How imagination and initiative equal positive differences in our communities.

• S.T.E.A.M. and Spectacle November 18, 2024

  

  Burbank Tournament of Roses Association is preparing a show.

  It’s going to weigh upwards of nine tons, travel 5.5 miles, and incorporate fire and water elements into the spectacle.

  Of course, the “show” is their upcoming Rose Parade® float.

  Called, “Having A-Lava Fun”, the float incorporates animation, special effects and a lot of imagination.

  Nonprofit Burbank Tournament of Roses Association is a “self-built”–one of the six independent, noncommercial floatbuilders creating floats which they’ll drive in Pasadena’s Tournament of Roses® Parade on New Year’s Day.

  A tradition of excellence

  

  According to their website, Burbank Tournament of Roses Association have been participating in the parade since 1914! In those 110 years, they’ve garnered numerous awards. These include the Mayor Award, this past January, for “Most Outstanding Entry From a Participating City”, for their 2024 entry, “Caterpillar Melody”.

  And, quick note–even as they prepare for the 2025 parade, coming up on New Year’s Day, Burbank ToR are thinking a year ahead! Their 2026 Design Contest is currently in progress. Submissions will be accepted from now through 8 pm on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. Here’s a link for more information!

  Your chance to get involved

  While the show happens on New Year’s Day, Burbank Tournament of Roses Association works year-round on their incredible floats. And they welcome volunteers–especially those who can work with them throughout the year. (Here’s where to find out more.)

  Steve Edward is Burbank ToR’s Vice President-Float, and Bob Hutt is their Vice-President Administration. In this episode of Over Coffee®, we explore the ways S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, art and math) elements work together in creating their award-winning floats.

  On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:

  • How Bob and Steve first became involved in building Rose Parade® floats;

  • Some of the challenges of building their 2025 float, through the lens of S.T.E.A.M.;

  • Some of the weight considerations on the float;

  • And, some of the technological considerations

  • A lesson in engineering!

  • A preview of the special effects New Year’s Day audiences will see, from “Having A-Lava Fun”;

  • The story of the float design;

  • One of the creative lessons Bob and Steve each learned from constructing their award-winning 2024 float, “Caterpillar Melody”, which has stood them in good stead for creating “Having A-Lava Fun”;

  • Some of the math involved in float construction;

  • How you can support Burbank Tournament of Roses as they work independently to create their spectacular floats.

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• Award-Winning Innovation November 4, 2024

  

  In 1949, a group of students decided to build their own float and participate in Pasadena’s Tournament of Roses® Parade.

  Ever since, Cal Poly Universities Rose Float have been coming up with new ways to wow parade goers–and winning awards for their work.

  As one of only six independent noncommercial floatbuilders, called “self-builts”, in the parade, Cal Poly Universities’ entry is unique for several reasons.

  First of all, they’re the only student-built float in the Rose Parade®,

  Secondly, the float, built from the frame up, is constructed by two student groups. At the start of the building process, these groups are working from campuses more than two hundred miles apart!

  Two teams become one

  

  Annually, the students at Cal Poly Pomona build the front half of their float’s chassis, while the students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo build the back half.

  Then, in October, the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo students bring their half down to the Pomona campus. The two halves are joined–and from then on, the groups work as one, crafting their Rose Parade® entry.

  So far, the Cal Poly Universities students’ entries have won more than 60 awards–which brings up the third reason their float is unique.

  As students, Cal Poly Universities Rose Float participants have room to “play” and experiment with new methods and technologies.

  And frequently, the results are Rose Parade® “firsts”.

  Brooke Handschin is President of Cal Poly Universities Rose Float in Pomona, while Collin Marfia is President of Cal Poly Universities Rose Float, San Luis Obispo.

  Brooke and Collin talked about their experiences with Cal Poly Universities Rose Float, what it’s like to create and drive their innovative entries and, of course, Cal Poly Universities Rose Float’s 2025 entry, “Nessie’s Lakeside Laughs”, which will be their 76th Rose Parade® float.

  On this edition of Over Coffee® we cover:

  • How Brooke and Collin first became involved with Cal Poly Universities Rose Float;

  • How each of them developed their specific creative talents and gifts as a result of working on the floats;

  • Some of the ways they did troubleshooting in the past, as co-hydraulics leads;

  • One particular issue they found “frustrating but fun”, as their team navigated a construction challenge;

  • What it’s like to operate a Rose Parade® float on New Year’s Day;

  • The story of Cal Poly Universities Rose Float’s 2025 design, “Nessie’s Lakeside Laughs”;

  • How the teams from the two universities collaborate;

  • One major logistics problem they’ve been working on solving, for “Nessie’s Lakeside Laughs”;

  • Some of the considerations involved in decorating the float;

  • A look at some of the past innovations which the Cal Poly Universities entries have introduced to the Rose Parade® (and a hint at what we may see on their float in the 136th Rose Parade® on New Year’s Day, 2025!);

  • What Brooke, a mechanical-engineering major, will enjoy most about the decorating process;

  • What’s planned for the animation;

  • Where to see the team’s progress on their social media;

  • The next milestones to be completed;

  • How to support the students as they create Cal Poly Universities’ Rose Float’s 76th float, “Nessie’s Lakeside Laughs”.

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• “Scary Creative” for Halloween October 31, 2024

  An Over Coffee® special-edition podcast!

  

  “There’s so much more to haunting than just getting a startle,” says legendary haunter Shar Mayer.

  “I want you to scream. I want you to cry. But I’m going to respect you as a human…I’m not into torturing people. I just want them to scream, and be scared.”

  In this 2018 interview, recorded onsite at ScareLA, Shar, who is a haunt consultant, producer, scare actor and all-round “scary creative” (she mentors and teaches aspiring haunters and workshops) shares some of her favorite insights on creating an effective and fun Halloween “scare”.

  And she even offers some low-cost tips on ghoulish makeup that could work for you today–and which uses ingredients you may have in your kitchen!

  Happy Halloween, be safe and stay innovative!

  On this edition of Over Coffee®, we cover:

  • How haunting became Shar’s passion;

  • Why she sees scaring someone as a “relationship” of sorts;

  • A “how-to” mini-lesson on horror makeup–and some easy scary looks to create this Halloween;

  • The techniques behind successful haunting;

  • Shar’s advice to scare actors as they prepare to work in a haunt (including the number-one thing to do, to succeed!);

  • The psychology and boundaries of professionalism in haunting;

  • How to stay safe, as a haunter;

  • The ways Shar has seen the haunt industry change, over her four decades as a haunter

  Continue reading →