Official A2K Gathering in Chicago, May 7th, 2006!

Nothing has really been discussed except "Spain." I'm sure some from the UK and Germany will attend if it's in their "neighborhood," so somebody suggested Spain. I agreed with that venue, but we really haven't set up anything else. We should have more things settled by September-October of this year - hopefully.

Anolther concern might be what happened to the Chicago Gathering. At the beginning, many showed interest, but as the date approached, more people opted out, and some didn't even show that were "definite." We'll need to play it by air.

Offline now: packing my suitcase, getting to the Sunshine Airport Albuquerque, having a coffee/lunch in downtown Chicago and finally arriving 24 hours later at home :wink:

(Photos will be online from tomorrow onwards, I hope, one after the other, on seperate threads, linked here, too.)

THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE (but especially to those, who made my stay and meeting[s] in Chicago and Albuquerque so pleasant)!!!

While Thomas readjusts to European time, let me report on our venture to Wrigley Field. First of all, the Cubs are in the midst of a losing streak of historic proportions. Not only are they losing, they're losing ugly. Into that morass of gloom stepped yours truly as genuine cicerone (no imposter I) to the guileless Teuton. As if to mimic the miserable, wretched spectacle of the home team, the weather was cold, wet, windy, and unrelenting. And as if to add further torment to the chilled and sodden faithful, the team not only played badly but played far too long -- as if the Cubs, admiring their colossal ineptitude, could not bear to leave the field. "Go!" I cried, but they would not go.

In the end, the Cubs lost 10-5, and not a moment too soon. I've been colder at Wrigley Field (hell, I've been there when it snowed), but I've never been colder and wetter at a game in May before. Thomas, I dare say, had a merry time -- maybe because, as a Cardinals fan, he secretly hoped for a Cubs defeat. Still, I enjoyed myself, and we were able to repair to a local Mexican eatery afterwards for a fine meal.

All things considered, a fun ending to a fun week. It's always a risk to meet people IRL who you've only met online, but I found everyone to be at least twice as pleasant and good-natured as they are on A2K. It was a real treat to meet everyone face-to-face. Of course, I will now proceed to disagree with all of you. Nothing personal, mind you, it's just business.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This post marks my 5000th contribution to Able2Know. In commemoration of the momentous occasion, I hereby offer a picture of a cat sticking out its tongue.


In addition for the rest of this week all of my posts will be written in iambic pentameter.

Oh kitten, tongue outstretched, what secret woe
Has caused you to forget your manners so?

Joe,

Your cat seems to have watched the same Cubs game that you took Thomas to. (By the way, that was a sad impression of Chicago to leave Thomas with.)

Good tale that was of wet and grim in wind;
t'would make a cat hiss spit at loss: Cubs sinned.

Argh! What a send-off! Cold, wet and windy...
Be glad you took Thomas and not Spendi.




(A fault I confess lest you find this absurd --
I rarely rhyme well...often use the wrong word.)

All that really matters is that the greater part of our visit in Chicago has greeted us with great weather, and what can one say about the people? Chicago and the people I met exceeded all of my expectdations - and more.

We sat in freezing rain and icy cold,
And all the misery that such entail.
The final score, a story often told,
Was ten to five -- again the Cubbies fail.

More travel, anyone?

A2K Europe Gathering in 2007, Starter Thread
http://www.able2know.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=74553

On Sunday morning around nine, Chicago trip, I donned my problematic outfit for the day and my Nike Airs and started walking in the Loop.
I had 'til one o'clock or so to get to the a2k gathering at Sublime's. Had a cup of drekko caffeine water in my hotel room, which was at Harrison and Wabash - that is, about three blocks south of the Art Institute.
Not to knock the Travelodge... I grew to enjoy the staff there, and, perhaps weirdly, loved going to sleep to the sound of the trains...

I hope these photos transfer. Basically, I wandered up to Monroe and took it over towards the Chicago River to see the Sears tower (no pic, too boring.. though I did take a photo for a family from India...). Then I followed the river, crossing back and forth across a bunch of bridges, always having in mind a real cup of coffee and a potential breakfast. Some hours later, I got some breakfast close to Michigan Ave. at a good cafe. Those of us who went on the river boat tour the next day caught lunch there too; comfortable, will post the name when I can remember it...something to do with water.

Wish me luck, I've got twelve photos in this batch and a bunch of palaver to go with them... and a computer that crashes several times a day.

<good luck!>

Photobucketting....

Er, before I get all involved with photobucket, perhaps a map is in order.

Back in a bit.

osso wrote:
.something to do with water.

I think it also had something to do with "kitchen."

So, I have a book with lots of maps, but they are not all so readily available online.

Whatever.

This map is pretty useful, from www.hotrooms.com

osso, Did you notice that State theater across from the Chicago theater no longer exists?

Tip of my tongue, CI, something like South Water Station..

That Sunday morning I waltzed in and garnered a small table. Ordered scrambled eggs (always, always, always a test, and biscuits and gravy, another test. I must say, those biscuits and gravy were different than any other I'd had before. Sort of pure... but oddly delicious. Small amount of gravy, they have gravy penury there. I had to ask for more, to make up a mere fraction, say, one eighth, of what is usual in my neck of the woods.

Still, I rate those on my plus side, which is not a long list of places that do them well. On the plus side, but certainly unique.

You mean movie houses, CI? Well, I generally weep for all the old movie houses. And State street movie houses were exciting to me back then, when...

I need to shut up and post. I seem to have transferred photos ok to photobucket. Soon...