posted
Once again, it depends on occupancy and how "high class" of a hotel or motel you want to stay in. I know of at least one motel 6 with a conference room nearby.
The question is what do the attendees want?! AJ
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posted
Okay, who got the hotel for WenchCon? Becuase that seemed to work. Four in a room meant $20 a night, and I think everyone who wanted to come, could.
A hotel would also have a higher number of bathrooms and maybe a smidgeon more privacy for those who want it.
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posted
Another reason I'd like to avoid people's houses is that there are potential power issues involved. I don't want anyone to feel like they're "hosting" this thing, or have to somehow provide services for the rest of us.
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posted
I wonder how many people we would have to have for OSC to show up and have fun with us.
I mean I would want him to have fun and be part of the community, not be stuck speaking to us or anything formal. Heck we could even veto all autographing even of attendees personal books. It would be worth it to get him to show.
AJ
(Actually I suspect Mrs. Card would be the life of the party <grin>)
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posted
It's pretty easy to get a nice hotel for pretty cheap this time of year. The rack rate for even an upscale hotel is going to be about $70 plus 2x$5 for two extra adults in a double-double. In summertime, it can double. July and August are particularly bad months.
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posted
We should probably check into an All-suites hotel. You could probably get a two room suite with a King and a Murphy with two roll-outs. That'd be one bed per person. I'm not sure how that'd run, though.
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posted
Once again... how nice are we going. Motel 6 only goes up $3-$4 dollars in the summer compared to the winter as long as you have reservations two weeks in advance.
And there are always discount packages, I've never paid a rack rate yet.
posted
The only thing I have to say about Motel 6 is "bring your own comforter/sleeping bag." The sheets are clean but fear everything else.
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posted
You just aren't enough of a cheapskate Primal Curve. I've stayed in many Motel 6s and found 90% of them to be just fine. They are also one of the few remaining chains that are pet friendly.
posted
Please put me on the "thinking about coming" list. It turns out that school starts a little later in August this year, so that shouldn't be a conflict.
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posted
yes there are more expensive chains that are pet friendly. However when I'm shelling out money on entry fees and gas to go to the dog show I want the cheapest reasonably clean accomodations possible. Unless they vaccume the mattresses daily and lysol everything you are always going to have human skin from the prior occupants floating around the room along with the dustmites. If you are paranoid, you would be better off in any hotel or motel by bringing your own lysol, IMO.
posted
Well the wedding reception I went to in Ohio was a Super8. but I've been on the lookout ever since for them. A lot of times they are tucked away and you don't notice that a conference room is there.
posted
A friend of mine (good friend at the time) had her wedding reception at either a Motel 6 or a Motel 8.
Worst. Reception. Ever.
It was every bit as bad as you might imagine such a reception would be. The only thing that made it seem good was that it was better than the wedding itself, which was presided over by a drunk reverend who started eating M&Ms mid way through the ceremony.
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posted
A computation I like is that of those who are "definitely" 1/3 don't show. Of those who are "maybe" 1/3 do show. I don't know if that changes the numbers so much. But it worked well for my last baby shower.
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posted
This reception, wasn't bad. Very well planned and everything. The room was possibly slightly small for the number of people but there were probably 60+ people there too. The motel had recently been renovated and was pretty much sold out to the wedding guests.
Right now my calculation algorithm has been to cut the "near" possible jatraqueros by 1/3 and the "far" possible jatraqueros by 1/2. I was just trying for a very rough estimate.
posted
Also there are Chicago cubs home games vs. the Dogders on the 13th 14th and 15th.
I talked to a co-worker and she said the tickets can run $20-$30 each in the cheap seats. Possibly could cost even more because they did so well in the playoffs last year.
posted
Speaking of costs: how much do you think an average Kama would spend during 3 weeks (considering I'd need to eat, drink, take a bus or train, and visit places like museums and stuff)?
Also, if we organize the Con at a hotel I'd be staying there, even though the rest of the time I'd rather haunt people's houses
I think a game would be cool, but probably a lot of other things would too.
posted
rivka is that because you do, or don't want to see the game? I'm guessing you couldn't see it til after sundown and the game even if a night game would probably start before sundown because it is summer and the days are long. Also the time of the game hasn't been announced yet.
posted
Don't. And if it's a night game, then Friday works even better.
I figure I'll get y'all to schedule the things I'm not interested in when I can't come; that way the things that I am interested in might be when I can.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
I suppose I am an obvious choice for planning this event, since I have lived in Chicago all my life.
*takes deep breath*
Okay. First of all, what are we looking to get out of the con? Truthfully, my favorite times with Jatraqueros all were simply sitting around and talking. Going out for an event is fun, but it's not necessary, I think, to have a good time. Therefore, I propose that the majority of the weekend be spent cooped up in a hotel.
I'm certainly not against a little siteseeing, though, especially since we will have foreign visitors. A Cubs game would be fine with me. I've never been to Wrigley Field (third generation Sox fan, here), and it's about high time I went. But there's also plenty of things to do in town that are cheap or even free. The Art Institute of Chicago takes donations for their entrance fee. Suggested donation is $10 for adults, but I've paid as little as $1.50 in change and gotten in. The Lincoln Park Zoo is free, and right next to it is the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, which has a lovely butterfly garden. We could also just hang about the Museum campus or walk up and down the lakefront. Lots to see on the Lake--I should know, I've walked over 13 miles of the front. I think Saturday or Sunday would be the best day for an outing, depending on religious restrictions.
