All posts by Mark.Owen

Getting Outside and Playing Games!

October 20, 2013

 With the amazing weather in Arizona this time of year, we love getting outside and playing any kind of sport! Although it gets darker, earlier these days that doesn’t stop us! We have quite the collection of Glow in the Dark sporting equipment!  With a glow in the dark football, soccer and Frisbee, we’ve spent many-a-night running around, kicking goals and throwing touchdowns!  

Active sporting events are some of the best events to attend here in Phoenix! With a ‘just for fun’ attitude by almost all of our members, you’ll be sure to have a good time regardless of ability!  You’ll most likely get in some good exercise for the evening, show off your athletic talent, meet and mingle with other members and have an all around great time! With a couple weekly active events, come on out and try your hand at volleyball, soccer, football, kickball, Frisbee and more!

Courtney Event Manager Phoenix

All About Fencing…..Chicago

October 19, 2013

Foil, sabre, epee…do you know what these things are? I do!  I never would have thought I would be doing something that dates back to the 16th century. I am referring to our fencing lesson. It was awesome! Our instructor was great at allowing us lots of hands-on exposure. She also educated us on the evolution of fencing up until its modern day. I had no clue that national fencing tournaments take place right here in Chicago. It’s a whole other hidden world! The experience was a first for nearly all of us E&A members. I love doing new things together! Someone was even able to check off an item on their bucket list! We let our guard down and tried something new. Actually, we kept our guard up! Haha…ON GUARD!

April Event Manager Chicago

Being “Stealthy” playing Laser Tag!

October 18, 2013

Laser Tag is one of my favorite events. Running around in the dark arena, trying to be “stealthy”. It can be so much fun! It’s funny because every time I play, I think I am a ninja… and then I see my score…. And I’m not as good as I thought I was. E&A went to a new laser tag location last week & it was a blast. Angela & I teamed up to cover each other’s backs while we tried to protect our home base. I feel I may have let her down though, I got caught up in a laser war with Nadia & totally forgot to protect Angela! We lost that game but got another chance!

The highlight of the evening for me was the laser maze! This was really where I felt like James Bond. It’s a room full of lasers that you have to navigate without touching any of them. I was nervous because I got so into mood! I seriously felt that if I touched the laser it would be the end of me! Ritu busted out her yoga skills and rocked it! She put the level on extreme & finished quickly and only touched 1 laser. Then new member Berret (it was his first event) came & bunny hopped over the most difficult part! He did it without touching any laser & getting through it the fastest! What a rockstar! It was one seriously good night!

Julie Event Manager Santa Clara

Meeting New People in Minneapolis!

October 17, 2013

The best part about Events & Adventures is the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends…. not in a forced one-on-one kind of way, but a casual, group setting.  For us in Minneapolis, it was just last Friday at our New Member Ice Breaker and Cosmic Bowling event!  I think the scariest part for new members, is going to that first event… not sure who you will meet, wondering if you are wearing the right outfit, making sure you’re not late, looking for others who might be in your same boat… but guess what??  There ARE people in your same boat, wondering that same things that you are!  You may be a little tense when you first walk in, but after some chatting with the others, you realize that you have hobbies in common, or that you grew up in the same city, or that you live in the same city now… and your nerves ease a little bit.  Then we move into the bowling alley where current members are waiting to meet you… you may tense up again, but as soon as the lanes are chosen and the bowling gets rolling, it’s a no-brainer!  This was one of the best decisions you could have made!  So cheers to making new friends and to many more to come… this is just the beginning!

Megan Event Manager Minneapolis

Getting Lost turned out Great!

October 16, 2013

 I didn’t realize that getting lost was the best thing that could have happened.  The beautiful hike in Sunol was carefully planned and the route clear to me.  I was ready to give our members a fun new workout; a steeper and more challenging hike than the last few, but not impossible either.  Then, about 15 minutes of the hike walking the bridge over the rolling river and enjoying the shade, I had to make a choice.  The trail markers were no help at all and the wide path here looked like a tractor could ride on it.  I went left and soon I realize that my intermediate, challenging hike was turning into an easy stroll.  I let it go and made a quick plan, head to the river and then back around the hill.  Not only did we discover some of the most peaceful and beautiful places in the park, but, after carefully avoiding the cows grazing and protecting their calves, we made a fast march up the mountain to get a better view.  Once back, I knew I made the “right” choice when everyone smiled and said that the hike was the perfect exercise; challenging, but not impossible.  I think I’ll make the wrong turn more often.

Bryan Event Manager San Francisco

Giant Jenga is like a car accident!

October 15, 2013

You don’t want to see the crash but you can’t help but be curious. A shiny object you can’t stop looking at. An addiction we can’t stop playing. We played again at games night this weekend. And played and played. Games night is cool because it’s a potluck so we have great food and play games like Giant Jenga, card & board games and sometimes we even play charades. This weekend everyone gathered ‘round the Jenga. It’s amazing how high that thing can get. It’s almost as dramatic as a psycho-thriller movie. Everyone cheers when someone makes that tower stay upright and the collective gasp before the laughter as it falls gives you whiplash if you weren’t already looking.  Great fun! Can’t wait to see what the next games night will bring!

