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DeanInChicago

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Everything posted by DeanInChicago

  1. Hello skywhopper. Your stats are great. Enjoy another odometer milestone moment. Congrats on heading from 1999 to 2000 posts.
  2. After a 2-year visit to Rockford's intimate yet tight Boylan Stadium, it appears that the Tour of Champions is moving down the road, to a bigger DeKalb venue. Many schedules of individual corps are posted on the DCI website - I assume the master schedule will soon appear. The DeKalb IL show is slated for Sunday, July 14. Hip hip hooray! Added: Rockford's usual Show of Shows -- with your hosts Phantom Regiment -- will entertain on Friday, June 21.
  3. "Do you want to head to Soaring Sounds next summer?" "Are Allentown 2-nighters available?" "Did you want the same seat for 3 nights in Indy?"
  4. One of my favorite nuances was in the James Bond show by The Cavaliers. A gently tumbling, round olive passes through the block -- a nod to a 007 martini.
  5. The use of Christmas in any art form fascinates me. When "The First Noel" is played during Sophie's visit to see her kids in "The Color Purple," I get a lump in my throat every time. Do you remember watching "The Brady Bunch" in prime time on Friday nights back in the 70s? When Carol Brady got her voice back in time for the Christmas Eve service, it was a Very Brady Christmas indeed. Burl Ives sledded on a Norelco shaver. The Cavaliers played "Silent Night" in the late 1980s. Angela Lansbury insisted that "We Need A Little Christmas" in "Mame." "Annie" returns to Broadway this season with "A New Deal for Christmas" continuing to mix government and the holiday! The Post office issues holiday stamps annually. The Cadet's 12.25 pageant this past season was unmissable.
  6. The 11:15AM megabus arrived in Indy 15 minutes early from Chicago on Finals Saturday, so I was able to see the entire parade, which started just a few blocks north of the Washington Street jail. The Oregon Crusaders led, carrying both a Celebrate Indy Arts banner and their own. The parade was fast-paced. I do not do crowd estimates, but my guess is 800. Dan Potter announced the corps in the first block. It's a very short parade! My guess is 3 blocks south, then 1 block west, then 3 blocks north. Blue Devils B. Music City. Combined Colts and Colt Cadets. Troopers. The Academy. Glassmen. Etc Etc. Some fans thundersticked their appreciation to the passing Jersey Surf. The Open Class corps looked big up close and personal. A smattering of Indy Arts organizations also marched between corps. One entry was a dozen weiner dogs. Adorable! There was a BOA truck/float. Sadly, no fez-wearing Shriners in tiny cars. Blue Stars was the last corps to march. After the short parade, there was plenty of high-fiving, picture-taking, and congrats between corps members. My favorite part of the morning was when the corps gathered on the north steps of the World War Memorial. One at a time, the corps would file through the lawn crowd to the concert site to genuine thanks-for-your-hard-work applause. Classy. Once the corps gathered, the front line musicians started a wave. But the first attempt stopped at Pioneer. Later waves picked up momentum, and a few slow motion ones drew loud cheers. When it was en masse time, I was creeped out by some of the musicians standing on the walls - instead of steps or landings. A few Academy horns were dangerously perched. "Simple Gifts". Then everyone sped to lunch.
  7. Beautiful words. I get a double whammy this time of year. It is both the end of the DCI season, and our JCC summer camps. Over 4000 kids at our summer camps said good-bye on Friday, August 10, as did 1000 seasonal employees. Then it's a quick trip to Finals. I move on to other treats, but none leaves me with an empty heart like the end of another DCI season: Aug: baseball at US Cellular and Wrigley Field for White Sox and CUBS games Sep: Chicago Fringe Festival Oct: Saturday Indiana high school band contests Nov: Milwaukee's Art vs Crafts Fair Dec: Christmas cards from scratch Jan: Chicago college basketball at Loyola and North Park Feb: Columbia Dance Center programs, on S Michigan Ave Mar: Madness Apr: New York to see new crop of shows May: annual Yellowstone and Troopers Bingo trip
  8. I recommend visiting the colorful Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh. Warhol used bold color statements in nearly all of his art.
