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Dinosaur World Cont: Yeah! Kevin guessed right - he won a cookie! Can you figure out what kind of dinosaur is on the other side of the wall by feeling it up? Looks like Kevin didn't make it out of Dinosaur World.

^ Hey Dave! Your TPR Tokyo trip friends missed you! Last Saturday I planned a surprise Birthday Adventure for Kevin. Kevin is a BIG dinosaur freak. Think Ross from Friends and you'll know what I mean! So I surprised him by blindfolding him and taking him to Dinosaur World. Dinosaur World is a old-school looking dino roadside attraction half way between Tampa and Orlando off I-4. Every time we drive to Orlando Kevin's eyes always light up when we drive by the place. So we went and it wasn't that bad. It was actually a lot bigger than I thought it would be. And it was pretty educational. The attraction features about 40-50 life size dinosaur statues. The place was very busy with alot of families. It was a fun one time visit. Now onto the photos of world famous Dinosaur World! Watch out there is a T-rex behind you! Kevin thought this was the best vending machine ever! Look a cute baby dino. Kevin was in his element. Part 1 of Kevin's Birthday Adventure - world famous Dinosaur World!

Next up was our August visit to Disney's Blizzard Beach for our friend Ray's birthday. We had a good half day. We left early because there was a tropical storm approaching so the park's attractions closed early. We still had fun the short time we were there. Even though it was a short visit, we had a good time. Ray! This is a family park! Snow and bathing suits - what a great combo! The lazy river in any park is always nice. Ray liked the enclosed slide. The flume slides were fun. First up took the ski lift to experience Teamboat Springs which was a group favorite of the day. Ray and I enjoy a snow sled ride at a winter-themed water park in August! This was both Ray and Kevin's first visit to Blizzard Beach.

Welcome to Eric's 2009 Theme Park Adventures Tread! Check below for the index for my adventures throughout 2009! Islands of Adventure Dinosaur World T-Rex Cafe Universal Studios Florida Florida State Fair Gatlinburg Area Attractions Kings Island We start with my first park visit of 2009. Last Saturday I drove up to Orlando and met up with Mike and Julie, friends I met from the TPR Tokyo trip last September. We spent a fun morning and early afternoon at Islands of Adventure and then the 3 of us headed over to meet up with Robb, Elissa and Kristen to hang out at Downtown Disney. We ended the night with a yummy meal at Elissa's favorite place and my employer, Carrabba's Italian Girll. It was great seeing everyone and can't wait to do it again sometime in the future! After IOA, we headed over to Downtown Disney and met up with the Alvey's. After some shopping, we finished off the day with a yummy dinner at Carrabba's. Thanks again to Mike, Julie, Robb, Elissa and Kristen for a fun day and it was great seeing all of you! Mike explored the caves. Good times. Mike and Julie discovered "If I Ran A Zoo" for the first time. Julie and I trapped Mike under the fountain for awhile. =p Julie did a good job, we didn't get too wet. Hopefully Julie will keep us dry keeping to the song on One Fish, Two Fish etc.. Julie and I with the Cat In The Hat. Mike and Julie had to meet the Grinch since it was Grinchmas! Even thought it was after New Year's, Grinchmas was still present. Always have to get the "wearing the 3D glasses photo" in line for Spiderman. Could it be because Julie was on Popeye and Bluto's Blige Rat Rapids? I think Julie got a little bit wet! On top of the Me-Ship Olive with a water cannon. Why does Mike have that mischievous grin? We had lunch at Mythos which was awesome as usual. The 3 of us before experiencing the new neutered Poseidon's Fury. We rode the flyers first thing so Julie could get the credit. In Camp Jurassic. Mike and Julie with a new giant friend, a T-rex!

