Well I might be leaving tonight driving from LA to Chicago. My brother asked me to go with him to work on a project for the company he works for. Since he doesn't like to fly and needs to be there like Tuesday it will be non stop driving.

So now the question is, who wants to meet up? I expect we will be in Chicago about a week and a half. I know you many of you hate us LA forumers, but I think it would be nice to meet some of you guys. I also planned to bring my camera since I should have plently of free time while my brother is working. Anyway we should be in town at least by Thursday.

:banana:

i'm always game for forum meets that involve alcohol.

^lol

Btw what is the weather presently like, I know September can be sort of strange.

i'm always game for forum meets that involve alcohol.

Ditto, if I'm in the mood.

Btw what is the weather presently like, I know September can be sort of strange.

highs during the day in upper 70's/low 80's, lows at night dropping down to the low 60's/upper 50's, clear and sunny just about everyday this week, maybe some thunder storms thursday evening.

Ahhhh...

Chicago evenings in autumn...

Dark, mysterious, dreamy.

The old feel of an urban city. Old townhouses and homes, trees that change color.

The fading sun, twilight... The sound of leaves crunching beneath your feet.

Very much my favorite season in Chicago.

ChrisLA, I'm up for a meet up too.

I don't think anyone really hates anyone, I hope not, this is just the Internet. So far of all the people I have met everyone has been great. The only thing I don't like is the hangover the next morning.

^lol

Btw what is the weather presently like, I know September can be sort of strange.

Tonight
Sep 20 Mostly Clear 54° 0 %
Tue
Sep 21 Sunny 83°/56° 0 %
Wed
Sep 22 Sunny 83°/58° 0 %
Thu
Sep 23 Mostly Sunny 82°/58° 20 %
Fri
Sep 24 Mostly Sunny 77°/55° 20 %
Sat
Sep 25 Sunny 70°/49° 10 %
Sun
Sep 26 Sunny 73°/52° 20 %
Mon
Sep 27 Sunny 73°/53° 0 %
Tue
Sep 28 Partly Cloudy 70°/52° 0 %
Wed
Sep 29 Mostly Sunny 69°/50° 0 %

^Are you going to be in Chicago around this time?

^Are you going to be in Chicago around this time?

Friday, November 12. Sorry ChrisLA for sort of hijacking your thread.

Ooo... a meet-up sounds great.

And I don't think any of us actually hates LA forumers. It's all in good fun.

Ooo... a meet-up sounds great.

And I don't think any of us actually hates LA forumers. It's all in good fun.

What about that SILVERLAKE. lol.

Friday, November 12. Sorry ChrisLA for sort of hijacking your thread.

The problems of Internet communication. It was actually a serious question I had as I thought you would want to meet up too with everyone if you were in Chicago around then. I wasn't accusing you of hijacking the thread. All is good.

I'm personally don't have any hatred towards anyone here. What I noticed when I met a few of the forumers is their personality was quite different (in a good way) than I had expected. At least one guy I sort of clashed with met during I had expected to be some negative vibe. Yet when we saw each other we both laughed and joked and actually got along a talked more than the rest. Generally I get along with just about anyone. I'm the type of person who will go out of my way not offend anyone. Anyway I look forward to meeting all of those who want to meet up. As I said I expect to be in town for one and a half weeks so if we can't all meet at once I can catch up with everyone when they have the time.

Oh btw once we arrive I will update the thread to let you guys know where I'm at and also let you know how I can reach you guys. If you like PM me as well with names and phone numbers so I can make contact. I will also send those who want my cell phone number via PM. Oh since I will be carless, I need to know if the CTA has a weekly pass I can purchase therefore I will need to always need change for the bus or train. I do have relatives in Chicago, but I doubt if any of them will offer their car, but I wouldn't ask them anyway.

Road trips are fun. Lemme guess, you're taking 15 to 70 to 76 to 80?

Road trips are fun. Lemme guess, you're taking 15 to 70 to 76 to 80?

Well I'm not all that thrilled about long road trips, especially since my last trip with my brother we slid on ice in Colorado, but that was 14 years ago in December. The good thing is we will be in a van this time and not a car.

