Santa Monica 4th of July Parade

[fredkap]

We are not trying to steal participants from the Orange County parade but the Ocean Park Community in Santa Monica is hosting a parade that will start at 9:30 and go for about an hour. Check in is at 8 AM. The meeting place will be at Santa Monica City Hall and we will head down Main Street almost to Venice...the route is 1.7 miles.

It should be a blast and yet it still leaves the rest of the day free...you could head to the Orange County parade as well.

All those interested, please post here and/or send me an email.


-Fred

[fredkap]

We currently have four participants committed and we are an approved group. Jim Headley of Orange County has explained how we can snake a group, twirl, change the leader from the front to the back of the "congo/Segway" line and look like we have practiced as a group with almost no practice needed.

We have 4 people committed so far but I would like to get about 10 people.

Info about the parade is:

http://www.opa-sm.org/parade/

Call me at 310 738 2628 and have a great morning of the Fourth in Santa Monica!

-Fred

[SEGsby]

Why are these things always so EARLY in the morning??? Awww. :(

I **might** have to work that day. The show is a two parter, and mine delivered today, but if they need help on the other spot-- they may call me in...

SEGsby

[Timezkware Tim]

Have fun you guys! I'll be at work in Century City. It's our busiest day of the year. Hope you get in the paper!

Tim

[fredkap]

We still could use some more participants in what could be a really fun morning.

Feel free to call my cell phone at 310 738 2628 if you can join us.

We are a registered group.

The following is info from the parade organizers:

PARADE PARTICIPANTS
The parade will start at Pico Boulevard at 9:30 am and march down Main Street to Marine Street.

As we must start on time, we will begin staging the parade earlier in the morning on Main between Colorado and Pico, which will be closed to all auto traffic except for vehicles approved for use in the parade. This means there will be a certain amount of hurrying up to get staged and then waiting for the parade to commence for all involved. Please be punctual and patient during this process to assure the parade's success.

Official parade vehicles must enter the staging area from Colorado and receive from an official a parade placard to display on dashboards.

Free parking for all other vehicles is available at the Civic Center garage and surface lot. Vehicles must enter from 4th Street between Olympic and Pico.

Restrooms will be available at the Public Safety Building behind City Hall.

Applications for groups closed last week. Groups have received instructions on when to arrive at check in at City Hall and should bring signed waivers for all participants. One representative from each group of 10 or more should bring all signed waivers to the check in tables and turn them in for that group's wristbands.

Individuals and families may still march by signing up the morning of the parade in front of City Hall between 7:45 and 9 am. All parade marchers must read the parade guidelines and sign a waiver, available with other info at www.opa-sm.org/parade (http://www.opa-sm.org/parade).

[SEGsby]

I've just been informed by my VFX sup, that I have to work to help get this PSA out by this friday. They're very behind and need a lot of help, so I won't be able to join the parade tomorrow. :(

Sorry.

SEGsby

[Mr. Protocol]

Well, since SEGsby had to poop out, there were only three of us: fredkap, poohbear, and myself in attendance. And we had a great time! We did some swoops and swirls as a trio, and fredkap and poohbear demonstrated something vaguely related to what Irish set dancers call the "buzz": they held right hands and circled a common point at top speed while I glided in a big circle around them. The crowd-pleaser on this parade was fredkap and myself zooming right up to the participants and engaging them at close range. Big roars of approval. No wipeouts, no crushed crowd members, no tears, all fine.

The parade organizer, on her i2, joined us for about ten seconds at my invitation. She had a welcome ten-second break from her job, which was heavy. This is the first July 4 parade Santa Monica has had in at least fifteen years, so they were making it up as they went along.

That night I went on a rare (for me) night glide down to Marina del Rey to see the fireworks. The Seg behaved admirably in the middle of the huge crowd, and got me in and out in minimum time with minimum hassle. However, I must admit Jimbo had the better show, based on what I've seen in Anaheim Hills in years past. The Marina del Rey show was a little puny. I might have been irritated had I been forced to hike out to the end of Burton Chase Park on foot! As it was, the small show was well worth the even smaller effort on my part.

[cmonkey]

Count me in for the next one!

[SEGsby]

The parade sounded fun. Sorry I wasn't able to attend. I have no life... :(

I did get to sneak out of the building during a long render test around 6 pm, and rode from the Studio to the Santa Monica Segway Dealership. They were closed. :( Bummer.

The boardwalk was crowded, but people were being nicer than usual and several asked a number of sincere questions about the Seg.

I wanted to show off my oil-independance on the 4th and promoted it in that fashion when people asked about Herbie (how fast does it go, what does it run on, etc.).

SEGsby