And finally everything you might want to know about the specs of the tour. (Yes, if you didn't already figure it out, I'm a fan! =p) The Sticky and Sweet World Tour Grosses: (From Billboard/Box Score) This year Madonna enjoyed the sticky and sweet smell of success. According to numbers released by concert trade magazine Pollstar, the Material Girl was the year's top concert draw in North America with ticket sales in excess of $105 million. After launching last summer in Wales, her Sticky & Sweet tour hit North America in early October for nearly eight weeks of concert dates. Worldwide the tour actually grossed more than $280 million, making Sticky & Sweet the highest-grossing tour ever by a solo artist. Fittingly, the solo record she broke was her own: $195 million for her 2006 Confessions tour. "Not only will this tour be the top selling tour of all time for a solo artist and a female artist (eclipsing her own record), but it will position her as one of the top selling touring artists of all time," noted Arthur Fogel, Live Nation's Chairman of Global Music and CEO of Global Touring, in a statement. Sticky & Sweet, which promotes her 2008 chart-topping album Hard Candy, is the singer's first major venture as part of a new recording, touring and business deal—reportedly worth about $120 million—that she signed with Live Nation in late '07. Madonna was also the iceberg to Celine Dion's titanic road return. Following a five-year residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, the Canadian superstar sold $94 million in tickets to her Taking Chances tour, which finished the year as the second-highest grosser. The Eagles and Kenny Chesney roped in the third and fourth biggest tours. The Hall of Fame rockers sold $73.4 million worth of tickets, just edging out Chesney's $72.2 million. Bon Jovi, who had the biggest tour worldwide with nearly $211 million in tickets (per Billboard), sold over $70.4 million in North America for the year's No. 5 spot. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band followed at No. 2 worldwide ($204.5 million) and No. 6 in North America ($69.3 million). The Police reunion tour, which topped 2007 with $132 million in ticket sales, finished ninth in '08 with another $48 million. The year's remaining Top 10 acts included Neil Diamond at No. 7 ($59.8 million), Rascal Flatts ($55.8 million) at No. 8 and Tina Turner ($47.7 million) in the 10 spot. To recap, the year's Top 10 highest-grossing tours were as follows: 1. Madonna ($105 million)
2. Celine Dion ($94 million)
3. The Eagles ($73.4 million)
4. Kenny Chesney ($72.2 million)
5. Bon Jovi ($70.4 million)
6. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band ($69.3 million)
7. Neil Diamond ($59.8 million)
8. Rascal Flatts ($55.8 million)
9. The Police ($48 million) 
10. Tina Turner ($47.7 million) The Sticky And Sweet World Tour Dates: Europe Aug 23 - Cardiff, Wales Aug 26 - Nice, France Aug 28 - Berlin, Germany Aug 30 – Zurich, Switcherland Sept 02 – Amsterdam, The Neitherlands Sept 04 – Dusseldorf, Germany Sept 06 – Rome, Italy Sept 09 – Frankfurt, Germany Sept 11- London, United Kingdom Sept 14 – Lisbon, Portugal Sept 16 – Seville, Spain Sept 18 – Valencia, Spain Sept 20 – Paris, France Sept 21 – Paris, France Sept 23 – Vienna, Austria Sept 25 – Budva, Montenegro Sept 27 – Athens, Greece North America Oct 04 - E. Rutherford, NJ USA Oct 06 - New York City, NY USA Oct 07 - New York City, NY USA Oct 11 - New York City, NY USA Oct 12 - New York City, NY USA Oct 15 - Boston, MA USA Oct 16 - Boston, MA USA Oct 18 - Toronto, Canada Oct 19 - Toronto, Canada Oct 22 - Montreal Bell Centre, Canada Oct 23 - Montreal Bell Centre, Canada Oct 26 - Chicago, IL USA Oct 27 - Chicago, IL USA Oct 30 - Vancouver, Canada Nov 01 - Oakland, CA USA Nov 02 - Oakland, CA USA Nov 04 - San Diego, CA USA Nov 06 - Los Angeles, CA USA Nov 08 - Las Vegas, NV USA Nov 09 - Las Vegas, NV USA Nov 11 - Denver, CO USA Nov 12 - Denver, CO USA Nov 16 - Houston, TX USA Nov 18 - Detroit, MI USA Nov 20 - Philadelphia, PA USA Nov 22 - Atlantic City, NJ USA Nov 24 - Atlanta, GA USA Nov 26 - Miami, FL USA Nov 29 - Mexico City, Mexico Nov 30 - Mexico City, Mexico South America Dec 04 - Buenos Aires, Argentina Dec 05 - Buenos Aires, Argentina Dec 07 - Buenos Aires, Argentina Dec 08 - Buenos Aires, Argentina Dec 10 - Santiago, Chile Dec 11 - Santiago, Chile Dec 14 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Dec 15 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Dec 18 - Sao Paulo, Brazil Dec 20 - Sao Paulo, Brazil Dec 21 - Sao Paulo, Brazil Concert Set List: Candy Shop Beat Goes On Human Nature Vogue Video Interlude: Die Another Day Into The Groove Heartbeat Borderline She’s Not Me Music Video Interlude: Rain/Here Comes The Rain Again Devil Wouldn’t Recognize You Spanish Lesson Miles Away La Isla Bonita/ Lela Pala Tute Lola Lola (Romanian band) You Must Love Me Video Interlude: Get Stupid 4 Minutes Like A Prayer Ray Of Light Request Song (Material Girl in Miami) Hung Up Give It To Me The Sticky and Sweet Tour By The Numbers: (From People magazine) 653 - Hours of rehearsal time for Madonna and band. 250 - Number of travelling personnel. 200 - Triangle sponges used to apply makeup. 100 - Pairs of kneepads. 69 - Guitars. 36 - Different designers contributed to the onstage wardrobe. 30 - Wardrobe trunks travel to each venue. 28 - Maximum number of performers onstage. 16 - Caterers. 12 - Travelling trampolines used in training by Madonna and dancers. 9 - Number of people working in wardrobe department. 8 - Major Madonna costume changes. 5 - Number of people it takes to change Madonna into next costume. 4 - Large freezers to carry ice packs for Madonna and dancers. 3 - Romanian gypsy musicians playing acoustic instruments. 2 - Stages. 1 - Chiropractor. 1 - Personal trainer. 1 - Masseuse. 1 - Set of Swarovski crystal ear phones for DJ. 1 - Madonna.

