Thanks all for the great responses. Looks like we have a virtual all-star lineup of WS forumites:

Pinot Envy and Pinto (2)
bman (2)
Seaquam (2)
tyee (2)
futronic (1)
DoktaP (1)
Vino Me (2)
Trigirl & Anwar (2)
grossie (2)
jcubed (1)
EIT (1)
WIML (2)
AllRed (2)
steve8 (2)
Scubarex (2)
R2D2 (2)
Baird (1)
basecadet (1)
Phil Smith (2)
BHVineyard (2)
thelostverse (2)
haggis (2)
Mark Horvatich (2)
Blue Oval (2)

We're up to 42. Eight slots left.

JC and Orlando, you and your spouses are absolutely most welcome to join us if your calendars free up. If not, we'll certainly raise a glass or three in your honor.

Cheers,

Otis

Thanks Otis, most kind of you. If not this year, maybe next time.

Otis,

I'd love to help diminish your cellar in any way that I can.

Thanks for including me Otis. I'll bring your two bottles with me. And I'll be delivering some to Frankie and VM. VM, remind as we get closer so I don't forget your Flacc from the football league. Looking forward to seeing all I've met and many new faces.

Otis, Good Sir, Mrs.D and I would honor da inclusion of invitation to your fine Diminishment festivities, but according to da the State of Illinois, I'm not allowed to be within 100 yards of Francis S....I mean S Francis.

Childish, so very childish.

Nevermind my last post. I was making fun of myself. Hey Otis, Mrs.S and I would by happy to take 2 of the spots at your party. Thanks.

Francis

Childish, so very childish.

Nevermind my last post. I was making fun of myself.

Speaking of childish...we have a great children's menu at my rest-e-rant

wow. that was pretty retarded.

A year ago they said da same ting 'bout DA BULLS...and look at 'em now

quote:

Originally posted by otisabdul:

JC and Orlando, you and your spouses are absolutely most welcome to join us if your calendars free up. If not, we'll certainly raise a glass or three in your honor.

Cheers,

Otis

Otis, thanks, but it will be really difficult to go this time.
So raise a good wine glass, and will meet in a future event. We will be in NY for the Wine Experience in case you are going.
Orlando

Been out of touch the last three days...

Otis, can you put me down for one right now? Thanks.

Hi Otis,
If you still have room, count me in as a single.
rhb

Orlando,
I signed up for the NYC event as well. Maybe we can all sit together again.
rhb

My wife and I would love to take 2 of the remaining spots. Looking forward to meeting more of you.

Mr. and Mrs. Thevolcanogod

Otis,

Just got done with the Vegas Grand Tour last night. I'll post notes and highlights on Tuesday for you since I know you are going to the Chicago GT that night.

In any event, I was talking to Enoselsa and he expessed an interest in coming. I'm not sure when he is getting back to Charlotte to respond; but, put him down for 2 for now.

VM

Sorry to have been so (uncharacteristically!) silent for the past three week (the kids are wrestling me for the mouse as I type....) but the bmans are definitely confirming for two! Thanks so much for counting us in.

We haven't made hotel reservations yet. We'll be making a five day holiday out of it, and are undecided whether to try to stay near Otis, or near tourist sites, or whatever. Wherever we stay, we'll probably want to be within walking distance of a METRA station (or some other form of rapid transit) and if possible a mall. Or we may just stay at an airport hotel, presumably rapid transit is easily reached from there? And it needs to be a Marriott (we'll be using points), preferably a Springhill Suites or Residence Inn.

I don't ask for much do I?

bman,

If you're staying downtown, it's a short (read: 5-8 minute) bus ride from E. Wacker and Michigan to the Northwestern Metra station that would take you out to Glen Ellyn. Metra fare is $3.25 per person.

Thanks fut. We probably wouldn't stay downtown because we need to stay at a level 3 or lower.

There's a Springhill Suites in Elmhurst and another in Warrenville that are near enough to a METRA station that they offer a free shuttle service.

Haven't checked out the Residence Inns yet.

Make sure you're going to be close to a Metra station on the same line you'll need to get to Glen Ellyn. Otherwise you'll have to head downtown, transfer, and then head outbound to Glen Ellyn.

Fut/Bman- Otis lives in Northbrook, it's North of the city, not West (as is Glen Ellyn). Make sure you're on the correct line for that, just contact Otis, I'm sure he can give you the metra info for his house.

Also, as I stated above, I'll try to arrange some sort of transfer from the city for our group. We'll wait and see how many there are in our party to figure it out.

Keep Tyee and me in mind for the limo/bus, grossie. I think we're just down the street from you-- N. Broadway, walking distance of Wrigley Field.

That IS in Chicago, isn't it?

Thanks for the advice - Otis - which line should I try to be near? Or would a cab from a hotel at O'Hare work?

SeaQ - glad to see that your spelling has improved....

Seaq- where you guys staying? As the time gets closer we'll talk vehicles.
That is definitely Chicago. Not like all those other pretenders out there. YOUSE KNOW WHO YOUSE ARE!

Bman- I don't know that much about suburban cabs except that they are expensive, and the charges tend to multiply as you cross suburbs. There are definitely public transport opportunities if you stay in a hotel that is along the correct train line. Shoot Otis an email to find out more about transport options.

If one is planning to be in Northbrook, Glen Ellyn, downtown Chicago, shopping malls, and O'Hare over five days, it will cost a fortune for a family to use public transportation, not to mention being incredibly inconvenient. Glen Ellyn, Northbrook, and downtown Chicago form roughly an equilateral triangle, with each being about 25 miles apart.

Give serious thought to renting a car! An added benefit is that you could pick a hotel anywhere you want as opposed to being near a Metra station. An O'Hare location would be roughly in the center of the above triangle, and something in the Oak Brook area would be near all sorts of shopping opportunities.

Mark

Forgot to mention, the Metra lines serving Northbrook and Glen Ellyn use different stations in downtown Chicago, one originates at Ogilvie and the other at Union Station. I don't know how the city handles transportation between the two stations...

Mark