GSNewell

There are many great places to eat in Madison. My credentials: I eat out almost every meal. I avoid almost all chain restaurants. I wrote a dining column for the Rockford newspaper for 4years. So, here are my suggestions: Marigold's for breakfast. A half-block from the Capitol on Pinckney. Bright, colorful interior. VERY popular. Small. Outstanding food. Rosemary potatoes are a highlight. L'Etoile is considered by many to be the premier restaurant in Madison. I've not been. It's on the Capitol square. Very expensive. Has a national reputation. Chautara is a couple blocks from the Capitol on State Street. Himalayan food. Not romantic, but the food is terrific. Be adventurous and try it. You'll be surprised. Try the samosa appetizer. Sister restaurant a couple doors down is Himul Chuli. Buraka is a handful of blocks from the Capitol on State Street. It's downstairs below Kabul (Afghan restaurant). Buraka is East African food. Small bar serves Kenyan and South African beer. Another terrific (and inexpensive) ethnic restaurant. Get one of the stews. Papa Phil's is excellent Italian on Monroe Street a few miles west of town. Calamari is GREAT! Sinatra music. Romantic. Great food. Reasonably priced. If you're an adult and definitely not a prude, the most unusual experience you can have is to go to Sunday morning breakfast at Bennett's Bar on South Park Street not too far from Camp Randall. It's known as Smut-and-Eggs. Google it and you'll find out more. This is certainly not the best food you'll have in Madison, but it's a meal you'll never forget. Greg

Looking forward to seeing you, Mark. It's been a long time! G

Muchachos 1974

1987 Phantom Regiment

I love it here. I miss my friends in Rockford a lot, no doubt about it, but I'm happier in every other way than I've been in a long time. The friends are still around by phone and e-mail, and I know I'll see them again. The weather, the job, the house, the atmosphere ... Life is good. G

Never been to the area, either? If not, I hope you've given yourself a couple extra days so you can visit Chicago. G

But energy futures markets are so easy to understand! :) Like you said, Chuck, this isn't perfect, but at least it's an attempt at improving the situation without significant risk for the corps. G

Phantom Regiment is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its founding this season. Several events are on tap - some annual, some special for this year. -- Show of Shows presented by the Rockford Register Star is Sunday, July 9 at Boylan H.S. stadium in Rockford. Blue Devils, Cadets, Carolina Crown and Crossmen are among the stellar lineup. Buy your tickets at www.regiment.org -- Drums Across the Tri-State presented by Kerr's Music World is Wednesday, June 28 at Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va. Cadets, Crown and Spirit are among the corps to perform. Buy your tickets at Kerr's Music World in Huntington or at www.regiment.org. -- Alumni and Boosters are invited to attend a 50th anniversary celebration Saturday evening, July 8, at Forest Hills Lodge in Loves Park, Ill. This will be a great time to reunite with old friends and meet alumni from the past 50 years. Cost is $20. Pizza and snacks will be provided, and there will be a cash bar. Go to www.regiment.org or e-mail rschulz@regiment.org for more information. www.regiment.org 815-226-2835 info@regiment.org

Actually, it was Ypsilanti on Friday and DCI Canada (Hamilton) for prelims and finals on Saturday prior to the three shows DCI week. Yep, six times finishing second to SCV, once to Cavaliers (I still haven't figured that one out) and DCI South prelims (but we came out smokin' that night and won by 1.5-2 points, I believe...and if my memory serves correctly, Star finished behind BD). G

I don't remember the heat in Biloxi, but I very much remember it dumping rain in enormous amounts during our rehearsal that day. We were hanging out under the stands with several of the show volunteers. They weren't concerned at all. They said that type of rain was common. Of course, they were right. It rained really hard for a while and then stopped, and we had a show that night. That was the day after we had a helluva finals show (one of our best performances of the year) in Birmingham to beat Star, BD and Cavaliers. It was like a 2 1/2-point swing from prelims (we got beat by about a half-point and then won by almost two points). G

Just for a little reality... How 'bout actual temperatures, not the heat rising off the astroturf since that's not an official number. I checked some records, 'cause I was curious: Record high in Michigan is 112 in 1936 Kansas 121 Arkansas 120 Texas 120 All in 1936 Iowa 118 Oklahoma 120 Both in 1934 The hottest summer I remember was 1988. Dry and hot. I remember rehearsing somewhere in Iowa in blazing heat and then hearing later on the radio that it had hit a record 113 degrees that day (record for whatever town it was; you'd think I could remember a town name after a day like that!). I've never had sunburn blisters worse than the ones I got that day. Not even close. G

They work even better when based on fact like this one! A promo was on the cover of the Local&State sectionin the Rockford Register Star this morning. That's sure to spark a flurry of sales today; it always does.