And the finally the final video highlights of the Sticky and Sweet Tour. The first video is of the final song of the show "Give It To Me" from Toronto. The second and third videos are small sniplets from my show when Pharrell Williams surprised Madonna on stage in Miami. I love in the second video how Madonna yelps in surprise when Pharrell appears on stage. Enjoy!

^ You are correct, that is the sample she used. Next up is from my concert during the request part of the show in Miami. She had the audience help her sing "Material Girl."

^I still wish I could of went to that, I know it was a mini show, but it still would have been fun to see her in a different type of performance space. Next up is one of my all-time favorite M songs, a techno-dance version of "Like A Prayer." The stadium really got into this one. Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILrb-ooIBhQ

The next videos begin the last section of the show, "Rave." The first clip is from Chicago, the "Get Stupid" video interlude, followed buy her performance of her recent hit, "4 Minutes" with Justin Timberlake and Timbaland via video screens. The 3rd video is the end clip from her preforming "4 Minutes" with Timbaland at my show in Miami! Also, I'll be the first to admit, her outfit during "4 Minutes" was not flattering at all! I think she is suppose to be a football player saving the world or something? And I'm not digging the wig. Oh well I still love her! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2ttmAjNTzg&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQtbIFge09Q

Next up is a clip from her performing the song, "You Must Love Me" from the movie Evita in Berlin. Enjoy!

Here is a clip of "La Isla Bonita" and a song called "Lela Pala Tute" from NYC. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZIaGDd2rMY

Next video clip is the "Rain/Her Comes The Rain Again" video interlude. Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBWx41EcQfM&NR=1

Here is a clip of the song "Music" from Paris.

^ Thanks Hector. ^^Yeah, I don't know why she wore a wig during the last part of the show. Below is her doing a re-imagined rocked out version of the old Madonna classic "Borderline".

Here is a clip of "Into The Groove" getting her workout on from one of the NYC shows. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8sKGfdMycI

^Thanks! I'm sure she will make it back to Israel someday. You are lucky, you got to see her on The Girlie Show Tour. That tour was very limited, she only played a few cities in the U.S. I agree, Blonde Ambition from watching it on bootleg DVDs was a great tour. It was her greatest hits from the 80's tour. I wish I could have gone. The closest I got to hear a lot of her older hits was the Re-invention Tour in 2004. Here is a clip from the "Die Another Day" video interlude on opening night of the Sticky and Sweet Tour in Cardiff.

Here is a performance of the Madonna classic, "Vogue" from the Berlin stop on the Sticky and Sweet Tour. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4bDB0ZEMtY&feature=related

Here is a video clip from Germany performing "Candy Shop" and "Beat Goes On"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxQY4OOL7OE

Thanks again for the kind words everyone. So to give an even better perspective of what the Sticky and Sweet Tour is like, I'm going to post a few YouTube clips of songs from different concerts on the tour from around the world. First up: The Candy Shop Intro from opening night in Cardiff, Wales. Again, loved the animation for the opening. Check it out!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHK4Rc3GrQ4&feature=related

