The nearest airport for flights is the Norfolk International Airport.

Information About The Gathering

1.  The hotel has ice makers on 3 of the seven floors-the second, fifth and seventh.  Snack machines are on two floors, and drink machines on six floors.

2.  Anyone who uses Apria as their DME provider who is coming to 'The Gathering' can call their Apria and the local Apria will deliver any supplies (water, oxygen, saline bullets, etc.) to the hotel before they arrive.  To do this, give your Apria people the following information:

Gerry Logue ~ Branch Manager
Apria Healthcare
2730 Ayliff Rd # 102
Norfolk, VA 23513

(757) 852-3929 Phone
(800) 458-0276 Toll free
(757) 852-3569 Fax

3.  Cindi Broome will be photographing the SMA kids free of charge for those who wish to have a professional portrait of their child.  She is VERY talented and I think you will be quite happy with the results. She is also considering having another photographer there to do a family portrait as well.  I will be putting up a sign-up sheet for a time, soon.  These are her instructions:  "I plan to shoot all the children as angels, so I need them dressed in all white. Girls are best in a white dress...boys in white shorts and white short sleeve tops.  If there are kids over 6, I will shoot them more naturally.  Boys can dress in jeans-plain top and barefoot. I will need 20 minutes for each child, back to back is the best.  We can start at 9 in the morning."

4.  Brian Weaver (as many of you know) is an SMA respiratory specialist from New Jersey who will be here Friday and Saturday.  He will not be giving a formal 'talk'; he is willing to talk or answer questions in any way they come-whether it be accidental group or one-on-one.  He was the first to do the acute respiratory issues in SMA children more than 10 years ago and has been perfecting it ever since.  If you have a respiratory SMA question, that is the man to ask.

5.  The city has approved SMA Support exclusive use of one of their all-terrain wheelchairs for the entire time.  This will make it even easier to 'hit the beach' with your child!

6.  There is a trolley service there with one stop right in front of our hotel.  It runs up and down the entire 'strip' and even goes to a local mall.  It stops every 15 minutes, and the cost is VERY reasonable at $1 for one trip or an unlimited 3-day-pass for $5.  The trolley is completely accessible--the stairs on all of the trolleys come down and lay flat to form a ramp.   Best of all, anyone "mobility impaired" as they put it gets a 50% discount on the cost!

7.  The Swimways company, which makes the Spring Floats which can allow 'differently-abled' children to swim and float safely, are going to donate 12 of their floats for the Gathering!

8.  There is an Old Coast Guard Station that has offered to let any and all of the children under age 18 attending the Gathering tour the museum for free that weekend.

9.  There will also be local entertainment.  From a local site:

          Thursday, August 18

• The Barrys, 7th Street Stage, 6:00pm
• Ella: The Life & Music of Ella Fitzgerald, Virginia Legends Walk at 13th Street, 7:00pm, 8:00pm, & 9:00pm
• Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center “Ocean in Motion,” 16th Street, 6:30pm-9:30pm
• Cool Country-Heather Edwards Band, 17th Street Park, 8:30pm
• Sea Cruise Cabaret Variety Show, 24th Street Park, 7:00pm, 8:00pm, & 9:00pm
• The Wreck of the Dictator, 25th Street Park, 7:30pm, 8:30pm, & 9:30pm
• Beachstreet USA along Atlantic Avenue, 17th-25th Streets, 8:00pm-11:30pm

          Friday, August 19

• Power Play, 7th Street Stage, 6:00pm
• Patsy Cline-A Tribute, Virginia Legends Walk at 13th Street, 7:00pm, 8:00pm, & 9:00pm
• DJ @ the Beach, 17th Street Park, 8:30pm
• Sea Cruise Cabaret Variety Show, 24th Street Park, 7:00pm, 8:00pm, & 9:00pm
• The Wreck of the Dictator, Virginia Legends Walk at 13th Street, 7:30pm, 8:30pm, & 9:30pm
• Beachstreet USA along Atlantic Avenue, 17th-25th Streets, 8:00pm-Midnight

          Saturday, August 20

• All That, 7th Street Stage, 6:00pm
• Patsy Cline-A Tribute, Virginia Legends Walk at 13th Street, 7:00pm, 8:00pm, & 9:00pm
• Saturday Night Fever-Blackbird Pond, 17th Street Park, 8:30pm
• Sea Cruise Cabaret Variety Show, 24th Street Park, 7:00pm, 8:00pm, & 9:00pm
• The Wreck of the Dictator, 25th Street Park, 7:30pm, 8:30pm, & 9:30pm
• Beachstreet USA along Atlantic Avenue, 17th-25th Streets, 8:00pm-Midnight

          Sunday, August 21

• FAB, 7th Street Stage, 6:00pm
• Patsy Cline-A Tribute, Virginia Legends Walk at 13th Street, 7:00pm, 8:00pm, & 9:00pm
• Salsa Sunday-Salsa Y Mas, 17th Street Park, 8:30pm
• Sea Cruise Cabaret Variety Show, 24th Street Park, 7:00pm, 8:00pm, & 9:00pm
• The Wreck of the Dictator, 25th Street Park, 7:30pm, 8:30pm, & 9:30pm
• Beachstreet USA along Atlantic Avenue, 17th-25th Streets, 8:00pm-11:30pm
• Fireworks over the water at 20th Street, 10:00pm

10.  There is an amusement park also nearby.  It will probably be geared more for the siblings.  We are waiting to hear back as to whether we can get discounted tickets.  :)

11.  There will be Fireworks over the Ocean Sunday night at 10 pm.  These can be seen from anywhere on the Boardwalk.

12.  All rooms come with their own refrigerators at no extra charge.  This of course is the best news for those who need to mix up formula and such, but really, it brings me to the next point too.

13.  Food at any hotel is expensive.  Last year, we provided at least one meal per day for the families, to help cut costs.  Mostly nothing fancy--pizza, sub sandwiches, snacks, drinks, etc.  And I sent out a message with suggestions on cutting costs, and since I can't find it, I'll send a shorter version.  For those for whom the money is a big concern, bring a cooler and some of your own drinks and food.  You'd have to eat whether you were home or traveling, and you can ease the pocket book on traveling eating costs by preparing ahead of time.  Pop/Soda/Coke (depending on what part of the country you're from) can be $1 a can or more in nice hotels, where you can get a case of it for $5-7 for 24 cans and save a lot of money right there.  Bottled water even more so.  Bring some bread and sandwich stuff.  Pick up snacks at a grocery store-jars of nuts, bags of chips, whatever.   There are tons of foods that are ready-to-eat that just need refrigerated (or not) and not cooked.   Having the small fridge in the room will really help with that and make it easier than just having a cooler.   Bringing food to put in the fridge to eat instead of eating out at every meal will cut back on your costs a great deal (and probably be healthier.)  ;)  SMA Support will at least be providing a buffet luncheon like last year.  For those times you do want to eat out or for those who will, the average cost for lunch is under $10.00 per person ~ at a nice restaurant.  Dinner ranges from $15.00 to $30.00.  Here are a few places to eat so you can see the menu and prices.
http://www.beachbully.com
http://www.mahimahs.com
http://www.rudees.com
http://www.vabeach.com/giovannis/index.htm
http://www.ilgiardino.com
http://www.harpoonlarryskillerseafood.com

14.  We will have available at the 'Gathering' Holy Bears, SMA Wristbands, Faces of SMA CD's, and shirts available to buy for anyone interested.