Cosplay + Community = Contagious Joy
Have you ever entered a space and instantly felt an overwhelming sense of belonging? Maybe so much unbridled joy that you become a walking smiling statue trying not to Disney Princess your glee all over the place? That was me when I had the whimsical pleasure of attending MomoCon 2026 in Atlanta GA.
I may not be sponsored, but I’m going to gush over the atmosphere surrounding the convention area.
Atlanta is known as “The Heartbeat of the South”. Although this term is used more so for the civil rights movement, I could feel that pulse resonating nerdy passionate energy throughout the city. For those uninitiated to Atlanta, it's a culture-city. Aside from being the central hub of the Deep South, it is known for museums, festivals and conventions. Conventions like MomoCon, where people gather to enjoy animation/gaming/comics together through panels, attractions, and so much more!
Before reaching the venue, I encountered convention-goers at my hotel. They gave me directions on how to reach the con hall via the subway. I decided to try a new area of Atlanta and stayed in the North Atlanta area of Buckhead. The Marta red line runs straight down the city to reach the Georgia World Congress center where the event is held. The closer I got, the more people were presented as living recreations of familiar characters I knew and loved. There's something magical about seeing Bakugo play Cookie Run Kingdom on a subway car.
Upon entering the World Georgia Congress Center, all I could see was cosplayers flowing like a fever dream sea of fan favorite characters. The event was well-staffed and well-managed. The entire time, I wasn't hopelessly lost or hindered by some tedious check-in process between buildings. The foot traffic kept flowing wherever you went and there were plenty of neutral areas to sit against a wall, or in the court yard. I felt safe, excited, and honestly cared for. Between other con-goers and the security staff, I found every panel, area, and bathroom I wasn't sure how to reach on my own. The convention hall did not have super stellar food on the inside and that tempted me to explore the food options around the city. Artist Alley claimed most of my money, so this trip was about casual eateries. Nothing too big and fancy.
I’m blessed enough to experience so many wonderful food experiences, most of which don’t make it to this blog. Money isn’t the most important thing, but it isn’t limitless. This next section will show where I ate, what I ate, and some travel tips. I’m sorry, but if you’re looking for something glamorous this post won’t have it. If you’re looking for some (semi) affordable spots and travel tricks in Atlanta, I’ve got you covered.
First and foremost, work. Your. Hotel. Don’t be a meanie. Everyone wants a Diva until they actually have one. I mean if you have free amenities, try to incorporate them into how you navigate your day and needs. I didn't have a complimentary shuttle, but I did have a pretty standard hot breakfast buffet. The key part for how I booked my stay was to make sure I had a place my picky pants would actually enjoy eating at. A protein packed breakfast with some carbs for fullness will help keep you from buying every snack in existence, whether you like the snack or not. Aside from breakfast, grab some snacks. Don't be a Meanie McMean or a greedy pants. You have access to fresh fruit and healthy snacks every day if you wake up early enough. Grab a yogurt cup or two. Maybe a small bowl of nuts and dried berries for an evening or afternoon snack. Take an orange and banana for some vitamins and antioxidants. There is nothing wrong with securing a light bit of nosh or a snack to keep in your purse as you venture around the city.
At the Georgia World Congress Center, when you walk the hall heading towards the Omni Hotel, there is a door to exit before you cross over into the hotel. The door will take you to a little side street that opens up to restaurants, parking garages, and more hotels. After scampering to Starbucks for a Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappicuno, my next stop was to Max’s Coal Oven Pizzeria before a leather crafting panel. I didn’t sit down to eat in the restaurant, but other people were right at home. The place was packed from the inside to their outside seating. I can successfully say I’ve seen a Miku eat a pizza slice thanks to this place. The wait time for a to-go order wasn’t very long and the pick-up was fairly confusing, but not terrible. They didn't have a clear pick up counter, it's the part of the bar closer to the door.
