Category: commentary

Furry Times at Fur Squared 2025

Ahmar Wolf

In some 19 days and counting I will be at Fur Squared. For the record my 1st time there, and my 1st time ever in Milwaukee. My trip is all planned, I have a place to stay in the main hotel. I also will be running my 1st panel ever. Unsure how it will go, but it could be fun.

I will be reporting on everything like usual. Except this time I will have more than just 1 or 2 places. I can see why Fur Squared is so loved by furries… at least local ones. Plenty of restaurants, $15 per meal or less. A Walgreens, and a couple of museums. The Harley Davidson one I really want to see. Best all all of this is well within walking distance. So finally no Uber or Lyft. It’s only 4 blocks to the Harley museum from the hotel.

As far as the schedule, loads of stuff to see and do, and even a Night Market. Not to forget make videos, somewhere around 10, plus tour videos, and my Vlog I am taking extra devices just in case. Plus my power bank and cables.

Iggy and Alkali at the same con it will be so much fun. Plus 2 Whose Lion. I really miss those, MFF didn’t have 1.

First real con suite outside of IFC. Furry Migration has one, but it is not the greatest. The one at Fur Squared has gotten a lot of praise over the years. I swear a couple of furries told me they did not have to buy food. They lived off of the con suite…. we will see.

There is also a Sponsor’s Dinner. Super Sponsor here and I am going

I was surprised there really isn’t much talked about Fur Squared. Oh sure the usual things, meeting furries and hugs, taking tons of photos. BTW if any of my readers need a photographer at F2. I am available for FREE and you might get a free meal. My name on my badge Justin Jackalope.

I’ll explain why Justin Jackalope after the con. It’s a bit complicated.

But getting the actual layout of the hotel, Registration. I could not find a single photo or video of Reg past, or even a line. Then there is this extension to the convention center. Where Reg, Dealers, and the 2 stage is located. I figured out where everything is. But nothing online save the official map.

Fur Squared to me right now must be one furries are enjoying to take a photo. I found very few.

Then there is the 3rd Street Market, essentially a food court. I heard that it was also a hang out for fursuiters. Not a single photo or video found. But yet they are suppose to be fursuit friendly. Okay I am puzzled.

I guess I am at the part what I hope to get out of this.

To have fun and meet furries. I know a few furry friends of the past will be there. But after 7 years, it’s hard to say how they react.

I also hope I don’t have equipment issues, like that Fursuit Parade at Furry Migration. No Fursuit Parade here, although there layout makes it possible.

It will be fun either way

Anthrocon 2024: When Does a Con Become Too Big?

Ahmar Wolf

I am positive I don’t have to go over everything Uncle Kage has said, except 1. Re title: I am very well aware that for the most part 3 fur cons are getting the same numbers as local anime cons. Around 17,000, so what is going to happen. Really it doesn’t take a someone rambling on that one day Comic Con in San Diego and a fur con somewhere are getting the same numbers. The one thing everyone is well aware of even at Furry Migration. “When Does a Fur Con Get Too Big?”

The fault doesn’t lay at the foot of the fur cons. They are just an event, that we plan for. The same can be said of both a friend and myself. We got the days off, the room, even our badges. Mind you my roommate is the very same one that got me to go to my very 1st fur con which just happens to be MFF.

Even they are talking about how MFF isn’t as fun as it use to be.

Sadly even I agree, I really enjoy going to these little cons more than I do MFF.

The reasons why is simple MFF is just TOOO CROWDED

My friend has openly talked about shifting to another con.

Meeting up with friends and showing off your fursuit. Has left the hotel, mainly those take place in less crowded areas of the convention center and outside, and this is despite on average we get 2 days of rain during the con.

I know MFF is MFF and is the ultimate goal for some. But maybe it’s time if you had it with the crowd, and that unfair hotel lottery. Maybe it’s time to shift to another fur con.

Frankly as I sit here and type this I am unsure what I will personally do about MFF in the upcoming years.

Furry Migration 2024: 1 week and Counting

Ahmar Wolf

A week from today I will be taking the train from Chicago to Minneapolis for Furry Migration.

In the meantime I been posting (daily) fursuiter photos from a few years ago. On all my social media.

I love the positive feedback, they are good photos

Like when I went to IFC last year I have no idea what I got myself hooked up. But it is going to happen anyway.

