New Year in Chicago
 

Heading back again - arriving 12/30 leaving very early morning 1/9 - so who is about for the delights of lunch / dinner some time during the week again - downtown preferred .... unless you fancy driving !

You mean we didn't scare the hell out of you the first time around??? :eek: :D Maybe you should sit next to iluv2fly this time.

The 30th through the 2nd is shot for me with family events. I won't know until the 17th if I'm going to be on the road the week of the 3rd, it's about a 50-50 chance that I'll be gone. I know I'm busy during the day on the 8th but free after about 5pm, but I doubt anybody else is around on the 8th.

What kind of cuisine do you fancy? We can be more creative at dinner although we may have fewer participants. And many of us can drive if there is a particular type of food that you wish to consume that requires a drive to another part of the city or God forbid the suburbs.

p.s. Thank you again for the offer regarding the Harrods ornaments; a FT tag team managed to get them home for me from London this weekend.

Sounds fantastic!!!!!! Will look forward to seeing you again! Keep us updated on your plans and what dates/times are best for you!

My plans are sketchy for New Years, and I'll be possibly flying out on 7 January, but should be good most of the rest of the time!

I may be in town...keep me up to date on the plans!

It takes more than that !!

Sorry couldn't make London - just getting over a bronchitis, which hasn't been fun.

I will leave it up to you guys to think of a day / place as my plans are probably more flexible than yours

holmedown, hope you're feeling better & I was disappointed you didn't make it to dinner last Saturday!

Historically the first week of Jan is always quiet at work, so I can make it out for lunch easily. Can anyone do lunch Jan 4-5-6 (Tues-Wed-Thurs) that week? Looks like I"ll be flying out sometime that Friday (afternoon or evening).

Unfortunately, I'll be in Hawaii the entire time. (I know, you're sorry for me!) :D

Just beside ourselves in grief... :)

Where is everybody else?? Gee, do we have to start sending out PMs?? :)

I'll be in Sydney. My heartfelt apologies.

Friendly bump.

I just found out that the trip that I was supposed to have that week has been replaced by another freaking WebEx meeting. :( :mad: How the **** am I supposed to retain my status if people insist on using this conferencing stuff??? :confused:

Anyway, that means that with the exception of dinner on the 4th and lunch on the 7th, it appears that I will be available.

Do what I do. Spend your OWN money! :p

Well still coming over but was going to wait until after Christmas to bump this one - so any dates / times / places would be good to start with ... arriving 12/30 (early afternoon) flying out 9/1 (very early morning - bad choice but only award tix avail !) :(

I need to save that money for the "dancing" girls. :p

I'll be in Wichita for New Years :)

Would love to party in the New Year with my FT buddies!

I'm available the 30th - 6th for dinner... once you guys decide send me a PM so I don't miss it, I don't frequent community very often.

OK then folks, how about the 6th January ?? just got to decide on a place - and will leave that to you - if not downtown or on the El - can I have a lift please !!

I should most likely be good for dinner on the 6th (despite an 0dark45 flight the next morning). We can definitely do dinner in an area accessible by el/subway/etc (are you staying same location as last time?). What type of food are you hungry for?

That's right. The little blue taxi will not be in service that night. :)

I can deal with the little blue taxi not being in service that night, but I'm :( :( :( that you won't be with us!

Well, Hawaii calls! :( ;)

The 6th works well for me. Don't know if I'll have a car that day or not - my New Year's resolution is to cut back on how many times I blow $20 on parking downtown instead of taking the commuter rail and put that money towards more travel.

And if you don't have iPass then don't forget the new double tolls :D

It called me in October and was wonderful - it is also calling me back probably about the same time in 2005.

No iPass for my drive to work - I-55 all the way to Chinatown and side streets into downtown from there.

