Show Buzz #4

D20 Show Buzz May/June 2014

Stephanie 

Still in the snow covered north, we headed to our Nations Capital.  Little did we know, we were in for a surprise that week with more snow than the city could handle. 

It was our first snow day of tour!  Two shows and a PR event at the arena were cancelled.  All of the schools, businesses, and even the government called off work that day.  The city was almost deserted; no one was even out playing in the snow. 

And this was just the start of even more snow as we headed north into Ottawa, Canada on the 16-hour bus ride; the longest ride of the tour and the quickest turn around.  We had a show at 1 pm in D.C. and then drove the rest of that day and into Tuesday and opened in Ottawa on Wednesday. 

Luckily, the next week slowed down and we headed south slightly after all of the snow and back to where it all began. 

We found ourselves in Rockford, Illinois where we started this show together.  We performed at the same arena and stayed in the same hotel as before.  This time however, the arena was not under construction anymore and we weren’t there for two weeks.  The hotel really did not change though.  It was still filled with animal heads and the “Good Luck Hog” in the lobby that spits water.  Even though there was no beach or anything exciting to do around hotel, everyone was looking forward to going back.  After all, it is where we all started this journey together. 

Saying goodbye to Rockford one more time and continuing on our journey together things were running smoothly and then it happened; travel days.  Our drive from Johnstown, Pennsylvania to catch our flight out of Baltimore, Maryland turned against our luck. 

We were all up and awake early to make the drive just to find out that part way there and only an hour away from the airport that our flight was cancelled.  We had no hotel reservations and the first hotel that we stayed at when we performed in Baltimore previously this year, only had 30 rooms available and we needed 55!

Anyways, with a few phone calls we were able to find a hotel that had enough rooms for all of us and that was closer to the airport.  We also got breakfast out of it too! 

Thinking it was all behind us, we started out on travel day two of two from Baltimore for Loveland, Colorado.  While the first flight had not a problem at all, the second flight was not so lucky.  Not only did flight two get delayed in transit, but when they arrived at their final destination, they came to find that almost all of their luggage was lost!  Luckily, it did arrive later that day, just in time to allow us to adjust to a few days of warm weather and sun!  The first we had seen this kind of weather in a very long time!  It is crazy how fast it changes in Colorado though; one day it is sunny and in the mid – 60’s and the next, it is snowing and in the 30’s!

So Colorado brought us some new experiences and not just with the weather.  There was also a change in altitude in each of the three cities that we performed in as well. 

Speaking of changes, the hotel that we stayed at in Denver, Colorado could not decide if it was a Red Lion or a Radisson.  Some of the signs said one name and another had the other for advertisement.  There were workers on the roof at 7AM on our days off pounding and hammering while the fire alarm went off at 8AM and then again multiple times a day.  They were putting a new sprinkler system in so for three days straight the alarms were sounding.  Then, there was a water line break and we lost water for about five hours the one day and only one elevator for each tower worked, so getting our luggage up and down took us about 30 minutes to an hour if you were in the back of the line.

Denver also brought us some unique experiences at the arena with cops patrolling the entrance on horseback and then we even had a family follow the bus all the way back to the hotel just to say goodbye.  Although it was a nice gesture it was definitely nerve-racking at the same time.

Still climbing in elevation we headed to Colorado Springs, the highest point that we will perform at and the very city that we presented in-shows.  It was definitely a strain on the breathing!  I now completely understand why all of the Olympians and World competitors come to the springs to train.

Speaking of Olympians, we were performing at the World Arena, where we had numerous famous faces in the building at each show! 

Topping off nights like those, nothing made it better than coming back to the delicious chocolate chip cookies at the Double Tree every time we walked in the door.  The front desk personnel basically guaranteed that we would all be walking in looking for those cookies. 

Taking a step away from the official training sights of the Olympians, we took a few moments to enjoy nature and the sights that it offered on horseback! No one fell off or wandered off the trail so that was a plus and the views were spectacular!

And then it was time to hit Phoenix, Arizona and everyone felt as if they were staying in a resort and it was more like a vacation than another city to perform in.  The sun was shining everyday, the temperature was warm, and there were palm trees!  The bathing suits were out and the pool was open; it was time to soak up some sun and try not to get sun burnt!

As our tour is nearing its’ end with only five more weeks left, we have come a long way since rehearsals. We have had our highs and lows together and can only hope to make the most of it from here on out as we hit California, Nevada, Texas, and Georgia!

Wishing everyone the best!  Safe travels!

