have never attended a Harry Potter convention, I am hoping you will in the future if you are a huge Potterhead. You will make long-lasting memories of a lifetime! Maybe I will see you at a future Harry Potter convention whether it be something like MISTI or perhaps even Leviosa, LeakyCon or CONjuration.

DAY 1: THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019

Jess and I met up at South Station to wait for our train (aka Hogwarts Express). It was Jess's first time on the Amtrak and it was definitely a relaxing ride. The train really felt like we were actually taking the Hogwarts Express to Hogwarts. When we arrived at New Rochelle, we hailed an Uber to Tarrytown which is where MISTI-Con took place. The Doubletree at Hilton was perfect for the convention. The hotel has a beautiful lobby, a Mirror of Erised and even stone walls that made the venue perfect for photoshoots. The courtyard area with the gazebo was gorgeous but it was too hot for photos and gatherings due to the heatwave. We experienced temps in the high 90's which meant most of us stayed inside for the con.

When Jess and I arrived at the hotel, we checked into our room and picked up our badges. Jess had a panel shortly after we checked in so I took this opportunity to wander around the hotel so I can explore every crevice. Frankly, I didn't want to get lost since the Doubletree is a new venue. I managed to bump into Kira, Kira's mom, Seamus, Dave, Alyse and a few other people while I was wandering around.

I found some Whomping Willows in the courtyard, scouted out some nice photoshoot areas and I even found a Mirror of Erised. The Margate cannot be replaced but I didn't mind the Doubletree at all. It worked out very well. I just wish the air circulation was a little bit more even. The Plaza rooms were freezing but the main floor had pockets of warm air in certain parts of the hallway and in certain rooms. The Grand Ballroom definitely needed more AC since everyone was packed in that half where Salon 1, 2 and 3 are.


Jess and I ended going to Capri, which is a short walk from the hotel, for a slice of pizza to tie us over until the Opening Ceremonies and Feast. We also had time to pick up some groceries from the market and a few things at the CVS in the same plaza. After getting back to Doubletree, we hung out in the main lobby for a bit where there was a small Gryffindor photoshoot near one of the fireplaces. Jess and I also visited the Owlery to check out on some of the cool Owl Post Gift Exchange receptacles. Some people were super creative with decorating their receptacles. Jess and I decided to particpate in the Owl Post Gift Exhange this year due to hearing about it at the last MISTI. Thank you to Dylan for organizing it!

The Opening Ceremonies and Feast was fantastic! It's always a nice way to start a con by having everyone congregate in the same area with their bellies full and their body, mind, and soul entertained. Lawrence Neals was the MC for the next four days and I am so happy he was back to entertain us this year. He is a great singer and he knows how to keep a show moving. It was nice meeting new people. Jess and I met Matt, who is a friend of Irvin, and we also met Katherine. Both Matt and Katherine have never been to a MISTI-Con before. I know they had a great time at their first MISTI-Con. Yay to new Harry Potter friends!

Staff at the Opening Ceremonies and Feast

Jess and I bumped into Krissy at the Owlery again and we also scouted out the Common Room to see what was going on for the night. I saw some of the WROCK (wizard rock) bands at the Westchester for sometime. I believe I saw a couple of bands but Hawthorne and Holly was debuting a new song which was pretty exciting.

I actually don't remember what I did that night because I know I missed the Potter Movie Jumble because I was having so much fun reuniting with old friends and meeting new ones. I did wander the halls a bit and saw that Evercrumbly and Witch were setting up their displays for their wonderful hats. I can't believe they were able to make it. They were supposed to be at another event but decided last minute to eat the deposit so they can come to MISTI-Con! I am glad they were able to make it to MISTI because everyone always enjoys their company.

I have to say that the Doubletree at Hilton is a pretty good venue in terms of photoshoot locations and the layout for the most part. Too bad it was too hot to utilize the outdoor areas for long periods of time but the hotel lobby is gorgeous!

DAY 2: FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2019

Rise and shine for an early morning at MISTI! Jess and I went to the Volunteer Coordination Meeting first thing in the morning since we volunteered for a few shifts to help the staff out at MISTI. My first panel of the day was A History of Magic Wands which was amazing since Carol makes some of the most wonderful wands and she has a lot of knowledge about wandlore and wands in general. It was definitely a great start to this year's con.

