Update on meeting up before the parade (because the Village Inn we always went to has closed):
I think I may have found a good, potential meeting spot (breakfast restaurant), right off I-70, and even closer to the staging area, but it will only work if our staging time is 10:00 again (I'm still waiting to receive that info from the parade committee), because the restaurant already has a large group booked for 10:00. I'll keep everyone posted as things progress.