Thanks to everyone for the kind responses, I'm glad you're enjoying my concert review. Onto today's update: Section 4 - Futuristic Rave. A memory of the show we picked up, a special lithograph made especially for the Miami date on the tour. Next up, we finish our Thanksgiving adventure with a stay in Key West. Stay tuned! Thanks to both Carey and Amy for making the night that much more special. Carey loved her first Madonna concert. The crew wasted no time to start taking down the stage and the seating area! Our 10th Madonna concert was amazing! And the M experience was over for now. Until next time After the high energy closing number "Give It To Me", the game was over. Including our section! Towards the end of the song, Madonna and Pharrell wanted the audience to help them sing the lyrics of the song "Give It To Me." The second surprise guest for the Miami show, Pharrell joined Madonna on stage during the closing number, "Give It To Me." "Hung Up" was the only song during the show I wish she hadn't changed the original arrangement. It is such a great dance song. But the new version was still fun. Rocking out once again, this time for a totally new rock version for the dance song, "Hung Up." The stadium enjoyed a sing-a-long to a few verses of "Material Girl." I thought this photo was perfect, during "Ray Of Light." With some unique dancers break dancing during "Ray of Light." Madonna rocked out on "Ray of Light." During "Like A Prayer." I think this is one of my favorite photos I took of the night. "Like A Prayer" is one of my all time favorite M songs. A techno-reimagined, high energy version of "Like A Prayer" got the stadium dancing. More of "4 Minutes". It was a fun surprise to have Timbaland show up for the show. Madonna interacted with the cool video screen versions of Justin quite well. After the political video interlude, "Get Stupid" a surprise guest for the Miami show appeared on stage, Timbaland. He joined Madonna and Justin Timberlake (via video screen) for their hit, "4 Minutes".

^&^^ No problem guys, I'm glad you're enjoying it . Thanks! Part 3: Traditional Gypsy Folk I love how Madonna is looking on in the background in this photo. "I want to be where the sun holds the sky..." "La Isla Bonita" had the entire stadium signing along. During this part of the show, she brought out a Romanian traditional folk group that really added to the fun atmosphere. A highlight of the night was the Madonna classic, a festive "La Isla Bonita." She sounded great during her latest single, "Miles Away". "Spanish Lesson" an another new song, is my least favorite song on her new album Hard Candy. But in concert it was a lot of fun! She opened this section of the show with another new Hard Candy song, "The Devil Wouldn't Recognize You" from on top of a rotating piano. I really thought this interlude was visually cool. During "Rain" 2 breakdancers danced on either side of the stage. The animation was weird and random, but beautiful at the same time. For the transition of the next section of the show, cool animation was shown on the screens to a techno remix of Madonna's hit song "Rain" with a mixture of The Eurythmic's classic "Here Comes The Rain Again" Best part of the night was when she sang "You Must Love Me" from Evita. People have said Madonna isn't really a singer but an amazing entertainer. I usually agree but she sounded absolutely gorgeous! The last part of my concert review is coming soon. Stay tuned! Her dancers seemed like they didn't have any bones in their bodies!

^Thanks Scott and yeah I think I liked my seats. Part 2: Old-School New York "Music" brought the people together in Miami. Part 3 is coming soon. A fun part of "She's Not Me", was when she acted like she was beating up 4 of her dancers that represented some of her older iconic looks like in this photo, Material Girl and Vogue. During "She's Not Me" A video montage of her gazillion looks accompanied her on stage during her new song, "She's Not Me." She rocked out a new version of an early hit, "Borderline." After a little double dutch, more jumping rope. She knows how to work the poll! Madonna gets a work out during one of my all-time favorite songs, "Into The Groove." 2 of her dancers box while a remix video interlude of the song "Die Another Day" blasts through the stadium.

