Friday night last year was great for socialization, seeing old friends and meeting new ones.

Everyone will be trickling in the city at various times. So, it'll likely be impossible for everyone to meet up on time. But, I'd like to organize a group to go out for dinner.

Let's try to meet in the hotel lobby at 7 p.m. to go out for food.

I look to you Chicagoans to help us find a good spot. Let's get something local. Really, really good pizza's usually a big hit, but it's your town. We're close enough to the El. Plus, several of us will have cars to drive somewhere.

SO! Julie? Ron? Keith? Dave? What's a good eating spot? Something with options for those veggie guys and gals? Something that can take lots of us?

I don't want to sit near Luke. He always tries to take food off my plate.

"That's my food," I say.

He shrugs and says, "Stand and drool, loser."

Not very nice.

I forgot to add: I have the whole day off on Friday, so if anyone's going to be there early, let me know. I'm less than 90 minutes from Chi-town.

7pm sounds good!  I'll see if I can make it there by then :)

Peace,

-Troy

Matt wrote:
I don't want to sit near Luke. He always tries to take food off my plate.

"That's my food," I say.

He shrugs and says, "Stand and drool, loser."

Not very nice.

Eric and I hit the runway around 5:30, so 7 is awesome for us.

James

Hi there,

I'll be leaving from my place just after 5, so given the awful rush hour traffic, I don't plan to make it much before 7. But I should be there by then, or just after.

As for where we go ... well, I gather that people are talking about riding into town on the train. H'm. Partly it depends on how long a jaunt you want. I can think of a number of good food solutions and will report back tomorrow.

Best, Ron

Yeah, to clarify everyone -- 7 p.m. is the time to start congregating in the lobby. It's not the departure time.

I'll hit Chicago right at rush hour, too, likely, so I'll be lucky to get settled in by 7.

Let's try to give everyone about a half hour or so before we take off to eat.

Erg. Rosemont is so not my stomping ground.  There are supposedly pizza places around, but nothing that I am familiar with.  There is an Italian place a couple miles away, Cafe Il Cortile; I've not been there and I have no idea how well they will deal with a large group.  I can call if there is interest.  There's this Polish buffet place, Red Apple, that I've only just uncovered (also not been there) and doesn't seem too far away.  There are a variety of chains and "fine dining" as described here.

I would love to take folks out to one of the Wishbone locations, but none of them are easy to get to on public transit from Rosemont (at least one transfer), and I'm not sure about the large group thing.  Maybe the new Berwyn location?

There's also the Greek Islands which is usually good for large groups.  Or one of the other Greektown standbys, like The Parthenon or Pegasus.  It will take at least 45 minutes or so to get there on the blue line, meaning we won't be eating until well after 8:00.

What are people's tolerances for wait times and travel?  We're talking about a Friday night in Chicago; a night when a lot of folks eat out.  Is there any sense of how many people will want to venture away from the hotel for Friday night dinner?  Trying to figure out what to do for a dozen diners is very different from trying to work with 20 or more.

Is there anyone closer to Rosemont that can make suggestions?

Julie

p.s. Tod and I are car-less.  It will be a close call for us to make it to Rosemont by 7 pm after work on Friday.

My plane lands at O'Hare at 3:23. The shuttle to the Doubletree apparently runs every 15 minutes. So I'm expecting to be at the hotel by 4:30 or so. And I have a 9:00 appointment with Clyde to be interviewed for his podcast. So, is anyone interested in an earlier dinner? 5:30 maybe?

Paul

I don't know Rosement well either. Greektown's a good suggestion, but as Julie says, a bit far if you're taking the train.

Piece Pizza, in Wicker Park, is about 30 minutes from Rosemont via blue line. Good pizza, very good microbrew, big tables, right off the Damen stop on the blue line, takes reservations. This would be a good public transit choice. But for drivers, parking in Wicker Park is tough. Cool neighborhood though.

http://www.piecechicago.com/
1927 W. North Ave., Chicago, Il 60622

-Chris

I'm driving in from Minneapolis, and am planning to be there 4-4:30. I'm potentially interested in either dining time, and am willing to offer my vehicle for purposes of dining transport.

Aaron

Matt wrote:
I'll hit Chicago right at rush hour, too, likely, so I'll be lucky to get settled in by 7.

Ron's away from the Forge and asked me to post this.  See also Chris' (Mister Six) post above.  Since Matt had suggested that the likely departure time from the hotel would be 7:30, I'd suggest amending Ron's expected arrival time to 8 pm.  --jrs 

I've identified the perfect place for tomorrow night:

Piece
1927 West North Avenue

Blue line instructions: Damen El stop, walk north on Damen, then turn east on North.  ("North" is the name of a street that runs east-west.)

If we gather in the hotel lobby at 7:00, I predict we'll be at the restaurant by 7:45, so that should be the meeting time for others who come by other ways.

The meal cost is $8-15, they serve their own sort of pizza (not Chicago style, so not as slow), and they brew six or seven kinds of beer on the premises.

I'll handle reservations too.

Best, Ron

Ron (and Julie!) -- that sounds perfect.

Thanks!

Terry and I will be at the hotel around 12:30pm on Friday. I believe the rest of the nyc crowd is on the same flight as us. We are 100% down for dinner. And hanging way early if people are around. Looking forward to meeting all of you!

Hello, this is my first post but I'm a long-time Forge lurker and indie RPG fan.  I live in Chicago (in fact I work about 20 minutes away from the hotel location)  I'd like to join in on the fun this weekend and meet y'all!  I already emailed Matt about attendance.  So, I'm planning to be at the hotel lobby by 7pm.  See you then!