I ended up skipping the How to Plant a Harry Potter Themed Garden since I bumped into my sister at the Owlery and she forgot her list for the exchange. I was assisting her with delivering the gifts since I was able to pull the spreadsheet on my phone. I volunteered to assist with the keynote presentation called Evanesco Representation, Accio Inclusion: Diversity in Harry Potter, which was fantastic by the way. I helped out prior to the keynote with microphone checks and taping down wires. After I helped out with ticket collecting, I was able to grab a plate of food for lunch before returning back to my post at the door to monitor who was coming into the panel and who was leaving to run to the rest room. Not only was I able to help out MISTI with my volunteer service, but I was also able to get a pretty decent lunch and I got to hear a wonderful and insightful conversation.

Evanesco Representation, Accio Inclusion: Diversity in Harry Potter Keynote

Afterward, I went to The Foreshadowing of Borgin & Burkes panel in which Irvin was presenting. Irvin always has some pretty thought-provoking panels. This one entailed about connecting things found in Borgin and Burkes in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. He also mentioned about how some Borgin and Burke's items have a Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes counterpart.

I bumped into Jill around 3:30ish and she needed someone to watch the registration desk while she practiced for the lip-sync battle so I quickly grabbed items for Madam Malkin's Clearance Rack so I can tag them when I was at the registration desk. At 5:00ish, I found my sister, Krissy, at the Madam Malkin's drop off as Triwizard Harry Potter. For those who don't know, the Madam Malkin's event is a consignment shop that MISTI has during every con. Participants bring their fandom T-shirts, costumes, memorabilia, etc to sell. Ten percent of the proceeds go to MISTI. Madam Malkin's took place the following day during the Bewitching Bazaar aka craft faire and author alley. I ended up bumping into Dave, Alyse, Jenny and Gareth in the lobby and they were trying to figure out dinner plans. We ventured out to downtown Tarrytown in search of food. The cafe was too busy and only had outside sitting. Because it was in the high 90's, we went to a Greek restaurant for dinner since we could eat inside. The Pasticcio I ordered was delicious and I even had some leftovers for lunch for the next day.

I was able to catch the remaining half of Albus & Scorpius's Excellent Adventure: A Musical Parody. There was an intermission after the parody since staff were setting up for the lip-sync battle and the Merlies. In the hallway near the Grand Ballroom, I bumped into Dariti and Krissy with a few others so we took a lot of photos near the train station photoshoot backdrop. I even spotted Dave who was dressed up as a Chinese Fireball Dragon. I was delighted that the hotel was serving Butterbeer that night since the night before they had other rotating drinks. Unfortunately, the Butterbeer they served had a base of rootbeer. Rootbeer!! Why? At least use cream soda if you are making Butterbeer.



During the lip-sync, there were some pretty hilarious acts. Let's say that Baby Shark will not be the same anymore. I found it hilarious how Viktor Krum recruited some friends to sing the Baby Shark song in his Triwizard second task swim outfit with a shark hat on his head. The Merlies is a showcase of fashionable outfits. I really liked someone's interpretation of Luna's huge lion's hat. Her version had an eagle which is very fitting since Luna is a Ravenclaw. Go Claws! Also, the phoenix cosplay is freaking amazing. I heard she was able to get the wings commissioned and they are hand-painted! How stunningly beautiful!

MISTI had a 90's dance party called the Rave 'N' Claw that started around 10:30 and ended at 1:30. I only stayed for part of the time since I was so tired and I needed to get up early in the morning. I caught the first half. Let's say the Rave 'N' Claw went way pass 1:30. I only know because my roomie was showering when I needed to pee so I walked down the hall to where a public bathroom is located in the Owlery. The dance party was right across from it and it was still bumping along.

The photo above left is one of my many outfits for the day. This one was for the beginning of the night. I ended up switching the pin for the blue light up one for the Rave 'N' Claw dance party. I also have been carrying my wand in between my Harry Potter luggage purse which has been so helpful! During the day, I wore the same shoes, socks, tie and white button down shirt but I had a Harry Potter Ravenclaw sweater and a gray skirt instead of the vest and printed skirt.

Crazy how two days of MISTI flew by super fast. My recaps for Days 3 and 4 will be up later this week. Make sure to check it out. I also have some posts on Instagram under #NicoleAtMISTICon.

MISTI-Con 2019 and Where to Find Me

It's that time every two years where I talk about MISTI-Con! This year, MISTI-Con will be located in Tarrytown, NY instead of Laconia, NH. The convention runs from Thursday, July 18, 2019 to Sunday, July 21, 2019. And this year's theme is Wizarding Through the Ages! 