Jacque Event Manager Dallas

CycleSaloon in Seattle!

October 13, 2013

 It was so much fun on the “CycleSaloon” event we did last Friday!

Just try to imagine 16 folks pedaling this crazy thing down the streets of Ballard (or just look at this picture).  Yes! we all pedaled this to 3 local hot spots in the Ballard area, Stopping and running in for a drink or a quick rest and then pedaling off to the next stop. And the Driver gave us an  bounce and added another stop at the last moment. It was not as hard as it might look when everyone is pedaling.  Fun Fact: So apparently these 16 person bike thingies started in Amsterdam and became a big hit in many of the flat cities in Europe.   Flat because you really don’t want to try moving these up hills, though going down hills would be just fine. Tracy (The owner of Cyclesaloon) brought two of them to Seattle a short time ago and says she’s been very busy and everyone had a good time, We sure did!

Rolling with the punches

Some folks have asked if the Government Shutdown have impacted us. Well we had planned to go on a hike to the Mt. Rainer National Park this last Saturday, but with the park closed we had to roll with the punches and move to another location for our hike. We picked another hike also in the south end. In a State park “Dash Point”.  We actually start just outside the park and to come into the eastern end of the parks trails. This gave us a great start through some wooden ravines and crossing back and forth over a wonderful smaller creek before finally bringing us out to the Puget Sound.  It turned out to be a really nice day for a hike.

It’s odd. Even with all the fun events coming up in the rest of this month like: Bowling, Oktoberfest party bus, Skydiving and The flashlight Corn Maze I can’t stop thinking about the main event of the season…  E&A’s Awesome Rockin’ Halloween Party on the 26th.  I’m not going to give away the costume I’m planning on wearing, but I can say the lederhosen I’m wearing for the Oktoberfest Party Bus will not be making a repeat performance at the Halloween party.

Curtis Event Manager Seattle

Volunteer Work and Circus Class Vancouver!

October 11, 2013

We sure lucked out on the weather last Saturday – all geared up for rain and all of our layers a group of us drove out to a volunteer farm to help harvest vegetables for local food banks.  We sorted potatoes and pulled carrots for the good part of the  afternoon and although the crawling on the ground, and digging wasn’t the easiest of tasks the muscle aches were a small price to pay, knowing that we were helping others that aren’t as fortunate. 

If that wasn’t a good enough work out for the day, some of us headed out to Circus West for a night of flying and jumping and team building exercises.  We all got the chance to climb up 15 feet to a trapeze swing and conquer some fears of height.  Swinging and then falling backwards to dangle by our feet before coming back down to the ground.  Some of us mastered juggling and some super tricks on the trampoline and we all got a chance to try out the unicycles, and some new pyramid techniques.  After we went out for a bite to eat and ended up watching an amazing belly dancing show.  What a great end to an awesome day.

Ambrea Event Manager Vancouver

Absinthe Drinks in Dallas!

October 11, 2013

 We went to the coolest little bar that specialized in Absinthe drinks. Yep, that incredibly strong, licorice flavored liquor that was banned for years because it supposedly caused people to go crazy. It of course doesn’t, but if you drink too many it sure will seem like it.  Making and serving the drinks are a whole production. I think we spent more time gathered ‘round the bar watching the bartender light the sugar on fire and drip water on it from a special cool, old dispenser than anything else. Everyone got a different kind or a different drink and shared them. So we found out some Absinthes are more minty, others have a mellow flavor and still others are holy-licorice-batman!  This joint  totally encouraged the whole green fairy myth. We walked in and it was so dark compared to the bright light outside it felt like joining the group by them calling out was more accurate than finding them by sight. Most the lights were of the green string variety.  The comfortable couches in a circle were perfect for us to crowd in and talk and tease as to who had the best drink – and best I-can’t-believe-I-drank-that story.  Definitely something you need to try if you’ve never have!

Jacque Event Manager Dallas

Live Music with the E & A Phoenix Crew!

October 10, 2013

There’s something about listening to live music that can get your feet a tap’in, hips a sway’in and head bouncing to the beat! Some of the most enjoyable moments with the Events & Adventures Crew have been made while enjoying live music!

Some of our favorite memories have been at Big Bang – where we’ve listened to amazing live piano performances, where we enjoyed singing our guts out, requesting our favorite songs and showing off our dance moves in front of large crowds! Another E & A favorite around here is when we head out to getting our “boot- scootin-boogie” on as we’ve enjoy several live bands and fun country dance instruction! We’re getting really good at these dance moves – keep an eye out for more country dancing coming up!

That’s why tonight; we’re excited to head over to Freestone Park to listen to “Hooked on a Feeling” – a cover band with amazing skills! They’ve got a huge repertoire, so you’re bound to enjoy what they’ll be playing! There’s no reason to be sitting at home, alone tonight – grab a blanket and head on over to enjoy some live music with the Events & Adventures Crew tonight where we’ll meet new faces and make new friends!

Courtney Event Manager Phoenix