Not to scale

My room at the Allegro. If I stand in the middle, I can almost touch all four walls.

The first place I went in Chicago was Marshall Field's, one of the last --- and greatest --- of the old-fashioned department stores. They are famous for their Frango mints, and I bought several boxes as gifts.  

We're playing the Palace!

The Palace Theater was originally part of the Orpheum circuit, the highest level of vaudeville.

One thing I remember about Chicago is that there are lots of underground connections. Sure enough, when I went to visit the theater tonight I walked first downstairs to the orchestra pit, then through a mysterious hallway, past doors that said DANGER HIGH VOLTAGE, up some stairs and ended up in the lobby of a hotel. (not mine)

The bus and truck tour

We took a charter bus all the way to Chicago instead of flying.

But no cupholders

On my last workday in Dayton, I went to the Neon again. I didn't have time to see a movie, but I had pretzels and coffee at one of their tables that has theater seats.

Celebrity Danger Barking

This piece, in my Keyboard 3 part, consists of holding one note for a long time. Sometimes we have been known to let a visiting non-musician play this one. We call this opportunity "Celebrity Danger Barking."

They know how to fall

When I saw these kids in the hotel lobby, I was a little concerned, but then their father told me that they were gymnasts and they had just competed at a big meet at the convention center.

They won't grow up

Elisa(Wendy) and Omar (Slightly, a Lost Boy), the cutest couple in the world. Believe it or not, they are both in their thirties.

Distant brush with greatness

Yesterday, in probably my last bit of tourism in Dayton, I went to the Wright brothers' bicycle shop and museum in West Dayton. That was worth seeing, but there was a bonus: an exhibit on Paul Laurence Dunbar, the poet ("I know why the caged bird sings") and boyhood friend of the Wrights. I noted that Dunbar and Orville Wright attended Central High at the same time. Then I remembered from the Stivers High pamphlet that the eponymous Charles Stivers (my great-granduncle) had been principal of Central High. Sure enough, a bit of Googling revealed that Captain Charles Stivers was principal of Central High when Paul Dunbar and the Wrights were students there.

Bootie call

Robyn Costa, the oboe player, noticed that I play the show in my socks (so I can better feel which pedal I'm playing with my right foot). Last night she gave me some lovely booties that she had seen on sale. During the show, my feet were toasty warm.

Tag, you're it

I finally got Peter Pan tags for my luggage. On the back it has my name and the company address (not my address).

Flying lessons

The fly team is offering birthday flights to anyone in the company. I think I'll do it while Jennifer is visiting.

What's that rotten smell?

Elsinore Tower, located at Gilbert Avenue and Elsinore Place, erected in 1883, was designed by Samuel Hannaford to commemorate a Shakespeare Festival being held in Cincinnati at the same time. It now serves as a valve house for the Cincinnati Water Works.

Private screening

I'm lying in bed watching Punch-Drunk Love on my laptop. This is a good way to enjoy a movie.

Let a smile be your bank account

This is a sign in the window of a jeweler half a block from the hotel. It advertises various styles of gold teeth. Another sign warns that gold teeth "are intended for temporary decoration, not for dental purposes."

Stuff to do while waiting for your train

The Union Terminal in Cincinnati still is an Amtrak station, but it's so much more. In the montage above you can see the pipe organ manual; the projector reels for the IMAX theater, the giant flag in the rotunda; front views of the terminal; and the mastodon skeleton in the Museum of Natural History.

Museum with a bonus

The Cincinnati Art Museum, located picturesquely on a hill, has a great collection. And I ran into a piano technician there who gave me a quick tour of the local landmarks in his car.

Built like a brick music house

This is Music Hall, the main concert hall in Cincinnati. Allen Wright, the piano technician who was very graciously driving me around town, described it as a "brickpile." It is a monstrosity.

Draft dodging

The windows in my hotel room are so leaky that I use the windowsill as a refrigerator. Fortunately, the heavy drapes keep most of the cold air out.

Grand -- and vacant

Dayton's downtown has been struggling for years. This empty nine-story building is right across the street from our hotel.

Crying "Fire!" on a crowded golf course?

At the Oregon Emporium coffeehouse, they have an area near the free papers where they provide a pen and two notepads for patrons to write suggestions and comments. I noticed that some young artist had created a diptych. In case you can't read the words, it says, I'M A PROFESSIONAL GOLFER I'M ON FIRE GIVE ME YOUR HAIR

Next, I'm auditioning for "Oliver!"

It's so cold in the pit that I went out to get some cheap gloves that I could turn into "finger gloves." I'm going to try them out tomorrow.

Best school ever

I finally visited the Stivers High School for the Arts in Dayton, OH. When they heard that I was named Stivers and I was with the Peter Pan tour, they were intrigued and anxious to help. I met the principal, and the directors of band, art, orchestra (a friend of the cellist in the Peter Pan orchestra), choir, and dance. They sold me a bunch of school shirts and found a lovely student named Liz (pictured) to give me a tour of the school. It's just about the best high school I've ever seen. I told them I wish I could go back in time and go to high school there.

The Neon

I have never seen anything like this --- a freestanding movie theater. It appears to have two screens inside (the rooms must be tiny!) and it shows independent films. The current features are Sideways and A Very Long Engagement.

Better to humor the hook

This was the last show of the week and Bruce did quite a bit of conducting with a hook instead of a baton.