Chicagoland Meetup

[inlikeflynn]

Since I am far removed from Chicago and haven't been involved in the planning I don't want to complain, so I'll call it a suggestion. The first thing that comes to my mind is one of those rooms that you rent for birthday parties a Chuckies Cheese. Maybe even a small unused room and a small hotel, La Quinta or Ramada Inn. Just a couple of thoughts. I would have no problem throwing in $10 for a comfortable venue where we have lots of room.

John

That would be awesome if you guys had your meet at Chuckie Cheese 


But in seriousness, the idea of renting a small conference room would likely be a good idea if there is going to be 10+ people and maybe add $5 a person or something. And then you'd have none of the strange looks for everyone else in the place =)

[DanGWanG]

OK, we'll stick with it being in August.  Any suggestions on meeting room venues that we can rent for cheap?  i3oiler? Trent? jcrouse?

[DanGWanG]

BTW, my absolute absolute last resort is that I would invite you all to my 700-800 sq. foot apartment.  I have video games, a 2-computer LAN, and you all can meet my elderly dog.

I don't care as much as it's temporary housing until December, as long as you guys promise not to rob me.

Either that, or we can go to a local Starbucks as everyone has been suggesting lately...

[i3oilermaker]

OK, we'll stick with it being in August.  Any suggestions on meeting room venues that we can rent for cheap?  i3oiler? Trent? jcrouse?

Dan's parents place? 

[DanGWanG]

Nice try =)

[jcrouse]

OK, I just called the La Quinta where the wife and I stay. It is in Willibrook. I know that's 20 minutes ouside of Chicago but this is just an exmple. They have a room that easily holds 10 to 12 people and 3 hours time is $50 and 4 hours is $60. I say we do something similar, where we can pull out cars up, unload and have a geekfest in comfort and privacy.

Thoughts?

[i3oilermaker]

There is a deli near my place that is quite large and never very crowded...I'm sure we could arrange for some tables

Don't think we could cater Chinese there though

[jcrouse]

Hows the parking. I will probably have 6 or 7 keyboards as will that one other guy, and don't necessarliy want to be lugging them all over the streets, nor pay a large amount for parking.

[i3oilermaker]

There is a pay lot that they will validate for an hour.  Other than that the streets are a bit of a free-for-all.  Depending on the day, time, and weather it ranges from not bad to horrific.

[jcrouse]

Well then, I'll throw this out ... How about the La Quinta in Willibrook. It is a 25 minute drive down 55 from the center of Chicago. I suggest this not knowing where people actually live, other that Brad, whom I beileve to be just north of the loop. Anyways, if I'm nuts, just say so but this sounds ideal. Also, you guys closer are more familiar, find a comprable small hotel chain about 10 minutes outside of town and see what thay have. It has been my prior experience that most have a room for rent.

[i3oilermaker]

I think we can do better than the La Quinta in bumble....

[jcrouse]

ok, look something up and give'em a call. Or give me a list of places and I'll call them.

[DanGWanG]

i3oiler, any chance you can look up some local places to gather with a lower cost rate?  I'll be doing the same, maybe at a local college (I'm thinking Columbia, since there's more parking in the area).

[Trent]

Depaul University maybe?

[The_Beast]

OK, I just called the La Quinta where the wife and I stay. It is in Willibrook. I know that's 20 minutes ouside of Chicago but this is just an exmple. They have a room that easily holds 10 to 12 people and 3 hours time is $50 and 4 hours is $60. I say we do something similar, where we can pull out cars up, unload and have a geekfest in comfort and privacy.

Thoughts?

Pay by the hour.....sounds classy :lol:


Ijoke, ijoke

[DanGWanG]

Depaul University maybe?

Would be a nice venue, especially since I graduated from there =)  However, parking on Jackson and State is near impossible unless you want to pay $30/hour.

[jcrouse]

I think your barking up the wrong tree. That is not their business. You will have problems fing who to talk to, who the decision maker is and setting it up. Just go to someone who is in the business of renting out a room for a business gathering, like a hotel chain. Am I crazy? How difficult is this.

[DanGWanG]

It is difficult when you are talking about the City of Chicago.  A city run by mobsters and profiteers.  Renting out a place for cheap from a local hotel chain like Hilton, Aqua, or any other hotel chains in downtown is asking for a lot of money.  Not to mention Parking.

I'm looking at local colleges and libraries in the South Loop because its a lot less populated, close to downtown and Chinatown.  You're welcome to help =)

[ekw808]

The first thing that comes to my mind is one of those rooms that you rent for birthday parties a Chuckies Cheese.

Kind of awkward to think of Chuck E. Cheese first, but I'm pretty sure they have a rule that you can't be there without a kid.

[jcrouse]

Well, remember, I am driving many hours, so I wasn't thinking the 20 to 30 minutes outside of town was a big deal. I sort of thought it was a plus.

[DanGWanG]

We'll get this ironed out by Thursday, no worries.

[demik]

what should i bring?

[demik]

ill bring mx mini, silver winkeyless kmac with greens and italian red filco ninja

[tipo33]

I can bring my ISO AEKII, as well as my original AEK

[DanGWanG]

We make some bomb orange chicken, despite how westernized it is.  Still a delicious dish, imo.

Do you have pork blood cake or any congee specials?  I'm sure the orange chicken is great - its just not often when the opportunity comes up to try "off the menu" items that might make most white people cringe.

I'll travel anywhere but ideally if it's going to be in Chicago it won't be too expensive to get to by cab from Union Station.

