Can SDMB newbies like me join you all and get drunk, too? 
I am in the NW 'burbs, and would love to come.
Well, I know I’m getting in on this a bit late and all, but I really would like to meet all you people. Trouble is, I wouldn’t be able to get into a bar (I’m 16). How about a bar/restaurant? Possible? No? Well, anyone doing anything during the day?
No, he couldn’t protect me from cleaning up.
So here’s what’s going on so far -
I’m an impatient freakshow, so last night I went through and got the email address of everyone that has posted to this thread so that I could start the email list. However, if you use a different address than you have in your profile, please let me know. Everyone else, rest assured, you’ll soon be getting an email every time I have a panic attack about this gathering. Oh, and if you posted but you CAN’T come, just email me back and tell me to get you off the list so you don’t have to hear about all the fun we’re going to have.
Also, since so far it’s looked like we’ll be getting together around 7 or so in the evening, what does everyone think about having a late lunch/early dinner so that we can be full before we start drinking, and also so that the coupla teenage Chicago Dopers can get a chance to hang out before we go embarrass ourselves?
I’m sending this out via email too, mostly to check your addresses. Yes, I already know I’m a freak (see above). No need to mention it
Sure Porky! I missed the Chidope gathering earlier this year and I’m stioll kicking myself about it!
I think this is a great idea. My alcohol tolerance is much too low on an empty stomach. But maybe that’s a good reason to not eat before. Cheap Date Syndrome. However, I am fully capable of embarassing myself without benefit of alcohol.
I may be up for the Dopefest. I need more details, though, as they seem rather sketchy at the moment. Whoever is hosting this dopefest, email me with more info please.
bump
So is this bash on October 7th or October 14th?
Either the 7th or the 14th should be good for me. knocks on wood
I’m all for the eating beforehand idea, too. I vote for Chinese or pizza, because I’ve been having cravings for both for weeks (due to the fact that my neighbors at work keep bringing them up–Left Neighbor keeps mentioning Chinese and Right Neighbor keeps mentioning pizza).
Also, I might be bringing a guest. She hasn’t given a definite answer yet. I’m being charitable and not assuming she’s doing a “wait and see if I get a better offer” thing.
So far it looks like the 7th, but I haven’t heard from everyone yet. I want to get started planning, though, so unless I get a flood of emails demanding the 14th in the next DAY, mark your calendars for the 7th.
Any further details will be emailed out (and posted here) as I get them.
By the way, I’ve added everyone that has emailed me to the list. Don’t worry if you haven’t gotten any mail - there just hasn’t been much to report.
Any new thoughts there guys? It sounds like its 50-50 on the date with alot of conflicts for different people. I’ll go along with whatever, but is it realistic to consider the 21st or a later date? Lets keep some discussion going and pick a good date.
I think the 21st is about the latest we could plan this. After that, we are risking trying to have a party in the middle of a Chicago blizzard, which is not something I would recommend. This last winter was so mild in Michigan that we decided to have a party in the middle of January. Big mistake! The one big snow (the only big snow of the whole season) occurred on the afternoon of the party. Everybody still managed to make it to Ann Arbor, but the roads were really bad.
I’d actually prefer the 21st or so, but there’s one thing. I’m waiting to hear on an apartment, and I have NO idea when my movein date would be. Admittedly, it’s looking like November at this point, but you never know.
Well, the Chicago blizzard fear is quite overstated, I can’t remember the last time we had any major accumulation before Christmas. I’d say the entire month of November is 100% safe.
I’d just hate to see anyone excluded, and it sounds like the two weekends up for debate both leave alot of people out. And the date conflict is slowing planning, so later is cool with me, and my weekends are free except for football. November 5th I have tickets to the Bears, and the Michigan game on the 23rd of this month, beyond that I’m open as long as there’s a TV nearby.
Sorry but I had the wrong e-mail address listed on this board. I’m a consultant and spent the last six months at the place I listed as my e-mail address. That gig just ended a week ago but I forgot to update my address. No longer a problem though.
As to where the bash should be held I’m glad to see Omni has some good taste in bars. Sheffield’s back room CAN be rented/reserved if we wanted to go so far. Also, although they have no food beyond pretzels food can and is delivered there. There are also eating establishments all over the place within a block or two. As an alternative I would also suggest The Green Mill. If you like jazz it’s one of the best places in the city. It used to be a hang-out for Al Capone and still has access to escape tunnels behind the bar (although customers can’t use them you occasionally see a bartender disappear straight down). VERY cool bar…pretty big but also can be quite noisy. It’s also in a so-so part of the city. Not bad but not exactly good either…the bar itself is plenty safe. Still, it’s worth the trip.
As to where out-of-towners might like to stay I would suggest the Brompton Inn. It’s a small, nice little hotel about half a block in from Lake Shore Drive (half a block south of Addison). I have no idea what the cost is and I’ve never stayed there myself but I’ve heard good things about it (I used to live right next to it). It is also 4 blocks or so from Wrigley Field and the pile of bars around there and an easy (say $10) cab ride to just about anywhere you might want to be in the city.
As for dates any weekend is good for me. I’m up for a mini-fest as well if we have one. Maybe the mini-fest can be set the task of finding good bars for everyone to meet for the big fest.
I can probably go Oct 21st, but I wouldn’t want to push it any further. Then there are Halloween parties the following weekend, and the general holiday complications in November.
I would be up for getting a back room at Sheffield’s if there’s enough people to justify it.
BTW, are dopefests good places to find “ummm, friends.” I an in need of an “ummmmm, friend.”
porcupine, they are indeed excellent places to find “ummmmm, friends”, why do you think I frequent so many? Becareful though, this place never lets you forget a unplanned pants incident.
We hit the Green Mill at the first ChiDope. It is extremely cool, but its loud with live music, and is actually too small for us. I’m thinking this could end up in the ballpark of 25 people or so, and we’d be screwed trying to gather as a group in that place.
I don’t think I got the e-mail, but then I am not sure I listed it in the profile.
I’ve got reservations to be in Evanston on the weekend of October 13-15. Don’t think I can swing two Chicago trips in a row, so I can’t be counted in on either of the other two weekends. Don’t make mine the swing vote, though, I’m just one person, and getting to be at ChiDope is just gravy since I will be in the area anyway. My alternative plans, should you not be meeting that weekend, are to go hang out in a Sukkot house! LOL.
Alright, the 21st WOULD work for me. But if we keep throwing dates around, we’re never going to get ANY decisions made. So here’s the deal… we have to vote on this. Just email me with your weekend of choice. If ALL of the weekends would work for you, just tell me that. We have to make a call on this very very soon.
Jeff, I love the Green Mill (and used to live about 2 blocks away, so I’ve spent many a night there), but on a Saturday night it is just too crowded. I don’t know if renting a back room somewhere is going to be something we can afford. I’ll definitely look into it, but we can’t make that decision yet anyway.
The other thing, when you email me w/ your vote, PLEASE tell me if you’re coming in from out of town and will need a hotel room. Also, for the locals that haven’t attended Dopefests before, we’ve gotten a suite at the hotel for the last couple of gatherings and continued the parties there after being out… I imagine that we’ll be doing that again this time.
This, of course, begs the question of exactly how do porcupines make love?
Sorry but I couldn’t help myself…