DeanInChicago

Best parking is on Chew Street. Do not tell anyone! Chew Street is behind the press box, beyond Greenwood Cemetery. There is ample, free street parking on both sides of Chew Street, immediately west of the Allentown Fairgrounds. You will readily see the stadium lights from Chew. Once you have parked, there is a safe alley that runs along the cemetery to J Birney Crum. This is ideal parking. There is room for 50-70 cars. Get there when the gates open, and tailgate, or visit the nearby Fairgrounds for a pickle on a stick.

Pioneer also moved from Friday to Saturday. Friday's show will feature 10 World Class corps. Saturday's show will feature 12 World Class corps, plus the Bridgemen Alumni.

Double chin, yes. Double post, no.

Kenneth R Feld and DCI proudly present .... Madison Scouts on Ice

Shout out to Hoosiers Tony and Teresa White, in attendance tonight from Bloomington. Tony: "Teresa is cranky today because the MTSU campus is super ugly." Teresa: "It's uglier than Purdue, on the caliber of Indiana State ugly. I need aesthetics." Dean: "Hooray MTSU. I marched here in the late 1970s with the Greenwood Marching Woodmen at the Tournament of Champions. Ann Renneman marched with the Tullahoma band. The last DCI show I saw here was the same year that Finals were in Pasadena. Tony: "Tonight's usherette was more of a theatre usher instead of a stadium usher. Too demure." We now return to our regularly scheduled programming.

Funnel Cakes at Concessions. Bliss.

Hello Travellers - I highly recommend that you check into your hotel BEFORE heading to J Birney Crum. Hotel space is overbooked at some locales. Easton is not so bad. One year, I crossed the river and stayed in Jersey. I am a budget traveller, almost always staying on the cheap. Several years ago, twice after Michigan City shows, I slept overnight on the steps of a nearby church. Once after Ypsilanti, I slept overnight on the steps at Michigan's School of Dentistry. Once, the Dutch Boy Vegas props driver gave me a ride in Jackson from the airport. The Allentown HoJo has some terrible carry-okee on the weekends. So bad, it's good. This dive probably has been renamed. Econo Lodge? Motel 6? Super 8? Oh, the stories I could tell. "You're a man," I've been told, "So it doesn't matter what kind of dump you stay in." One year at Extended Stay I purposely had separate Friday and Saturday reservations, just to get clean sheets on night 2. It is good to stay near Dorney Park or the airport -- but not the rotten airport Knight's Inn. And though there are hotels in downtown, it is not a festive area. Best advice: do a priceline bid, and enjoy the crapshoot.

Stravinsky! Duh! I will buy a program from the usher next time!

I dreamed a dream one Gopher night, The brass was loud, the weather windy, The Bluecoats guard was quite the sight, They pranced and twirled atop their bleachers. I dreamed that Cavies got it right Their showmanship has been like gravy. Their barricade of men ain’t tight. Please lose the robes, the tarp, then …. maybe. But the Vanguard got it right, With a show that pictures Paris. Their fine costumes are complete. Their four cymbalists had feet. Eight --- March --- ing --- Feet. I dreamed George Hopkin’s corps was next. Who doesn’t like this East Coast drum line? The towers move from side to side. The fabric’s plush, the endless wonder. Blue Devils‘s props have stunned the crowd They play Spring tunes by Philip Glass. Thank God the turf is dry and flat. Or that tall contra’s on his ###. But the … Phantom Regiment March a guard of classy ladies Not a wench, nor whore, in sight Makes the Gophers throw the ba -- aaa -- aaa -- aaa --- by. This ditty must come to an end. That Einstein show is Crown essential. E equals extra energy. Their drill has such a great potential. A long, long day at TCF Our passion runs in DCI Drink MGD and grab a bite I dreamed this dream for you tonight.

Hello Gophers. Once you settle in to your seat, please give us a report if the annoying endzone scoreboard is making too much noise this year! In the inaugural year at TCF Stadium, I skipped one of the afternoon corps just to find out the source of the rotten, constant din. Serenity now.

I love small shows. And this one was bursting at the seams. Twice, the PA announcer asked everyone to squeeze into their seats to make room for others. Though the center section was ticketed with exact seat numbers, the outer two sections were open seating. The bench seating here is tight. I often buy an extra numbered seat in the center section to be comfortable. Many wonderful moments happened at Ames Field Saturday night. 1. A beautiful full-color, 2-sided, 5x7 keepsake card was handed out this year at the gate to all guests, commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Scouts, and 65th anniversary of the Cavaliers. 2. Seconds before the Michigan City High School band played the Anthem, a young, local, 4-person color guard marched with the American flag out into the east endzone, raising the Stars and Stripes. 3. The Honorable Mayor of Michigan City welcomed the fans, and he held a moment of silence to pay respects to a woman who had recently passed: she had volunteered for many years at this event and was often the first greeter at the gate. 4. The brick endzone walls have a few wide keyhole views into the stadium: ideal for any passersby to catch a glimpse of the action. 5. The atmosphere was patriotic at dusk, as fireworks rocketed into the sky. Drum Corps 3-D! 6. The Classic Cavaliers are always entertaining. A knocked over cymbal stand did not stop their show. 7. Though there were no walking tacos at concessions this year, many items were half price at the end of the evening: Hot dogs fell to one dollar! 8. At encore time, both the Cavaliers and Madison performed. Two anniversary cakes! The Cavaliers lined up on one side of the 50, while the Scouts set up on the opposite side of the 50. Madison shared "You'll Never Walk Alone, then the Cavaliers echoed with "Somewhere, Over the Rainbow." 9. Always worth repeating: Ames Field has no track. The audience is up close to the performers and programs. Love it. 10. Let's do it again. Same time, next year.

