Chicago - Nato Summit May 19-21

A reminder to anyone who will be visiting Chicago the 3rd weekend of May, downtown is likely to be difficult to get around.

Road closings, extra security, protesters, all kinds of fun:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-nato-transportation-impact-0506-20120506,0,1781985.story

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/sns-ap-il--natosummit-securityplan,0,3882106.story

Thinking I might head to Wisconsin that weekend.

I wonder if tickets to Sox-Cubs will be easier to get because of the Summit. :eek:

I wonder if tickets to Sox-Cubs will be easier to get because of the Summit. :eek:

The games are at Wrigley, so well clear (hopefully) of all the excitement. Can you imagine if they were at the Cell? Ugh.

The games are at Wrigley, so well clear (hopefully) of all the excitement. Can you imagine if they were at the Cell? Ugh.

Indeed, but the Summit might make it more difficult for the Sox fans to travel up North. ;)

Indeed, but the Summit might make it more difficult for the Sox fans to travel up North. ;)

You say that like it is a bad thing. :cool:

You say that like it is a bad thing. :cool:

^

You say that like it is a bad thing. :cool:

Au contraire, I am quite happy to take their seats. :)

Au contraire, I am quite happy to take their seats. :)

How much are you willing to pay for two on Sunday? ;)

How much are you willing to pay for two on Sunday? ;)

15% below StubHub price. :)

15% below StubHub price. :)

This would be very doable - you would be saving the seller the StubHub fee.

This would be very doable - you would be saving the seller the StubHub fee.

Well, if the Stub Hub price is $125 for a $75 ticket, I'm not sure who is saving anything. ;)

Thinking I might head to Wisconsin that weekend.

Milwaukee Red Cross Told To Prep For Chicago Evacuation During NATO Summit (http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/04/25/milwaukee-red-cross-told-to-prep-for-chicago-evacuation-during-nato-summit/)


Worst case we all may be heading to Wisconsin...

Well, if the Stub Hub price is $125 for a $75 ticket, I'm not sure who is saving anything. ;)

When there are tickets available at cubs.com StubHub prices are typically at or below face value. Amazingly, the series is not sold out.

When there are tickets available at cubs.com StubHub prices are typically at or below face value. Amazingly, the series is not sold out.

Often they are below face value even when they are sold out. I didn't realize the Sox series wasn't sold out, however.

Can you imagine if they were at the Cell? Ugh.the cell? UGH is right, I can't bring myself to call the cell anything other than Comiskey, just as willis tower is still Sears Tower. I've accepted Macy's but just can't do the other two.

I've accepted Macy's

:rolleyes:

Me, I won't even call it Ogilvie Transportation Center - it's still Northwestern Station as far as I'm concerned.

:rolleyes:

Me, I won't even call it Ogilvie Transportation Center - it's still Northwestern Station as far as I'm concerned.

90/94 instead of "The Dan Ryan." I hate it when we name things for politicians.

:rolleyes:

Me, I won't even call it Ogilvie Transportation Center - it's still Northwestern Station as far as I'm concerned.

<pedant>North Western Station</pedant> ;)

Chicago the Capital of Illinois: NATO (http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Chicago-the-Capital-of-Illinois-NATO-150016195.html)
On the 20th and 21st of May Chicago is going to be at the center of attention. More than 60 heads of state and government will meet to discuss crucial matters of security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area... And so, the leaders of the member nations of the organization created by the 1949 Washington Treaty will meet in the capital of Illinois this time.

<snip>

There was a good reason for this choice. The decision was made by the American president, Barack Obama, who wanted this event to take place in the city he grew up in.

Chicago the Capital of Illinois: NATO (http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Chicago-the-Capital-of-Illinois-NATO-150016195.html)

LOL! That's some brilliant work by NATO.

"There was a good reason for this choice. The decision was made by the American president, Barack Obama, who wanted this event to take place in the city he grew up in."

?????

Obama was born in 1961 and moved here in 1985. People who are already adults don't start "growing up" somewhere new if they move there.

"There was a good reason for this choice. The decision was made by the American president, Barack Obama, who wanted this event to take place in the city he grew up in."

?????

Obama was born in 1961 and moved here in 1985. People who are already adults don't start "growing up" somewhere new if they move there.

it you click the link and read the article, that statement was in a video NATO put out. NBC5 story is pointing out the blatantly obvious factual errors in it.

I've accepted Macy's but just can't do the other two.

I've come to embrace the term Macy's, but only because I don't want to link the abomination that store has become with Marshall Field's in any way.