Places we have been/Places to see if you go:

Washington D.C. – All of the museums and monuments – George Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, The White House, Sculpture Park, the Pentagon, Georgetown, Georgetown Cupcakes, Capital Hill

Ottawa, Ontario Canada – Skating on the canals, Fox and the Feather, City Hall

Rockford – Cliffbreakers!! Back in the same hotel and same arena that we were in for rehearsals

Pittsburgh – Inclines, Point Park, Market District, South Side, Strip District, History Museum, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Ballet, The Benedum, The Pittsburgh Ballet, The Pittsburgh Symphony, Heinz Field, PNC Park, Mount Washington, Fort Pitt,  The Rink at PPG outside, Schenely Park skating rink outside

Johnstown – Incline, Central Park of Johnstown, Flood Museum, Arena that Slap Shot was filmed in, Chocolate Candy Store

Loveland – Warm weather for the first time in what feels like forever! Outlet shops and the mall! It was a shopping city

Denver – Downtown Denver, The 16^th Street Mall, the Light Rail, Larimer Square! The Mile High City!

Colorado Springs – Welcome to elevation!  In-Shows! Horseback riding through the Garden of Gods, Pikes Peak, World Figure Skating Museum and Hall of Fame, The Broadmoor Hotel, The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo where you can feed and pet the giraffes! USA Hockey headquarters, The Ice Hall (an Official Olympic Training Facility) 

Phoenix – Finally there is a break in the weather and it’s hot, not just warm! The sun is shining and there is an outdoor pool! Resort-style living this week with the pool and sun!

Colorado Springs - Headquarters for Basically Every Sport

Welcome to elevation!  Never did I realize how much different things would be trying to breath at altitude and trust me after three weeks of being above sea-level, it still is a struggle to maintain your breath all the way up there.  Even the smallest and easiest things can cause you to be out of breath.  I can completely respect the fact that the top athletes come to train in the Springs to get that extra edge and build up their stamina.

Anyways, the scenic views totally make up for it the struggle to breath at points.  I do not think that I have ever been somewhere so beautiful before.

Having never been to Colorado before, it just made sense to continue trying new things in a new place. I had my first Baskin Robins ice cream, my first pedicure, and went horseback riding for the first time!  I also choreographed my first program and presented it.  It felt amazing to get back out there reminiscing over how much it reminded me of my previous competitive career and how much I miss it; which I never thought I would say.

Going to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and feeding the giraffes, seeing Pikes Peak that was still covered in snow, feeling the wind, dirt, and sand hit your face as your horse carried you through the Garden of the Gods, walking through the elegant Broadmoor hotel surrounded by boutiques and unique eateries along with an exquisite landscape for the resort, as well as the mansions that were found located all around this area were all more than I could have imagined to see.

If this wasn't enough, being able to skate on ice that Olympians trained on year after year and just being in the same facility that people like Peggy Flemming and Patrick Chan, fills you with such an amazing and honored kind-of feeling.

Also, being home to the World Figure Skating Museum and Hall of Fame really made me feel like a little girl with big dreams all over again.

Overall, being in Colorado Springs was such an amazing experience and I cannot believe that I was able to experience it traveling around the country at this point in my life.

Although the Centennial State was breath-taking, literally, it is time to get back to sea-level!

The Mile High City

We may have been a little ways outside of downtown Denver, but the light rail was definitely an adventure.  This makes it my forth type of new transportation that I have taken since the start of tour! 

Learning new things! It was a successful trip, however we did have to sprint to catch the train home since it was a street over and we were just getting there as it was getting ready to leave.  We made it just in the knick of time!

Then, it was back to downtown Denver again to do some more exploring the next day. 

If you want a really cute place to shop and have a variety of choices for food, then I would definitely suggest the 16^th Street Mall; three stories of outdoor shops and places to eat! The Hard Rock Café, Coyote Ugly, small boutiques, and a variety of other shops are there!

A few streets down from the mall was a really cute area, called Larimer Square.  There were strings of lights overhanging the streets, at least two colleges and universities in the area, boutiques, special eateries, and the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory!  Of course, I had to get some sweets J  

It was so nice to get out and enjoy the sun especially with a Dairy Queen right down the street! Oh, that was so yummy and definitely hit the spot after a run through the Cherry Creek State Park across the street.  There was even a beach! It definitely wasn’t the kind of state park that was heavily wooded that I am used to, but it was a nice escape away from the city life and to see open land and listen to the flow of the water. 

Our time has come though, to move on after a heavy week of shows and continue going up in elevation!

 See you there!

Traveling Across the Country

From Pennsylvania to Colorado, we went...or we thought we were going to.  After packing our bags and starting the trek from Johnstown, Pennsylvania to Baltimore, Maryland we found out that our flight was cancelled.  Luckily, we were not stranded at the airport all day and night, but instead in a nice warm hotel where the breakfast was provided for us within a timely period of us arriving.  It may not have been the travel day that we were all looking for, but I am pretty sure we made the best of it! Plus, it was St. Patrick's Day!! The luck of the Irish!

