My kind of town, Chicago is...

Yes.

Thanks, Walter. Picture worth a thousand words.

joe and I have been chatting and have come up with some ideas to throw out for discussion and expansion.

CI - I'm not sure what day you arrive, but I'd be happy to take an afternoon off early in the week and meet you for lunch and some sort of excursion. JW/joe could possibly meet us for lunch and joe and/or I can meet you for dinner. Weekday dinners are sometimes difficult for me to stay downtown, but I'm trying to keep my schedule open.

Thursday - Walter arrives. joe is available for dinner, I might be available in the afternoon (too soon to tell).

Friday - breakfast with JW. Then, weather permitting, Walter could do the architecture tour on the river and then CI/Walter could take the TRAIN from Union Station to Lake-Cook Rd where I can pick you up and take you over to the Chicago Botanical Gardens. I'm a member so parking/admission is free. I'll drive you back to the city via Sheridan Rd which follows the shoreline through some very nice parts of Chicagoland. It also goes past the only Baha'i Temple in North America. It's open to the public if you want a tour.

We can also tour the Northwestern campus in Evanston if you're interested. joe can meet us for dinner/music in the evening.

Saturday - Swimpy, Walter, and CI meet joe for brunch and the Cubs game. If Swimpy can stay for dinner, I'll come down and join you after the game. Otherwise, I'll come down and join you for brunch before the game.

Sunday, joe is recommending the Chicago Historical Society/Museum. It was closed for renovations last year when you were here. He has a membership and would be happy to join you. I could be convinced as well. The museum is open from noon to five on Sundays. That would leave the evening free if Walter wants to do anything before hitting the road on Monday.

JW, jp, and gargamel -- feel free to join us in any and all plans and to throw out other ideas that come to you. CI and Walter -- these are just suggestions. You're free to tour on your own or suggest alternatives for group ventures.

{{{{{{{Evanston!! Ridge Avenue!!!! Sheridan Road!!!}}}}}}}

Please note when you pass Church, Demeter, Main, Madison.... schniff.

You'll be with us in spirit, osso.

I arrive on Tuesday, May 29, and arrive at my hotel about mid-noon. I'll be open for dinner on that day if anybody can make it. I stay for eight nights, and leave on Wednesday, June 6, in the early morning. Except for Saturday when we'll be meeting for brunch and the Cub's game, I have not made any plans.

JPB, Don't worry about having to come into town on the weekdays, but if you can make it for the Thursday dinner with Joe, Walter and yours truly, it'll be fun.

I'll also be availlable for breakfast on most mornings, and will coordinate with JW and Walter.

The Friday Chicago Botanical Gardens sounds good to me, and the Baha'i Temple sounds interesting. We visited the Bahai gardens in Haifa when I visited Israel last year.

Maybe, we can coordinate the architectural river cruise with the docent I met on my Russia trip last year. That'll really make it fun.

Looking good! Thanks to all for your efforts to make our visit enjoyable. I really appreciate it. T.

It's fine with me as well, sounds excellent!

Wishing Osso could be there, too.

JPB, I will not be staying after the game. I prefer to get outta Dodge before dark, so I'll be leaving right after the game. Could you meet us for brunch?

Everybody's looking forward to meeting you, Swimpy. I hope they'll be able to join us for brunch. Anyone wanting to attend should contact me by PM for details.

That should work, Swimpy.

joe, if I'm going to be driving back down early Saturday then your idea of meeting in Evanston for dinner, etc Friday night becomes very appealing. Lurrie Bell is playing at Bill's Blues that night.

WOW! Lurrie Bell sounds great!

It does sound good, indeed.

But are you sure about the date, JPB? Neither centerstage nor metromix have it on their sites ... and it's on your linked homepage neither as far as I noticed.

(But there's still the free Gospel Festival or the harmonica recital in Harlem Avebue Lounge :wink: )

hmmm, it's listed on Bill's Blues website here

dunno -- I'll keep watching for listings.

Don't see Lurrie Bell listed.

Saw Lurrie Bell in Chicago 4 years ago -- he was great! I hope you get a chance to see/hear him. Like osso I wish I could be there.

Sounds like a good plan.

I've only a date on June 8th (Chicago Blues Festival - Front Porch Stage)

CI, there's a place on the lower left where you pick the month. Go to June 2007 and he's listed on the 1st.

Walter, the Bill's Blues calendar is the one that lists him on June 1st.

Tai Chi, let us know if you're ever back in the area. We're pretty good about being able to pull a group together for visiting A2Kers.