Your Skate America Hostess: i live in reading

[susan ba]

I WANT TO BE YOUR SKATE AMERICA HOSTESS!!

i live in reading and would love to be your skate america hostess.

i am amazingly thrilled and impressed that they got skate america to come to reading. i want them to bring more events like this here so i will do everything i can to make it a success for them.

i am trying to set up appt w/ ms Joan Gruber, chairwoman of skate america and berks county resident. i will offer my time as a volunteer in anyway possible.

i am also contacting kim bowers, arena marketing director, to volunteer my time there also.

i am writing to shep to plead w/ him to convince michelle to come here. i will appeal to their sense of strategy... great way to evaluate mk's program from judges/tv/viewer point of view. early enough to make changes. i will appeal to their humanitarian sense: donate winning money to a charity. it's a long shot but it's worth a it.

i am going to contact the local skating rink to book a private ice time for skating fans from the event to skate around together. poss lessons too. let me know if you're interested

i will scope out the lincoln plaza for a first hand account of what it's like and if you can get a better deal. i've not been to the lincoln before. is that where the skaters are staying?

i can give you the scoop on the best way to get to the areana, where all the good places to eat are. where to shop, where to go for entertainment.

i have a lot of other ideas too. i hope you will share your skate america experience w/ me. (my friend and i will be attending... i didn't realize that VIP tickets had already gone on sale... i'll be getting my tickets in the next few days)

note: this arena is small so you are all in for a treat. my friend and i sat in the last row (towards the "corner") and still saw fine (at a stars on ice event)

let me know what you think.

[belladella]

Susan - what a nice post. We will probably take you up on your kind offer. We have another poster who has also volunteered to give us assistance in navigating Reading during Skate America. But you sound as though you intend to be very busy during the event.

I know a few of our attendees (not googoo) will be intertested in going to the skating rink. We may also be interested in finding a moderately priced restaurant that is suitable for a group luncheon or dinner.

If you PM me and give me your email address I'll be able to contact you as the time draws closer.

[snowbird]

Hi Susan. I live in Philadelphia but am originally from Reading. Have already started collecting information for the group but would be happy to join forces. Please e-mail me at meld@rwchlaw.com.

[graciesfriend]

OUTLETS! DON'T FORGET THE OUTLET SHOPPING READING IS SUPPOSED TO BE FAMOUS FOR!!!!

I figure if Michelle doesn't come (a terrible thought, I know) I would drown my sorrows in shopping!

[epoibim]

Thats right! Outlet capital of the world! Sounds good to me!:)

I got my bill yesterday and saw my credit card charged for the tickets, so yay!

*crosses every possible part of body* Come on, Michelle..... :rollin
Honestly, whatever she choses is great, because it's what she wants and she'll be happy. If she's not there *gulp* I'll really have to think if I want to spend $$ on a hotel and transportation and stuff...and I may just "eat" the ticket.

Who knows, it's all the way in October, and I kinda have a feeling...

:lol The Feeling Begins!:lol

[snowbird]

Erin, before you would bag it check back with me. I am trying to talk my cousin from Marblehead into attending. You might be able to come together. Keep it in mind. It just wouldn't be the same without you!

[graciesfriend]

We will have to have a major shopping expedition to get shirts, sweaters, whatever to match Michelle's new costumes!

BELIEVE, Erin; Michelle will be there!

[Shiprock]

I also hope M.K. competes at Reading, PA, because that means I'll see her at the Grand Prix final at Colo. Spring in Dec.

[susan ba]

hi snowbird! i didn't mean to steal your thunder... i didn't know that you had already offered to do this. i was just so excited. (i thought about this leading up to worlds but knew everyone was preoccupied w/ that)

yes, let me know if i can be of any assistance to you and lets join forces : )
i will e-mail you right after this.

silly you, gracie! i would never forget the outlets! growing up here completly warped my shopping perspective! within a 15 minute radius, we have 2 shopping malls and 2 outlet centers. i only wish you could have seen it in it's truely glory days...but there's still a ton of stuff here. plus, no sales tax on clothes!

for the last few months, i've been scoping out places to eat...i always hate the listing on webpages...everything sounds good but you don't really know what's good. as it gets closer, if you're interested, i'll give you my humble opinions/review of the places i've been to.

i've also visited a few flower shops.. i know of a few good places to get flowers to throw out to skaters. i also found a fantastic place to get special flower arrangements for skaters (for hotel rooms)

for those of you who are spending the whole few days here, i also found a great european style spa facility. (the owner is romanian and has studied all over europe)

so many things to do if we're not going to be exhausted form watching practices and comps.

and as for MK, i'm going to do as much as i (little ol' me)poss can to influence her to come here! i believe!

who else do you guys hope to come? the good kharma should start now.