My salad order wasn’t correct, yet I appreciated how much cheese the cheeselovers out there would enjoy if they ordered this garden salad. The Scampi was alot better than I imagined, which made me very happy for an a 37 dollar bill. The side salad was not cheap, but it was also the size of my head. I was a little scared to picture a full-sized version. Max’s Scampi was garlicky, full of plump not-rubbery shrimp, and had these blistered tomatoes that really brightened the whole thing up. Pasta isn’t a very walk-around dish, but the convention hall doesn’t have dine-in restrictions on their cafeteria area. If you can find a seat, you’re welcome to eat outside food within the hall. Which I opted to do so I was that much closer to my next panel. The salad pasta combo definitely helped replenish my energy. I hadn’t eaten since early that morning and didn’t want to, but I inhaled that plate once I had my first bite. This may be a personal preference, I find that some lightly cooked or raw veggies help heavier dishes to go down smoother. Alas, we must also apply Hunger Bias it is an undeniable fact food tastes better when you are hungry. I would be remiss to not include this in my review. Still, this place will be on my hit-list the next time I am in downtown Atlanta. Usually, restaurant buttery pasta has waaaaay too much butter for me, but the level of acidity paired with a proportionate amount of butter was not half bad. The dish is quite sharable for anyone looking to pay convention hall prices for food, but not have convention hall quality in their dish.
Cheesecake factory is cheese cake factory. It’s busy, high-priced, and the wait time is like an hour + long whenever I go. Except this time. I made split-second smart decision to not settle for ordering an appetizer and dessert here. I just got my sugar and left to go somewhere else for my main meal. The staff at the cake counter were homey and casual when I told them I just rolled in for some cake. Before you think you’ll be able to toss eight bucks their way and leave, I need you to understand my bill was still about twenty-one bucks. For my fellow chocoholics, what I did was sugar-suicide. Like, break-up levels of choco richness and overall sugar overload. When you’re on vacation, you don’t count your calories. You count your blessings and dollars to make sure you have enough for the gas to get home. For years, the Godiva cheesecake has been my cheese disdain go-to because the chocolate overpowers the taste for the cheesecake for me. Depending on the baker, I can’t taste it or it’s faint enough for me to ignore for the most part.
This was my first time getting the tiramisu from cheesecake factory. Boy howdy, was it worth the dazed food coma. That bad boy was loaded with cream, but thick enough to not feel like a fancy pudding. The lady fingers were moist, but not soggy which I appreciate. The coffee flavor was pronounced and had great synergy with the cocoa powder. I also appreciate how there wasn’t enough powder on top to choke me. We’re not trying to do the cinnamon challenge here. To be honest, I didn’t finish either serving of my sweet treats. They did make a great companion to my solo watch of villainess anime recommendations from the “Rise of the Villainess” panel I attended at the con.
Every time I think of “The Holy Grail of Eris” I will recall my chocolate induced stupor. 💖Ten out of ten experience . Would recommend to all my big back companions out there.
We don’t count calories on vacation. We still listen to our bodies and mine was saying I want vegetables. Give me green! After I was about to head to a slutty vegan when I realized the Lenox square mall was closing for the day, I saw a little Mediterranean spot called Flower Child on my map. We love saving on gas and a solid hummus bowl when you plan to fill up on cake, so I skedadled over with Oscilla (my car). It’s one parking lot over and has a few other shops next to it. When you enter, the restaurant has a vibe that almost reminds me of mid 2000’s Panera Bread loungey areas (definitely not modern Panera. Nothing like that.) The staff were quick to greet me and I mulled over their adorable board menu.
They were very considerate of the fact it was my first time in. It was nice to know that they have regular clientèle. Looking at the menu, I feel like a vegan or vegetarian would be very happy to have this restaurant in their itinerary.
Southern cookery is not always the easiest to navigate for non-meat or animal product consumers. The shop has protein add ons which I really enjoyed. If I were a local, I could see myself coming in often for a protein packed snack or a lighter lunch. I wanted vegetables and I certainly got it. I tend to make my hummus at home, but it’s a bit of a headache for me. It was a pleasant surprise to have my drink not be a separate charge. I wasn’t looking to get a beverage but the cashier handed me a cup before I could say much against buying a tea. My total charge didn’t assume the cost of one either. I’m unsure if this was an act of first time customer kindness or a norm.