  9. The painted bass drum heads used in the Madison Scouts show were being sold for $20 each at their souvie booth soon after their performance Saturday night.
  10. Will they add Australia to the opening set for Finals? CONGRATS to the Crossmen! Cartwheels. High Fives. Squeals. Woo hoos. Atta Way.
  11. The Cadet's Christmas pageant is unmissable. When watching the movie events of Akron and prelims, I got teary eyed both nights during the "Do You Hear What I Hear?" ballad. My mom has been extremely hard of hearing forever, (a shout out to Greenwood Village Retirement staff) and I know she would love to be able to hear this beautiful music.
  12. In Chicago, at AMC East near Navy Pier, admission was $18. I do not think anyone thought to ask the movie staff for refunds or vouchers. In Chicago, we always deal with bad weather. And the CUBS. And the el. The sound was glorious. Best deal were the free refills on large popcorns all night. After I had two bags full, someone asked for my empty bag! Such a deal.
  13. Allentown is my favorite drum corps weekend of the year. It is awesome to have the full line up of World Class corps stretched out over two relaxing nights, outdoors. I always head out Saturday morning for a joy ride .... to Quakertown, Easton, Jim Thorpe, whatever ... and stop at nearly every garage sale along the way. Barn sales are especially abundant toward Kutztown. On Southwest Airlines, pack your second empty suitcase at no charge, and fill it up with Allentown Popcorn Company tins, Amish handicrafts, usable farm tools, burlap potato sacks, bric-a-brac, tchotchkes, and other Pennsylvania treasures. Steaks are consistently great at Jack Creeks. Near the airport, off of route 22. Full menu to please everyone. Of the many diners in the area, my favorite .. by far ... is Sunrise Diner. Head to downtown Allentown, then follow the signs to Quakertown. Sunrise Diner is just 2 miles or so from downtown Allentown. Nobody has given away the best parking spot ... so here goes. Shhhh. Do not tell anyone. Park on Chew Street. It is one block away behind the grandstands and Greenwood Cemetery. Visit the nearby Allentown Fairgrounds market for pizza, blueberries, pickles, and a haircut.
  14. Will the Friday show be 5 corps each half? It is great to have Phantom Regiment, Crown, and Blue Devils all on Friday night! Will these 3 still be the top dogs after Atlanta? Mr Boo .... get ready for your root beer snowcone.
  15. Hello Ashley - Can I talk you out of this? A bus ride from California to Indy is WAY TOO LONG of a journey, though I realize that many DCI performers do this annually on tour. You will not be riding with a corps, but instead would be riding with other Greyhounders -- which can be fun and educational, but a long ride would give you bus hair for days! Connections from one bus to another are often not as planned. You need to add oodles of cushion time when riding a bus cross-country. Did you check out the prices on Southwest Airlines? Even if the price seems steep, this would be the ideal way to get from Sacramento to Indy! Once at the Indy Airport, you can reach downtown Indy for $1.75 on Indygo's bus #8. But then, once in Indy, there are very few cheap lodging options. Another idea is to remain in California, and catch the Quarterfinals on the big screen. Popcorn and a root beer! Your boyfriend is forever. One weekend in Indiana can be missed.
  16. In Chicago, on the CTA, you often hear the annoucement, "Please use all available doors." On a 16-door, 8-car train, there is simply not enough time.
  17. Howdy Tour of Champions guests. From the Phantom Regiment website: "Show of Shows is taking place Sunday July 15 at 7pm. The gates open at 5:30pm. There are a very LIMITED number of front sideline reserved seats available. They will be available for purchase beginning at 3:30pm. After those sell out, we will then begin selling SRO (standing room only / back sideline bleacher seat) tickets. 5:30p Gates Open 6:00p Pre-show small ensembles begin 7:00p Welcome and Opening Ceremony 7:10p Blue Devils 7:27p Bluecoats 7:44p Carolina Crown 8:01p Santa Clara Vanguard 8:18p Intermission 8:48p Boston Crusaders 9:05p The Cadets 9:22p The Cavaliers 9:39p Phantom Regiment 10:05p En Masse Finale 10:20p Scores Announced Since the show is basically sold out, we expect parking to be just as crowded. Please be sure to note any posted signs and respect our neighbors. PLEASE NOTE - Warning - do NOT stay in your car while it's running after you've parked on the grass lots. Due to the extremely dry conditions, the heat from your exhaust could catch the grass on fire."
