I booked my flight today. I'll be arriving the morning of the 8th (Tuesday), leaving midday on Sunday the 13th.

Lots of days to fill for offlines for those interested!

futronic

what hotel/price a night did you get?

Haven't booked a hotel yet. Gonna talk to DoktaP, since he has some contacts there. Might be able to get a good rate. Will let you know as soon as I find out.

fut:

you'll want to stay downtown for sure, less money on hotels mean more money for wines . make sure you throw out some wines you can't get up in government controlled land so we can round out your tasting log, altho reading your notes from italia trips, you may be bringing stuff we don't see

quote:

---

Originally posted by Frankie:
you'll want to stay downtown for sure, less money on hotels mean more money for wines .

---

I agree with that! BTW, check your PMs on VC. Have a favour to ask of you!

I'll know by 1000pm tonight if I'm in or not.
I've temporarily booked my ticket.

That weekend is also the big Spring Tasting event DiCarlos puts on in Oakbrook. It's going to be Sunday the 13th and in the past usually starts around noon. They usually have around 800 different wines poured and this year will have food samples from local restaurants. In the past it was free to wine club members - this year they are charging $20 a head for everyone I think.

Usually there are a few decent things to try on the list along with a whole bunch of junk. Inniskilin usually has a table and you can sample all of the various styles of icewine.

I am able to attend the offline(s) in the Windy City and have booked my airfare. Arriving 7:00pm Friday March 11th and departing on the same flight as futronic on the Sunday in the late morning. I'm looking forward to meeting as many of the CWM that can make it out.

Anyone hotwire a hotel yet? I can get the W for $69/night, wondering if hotwire can do better.

That sounds like a pretty good rate, amedemonet. Where's the hotel located?

644 North Lake Shore or 172 West Adams St, same rate for both. North Lake Shore faces the lake. West Adams is closer to the mile.

the W on adams street is actually downtown in the loop. very close to the CBOT, center of finance, etc. you're actually closer to the magnificent mile (michigan avenue) up on the 644 N. Lake shore.

cool, I'll see if I can book the one on N. Lake Shore.

So what's the best pizza place in chicago? Had Lou Malnati's on dry ice delivered before, don't think it was as good as the fresh, didn't crave for it again.

what's up with the catch 22 questions? just kidding. asking for the best pizza place in chicago is like asking for agreement between tom delay and teddy kennedy. ain't gonna happen.

i've enjoyed stuffed from connies, uno (the original unos of course), giordanos, my favourite is stuffed spinach from connies. thin crust, well my favourite is the quattro formaggi from home run inn. some swear by the alfredo sauce on the top by pat's up by belmont and sheffield. you name the type of pizza you like best, we can direct you there.

if you're lucky, you can stumble out of a bar at 2A and hit weiner circle for some fine dogs and cheddar fries, just the thing to soak up a hard nite of partying and get you thru to the 5A bar close.

if there are no catch 22 questions, conversation/debates/arguments will be much less interesting

I like the spinach deep dish from Zach's in Berkeley, and the seafood scampi from Uno's that I only see on the menu in SF (but the grease in that thing will clog a few arteries and I haven't had it in years). Definitely do not favor ny style thin crust, what's up with the premade cheese only stuff??!! Alfredo sauce on a pizza? Sounds like a prereq for a night of drinking.

Midway or O'Hare - which one is better to fly into? Less congestion/delays..

This message has been edited. Last edited by: lady cabernet,

i always fly ual, so be default i get ord. coming from CA, i'd go ord, you can go direct, i don't know of any carrier that goes direct from CA to midway. if there's adverse weather, both will be delayed. both have public trans into the city so you can avoid a taxi fare charge if you please. i'd especially recommend that if adverse weather or rush periods (6A-9A and 3P-7P), esp. from ord. midway has less congestion, and swa may have cheaper fares, but you'll connect somewhere along the line.

Due to the amount to luggage I'll be carrying, I think I'll try for an airport shuttle of some sort.

confirmed for thurs thru sun. Got the W (north shore) at $69/night. I'll fly into midway since it has less congestion, thanks for the info Frankie.

switched sn, finally going with a wine theme.

fut:

i did a search for specific hotels that provide shuttles, for downtown i was not very successful. of course the hotels around ord provide shuttles, which does little good. perhaps you'll have to call some hotels directly, their websites provided precious little info on that service.

good price on the w lady c.

Thanks Frankie. I'll have to find out from Dok where we're staying and then I'll sort out getting to the hotel, downtown, to Sam's/Binny's, etc.

Any word on restos? How many offlines to people want to have?

Doesn't supershuttle service chicago? door to door with no more than 3 passengers for approx. $15.

I'll check it out, LC!

Just checked, super shuttle doesn't service Chicago. But they have Airport Express, airportexpress.com - approx. $20.

if it's 20/person and you're all arriving together (3 i mean), it'll be cheaper to get a taxi. should be about $40.

I'll be arriving on Tuesday afternoon. LC - I thought you were flying in Thursday?