They did post the Fursuiter Parade Route and I got my spot all figured, even 2 back up locations.

Friday of note, they are doing a furwalk. I am going to get what I can, but they are doing This is Your 1st name of con panels and I want to be there.

I find it interesting at least according to the official maps the Dealers area is about as big as the Main Events. Well it can’t be any smaller than the one at IFC. And being on 2 floors will make it interesting… I have maps printed. Hope to not miss anything.

Okay my Streetpass meet I really have to play that one by ear. A lot of what I hope for depends solely on how many show up. At this point all I know are maybe 14 are interested. Given I use to hold furmeets. I know there is often a difference between what you hope and what you get…. So figures crossed.

All I can say is I am going to report on Everything. Amtrak, the cities, the hotel as well as the con. Even the restaurants I drop by.

Speaking of which if your a reader and you meet me. You will get a surprise just mention “Repeat Customer”.

3rd Fur Con Badge in Waiting

Ahmar Wolf

Since my last post I have now gotten my badge via pre reg for Fur Squared. To be honest a con I have been wanting to see for over 10 years. But couldn’t for various reasons. So I decided to make things easy for myself my Fur Squared my only other con, except for maybe a local anime, and MFF for 2025. So I can go to a Vintage Computer con that a friend knows I am missing this year.

That is where my problems started. 1st I have Furry Migration, which I leave for in just over a week. Next was MFF, all set on that end. Which leaves Fur Squared, I kinda blew my budget to get a Super Sponsor badge. But I did get a good deal on the room…

All totaled I spent around $700 on Fur Squared alone.

But I can answer a question.

Once you Register Fur Squared emails you a QR Code

Oh yes

I forgot to mention at least in 2023 IFC checked your ID with a list of names. I hope they fixed that.

So I have 3 cons in the waiting.

One last thing I submitted a panel for Fur Squared, Streetpass we will see if they gets approved.

I have been following IFC on social media and everything seems to be going right.

3 Badges and No Place To Go… just yet

Ahmar Wolf

Here I was talking with an artist about a possible commission when all of a sudden… MFF Opened Reg, early I know, by about a month. So that made me having in addition to my Furry Migration Pre Reg, I now had 1 for MFF, and then (Insert fanfare) Fur Squared announced it was opening Reg Today. BTW that’s 4 months earlier than last year. Although I really never made this official, I am planning on going to Fur Squared next year. The distance from the hotel and in fact is is walk-able from the train station. Really convinced me to go.

Did you know traveling by train between Chicago and Milwaukee only takes 90 minutes. My commute is longer at times.

If your keeping track that makes 3 when I buy it. I know all cons handle things differently.

MFF usually emails you a QR code about a month before.

Furry Migration sent me a QR code the moment the payment went through.

What Fur Squared will do, I’ll find out later today when they update their site.

Hadn’t told @StreetPassLove on X, just yet, but I might hold another Streetpass Meet at Fur Squared and I might make it an Official Panel. At least put in an application for it. So why not like the one I plan for FM? The layout of the hotel is different, and I found out the con is spread out over 3 floors. It would make things too complicated.

As for my future plans?

I would still love to do Mephit FurMeet, and possibly Gateway Furmeet. After that I might go to IFC again. Turns out all the problems I saw at the hotel and now fixed. Also I know where the Waffle House is located and where I can buy Arizona Ice Tea.

FA and The Current Hack

Ahmar Wolf

Once again, to me it feels more like the 100th time Fur Affinity has gotten not only a DNS, but the site has been hacked and their is a virus warning.

All at the same time some are mourning Dragoneer.

FA getting hack at one time more common that a college student eating ramen. I really wish I was making that up. But it is true, back when I wanted to set up an account to promote this site. It seemed like every day it was getting hacked again and again.

I really don’t understand why so many are upset. I really expect this, since the focus has been on FA and sadly what happened to Dragoneer. Which in case you had not heard was in fact cancer.

If you been around here for a while, you will recall I lost my own brother to cancer, and cancer is a bitch.

Sometimes that is what life is, it hits you will multiple sources of bad news.

Will post an update if something at FA changes.

