DeanInChicago

Daring Comedy Insights - Velvet Knights Dashing Collegiate Images - Cavaliers Drunken Coed Ingenues - Bridgemen Diapered Centenarian Invalids - Me and anyone else who can no longer drink coffee Daily Central Intelligence - DCP

Steal and use the lovely Phantom Regiment storybook formation.

At last July's Michigan City IN show, the full Michigan City High School band performed the Anthem in block formation. They have been performing the Anthem for many years at this Independence Day Weekend show. What made last July's performance even more wonderful is that the Stars and Stripes was raised up its endzone mast during the music. Very stirring. I enjoy the spectrum of National Anthem performances in Allentown. Sometimes it is a DCI vocalist. Other times, a small group of DCI musicians. America is Brasso, Garfield, and Granny. America is Stu, Mike Boo, and you. America is made up of many individuals, with many beliefs, and many tastes. As long as there is respect and dignity during the Anthem, I invite any musical performance to pay tribute to the Stars and Stripes.

I have been watching the 2-hour Christmas Day Disney infomercial for several years. They have long pop star segments recorded at both Disneyland and Disney World -- think Disney Channel wholesomeness -- but just brief glimpses of marching ensembles. I would only expect a few quick seconds of Crown. The 2-hour show is awkward for its many Main Street crowd scenes - where everyone is unrealistically clapping non-stop. But it's a great visual tour of classic Disney attractions, the Disney Cruise line, the Disney Vacation Club, Typhoon Lagoon, Fort Wilderness, countless hotels, Lilo & Stitch, and on and on. If you are able, I highly recommend visiting Disney World during the first week of December in any year. The crowds are light, and the whole place is beautifully decorated for Christmas. You will avoid the busy Thanksgiving crowds, and the winter break crowds. P.S. Just bought "July 5 Michigan City" and "July 6 Lisle" DCI shows on the Cavaliers website. Ho ho ho! And on a cinematic note, I am convinced that Crown is responsible for "Saving Mr Banks".

I must borrow UK producer Matthew Bourne's words regarding Phantom Regiment's Swan Lake: See it. Or Regret it.

Count me in. 06/21 Paw Paw MI 06/23 DCI at the Movies, Chicago AMC RIver East 07/06 Lisle IL 07/13 DeKalb IL 08/01 Allentown PA 08/02 Allentown PA 08/09 Indianapolis IN

I ain't burnt out. I just made a successful Priceline hotel bid for August 1 and 2, 2014 in Allentown. Hurry Christmas --- Uhm, I mean 2014 -- don't be late.

At the end of Friday night in Allentown, I watched the Cadets show from the sidelines. It was amazing to see the intricate quick turns made by many brass players --- heading behind a tower, then spinning around to march backwards -- or frontwards -- out the other side.

And Allentown 2014 is One Weekend before Indianapolis 2014. This too has been announced, in SuperThree / Friends of DCI materials.

OMG. I love garage sales. I would like to buy the DeKalb TOC stadium manager's "You Can Not Take Drinks Into the Stadium" manual and rip the book into a gazillion pieces. That was nuts. Thankfully, the "No Drinks/No Food" in the stadium edict was reversed after the first 30 minutes of kvetching on Sunday, July 14.

I counted goosebump moments at Finals, not rifle drops. Goosebumps totalled to more than 14.

I get a double whammy this time each year ... DCI season ends, and JCC summer camps end ... all in the same weekend. I finally clean the apartment these next two weeks. I look forward to other interests: the annual Chicago Fringe Festival starting August 29, New York for some Broadway Sept 5-8, then Jewish High Holidays in Olympic National Park, Monument Valley, and the Texas State Fair. In October, I catch the weekend Indiana Marching Band contests, then always hit the BOA finals at Lucas Oil in November. etc etc etc ... off to see the White Sox and Tigers tonight at Sox Park.

Disco.

Ellen, Tony, Deborah, Andrea, Scott, Ann: We are meeting at the Slippery Noodle at 4 PM Saturday. Teresa will be wearing her adorable Cavalier earrings.

