The New York Anime Festival (NYAF) and co-sponsor Del Rey Manga are kicking off this year’s convention a day early, with a party at Dave & Buster’s in Times Square Thursday evening. The NYAF runs 25-27 September 2009 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. The party will be Thursday 24 September from 5:30 to 7:30PM at 234 West 42 Street, New York, NY 10036.
The party will celebrate both the NYAF and Del Rey Manga’s fifth anniversary, and is “free and open to the public.” At the party, there will be “food, drink, giveaways, and a cake crafted by Baltimore’s famed Charm City Cakes specifically for the NYAF and Del Rey Manga party.”
The party will take place in two parts. First, from 5:30 to 6:30, will be the Manga and Anime Raffle. “Typically you give the birthday boy or girl gifts; however, to mark the occasion of Del Rey Manga’s fifth birthday, we’re giving gifts to the party’s attendees. Come during the party’s first hour to be entered to win a selection of manga spanning Del Rey Manga’s five years as well as DVDs from NYAF partners including Bandai Entertainment and FUNimation. Further, the Charm City Cakes Del Rey Manga birthday cake will be on public display during this time, so fans, press, and pros interested in taking pictures of the party centerpiece should do so before the raffle ends.”
Following that, from 6:30 to 7:30, will be the Charm City Cakes Cutting. “Once the raffle ends, the real party begins as representatives from Del Rey Manga and the New York Anime Festival will cut into the Charm City Cakes Del Rey Manga birthday cake. Created by the talents of Food Network’s Ace of Cakes TV show, the Del Rey Manga birthday cake will take the form of a towering stack of manga, showcasing some of Del Rey Manga’s landmark books from 2004 to today.”
Following the official end of the party, at 7:30, “attendees are free to stay and enjoy Dave & Buster’s or attend a special one-night-only screening of Bandai Entertainment’s Eureka Seven—good night, sleep tight, young lovers— animated motion picture, presented at the AMC Empire 24 theater neighboring Dave & Buster’s.”
NYAF Show Manager Lance Fensterman said “We’re excited to offer fans and pros this party on the eve of the New York Anime Festival. And, even more so, we’re excited to partner with our friends at Del Rey Manga to help them celebrate such a momentous milestone in their history!”
Del Rey Manga’s Marketing Manager Ali T. Kokmen said “We’ve been planning this party with NYAF for a long time. We’re thrilled to see it now all come together, and we invite fans to come and celebrate five years of Del Rey Manga, three years of the New York Anime Festival, and one delicious cake!”
Related articles previously published on SFScope:
NY Anime Fest giving away tickets to NY Asian Film Fest (17 June 2009)
NYAF giving away two tickets to first VAMPS US concert (12 June 2009)
NYAF chooses mascot designed by Melissa Wilson (7 May 2009)