Chicago spring meetup - date set, reservation made!!!

[cattlekid]

Hello all!

I decided to start a thread here about a potential meetup in Chicago in the spring so as not to continue to clutter up the Vegas 2012 thread. 

For those who might be interested, I wanted to get some thoughts as to location, timeframe, format etc. 

My initial thoughts were sometime in April when the weather is better (who am I kidding, it could still be snowing then). 

I am thinking of somewhere in downtown Chicago that would be relatively close to public transportation.  I know I hate driving into the city and paying for parking.

My thought was that we could gather somewhere that has a party room that we could have for an afternoon, rather than take up tables for an entire afternoon.  I'm sure we'll be chatty!

As far as the menu, I am thinking that each person would pay for themselves.  Depending on the place selected and the size of the group, we may either just order off the menu or have a preselected menu that we could choose from for a set price.   I know for larger groups, some places prefer to do it that way so they can better time the service. 

Thoughts?  Am I on the right track?  I'm all ears if someone has a better idea. 


Date has been set as April 29th, at the Copper Fox in St. Charles.  Time is 12:00 Noon.
Please RSVP by April 8th.
Website with menu and other info is copperfoxcafe.com


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Current list of attendees:

Cattlekid
Chris
Moosemom and hubby
CebuShan and hubby
Rsudock, Neil and Barb
Mr. B and Guest

[lmunchkin]

Im not good with geography, but I think I could attend a Chicago meet up, cause Vegas is just too far to drive! Not sure though, due to the money constraints.  But Im glad to see that maybe meetups in different parts of the US, would really be awesome!  That way people who want to drive, can!!!!  And all would have a chance to meet others in their area.

Excellent idea, and I hope you get some ideas too!

Thanks for offering this Cattlekid,
lmunchkin
 

P.S. I think every state in the Union, has something special in them to see.  I do like to do & see alot of things, but I also enjoy the peace & quite & just relaxing too!

[rileysmom]

i would definitely meet up in chicago in the spring. just say when and where. there are tons of places we could meet. i grew up down there and most resturants down there have small, med and large party rooms. depending on where you would want to meet (what area ) ican maybe throw some suggestions out there.

[MooseMom]

I'd be coming in from the far western suburbs to Ogilvie, so anywhere within shooting distance from that train terminal would be fine.  I don't really care where we go or what we eat.  Whatever is simple for everyone would be great.  I'd be happy with booking a separate room.  I don't know downtown Chicago all that well, so I don't have any suggestions as to venue, but I'm sure there are plenty to choose from.

[Chris]

I'm coming from Union Statio and if I am not scheduled for guide dog training in April, I'd make it.
Not sure about a meeting room, but the Marriot on Michigan Avenue (and Ohio if I remember correctly) has a great sitting area by a restaurant and a Starbucks on the second floor. Some of the available seating areas are like little rooms with a big enterance with a couch and I think 3 or 4 chairs (2 for sure).
 
Otherwise I can think of restaurants: Cheesecake Factory (Michigan and Deleware (Hancock Building), Portillo's and Pizzaria Uno (off Mighigan Avenue on Ontario), restaurant (large seating outside) in front of Milenium Park (Chrome Kidney Bean), or Navy Pier which has various amounts of eateries and large amounts of seating outside or in the park. Sit down restaurant is an Italian type of food (forgot name).
 
There is also the Berghoff, a german cusine place  that is famous in Chicago, which is off Adams I think (I see it on the bus ride back to Union Station)

[rileysmom]

around michigan avenue there are tons of places, giardano's , pizzeria uno, the rosebud, there is even a tgif's off of michigan ave, and then in navy pier there is a seafood place ( i forgot what it's called--something along the lines of forest gump) and then there is the top of the hancock there is a bar that serves food/appitizers that you can see the skyline of chicago (i use to go there all the time) alot of times they have musicians  performing. so many places downtown, you also have the "tourist traps" of places like hardrock , etc. depends on where you would want to meet.

[kitkatz]

I think the seafood place is called Bubba Gump's on Navy Pier   http://www.yelp.com/biz/bubba-gump-shrimp-co-chicago
Pretty good food.

[CebuShan]

Just a suggestion for any that don't want to brave the city but isn't too far. Starved Rock in Utica is very easy to get to and has a great restaurant/meeting area at the main lodge. I am not opposed to Chicago, however. Any place to meet all my wonderful friends!

[MooseMom]

I'll repeat what I posted on the LV thread.  I'm in St. Charles, so if anyone wants someplace quieter or doesn't want to have to faff about with the chaos that is Chicago, St. Charles/Geneva is a possibility.  You can get the Elburn train from Ogilvie.  We don't have the big attractions of Chicago, but if all we are going to do is meet for, say, Sunday lunch, this is a pleasant place.  We could even have a catered picnic as there are two nice parks closeby, one right by the river.

