As this is a really tough time of the year to coordinate anything... I think we need TWO events!!

Being purely selfish, I'd like both events to be before the 5th so that I can attend both!
How about
:
1. Near North on the 20th, and
2. An O'Hare-area dinner (maybe something around Edison Park so that city folks can take the Blue Line back en masse) on the 3rd or 4th?