  18. Outstanding deal, great seats, for last minute ticket buyer. A pair of tickets for sale. Face value. $60 for the pair. Center Section, Section C, row 22, near an aisle, seats 2 and 3. Contact me today, Sat July 14 by 7 PM deverett@gojcc.org Otherwise, I will sale (edited to sell!) these Sunday at the gate.
  19. Quick Two Minute review: It is a 45-minute walk from the Lisle Metra train station to the show. Like Allentown, the stadium track adds too much distance between the performance and the audience. Here is Lisle, a nice full backdrop of trees. Pioneer has good brass soloists. I love the Blue Knights futuristic Firebird. The opening, quiet, hypnotic, circular drill is a pleasure. Madison’s strong program still starts with those ugly ketchup and mustard stained flags. This solid book reminds me of riding Disney’s Splash Mountain …. all you can think about is the large flume drop at the end. The anticipation of the rotating company front makes this a great thrill ride. Outstanding drill design and a powerful Planets headline an excellent Santa Clara Vanguard. The over-stuffed Cadets Christmas pageant needs editing. Sparkling drill, winsome showmanship, and detailed music are plusses. But the tacky near-endzone multi-hued holiday slides during the introspective “Do You Hear What I Hear?” ballad need replaced. How ‘bout a manger scene or a Macy’s giant balloon instead? The lowly Grinch and loser Rudolph have joined lauded Linus to introduce the Whoville smorgasbord finale. One of the best parts of Cavaliers Fame is its cover of “Out Here On My Own.” On the train ride back to Chicago, two nightclub girls were kicked off for not paying their fare.
  20. Chicago Weather Center, 7:50 AM Friday report: Turning hot by Friday afternoon and noticeably more humid. A few widely separated 10 percent coverage afternoon and evening t-storms may develop.
  21. I heard (in K-zoo) that only low seats are available. Still a great deal for $20. You will be up close for the Cavaliers front ensemble fight, the base of the Cadets' flag Christmas tree, the first to see Madison rotate, close enough to count the pearls on the Pioneer guard, and I have no explanation for you for the Colorado nor California units - ain't them them yet.
  22. The Cavaliers host their second home show of the year in Lisle IL this Friday night. (Michigan City was held June 30.) This is a great treat for us Chicago fans, cause you can hop aboard a Metra express train from the Loop to Lisle. Sure, it's a healthy walk to the stadium once you arrive, but a train ride combined with a DCI show is nirvana. As both Teal Sound and Racine Scouts have bowed out, the 8-corps show is now a half dozen: Pioneer, Blue Knights, The Cavaliers, Madison Scouts, The Cadets, and Santa Clara Vanguard. Is showtime still 7PM? See you there! Uggh. Then it's a local train all the way back to Chicago.
  23. OK, I realize you wanted this info before Saturday night. To avoid the $10 event parking fee, there is plenty of free parking immediately southeast of the stadium in the residential neighborhoods. Head to Austin or Grant streets. Plenty of free Saturday night parking on one side of both of these streets.
  24. My recommendation is to take the frequent #8 Washington Street bus. The city bus is the most affordable way to head from the airport to downtown. Visit indygo's website for a schedule. Often, the bus runs every 20-30 minutes. One-way fare is $1.75. No change given. Two one-dollar bills are often easier to deal with. Day passes run $4. I may be DeanInChicago, but I'm in Indy monthly, taking the #31 to Greenwood.
  25. In Kalamazoo, you could not hear the last 30 seconds of the Madison show, as the crowd went nuts over the rotating company front. I totally expect Andrea, Ann, Scott, and Deborah to scream crazy when Madison spins in Centerville tonight.
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