Can you bring it? As far as I'm concerned you can. I can dig on some Dave Mustang ripping some riffs.

Joe

Otis,

I'm willing to help you diminish your cellar in any way that I can.

Scott

Btw, I have a new e-mail address:
Mcdonaldscott23@aol.com

We're all booked and confirmed.

West Coast people might want to check out www.ata.com They have non-stops into Midway @ $300 round trip. I also booked the hotel through them. We'll be at the Doubletree downtown. Post New Years Eve the rate was $100 per night.

TJ if you come, make it for January 2nd also, we'll be hitting the Sharks vs Hawks game that night. We're totally excited!

Otis you rock.

--------

tlily and 'Dean pyang Martin' Tour America.

We have both airline and Marriott points, and I'm trying to convince my wife that this would be a great way to use some (which is not easy, to put it mildly....) Never been to Chicago, and there are non-stops from here. A check of the Marriott site shows a Courtyard in Deerfield, which seems to be nearest to you.

I could bring an outstanding Ontario dry red...

snow sucks.......

B-man.....rumor has it the Chi-town group is the most welcoming collection of winos in the states!
As for me, it would be so fantastic to see you and Mrs B!!

*********************************
"It was a time of such splendor--charming people, good food, laughter, and brave ideas."
Maya Angelou

As I told you before PE, my major regret of June 15 in NYC (there were a few, actually) was not finding the time to chat with you and your squeeze. You're a consistent voice of reason around here.

If I was allowed to attend, I might even bring my precious Masked Marauders album.....

snow sucks.......

Bman-

I don't mean to invite you to Otis' house (or maybe I do), but I'm sure it won't be a problem.

As far as staying in Deerfield- it's nice and all out there, but it's not really Chicago. On a good day the drive is 45 minutes, and there aren't too many good days for driving in Chicago. If you want to actually see the city then stay somewhere in Chicago proper (preferably off Michigan Ave). We're already planning on having a limo for the Tlilys and the Grossies for Otis' bash. If there are more people we'll just get a bigger limo.

For all interested, try www.hotrooms.com for Chicago hotels. I've had a lot of success in the past getting rooms for visitors at good hotels at good prices.

Thanks for the compliment PE. I will place myself in that group and humbly accept this compliment.

********
Out, out damn goat.

bman: By all means, please join us! Growing up in Buffalo, I have a fond place in my heart for the Great White North. It is only fitting that Canada be represented at this off-line.

Deerfield is very close to Northbrook (5-10 minutes). As grossie says, it is, however, a suburb. Like Mississauga is to Toronto. Most of the cultural action is downtown. On the other hand, there are trains that run from Northbrook to the city.

Hope you can make it!

Cheers,

Otis

Bman,

And you won't even be the only Canadians at this party. Grossie and his wife are transplanted from the Great White North. I'm sure they could act as translators for you, eh.

VM

Otis- I was going to use Hamilton to Toronto as a better example but I thought you might get insulted at the comparison of Northbrook to Hamilton.

Bman- it's true what Vino Me says. Maybe when you're here we can compare stories about our Southerly neighbours and how they misspell words like neighbour and colour. Also, if you use geography to refer to places (as above) then they get lost pretty easily. This is called speaking Canadian and it completely baffles most Americans. Of course the bunch of hosers in this group are pretty nice guys, even if they're not the sharpest skates on the rink. (Another trick is to use hockey analogies, they'll never understand them).

********
Out, out damn goat.

You guys are very welcoming, thanks. And who knew you were Canadian, Grossie? If you were using your "u"s appropriately, I apologize for not noticing. Or were you cleverly concealing your Canadian-ness?

The reason I would look at the Courtyard in Deerfield is that we want to stretch our little collection of Marriott points as far as possible, and it is a category 2 and has a pool, while the ones downtown are all category 3 or more. We had decided that we would not travel any more until our summer European holiday was paid off, never mind home improvement debts, but if we could fly and stay using points, then the cost would be minimal. And if there is a train from Deerfield to downtown, that sounds like a plan too.

And the point is to meet the Chicago gang, and others, more than to see Chi-town, though of course we'd find a way to do that too.

Any other suggestions of Marriotts/Fairfields/etc.?

snow sucks.......

Hey bman,

I would have thought it would be pretty tough to use your points (airline or hotel) over the Christmas and New Year's period. Will Air Canada let you use them or will it be blacked out then?

Just curious.

I don't know, that's a good question, but I think it would be OK. I also have a few points with Oneworld carriers and some Avion points (thanks to my Visa card) as well. The latter says it has no blackouts, though it takes more points than the others.

snow sucks.......

nancy:

i was thinking more classical type musica like ministry, nitzer ebb and sisters of mercy, with some late 80's industrial like front242 for warmup. but then again, if TJ shows up, we'll be listening to the title track of Star Trek and recording our TN's with star dates!!!

If Air Canada doesn't have a blackout period over New Years, this might be an option ...

Sooooo tempting ...

If you fellow Canucks get yourselves down here then I will pull some strings for extra hockey tickets for Friday night. I know some people who could get that done.

I would expect you may be in a blackout period, but each airline is a little different.

********
Out, out damn goat.

Someone HAS to come from that state up North After all hockey is behind this entire trip and it is the National religion and all.

I had an idea. Since Forumites are prone to bringing more wine than normal humans can consume, and Otis is out to deminish his cellar, how about another get together?

I was thinking Friday Jan 2nd before the game. Get together at Bin 36 downtown at say 3-4, and share bottles until we take off in the limo for the Hawks and Sharks? If anyone is up for it I'll start another thread.

---------------
paul@hockeyguy.com

tlily,

Sounds like a plan to me! I'm in.

-O

Even closer to the United Center is "The Tasting Room", which is attached to Randolph Wine Cellars. This is a quality establishment with good prices and knowledgeable staff. The Tasting room is a cozy cool place with sofas in little seathing areas. It's also within walking distance of the United Center (although the West Coasters may not be able to handle the cold, it's a decent walk).

I'm not sure about corkage there, that's the biggest drawback.

********
Out, out damn goat.

I was under the impression that the Tasting Room did not charge corkage ...

VM, my wife and I had dinner a few weeks back at an Italian restraurant, La Luce, a block north of Randolph. It wasn't amazing food or anything, but the manager gave me her card and said to call her if we ever wanted to BYOB again. That led me to presume that they would wave the corkage. One-Sixty-Blue is also a half block from Randolph.

we're easy ,either way sounds good. We wanted to be in the lobby at the Drake around 3 PM when the Sharks are getting on the bus. Maybe meet at the Drake at 3:30 for people taking the limo and head to the cellar for a 4PM start?

---------------
paul@hockeyguy.com

Well, it looks like bman will have to be the Canadian representative on this trip. I'm just not able to pull this one off.

I'm sure everyone will have an amazing time though!

If neither of you guys can make it I'll have to wear my Canadiens shirt to the party and get my mullett back to represent the mother country.

********
Out, out damn goat.

Is Tlily a stalker?

I just read this thread for the first time, and it sure promises to be a "memorable" event (for better or worse)! I'm due for a trip to Chicago and some R&R....

Otis...is