# It's time for ChiDope planning **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 27, 2002, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-chidope-planning/145092 "2002-12-27T03:47:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-chidope-planning/145092/161 "2003-01-15T14:13:11Z")
May 9-12 works for me and **UncleBeer**. ---
**Author:** ![Demo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demo/32/8472_2.png) [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-chidope-planning/145092/162 "2003-01-15T16:25:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jane D’oh! \* > \*\ ***Eonwe** we are about two blocks from the train station. The train ride is about 20 minutes into downtown. To some it’s convenient, to some it’s a hassle. You may want to get some feed back from those who were at the 'fest last year and stayed at the hotels out here. \*\* I’m interested in hearing from people on this issue as well. I’ve never been to a ChiDope and I don’t know where most of the action normally centers around. I plan on doing some sight seeing while I’m there as well. How did this work out for people in the past? How late does the train run? How much of a difference was there between rates at this hotel and hotels downtown? Thanks, Demo ---
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-chidope-planning/145092/163 "2003-01-15T16:35:40Z")
**Demo** , last year **UncleBeer** and I stayed downtown (even though I’m a local) to be close to the action (which, for that particular fest, was right downtown). I believe the hotel was between $150 and $175, plus exhorbitant parking fees. Jane’s hotel near O’Hare was about $70 a night, IIRC - perhaps a bit less. The El runs 24 hours a day, with stops anywhere from every few minutes during rush hour, to every half hour or so in the middle of the night. [Here](http://www.transitchicago.com/maps/rail/rail.html)’s a link to an El map along with schedules if you click a station. The Blue Line runs from O’Hare to downtown and then west to Forest Park. ---
**Author:** ![sheepi83](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@sheepi83](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sheepi83)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-chidope-planning/145092/164 "2003-01-15T20:39:37Z")
I’m having surgery then. ☹ I really wanted to go… ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-chidope-planning/145092/165 "2003-01-16T03:17:51Z")
I’d like to point out that May 11 is Mother’s Day (I just found this out today) so if there’s any festivities taking place that Sunday, I may be ducking out on at least part of them, depending on what we plan for my Mom this year. ---
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-chidope-planning/145092/166 "2003-01-16T04:19:56Z")
Mother’s Day? Ugh. Well, shouldn’t affect festivities for Friday and Saturday, anyway. I hope it doesn’t affect attendance too much. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-chidope-planning/145092/167 "2003-01-16T13:00:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jane D’oh! \* > OK, just as I was about to block some rooms the weekend changes. > > Can I get a show of hands of those who would > a) Be considering attending the fest over the new weekend > and > b) Need a cheap room for this 'fest > and > c) Not mind being at an airport hotel (A quick train ride from downtown) > and > c) Will buy me at least one vodka drink for the leg work I’m about to get started on. > > I can’t really name a rate til I have an idea of how many rooms we’re gonna need, so get those hands up in the air kids - or just send me an e-mail if you don’t want to “me too” on this thread. > > Thanks! Sorry, hadn’t poked my head in here for a while. Answers to **Jane D’oh!**'s :smack: questions: a) yes b) Please, oh please! c) definitely not; it was just dandy last time and thank you ever so much again! c[sub]2[/sub]) At least one. Plus praising your name to all who will listen. I do hope you’ll attend more events this time, though! ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-chidope-planning/145092/168 "2003-01-16T13:02:17Z")
I didn’t mention in the above that I plan to be very flexible on the date. If it’s Mother’s day, that’s cool, since current plan is to bring the whole clan along. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-chidope-planning/145092/169 "2003-01-16T13:27:55Z")
I also stayed in a Jane D’oh hotel room last year (“Are you a doctor?” “No, but I _did_ stay in a Jane D’oh hotel room last night.”) ahd the rooms are fab. The train(s) run(s) fairly often (there is that whole “colder than ice fucking” deal, but that just comes with it being Chicago). ---
**Author:** ![Gundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Gundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gundy)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-chidope-planning/145092/170 "2003-01-16T15:02:18Z")
Can I be hungover for Mother’s Day? The answer is a resounding YES! The child brings me breakfast in bed anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-chidope-planning/145092/171 "2003-01-16T16:05:27Z")
