Cancelled: The Next Chicago Area GTG

[Forensicguy]

EDIT NOTE: 8-15-09 - I've decided to cancel this event since several of our "regulars" can't make it. We'll try again for a later date down the road.

8-10-09 EDIT NOTE: The date and time for this event has been set for September 26 (Saturday) from 3 PM to 9 PM. Cost is $20... mail a check in advance if you are coming. I need to receive some checks quickly to reserve the room. See post number 11 on this thread for all the information you need to know. Thanks...


I thought perhaps we should try for another gathering here in the Chicago area in the next month or two and would like to get everyone's opinions on dates, locations, food, etc.

The last gathering was at mdunn's home and that was at the end of May.

So, what dates works for everyone? Should we rent a location again like we did last year and also pitch in for food? The last time the cost was $20 per person to cover the rental room in Mount Prospect and all the food. We needed at least 15-20 people and we got that, so if we could get that many people to commit, we can certainly go back to that place. We had it from 3 to 9 PM. And, it had plenty of space to hold all of us.

For me, I am available in September and parts of October. This month is too tight for me. My preference would be to rent the Mount Prospect facility again. As for food, we had pizza, chicken, potato salad, soft drinks last time and that's fine with me. We'll add some salad this time too if we all opt for this location again.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Dates? Bring it on! :)

[Forensicguy]

Images from the last time we were at the Mount Prospect facility:

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i101/Nikonguy59/DSCF8056.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i101/Nikonguy59/DSCF8057.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i101/Nikonguy59/DSCF8064.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i101/Nikonguy59/DSCF8077.jpg

[astrummer]

My wife and I both have birthdays the same week, October 6 and 9, and so the weekend of the 10th and 11th will be taken up with other plans.

Also I have plans for the weekend of October 3 and 4.

Other weekends are far more likely to stay available for this.

[Chicago Sandy]

Here's what my autumn looks like: Labor Day weekend I'm busy with the Fox Valley Folk Festival; I'm OK Sep. 12-13; the next weekend is both Rosh Hashonah (Fri. & Sat.) and Springsteen (Sun. the 20th); OK Sat. the 26th but Sun. the 27th is Yom Kippur Eve. Oct. 3-4 is the week before FARM--I will be busy doing last minute stuff but could welcome a few hours' musical respite from cat-herding; the following weekend (8-11) is FARM, so no go there. If I am not doing the Denise Marie Stein memorial benefit in Detroit (and so far I'm not) Sat. the 17th, I could do the 17th & 18th. Oct. 24 & 25th are okay too. The next two weekends are my son's 25th birthday and my uncle's 90th--I would be in NYC or Boston for the combined celebration one of the two weekends. The following weekend (Nov. 13-14) I will be in upstate NY for NERFA. The last 2 weekends in Nov. are taken up with rehearsals all day for the Chicago Bar Assn. Show, and Nov. 22 after rehearsal I'll be busy doing the '60s-70s Chicago Music Retrospective show Dean Milano is putting together. First weekend in Dec. is tech rehearsals for the Bar Show, and Sat. Dec. 12 is closing night. I'm free Sun. the 13th. I'm OK the next weekend. (That takes us up to Christmas).

Oh, I'll be pretty much incommunicado for the next few days--tomorrow Steve & I are driving down to Sparta, IL (no, not for the Trap Shooting convention) to record at Gary & Roberta Gordon's studio Tues through Fri. morning. Getting back late Fri. night; Sat. morning is Christine Gaylord's funeral and I have the season's first Black Tie Gala From Hell that evening. My motel room won't have wi-fi (though I might get to use the wi-fi in Steve's room adjoining the studio before I go back to the motel for the night); I will have my Palm Pre and Sparta's supposed to be in Sprint's 3G mobile broadband network, so I may well have e-mail. (Browsing is a royal pain on that tiny a screen with a keyboard that doesn't rotate to landscape).

[Marshall]

First 2 weekends in Sept are busy for me. October is more open except the second weekend.

[Forensicguy]

From Alicia (JimW):

"I would love to attend this time around. I missed the last one but do not want to miss this one! Will this be for a Saturday?

