Chicago-area TGF Gathering - Part II

[Pipsqueak]

Should we go for round 2 fellas?

Last time we all "talked," we thought about doing the 2nd annual a little after the Fall LTDs hit the stores.

As we are coming up on that time, it might be fun to do it again....see some new Fall LTDs, eat some pizza, and have a jam session again.

I have to tell you, that right now, my calendar is 90% open for September, October, and November. So, I'm game!

Off the top of my head, October might work best. (September is too close, November might be too far and has Thanksgiving in there).

So.....let's get the discussion going!:)

[crowdedstr]

my calendar seems to be eternally 90% *full*, but i'd love to try to make it to this one, especially since i missed round 1

i'll be moved down to the city by october too, so hopefully that will make it easier!

who else is game :)

[James Willer]

sounds good to me. October works for me!

[mgrasse]

The weekend of October 11th is out for me, but if it is one of the other Friday or Saturday nights in October, I'll be there.

[crowdedstr]

Originally posted by mgrasse
The weekend of October 11th is out for me, but if it is one of the other Friday or Saturday nights in October, I'll be there.

yea, i think the 1st, 2nd, and 5th weekends in october are booked for me.

but obviously i'm all for this taking place at the best time for *everyone* :)

[Pipsqueak]

so it looks like so far, the 18th is in the running?

[mgrasse]

I'll second the 18th.

[crowdedstr]

Originally posted by mgrasse
I'll second the 18th.

i'll third it :)

[DJanzen]

My work schedule changes a lot, making it hard to see out that far for this kind of thing. But that being said (and since I, too, missed the first one) whatever date you settle on, I really am hoping to be able to make it this time around. I'll be watching with great interest!

DJanzen

[James Willer]

I'm OK with the 18th.

[jeffreyem]

My work schedule changes a lot also, but there is a pretty good chance I 'll be around on the 18th. Any thoughts on location?
Jeff

[crowdedstr]

Originally posted by jeffreyem
My work schedule changes a lot also, but there is a pretty good chance I 'll be around on the 18th. Any thoughts on location?

man, too bad this is gonna be happening when we can't really guarantee the weather will be nice....

at the beginning of october, i'm moving into a place on the north side of the city with a great deck out the back of the house (no, not the type of decks that collapse! ;)) that would be great to have everyone over for grilling out, jamming, etc.

definitely a location for us to consider next spring! as for now, unfortunately, i dont have much to suggest for "venue" (c'mon, we're all rockstars, right?) :roll: :roll:

[Pipsqueak]

Originally posted by crowdedstr


man, too bad this is gonna be happening when we can't really guarantee the weather will be nice....

at the beginning of october, i'm moving into a place on the north side of the city with a great deck out the back of the house (no, not the type of decks that collapse! ;)) that would be great to have everyone over for grilling out, jamming, etc.

definitely a location for us to consider next spring! as for now, unfortunately, i dont have much to suggest for "venue" (c'mon, we're all rockstars, right?) :roll: :roll:

darn.....that sounds like fun.

As for a venue, I have one idea. No offence to Eric, because he was awesome enough to offer his church basement last time, but it would be cool to try and get a little better atmosphere going. i.e. crowdedstr's deck.

what's the weather like in October again?:roll:

So, my idea is my office. (don't get the wrong idea yet) It's an architecture office, so it has some good character. It's in an old loft/industrial building very close to the North and Clybourn intersection (and "L" stop). Let's just say this, it's not a "typical" office atmosphere.

1. We have a huge back room, and it is a great atmosphere.
2. It would be free.
3. There is plenty of room to eat, jam, and relax.
4. We have plenty of chairs.
5. We hold a lot of functions here, and people seem to like it.
6. It's a fairly central location in the city.....hopefully not too far for anyone to travel

The ONLY bad thing I can think of is the acoustics. I'm not sure how a jam session would sound in the back room. So, if there turns out to be enough interest, I'll bring my guitar in on a weekend and test it out. :) :)

I tell you what, I'll post a couple of pics of the office later tonight when I get home, then you guys can see for yourself.

and I forgot to mention, but there would be plenty of room for all of us and our equipment.
EDIT: and I would have to clear this with my bosses, but I'm 99.9% sure it would be just fine on a Saturday

So, what do you guys think?

[DJanzen]

Pipsqueak's office location sounds pretty good to me! Of course, so does the deck! Is it too much planning, or too out there to have the deck as Plan A and in case of "weather" go inside to aforementioned office as Plan B? Just wondering...

