I’m gonna claim that I’m going to a Nazi-themed dominatrix dungeon with five hookers. Anyone would understand that.
May is looking pretty bad for me, but you never know…I might be able to sneak a weekend in Chicago. Near public transportation would be good as I’ll probably fly in and then stay near the Loop.
That would be me. I just tell people I’m meeting friends. No one has ever actually asked me where I know these friends from. I’ve been to several DopeFests now and always had fun, by the way. And it turns out that my imaginary friends are actually real… 
Last time we had a Dopefest I had the following conversation with a friend:
Friend: So you free later tonight? We’re coming over to your place and celebrating my birthday by playing poker.
Me: Er . . . I’m having guests earlier in the evening . . .
Friend: Guests? People from grad school?
Me: No . . . just . . . people I know.
Friend: Are you having an orgy with your neighbors or something?
Me: -exasperated- No, I’m having an orgy with people I met online.
Friend: Nice. Call me when you guys are finished then.
(Unfortunately the Dopefest did not devolve into an orgy of any sort. 
)
That’s because we were saving that for this one.
Heh. Sounds like a Doper in the making. You should bring him to the next 'fest. Especially if he’s cute.
“Northwest near a train” works for me. For this to happen, someone is going to have to put a date out and it’s liable to get ugly. Not It.
And so, is it safe to say I’m the only one cool enough for a nick nametag?
Sadly, I really do have one*.
Happily, there’s a semirational reason for having it. Heh heh…Ya.
*RealName obscured for those I meet or make personal contact with or who do a rudimentary google search. Come meet the nametag!
Assuming (yeah, I know) we can find a date that I can actually manage: I’m about 40 miles west of Chicago and have to pass O’Hare to get into the actual city, so, again, assuming the date works, I might be able to carpool someone in either from the airport or somewhere else along my route. At this point, it is looking like it would have to be the first or last weekend in May to work for me, though. My kid is graduating from HS and there’s all that attendant stuff.
Man, no one’s going to believe me when I tell them I’m going to grab a bite and a few drinks with my encyclopedia.
Ok, I’ll throw myself under the bus:
How about May 31? Memorial day is the 26th, so there’s not conflict there. How about dinner at say 7? Those who want to [del]start the drunken debauchery early[/del] meet for drinks ahead of time can do so. I would like to suggest a middle of the road restaurant: not too expensive and someplace that has parking at least down the street.
How much further north and west than O’Hare are we talking? Will I need to pack supplies, food and water in the Volvo? I’m coming from the southern suburbs, as in I might as well be in Will County…
At this point in time, May 31 works for me. This may change if it is decided that my kid’s grad party will be that day, which will only happen if her best friend can’t do it on June 1, which is what I am working toward.
I believe May 31st works for me. There’s always the risk that Life will get in the way, but at the moment, it works.
I can also help with rides, if anyone needs one. I live in Rogers Park (well, West Ridge, but even West Ridgians think we live in Rogers Park) so I’d be willing to help out anyone from Evanston/Skokie/Niles down to about Lincoln Park (or even further if you want to take a train into the Howard El and I can pick you up/drop you off there.)
Jesus, I get blamed for EVERYTHING.
May 31 looks good so far. Are you all still looking at NW burbs, or staying in the city? I’ll be honest, my knowledge of the western suburbs are shaky.
NW suburbs=$ and big houses, son. Try to look WASPy.
Gotcha-ya. I’ll blend in with my fake stinger and striped…umm. Sweater around my shoulders, yeah, sweater.
Hmmm. I’ve been thinking of changing up to straight drag pipes on the bike…
Oy. :smack: WASPy=White, anglo-saxon, protestant-ish. Or was I just whooshed and stung?
So, where’s dinner?
I’m a little farther away than just 'burbs, BUT -
Things have gotten in the way of a much-needed trip north. The weather’s sucked lately anyway, I hear.
I have a place to stay in Southside Chicago, right near the EL and Metra. 
May 31 is good; if someone can pick me up at…um, I don’t know the town that well, the Skokie El station is Northwest, right?
If we meet near a Metra or El stop people could make it out on their own. I don’t know the NW area at all though.