Tickets are selling at a MUCH faster clip than last year, so if you want to assure yourself a good seat, buy early! Phantom Regiment Online Store or 815-540-9737 from 5-9 p.m. Central time Save $1 per ticket by purchasing in advance!

You bet, Michael. People who order early (like you) get the best seats!

Schedule subject to change with no notice. See www.dci.org for full details, including line-up, venue and ticketing information. Sunday, June 4 Leaf River, Il Lions parade Tuesday, June 6 Rockford, Il Concert in the Park Sunday, June 11 Winnebago, Il Dress Rehearsal Friday, June 16 Normal, Il Special Olympics Opening Ceremony Saturday, June 17 Toledo, Oh Sunday, June 18 Lisle, Il Monday, June 19 Charleston, Il Tuesday, June 20 Memphis, Tn Thursday, June 22 Birmingham, Al Friday, June 23 Powder Springs, Ga Saturday, June 24 Columbia, SC Monday, June 26 Chesapeake, Va Wednesday, June 28 Huntington, WV DRUMS ACROSS THE TRI-STATE Friday, June 30 Baltimore, Md Saturday, July 1 Northern NJ Sunday, July 2 Beverly, Ma Monday, July 3 Bristol, RI Wednesday, July 5 Ft Edward, NY Friday, July 7 Elizabeth, Pa Saturday, July 8 50th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT in Rockford, Il Sunday, July 9 SHOW OF SHOWS in Rockford, Il Monday, July 10 Fairfield, Oh Wednesday, July 12 Dublin, Oh Friday, July 14 Decatur, In Saturday, July 15 Kalamazoo, Mi Monday, July 17 Louisville, Ky Tuesday, July 18 Jacksonville, Al Wednesday, July 19 W. Monroe, La Thursday, July 20 Dallas, Tx Saturday, July 22 San Antonio, Tx Monday, July 24 Enid, Ok Tuesday, July 25 Wichita, Ks Friday, July 28 Murfreesboro, Tn Saturday, July 29 Atlanta, Ga Monday, July 31 Pittsburgh, Pa Tuesday, August 1 Rome, NY Friday, August 4 Allentown, Pa Sunday, August 6 Naperville, Il Thursday, August 10 Madison, Wi DCI Quarterfinals Friday, August 11 Madison, Wi DCI Semifinals Saturday, August 12 Madison, Wi DCI World Finals

The alumni hospitality tent will be up, most definitely! There will be an alumni reception Saturday night before the show. Details will be coming in the next few weeks, but it will be a heck of a lot of fun. 50 years of alumni in one place -- how cool is that??!!

The BBQ isn't from BeefaRoo, but every ticket is a coupon worth a free sandwich at BeefaRoo! BTW, the BBQ is fantastic!! Everyone has loved it the past couple years.

Phantom Regiment The Cadets Blue Devils Carolina Crown Crossmen Colts Capital Regiment Colt Cadets All this at 7 p.m. Sunday, July 9 at Boylan High School in Rockford, Ill., for the annual Show of Shows presented by the Rockford Register Star. Tickets go on sale Monday, Feb. 13. Order ONLINE in the Phantom Regiment Online Store or call 815-540-9737 from 5-9 p.m. weekdays or anytime weekends. $50 VIP (includes BBQ dinner, extra wide seats, seat cushion, program, VIP pass w/lanyard, and great parking) $22 Premium $17 Reserved $11 Value Prices on the Premium, Reserved and Value seats go up $1 at the gate, so buy in advance to save money. All orders will have a $2 handling charge. Visa and MasterCard accepted

It appears there is something wrong with the Web site, not the link. Hopefully it'll be fixed soon.

Ever wonder about the story behind the re-forming of PR in 1968. Good stuff.

That's "only" 360 miles -- not terribly unusual. Murfreesboro to Indianapolis is 320 miles and all the top 8 have done that several times.

Because of the legal action, we're not able to comment on specifics of the lawsuit at this time. We certainly are doing everything we can to resolve this matter, and we ask for your support. Greg Newell Vice President Phantom Regiment

www.regiment.org/images/PR2006_logo.jpg

Kendall LeJeune was the assistant conductor at the end of 2005. He returns. Will Pitts chose to concentrate on school next summer. I believe 2007 will be his age-out year. Greg

Two veterans were selected from a field of 50 to be conductors for 2006. www.regiment.org