JJ5, is it OK if I bring 2 people with me who are visiting from Orlando? They are travelers, just not Fodorites (yet). :-)

wow, this looks like it is actually coming together.

Kristi,
Not JJ here but the more the merrier IMO...

Oh sure, I love this.

Funny, the older you get, and the more friends you have had, some VERY good friends etc.- the more I tend to like to meet and greet NEW friends.

Just think of all the stories I haven't heard ten times each, ahead of me. And the ones I can finally tell again. LOL!

Can't wait to hear some of the travel tales.

What an excellent thought JJ5. By the end of a 2 week vacation my traveling companion and I have started badly repeating ourselves. It will be fun to hear new stories!

JJ5, indytravel,
heh. why do you think I joined this board? I can finally talk travel and not have my have to know if someone's eyes glaze over. And there's always someone who'll came back and say "good job" or "glad you had a good time" or "thank you for your report", however boring or windy or oft repeated the topic is!

I've made the reservations.

Dec. 10 at 12:30pm Cafe Iberico
749 North Lasalle

It's under my name- Jeanette.

I'll post it in a separate thread as well next week.

Thanks, JJ5, for organizing! It's on our calendar. We'll see you there.

JJ5... My calendar just opened up and my husband and I would love to come. I am not the most active contributor here, but I am a frequent reader. I can't wait to meet other Chicago fodorites and Iberico is such a great choice. Can't wait.

Please come, you are very welcome.

I made the number 17, but I am sure that it may be more or less- but I did have to make it in the Non-smoking section, guys and girls.

Rocky, I am sure that some who have said they would come, won't. This is the kind of thing that always circles these kinds of gatherings, and especially with "strangers" in December in Chicago. (Doesn't that sound like
crossing the River Styx?!)

But we shall play it by ear and if we have less or more, we will deal with it at the time. I absolutely believe that there will be at least 15, and if the weather is good- 20.

They tried to push me toward Noon. So I hope we all REALLY try to get there by 12:30.

The reason why is that they have immense business by 2pm and will not even take any reservations beyond 2:30pm right now. I think they want to get our order in by 1.

OK, for anyone who's able to make the mini GTG on Saturday, December 03, 2005 at 6:30 PM...

It's a Chicago get-together with MelissaHI joining us from O'ahu. ((R))Please join us.

For ressie contact Lisa at makaiguard-alohaatyahoodotcom

Restaurant: Osteria Via Stato
620 North State Street, Chicago

http://www.metromix.chicagotribune.c...ning_top_promo

sure wish there were an edit button here... let's try this one:

http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/d...ning_top_promo

VOILA!! >:D<

JJ, can't wait for the 10th also... all this excitement in Dec!

so what is the status of this?

Sorry Vitrad, you must have missed the several announcements.

ALERT TO ALL:

December 10
12:30pm - try to be prompt as the restaurant wants to seat us at that time.
Cafe Iberico
749 N. Lasalle

We are 17 for absolute sures and we ARE going to be there.

Please come, Vittrad. Although I have two people in the hospital now and 1 coming out Thurs. and one Friday- I'm going to make it unless the Metra derails again. LOL!

Oh also

CALLING ALL GTG CHICAGO DEC. 10 FODORITES:

The reservation is posted under the name: Jeanette.

That info got posted before, but not on this thread.

Ugh, I am so ticked! I definately won't be able to make it and am very disappointed. We have 3, yes 3, other parties that day in the swburbs. Have fun everyone! Drink some sangria for me!

We will miss you.

Maybe we could have a Christmas drink (not you, me- Ha!HA!) at Harrisons or somewhere before the arrival date???

email me at [email protected], if you can, and I'll tell you all about it.

Say a prayer for my baby sister today, swalter518, she has a hard surgery today and a long road ahead of her. Also, anyone who reads this. All the more reason to have fun while you can.

It's the Holiday Season!

Hey can you count me in on that drink at Harrisons. As it turns out I will not be able to make it on the 10th. My girlfriends made arrangements for us to go to the Lawry's Dickens Christmas lunch on that day. I am so sad I will miss it.