Sometimes it's difficult to say what it is that puts us in a particular place. Occasionally, it's simple timing that has set someone in motion toward that place.
Recently, I found myself set into motion and landing in the trombone section of the Alton Symphony Orchestra. And now there's this ringing in my ears that sounds like Peter I. Tchaikovsky and Leroy Anderson and Mel Torme, with seasonal songs from Christmas and Hannukah. Perhaps that has something to do with the upcoming concert music we're performing --- well, yes, of course it does. We're performing the majority of Symphony #1 in G-minor opus 13 (Tchaikovsky) --- Winter Dreams --- and other selections at an upcoming concert at Alton High School, December 12th at 8:00 p.m. (note the time), in the auditorium, located at 4200 Humbert Road. Wm. Shane Williams will conduct this concert, the second in the 65th Season of the Alton Symphony Orchestra (nee Alton Civic Orchestra --- see the ASO website for detailed history). As I missed the first concert of the season due to commitments with another group, I am unable to say how the acoustics and environment of the auditorium at AHS feels to the on-stage musicians, but I hope that there will be a large number of patrons of the arts come to the performance and let us know how it sounds. We've been putting in many hours of practice to get these arrangements "down pat", and we're hoping the payoff will be a nice performance on this big stage.
For online information about the Alton Symphony Orchestra, see the website http://www.altonsymphony.org
If you'd like to make a phone call, ASO president Jerre Honke will answer your questions at (618) 462-2314.
Tickets for individual concerts are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $5 for children up to 12 years of age. AHS and LCCC students are free with I.D.
Tickets may be purchased at Duke Bakery at 819 Henry in Alton, Halpin Music at 2375 Homer Adams Parkway in Alton, and Dick's Flowers located at 2621 College in Alton, or in Wood River at 232 N. Wood River Avenue. Tickets are available at the door, and if you order on the ASO website through PayPal, your tickets will be at the WILL CALL window at the AHS Auditorium.
Ring in the holidays with music from the Alton Symphony Orchestra.
[But, please...if I miss an entrance on the Tchaikovsky Symph. #1 fourth movement...please, please, please be kind. It's been 13 years since I played in the ASO or any other symphony orchestra.]
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The wonder of lights at the holidays is back, big and beautiful in the RiverBend.
Christmas Wonderland returns to Alton's Rock Spring Park (2116 College Avenue) for the 18th year. Again this year, the "Grandpa Gang" has put in thousands of hours stringing up the light display for the tens of thousands of people who will drive (or perhaps make the walk-through on Monday, November 30, 2009) through the hillside attraction. Donations are $7 per car, with vehicles filled with ten or more occupants (vans, small buses) at $1 per person, through the one-and-a-half mile long park road.
The recent news report online at AltonDailyNews.com says over three-million lights are used in this year's Christmas Wonderland display, although the Christmas Wonderland website says 2.5-million lights --- eh, what's a half-million lights among friends, eh? Either way, those numbers are impressive --- a volunteer group putting up such a vast display with lights numbering in the millions! Kudos to the Grandpa Gang!
The hours for the display are 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. on weekends, and 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on weeknights. For 2009, the last date is December 27th. Directions and other information about this year's Christmas Wonderland display are here. This year, carriage rides are available primarily on the weekends on a first-come/first-served basis, or through reservations you can make online by emailing greattinghorsefarm@yahoo.com or by telephone at 618-458-6986. The cost is $20 for the first couple, with an additional $5 per person after that.
A petting zoo is part of the activities available, and the kids can feed the animals for $0.50, with feed available in the Santa Claus House. Photos at the Santa Claus House are $5 each.
For more information on the Christmas Wonderland or other attractions in the RiverBend area, you can contact the Alton Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-258-6645 (or 1-800-ALTON-IL).
If you're an environmental watcher, you'll be happy to note that this year's display is using many more LED lights to enhance the display with brighter lights as well as making it more "green" friendly.
Volunteer organizations will staff the park and display throughout the festive nights.
Light up the night with friends and family --- make it a destination --- Christmas Wonderland in Rock Spring Park.
Showing posts with label Alton IL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alton IL. Show all posts
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Riverfront Amphitheater
Okay, I'm still doing research on amphitheaters located on the North American continent, primarily in the United States, but I have found one thing that is good and one thing that is questionable (this may be due to my lack of knowledge about the Riverfront amphitheater in Alton) as I see it. The good thing is --- it exists and the site is in a terrific place for events near downtown Alton and the Clark Bridge. The 
questionable thing is not so bad: other venues have a greater capacity for patrons, and in many cases have added seating using "stadium style seats".
As I have been looking at the Alton Riverfront area, I notice that there is something that can still be added upon, IF someone has the guts and foresight to take a few hundred thousand dollars to put into play another tract of land near Riverfront Park. And that something/somewhere is the old Great Central Lumber company property --- primarily unused since it closed its Alton location. I think that if someone were to rehabilitate that property, it would enhance the whole of the riverfront area. If someone has any contact information regarding this property and who may be able to kick-start such a project --- please have them contact me.
questionable thing is not so bad: other venues have a greater capacity for patrons, and in many cases have added seating using "stadium style seats".As I have been looking at the Alton Riverfront area, I notice that there is something that can still be added upon, IF someone has the guts and foresight to take a few hundred thousand dollars to put into play another tract of land near Riverfront Park. And that something/somewhere is the old Great Central Lumber company property --- primarily unused since it closed its Alton location. I think that if someone were to rehabilitate that property, it would enhance the whole of the riverfront area. If someone has any contact information regarding this property and who may be able to kick-start such a project --- please have them contact me.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Something Summer Says
Growing up with family in the Riverbend, I spent much of my youth going to patriotic events. Here we are in summer, with Flag Day recently passed, but other fine things on the horizon.