I cannot wait to see how creative the cosplays will be this year and if they will be themed focused. MISTI-Con has always been my favorite convention to attend. Not only is MISTI-Con a convention run by fans for fans but there is a sense of community built at MISTI-Con. There is a chance to reunite with old friends and the opportunity to meet new friends. It's like reuniting with your second family.

For those who don't know about MISTI-Con, the convention is capped at 500 attendees for a small and more intimate setting compared to some of the bigger Harry Potter conventions such as LeakyCon. Also, MISTI-Con schedules meal breaks for lunch and dinner. You hardly come by scheduled meal breaks at a con.



If you are interested in some of the past MISTI-Cons I've attended, check out my recaps for MISTI-Con 2015 and MISTI-Con 2017. Unfortunately, I did not blog about my adventures during MISTI-Con 2013 but it was equally as memorable as the other two.

MISTI-CON 2015

Day 1: The Beginning
Day 2 Recap
Day 3 Recap
Day 4 and Day 5 Recap

MISTI-CON 2017

Day 1 Recap
Day 2 Recap
Day 3 Recap
Day 4 and Day 5 Recap

WHY THE MOVE?

The DoubleTree by Hilton at Tarrytown has more rooms and the venue can accommodate more people. Attendees will be sharing the hotel with Muggles, so some things will be a little bit different than previous years. All programming will be held indoors with the AC during the hot month of July. I believe we are looking at temps in the 90's next week.

Because of the location move, there is new territory to explore. Tarrytown is right next to Sleepy Hollow. It's actually only a 10 minute car ride. I am super excited to check out Old Dutch Church, Sleepy Hollow cemetery, Headless Horseman’s bridge, and Philipsburg Manor. I am a huge fan of the Sleepy Hollow story so it's a must to visit the area. Jess and I want to visit Sleepy Hollow on Saturday later afternoon/early evening.

The DoubleTree by Hilton is about a ten minute walk from a CVS, a bagel emporium, a grocery store, and a pizza/pasta eatery. I have to say I will miss wandering the grounds near Lake Winnipesaukee in Laconia. It always reminded me of walking to Hagrid's hut or just around the perimeter of Hogwarts. But I am open to making new memories at a new venue.

WHERE TO FIND ME

The programming schedule looks fantastic! So much is happening at MISTI-Con this year and it will be quite hard to decide what to attend since there are a lot of fantastic panels, workshops, and events taking place.

THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019

Jess and I are meeting at South Station to take an Amtrak. It will be our mini Hogwarts Express ride! We will be taking an Uber to the hotel once we arrive at New Rochelle. We probably will drop off our bags and do a quick market run before checking into the hotel. Some time during that afternoon, we will check in to pick up our badges. The Opening Feast & Welcome Ceremony won't be until around 7:00 so we have some time to explore hotel and do a grocery store run. I believe there is a Harry Potter Jumble event I want to attend later that night as well.

FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2019

There is a History of Wands panel right at 9:00 in the morning which I am hoping to attend. I've been to the Harry Potter Themed Garden panel before but it's always fun to sit in that one. I'll see how I am feeling that day. The panels I definitely want to attend in the afternoon include The Foreshadowing of Borgin & Burkes and "And my soul, Dumbledore?" The Snape-Dumbledore Relationship panel. The night time activities are going to be intense since they are back to back such as Albus & Scorpius's Excellent Adventure: A Musical Parody, Lip Sync Battle II, The Merlies, and Rave-N-Claw 90's Dance Party.

SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2019

This is the chill day for me since I have a huge window of time that I don't have anything planned at the con. In the morning, I want to pop in that Snape: Unplugged event and I will definitely be swinging by Madam Malkin's to see if I can pick up consignment goodies. The Craft Faire is always something I look forward to. There are so many talented artists vending this year. I am hoping to make it to Wizarding World Crafts 101 craft meetup if time allows during the late morning.

Jess and I have a 3-4 hour block during the afternoon where we are going to explore Sleepy Hollow before we get ready for the Founder's Ball. The ball isn't until 8:00 at night so we have plenty of time to get ready. This will be the first year that the ball will go until 12 midnight!