[susan ba]

hi bella,

i hit reply under your name and am not sure if this is a private e-mail or if it will be a post... my e-mail if susan_ba@hotmail.com

please be sure to "SKATE AMERICA" or something w/ "SKATING" in the subject title when you e-mail me so i don't erase your e-mail by accident. i get alot of spam. if i don't answer back, i prob deleted your e-mail my accident so just be sure to e-mail me again...

[goldblossom88]

Susan and Snowbird. We'll be forever grateful to you guys . I'm so excited already!

[graciesfriend]

Thank you Susan and Snobird! I love the idea of hitting a spa! And maybe with all those flower shops we can get SamChez to come! He is Michelle's personal FTD guy! Thanks for offering to be our guides!

[belladella]

Hi susan - I see that you and Snowbird have connected with each other. I told Snowbird, who had already started researching stuff about your thread on the Forum and she immediately thought the the two of you could collaborate. I hope it works out that way. We'll be in touch via email. I'm glad some of the attendees are posting replies to this thread.

[GardenKitty]

Susan and Snowbird, thanks so much! This sounds like it will be such fun and we'll just make Erin come one way or another!


Gracie'sfriend, I just hope Michelle doesn't go with her tennis ball yellow color again, I look ghastly in yellow.

[graciesfriend]

GardenKitty, I must admit that I'm not fond of that shade of yellow/green either.

Isn't it wonderful how excited we are about this and it is five months away!

[belladella]

Susan Ba - I've recently had my office computer resurrected and somethings work and other things don't. My email here is one of the things that doesn't work. So I'll email you from home this evening.

[susan ba]

hi everyone: i'm asking this question in multiple places in hopes that someone can tell me...

where are the VIP group seats located? or did the office ticket not know yet? i want to sit right behind you guys

[snowbird]

I don't think we know yet. Check with Belladella who has been coordinating that (begging, bribing, groveling) with the Sovereign Center rep.

[epoibim]

:lol What a great thread! This is the first time I've checked here since I posted.

You guys are so sweet...although I have images of being bound and gagged by my 15 ft banner...:lol

Snowbird, and everyone-if Michelle is not there, YOU are the reason for me going, I adore you and would not pass up the opportunity to see you. I just have to work on my "daddy voice";) or get another job.

Marblehead...cool! Another Massachusetts-ian (is that a word?) I will definitely keep you updated.

Gosh I love you guys!

It is getting exciting....Thanks for everything!

[graciesfriend]

Susan, we don't know where the group seats are yet. Dell sent us an update a little bit ago and IIRC she said the tickets will probably be mailed 4 - 6 weeks before the event. So we may not know until then. We'll let you know for sure when we hear.

Epoibim is right (as usual); even without Michelle (sob, sob) I'm sure we will still have a great time in Reading. If she is not there (sob, sob) we will probably have more free time as we may not feel so compelled to attend practices. At least, that's my feeling.

But, please. let the weather improve by October! I plan on driving to Reading, not taking a boat!

[Toly aka QUAD LUTZ]

How I wish I have plane tickets to go there =<

So anxious in meeting kwanophile sisters and brothers

[snowbird]

If Erin's Daddy is reading this - please help Erin come to Skate America. It just won't be the same without her. We will take good care of her. We would like her to bring her pals Aggie and Splits along too (even if Splits doesn't look like her picture).

Seriously Erin, I'm still trying to talk my Marblehead cousin into coming. She really wasn't into figure skating until she borrowed my practice pass for the 2001 Nationals in Boston. She came home that day from the men's practice session with her program all marked up with what obviously was her own marking system. Suffice it to say it had nothing to do with technical difficulty or presentation. LOL. She feels about Trifun Z the way most of us feel about Peter T so I might have some leverage now that he is on the roster!

If lodging is an issue, talk to me first before you decide not to come.

I also want to point out to everyone that there is a local bus company called Bieber Tours that runs service directly from the Port Authority Building in NYC to downtown Reading, PA. They may have other bus lines to Reading from other places. My experience has been they are very reliable and reasonable. Check them out.

Toly - wish you had a plane ticket too. Reading does have an airport!