All their teas were unsweetened which sealed the deal for me actually getting one. I wanted all my sweetness to come from my desserts. One can only handle so much sugar in one sitting and I didn’t wanna waste sugar space. I found the Rose Petal Lemonade to be too floral. I found that to be a shame. Rose is my favorite flavor for desserts and similar items. The Passion Fruit black tea was too bitter for my palate, but to be fair I’m not very good with bitter flavors in general. I couldn’t taste the passion fruit past the steep. The Mango Sencha was quite pleasant for me. Not sweet, but solid sencha with a slight fruity taste. Very refreshing and easy to drink. I love passion fruit, but the black tea was too tannic for me.
I don’t know about you, but I love a good protein packed meal. Plant protein is still protein. When I saw the salmon a la carte, I knew I had to get it. I’m a sucker for seafood and was eager to see how the cook was on their fish. I ordered to go, but if you eat in house, you can look forward to a nice hot salmon filet. I appreciate how even though I ordered a cold dish, my a la carte item was kept separate and hot.
The hummus was nice and smooth. Not bland at all. The toppings added to the flavor. They weren't the only thing with taste to them. The seasoned hummus was topped with green (castelvetrano) olives, not too much olive oil, and sun-dried tomatoes.
The pita was packaged separately. I won’t have my day ruined by off textures and temps on a carry out order, but I really appreciate restaurants taking an extra step to keep everything fooding the way it needs to food.
The salmon was flaky and tender. A bit more done than I would like, but not particularly overdone. If you’re not a fan of having your salmon blush in the middle, their line cooks will have you covered.
A sense of belonging is not something you can buy. You have to buy a ticket to the convention to participate in the events. Upon entering the space, all I could see were cosplayers flowing like a fever dream sea of fan favorite characters. The event was well-staffed and managed. The entire time, I wasn't hopelessly lost or hindered by some tedious process. The foot traffic kept flowing wherever you went and there were plenty of neutral areas to sit by a wall or in the court yard. I felt safe, excited, and honestly cared for. Between other con goers and the security staff, I found every panel and area I wasn't sure how to reach on my own.
Way too many enthusiasts of any passion experience isolation. An isolation that can feel stifling, choking even. To find a crowd or space where you can share, hone, or connect with others about whatever brings out that enthusiasm in you makes one feel lighter. More true to their self. I am a strong believer in enjoying all that you do, even if it is a small pleasure. How can you belong in a space if the realist parts of you are discouraged or kept hidden. A sense of belonging is not something you can buy. You must secure it for yourself. Whether you search until you find it or create that space yourself, I feel that pursuit is worth while because once you find it you can experience authentic joy. No underlying shame, no regret, no settling. Joy. Once you are in that space, there is a level of comfort that you can take with you if you allow yourself to. Conventions, shows, and gatherings don’t last forever. The memories can. My first anime convention will be something I'll never forget. Courtesy of the talented and wonderful vendors in Artist Alley, I have memorabilia to aid in that effort.
In the days following the conclusion of Momo Con, I’ve found myself being more intentional to create a place for myself or find space reserved for me so to speak. Misery loves company, and joy is contagious. If you allow yourself to hold onto joy, you’ll find more connections than you’d expect.
Flower Child
3400 Around Lenox Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30326
Hours
Mon: 11am - 9pm
Tues: 11am - 9pm
Wed: 11am - 9pm
Thurs: 11am - 9pm
Fri: 11am - 9pm
Sat: 11am - 9pm
Sun: 11am - 9pm
Hummus Bowl - $7.25
Salmon A la Carte - $7.45
Cheesecake Factory
3393 Peachtree Rd NE Ste 3076A, Atlanta, GA 30326
Hours
Mon: 11am - 10pm
Tues: 11am - 10pm
Wed: 11am - 10pm
Thurs: 11am - 10pm
Fri: 11am - 11pm
Sat: 11am - 11pm
Sun: 11am - 10pm
Godiva Cheese Cake - $11.50
Tiramisu - $13.50
Max’s Coal Oven Pizza
300 Marietta St NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
Hours
Mon: 11am - 10pm
Tues: 11am - 10pm
Wed: 11am - 10pm
Thurs: 11am - 10pm
Fri: 11am - 10pm
Sat: 11am - 10pm
Sun: 11am - 10pm
Small Italian Chopped Salad - $15.00
Shrimp Scampi - $24.00