Damn damn damn damn damn.
My aunt was just hospitalized with pneumonia so I won’t be able to make it this weekend.
I am sooooo bummed. 
Bah friggin humbug.
A quick question for Saturday night - is there only one party room, or should people ask for “Cecil Adam Family Reunion” or something like that. Do we need a sign? I know enough people that I’m sure I’ll recognize folks, but first timers might need some help finding us.
porcupine, there’s only the one party room, so everyone can walk in the door and head straight to the back, past the booths and bar. I’ll have some name tags near the front…anyone want to volunteer to yell out the names of first-timers at the entrance? Or maybe I should just make name tags that say, “I’m a Dopefest Virgin…please be gentle!”
Ruby & chique – sad to hear you can’t make it! Hopefully next time?
Thanks, Gundy. I was hoping my aunt would start getting better and I could maybe come but it’s a no-go this time. Hopefully I’ll not have a family crisis for the next one.
Re: tabs – it’s not possible to just pay as you go? 
And… anything for Sunday? I have a much better chance of being conscious then. I can recommend the Uptown Poetry Slam at the Green Mill, but that would be from about 6pm on so I imagine most folks would be leaving already? yes no?
Kaio, I don’t see any reason why you wouldn’t be able to pay as you go. That’s what I did at the last ChiDope – just kept running back to the bar for drinks. But if folks want to use credit cards, or just don’t want to keep going back and forth, the tabs are preferable.
chique, you were one of the highlights of my first ChiDope. You even had me cheering for GG hockey.
I suppose I should kick my name in here.
This isn’t really a delurk, I’m going to be in Chicago meeting up with some Dopers, ChiDope being a helluva lot closer than where they live.
Correct # of seats- stuff like that, otherwise I think I’ll try and keep a low profile.
Unless some other 'space cases are there too.
Yes… I saw that hampster thread, no I’m not getting involved. Why do you think I went into hiding in the first place?
I’ll be getting on at the Rosemont/River Road station, monster.
OK, OK, I’ve been remiss in attending to this.
Trying to get through this thread before I turn into a pumpkin, I’ve managed to gather that the horde will assemble for the main event:
8-11 PM Saturday May 10
Grafton
4530 N. Lincoln
Other than that I’m fairly clueless. My knowledge of the Chicago Metro area is limited. I know there’s a big-ass lake on the right, Evanston is a northern 'burb and Muncie’s somewhere sort off to the west.
So, if one were to attempt to assemble an itinerary at the last moment:
What hotel should be consulted? I don’t require bon-bons and a foot massage, but it doesn’t have to be a cheapie, either. Location is probably the highest priority.
What’s the deal on Friday night?
My only other priority is to get myself down to the Museum of Science and Industry. Where is that relative to all this socializing?
My tentative late-night plan is to possibly fly up Friday and depart Sunday. It is most definitely a work in progress.
Ringo, for convenience and to hang with as many dopers as possible, I’d fly into O’hare and see if with can book a room throuh Jane D’oh! a the Embassy Suite, as a number of dopers are staying there and meeting the challengsin of finding thei way to places liike the Field Museum and the Grafton, and some may even be venturing to Gundy place on Friday night. Some dopers may be staying at the more expensive places downtown, but I havne’t heard any deatila about that.
Apologies is this post is incomprehensible - I just discovered the on migraine med I was supposed to take at 9:30 (3pill) was actually the single sleeping pill I was pllanning on taking at 10:30). I should sleep well tonigh, anyway.
Paging Jane D’oh. Which Embassy Suite?
Uh…, Muncie…, is that actually in Indiana?
Ringo, you’ll want to email Jane D’oh! to get the best deal on a hotel.
fixed coding
I’m booked. See ya this weekend.
Is anyone planning on bringing a camera?
I’ll bring my slightly hinky and undependable digital camera, but I hope someone else is bringing one too just in case.
In theory, I should be arriving at 11:04 Friday on United 1495. So I’ll probably see you on the shuttle. OTOH, given United…