SUNDAY, JULY 21 2019

Last day of MISTI-Con! I am hoping I can get up early enough to see the Puffs: The Play - Watch Party which is at 8:30 in the morning. Jess and I are thinking about going in our PJs for this one and we will eat our breakfast there. Later in the morning, Puffs: The Original Cast Trio Reunion Panel is taking place. Let's say it's a very Hufflepuff morning. Some of the meet-ups I plan to attend include SLUG Club Meet-Up (Special Lego Users Group) and the Button Pin Swap.There is a Closing Ceremony which includes dinner around 7:00. And later that night, the after parties will occur until who knows what time. This is a little bit different from previous years since this year the con ends with the Closing Ceremonies on Sunday instead of Monday morning. The ball is usually on Sunday night with the after parties, but this year it will occur on Saturday night. 

I am looking forward to all the wonderful wizarding adventures I will be having next week. I will definitely be recapping MISTI-Con in several blog posts sometime after the convention so make sure you check out the blog later this month. To follow me on my MISTI-Con adventures, make sure to check out my hashtag, #NicoleAtMISTICon.

Harry Potter Conventions in 2019

So it's that time of year where I am going to chat about Harry Potter conventions. We are about one year out until MISTI-Con 2019! And there will be two LeakyCons next year! I am not one for LeakyCon usually but because they are returning to Boston after ten years, I am considering attending LeakyCon. MISTI-Con will take place from July 18-21, 2019 in Tarrytown, NY. LeakyCon 9 ¾ will take place August 9-11, 2019 in Dallas, TX at Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention and the LeakyCon10 will take place October 11-13, 2019 at the Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center in Boston, MA. Leviosa is going to be next year too but this time in Los Angeles at the Loews Hollywood Hotel instead of Las Vegas. Leviosa 2019 will take place June 27-28, 2019. Unfortunately, I don’t think I can attend Leviosa 2019 because financially I can’t afford three Harry Potter cons in one year. Also, Boston and Tarrytown are more doable since I live about 20-30 minutes away from Boston.

MISTI-Con is usually in Laconia, NH at the Margate but next year, it will relocate to a Doubletree in Tarrytown, NH. Not only is the new location near Sleepy Hollow but the new location will be able to accommodate more people. Only down side that it won't be completely Muggle free. Also, instead of having the convention in May, the convention will be held in July. I assume it’s because kids are still in school in May and a good amount of attendees work in higher education. I am excited to reunite with my HP friends and I am looking forward to meeting new people. Right now, early registration, VIP registration and guided passes are available. If you register now, you will be able to get a group code in an e-mail to get first dibs on rooms. Literally on the first day when the rooms were available for people who already registered, I booked a room for four nights.

MISTI-Con 2017

Harry Potter conventions provide a different way to experience the magic of Harry Potter. The experience is different from reading the books, watching the films, participating in Quidditch or even attending the Wizarding of Harry Potter theme parks. Harry Potter cons open doors to long lasting friendships. You will never feel out of place. You will never feel lonely. You will always be in your element connecting with others who also share the same love for Harry Potter. No matter if you have other interests, you will at least bond over the wonderful magical world of Harry Potter. Everyone is super welcoming at Harry Potter conventions. I am a very introverted person and it’s usually very hard for me to meet people. However, at Harry Potter cons, I flourish. It’s very easy to strike a conversation with people about something you love so much. Harry Potter conventions will provide entertainment, fantastic programming, interactive workshops and of course as I said before, those long lasting friendships. A Harry Potter con is a family reunion and an avenue to meet new people. You will always find home and your family within Harry Potter.

If you want to read more information about previous Harry Potter conventions I’ve attended in the past, check out these posts. Unfortunately, I attended HPEF's Ascendio 2012 and MISTI-Con 2013 before I decided to blog about conventions.

LEVIOSA 2016 

Day 1 and Day 2 Recap
Day 3 and Day 4 Recap

MISTI-CON 2015

Day 1: The Beginning
Day 2 Recap
Day 3 Recap
Day 4 and Day 5 Recap

MISTI-CON 2017

Day 1 Recap
Day 2 Recap
Day 3 Recap
Day 4 and Day 5 Recap

Also, if you plan on attending any of the mentioned Harry Potter conventions, please let me know. I would love to meet up if you do plan to attend MISTI-Con 2019 and LeakyCon 10.

MISTI-Con 2017: Day 4 and Day 5 Recap

MISTI-Con 2017 was absolutely fantastic! It was my third time attending MISTI-Con and it certainly won't be my last. As mentioned in previous posts, MISTI-Con is located in Laconia, NH at the Margate Resort. This year, the convention provided a way for Potterheads to return home for a 20 year celebration of Harry Potter. At the Margate, we are allowed to have full reign of the hotel and grounds sans Muggles! The Margate lets MISTI-Con use their whole entire facility for programming, events, meet ups, etc. Pretty much the hotel was transformed into Hogwarts for 5 days. Don't forget to check out my other recaps for MISTI-Con 2017 here: Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3.