As far as my schedule goes, Sept 11-13, and Sept 18 would not work for me.
October 9, Oct 16-19 do not work for me. I am mentioning Fri Sat Sun just in case.

Looking forward to seeing you and all the other friendly faces!"

[Forensicguy]

Keep 'em coming! I'll compile a list of dates and make a decision on the date that seems to fit most people's schedule.

[Forensicguy]

If we end up back at the Mount Prospect facility, we'll set up the chairs in a large circle this time.

When we were at mdunn's home last time, it was really good that he had a photocopier to make copies of songs with chords on it so everyone could play along. We won't have that this time, but it would be good if people brought at least lyric sheets with chords on it.

A computer with a projector would be AMAZING to have with us if someone could bring something like that. Then, if we had the songs already loaded in, perhaps we could project the chords up for all to see. Anyone have something like this?

[Forensicguy]

Based on current replies, it seems Sept. 26 (Saturday) is best. Keep the replies coming and let me know if Sept 26 is ok with you! Nothing is set yet though... just thinking out loud right now.

Of course, I'll have to check with the facility to see if any specific date is still available, so the faster we decide, the better our chances are to get the room if I reserve in advance.

[flaggerphil]

September 26 actually looks good for me. My wife would combine it with some shopping!

:D

Pencil me in. Maybe I can make it work this time!

[Forensicguy]

I checked with the facility at Mount Prospect and right now, September 26 is open.

So I'm just going to set the date as September 26 and book the room.

I will need commitments from everyone in advance so I can get the room paid off beforehand as they require that. So here is the info you need to know:

Mail me a check for $20 in advance made payable to Russell Lowe to the following address:

Russell Lowe
P.O. Box 403
Prospect Heights, IL 60070

Indicate your AGF screen name in the memo of the check so I know who is sending me the money! :)

I need at least 15 people to reserve the room and have enough money to buy the food and soft drinks. We'll order pizza, chicken, potato salad, green salad and dressings, soft drinks, chips. If we have any left over money, I'll divide it up and refund some of it to everyone on the day of the event.

So if you are planning on coming please confirm here on the thread and send me a check ASAP. In good faith, I'm going to go ahead and reserve the room.

Here is the location of the event:

Weiss Community Center
1500 E. Euclid Avenue, Mount Prospect, IL 60056
Phone number there is 847-255-1200

Thanks!

[Forensicguy]

By the way, I'm playing bass again. I'll bring my bass amp and also my Mackie Speaker / mixer for vocals only. We won't be plugging in any guitars this time... just vocals will be amplifed to make life easier and so that all guitars will have an equal chance to be heard.

Chairs will be arranged in a large circle. Please bring your own guitar stands, music stands, and MUSIC and LYRICS!!!

I can email you the AGF song book if you don't have one already. It's perhaps a couple of megabytes in size, so be aware of that. It will slow down your email at bit when I send it. Just PM me or email me at photos@russlowe.com if you want it.

[Forensicguy]

If you are mailing a check, please post here as well so that others will know who is coming.

[Forensicguy]

FYI: So far we have two commitments: mdunn and me. We need more.

The cost of the room is $35 per hour (so total is $210.) The rest of the money goes into the food. If we only get 11 people, we cover the cost of the room. If we get more, we can buy food. :) If we have a lot of people, there should be some refunds coming back to everyone from their $20 contribution.

I've secured the room and paid for it already. Now we need some people! :)

[lpa53]

I had fun at the last one, but on the scheduled date I'm scheduled to be in Colorado Springs at my daughter's wedding - and singing and playing "The Wedding Song".

[mdunn]

I' m ready to Rock & Roll or whatever.:guitar:

[Forensicguy]

Anyone interested in going to this event? So far I just have commitments from mdunn and me. I'll need to know if you are at least interested, otherwise I'll have to cancel the event and the room reservation. My deadline to do that is two weeks before the event, but to plan out everything, I'd like to at least know people's intentions.

Post here as soon as you know you can go... or at least hope to go.

[Gutch]

Sorry, Russ -- I'll have to pass on this one. Social calendar is booked solid already!

[Forensicguy]

OK... In light of the fact that we have lost several of our "regular" attendees of our Chicago get togethers, I'm going to close this event down.

Maybe we can try for another date down the road.