My Furry Migration Adventure: 2 Weeks Plus to Go

Ahmar Wolf

As I sit here and type this I would be lying if I didn’t say everything is set. Transport, room, even know where I am going to eat. It’s all set, even my Streetpass meet is set. I was surprised looking through the schedule and discovered an official Streetpass panel. Taking place at 4PM on Saturday vs. My own at 4PM on Friday.

2 Meets for the Price of 1… haha

I hope to get a lot of “hits”

But still there is a lot of unknowns, I guess the biggest is when the train arrives vs to when I can get into the reg line. I found out it closes at 10pm I really don’t expect to be that late. I am hoping to eat and be a sleep by then.

Because I have a full schedule on Friday, which in fact is my busiest day. Also got to say Hi to the staff member who has helped me.

As for videos I am still figuring that out, I am hoping for 10 of not more.

My cameras have limits and depend on how the opening and closing are staged depends if I can record them.

Unlike IFC last year, FM gets covered quite well. They have some regular YouTubers, where I hope to attend that panel. But that Retro Handheld Panel is calling… the problem is they overlap by 30 mins. Just have to play that one by ear.

The Fursuit Parade is the main reason why I go to out of Illinois fur cons. MFF use to have one, but currently doesn’t. I got a good explanation why at IFC. Which comes down to just 2 words “The Crowd”. Then you might say why not hold it outside, it’s cool enough. 2 other words “The Weather”. It usually rains for half of MFF, and you see their problem. Anthrocon has the space a couple of very wide passages. MFF does not.

Getting home is no issue and I am not taking Uber. But the local Light Rail system, for $2 and maybe an hour. I am there to my connection home.

Lastly is a Bonus of sorts The Statue of Mary Tyler Moore. I know this doesn’t mean a lot to most of you. But in my family we watched a LOT of retro TV series. I got to get a photo.

Till later…

The Paris Olympics… so far

Ahmar Wolf

This year was sorta an experiment for me. I got Peacock pacifically so I can watch what event I want, when I want to watch it. That I have to say worked out great.

What is even better is the ever growing number who won their country’s 1st ever medal. I could post a list but I would be missing a few. I am smiling as I type this.

Oh sure the USA has the most medals, but…. we are not dominating events like we use to. Track and Field it was so nice to see that female running from Saint Lucia not only getting the Gold, but her country’s first.

Saying she was happy is such an understatement. The same can be said for so many.

But I think the biggest surprise for me personally is watching a lot of events for the very 1st time. I love the Kayak events, and Bad mitten is insane.

The Olympics have been so much damn fun.

Domain Issues

Ahmar Wolf

I am posting this as a just in case I have issues until this is solved.

My problems began when Google decided to get out of the domain biz. As you can assume I have been paying Google for my domain. Now they transferred my domain to SquareSpace, but it hasn’t gone well, mainly because they assume I have email forwarding… which I don’t. And all their instructions are all tied around this. I get the logic it is to make sure my site is mine.

So a friend suggested another company, which I won’t name until later. I called them and it turns out they don’t care if I have email forwarding or not. They can move my domain to one of their servers. BUT… there is a problem. Since I updated some info on SquareSpace, I can’t shift domain servers until September. They also advised stay away from their server as any change can effect the date.

So if anything happens, you will know,

Fur Cons: The Amtrak Effect

Ahmar Wolf

I have been aware for quite a few years that many furries often take Amtrak to various conventions. This is no secret, there have been YT vids on the subjects.

But recent events namely Amtrak’s New Route The Borealis, could directly effect 2 fur cons. 1 I will be attending Furry Migration and the other Aquatifur. That last one might not be familiar, Aquatifur takes place in Wisconsin Dells, and frankly that train stop isn’t that far from the hotel.

The Borealis which now runs daily from Chicago to St. Paul, stops at Wisconsin Dells.

You might see where I am going with this, with it now being easier to get to said convention how will this effect their numbers. Some might quote Fur Squared which recently moved from Brookfield to Milwaukee. There numbers only increased by 300. But keep in mind this move surprised a lot of furries. More than even I expected, but I think the true test for some will be next year. But this year and it still being months away, both Furry Migration and Aquatifur could be effected by this new route.

Which I will be on, and will be reporting, and if I see a fursuiter on a train O M G.

I know that is a lot of wishful thinking. But I will be there at least at 1.

This is going to be so much fun.