[belladella]

Snowbird said:I don't think we know yet. Check with Belladella who has been coordinating that (begging, bribing, groveling) with the Sovereign Center rep.
I offered Pam, the group sales manger, Peter T.'s body. I attached a picture of hunky, studly Peter in his black tank top with the gorgeous deltoids and biceps in full view. She wrote back, thanks, but no thanks, she has a husband whom she loves very much. - And her point is?

I'm waiting impatiently for the tickets or at least to find out where our seats are.

[kwanette]

LOL, dell....:rollin

Didn't she ever window shop??

[epoibim]

Snowbird, I'm contemplating forwarding your lovely message to my dad. At this age, I don't expect birthday presents, but if he feels the need:lol , THIS would be it.

We'll definitely keep in touch, because I'd lvoe to give my ticket to your cousin if I don't end up using it, but out of consideration, I won't leave my decision until the last minute. You are too much, I miss you!!!!!!!

RE Peter T- I was always told 'Just because you are on a diet doesn't mean you can't look at the menu':lol

[belladella]

kwanette and epoibim-:lol ::lol :lol :lol :lol :lol Re: the great Peter T bribery. I thought I had made Pam an offer she couldn't refuse. You two could teach her a thing or two. Even Jimmy Carter said - I have lusted in my heart.....

[snowbird]

Hang onto your ticket Erin. I want both you and my cousin to come!

:D

[susan ba]

listen all you crazy people. stop offering tickets to each other. i am lusting after VIP tickets myself and you will all drive me crazy!!!

in all seriousness: snowbird is right about bieber buses. infact, the beiber station is within walking distance of the arena/ hotel (as long as your luggage has wheels!) and erin, as it seems you are not a stranger to the other members and it seems like they can vouch for you, i would either be happy to supply you w/ local taxi cab numbers or i will come and pick you up myself. just let me know. whatever it takes to help you get here.

[Ashleigh32703]

Hi everyone, does anyone here that lives in Reading know of any other events going on during Skate America because I'm trying to convince my parents to let me make the trip to reading but they qwant to accompany me but do not want to come to the skating event. Since I 'll probably spend every moment there lol!!! Thanks
Ash:LB

[snowbird]

Hi Ashleigh and welcome. Reading is certainly not the hub of the universe but it advertises itself as the shopping outlet capitol of the world. If your parents like to shop they've come to the right place.

Nearby Lancaster County is a tourist draw and is only about a 45 minute drive from Reading. There is a large Amish population in Lancaster County and much of the tourist attractions revolve around this particular culture. It is not unusual to share the roadway with horses and buggies of the Amish families. Of course, Lancaster has great outlets too.

Depending on where you are coming from, Philadelphia is only about a 1 1/2 hour drive (or bus ride) from Reading with lots of historical stuff and, of course, MORE SHOPPING. In general, southeastern Pennsylvania is gorgeous in the fall.

Closer to the event, Susan b and I will try to coordinate at least one brunch or dinner get together for those here at the Forum. Of course, parents are welcome and what could be more entertaining than meeting the Forum!

I will try to put a packet of touristy brochures and things together for everyone attending over the summer. If you need information immediately to sway your parents, you might want to contact the Berks County Chamber of Commerce at www.berkschamber.org or (610)376-6766.

Please let Susan b or I know if we can be of further assistance to you. Hope to you see you at the event!

[Ashleigh32703]

Thanks everyone for the information I'm trying to gather some infomation to sway them hopefully it will work :LB

[susan ba]

asleigh,

in addition to snowbird's suggestions, i can think of a nearby brewery that gives tours. yuegling's brewery isn't too far away...there is also the nearby Crystal Caves... that might still be giving tours in oct.

if you're not already coming from philly and they take snowbird's suggestion of going to philly, let them know that the sovereign arena there will have a Doo Wop concert. they might be at the age where they would enjoy that. there's also the philadelphia museum or longwood gardens to go to.

and be sure to let them know that you will be in the presence of responsible adults at the arena and at the group dinner/lunch

[belladella]

Snowbird and Susan ba - Wow - I'm impressed with the amount of information you two have about the happenings in and around Reading. I know a lot of the group wants to go to the outlets. The spa sounds good. The brewery tour sounds different. I know I'll spend most of the time at the rink watching practices and the competitions. But I would like to do at least one touristy thing.

The Forum dinner/lunch sounds great. The one at Worlds was memorable.

[Ashleigh32703]

Susan , snowbird and everyone the suggestions are great the caves and brewery sound like something my dad might be interested in but, he believes for some odd reason that skating isn't manly enough for him.