Reading in the Telegraph, I see that on Monday, 29 June, 2009, there will be what can be considered a patriotic event along Illinois Route 140 at Gordon Moore Park. That is the 10:00 a.m. ceremony marking the new "name" along the stretch of that highway from IL 255 to the Homer Adams Parkway: "AMERICAN VETERANS MEMORIAL PARKWAY".
Having read the copyright story in the Telegraph, I note that Dan Brannan is giving due credit to Marion Ray, who spearheaded the idea that such a designation be given a stretch of road in Alton. Mr. Ray, a World War II prisoner of war and U.S. Army veteran, is deserving of such credit. If he did not dream up such an idea and put many hours, weeks, months and years of effort into contacting the right people at the local, state and federal levels, it may never have become a reality. But, thankfully, it will be a reality.
It's also the celebration of the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America come July 4th. And I can hardly wait to see the fireworks.
In the Riverbend, we know how lucky/blessed we are, with the Regional Airport in Bethalto showcasing a so-called "Fireworks Festival", ending with a nice display Sunday night, 28 June 2009. I recall many of my younger days sitting near the riverfront in Alton and watching a great display of fireworks on the 4th of July (or whichever nearby date or dates were scheduled). I can hardly wait to see this year's Grand Finale!
These are just a few things that make me glad that I'm a Riverbend resident. Oh my, are we lucky and/or blessed to be in this area...I'm looking forward to what summer says to me in the United States of America: "we are free!"
God Bless America --- our home, sweet, home!!!!!
Reading in the Telegraph, I see that on Monday, 29 June, 2009, there will be what can be considered a patriotic event along Illinois Route 140 at Gordon Moore Park. That is the 10:00 a.m. ceremony marking the new "name" along the stretch of that highway from IL 255 to the Homer Adams Parkway: "AMERICAN VETERANS MEMORIAL PARKWAY".
Having read the copyright story in the Telegraph, I note that Dan Brannan is giving due credit to Marion Ray, who spearheaded the idea that such a designation be given a stretch of road in Alton. Mr. Ray, a World War II prisoner of war and U.S. Army veteran, is deserving of such credit. If he did not dream up such an idea and put many hours, weeks, months and years of effort into contacting the right people at the local, state and federal levels, it may never have become a reality. But, thankfully, it will be a reality.
It's also the celebration of the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America come July 4th. And I can hardly wait to see the fireworks.
In the Riverbend, we know how lucky/blessed we are, with the Regional Airport in Bethalto showcasing a so-called "Fireworks Festival", ending with a nice display Sunday night, 28 June 2009. I recall many of my younger days sitting near the riverfront in Alton and watching a great display of fireworks on the 4th of July (or whichever nearby date or dates were scheduled). I can hardly wait to see this year's Grand Finale!
These are just a few things that make me glad that I'm a Riverbend resident. Oh my, are we lucky and/or blessed to be in this area...I'm looking forward to what summer says to me in the United States of America: "we are free!"
God Bless America --- our home, sweet, home!!!!!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
RiverBend Buzz
Here we are...meeting at the crossroads, or if you prefer, the cross-waters of the Riverbend area where the Illinois, Missouri and Mississippi Rivers come together.
This Riverbend is where hearty Americans come to stay for a four-season-long ride for decades. The seasons each have a distinctive flavor and feel, giving us opportunities and sometimes forcing us to change our mindsets and our lives.
This Riverbend is where the issues come up almost any time of year: waters rising and falling; railroad crossings being both beneficial and dangerous --- if proper cautions are not followed.
It's going to be an "understanding" we quickly come into on this blog. It starts with a few notions and ideas from friends, neighbors, relatives, politicians, pastors, and people in general, and we hope it will simply continue as long as the Riverbend exists.
Friends --- and I hope that is what we will be --- I encourage you to voice your opinions, give us points to consider, and THINK!
Thanks for stopping here, even if only for a moment now and then.
This Riverbend is where hearty Americans come to stay for a four-season-long ride for decades. The seasons each have a distinctive flavor and feel, giving us opportunities and sometimes forcing us to change our mindsets and our lives.
This Riverbend is where the issues come up almost any time of year: waters rising and falling; railroad crossings being both beneficial and dangerous --- if proper cautions are not followed.
It's going to be an "understanding" we quickly come into on this blog. It starts with a few notions and ideas from friends, neighbors, relatives, politicians, pastors, and people in general, and we hope it will simply continue as long as the Riverbend exists.
Friends --- and I hope that is what we will be --- I encourage you to voice your opinions, give us points to consider, and THINK!
Thanks for stopping here, even if only for a moment now and then.
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