So, what are the details that have been decided upon?
Lee, so far we gots the date (the 21st), the hotel (you live in town, IIRC), the Friday night plans, and I’d thought dinner was settled but I just found out the other day about Garfield not being able to make it. Although it still makes sense that everyone staying at the hotel meets there first.
The only thing we DON’T have is the bar (Since you live here that seems like the main point, right? Yeah, trust me, I know.) Since the hotel is off the Blue Line, and the out-of-towners requested a bar that wasn’t too hard to get to from the hotel, I’m considering something in Wicker Park. Omni has been pestering me for the last year to have one of the gatherings in the city instead of the 'burbs, and I’d like to find a place that’ll work.
So, uh… that’s that, then. Email will be sent out when I know where we’re going, and if anyone has any ideas they can feel free to email me.
Shadow…I have that same flight home. (Northwest to Detroit? We may be on the same flight!)
So if nothing else, we can wake each other up… 
Thanks, Shadow. I would have taken you up on that, but at that point, I had no need.
I’ve made “replacement” plans for that weekend; my friend Catte is coming to visit me. She may or may not be bringing her son. If she comes childless, maybe I can talk her into a day drive to Chicago. We’ll see what happens. I really really want to be there, but however it pans out, I won’t be able to spend the night.
Since I am in the NW burbs, I’d like to meet up with the Dopers at the hotel and take the train to where-ever we end up going. Then I only have to drive home from the O’Hare area, which is maybe a 20 minute drive for me.
So, what’s going on Friday the 20th?
Yep, that’s the flight. The only other flight available wasn’t until 10 p.m. at night, and I really didn’t want to have to drive home from the airport at night.
I have a question that you Chicagoans might know. I noticed on the O’Hare Airport website that the Metra System has a station right at the airport. Would it be possible for me to take the Metra train straight to the hotel? If so, what train should I take and what station should I get off at? Or would it be easier to take a cab or a shuttle bus from the airport to the hotel? I figured it would be cheaper to take the subway train than it would be to take a cab.
Since this thread was created to reduce confusion and the subsequent email exchanges left me totally confused and others who aren’t getting the emails may want to get involved, too, please answer these questions:
- Which hotel? Please be specific, including address.
- Which bar? Again, with specifics, including time.
- Are we meeting earlier for dinner some place? Etc.
- Is anything happening Friday? If yes, more specifics, please.
Is there still room for an under-21 occasional doper?
::whimper::
IF there is a dinner you can be there. As you are a girl we should have no trouble getting you into a bar. If all else fails I’ll claim you’re my daughter. But, as your temporary father, I would not allow you to drink!
Thanks, dropzone, works for me! (I am 18, for those who know not).
::jumping up and down in anticipation::
Foxy, i’ll let Val confirm this for certain, but the hotel will have a shuttle between the airport and the hotel. It may or may not require a call ahead. The cabs pretty much dedicate themselves to trips between the city and the airport so on aweekend it might be tricky depending on the time of day. Of course if any of us dopers are in the vicinity preparing for the debauchery we’ll be happy to pick you up. AFAIK the hotel is within a mile of the airport so getting from point A to point B will not be a major concern. I have been half paying attention to the details since they don’t really concern me, so I’ll let someone hammer down the specifics, but hopefully my assurance that it won’t be a stress at all will help :).
I knew. That’s why I felt “safe” to offer. If you were “jailbait”…
Wait–Just like in sitcoms and movies with dirty old married men and their young dates, you can go as my “niece!”
Happy to drive on Saturday if necessary. If you arrive on Friday (or too early Saturday) get the shuttle. It’d probably be best if you did that later on Saturday, too. Actually faster than me picking you up.
BUT WHICH HOTEL??? If it’s where most of the others are the El station is between the hotel and a halfway decent pizza place (Giordano’s @ Higgins and River?). Package goods store around the corner–or there used to be.
First off: The hotel, AS STATED IN THE FREAKING EMAIL, is the XXXXXXXX. Phone # is XXX-XXX-XXX. Rooms are under V’s name.
{Moderator’s Notes: I have deleted the hotel contact info. I, and others, do not think it is wise to advertise the location of this. Please, in the future, confine all communications of this sort to private e-mails. Thanks. UncleBeer, for the SDMB.}
Second: Shadow…IIRC, down by the luggage claim, there are TONS of hotel shuttles. You just call the hotel, and they send one over and tell you where to go to get picked up.
Third: I know we were discussing possible dinner on Friday at Leona’s after GL and I got there. If y’all want to still do that, fine, however, my flight arrives at 9:45 at night. Which is a bit late for dinner. (But not for drinks, if anyone’s interested!!)
Fourth: The reason no more emails have gone out is because we haven’t picked a frigging bar yet! I personally don’t care where we go, since I’m an out of towner. So, if some of the Chicagoans have suggestions for a bar, email them to Valerie! If not, then just wait, and she’ll let us know when something’s decided, I’m sure.
[Edited by UncleBeer on 10-11-2000 at 08:29 AM]
Omni, Dropzone and Falc: Thanks for the tips. I haven’t even set foot in an airport in over 18 years, so I’m trying to figure out the best way to manage the trip without getting hopelessly lost in the airport. I bought my tickets online using the paperless E-Ticket system, which supposedly results in a quicker check-in. I’m also not planning on checking any luggage (carry-on bag only). Still, with my luck, I’ll get on the wrong plane and end up in Tahiti or something (not that it would be a bad thing 
)
First: So those of us already in Chicago and not using the shuttle bus have to call the hotel to find out where they are. Granted, that’s a pretty pissy complaint on my part…
Third: I, apparently, have not been included in that discussion. I would probably not be able to go, anyway, but it’s the thought that counts.
Fourth: The bar discussion was what got this new thread started in the first place. As has been discussed earlier, this is a common occurrence and will probably continue. However, it would be nice to know where and when we shall meet to discuss the bar.
valerieblaise has asked that all further discussion be confined to email, as there have been security problems in the past. Moderators, could the hotel and phone number be deleted from Falcon’s post?
Hi Guys. I’m going to send out an email with ALL the information we have so have far. Here’s what I need from everyone: If you do NOT get an email (by, say, 3pm CT)and SHOULD be on the list, email me right away at VBlaseC@aol.com. DON’T POST HERE, EMAIL ME.
If there are ANY POINTS you are confused by, EMAIL ME. And please reply JUST to me, not to the whole mailing list. Other people have complained to me about that.
At this point I think I’ve added everyone to the list, but I want to make sure.
Who are you again?
ARGH!!!
Valerie, if you see this, email me. Minor hotel issues. Okay, MAJOR hotel issues. Yes, I waited to get a room. My finances are such that I didn’t know if I could actually swing this until today. All our rooms are booked. sighs
Suggestions?