I entered Duff's Extreme Cake contest! Need ideas now!! - Page 4

The original founders of Improv sketch comedy -- SECOND CITY in Old Town Chicago -- were Jane Curtain, Dan Akroyd, Chevy Chase, The Belushi brothers and so many others got their start

I think this is a great idea!!! These people are superstars!!! You could do the belushi brothers on stage as the blues brothers!!!!

Well, I live in Rockford and wow, it's hard to think of something it's known for that's positive. LOL We have what's called the Rock River, and if Im not mistaken I believe that's how Rockford got it's name. *been a long time since I was in school learning that stuff* LOL
Also, there's this thing in Sinnisippi Park (BEAUTIFUL walking path along the rock river) called The Symbol. It's this hideous orange thing, but people notice it. I dont know if maybe you could somehow put that into your cake. And I think there might be a picture of it on the Rockford website (can't remember the addy, but u can google it). We did just build a bazillion dollar jail which im sure prolly wouldnt make a good cake. LOL Unfortunately, Rockford is not a real great place, and like I said, trying to find something positive about it to put into cake form has my brain hurting. It used to be a big manufacturing town, until everything got sent overseas... hmmmm.. Im gunna hafta brainstorm this a bit more. But I'll be at the Discovery Center, and will DEFINATELY be looking for your cake!!! Alot of the ideas on here are about Chicago, but I believe the theme is supposed to be more of Rockford, than Chicago (we're a good 2 hours from Chicago)
Anyone else going????

I would LOVE to come watch, even if I live in Detroit! It's probably impossible but how on earth does one get to watch something like that?

i too dont know anything about rockford. i did watch the rockford files years ago. ha anyway, i think whatever you come up with, it MUST include his laugh. he has the best laugh ive ever heard. at first i thought of duff on top the sears towers spinning around and laughing. but yall say the sears tower doesnt relate. whatever you do im sure it will be awesome. hope to see pics.

Oh this forum has left me missing home so much!! It makes me proud to be from good 'ol IL with all those great things about it (Thanks for the reminder Doug and everyone else)!! Now I live in Baltimore, home to Duff!! Two of my favorite things mixing together, IL & the master himself!!
Amie, can't wait to see your cake. I'm sure it's going to be great. My only recommendation is to stay away from Chicago themes and stick to Rockford. I lived 3 hrs. away & people would say I'm from Chicago...drove me nuts!! (Not that Chicago isn't fabulous!!) It's just that towns take pride in their own individuality. You'll do great!!!

What about your Waterfront Festival? Carnival rides, river, boats...etc.

OK people, this is my hometown so be nice! How about the Phantom Regiment??? They are from Rockford! If you are any kind of DCI nut (like me) you know they are consistently one of the top 5 DCI corps in the nation and they have very distinctive uniforms!

Ok, I'm SO excited for you!!! If anyone has any ideas on how to get tickets, let me know, I'm only about an hour and a half away!

First, since the theme is Rocking Rockford, Cheap Trick would be an AWESOME idea, because it would be rocking and Rockford. Three of their big hits would be: Surrender, I Want You To Want Me, and The Flame. They also did a cover of Aint That a Shame. But that might be a little too easy and someone else might have the same idea...

Next, I was digging around to find out about Rockford, and it's home to Burpee Museum, the home of Jane, the "world's best specimen of a juvenile T. rex"-- you could have a model of the museum with Jane coming out with a little Duff in her mouth!!!

Finally they have Anderson Japanese Gardens, which could lend itself to something really pretty/cool with gumpaste flowers and statues... Or a combination of all three!!! Cheap Trick running out of the Japanese gardens from Jane the T Rex, with Duff in her mouth!

Also, John Mellencamp is going to be in concert in the area around that time, if you want to go with a Mid-West theme, he's a huge Farm-Aid suppporter, that's where you could work in your John Deere.

Arlo Guthrie is going to be in concert that night, too. You could do a full "Alice's Restaraunt Masacre" theme... protesting the war, littering and jail... sorry, I'm getting a little too obscure now, aren't I?

I think you can get tickets at www.discoverycentermuseum.org He's going to be there first, then having a dinner later that evening. Tickets for both events are I believe $100.
I LOVE the Jane idea! That is a HUGE thing in Rockford.
And another thing I thought of, is Rockford is the home of the Sock Monkey. I remember one ace of cakes where the gang judged an extreme cakes contest, and the sock monkey cake won...
I can NOT wait to see your cake!!!!!
We need to find out who is all going and meet up somewhere!!

How about downtown Chicago with all the skylines and then have running river by putting one of those waterfall machines it. You could put lights through it and evrything. Good Luck.

OMG....how cool is that......and the ideas they are just as cool. Now I have mine. I would go to Rockford and take picture of MAIN buildings or downtown or an area that people would be familiar with. I would build the buildings and streets, BUT the streets would be one of those race tracks the kids pay with, on the cars ( I would look for cars that are open and you could place "people" in them) I would put yourself in one with a cake on the back and Duff in the other with a cake in the back, and his employees on the side lines cheering him on, and your family cheering you on. I don't know how comfortable you are with making figures, but I am sure that you would do well. I just looked at your photos and they were very nice cakes. Make sure that the race track functions and it had things that functioned, like street lights, Glass/see thru elevator on a building things like that, than when he comes by to judge the cake invite him to race and deliver a cake. I am sure that he would get a kick out of the race. I can just see him and Mary Alice racing, that is if you are not by your cake when he comes by. I would make the buildings a little tall/grand and detailed. Also, I am assuming that you are making the cake at home but do you have some "building" time when you get there? I am sure you will so you would be able to set up there so you have time to make all you ideas work. I hope that was of some help and good luck and most important HAVE FUN !!!!!!!

Vicky

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1871_Great_Chicago_Fire
HTH! Good luck! Sounds like fun!

I really like the idea of Cheap Trick "Rockin Rockford" or something to do w/the "Rockford Files" w/the Private Eye theme

Also you might could do a Rockford File w/the Halloween theme since rockford files is a private eye show and its so close to halloween.

Also if you did have the Rockford Files you could have the theme song and have it done somehow to start music when you opened a certain thing..like a greeting card does when you open it. Maybe having like Duff as the private eye and his van coming out of a garage and when the garage opens the theme song of Rockford files start playing. and maybe have other lil things that i cant think of.

Oh Man Oh Man!! I am SO excited for you! While reading some of the ideas I came up with expanding on the idea of making the city of Rockford. Then make Duff and his band REALLY big and Rocking the Place! Kind of King Kong big. Have a bunch of people (esp. ace of cakes crew) cheering them on below. Duff would have his bass guitar. Have the bands music playing. If you could get them to move somehow.......beyond me. Anyway I know you'll do great and I wish you the best of Luck!

Sorry! Still learning to post!