My Top Five El Cheapo recommendations for Circle City Food .... 1. The candy store on Monument Cirle. Rocket Fizz. Located south of Starbucks and Potbellys, and north of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Open daily. Fridays and Saturdays 10AM - 11PM. 2. Weber Grill. 10 N Illinois St. Near DCI headquarters. If you haven't had your annual corn-on-the-cob fix, this is your place. Lunch and dinner. Closes at 10PM Mondays-Thursday, 11PM Fridays and Saturdays, 9PM Sundays. 3. Urban Market. 111 Monument Circle in Chase Tower. Open Mondays-Fridays 7AM - 2PM. Outstanding soups! Closed weekends. 4. Indiana State Fair food vendors. Grab the #39 Indygo, and head northeast to the fairgrounds. Bus Day Pass $4.00. Individual ride $1.75. The #39 bus runs frequently. 5. Square Donuts. 1 N Pennsylvania. Mondays-Fridays 6:30AM - 2PM. Saturdays 7AM - noon. Closed Sundays. Yummy donuts, but without the round taste.

Hello from Dean: There are very FEW places to find a decent meal after Finals. There is the 24-hour White Castle and 24-hour Steak N Shake, but most good eats (aside from the juke joints) close up shop at 11 PM.

Granite City, a new joint just north of Ruth Chris' Steak House. Granite City is new: it opened up Wednesday, July 24. They also have a great reuben.

The flags that appear near the end of the SCV show are stunning. SPOILER ALERT. As other posters have mentioned, after "Bring Him Home", there are solid colored red, blue, and white flags that are tossed backfield, parallel to the back sidelines, beyond the barricade backdrops. It is a great effect. More recently, after the solid colored flags are tossed, a full "endzone to endzone" French flag toss happens, also backfield beyond the barricades. This new effect happens rapidly. These miniature flags are spun straight up, then naturally head down, and this whole effect speeds by in two seconds. Beyond the barricade, isn't there a world you long to see? Then, immediately after the backfield endzone to endzone visual, another beautiful flag effect happens along the front sidelines. Huge (four?) colorful (square?) mostly red and gold banners are raised and just as quickly lowered, in what seems to last only 5-7 seconds tops. It is a thrilling moment.

A shout out to Scott and Ann Liberman, attending tonight's Soaring Sounds, for at least the 20th time. We are still up in the air on Finals dinner in Indy -- either at Granite City, Scotty's Brewhouse, or the Slippery Noodle. P.S. to Andrea Liberman. Next time, don't schedule your Bat Mitzvah during BOA finals. Just sayin'. P.S.S. to Deborah Liberman. Camp Livingston called. Your owe them several bath towels. Have fun sitting with your Ohio audience tonight. Maybe someone will sit next to you again this year with an aromatic meal. Have a great night of drum corps: 75 years of Scouts! Rise with the Crusaders! Blue Knights hypnotizing blue sphere! R-E-S-P-E-C-T with Jersey Surf!

Before Friday's show, I parked the car on nearby Chew Street, and visited the nearby Allentown Fairgrounds for dinner. There is a great year-round, indoor farmer's market, just moments from the stadium. Dinner was pizza, deviled eggs, a bagel, one pickle on a stick, and banana pudding. Did I ever mention how I love to eat?

No need to park if you take the $1 megabus from Chicago to Indy. But if you do have a car, you should pay $10 for the lots east of Lucas near the Slippery Noodle. Free parking can be had further east on South Street about 8 blocks. Enjoy a healthy walk.

Echoing the above apology. Showtime for Saturday night has been moved from 6:30PM to 7:00PM. Some tickets show a 7PM start time, while others show a 6:30PM start time. The apology was made by the stadium PA announcer Friday evening between the Bluecoats and The Cadets. The apology was to the fans, and to Friday's two opening corps ... The Academy and Mandarins. The Academy stepped off at 6:30 Friday, then Mandarins performed at 6:47. So a few fans with 7PM tickets missed these two performances. Gates still open Saturday night at 5PM.

Thank you Old Band Guy - I see the line up in Allentown Night 2. Sweet.

Though I have found the Friday Allentown schedule on The Cadets website, I have not been able to locate Saturday's schedule. Are you able to provide Saturday's order, anyone? Friday, August 2: 6:30 Academy 6:47 Mandarins 7:04 Troopers 7:21 Colts 7:38 Spirit of Atlanta 7:55 intermission 8:12 Blue Stars 8:29 Santa Clara Vanguard 8:46 Phantom Regiment 9:03 Bluecoats 9:20 Cadets