The Cavaliers host one of their home shows tonight, Saturday, July 6, at cute-as-a-button Ames Field in Michigan City, IN. Cavaliers, Blue Stars, Legends, Colt Cadets, Crossmen, Spirit of Atlanta, and Madison will perform at the no-track Astro turf field. The Classic Cavaliers will also entertain. Will concessions serve walking tacos tonight?

The llama was very talkative the other night.

The Skokie IL July 4 noon parade features Blue Stars, The Cavaliers, and Crossmen! And a camel and a llama.

OK. You caught me in one of my crabby moods. I do not like any listing that is headed "Corps are listed in reverse order of performance." Drives me crazy.

The cinema event is 6:30PM in all four time zones. Heading to AMC East in Chicago soon.

A brief recap of the Merrillville show: Good weather. Free parking. Free printed program. The Pioneer soloist has been on crutches since late May, from a foot injury earned at the uneven Pioneer practice lot. From a small town near Ft Worth Texas, this is the 17-year-old's rookie year, and he is excited about the non-Irish show that Pioneer is creating. He hopes to be marching Sunday night, June 23 in Bowling Green. The program features an effective brass drill in front of the pit on the audience sidelines. A second Pioneer also sported crutches at last night's program. During the beautiful Troopers show, several of us in the stands were fighting back tears. This is a wholesome, patriotic, Western show, with a terrific opening fanfare. The guard starts the show in a classic starburst formation. There are many great brass runs. Lovely flag designs. The new uniforms work very well. The momentum nearing the finale starburst is goosebump city. This show immediately gets placed in the "I wanna see this one again" slot. What I wanted to happen in the Blue Stars Voodoo show was one large "30 yard line to 30 yard line voodoo doll formation" with a menacing pin stuck into its heart. Nonetheless, this show is imaginative, with dozens of "I hope he/she catches that" guard moments. Blue Stars have perhaps too much focus on the stunts - yet the guard shines. Intermission. Hot Dog $2. Popcorn $2. Though you can faintly hear the traffic on I-65 between shows, the dull interstate roar is silenced during the performances. Excellent astro-turf field. No track. High School colors include a rich, royal purple. Early season show: no on-field judges. Crossmen have a protest show. What are they protesting? The high price of gas? The hundred yard dash? The cancellation of NBC's "Smash"? This show needs more chaos. I say turn ON the guard's megaphones to create cacophony. Protesting can't have good diagonals, straight lines, and a strong brass book. Madison's show is D-Day, Vietnam, Boy Scouts, Brotherhood, BIG drill moves and Apocalypse Now. The show seems fragmented, but with many great parts. The glue will be added during the tour. Another "Madison has returned" show. But I am torn with the "You'll Never Walk Alone" ending. The vocals were great, but the dead bodies disturbing - but I guess that's the point. A sincere standing ovation - including a few in the stands with walking canes. Later that night, Madison did 4 encores, including the September 11 finale number from the 2011 season, Ice Castles, and the traditional Madison arrangement of "You'll Never Walk Alone."

While other DCI line-ups play at college stadiums this Saturday night, June 22, five corps will entertain at little, winsome Merrillville(IN) High School this same night. Blue Stars - Crossmen - Madison - Pioneer - Troopers Cancel all other plans. May the goosebumps begin! See you at the show.

As this was a James Bond show, I always imagined that the rotating circle was an olive slowly rotating down through a martini glass.

06/22 ... Merrillville IN (you can easily see the small grandstand from I-65) 06/24 ... DCI Cinema, Chicago AMC River East 07/06 ... Michigan City IN (the DQ across the street is happily jammed all night) 07/14 ... DeKalb IL (the nearby Baker's Square sometimes has July pumpkin pie) 08/02 ... Allentown PA (fly into Philly, then head to diners and watch corps all weekend) 08/03 ... Allentown PA (head out to yard sales in the morning) 08/08 ... DCI Cinema 08/10 ... Indianapolis finals (after sitting in 100s for many years, trying the 600s)

If true to America, when Old Glory is displayed vertically, the blue field on the USA flag should be displayed in the upper left hand corner. But on the other hand, for any number of artistic reasons, the upper right field of blue is cool too.

Years ago, this event was held downtown Chicago at the former auditorium of the Bismarck Hotel, now the Allegro. The Cadillac Palace Theatre is now in this space. Thankfully, the event has moved to the larger Arie Crown Theatre at McCormick Place. Back at the old Bismarck, there was NO room for an audience except for parents and other show choir members. I had to crash the event each year by wearing black denim jeans and a black T-shirt and lying to the student/usher at the door saying "I work upstairs in the booth."

Hello Mom, If your son skips joining a corps, what steps would he take instead to get ready for college?

Vanguard will fill our summer days with endless wonder.