Now, about the hotel: the one I had in mind is the Sheraton Chicago Northwest, which I would link to but the link is longer than the length of this post. It's right down the street from Arlington Race Track and a Metra station, and has a free shuttle to the Woodfield Mall and other locations within a 5 mile radius. Which means we could probably get free shuttle rides to the train station.
One of the things I disliked about Wenchcon was all the coming and going from the meeting room, especially during the movie. This is why I think having 2-3 small meeting rooms would be better. It just so happens that I've attended monthly Mensa meetings at this hotel, and that's the setup they use. One lecture room, one hospitality room, one game room. I'm thinking we would one one bigger meeting room for general hanging out, a smaller audio/visual room for them as wants to watch TV and movies, with possibly a third room for gaming/hospitality. I've taken the liberty of requesting a quote from the hotel; they should get back to me within 48 hours. And yes, I did ask if the offer vegetarian/vegan/kosher food.
I'd also be happy to check out other hotels that people may have in mind. I like the idea of staying in the suburbs close to an L or Metra station. Downtown is too busy for my tastes, plus there's the lack of parking for those of us who would be driving. There's some hotels with meeting rooms near Midway... but truthfully, the area around Midway is not that great. Schaumburg at least has lots to do... shopping, Gameworks, movies. Oh, and it'll be rallye season, so there might possibly be a road rallye running that Saturday ($15 a car! Cheap and fun!).
posted
xnera, you're great! You've clearly put a lot of thought and effort into your suggestions. Thank you. And I appreciate you requesting kosher food.
[rant] All hotels/motels should have a web site! The little independents should band together and put up the equivalent of brochures with number of rooms, amenities, etc. It's so FRUSTRATING trying to find hotels in a specific area! Especially when, like me, you are geographically impaired, and dealing with a city I have not been in as long as I can remember.
And doesn't the CTA have a trip-planner? I just want it to tell me where the closest stations to a given address are. Instead there are these maps, and matching the landmarks on the subway maps with those on the Yahoo maps is . . . challenging. Huge parks which show up on the Yahoo map show no trace on the subway map. Where did they go? And so figuring out which of the maps is the right one took quite a lot of trial-and-error. Mostly error . . . [/rant]
Even after poring over maps all day, I confess to not having much idea where anything is. I kid not about being geographically impaired! But if we could find something that works for everyone in/near the 60659 zip code, it would take care of the kosher food problem for me (since there are a some kosher restaurants and stores (and one of my cousins, I think) in walking distance) AND mean that I could walk to synagogue (there seem to be two or three thereabouts) on Saturday morning, which I would love to be able to do.
This map (together with the yahoo maps) leads me to believe that I am referring to south Lincolnwood and the area near Northeastern U; and that there are buses? trains? both? nearby.
On this page, I found some hotels in that zip, but finding out information beyond their phone numbers and addresses is IMPOSSIBLE! Not surprisingly, many are near each other, like these two: Lincoln Inn, 5952 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60659, (773-784-1118) Lincoln Motel, 5900 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60659, (773-561-3170)
Now, if the latter were a cheapish motel and the former a nicer place, and if their addresses really do indicate that they are a block or so apart, then it would be possible to keep happy both those who want to stay cheaply and those who don't -- at least in theory. It's a nice theory, neh? But since I can't find any info, I suspect they're both cheapish motels. *sigh*
If there is no hotel that works for everyone in the area, then I'll figure something else out. Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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We really appreciate you taking on the heavy role of having to help coordinate this thing -- I realize it is a huge task, so you have my applause!
My suggestion/question -- will there be anyplace near (a park, etc) that has a huge open area where we could maybe get together an impromtu game of touch football, or tourney frisbee, or softball? Something where we can get out and stretch our legs and burn some energy?
I'm sorry, but as a farmgirl, I CAN'T stay pent up inside the whole time -- I have got to spend some of the time outdoors or I will go crazy!!
posted
The Sheraton hotel (I was wondering if that was what you were thinking of xnera) is next to the Arlington Heights Race track. There is actually quite a bit of greenspace around there.
We probably should check the race track schedule and make sure there are no major stakes races then? Also it is within walking distance of the metra though the metra is on the opposite side of the race track. It is that borderline distance where a shuttle would be nice but not necessary.
For rivka, can you take public transportation on the sabbath? If not the best solution might be to put you on before sabbath and send you to your cousins and then retrieve you afterwards.
xnera if we do have it at the Sheraton I'm willing to help out with supplies etc since you know I live right there.
quote:And there are always discount packages, I've never paid a rack rate yet
Ooh - ask if they have a 'Rack rate
Personally, if I'm spending money to go to Chicago, I'd rather spend the time seeing as much of Chicago as I can, rather than as much of a hotel conference room in a Chicago suburb that I can. But that's just me.
I would love a day at the Art Institute and the Field Museum (yay Field Museum!) and another morning or afternoon spent downtown. (One must eat at Gino's and scribble on the walls when one is in Chicago)
..but this said, I tend to be the type of person who spends every minute of a vacation walking around exploring new places, and this can wear people out. And of course I want to spend time with as many Jatraqueros as possible.
My proposal: Plan outings during the days, and then plan fun social Jatraquero things during the nights. One of these things should totally be a white elephant exchange
And another favor - can we pretty please have a t-shirt design contest? Let's name this thing fast so I can make a cool t-shirt design.
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posted
Aren't elephants grey or pink? Where did you find a white one, and how doy you get it on the plane?
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Don't. And if it's a night game, then Friday works even better.![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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And so figuring out which of the maps is the right one took quite a lot of trial-and-error. Mostly error . . . ![[Blushing]](graemlins/blushing.gif)
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Not surprisingly, many are near each other, like these two:![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
