BLOONATE

Bluecoats website says: HOUSING Black Hawk Middle School 1540 Deerwood Dr. Eagan, MN, 55122 They have stayed here the past two years for this show

FYI, anything that is state run (Minnesota Science Museum, state parks, etc) probably won't be up and running by the weekend due to the State Government shut down over the dispute of our state budget. However, city parks and museums will be functioning. You should check out the "Chain of Urban Lakes." Rent a kayak or canoe on Lake Calhoun and canoe between the lakes. Eat lunch at the Tin Fish on Lake Calhoun afterwards. There will probably be some live music (if you haven't had enough of it by then) at the Lake Harriet Band Shell if that interests. For Dinner, I'd stay around in the uptown area and hit up Chino Latino, which is really popular among the yuppies. Or you can head over to Lyn-Lake (Lyndale Ave and Lake Street) to visit Herkimer, a brew pub, or The Lyndale Tap House. If you're feeling adventurous head to Moto I right next to Herkimer and visit the only sake brewery in the United States and eat some sushi! That's all I got. again, make sure your adventures don't lead you toward any state-run attractions. Oh, and the MOA isn't all it's led out to be . . .

Point taken, however personally I don't believe their use of "audio-visual coordination and the symphonic approach" is enough of a paradigm shift to define a decade. I wish the OP had allowed us to select two shows because then clearly it would be Cavaliers '02 and Cadets '05. I just feel that "audio-visual coordination and the symphonic approach" had begun to start in the late 90's into the early oughts with the switch to Bb instrumentation so the impact of '02 Cavaliers wasn't as great as '05 Cadets was on the activity.

Finally a thread on DCP worth replying to! I won't comment on the 70's because I don't know anything about that era. That being said, one could say that Cadets '83 defined the 80's getting away from semetrical drill and moving at high velocity. One could say that Star '93 defined the 90's with their departure from the norm and creating a more "abstract" show. Using the past two decade-defining shows (in my opinion) in 20 years we will look back on the oughts and look to a show that greatly provided a paradigm shift in the activity. Though Cavaliers '02 was quite different in terms of visual quality and visual design, it was not enough of a shift to define the whole decade. Not every corps out there is designing the way that show was designed. Original music never really caught on and no corps really wants to write drill the same way as the Cavaliers in fear that they will be forever compared as copy-cats. The one show that has defined the oughts is definitely Cadets '05. This story-telling concept as well as voice and instrument amplification definetly opened the door (pun intended) to a new era of Drum Corps.

Referring to listening to the CDs

BD '10 in a landslide Maybe I missed something about BD '10 but I just don't understand what everyone has against it. I never saw it live, but from what I saw in the theaters, this show was so well executed, so artistic, so well designed, that I just wanted to watch it again right away. Had this been "what show would you rather listen to?" that'd be a different story.

Things may have changed from my day, but The Bluecoats always got along with The Cavaliers just fine. I even remember sharing some retreat candy with them down in the Indy tunnels before retreat! BD and Cavies from what I know have a long-standing rivalry. I'll second the Crown and Cadets current rivalry. I'm kind of surprised Vanguard and Devs don't have a rivalry (that I'm aware of), you know being close to each other and all.

They're out in full force now! Now that it's getting a little more humid they come out to feast about 8:00 or so.

Hollywood, locally there is no indication for rain on Saturday; it currently shows high of 82 and partly cloudy; HOWEVER last weekend I went to the Twins game at Target Field (which is unbelievable by the way) and the forecast said a 60% chance of thundershowers all day. I ended up getting burnt pretty bad because we were out in the sun all day. There were no signs of rain; it actually rained all day the next day. Bottom line is that weather in Minnesota is too unpredictalbe to predict even a day or two before. We'll all just have to hope for no rain. But my prediction is that the competition will go on without a hitch!

Oh you KNOW I'll be there! I get to introduce my girlfriend to drum corps on Saturday night. Quite the show for a first timer, eh? I've been looking forward to a big Minnesota show for a long time and to have one 5 miles away is pretty freakin' sweet!

double post

YES! The Swedish Royal guards! I just got back from Stockholm where I saw them! The Danish Royal Guards have better unis though! http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f24/Mich...rd_IMGP7210.jpg

touche

gray duck

As in the Timothy Mahr who is the conductor of the St. Olaf Band from St. Olaf College in Minnesota?! I went to St. Olaf is why I'm asking.