A lot of our dishes are in fact catered to Western folk (read Americans), but we have a variety of Shanghainese dishes (since our restaurant is Shanghai cuisine).  This includes, but not limited to:  Soup Dumplings (aka xiao long bao), dry pot stickers, pork & chive stirfry in sweet soy, kaufu (like a sweet tofu thing), roasted pork shoulder, and some other things I don't know the American names to.  Some other higher priced items that we can obtain are dungeonous crabs in salt and pepper, 2-3 lb. lobsters in ginger soy, prawns in garlic and vermicelli, and tons of off-menu items.

We don't typically carry congee and blood soup dishes because those are more 'home' style dishes and typically frighten the American customer.  That doesn't mean we don't ever have it.  Sometimes it's seasonal, sometimes we made it at home and bring it to the restaurant, sometimes we just have it.

[Trent]

Depaul University maybe?

Would be a nice venue, especially since I graduated from there =)  However, parking on Jackson and State is near impossible unless you want to pay $30/hour.

Lincoln Park campus silly!

[DanGWanG]

I just got word from my friend that we can use his pool hall to nerd out on keyboards, and eat Chinese food, and play pool afterwards.  Any interest?

It's called Golden Cue on the north side, Montrose and Kimball.

[i3oilermaker]

Sure if the date is right

[DanGWanG]

I'm still shooting for the 18th

[jcrouse]

A lot of our dishes are in fact catered to Western folk (read Americans) ...

Geez ... my only family (my wife's side) calls me the gringo, now I western folk ... At this point I have no idea what the hell I am.

[jcrouse]

I just got word from my friend that we can use his pool hall to nerd out on keyboards, and eat Chinese food, and play pool afterwards.  Any interest?

It's called Golden Cue on the north side, Montrose and Kimball.

I am in, hopefully the 18th. Just saw my Meucci in the storage unit last evening. Time to dust it off.

[DanGWanG]

Firm information below...we are set!

When:  Saturday, August 18th @1:30pm
Where:  Golden Cue Billiards, 3241 W Montrose, Chicago, IL 60618

I'll bring food, so don't worry.  It'll be 20 minutes old though, but still good.  PM if you have a really big preference on eating something....

[jcrouse]

Firm information below...we are set!

When:  Saturday, August 18th @1:30pm
Where:  Golden Cue Billiards, 3241 W Montrose, Chicago, IL 60618

I'll bring food, so don't worry.  It'll be 20 minutes old though, but still good.  PM if you have a really big preference on eating something....

Sounds perfect Dan. Thanks for doing this. I look forward to the 7 hour drive. I should pick feng up on the way. I'll be driving right by St. Louis.

Do we have a final or updated list of what people are bringing or would like to see?

Also, bring your pool cues. We can play a little 9 ball for clacks

[jcrouse]

I believe I have that covered.

[demik]

ILL BE THERE!

[IvanIvanovich]

Now that you are sure about the date, I will see if I can make it as well. I have a G80-0499 from 1985 I could bring, if that is vintage enough for you dante? I also could bring my vintage Cherry linear whites, and some nice selections from my rainbow of colors I have in Cherry keycaps.

[jcrouse]

Bring'em all.

[The_Beast]

Dang, I really want to go but....



IDK why I'm not

[IvanIvanovich]

I like them vintage blacks quite a bit, I have 2 boards with them both from the mid 80's one is pcb and the other is plate mount with model F layout. They don't feel quite as dampened on the pcb more bounce on the upstroke I think but could easily be due to the amount of use they have each seen as well.

[i3oilermaker]

I'll be there!  Have to dig out my cue!

[Trent]

Firm information below...we are set!

When:  Saturday, August 18th @1:30pm
Where:  Golden Cue Billiards, 3241 W Montrose, Chicago, IL 60618

I'll bring food, so don't worry.  It'll be 20 minutes old though, but still good.  PM if you have a really big preference on eating something....

Yeah buddy!  I'm all in.  Will also be bringing keycaps too.

[jcrouse]

Firm information below...we are set!

When:  Saturday, August 18th @1:30pm
Where:  Golden Cue Billiards, 3241 W Montrose, Chicago, IL 60618

I'll bring food, so don't worry.  It'll be 20 minutes old though, but still good.  PM if you have a really big preference on eating something....

Yeah buddy!  I'm all in.  Will also be bringing keycaps too.

Yeah, I'm really looking forward to this also. Should be a great time.

[demik]

if i send a kobe jersey to you guys could u burn it while wearing bulls jerseys?

[jcrouse]

if i send a kobe jersey to you guys could u burn it while wearing bulls jerseys?

Don't make me break out my Lakers keycaps that go along with the Red Sox and Raiders I posted a week ago. You and I are like oil and water.

Go IRISH ... Screw USC

[demik]

i support cal, not usc ^.^

barcelona fan? if so we are mortal enemies

[jcrouse]

i support cal, not usc ^.^

barcelona fan? if so we are mortal enemies

well since I have to say, "do you mean soccer" (futbol maybe, to you) that you can guess I'm not a big fan. If I have to pick a team it would be the Tigres, since the wife is from Monterrey. I have watched el classico on tv and will probably watch Mexico tomorrow.

[tipo33]

I work until 2 on the 18th.  If i arrive at 3 will the party still be in full swing?

[Djuzuh]

Firm information below...we are set!

When:  Saturday, August 18th @1:30pm
Where:  Golden Cue Billiards, 3241 W Montrose, Chicago, IL 60618

I'll bring food, so don't worry.  It'll be 20 minutes old though, but still good.  PM if you have a really big preference on eating something....

As long as you bring nems, it's ok .

[jcrouse]

I work until 2 on the 18th.  If i arrive at 3 will the party still be in full swing?

I hope to still be there. Probably still staring at Dan's KMAC.

[DanGWanG]

I'm thinking well be there till 4-5ish.  The night crowd comes around then so yeah