DAY 4: SUNDAY, MAY 21, 2017

Sunday is the last full day of MISTI-Con. I got dressed into my Hogwarts uniform sans the robe and went downstairs for the volunteer meet up before proceeding to get breakfast with Krissy. We ended up chatting with David for a bit and then with Ni and her mother. I ended up attending the "Open the Newt Case with SpeakBeasty!" panel hosted by MuggleNet where Mugglenet recorded a live SpeakBeasty podcast. I love everything Fantastic Beasts related so hearing more theories about the 1920's wizarding community in the United States is fascinating. I won't spoil anything for you but you can always check out the recorded podcast when it's up on the website. Mugglenet also had a scavenger hunt throughout the weekend and they were giving out prizes for those who completed the scavenger hunt.

Afterwards, I met up with Krissy and we attended the "From Fan Artist to Full-Time Artist" panel hosted by Casey Robin. I have been a Casey Robin fan since 2012 when I first met her at the Ascendio convention located in Orlando, Florida. Casey was definitely insightful of her history as an artist. She currently works with Disney with their line of the Disney princesses and she is currently working on a middle grade trilogy with illustrations woven in the books. I wished her luck with her book series because I know it will be marvelous!

I went back to my room to get some lunch and to rest before helping out with room monitoring as a volunteer. I ended up monitoring the "Editor Tell-All" panel. I wouldn't have attended this panel on my own but the panel provided a good platform to understand about publishing through editors' eyes. My next panel was "Severus... Please...: The Dumbledore/Snape Relationship." This one was quite complex. I might have to re-read the Harry Potter series again and focus on the relationships between Dumbledore and Snape to understand the underlying messages J. K. Rowling left for her readers about these two characters.

I met up with Krissy and the kitchen to help staff prep for the Yule Ball. We ended up chopping up fruit and arranging cookies, marshmallows and the fruit on platters for the chocolate fondue fountain. After volunteering, Krissy and I went back to her room and we chatted for a bit. I met up with Alberto and Jess to head toward Kellerhaus, which is an ice cream buffet and gift shop in Laconia. Let's say we had dessert first before heading back to the Margate. I had some leftovers for a mini dinner. I definitely wanted to have some real food in my system before getting an alcoholic drink at the Yule Ball.


It didn't take me long to get ready for the Yule Ball and I believe Alberto, Jess and I left got there around 7:15-7:30 when it was still light outside. This was prime time for photos of everyone outside. There were some fantastic cosplays. Aragog was dancing with Ursula. I saw a Belle and of course a bunch of Harry Potter characters. Fred and George was dancing it up on the stage, Aragog finally found Hagrid to dance with and even multiple Harrys showed up.

I met up with a lot of people at the Yule Ball. Seamus, Dariti, David, Kira, Kelly, Krissy and a bunch of other people were there. Actually, most people attend the Yule Ball so it's not very hard to find people since everyone was in the Main Tent. Krissy was already drinking a Butterbeer so Jess and I went to get drinks. I ended up settling for a Butterbeer because you can't go wrong with Butterbeers! At the Yule Ball, I got a couple professional photos taken. I was a bit camera shy to get professional photos of my cosplays for the previous days. I did group photos this time around.

Food wasn't being served for awhile but the cake that was made this year was perfect! The Hogwarts Express is the perfect cake for the Coming Home theme for MISTI-Con. There were three flavors for the cake. I believe they had chocolate, Butterbeer and pumpkin. I got a Butterbeer one to go with my Butterbeer drink.

There was an auction at the end of the Yule Ball with all proceeds going to MISTI-Con to fund the next MISTI-Con. I ended up bidding on two lots and won both. I am now the proud owner of art print by Casey Robin and also an owner of two stockings by Thread in the Head. One stocking has a red Harry Potter print and the other is a teal Fantastic Beasts print one. Krissy ended up winning a Percy Weasley door tag signed by Chris Rankin (aka the actor who portrayed Percy Weasley on the big screen).

After the Yule Ball, I went to shower and threw on PJs. I arrived sort of late to the pizza party so they ran out of pizza. At least they had other snacks to munch on. They had a bunch of after party rooms so I popped into all three for short periods of time. There was a 1920's - 1940's dance party, a karaoke room and also a Disney/Hamilton singalong room. I didn't stay up too late. I probably went to bed around 1:30-2:00.

