Costume Dancer

Her first appearance was late in last summer's Municipal Band season.

She and a young friend arrived at Marine Stadium decked out in high princess style.

When the music started, something remarkable happened.

These young beauties positioned themselves in front of the stage right speaker stacks and began to dance.

Theirs was an ecstatic dance, born of sheer joy and carried along by whatever selection the band happened to play.

They danced their hearts out for the entire concert band set.

As the season ended, I wondered if I would have the privilege of being in their royal presence again.

Fortunately, as the band struck up the first chords of the season last week, the princesses reappeared. Age had not robbed them of their love of music and costume dancing.

I'm hoping to see them again tonight at Marine Stadium.

6:30pm

Movie Dates

The last movie Bob and I saw together was Enchanted in December.

We don't get out much.

That changed yesterday when Bob had a rare Sunday off. We headed straight to the Long Beach Towne Center after church to catch Prince Caspian while it was still on the big screen.

The theater was nearly empty and the audience members who were there were respectfully silent. We kicked back in our stadium seats and enjoyed the time together.

Today we ran over to Downtown Disney to see Wall-E. The AMC theaters there are lovely and not usually crowded. After all, most people are more interested in visiting Disneyland than taking in a movie.

Once again we enjoyed stadium seating in a large theater with very few people in it. Once again everyone kept their mouths shut and enjoyed the movie.

We slipped into Disneyland for a quick go at Buzz Light Year (Bob beat me by 100,000 points) and a meal at our favorite Mexican restaurant. We hopped on Pirates of the Caribbean, then grabbed mint juleps which we enjoyed in one of the more quiet spots in the park. We exited before Fantasmic began and stopped at the grocery store before reaching home.

Tomorrow we'll be back in the parks of Long Beach for Week 2 of the the 99th season of the Long Beach Municipal Band.

Today we were just two love birds on a date.

Nice!

Barbara The Great

Concert goers were shoe-horned into every available patch of grass at Marine Stadium this evening.

My patient husband Bob and stage manager Greg were surrounded by a sea of humanity, all of whom were having a simply wonderful time taking in the Long Beach Municipal Band concert.

We've been blessed all week by the magnificent Barbara Morrison's delicious jazz set.

You could go see her at Vibrato for $$$$ or you could join us FOR FREE in El Dorado Park tomorrow night.

What's it going to be?

Muni Band Birthday

The secret was out at Los Cerritos Park.

Today is Muni Band conductor Larry Curtis's birthday.

We had a surprise up our collective sleeves.

We go through a thorough sound check before the concert.

First each individual player plays, then each section, and finally the whole band plays while Larry stands with Bob back by the sound board.

Then Larry comes up to the podium to conduct a final check.

This evening he came up to the podium and started to conduct what he thought was the sound check music.

Instead, he got an official Muni Band rendition of Happy Birthday.

He was flabbergasted.

Be sure to stop by and see what other tricks we have up our sleeves.

The concerts are free and start at 6:30 Tuesdays through Fridays until August 15.

Tomorrow: Marine Stadium

Muni Band Debut 2008

The long awaited first concert of the Long Beach Municipal Band's 99th took place this evening in Whaley Park.

Check out the flute section, differently attired than when last we met:

Bob along with monitor board David and conductor Larry get ready for the sound check:

A professional photog tried to blend in with the rest of the band and crew:

We're off and running.

Tomorrow: Los Cerritos Park

Flutist Brides

For those of you wondering what I did instead of blogging this weekend, this one's for you:

It's June; time for June brides and Muni Band. We had a rare convergence of the two this weekend when long time friend and Muni Band flutist Patti married oboist and sometime Muni Band sub Jonathan on Saturday.

You remember Saturday. It was really HOT.

Fortunately it was somewhat cooler inside the Church of the Transfiguration in Arcadia.

The reception was at the Los Angeles County Arboretum, a place that Patti, Jonathan, and Patti's son Aaron love to frequent.

Muni Band drummer Gordon put together a blazing jazz trio for the event (they were blazing hot from the sun in this picture!):

The tables were elegantly set:

Patti was radiant, and not just with the heat:

Jonathan and Patti:

Husband and wife:

The entire Muni Band flute section assembled for the occasion:


Sunday found fellow flutist Amy and me at the tree shaded Padua Hills Theatre in Claremont playing flute duets for the wedding of former flute student Janell and my financial advisor Josh.

Their parents, pastors all, performed the ceremony together.

Presenting the new Mr. and Mrs.!

May God bless their new life together!

That's what I did instead of blog this weekend.

Today?

IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF MUNI BAND!!!!

Come join the new bride in the parks of Long Beach.

Tonight: Whaley Park

6:30pm

Muni Band Shirt 2008

Here at FlutePrayer.com, your source for all things Muni, we've got a preview of the official Long Beach Municipal Band shirt for our 99th season:

Here's a closer shot:

Unlike last year's shirt, which came in convenient women's sizes, this year's shirt is back to gynormous men's proportions. I am completely engulfed by the "small" size.

Come to the parks of Long Beach. The concerts will be great.

Our first appearance is at Whaley Park tomorrow at 6:30.

Look for me in the front row.

I'll be the one swimming in my new shirt.