I've come to embrace the term Macy's, but only because I don't want to link the abomination that store has become with Marshall Field's in any way.

I have a friend who pronounces the name of the State Street Store as "Macky's." All the others are Macy's. I don't know what he thinks he achieves, but he insists. :D

Let's try to stick to the topic of this thread, my dear friends.

iluv2fly
Moderator, Chicago

If you're a plane spotter, Sunday will be the best viewing day to see all the different VIP aircraft parked at ORD. My list has about 60 so far and none will be parked at T5 as to interfere with scheduled operations.

Logistically everyone is praying for clear skies as to get them in, offloaded and the a/c moved in a timely manner.

Monday is the finally briefing before the ClusterF... begins on Friday with our first arrival in the late afternoon.

If you're a plane spotter, Sunday will be the best viewing day to see all the different VIP aircraft parked at ORD. My list has about 60 so far and none will be parked at T5 as to interfere with scheduled operations.

Logistically everyone is praying for clear skies as to get them in, offloaded and the a/c moved in a timely manner.

Monday is the finally briefing before the ClusterF... begins on Friday with our first arrival in the late afternoon.

Will they be over by Signature Flight?

If you're a plane spotter, Sunday will be the best viewing day to see all the different VIP aircraft parked at ORD. My list has about 60 so far and none will be parked at T5 as to interfere with scheduled operations.

Logistically everyone is praying for clear skies as to get them in, offloaded and the a/c moved in a timely manner.

Monday is the finally briefing before the ClusterF... begins on Friday with our first arrival in the late afternoon.

They run them through the FBO? A bunch of them will be coming domestically anyway from the G8 so they wouldn't need to clear immigration anyway.

Metra has announced their restrictions:


http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Metra-Security-Plan-NATO-Summit-151099425.html

snip:
Officials said riders traveling from May 19-21 will be allowed to carry only one bag not larger than 15-by-15 inches and four inches deep. No boxes, luggage, backpacks, bikes, food or liquid will be allowed. There also will be a ban on coffee.

Riders also cannot carry any tools, pipes, stakes, wood, weapons, pocket knives and pepper spray on the trains. Banned items cannot be stored at the stations and must be removed or thrown out, Metra said.

Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Metra-Security-Plan-NATO-Summit-151099425.html#ixzz1uap8N53M


Stakes?? Do enough Metra pax regularly carry stakes to warrant a mention by name? Random vampire attacks? I'd also think that lack of coffee could result in a riot rather than the prevention of one!

Will they be over by Signature Flight?

Without giving the store away, almost all VIP, VVIP and support staff flights will have already been precleared. Flights are scheduled a "Slot" time to arrive, offload and then the move the aircraft using a "follow me" vehicle to an assign parking spot.

If you take a look at a runway map of ORD, 32R/14L, 27R and mega hold pad (AF1 will park there) up north are the designated parking areas.

Yes, the FBO area will be used as it gives the easiest access to 190 and the Kennedy.

Normally when AF1 arrives, arrivals and departures stop for a short amount of time. This will happen for him, but it sounds like when any other HoS arrives, it will be business as usual for flight ops.

Without giving the store away, almost all VIP, VVIP and support staff flights will have already been precleared. Flights are scheduled a "Slot" time to arrive, offload and then the move the aircraft using a "follow me" vehicle to an assign parking spot.

If you take a look at a runway map of ORD, 32R/14L, 27R and mega hold pad (AF1 will park there) up north are the designated parking areas.

Yes, the FBO area will be used as it gives the easiest access to 190 and the Kennedy.

Normally when AF1 arrives, arrivals and departures stop for a short amount of time. This will happen for him, but it sounds like when any other HoS arrives, it will be business as usual for flight ops.

Thanks.

I understand there are security issues about many of the details.

But, I've seen VIP aircraft parked in that area before. And there are decent places for spotting. picture taking, etc nearby.

]But, I've seen VIP aircraft parked in that area before. And there are decent places for spotting. picture taking, etc nearby.

I wouldn't count on it. They had Higgins closed this afternoon (for how long, I don't know, I just know I was trying to get home and they closed it with no warning).

I wouldn't count on it. They had Higgins closed this afternoon (for how long, I don't know, I just know I was trying to get home and they closed it with no warning).

Oh well. Maybe you can get in off Bessie Coleman Drive (if it is open)

I found out today that there is a special UA1895 tomorrow from BRU to ORD on a 744. Seems they are taking as many staffers and others in at one time as they can. Maybe some of the lesser VIPs as well.