DAY 5: MONDAY, MAY 22, 2017

We got to sleep in later since there is only one thing happening today which is the Closing Ceremonies at 10:00. I believe we slept until 8:30 and packed the car before heading to breakfast. We had most of our bags packed the night before so that was good since we got more quality sleeping in time. I found this awesome bumper sticker that you can see in the photo to the right. Alberto, Jess and I went to breakfast after we packed the cars and headed toward the Main Tent for the Closing Ceremonies.

There a couple of performances by Lawrence and Persephone. Students who got sorted during the first day received certificates and there was a period where attendees shared what Harry Potter means to them. Alberto, Jess and I left a little early so we didn't hear all the Harry Potter stories. I bid farewell for now to a lot of my friends. Lots of hugging and teary eyes were seen. I know that in 2019, MISTI-Con will not take place in Laconia at the Margate Resort but I know that MISTI-Con 2019 will be still on the East Coast. I will keep everyone updated about MISTI-Con 2019 for those who are interested in attending.

MISTI-Con overall is more than a convention; It's a family reunion every two years. The friendships you make at MISTI-Con will be long-lasting and you will already be planning to reunite with everyone. I am already starting to plan out things for 2019. I hope more people will be doing trading cards next time. Also, I hope I have a chance to participate in the Owl Exchange in 2019. I didn't have time this year but I would love to make little gifts to give to con attendees. This year over 50 people participated. The goal of the Owl Exchange is to make or to craft something to give to everyone participating in the Owl Exchange. The item can be simple like a pin or patch to something more extravagant like a hand sewn plushie. You make the same item for each attendee unless you want to take consideration of their Hogwarts House.

I hope you enjoyed my MISTI-Con 2017 recaps. You can also search the hashtag #NicoleAtMISTICon on Instagram for some photos. Perhaps I will see you at MISTI-Con 2019!

MISTI-Con 2017: Day 3 Recap

MISTI-Con 2017 was absolutely fantastic! It was my third time attending MISTI-Con and it certainly won't be my last. As mentioned in previous posts, MISTI-Con is located in Laconia, NH at the Margate Resort. This year, the convention provided a way for Potterheads to return home for a 20 year celebration of Harry Potter. At the Margate, we are allowed to have full reign of the hotel and grounds sans Muggles! The Margate lets MISTI-Con use their whole entire facility for programming, events, meet ups, etc. Pretty much the hotel was transformed into Hogwarts for 5 days. Don't forget to check out my other recaps for MISTI-Con 2017 here: Day 1 and Day 2.

DAY 3: SATURDAY, MAY 20, 2017

I can't believe the con is half way finished pretty much. I am having a blast and I really don't want to go home since home is where the heart is. My heart is completely 100% invested with the magic of MISTI-Con and the wizarding world in general. My wizarding family as been a crucial part of my life through good and bad times. They have always been there for me and I feel comfortable being myself in the presence of people who are supportive. Harry Potter has been and will always be an essential part of my life.

I managed to get ready in the morning decked out with my Weasley Wizarding Wheezes apron, tea length black skirt with yellow detailing and also my red long dress. Unfortunately, I don't have a photo of it this year but this outfit it a repeat of an outfit I wore two years ago. Since today there is a Wizard Rock Festival and Bewitching Bazaar, I felt it was appropriate to wear this outfit. I ended up getting some breakfast and chatted with David, Alyse and someone else who had a table at the Bewitching Bazaar. I ended up trading a few of the trading cards at the table before heading to Seamus's roundtable event. Seamus hosted a roundtable called "What’s a Slytherdor?: The Truth Behind Hybrid Houses." I found it a very fascinating topic and it was interesting to hear everyone's perspective about hybrid houses and what characters we see in hybrid houses. This is Seamus's first panel ever and he did a fabulous job facilitating the discussion.

So instead of going to the two panels I planned to attend for the morning, I ended up soaking up the wonderful weather outside. The Ford Anglia was parked outside of the Lakeside building where my hotel room is located. I had to take a photo or two before wandering around. I ran into Ni, who was dressed up as Colin, and I chatted with Ni a bit about some potential ideas for photo shoots for next MISTI. One of them is doing a 7 Potters scene with Colin! I really hope we can make it happen. Ni was trying to scout out a good location for the Battle of Hogwarts Mannequin photo shoot near the Main Tent. Since it was still early for the Wizard Rock Festival and Bewitching Bazaar, I helped up Krissy set up her table. Krissy sells her art, teas, etc. under Black Out Art. Her teas blends can be found on Adagio's site. 

