I’m desperately in need of some drunken debuachery and it’s been a while since we’ve had a ChiDoper gathering. What do people think about getting together in early August somewhere in the city that has a nice Beer Garden? August 4th or 11th both work for me.
Pick a nice weekend, get enough people together, find me somewhere where I can sleep (other than my car), and I’ll represent the Minnesota contingent at a beer celebration.
ahem
c’mon, people!
Um, Chicago has a beer garden. It’s on the Pier.
For some reason I thought porcupine was looking for cities with a nice beer garden. Please disregard previous post.
Well, if someone from Michigan would ride down with me and share expenses, I’d be up for it if it was on the 11th. First weekend is out for me, but you can ignore that.
Uhh, can I try to change the date? Our old friend Android is supposed to return stateside from England for a short time later in August. I believe his current itinerary calls for him to be in Chicago between the 23rd of August and the 5th of September. I’ll pop of an e-mail alerting him to this thread. Maybe he can weigh in here with some more definite plans.
Yes, yes, yes!
The only beer garden I know is Nick’s on Milwaukee. Surely we can do better.
Well, I think we should be able to find something suitable from this list.
As far as the date goes, I guess late August would be ok it that works for everyone else. I really don’t want to push it into September because, as I said, I need drunken debauchery now. 
Or we could just have two gatherings depending on when people can come - maybe one in late July/early August and then again in late August/early September. Hell, we have enough locals that a monthly ChiDope really shouldn’t be tough to organize.
If you need a designated driver, just take up a collection for a plane ticket…I’d LOVE to come!
Some of my favorite people will be there.
porcs and magdalene, I mean.
Although I am sure the rest of you would make my short list soon after meeting you.
OK, a great idea just came to me. There is a new Irish bar (Sorry, android!) called Chief O’Neills (after the Chicago PD Chief at the turn of the century who was a major influence in the proliferation of and archiving of trad. Irish music in the US).
Here is the website…pay no attention to the cheesy audio popup please!
However they have a Fantastic outdoor beer garden. Tables, food, Guinness and other beverages, very nice and inviting.
I will talk to Brendan McKinney the owner who is a fairly good accquaintance and see what sort of specials I can manage.
As for August, I will be camping with my kids until Friday afternoon on the 24th. That weekend would be a welcome respite from the kids all week in a tent!
Like I said, this is sketchy…more details to follow…
Can I come? Please? I promise to be good…or not so good.
Seriously though…I do want to come. I just need to know way ahead of time so I can make arrangements.
Well, I would like to go. The following dates are definitely out of the question for me (I’m sure you’ll all want to plan the thing around my personal schedule :)):
July 28th
August 11th
August 18th
These dates are possibly bad, but as of right now I have no definite plans. It all depends on when other people end up planning stuff:
August 4th
August 25th
Labor Day weekend
So, it’s not as though I’m busy for the whole freaking month or anything…oh, wait…
Okay, just set it up for whenever, and I’ll do my best to be there.
Hey, as far as I’m concerned, if they serve beer, it’s a GREAT beer garden! I’m thinking we should see what going on in late July/August (street festival wise) St. Pat’s block party might be a good spot.
Well, the 11th is probably better than the 4th. Of course, I’ll probably show up for either, so…
Just give me a place, time, and directions…
Frankly, I’m not particularly interested in a street festival for a DopeFest. The whole point of the thing is to sit around and B.S., and it’s a bit difficult to do that wandering around at a street festival - besides which it will be pretty much impossible for people to find each other. I really think a bar or restaurant where we can sit outside and eat and drink is best.
Sounds interesting to me, either way.
This sounds like a good plan to me. I went to the ChiDope last November and had a blast. Any weekend in August would be fine by me, but I’m pretty sure that I have plans on Labor Day weekend. Do you think your car would be good for the trip, because I’m not sure about either one of my cars at this point. My little red car has been broke down for a month now, and I think the transmission is just about ready to go in my van. Let me know folks what’s going on. I could really use some drunken debauchery too right about now.
ok it was just a thought
MikeG, always pushing the Irish on us.
Let’s go to Resi’s and be GERMAN for a night for the love of Christ.
I’m not available in July because I’ll be on a whirlwind Rammstein tour, but August is wide open.
jarbaby