Hello! Hopefully everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving. This last Wednesday, Kevin and I drove down to Miami to see Madonna’s latest tour: The Sticky and Sweet World Tour at Dolphin Stadium. This show was special for both of us because it was our 10th Madonna concert, (6th together). To commemorate this occasion I designed shirts for us complete with a listing of all the shows attended on the back. (I know I’m a dork!) This show will always be very memorable because we had the best seats we have ever had. We were 16th center row from the main stage. The best part was that their was a runway/catwalk that extended from the main stage onto the floor to row 20. And we were 2 seats from the runway! It was great because she performed about 70 percent of the show from the end of this catwalk, only a few feet from us! We basically crapped ourselves when we saw our seats! We couldn’t ask for a better night. It was in the high 60’s low 70’s, not a cloud in the sky. The energy of the 50,000 attendees in the stadium was intense! Once the show started, it was quite the visual spectacle. Between the large video screens, dancers, special effects and of course Madonna herself, it was sensory overload to the max! This tour was in support of her latest album, Hard Candy. The intro featured the 2-story video screens showing off a colorful twisted Charlie and The Chocolate Factory-ish landscape. Once the screens started to break apart, move around and start to spell C-A-N-D-Y, she appeared on her throne. Were else would she be? I guess she deserves it since she has lasted for 25 years. The show was divided into 4 sections: First was Pimp, a fusion of modern urban life and 1920's deco. Second was Old School, Madonna revisited her early days in NYC and also pays homage to her late artist friend Keith Haring. Third was Gypsy, a blend of nomad gypsy culture and folk music. And finally rave: a futuristic dance floor with eastern influence. The show had a few surprises unique to our Miami show. We had 2 unexpected guests show up. Timbaland made a surprise appearance during their hit 4 Minutes. And Pharrell surprised her during the closing number "Give It To Me". She sang songs mostly form Hard Candy but threw in a few gems from her catalogue of hits. Crowd pleasers were a techno remix of "Like A Prayer", a rocked-out version of "Borderline" and a fan favorite, "La Isla Bonita." The highlight of the night for us had to be during the closing number, "Give To Me". She and Pharrell brought the microphone down to our area to sing-a-long. Our friends Amy and Carey who were seated elsewhere in the stadium freaked out because, Kevin and I were on the giant video screens on either side of the stage! So with out any more wait, I present the photos I took during our show. Enjoy! Her dancers, like her never stopped moving throughout the show. Next up part 2 of the photos from the concert, The Old-School-New York section. Stay Tuned! We loved the reworking/remix version of "Vogue." All of her dancers were really hot. She puts on an amazing show. Her dancer's costumes, or should I say lack of costumes were unique. "Vogue" was awesome. Also during "Human Nature", Brittany made an appearance via the video screens to help with the line: "I'm not your bitch." I was in Madonna heaven! There was also a very cool round video screen that would move up and down over the end of the catwalk/runway stage. Madonna rocked out for "Human Nature". Did I mention we loved our seats? A little bit of dancing, ok maybe a lot! It was amazing. During the song, "Beat Goes On", a ghetto-fabulous car joined her and her dancers on stage. Pharrell and Kayne West made appearances via the video screens during the song, "Beat Goes On." We were happy with our seats. And her sugar was "raw". She told the crowd her sugar was "sticky and sweet". Very colorful. The video screens were so cool! Performing the first song of the night, "Candy Shop" from her album, Hard Candy Only Madonna could make an entrance on a "M" throne. Who's that girl?... It was awesome the way the screens broke apart and moved around the stage. The video screens were really high-tech. The intro/build up was very cool. And the M experience begins! The crowd in Dolphin Stadium was ready to see their queen! This is how close we were to the catwalk/runway part of the stage. Madonna's manager Guy Osery and A-Rod talk before the show. A-Rod, I guess it is official, he and Madonna are a couple. And guess who showed up... The back of the shirts I made for us. As was Kevin. I was a little bit excited. Carey and Amy before the show. Kevin and I in front of the stage. Amy, Carey Kevin and myself before the show.

Next stop, at the end of May we visited Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot for the International Flower and Garden Festival with our friends Jamie and Suzanne. Had a nice relaxing day. Kevin, Jamie and Suzanne had never been on Toy Story Mania, so that was a priority. We all really enjoyed the ride. The line is so cool, brought back a lot of memories of childhood to this group of early thirtysomething folks. Had a great lunch and fantastic server at the 50's Prime Time Cafe. If you have never been, check it out. The staff is always very entertaining. After the studios we closed out the day at Epcot for the Flower and Garden Festival. A highlight was, we watched the space shuttle launch directly behind Mission Space, kind of ironic, don't you think? Onto the photos, enjoy! Thanks to Jamie and Suzanne for making Kevin and my day awesome! Couldn't come to Epcot and not make a mandatory stop at the French bakery. The Flower and Garden Festival is always a great time of year to visit Epcot. The boys hanging out with Donald. We arrived at Epcot just in time to see the space launch, directly over Mission Space. After a lecture from "Mom", Suzanne ate her veggies. "Mom" was upset with Suzanne for not eating her veggies. Muppet Vision 4D is the best 3D show attraction ever. You can never go wrong with The Muppets. The Muppets rock! Mr. Potato Head is very cool. The line brought back a lot of memories of toys and games from our childhood. Jamie, Suzanne and Kevin loved this ride. First stop, Toy Story Mania. L-R: Kevin, myself, Jamie & Suzanne.

^ & ^^ Thanks guys. Larry- It sucks, we put our stuff including my camera in a locker before we went on the 3 water rides. By the time we circled around the park back to the locker it was time to head out. This explains why I only took 2 photos the entire day! I'll get the JTA sign for you & TPR someday on a return visit. Jimmy- I have no idea what the name of the Mexican place was, but it was good. I didn't have any margaritas, but I did have some of the best sangria that I have ever had!