The Bewitching Bazaar had a lot of talented artists and crafters. I picked up my wand from Carol the Wandcrafter. I am now the owner of a black walnut wand that has some floral detailing on the handle. Although I love my first wand that I own by Carol, this one is more sturdy in the sense that I won't mind if the wand drops by accident. I picked up a crocheted Dobby from Wendy as well. I love my Dobby! I always wanted to own one since the last MISTI and I never picked one up. This year I couldn't miss the chance to get a Dobby. If you want one, check out this Etsy listing.

I ended up browsing the other tables and picked up some awesome Harry Potter coasters that have images from the title pages on them. I plan to order more in the future as gifts. I picked up a fancy maroon blazer/jacket from Wormwood and Gall that was be a lovely costuming piece. The Trolley Witches are brand new and this is the first craft fair they are selling their wares. I was able to pick up an Odgen's Old Fashioned Fire Whiskey Candle which smells divine! It smells like a burning fire with a slightly hint of vanilla creaminess which smooths out the sharp crackling woody fragrance. 

I ate some left over Chinese food before I ended up assisting with badge checks and selling tickets for the Wizard Rock Festival and Bewitching Bazaar for about two hours. All I can say that even with sunscreen on, I still got slightly burnt on my left arm. The sun was pretty fierce outside on Saturday. The good thing is that I was still able to hear the Wrock festival from where I was sitting so I wasn't missing out on too many events. I call it multi-tasking! After volunteering, I ended up picking up a couple of t-shirts from Jordan of Jordanene and Elena of The Colorful Geek before helping Krissy pack up her stuff to bring to her car. Afterwards, I went to Krissy's room and hung around while she reorganized her stuff. 

I ended up missing the Battle of Hogwarts photo shoot because dinner ran a little bit longer than expected. Jess and I treated Alberto to Fratello's Italian food for his birthday. It took us 30 minutes to get rolls and an hour to get our entrees. Let's say we were not that happy about the service. However, the food was delicious! After eating at Fratello's, we headed back to Margate. Jess and I were able to change for Harp Twins's last performance at MISTI at 8:30. This time the Harp Twins were headlining the Wrock Festival. They were one of the few musical acts that got to perform in the Main Tent. Let's say the tent was freezing! It was a big change of temperature compared to Thursday's 90+ degree weather. I believe it was in the high 50s at the time of the performance. I was so thankful I wore my black pants underneath my silver invisibility skirt. The Harp Twins put on another splendid performance. I couldn't help myself and I ended up buying their other two CDs. Camille and Kennerly signed my CDs and I was able to get a photo with them. Thanks Jess for taking the photo!

Jess and I went back to the room to relax before heading to the main building. Jess was trying to finish the SpeakBeasty scavenger hunt so we wandered the halls. We bumped into Dead!Colin aka Ni and we took some photos of some of the rooms in the area. I particularly like the potions room all adorned with the bottles. We proceeded to the Blackstone and we caught the end of the Lip Sync Battle which was hilarious! Definitely worth seeing! Afterwards, we caught The Restricted Section which acted like one of those late night shows. There were some interesting guests such as Rita Skeeter and of course, Gilderoy Lockhart!

After The Restricted Section, Jess and I went back to room to get ready for bed. We were pretty much wiped out for the day. Sunday will be productive since there are a good amount of things I want to do and it's the last full day of the convention. Monday is just the Closing Ceremonies.

Don't forget to check out the remaining days of MISTI-Con sometime this week. You can also search the hashtag #NicoleAtMISTICon on Instagram for some photos.

MISTI-Con 2017: Day 2 Recap

MISTI-Con 2017 was absolutely fantastic! It was my third time attending MISTI-Con and it certainly won't be my last. As mentioned in previous posts, MISTI-Con is located in Laconia, NH at the Margate Resort. This year, the convention provided a way for Potterheads to return home for a 20 year celebration of Harry Potter. At the Margate, we are allowed to have full reign of the hotel and grounds sans Muggles! The Margate lets MISTI-Con use their whole entire facility for programming, events, meet ups, etc. Pretty much the hotel was transformed into Hogwarts for 5 days. Don't forget to check out my other recap for MISTI-Con 2017 here: Day 1.