Anyways, up again at the wee hours of the morning, we were ready for take two of the travel day.  This time, we were not all flying together, but instead on two separate flights and it was definitely lucky to be on the earlier flight.  Unfortunately, for the later flight, not only was it not direct, but the plane was delayed due to high winds at its connection and then a vast majority of luggage was lost for a period of time.  In the end though, we all made it Colorado and the luggage did finally show up as well.

Now, it was time to explore and adjust to altitude.

We could not have asked for a better location to stay.  The hotel was more than accommodating and everyone was so personable in Loveland, Colorado.  We were surrounded by restaurants, shops, malls, and outlets; not to mention the Rocky Mountains.  There was no hustle and bustle and a little ways off there was a nice residential area that was brand new.  Any direction that you looked, there were numerous possibilities and opportunities.

Even though the first day was a struggle, I found myself on day two running further just to do more exploring.  There was a sidewalk everyone if you wanted to go for a run or a walk and to make it that much better, it was warm!

It had been so long and way over due for us to see the sunshine and it actually be warm! I mean it was time to break out the flip flips and shorts! Unfortunately, we were a little too over joyous and ended up with snow before the week was over.  Oh well.

Hoping for some warm weather that lasts! See in you another level altitude!

Bringing Back the Memories - Johnstown

And we were off.  The stay at home was way too short, but there is no stopping now.  It was time to move onto the next city a few hours down the road.  

Heading back to Johnstown was definitely a big change being that the city is equivalent to a town, but it makes it that much more personable.  The arena was the very one that the movie Slap Shot was filmed in! It may be tiny and smaller than what we were used to, but it made it that much better for the audience and with all the changes in sizes and locations of each place, it is definitely teaching us all to be versatile.  

So, along the way not only are we getting to see places that we may have never been able to see, but we are also learning life lessons along the way. 

Luckily this was another close venture so I was able to see more of my friends and family and enjoy the scenery.  I mean there is an incline and even a Central Park in Johnstown!  And to top it all off, there is a cute little chocolate candy store there; so yummy!

This city is where we may be performing this week, but a handful of years ago I was actually competing here.  There are some really good memories that exist here and I just added to them this week.  

However, we are ready for some warm weather along the west coast!

HOME! - Pittsburgh

I cannot even describe what the experience was like being at home in front of my hometown audience.  It was absolutely amazing and something that I will always remember forever.  Walking around town and people know who I am and where I have come from and what it took for me to get to where I am today, makes the experience that much sweeter.  I definitely did not want to leave.

Even though it was a very busy week, there was still time to do a little exploring in the city.  Believe it or not, because I am a little distance outside of the city, there are still places that I have not gotten to see yet.  However, there are others that some never get to experience and one of those was performing at CONSOL Energy Center and getting a tour of the Penguins Locker Room by the CEO of the team!  Go Pens!!

Aside from all of that excitement, it was a gorgeous day for the walk down and around the Point and through the Market District.  There was even time to actually go home and spend some time with my family and even sleep in my own bed!  It may not seem like much, but the difference between a hotel bed and your bed is huge when you haven't been in it for so long. It is not just about the bed however, you never know the feeling of being away so long and how sweet it is to come home until it actually happens.  Seeing so many familiar faces was absolutely amazing.  

Also, getting outside the city in the outskirts of town and then slowly making my way to the country is definitely a breath of fresh air.  It was all about the little things that made this trip so much better and now I can finally have an answer to the question, "Where is your favorite place that you have been so far?"  Of course, it is going to be Pittsburgh!  There is nothing quite like you will experience when you perform in your hometown and it really is an opportunity of a lifetime!

However, the week did have to come to end, but we were not headed too far.

See you in the town where "Slap Shot" was filmed!

Back Where it all Began

Six months later and a very long travel day, we were back in the very place that it all started.   Welcome to Rockford, Illinois! 

It’s amazing how far we have come.  Just to think that without the experiences we had the first time we were here, we would not have the stories to tell that we do today.  It may not be the most entertaining place on the world, but it definitely brought us all closer together.  And to say that we were not all a little excited to go back would be an understatement. 

We all knew that we would at least have a decent week to catch up on some much needed sleep.  Also, already being here once, gave us all some comfort, knowing just what to expect and how close everything was.

I will say though, it is amazing how different times of year and weather can affect a place and how it appears.  Seeing Rockford in the summer time when we were able to sit down on the dock and go for a walk in the park is completely different than seeing everything covered in snow and ice. 

It may not be the number place to see in the world, but it will definitely have a special place in everyone’s memories and it will always be the place that we all started this year together. 

We have come this far, and there is no slowing down now!

See you in the Steel City!