DJanzen

[mgrasse]

Hey Pipsqueak,

Is your office compatible with malt beverages (moderately consumed of course)? If not, that is cool, but while you are asking your boss...

It sounds like a great location.

[crowdedstr]

Originally posted by mgrasse
Is your office compatible with malt beverages (moderately consumed of course)?

if so, why not push the bar and ask how he would feel about them being irresponsibly consumed.... ;) :eek: :ha: :roll:

[Pipsqueak]

Originally posted by mgrasse
Hey Pipsqueak,

Is your office compatible with malt beverages (moderately consumed of course)? If not, that is cool, but while you are asking your boss...

It sounds like a great location.

ABSOLUTELY!:)

Originally posted by crowdedstr
if so, why not push the bar and ask how he would feel about them being irresponsibly consumed

ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY! :ha:
you think architects could survive without drinking!?! :lol: :ha:

I've got 5 or 6 pictures for you guys of some events we've had.(with malt beverages in some:)) Like I said, I'll post them tonight when I get home from work.

Couple of other points:
Speaking of malt beverages: There is a Sam's Liquor Store (you know the big mega ones) about 3 blocks from the office.
Food: There are a TON of places around here we could order from/have cater the gathering. (I'd be willing to make suggestions/coordinate it as we go along) A couple off the top of my head that have good catering are Marcello's Father and Son Restaurant and Pizza Capri.

So it sounds like good feedback on the office so far.....I will at least ask the question to the higher-ups today so it's a definite "yay or nay." (before we get too far)

[getgo]

I would try very hard to make this one! Not too far for me.:)

[Pipsqueak]

forgot to say.....

I sent an email last night to everyone who's email I had from the first time around.

If anyone did not get that email and would like to be on the "mailing list," please let me know.

and if there are any corrections on addresses, let me know those too.

[Pipsqueak]

ok fellas....

here are some shots of my office.

http://home.comcast.net/~a.stcyr/mkb.htm

the bottom 4 shots show some events we've had in the "garden room" that we could utilize.

and just for Mike, one shot shows some BEER. :)

my bosses bailed early this week for the holiday, so I'll ask next week about utilizing the space.....like I said, it's pretty much ours if we want it.

let me know what ya think!

[James Willer]

OK!

[mgrasse]

WOW. Very cool space.

[Pipsqueak]

I hope we get more than 6 or 7 people interested.:(
maybe it's the holiday weekend.

[crowdedstr]

Originally posted by Pipsqueak
I hope we get more than 6 or 7 people interested.:(
maybe it's the holiday weekend.

yea it seems like the board in general has been pretty dead lately. maybe middle of next week we should post another msg in the main forum, linking to here, so maybe more will notice.

pipsqueak, your office looks great.

[JJFIELDS]

~~~~~~~~~~~~

[jeffreyem]

Be there if possible. Still looking at the 18th?

Jeff

[jacoben]

I'll try to be there as well this time. The 18th looks good so far. Pipsqueak, your offices look great, what's the name of your firm?

[Celtic30]

If you guys keep me in the loop, I am definitely in. Just let me know.

Thanks,
Jason

[James Willer]

:) :) :)

[Pipsqueak]

Hey TGFers. (sorry I haven't posted in a while....been busy)

OK....here's the scoop.

Let's firm up the 18th of October......done deal.
It seems like there is enough interest to do this thing.

Secondly......I have a confirmation as of this morning on my office for a venue. (everybody now, "WOO-HOO!")

Third.....Let's start working that date into your calendars and giving me a good "I'll be there" confirmation. I would really like to get someone to cater the event for us. I have some good options and can hopefully do this for about $8-10 per person. It would be much fun, and we wouldn't have to worry about bringing food. And, as for drinks.....I'm thinking I can have those brought in as well. As I said, Sam's is around the corner from the office for beer, etc. and I can pick up sodas too. So, drinks would probably add another $2-4 per person. (this will greatly depend on the number of attendees)

Fourth....Let's start putting out those suggestions for jam session songs. I kind of liked the format we had last time, because I'm really not one for a true "open mic" session. I like the informality of the jammming and playing around with everybody. So, if people start suggesting songs to play, everybody will have a chance to learn them, or at least get the gist of the songs by October 18th. Plus, I really like learning the new songs....pretty hard to refuse!

Fifth......Let's start throwing out ideas for times. I'm flexible and can do any time you guys want. Let's hear it.

So, overall it can be a really fun and interesting jam session. I hope people can make it......now get to typing! :)

You can also send me an email if you would rather.

a.stcyr@comcast.net

I will be sending all of this in a email.....(to everyone that is on the list)

Thanks!