Tribute to the King

A couple weeks ago Kathy organized our next adventure.  We went to the Potawatomi Bingo Casino's Tribute to the King, in the Northern Lights theater.  Kathy's friend Bob is in charge of the entertainment at Potawatomi and Kathy thought we would have fun at this show, so come along and join us as we rock with the Elvis.
I had never been to Potawatomi before, and as we walked into the casino I was amazed at how packed it was.  The Casino stretched out in all directions, and Jackie and I followed behind Kathy, as we walked to the theater. (Bingo is played on a different floor, but we didn't venture out to that area.)  The theater has recently been remodeled and has seating below the stage, followed by rows of half circle tables that can seat 4, then a upper balcony. Overall it holds 500 (which was filled to capacity this night).   We had great seats, at a table right in the center (thanks Bob!) and we ordered some refreshments.  Kathy explained how the competition worked.  During the day, 10 Elvis' compete at noon and then 10 more at 3pm.  There are two winners from each of those two shows, which are free to the public.  This takes place on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  Each evening the 4 Elvis winners from the afternoon compete again in front of a panel of judges, with one winner.  Then the 4 winners from each of the 4 evening shows competes on the following Friday night, with a winner being crowned with the Title of Best Elvis, and earning $25,001 as well!.
You ain't nothing but a hound dog if you think this was a boring show, so put on your Blue Suede Shoes, and Its Now or Never to join us for A Tribute to the King of Rock and Roll.

Each Elvis worked the crowd and each sang two different songs.
Here is Elvis #1

Each Elvis sang a ballad and another song, usually one with a faster tempo.
#1 was a little older Elvis, he performed well and was very entertaining.

Here is Elvis #2   Obviously a younger Elvis

His mannerisms were truly Elvis.  He communicated well with the audience, always keeping in character and he sang extremely well.  The ladies loved him (more on the ladies in the audience later)

Elvis #3

Another older Elvis, with an awesome outfit.  As with the others, he sang perfectly but did not connect as well with the the audience as #1 and #2 did.

and Elvis #4

Army Elvis, another younger Elvis..  I can only say that he too, sang well.  Very entertaining though he did not have all the Elvis mannerism perfected.

This was not the end of the evening...actually there was a lot more songs to be sung.  The National Elvis impersonator came on stage next to do this thing and entertain...

 followed by last year's Potawatomi winner..

There was a tribute to

on the side screens..
and then more costume changes... with t shirts being shot into the audience from a hand held cannon ...

more singing and more costume changes and while singing (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear,  teddy bears were tossed out to the audience and during the Blue Hawaii segment, leis were presented to anxious ladies.  This is the thing I am just not so sure about.  So many ladies were All Shook Up and excited to be kissed, or hugged, and waited in line to get a scarf or the lei from one of the Elvis impersonators as they were performing.  It is fun to watch especially if they are remembering what it was like when they were much younger and now they are "pretending" Elvis is actually playing to them, then it's in fun, made us all smile and we are laughing along with them.  But, if these ladies truly were excited about these impersonators, living for the attention from them, wanting that kiss or connection, then I am afraid our group was laughing at them.  Ok..Don't Be Cruel, enough on that.
Next came time to announce the winner.......

Congratulations to Elvis #2...(yes the three of us picked that #2 as well).   Then Elvis #2 competed on the following Friday night against the other evening winners, and  drum role please....... He was the Potawatomi winner, best Elvis Impersonator 2011.

Not over yet, more costume changes, more songs, (this picture really looks like the King)

and about three hours after we got there, the show was over.  The only song I believe we didn't hear was In The Ghetto.  This competition is held here at Potawatomi every year, and if you like Elvis songs...THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE!  Lots of fun, lots of music, lots of laughing, and great entertainment.   Thank you, Thank you very much.

Kids In Motion

Nick spend the weekend with us, and Amy Hink sent me a message that she was taking Lawson and Weston to Kids in Motion on Sunday, and did we want to meet them there.  Yes, sounds like a plan!  Kids in Motion is located on Greenfield and about 141st street.  We went on Sunday 11am, just as it opened.  I filled out the waiver and paid the admission fee as Scott took off Nicks jacket and shoes.  Lawson and Weston were waiting for us, and all that was left to do was to take off our shoes and head in.  I had told Nick a head of time that this was going to be like the Bubbles Academy he attends in Chicago and that Lawson and Weston would be there, so he seemed pretty excited.
We walked in and all three boys ran into the huge climbing gym.

There were rollers, big balls, slides, tunnels and all three ran, crawled, slide around everything.

Then we suggested, let's go see what else is here.  And the boys followed us into the Construction Room.
There is soft pebbles on the ground, large dump trucks, shovels, brooms and a ramp.  A dump truck is filled with the pebbles, push it up the ramp, dump the cargo into the pit, then the powered conveyor belt takes the pebbles up and dumps them into a big container, then turn the handle at the bottom of the container and the pebbles come out and fill up the back of the dump truck...completeing the circle.

OR just play!

The rooms are side by side.  Next we went into the

Train Room.  And anyone that knows Nick, knows this is the room he won't want to leave.  There was a table to set up

wooden train tracks, but Nick really liked the train that went around the top of the room.  There is also the large Lego blocks and regular blocks on other tables in the room to construct a tower, or anything you want.  

Weston then spent some time in the store, taking items off the shelf and working the register.   I walked around to see what other fun places were here.

