Pushed back until 10/24.

Travel has been arranged, flying into ORD as well as a car rental.

There is construction on I294 from O'Hare to 95th street, which is more than half of your drive to site. So you can count on heavy traffic if you are driving during the afternoon rush hour.
We are looking good for a first receive around the time you will be here. Dates should be confirmed today.

Great news. Thanks for the heads up on the construction.

I personally love Malnati's thin crust, it's one of my favorites. For deep dish, go Pequod's but Malnati's is also really good.

Now, if you're looking for stuffed pizza (which is essentially a casserole with tons of cheese) then Bacino's is my favorite (or was 20 years ago, the last time I had it) but Giordano's is everyone's go-to standby for stuffed and has many locations.

We'll try to hold the snow off until you get here!

Thanks. It’s not the snow, it’s the traffic, as I’m not used to driving in such a large city. Still, don’t have the hotel details. All I know it will be an extended-stay type of facility. My need for good coffee is paramount.

Considering we still have the a/c on I don't think that'll be a problem. :)

I miss New England autumn.

The free coffee machines in break rooms are not yet running, not that they have good coffee, but it's there. There is a Dunkin Donuts about 5 minutes away. Nearest Starbucks, is about 12 minutes away.

Once you trudge to the bus to RAC, and run the Tri-State (I-294) gauntlet, there’s not too much traffic out this way. Out here, even the Friday afternoon rush (e/b Tri-State) is manageable now that schools are back in session. Except of course, Wednesday day before Thanksgiving. And now that I’m thinking about it, I-80 is a hot mess through Joliet, with the impending collapse of the Des Plaines River bridge. But, that’s the great thing about smartphone gps apps.

Yes, the a/c was still on yesterday, but that’s probably done for the year. Next two weeks high 60s and maybe low 70s. But if you’re from CLE area, you know the drill. I only recall snow on or before Halloween twice.

Amen. Back from Burlington (vt) 10 days ago. Colors just started at altitude. There’s a few substitutes near here: s/w Mi, Wisc, Central Ind.

Launch pushed back again, flights/car rental changed. Looks like I’m flying out on Halloween. I still have the A/C on.

Tri State is all under construction from the former O'Hare Oasis all the way to 95th. It's a mess going SB starting at about 2 pm every day. I80/294 is a mess every afternoon (including Saturdays) from just south of 159th street exit all the way into Indiana.

I am confident we will hit that date for First Receive.

Hope so, I’m stoked on flying out on Halloween. Hopefully no more delays as I really want to be home for Thanksgiving. I’m sure everyone else as well.

Good grief.

Good point. I was assuming, perhaps incorrectly, that he'll be working day shift. I was focusing on traffic after work and on weekends. If located at the Halstead exit hotels, taking the Tri-State E/B (S/B) back that way at 5pm could be a mistake.

I haven't had any problems e/b or w/b heading to O'hare off hours, but, during high traffic times, I'll leave from home (near Silver Cross) so I can use 355 to 88 or 55 to cut out some of the traffic. I used to live farther east, and recall the high frustration levels the last time the Tri-State went through one of these programs. I don't envy anyone forced to drive 294 the whole way. But, I guess it's better than Ryan/Kennedy combo!