Whirlyball is a blast! I played with a group of friends a few years ago. The combination of riding in bumper cars while trying to throw a whiffle ball in to a goal is both challenging and fun. When I played we had more than enough people to fill the courts. Those who didn’t play, sat in the lounge area drinking their favorite beverage and watched the game.
Heh, you just told me where you live, dz 
I could be up for Whirlyball.
I’m in. Pretty much anywhere, and have mucho suggestions. Closer to fall is better.
And your mucho suggestions are…
There are a lot of Dopers in the area, as Chi-town is the Dope’s home, and there’s no reason to not have BOTH a summer Beach Dope A-Go-Go and a fall function. Let’s hear some ideas!
It was nearly falling off the second page but the weekend crowd hasn’t checked in so…
Ker-BUMP!
Too bad I missed the last one then, huh? 
As a near-to-Chicago Michigander, I get over there w/ a modicum of frequency. There’s a festive event in Wicker Park on July the 30th that I’ll be going to mostly because a band I adore will be playing twice there that day. (Okkervil River, check 'em out on jound.com, they literally stopped me in my tracks the first time I heard them.) This is my official suggestion for SummerChiDope '05.
It got delayed til some indefinite time in the future. It’s what I get for having a gimpy spine, they won’t medically clear me until an orthopedic doctor swears that my back isn’t going to fall apart while I spent two years in BFE. I probably won’t be leaving til at least October or November now. I’m frustrated, but not much I can do. Ever try to convince an organization run by the federal government to change their minds? Yeah, they aren’t really tractable.
I’m forgetful.* Which particular part of BFE were they sending you to? As far as I’m concerned it starts on the west shore of Lake Michigan, the west edge of St Charles, the south edge of Chicago Heights, and the north edge of Wheeling. No, I don’t get out much.
Hell, my dad was an appeals judge for Social Security and was a natural for the job. If there’s ANYTHING I know it’s how hard it is to change the gummint’s mind.
Confession: These days when I see your name I think of the old Mothers of Invention song, “Who Needs the Peace Corps?”
So, do we have a quorum? Some former ChiDope organizers have suggested the Gen. Buchalter method of organization, in which one person says, “Ve VILL meet at Wilson Beach on August 7th at 1PM und ve VILL enchoy ourselfs!” In memory of Leon Askin I’m tempted to follow that but we haven’t had a lot of suggestions. (Portia, I fear that street fairs make it hard for people to meet and visit with each other, which is the ultimate goal of these things. Since most of us have not met in real life that might be better for a smaller group who already know each other.)
Bump
Hi Gang,
Never attended in the past, would like to this year. Based on previous events how many people show up?
Beach sounds ok, but what about drinkin? I thought you couldn’t drink legally on most beaches. North Ave. has the Castaways restaurant and volleyball.
Jazz Fest is September 1st – 4th. Maybe we could get our own corner of Grant Park.
Whirlyball sounds fun as well.
-Bat
A valid (and scary) point, but as I recall the BeachDope A-Go-Go was being discussed as “family friendly” and, while family is one of the primary triggers for drinking, some folks don’t think the two mix.
(That, of course, would not prevent later activities from including judicious, and maybe a little injudicious, imbibing.)
and vice versa…
I get your point about the street fair; that’s the only weekend I was planning to be in town, can we hear some ‘ayes’ for the 29/30/31 weekend? My schedule’s quite flexible for that three day period.
Hmmmm…There could be considerable interest in the Cluricaun camp if there was a slight negation of the “family friendly” vibe. I’m not hollering out for full fledged Bacchanalian revelry exactly, I’m really just more of a “late night + alcohol” kind of participant.
I’m thinking along the lines of beach in the afternoon and bar/dinner at night with maybe Whirlyball in between.
I will, at this point, announce that I’ll go, but then, due to my near-complete terror at being in social situations with folks I don’t know well, I will ditch out at the last minute.
Figured I’d just give you the whole story in advance. 
I’m certainly interested…I’m probably in the same camp as ArrMatey! and Cluricaun. Drinks early and often would certainly help ease some of the social anxiety. 
Look, if I, very much in your boat, can try organizing it the least you can do is show up. Not that I’m likely to show up, but I’ll organize the damned thing. However, I suspect that, if you are careful, you can bring something stronger than lemonade to Chicago’s beaches, especially if it is premixed.
A proactive apology to any of you I’ve met before but it seems like I haven’t: Not entirely due to micahjn’s idea of drinking early and often to ease social anxiety I probably don’t remember. I cannot ask that you not be offended, I only ask your understand and realize that I was married a full year and a half before I could call my wife by name with any confidence. (It’s sad how well served I am by generic nicknames like “hon” and “dude.”)
Okay, which beach? Montrose? Wilson? If Wilson, is anybody afraid of dogs? If you are bringing a dog, what are you planning to do with it once we move indoors? And where is a good place indoors? Wild and loud bars should be taken off the table because they are loud and crowded and many comments about previous events note that shy people felt shoved into a corner and ignored and that is real easy to do in popular bars. Does anybody know of a place with a back room we can reserve without having to rent it? How about a bigger pizza joint?
As the “family friendly” querant, perhaps I should elaborate. I was mostly asking what it was like, not requesting that it be anything in particular.
I do have a 12 year old (well-behaved, polite, grown-ups love him) who can come with or stay home on his own. He doesn’t need a babysitter, and so it’s no skin off my nose to let him stay home watching Farscape DVDs.
I also have WhyBaby, who does need to be by her Mamma. She doesn’t much care if you’re sloshed out of your gourd, as long as you’re not stealing her milk to make pina coladas with. She does, however, need a no-smoking option (not that there can’t be smoking anywhere, but we’d need a no-smoking table or corner) because of her lung disease (due to prematurity). She’s also very low maintainence and doesn’t cry a whit. But, I know some people are still not baby people, and I don’t want to bump any noses by bringing her if y’all would rather I didn’t. I can always make it next year when she’s old enough to stay home with WhyDad.
Bacchanal all you want - I’ll even bring some Discordia Juice, but I just need to know if WhyBaby would be welcome. I promise I’ll let y’all touch her little baby piggies if you wash your hands! If not, no biggie, I’ll meet you all at another time!