Don’t worry, beagle! With you, me, and gaudere, there WILL be Guinness! I have a big trunk- If I have to bring a keg down myself, there WILL be Guinness!
::Envisioning a keg O’ Brown in a suite…::
Oh man, this is gonna be gooooood!
OK, since The Courtyard is getting good reviews here, I’m going to invoke my official powers as emcee of Spiffle II and decalare that The official hotel of Spiffle II is The Courtyard by Marriott, 3462 Freedom Drive, Springfield, Illinois. Their telephone number is 217-793-5300.
I went there today in person and gave it the once-over, and it looks quite nice. One drawback is that the manager said they couldn’t offer group rates. So I guess the thing to do is to say you’re there for the “Cecil Adams Family Reunion” when you reserve your room/suite and ask if you can be booked in a room near other attendees. Sorry I couldn’t do more, kids.
By the way, if the Courtyard is too rich for your blood, there’s a Sleep Inn (217-787-6200) literally next door. I mean, they share the same parking lot, so you’ll still be near other Dopers if you decide to stay there.
Directions To The Courtyard
From I-55 (either direction)- take I-55 to I-72 and go WEST on I-72. Now follow my I-72 directions.
From I-72 (either direction)- Take I-72 to Exit 93: Illinois Route 4, Springfield/Chatham. The off-ramp will lead to a traffic signal; turn north toward Springfield. You’ll be on Illinois Route 4, which becomes Veterans Parkway in Springfield. Continue north on Veterans Parkway across the bridge. You’ll see The Courtyard on your left, but you’ll have to go a few hundred yards past it. Go to the next light (Lindberg Drive/Avenue/whatever) and turn left. Make another left at the next light (Freedom Drive). The Courtyard will be on your left a few hundred yards to your south.
If you stay on Freedom Drive it will wind around behind Target and you’ll see Friar Tuck’s. Friar Tuck’s is a liquor store the size of a supermarket. FWIW
Okay! Got a room, got a car, got a plane ticket. I am SET for this. 
Just got a room. The hotel said they only have 4 rooms and 2 suites left…get 'em while ya can
I just got a room for Friday and Saturday nights. All they have left are rooms with one King-sized bed, and I guess the suites, which are non-smoking.
I’m in. I have Friday and Saturday reservations.
Thanks for doin’ the legwork, Rasta.
Got my reservation for Saturday, one King, N/S. If anybody wants to share the room/bed, I have a strict “no hairy legs” rule for both my bike and my bed. Qualified applicants may line up to the left. :eek:
Guess I’ll take the O-Dark-Thirty flight from MIA, arrive STL 9:30-ish Saturday, rent a car to Spiffled, and proceed to drink heavily. Where, oh, where do the Saturday Nooners drink? This could be a drunkfest of Biblical proportions!
Anybody want a ride that way, post it! I haven’t gotten an offer for a seat, so I’ll let you grab mine! (“no hairy legs” rules in effect)
Wait, can I grab your seat even if I don’t need a ride? 
And FYI: I get into O’Hare at 6:30 Friday. I’ll need to pick up the car and my luggage, and whoever I’m giving a ride down. (tigg’s the only definite I have yet, I think.) So we’ll be there around…10ish? Maybe? I’m assuming y’all will still be up and drinking at 10.
Falcon, my seat is reserved for your grabbing pleasure.
Good to know. After all, I might need a seat after I get drunk Saturday night. grins
Make yourself comfortable. Have a good time.
I will DEFINITELY be there.
I’m sure there will be tiggerlicks [sup]TM[/sup] all around just as soon as I get drunk. (Just ask Omni and Joph).
Confirmed! I’ll be flying into Springfield about 5:30 PM. I’m planning on renting a car, so anyone else flying in around 5 or 6 PM (or anyone earlier than that willing to wait) is welcome to ride along.
And I’ll play designated driver for those wishing to imbibe on either Fri. or Sat., but not both.
Woo! I get to see ExTank again!
And tigg? No licking while I’m driving.
Well, as the ever wise and lovely ValerieBlaise pointed out in chat, we need to figure out rides for this shindig.
So. Who needs rides, when are you leaving, and who has room? I have two (three if you get cozy) more seats in my car. I’m renting a Dodge Stratus-size car, so I can fit 4 besides me. tigg already has a spot, and Nym did you ever decide if you were riding with me? I’ll leave Chicago at 7 or so Friday, if the plane gets in on time. HOWEVER, I need to leave Spiffled around 8:30-9 Sunday morning to catch my flight home.
So, if someone wants to ride with me, lemme know. Next?
I am leaving St. Loowey about 10am Saturday, plan to have a car that will seat four. Returning sometime after the hangover wears off, for an 8pm-ish flight from STL.
I got dibs on a ride from Falcon! Woo-hoo! Party!
Oh, you meant a ride with Falcon. Like in a car. Sorry, I misunderstood the offer. Nevermind. Carry on as if I wasn’t here.
I on the other hand, am shifting from “confirmed” to “maybe”
Sorry for the flip-flopping everyone, but I’m getting in one of my depression downswings, and unless it picks up in the next couple weeks, I’m not gonna be in the mood to do anything with anyone - especially not drive to somewhere I don’t know to meet a bunch of people for the first time. I get extremely anti-social when the depression hits and large groups makes it even worse. Not only will I not want to go when I feel that way, I’m sure no one will want me there like that.
Sorry again for changing my answer. I most likely won’t be able to give a definite answer until the week of Spiffle.
I, of course, will be up and about at 10pm on Friday. I’ve sent Falcon and Ex Tank my cell number so she/he can find me/us whenever she/he rolls into town. If anyone else thinks they may need this number, pop me off an e-mail and I’ll pass it along.
Okay, here’s my plans as far as I know. I think I’m riding down with Omni. We’re planning on leaving early afternoon on Friday I believe, so that works best for me. Haven’t really talked to Omni in a bit, but I think that’s the plan. I may ride BACK with Falcon, though, if that’s still okay. I think I need to get back at a decent hour, may have to do some work that day.
Lots of “thinks” and “mays” there. If Omni would check in, that would help.
Froggy, I wish you would show up. It’s not like we’re ALL strangers, y’know. <poke, poke> Regardless, I’ll understand if you don’t show, but it might do you some good. I can speak for the ChiDopers knowing that they’re all a great group to be around, and the two Spiffled people I know are cool, too (and you’ve met Dyno, too, silly). I hope to see you there, babe.
Curiously, I was able to get a room with two doubles when I called the Courtyard late last night. I was told that that was the last one, though.
I’ll be getting into town around dinner time on Friday, so anyone who is there at that point (Nym? Omni?) - we need to get together and let the festivities commence.
We should maybe all trade real names so we don’t have any of the problems of the past. (I remember at the very first ChiDope, me and ChrisCTP desperately trying to figure out UncleBeer’s real name so we could call his room - “it’s Robert SOMETHING”!)