But (OMNI) I'm having an arguement with the toll road authority over my iPass - mine stopped working and I wasted a morning to take it to the offices over at 355/88 and was told that it was a battery problem. Took it to the hardware store and it turns out I have one of the newer units that doesn't have a battery in it!! :mad: So now since I don't have time to get over there again to return the unit before 12/31, I have to shell out $50 at Jewel tonight for a new unit and new account and then return the other one some time and to close that account.

Hi all... is this still on?
 

Hey guys, let me know if you're still planning to get together in the ORD area next week. I should probably be available (working nights).

- Sameer

It looks like we're shooting for Thursday night the 6th, city dinner location TBD. But if you can't make this one, keep an eye out for other posts in Community; we tend to get together roughly every three weeks for either lunch of dinner, usually on a weekday or a Sunday night. Lunch is someplace in/near downtown, dinner locations vary but are usually inside the Tri-State.

I can definitely make a 1/6 dinner... let me know the details once they are finalized. Please PM in case I don't make it back to this thread.

How about Fogo de Chao - know you all went there last couple of months but I have never been - if not other suggestions please. Oh as don't arrive till the 30th - perhaps when we decide one of you could make reservations ? ... other than than - and idines about ? :)

Hmmmmm, Fogo... We had a good lunch experience there this past summer and my team at work also had a really nice lunch there last week. Our FTdinner experience a couple months ago wasn't so positive (and it had nothing to do with the company :) ). It's too bad blort isn't around to comment, so I'll link to the thread and have you check his post, #80 on the last page.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showt...go#post3398991
He was a bit more blunt than the rest of us but it really was $80 per person, and I doubt many of us felt it was worth it. Lunch is pretty much the same menu for half price. If you want to go for lunch while you're in town I'm more than willing to go, but if you're wanting to spend that much on a mega-meat dinner I"d recommend going to one of Chicago's better known steak spots.

Thoughts?????

OK, possibly not then !! Only steakhouses I know are Wildfire and Ruth's Chris - been to both - and dont mind going back - but if you want somewhere different feel free to offer places - eat anything (apart from celery !). Fish is good too !

:confused: Any other suggestions anyone?????? :confused: Otherwise holmedown and I are going to take over... ;)

Yeah, but $40 of that is in tolls, that get added to your account, so in the end it'll only cost you $10...

Not you! ;)

Yes, ME... Don't you know by now, it IS all about MEEEEEEE!!!!! Well, as far as I'm concerned, anyway! :p

You, sweetie (;)), are excused from this little event since you have warmer places to be....but the rest of my Chicago buds...

If holmedown and I have to figure this out ourselves it will likely be a case of "the inmates have taken over the asylum and broken into the pharmacy" (or something like that) :D

I'm definately available (and single!!! :) ). sorry

How does Cafe Spiaggia sound? I also wouldn't mind The Palm, but seeing as how some of you recently dined there, there could be some resistance.

Cafe Iberico?

Yes, ma'am... :p :D

As long as it's not Thai/Viet (peanuts in too many dishes), I'm relatively easy. Steak, tapas (1492 is a lot quieter than Iberico, however), whatever. Just tell me when and where to show up.

Okay, so far for rec's we have (in no particular order)... & reviews for all are on Metromix.com

Cafe Iberico (tapas; a party on the weekends but I"ve not been there during the week to comment on a Thursday night atmosphere)
1492 (also tapas; definitely more quiet than Iberico)
Cafe Spiaggia (nice Italian but not quite as upscale or pricey as Spiaggia)
The Palm (becoming a local FT favorite for upscale steak)
Flat Top Grill (another local FT favorite); all-you-can-eat stir fry where you pick the ingredients & sauces yourself, home of the infamous chocolate storm & horny monkey)

Any other suggestions? Preferences????

Hmmm all good - in no particular order :
Palm - for the Steak
1492 - for the Paella
Flat Top - love the website where they put how many calories in each sauce !

Also - as it is evening do - and nice places - does this mean I have to wear a frock ?????? LOL

No, no frocks required at any of the above. Or dresses for that matter. ;)