There is a room for the budding artist, and a room filled with musical instruments.  There is also a puzzle room and a Science room for future scientists.

 One room has a small stage and a box of costumes for any performers and there is an open area that had ping pong, a large connect 4, air hockey and checkers.  For the older kids there is a laser tag, though that does cost extra to play.  

Then suddenly, something brought all the small frys out of their rooms, the bubble machine was turned on and kids started jumping and popping the bubbles.

Nick came out looked around, popped one bubble and went back to the trains.

It was soon time to go, so Nick said good bye to the train,

and good bye to Weston (Superman) and Lawson and Amy.  It was a success, Nick had fun!

Kids in Motion is located at 14135 W. Greenfield, New Berlin.  It is open Mon thru Saturday 9 am to 7pm. On Sundays 11 am to 6 pm.  Monday through Thursday it costs $6.00 plus tax and Friday, Saturday and Sunday $10.00 plus tax.  Adults are free and needed to supervise their little ones.

They host birthday parties, preschool classes, science and art and crafts activities and they are a Socks Only facility.  They have assorted snacks for sale, and you can order a pizza if you are going to be there for a while.

Overall, I thought it was very clean, (they supply bags by the rooms to put any toys that may have made it into your child's mouth by mistake) with a variety of things to keep most youngsters entertained.  Not much for kids younger than l year, just a very small area to crawl around in, but I think this is geared toward preschoolers to 6 year olds.

We give it a thumbs up, Nick had fun and we had fun watching him.

Eble Ice Complex

Flashback, 1969 Jackson Park ice skating rink, Milwaukee.  Dressed in my white ski jacket, wearing a long stocking hat, white figure skates with large pompoms on each.  Playing tag, follow the leader, skating backwards, trying (small) jumps, going inside the hot house for hot chocolate, going home with very cold blue toes.
Current day, Eble Park Ice Arena.  Kathy, Jackie and I decided to try the Open Skate and see just how much we remember from our past.  I had a coupon from the Entertainment book for one free admission with the purchase of one.  Dressed in my black ski jacket, we entered the building just before 2pm this past Saturday afternoon.  We asked how old for the senior price and the young girl said she had no idea, no one has ever asked her before.  Oh ok.  Then she followed that with, I am sure its fine.   (so either we look so old that she was sure we were seniors, or whatever hehe) So saving a dollar fifty, we three seniors needed to get on some skates.    Kathy had her own figure skates with her (so visions of a pro filtered in) but Jackie and I went to the window to rent some.  They were great looking skates, but definitely not figure skates, these were hockey skates, something I have never worn.

As we were putting on our skates we noticed a lot of younger kids were anxiously waiting to get on the ice.  There were some 3 or 4 year olds, with two bladed skates.  There was a group of young teens, laughing and anticipating the fun they were going to have.  And there was a birthday party with a few kids who seemed very new to ice skating.  Wait, yes, there were some parents who were along for the ride, we would not be the only humans over the age of 14 on the ice.
We waited as the zamboni finished cleaning the ice after the hockey practice, and then the door was opened and people took to the ice, well some took to the ice literally, falling as they stepped onto it.  But the three amigos (that's us) walked on like pros.  As it turned out, Kathy had just been at the Petite Ice Center a couple weeks ago, so she was tuned up and ready to glide.  Jackie and myself, we walked and balanced more than skated at the start, but within 5 minutes, the feel of skating was there.

There were about 60 people on the ice which grew to about 75.  Yes, all ages were represented.  One thing you always have to be aware of what is in front of you because the small frys seem to fall constantly.  They are much closer to the ice, so they hop right back up, but you have to be ready to turn or go around a body at a moments notice.  There were also some future skating stars practicing and that is also fun to watch.  After skating a while, part of you want to try something, like a little jump or a quick turn to skate backwards, but the other part of you, wants to remain upright and not risk falling.  So I did a small circle turn, a few feet of skating backwards, and that was that.
Jackie expressed it best, "I never would have thought I would be spending an afternoon ice skating" as Kathy chimed in.."And would probably never miss not doing it" BUT both agreed it was fun afternoon and we were all glad we took the time to do it.

Eble Park Ice Arena is in Brookfield, on Bluemound road.  Open Skating is during the week 1-3pm or on weekends from 2-4.  Admission is $6.00 adults, $4.50 seniors/juniors, and skate rental is $2.50
Everything you need is there, its easy to do, you just have to take the time to do it.
another three thumbs up.

Fox Park in Waukesha

In late fall, Jackie, Kathy and myself, checked out a park in the Waukesha Country Park System.  It is located off Hwy H (River Road) in Waukesha, very close to Waukesha West High School.  There is a daily entrance fee of $3.00 or having a county park pass on your windshield gets you in... though there isn't anyone on duty, we fully support the Park Systems and paid the daily fee.  This park was wonderful.  It has a walking path along the Fox River

What a Swinger!

The path lead to a subdivision, but we turned inward, and found a path through the woods.

and after a while we came upon three pavillon areas, and a nature play area.  Then the fun began!

Just Spinning Around

King of the Rock

When we had our full of the kids play area, we walked back into the woodland looking for the pond that was located on the map.  We finally found it, walked some more and then went back to the car.

 We all highly recommend this park if you are looking for a place to hike or looking for a place to have a large family picnic.  There is a covered shelter as well.  Overall, a perfect day, walking, laughing, and lots of things to talk about in a great setting!