Chicago and The Shrine Temple July 29th 2014

Chicago and The Shrine Temple July 29th 2014

We are having an amazing time in Chicago and now NYC.

Caught up with Antar and Chris in NYC as they are on tour with Miley Cyrus.  The timing was great to see them here and we will also see them in LA. Sadly we could not see the concert as we had tickets for "Motown" which was ok.

Today is the NYC Triathlon and Paul saw them running for the finish.  We walked yesterday for about three hours and saw the Swimming Entry Point, Swimming Exit Point and the Bike Pick Up locations with all of the Triathlon Marshals preparing for today.  It is a very slick and professional event.  So impressed at the project management in action.

We walked to Grant's Tomb (our fourth time) and St John Divine Cathedral (our fourth time) and meditated there.  It is so peaceful.  Then we got a bus back as the train track was being serviced.  This was our first official bus ride and is a great service.

I bought my sister and niece a really useful gift.  They are covers for three different size paper back novels.  A new idea and I bought them at the book store "After-words" in Chicago.

Chicago for ten days was fantastic.  We did 20 (6- 8 hour walks) and 22 train trips for $33 and saw two good shows.  It is a very modern and clean city.  The public transport there is even better than NYC!

Chicago has wide streets and many are one way to allow greater flow of traffic. The shopping is fantastic, not that we did much.  Walking past the shops was incredible.

There are so many quality restaurants and the choices are hard.

I went to what used to be "The Shrine Temple" which is opposite "Pizzeria Due".  Both Antar and Ree had separately suggested going to both.  Thankfully they are across the road from each other.  Ree and Andre, and Antar's family had worked at "The Shrine Temple" which is now a Bloomingdales store.  Antar and Ree had both told me about their times working the circus there and the history.

I went past "The Shrine Temple"/Bloomingdales about four times and finally went inside by myself.  I spoke to a Geraldo in the kitchenware department who was excited that I knew about some of the history and he told me to go upstairs to see the domed ceiling and the photos.  So I did.

Upstairs I was taking photos and I had asked permission to do so.  Two senior executive smartly dressed gentlemen asked if I needed anything.  I told them about Ree and Antar.  They were interested and at the time I thought they were just showing courtesy.  They directed me in the direction of the photos.

I accidentally went behind the photo display and a lady asked me if she could help.  She pointed to where I had just walked behind the photos, only to have the younger executive come after me.  He seemed to be beside himself!

His name was Joshua and was responsible for Formacollective.com and was so excited that I had connections and contacts about the history of "The Shrine Temple."  Joshua said he would send out people to Las Vegas to interview and film Ree and Andre and document their stories and their life at "The Shrine Temple."  He told me about the project and I said I would contact Ree and Antar and ask them if they were interested.

I finally got to see the photos and was beside myself as I thought that I recognised some of the photos that Antar's parents, Antar Senior and Beverly had shown us in 2012.  The Fez hats were their signature costume identity.

I called Ree and she has just had an operation on her foot.  She cannot walk for a month, and so us not going to Las Vegas worked out in a timely fashion.

At first Ree thought she had nothing to offer about the history but I knew that Joshua wanted their stories of the five shows a day and what it was like to live at "The Shrine Temple" for six weeks at a time for four years.

Joshua also loved the way Ree and Andre met and their life together.  Ree realised her life was interesting and that she knew more about "The Shrine Temple" than she gave herself credit for.  Ree gave me permission to give Joshua her details. Ree said she would makes notes in preparation.  We both laughed as it will give her something to do while she is not  allowed to move around for a month.  Note that Suzie her daughter would beg Ree to tell her the stories of her time at "The Shrine Temple."  It feels so good to share their history by them sharing their stories with me.

Antar also worked there from a young child and for much longer than Ree and Andre.  Their family worked their in the 19060s to the 1980s. He too gave permission to give details to Joshua.  I gave Antar one of the many cards that Joshua had given me.

Well Joshua replied and will be in contact with Ree and Andre and will send crew to interview them etc.  He will do the same with Antar's family too.  Joshua is going to keep me informed also.

It felt incredible to be the conduit to this potential project.  Jack Ruffin my mentor at Bank Of Melbourne said that was one of my greatest attributes as a Project Manager was creating the networks for other people to create the project and other potential projects.

Saw "Aladdin" last night based on the Disney cartoon.  So funny.  Incredibly magical special effects and illusions.  A real Las Vegas show.