DAY 2: FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017

I woke up early to get changed for the day as Tina Goldstein and went to get some continental breakfast before my first panel. Unfortunately, it took me too long to grab breakfast that I missed out on the volunteer meet up at 8:30. However, I did make it early to the Felt Hat Making workshop that my friend's mom was teaching. I ended up assisting with table setup before everyone arrived. This workshop was limited to only 12 people and I was the first one because I was there so early. Jess was probably the second person who arrived. I loved learning the techniques of wet felting. At the last MISTI, I was graced with the opportunity to learn how to needle felt. Everyone ended up making a little witch hat out of merino wool. You can see mine in the picture on the left.

After the Felt Hat Making Class, I proceeded to the Madam Malkin's Clearance Rack in the Common Room with Jess. If you read about how my Day 1 went, I mentioned how I left my garment bag full of half of my cosplays and outfits at home. I took advantage of Madam Malkin's Clearance Rack and picked up some pieces so I can mix and match for the rest of the con. Fortunately, I was able to pick up quite a few pieces for a good price. I picked up a maroon colored Gunne Sax dress that was reconstructed for about $20. The dress has some gold detailing and the back has a black lace up. I'll show a picture of the dress in the Day 4 Recap when I wore the dress to the Yule Ball. I also picked up a black evening bag for $3, a black vest/waistcoat for $8 and a silver long skirt for $3. I ended up using everything but the bag during the con. I will post pictures of the vest and the skirt I wore for the Day 3 recap. Many people mentioned how the skirt reminded them of the invisibility cloak that Harry had. I'll have to call my skirt the invisibility skirt.

I ended up skipping the next panel in order to relax in the room for a bit. The con is ongoing with so many events and programming throughout the day so I knew it was important to recharge. I ended up eating some lunch at the Beach Bar with Alberto and Jess before wandering the grounds again. I had to get a cheeseburger because Jess pretty mentioned cheeseburger backpack at least ten times on Thursday into Friday. I caught the end of the Harp Twins's show at the Blackstone Lounge and bought two CDs from them. Camille and Kennerly are fantastic and I love how they interact with their fans! They love taking photos with everyone and they offered to sign the CDs. They also take their time talking with their fans. The twins' mother also helps out with the merchandise sales. Krissy, Seamus and Ni were there so we chatted a bit before I went to "A Brief Report on Potter Panic" panel.

The rest of the afternoon was pretty chill. I relaxed and caught up with old friends before getting takeout with Alberto and Jess. We ordered some Chinese food to eat in the room. So I never made it to the Merlie's at 7:00 but I did help Jess and Alberto carry up Lindt chocolates to the Common Room. We were able to bring up four aluminum trays full of house chocolates. Jess wrote down the names of the different types of chocolates and split them into four trays, one for each house. Let's say everyone adored them after the Merlies. I had to make a post on social media in order for the word to get around. Let's say Lockhart was bolting from the Merlies to the Common Room right after they found out about the house chocolates.

I ended up hanging out in the Common Room with Krissy and Seamus. I ended up taking pictures of Krissy's interpretation of possessed Tom Riddle complete with Tom Riddle's Diary. After awhile, we headed over across the street and I was able to see Krissy's room at the Slyther-Inn. The Margate recently renovated the Inn building right before MISTI started pretty much. The updates were much needed and the place looks wonderful!

I did a costume change and threw on my silver invisibility skirt, tossed on the black vest on top of my white collared skirt and wore my black witch's hat. Krissy and I ended up going to the speakeasy event called An Evening of Duplicitousness and Debauchery at the World Famous Kneazle's Meow. I pretty much call it the Blind Pig like the speakeasy in the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them movie. I mean I did find a poster of the Blind Pig outside of the Blackstone. There were wonderful acts including Lawrence Neals, Christine Evans and Paige Literati. Unfortunately, magician Nelson Lugo couldn't attend. My favorite acts were by Lawrence. There was an MACUSA auror raid during the speakeasy but it just added more authenticity!

I was too tired to head to the Unspeakable dance party, which I heard was marvelous! After the speakeasy event, I retreated back to the room for a show and changed into my PJs. I didn't leave my bed for a good solid 1-2 hours while I relaxed. I felt like sleep was more important than partying it up all night long since it was only Day 2 and I needed to take care of myself so I won't over do it and get sick. I ended up going to bed around 1:00.

Don't forget to check out the remaining days of MISTI-Con sometime this week. You can also search the hashtag #NicoleAtMISTICon on Instagram for some photos.