Saying that, though, I'd be happy with Chicago!

[Chris]

Haven't been to Starve Rock in years and it's not that far away from me, but forgot which highway I took to get there.
 
If the meet is at a seafood place, count me out because I will 
 
T.G.I.F. is off Michigan and Erie (going east) and is pretty much in the middle before you stop at Saint Clair. One thought that ocured is to pick a place that is more renal friendly for those who have to watch what they eat especially when dialysis is on a Tuesday.
 
Spealing of pizza, there is Gino's East off of North Saint Clair and Superior
 
Buses to Michigan Avenue from Union Station that I know of on the weekend are bus 157 from Union Station and Ogalvie that does require a couple blocks of walking to Michigan Avenue from Fairbanks and Huron

[Chris]

Billy Goat also in Navy Pier

[Lillupie]

ohhh I love Chicago. I may actually be able to go to that. Chi town is only like 5 hours drive from me in Michgan.

[jbeany]

Chicago for a day I might be able to pull off.  It's about a 4 hour drive from here.  Depends on what day, though.  Exams are at the end of April, so I wouldn't dare take off when I was supposed to be studying.   I'm also hoping to have a job lined up by then, so the middle of the week wouldn't work.  It would be fun if I could manage to schedule it though, and far cheaper for me than Vegas.

I second Chris's  regarding seafood.  Literally.  Since the transplant, I have to take the long way around the fresh fish counter at the store because even the smell makes me queasy!

[lmunchkin]

So good to see people in other areas stepping up!  So now we have LV & Chicago.  Any other meetups any other place?

lmunchkin
 

[MooseMom]

I can see where seafood would be a problem, but pizza would be, too.  Between the phosphoric cheese and the potassium-laden tomato sauces, pizza places might not be a good choice.

[cattlekid]

Right - I thought about the go-to pizza places downtown but figured our nephs and dietitians would kick our behinds if they heard that we went for pizza LOL

Keep the ideas coming!   

[CebuShan]

I love seafood! But I am adventurous when it comes to eating. If there are enough of us, is there someplace that might fix according to our diet?

[Chris]

Probably Chinese is out to? I can't remember what's all offered, but there are a couple places on Ontario on either side of Michigan.
 
Now I'm trying to remember the famous caramel corn place there
 
Navy Pier has, Billy Goat, McDonald's, an Italian restaurant, a hot dog place (not as good as Portillo's), and various other botique type of eateries on the inside and outside.
 
Corner Bakery is also off Michigan that has no salt turkey sandwiches (I have a menu in one of my medical folders). For me it is hard to think of restaurants while on dialysis, I never went to one due to the restrictions of diabetes and renal diet.
 
 
Took me a few hours, but finally remembered name of popcorn place, Garret's or Garett's.

[cattlekid]

Okay, I started peeking at restaurants and am getting wholly frustrated.  Seems like everything near the Ogilvie Transportation Center is only open M-F.   Boo hiss. 

I am beginning to think that St. Charles/Geneva might be a more viable option.  I'm trying to stay away from the tourist traps.  I'm going to post a poll in an new thread for a vote.  Please go vote there if you are thinking of coming to a Chicago meetup on which you would prefer.

Thanks!!

[Chris]

Places away from businesses such as the train station would be better where there is the weekend crowds such as Michigan Ave (or off of)and Navy Pier. Hotels that have restaurants is another thought, but more expensive yet more renal friendly since they can cook to request.

[gothiclovemonkey]

id love to...
Chris, chrome kidney bean?!?!? HAHA that sounds like a photo op...

I only have one...thing i gotta say... i have had, and highly dislike genos pizza, so if it can be anywhere but there id really be happy lol unless they have other stuff on the menu? idk, all i had was the pizza, and i really didnt dig that!! *was a school function, didnt get to chose anything else!)

[MooseMom]

Okay, I started peeking at restaurants and am getting wholly frustrated.  Seems like everything near the Ogilvie Transportation Center is only open M-F.   Boo hiss. 

Yes, this is a real problem.  However, it is not a far walk from OTC to the Loop, or you can catch a cab easily enough.  That's probably what I'd do if we end up in Chicago.

[Chris]

Millenium Park "Chrome Kidney Bean" (forgot actual name.

[gothiclovemonkey]

if i go to chicago, im totally getting my pic next to this... HILARIOUS
its like a giant bionic kidney!!

[okarol]

When IHD met in Chicago last time we never got close to the chrome bean! There was a concert or something downtown, and my GPS was arguing with Chris's GPS lol, it was funny, but we circled central Chicago, streets were closed so we headed back to the hotel!

Chris, what was the hot dog place we went to?