Here's the big day vitals:

 WHERE: Colorado Boulevard (between Altadena and San Gabriel Boulevards) in East Pasadena.

WHEN: SATURDAY, APRIL 28TH, Stepping off at 11:00AM!

COST: Always FREE-of-charge!!

Plenty of street parking is available ~ Parade route is also just west of the Sierra Madre Villa Gold Line Station (at Colorado Blvd. and Sierra Madre Villa). City busses go directly to the area.

Come early! Bring a lawn chair! Visit the local eateries and shops, and attend the after parties all within walking distance.

Official Doo Dah After-Party: American Legion, 179 N. Vinedo St. (2 blocks from Parade at Vinedo & Walnut), immediately following the event. Bands...cheap food and drinks!! $5 cover (supports a Legion charity).

Queen hopefuls should start dusting off their talent for auditions on April 1.

For more information, entry forms and all things Doo Dah, visit

www.pasadenadoodahparade.info

Queen try-outs will be April 1. Location and details TBA. But you can begin work on a stunning costume or gown and hone up your talent so you are fully prepared to wow the esteemed panel of judges.

The parade will be held April 28 in East Pasadena - plenty of time for you to gather up all your friends and make the best, weirdest and most memorable entry ever.

For more information stayed tuned at

 www.pasadenadoodahparade.info

On the afternoon of Wednesday, July 27, Atticus was euthanized. It was the humane thing to do. The Royal Pup had been getting a little slower, although he could still tree Mr. Squirrel and use his smarts to get his best friend Indiana Bones to give up "the good spot" on the couch.

Atti ate a little less than normal Monday and Tuesday, but otherwise appeared fine. Wednesday morning he got up and his back legs were not working correctly, so he was rushed to the vet's office. There, he was diagnosed with massive organ failure, which was soon unfortunately confirmed with a couple of tests. The decision was made to put him to sleep rather than allow things to proceed naturally, which would have been painful and cruel.

The little guy was already full-grown when he was rescued from a shelter by a fellow journalist. His exact age is unknown, but he is estimated to have been 16-17 years old. I was fortunate to have been a part of about half of those years.

Atticus had captured many hearts with his always-friendly attitude and ever-spirited temperament. He inspired people to make the most of their lives and the lives of the animals around them, filling them with love and the pure joy of being.

Best known as a little dog in search of big adventure, Atticus had a life well-lived. He will always have a special place in my heart.

Rest in peace my love,

Mommy

Maybe you missed the biggest party of the year, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy it any time you like. The parade was taped and is now streaming at

www.doodahlive.com

Make your own big party by inviting your friends over, donning your wackiest outfit, setting out your favorite snacks and tuning in.

Enjoy!

Now carry on, as you were,

31st Queen Naughty Mickie

Make some popcorn, settle in your favorite chair and enjoy!

www.doodahline.com

If you are unable to make it out to the Biggest Party in East Pasadena or would rather stay home in your jammies sipping mimosas, you can still catch the fun.

The 34.5th Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade will be broadcast live tomorrow, April 30, at

www.doodahlive.com

Listen and look close because you may hear and see some Royalty you know helping out with the announcing!

Now carry on, as you were,

Queen Naughty Mickie

Daring to go where no parade has gone before, this year's Pasadena Doo Dah Parade will again bring its own brand of raucous eccentricity East, after its successful relocation last year. The 2011 Parade takes place on Saturday, April 30^th, stepping off at 11am in East Pasadena along Colorado Boulevard.

Last year, dozens of inventive, if zany, art cars and floats accompanied a legion of frolickers past the mom-n-pop shops along East Pasadena's shady tree-lined streets. They will be joined this year by Grand Marshal Ron Stivers, of Poo Bah Records in Pasadena, and many first-time entries including the League of Steam, Conehead Rocket Sled, Hippie Cream, The Iceland Queen, Rancho Talavera, combined bands of the 35^th Dragoon Guards, Mile High Bed, Cheesus Chrust Pizza Company, 2011 Doo Dah Queen Red Rosie of Sierra Madre, Flying Baby High Dive, and the Ladies Auxiliary for Cultural Enrichment, et.al.