Here’s some stuff going on that weekend, if people are interested: (Most of it comes from [here](http://www.metromix.com/top/1,1419,M-Metromix-Home-X!EventFieldedSearch,00.html?&category=&date=Specify%20date%28s%29%20below&start_date=5%2F9%2F03&end_date=5%2F12%2F03&stringPattern=&Page=1), which gives you a good idea of all the theaters, flower shows, etc. going on. ) Art Chicago 2003 at Navy Pier. More than 200 modern and contemporary galleries representing more than 2,500 artists worldwide participate in this celebrated international art exposition. It’s $12 a person, but they do have group rates for the arty dopers. [Ravinia](http://www.metromix.com/top/1,1419,M-Metromix-Home-X!EventDetail-92563,00.html) is an outdoor venue for classical music. It is a great time if you want to hang out, drink wine, and listen to some great music in a calm, wonderful surrounding. It is a bit north of Chicago, but only a quick Metra train ride away. I highly recommend it. [Architecture River Tours](http://www.architecture.org/river.html). Although I’ve never done it, I’ve heard nothing but good things about it. And some other stuff for interested people: [The Field Museum](http://www.fmnh.org/) [The Art Institute of Chicago](http://www.artic.edu/) [The Museum of Science and Industry](http://www.msichicago.org/) [The Adler Plane\_arium](http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/) [The Shedd Aquarium](http://www.sheddnet.org/) [The Museum of Contemporary Art](http://www.mcachicago.org/) Just some early ideas for y’all. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-chidope-planning/145092/172 "2003-01-16T16:07:32Z")
Screwed up one link: [Ravinia](http://www.ravinia.org/) ---
**Author:** ![Akatsukami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea666f/32.png) [@Akatsukami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akatsukami)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-chidope-planning/145092/173 "2003-01-16T18:01:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jane D’oh! \* > **Can I get a show of hands of those who would > a) Be considering attending the fest over the new weekend** I will be there, assuming that I have a contract (_i.e._, income) by then. > [@](#): > > \*\* b) Need a cheap room for this 'fest\*\* No, thank you; I’ll be booking my own. > [@](#): > > \*\* c) Not mind being at an airport hotel (A quick train ride from downtown)\*\* Definitely “no, thank you”. I will _not_ be booking at O’Hare. > [@](#): > > **c) (_sic_) Will buy me at least one vodka drink for the leg work I’m about to get started on.** Despite my answers to b) and c), I will _certainly_ buy you a drink – you deserve it (and more) for the effort you’re putting forth. ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-chidope-planning/145092/174 "2003-01-16T20:03:33Z")
I’ll be there, barring unforseen circumstances. I’ll _probably_ need a hotel room, but I’m not 100% sure yet. If I need one, I’d gladly take the cheap one at the airport (though, how much to ride the train?), being a poor college student and all. If they’d let me in the bars, I’d buy you a drink. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-chidope-planning/145092/175 "2003-01-16T20:07:45Z")
El rides are (I think) $1.50 per ride. You have to buy a fare card. ---
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-chidope-planning/145092/176 "2003-01-16T20:20:08Z")
Just confirming: the El is $1.50 for a one-way fare, and a transfer (valid for two rides within two hours) costs .30 extra. You get the fare cards at any El station; you’ll probably end up buying one at O’Hare, putting $5-$10 on it, and using it for the whole weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2003, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-chidope-planning/145092/177 "2003-01-16T23:04:00Z")
Just confirming my attendance. Oh, and **Jane** , I’ll need a room. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-chidope-planning/145092/178 "2003-01-17T01:13:21Z")
_Mother’s Day?_ Well, OK, but if Mom kicks my ass, I’m holding the entire city of Chicago responsible! **Canby** , prolly not so much. But we’ll know more as the date approaches. Not sure what I’m doing about hotels yet – I generally prefer to stay downtown, but if a bunch of people are staying at the airport, I might join the all-night party there. They have suites at that hotel? – I’m claustrophobic. [sub]_fixed coding_[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-chidope-planning/145092/179 "2003-01-17T03:09:53Z")
> [@](#): > > Can I get a show of hands of those who would > a) Be considering attending the fest over the new weekend > and > b) Need a cheap room for this 'fest > and > c) Not mind being at an airport hotel (A quick train ride from downtown) > and > c) Will buy me at least one vodka drink for the leg work I’m about to get started on. a) Yes b) I dunno. How late does everyone plan on hanging out? I haven’t decided yet if I’ll stay at the hotel or go home for the night. Would anyone be willing to let me crash on their floor if I don’t want to (or can’t) drive home? c) Don’t mind 2nd c) I will Another note about the el cards–if you put on $10 at one time, you get an extra $1.00. So if you think you’ll use it enough, put in at least $10.00 (and if you don’t think you will, maybe pool money with another person to buy one jointly). ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-chidope-planning/145092/180 "2003-01-17T06:10:13Z")
Or, if you expect to be riding around sightseeing, you can buy a [Visitor’s Pass](http://www.transitchicago.com/maps/fares.html#e). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-chidope-planning/145092.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-chidope-planning/145092.md?page=10)