Zanshin – I’ve passed by that place a million times but never stopped in. Is it any good? I could use a good wings place down here.
You mean Stocks & Blondes, Gundy? It’s a great place for lunch; the food’s pretty simple (sandwiches, hot dogs, quesadillas, nothing fancy) but good, and they’re always playing old cheesy movies on the closed-circuit TVs. The wings are tolerable but not near as hot as wings should be IMO (if I don’t sweat, they ain’t real wings). Great chicken sandwiches, though. The only problem with the place is they allow smoking, so you run the risk of getting smoked out while you’re eating.
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So if one were to be able to drag oneself out for lunch next Thursday, how would one be able to identify the group if the place doesn’t take reservations? Will you all be wearing SDMB tattoos on your foreheads?
I’d imagine we could enlist the aid of the host - code word(s) Cecil Adams. And I’ve met Gundy - I think I could recognize her again.
Missed this the other day. I’ve never been there, so perhaps Zanshin can suggest a conspicuous place to meet? I’d definitely recognize porcupine, but as for the rest of y’all…hmm. Let’s hope the host is cooperative. The Reader comes out on Thursdays, so I’ll likely have a copy with me – how 'bout I snap it open to Cecil’s column and leave it on the end of the table? Uhh…yup.
Times like this I wish I had a Straight Dope t-shirt…and a workplace that would allow me to wear it. Sigh.
Shit, won’t be able to make it on the 12th. (But don’t feel too bad for me - I’ll be on a golf course! Unless golf isn’t exactly your cup of tee, in which case feel free to feel sorry for me!)
But count me in for subsequent months. I’m at Adams and Wells. I rarely eat out, but would be glad to make an exception. Let me know the time and place for 10/10. My e-mail should be in my profile.
So far it looks like Eva Luna, Zanshin, Gundy, and me. Anyone else for lunch on Thursday the 12th? Venice Cafe at 12:30.
I would, but I’ve actually never been there myself. I, originally being a suburbs guy, enlisted the aid of a co-worker to suggest lunch spots, and the Venice Cafe is one she came up with. Perchance we could meet on the sidewalk outside the restaurant?
As for recognizing me, look for a really tall guy with brown hair who looks vaguely confused (that describes about 95% of my expressions). 
Anyone up for lunch tomorrow, Sept 10th? I have a meeting at the James R Thompson building that will be over around 11:15 or so. Please let me know and sorry about the short notice. If anyone wants to meet up, please drop me an e-mail:
Tibs.
I’ll be the short one with unruly brown hair, with any luck remembering to carry my Spanish-language copy of the eponymous book by the lovely and talented Isabel Allende.
I totally forgot about this (thanks for the e-mail, porc). I’ll be there!
Wooo - boli’s gonna be there.
How about we meet outside the restaurant to the left of the entry at 12:30?
Perfect!
Loverly – I’ll be there, so long as I can tell left from right.
By the way, all y’all missed out – Tibs makes great vegetable shopping company.
Hey Zanshin - have we met before, or talked or chatted or something? Why does your name seem familiar to me?
Dunno, boli - possibly you’ve read some incredibly witty and droll post and looked left to see my name attached to it? 
(In all seriousness, we haven’t talked or chatted before – I have in truth not met anyone IRL from SDMB yet [this Thursday’ll be the first time]. I’m looking forward to meeting y’all.)
You’ve been on these boards for almost two years and you haven’t met any of us? Do we frighten you?
Now that I think about it, we can be a bit frightening. Especially when there’s alcohol involved.
I know, sad, huh? I’d planned on attending the most recent ChiDope a few months ago but ended up having to cancel <grr>.
Yeah, this is the first one for me, too, unless you count the half-hour I spent at someone’s house in Wicker Park before I even registered, about a year ago…I don’t remember whose place it was, or pretty much anything else, except that everyone seemed pretty friendly. (We had to leave abruptly, though, as my ex was suddenly taken ill.)
So be gentle with me, OK?
Oh! I think I might’ve met you, then. I bet it was magdalene’s house? Was your ex a member here or something?