You only need a frock if you wish to wear one. :) 1492 and Flat Top you'll be fine in jeans or khakis, Palm I'd wear khakis (or something similar). After your last dining experience with us (at least the dessert part), you should've figured out we tend to be a bit casual around here ;) :p

I have arrived .... at last - after taking off from Heathrow a few minutes early - only to be landing there again and hour later with mechanical failure.

Anyway finally took off again and arrived in ORD allbeit 3 hours later than originally planned, but at least in one piece !

Glad you made it in & safely!

So which dining option have you decided on? :)

either of the three - think two are easy walking distance from me but Flat Top I need a lift :) or cab ???? also which Flat Top.
But if not either the Palm or 1492 would be great.

I will leave it to your expert opinion ... and also where we can get a reservation which may have some bearing on it !!

If we did Flat Top, it would most likely be the one at 1000 W. Washington (they're getting to know us there, yet still allow us in despite bringing our own whipped cream one time ;) ). If you're not familiar with transfers between the red & green lines (subway/el), I'd recommend a cab.

If that narrows it down to the other two, it depends on what everyone is hungry for -- either tapas or steak. Input, anyone????

Reservations should be pretty easy to get for Thursday night, I'll make them once everyone decides where we'd like to go & what time. (I like all three places)

Personal preference: Tapas over steak by a nose, both over Flat Top since that is more of a "lunchy" place to me.

But I really don't care that much if others have other preferences.

So who's all coming to this little dinner? Our guest of honor, our queen ms. cawhite60156, yours truly, FightingIlliniUAL, a few maybes, who else??

And we haven't heard from our prince, although being a Thursday night he's probably going to en route to greener pastures yet again.

Last I heard from princessiluv2fly, he was 50/50 on making it to dinner that night....hopefully he'll update soon!

also poss Grasshopper and Jace (think the latter needs pm'ing?) and oontiveros ??? posted on first page.

Anyway, happy to go for 1492 or the Palm

So a tentative list for dinner on Jan 6...

holmedown
cawhite60156
ElmhurstNick
FightingIlliniUAL
Grasshopper
Indo79
Jace
oontiveros


Waiting to hear from iluv2fly

I'm not going to be able to make... have a bad case of the flu :( might have to cancel a run to ams this weekend :td:

hope you all have a good time!

Jace, so sorry to hear you've got the flu -- I hope you're feeling better soon!

I have it on good word that Marty's vote is for Palm... ;)



Anyone else with a preference?

voting for Tapas here since my 2 trips to the Palm have been negative experiences, overcooked burnt steak and flies in drink :D

althought I fancy the steak, the tapas would be fun and different, so will go for 1492 out of choice..... but I won't sulk if I dont get my way !!!

Sorry Marty...I think it's going to be 1492. (However, I'm sure we can put together a Sunday evening Palm dinner in late January!)


Anyone have a preference on time?

I'd prefer something after 6:30pm as I'm strolling in off the Amtrak from Bloomington/Normal at 10am and kind of need to work a full day.

doh!
 

Won't be able to make it :( but do let me know when you guys are getting together again!!

after 6.30 is good for me too - anytime - will take me 5 minutes at the most to walk it.

Can we say 6:30, or do we need to make it 7:00?

A PM went out to everyone on my list a couple posts up...still waiting to hear from a few

Just keep checking this forum... We get together typically every 3 or 4 weeks, and sometimes with only a couple days' notice. Sorry we'll miss you!

We could say 6.45 .... just to be different !

6:30 or 6:45pm works... See you there!!!

Thursday, Jan 6, 6:45 @ 1492
 

List as it stands now... Reservations at 6:45 under my name. If you have any questions on location, let me know. Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow night -- I'll probably be there early perched at the bar with a sangria. :)


holmedown
cawhite60156
ElmhurstNick
FightingIlliniUAL
?iluv2fly?
Indo79

You've sworn off the Horney Monkeys? ;)

... with me perched next to you .... how early is early ???? as in 4pm ??? LOL .... just to sample the sangria you understand !

Is someone talking about me?

Never!!!! But it doesn't seem right to have Horney Monkeys without you sitting at the table as well. We'll have to have lunch when you get back!

I wish at 4 pm! It all depends on how early I can get out of the office & I have a couple errands to run while I'm in the 'hood, but I'd say it's more likely to be 5:30-6:00 (sadly...) I'll call your mobile when I'm ready to head over?

Did you see any mention of whipped cream??? :D :p

So, are you going to show up tomorrow evening and sit between holmedown and me, or not?

What's the address?

42 E. Superior (Superior & Wabash), about 2 blocks west of the Pen...on the north side of the street (across from Jake Melnick's)

Anyone desperately needing a couple Sangria's right now? :(

Desperately needing sangrias right now? Definitely. Able to get out of the office and make it there before 5:45-6:00? Sadly not... :(

See you about 5:45-6:00? (Good news is that I'm not having to drive home tonight :) )

Does that mean that we get to keep you out late tonight??

Sangria awaits!
 

I get to stay out and play later since I don't have the hour-plus drive home tonight. But I do still have an oh-dark-forty-five flight in the morning.

Ladies/Gentlemen

will be late tonight, probably have to eat dinner in office, have to finish up a project before I leave for SIN/CGK this weekend. But will stop by for sangria later on in the night, since cawhite60156 can stay out late :)

With any luck we'll still be grazing when you get there! Check your PM!

Perfect, the bars close at 4am, swing by Jim's for a polish sausage and a bone-in pork chop, jump on the Kennedy, and you're going through security at Terminal 1 by 5:15. :D

Unfortunately, I'll have to leave you two ladies to your own devices after about 11, as I have a teleconference from 9am-noon where I should be marginally coherent (since I'm running it).

I think that's an EXCELLENT idea! I would so join but I have to clear up my desk tomorrow for my trip. Why not we plan a bar hopping trip one of these days :)