DeanInChicago

I welcome change. I embrace it with abandon. A corps is identified by what their program and look is this season.

The Open Class Colt Cadets will appear in the Skokie 4th of July parade. The line up includes the Wilmette Community Band and the South Shore Drill Team. Meanwhile in Evanston, lawn chairs along the Central Avenue parade route could not be placed until 6AM Saturday July 1, for the July 4 parade, per city ordinance.

I parked in the same apartment parking lot. Then eased on down the road through the same open, unmanned gate at 4 PM. Later, I did show my ticket around 6 at an official gate to obtain a center section wrist band, but was surprised that the ticket was not torn. A lot of honor system and trust! I believe most fans would not take advantage.

Beauty of a day. Easy event to gate crash when you arrive early. Box office had 40 people in line a few moments ago. Souvenir stands being stocked. Pioneer has visors and water bottles. Cavaliers have t-shirts. Crusaders are pushing old flip flops and are vacuuming their showroom floor! Bluecoats have sunglasses, phone covers, baseball caps, and an orderly flow of order here then buy there. Troopers have signed drum heads, license plate covers, and are surprised to learn about the beer available at concessions. Blue Stars have a winning combination of trailer and walk thru. Their mannequin is headless and armless. The corps is selling teddy bears and dog tags. Heather does a great job handling internet orders. Madison has a visually pleasing 2 rows of many tees. The gas mask buffs are marked at $20 each. Nine Marines are at their Recruitment Table. How many chin ups can YOU do? Cavaliers rehearsed on the field until 5. Several reps of Mars motif. Director telling the trombones to maintain an open jaw to encourage warm sound. Concessions selling Miller Lite, Summer Shandy, Blue Moon, Sam Adams, Mike's lemonade, and margaritas. Event staff have posted 8 large black lettering on white posters of the 8 performing corps. The posters are mounted on the brick walls beneath the grandstands. Time for a hot dog with mustard.

Lisle IL tonight. May the postings begin.

Nobody puts Crossmen in the corner.

May family, friends, and the Troopers have many warm memories of this wonderful volunteer in the hearts, always.

Another great event in Michigan City. The I 80-94 drive was stop and go from Chicago, but mostly go. Paired up with friend Judy. We enjoyed dinner at The Olive Garden on route 421. One of these years, we will patronize Texas Roadhouse or my local favorite, Holly's - both also on 421. Guests were wrist-banded upon entry, either with a lime green or orange wrist band with the Cavaliers name. The staff introduced wrist bands this year, as there were reports of many gate crashers in 2016. At 7PM, a taped National Anthem, yet no American Flag atop the end zone flagpole. Many in the audience faced the pole anyway and sang along. There were several American flags along the perimeter of the stands, but there was no featured flag that I could spot. The delightful 50-50 raffle volunteers were working the crowd with their annual enthusiasm. Great job! It was a windy and slightly chilly evening. Scored 50 yard line seats in the top row, next to Twitter star DCI mom. Colt Cadets - they went first Pioneer - enjoyable yet messy Les Miz production. Good opening guard quartet, then later, a 3-ball juggler. Colts - Two smooth-moving orbs. Solid near-silent opening. Trombone soloist great. Madison Scouts - cool non-uniform costume, perhaps Apache or Mad Max influenced. Oxygen tanks on dollies. Crossmen - No one puts Crossmen in the corner. Their black stretchy prop frames were very elastic in the breeze. Blue Stars - This has the makings of a great show. As always, I like the gutsy guard throws. Crown - Amazing brass opening. Top drawer guard. Please move the wonderful vocalist out of stage center after her first number. Eager to see the ending of this classy program. Cavaliers - Big equipment tosses. Strong sound. After the announcement of the scores, the Cavaliers front ensemble entertained. A stellar group! The majority of the cold crowd had already headed to their Mini Coopers and Plymouths. The Cavaliers then performed a standstill of their show ending Mars and Sinatra's My Way. Somewhere Over the Rainbow, then an inner circle rainbow chant with alums. Then the corps song. I lost my apartment keys! Luckily, they had fallen out of my pocket in Judy's car, and were found. Drove 60 in the 45 MPH work zones to keep up with everyone returning to Chicago.

Ann, you must share the popcorn with Scott.

Hello DCP citizens, drifters, chart writers, daily posters, Uber drivers, and curious readers. Again this year, I am catching the DCI at the Cinema opening night event at AMC East in Chicago with a large tub of popcorn. Looking forward to sitting in the 3rd or 4th row. You really experience a more powerful evening sitting close to the giant screen at these events. Try it! I LOVE the brief DCI theme song that almost always opens the show. It gives me goose bumps and chills every time. Hope there are more Lucas Oil guests attending than only the Section 140 fans. Every Marion County resident needs to skip their Dilly Bar that night at the DQ and get themselves downtown for opening night. Heck, rent the chicken car and arrive in style! Best wishes to everyone. May the Sight of Music fill your soul.

Cascades Corona Dutch Boy Draft Old Madison Crown's Little Kings Academy Pilsner Cadets Blue Ribbon A drum corps 6 pack. Less trilling. Tastes great.

Get out of town and go hiking at a state park: McCormick's Creek in Spencer, Brown County in Nashville, or Turkey Run near Marshall. Trail 6 at Turkey Run is a favorite. Wear old sneakers as some of the trail wanders through an active creek.

The Cleveland Browns are part of the NFL. Groundhog Day is appearing on Broadway. A few foodies put ketchup on their hot dogs. All the best to Jersey Surf! Looking forward to seeing your performance in Allentown this August.

Last Saturday at Shapiro's in Indianapolis, I grabbed a chicken Caesar salad, a side of kiwi, two slices of rye bread, and a pickle spear. If many corps choose not to provide news in the off-season, there is always the engaging Shapiro's.

June 2017. Please arrive. Now. I want to see the Sight of Music.

And the S back in CORPS.

Putting the drum corp back in Xmas.

What do drum corps fans pass out to Trick or Treaters?

As The Cavaliers gave us Niagara, and USC gave us an inflatable Statue of Liberty, we are due for a Yellowstone show from the Troopers.

Though I don't have any video to share, I have easily observed many pit members PULLING individual equipment pieces instead of PUSHING the pieces. By being in FRONT of the marimbas or wood blocks,the mover better sees what lies ahead. Experienced porters at fine hotels do the same: the porters PULL the full luggage carts.

The Omni is closer to SoundSport and Drumline Battles.

I am only a day tripper to Finals, megabussing to Indy on Saturday morning, then megabussing back to Chicago soon after the champion encore. Sleeping on the bus is my civic duty. As the performers have ridden the bus for 2 months, I can tolerate it for one 24 hour period.

I like the seasonal nature of DCI. It reminds me of filing taxes, raking leaves, or smelt fishing in Lake Michigan. Do you want pizza every day?

How many times do I hit Post Reply before my thought is done.

Aha! I did not realize that Harry is Harry Connick Jr. This is his first week of shows. In his opening introductions, he joked that a ca