Known as the twisted sister of the conventional Rose Parade, the Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade began as a grassroots event in 1978 to gain national attention for its eccentric and, often, irreverent satire. The parade which has spawned numerous off-beat replicants across the country was named by Readers Digest as "America's Best Parade," and was recently featured in the book 50 Places You Must Visit Before You Die!

This year's spectacle will see the return of such wildly diverse entries as a fleet of motorized Kinetic Pastry Science Mobile Muffins, Captain McHogwash's Amazing Chundra, a humungous robotic spitting cat named Boo-Boo Kitty, oddly-attired sound inventors known as The Highland Park Thursday Evening Gentlemen's Society Circuit Bending Marching Band & Ladies' Auxiliary, and the crowd favorite Disco Drill Team, real American Bandstanders. Yes, another Doo Dah is here to help you forget your humdrum existence!

Last year's Parade incorporated over1,000 marchers, including Dr. Steel's Army of Toy Soldiers, Cheap Sax Addicted to Love, Her Royal Highness Queen Erica Valentine, The Martini Kings & Swing-o-matic, Linoleum Bonaparte, the World Champion Whistling Diva, Goddess of Democracy, The Pink-Slipped Pissed off Teachers, Friends and their Pissed-off Kids, Million Marijuana March, FireBrain, Evotrope, Motorized Couch, The Bra-Ettes Dancing Bras, ArtStorm, Thwop!, What Happened in Vegas Should Have Stayed, Gallery at the End of the World, Girls Who Draw Girls on Roller Skates, Classic and scary clowns, and such perennial favorites as the Men of Leisure, BBQ & Hibachi Marching Grill Team, the immortal Doo Dah house band Snotty Scotty & the Hankies, and many more!

WHAT: The 34TH OCCASIONAL PASADENA DOO DAH PARADE

WHERE: Colorado Boulevard (between Altadena and San Gabriel Boulevards) in East Pasadena.

WHEN: SATURDAY, APRIL 30^TH, Stepping off at 11:00AM!

COST: Always FREE-of-charge!!

Plenty of street parking is available ~ Parade route is also just west of the Sierra Madre Villa Gold Line Station (at Colorado Blvd. and Sierra Madre Villa). City busses go directly to the area.

Come early! Bring a lawn chair! Visit the local eateries and shops, and attend the after parties all within walking distance.

For more information go: www.pasadenadoodahparade.info

Queen Tryouts Are Coming Up!

WHERE: The American Legion Bar, 179 N. Vinedo St., Pasadena, Crosstreet is Colorado Blvd. (626) 792-9938

WHEN: Saturday, April 2^nd

2:00 pm - Doors Open and Live Music begins

4:00 pm - Queen Hopefuls Check-In

5:00 pm - Queen Tryouts Start

COST: $5 cover to Legion's charity; 1^st 20 queen hopefuls to arrive are free!

Trying out? please call us at 626-590-1134 and we will answer your questions and give you tips. Open to everyone and we mean it! All are encouraged to dress randomly even if you are coming to watch.

HOW? The first 20 Queen Hopefuls to arrive get in FREE (1 admission per Queen's entourage). Each Queen Hopeful will have a few minutes to WOW the Judges. Microphone and boom box, even drumroll, provided. Be ready to show us and tell us why YOU should be Queen! Bring Loyal Followers and HUMOR!

Featuring: The Legendary, Snotty Scotty and the Hankies, Horses on Astroturf, Many former Queens, including Erica, Skittles, Mickie, Tequila, Sue the Ref, Goofball Judges, Andrew, Duke of Doo Dah, Prizes, Cheap drinks, Smoking Patio, Pool and Big Screen TV! and Lots of Dancing!

34^th Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade!

Saturday, April 30, 11:00am

Entry Forms and information to be found on the website: www.pasadenadoodahparade.info  

More about the Tryouts: Individuals of all genders, shapes, ages, and persuasions tested their fate to become queen. Contestants are usually outnumbered by equally-costumed judges, who include  many former queens, and another hundred or so parade entrants, tryout supporters, Legion members, and the curious public. The town-hall setting with long tables in beer-fest style, crock pot chili, and legendary Doo Dah House Band, Snotty Scotty and the Hankies on stage, set the mood for the lively caucus.

Among those who have perennially tried out are, Count Smokula, Santa's Bad Elf, belly dancer, Narayana, a smoking Amy Winehouse, Queen Mother Teresa Kennedy, the Swami from El Monte, Sabrina the Stimulus Package, Second-Hand Rose Queen, Crystal, Gopher Girl, Buffy the Dog, Ms. Laurel, Pinball Lizard, Mama "J", and Miss Boy Frances. Last year's Quuen Eric(a) Valentine, of Glendale, was a show stopper with his searing guitar licks.

Other favorites have included Roobie Breastnut, former burlesque star, as Sarah Palin, Crystal Lightner, local diva of Altadena, and Jezzelynn on stilts.

Even More Info: Organizers staged the first public tryouts in 1998 at a Gothic house on stilts. It then moved to the famed Zorthian Ranch, in Altadena. This and other parodies of Pasadena's 'Other Parade' have fueled Doo Dah's colorful and controversial life on Colorado Boulevard. The 34^th Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade will be held on Saturday, April 30^th stepping off at 11:00am on the streets of East Pasadena.

To enter the parade simply go to the website and fill out a form, or call for more information (626) 590-1134.

 www.pasadenadoodahparade.info

Follow this link and learn from photographer/reporter extraordinaire and Official Doo Dah Knight Terry Miller why you should throw your hat in the ring for your chance to be the royal belle of the biggest party in Pasadena:

http://pasadenaindependent.com/arts/"never-on-a-friday"-doo-dah-queen-tryouts-slated-for-april-2/

Begin practicing your talent and

Carry on, as you were!

2011 Pasadena

Doo Dah Parade

is Saturday,

April 30^th,

stepping off at 11:00am,

 in East Pasadena!

As always, we will need volunteers in the morning hours to help us with staging, set up, street monitoring, entry handling, parking, equipment, check in area, crowd control, and clean up!

Be behind the scenes at the master controls of one of the most colorful and unique experiences around! There will be music, floats, zombies and disco dancers, schmaltzy shtick, furry things, cosmic people, crazy people, exotic animals, and anything the imagination dictates!

Email us and sign up now!

For more on the parade, please visit

 www.pasadenadoodahparade.info. 

Patricia Hurley, Light Bringer Project

626.590.1134 or email me here or at hurleypanne@yahoo.com

LIGHT BRINGER PROJECT IS ON FACEBOOK

just don't miss the biggest party in Pasadena!!

Entries are now being accepted for the Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah Parade. It's set for April 30 in East Pasadena. Put on your most creative thinking cap and design the wildest, wackiest float, marching group or whatever ever!

Also, all queen wannabes should start practicing their talent and etiquette, as the tryouts will be held in East Pasadena on April 2. You should prepare a short (3 minutes tops!) display of your best talent and be ready for any question. Wow the judges by proving you have the true spirit of Doo Dah.

For more information, visit

www.pasadenadoodahparade.info

Many of you are already aware of my other blog, Mickie's Zoo, where you can read entertainment news that comes my way, as well as follow my adventures in my weekly End o' week musings entry. But if you don't want to miss a thing, follow me on Twitter. There I'll give you a shout about my stories when they publish, what's a must-read on my blog and a sprinkling of my royal thoughts.

Here's the links you need to be in the know:

http://mickieszoo.blogspot.com

www.twitter.com/mickieszoo

Now, carry on, as you were,

Queen Mickie