I would like to take 76 to 80 out of Denver and this is what I will suggest to my brother. Normally I would rather travel through Kansas City and St Louis since we know people in both cities. Since my brother needs to be there asap, we'll be skipping the visits along the way.

You can buy a one day pass for just $5 ($9 for 2 days, $12 for 3 days and $18 for 5 days) good for all buses and trains. I know for sure that the Midway station has them but I think you have to check in drug stores everywhere else.

..

I would love to join in on a get together over the next week, but, alas, I have a parental visitation going on (first time in 4 years, ouch..). If I remember correctly, Jada will be here in a couple of weeks....?

ChrisLA, If you havent been to Chicago in 14 years, I think you will be quite pleasantly surprised. Chicago has undergone a huge transformation in the last decade or so. It's certainly not the city so many people fled from to the West Coast in the 60's, 70's and 80's. ( I say that because before I moved here, I was amazed by the number of people on the West Coast that grew up here, and left because the city was going down hill. They were almost shocked when they heard I was moving here. Oh well, thier loss.)

Ok I'm here in Chicago, I just arrived today and will be staying in Hyde Park. In fact I'm posting from the Blackstone Library, some of you may know where this is. Anyway I will be helping my brother over in the Pilsen neighborhood over on 18 Street. But I will be free in the afternoon for the most part. Any news on a get together/meet?

Oh btw, we drove around today in the Pilsen neighborhood looking at two sites my brother will be working on. We also drove a little through downtown and the area just south and along Rosavelt (spelling?). Wow I see Chicago and been working hard, almost none of this was there when I moved away back in 1990. I came back for a visit in 1992, but I didn't really noticed much in the area. Oh well, I just wanted to add a little about what I seen today.

Dude, where in Hyde Park are you staying? I'm moving back into the university tomorrow.

Oh btw, we drove around today in the Pilsen neighborhood looking at two sites my brother will be working on. We also drove a little through downtown and the area just south and along Rosavelt (spelling?). Wow I see Chicago and been working hard, almost none of this was there when I moved away back in 1990. I came back for a visit in 1992, but I didn't really noticed much in the area. Oh well, I just wanted to add a little about what I seen today.

^Sorry if I missed this, Chris LA, but what does your bro do?

Ok I'm here in Chicago, I just arrived today and will be staying in Hyde Park. In fact I'm posting from the Blackstone Library, some of you may know where this is. Anyway I will be helping my brother over in the Pilsen neighborhood over on 18 Street. But I will be free in the afternoon for the most part. Any news on a get together/meet?

I'm just a few blocks away from you in Woodlawn. You must be talking about the Blackstone Library on 50th and Blackstone.

Dude, where in Hyde Park are you staying? I'm moving back into the university tomorrow.

Ramada Inn Hyde Park

I'm just a few blocks away from you in Woodlawn. You must be talking about the Blackstone Library on 50th and Blackstone.

I think that maybe it, there is a school next to it right? I'm over at the Ramada Inn Hyde Park, feel free to contact me.

^Sorry if I missed this, Chris LA, but what does your bro do?


He basically works for his former brother in law. They have a parthnership with Cingular Wireless and use their Cingular name, but are a seperate company. Sort of like what Magic Johnson does with Starbucks. They are a up and coming black own company with about 30 stores in LA. His brother in-law is from Chicago, but now lives in LA. I guess they are now beginning to expand and so far have plans to open four stores in the area. My brother just goes in a set up everthing from the funiture to the computers. The stores in Chicago also are in partnership with one of Jesse Jacksons sons.

Hey Chris, why don't you come back and live in Chicago? It is a WAY better place than the place you left 14 years ago. Screw LA! You belong in Chi-town! :)

Hey Chris, why don't you come back and live in Chicago? It is a WAY better place than the place you left 14 years ago. Screw LA! You belong in Chi-town! :)

Funny, but who knows someone give me job.

How long are you going to be in town???

How long are you going to be in town???

I'm leaving Thursday in the am, its been nice meeting Goonsta, Dampyre, and
qwerty1324. It seems no one else really was all that interested in a meet. I guess I have to be Jada or someone more popular. Anyway Goonsta thank you for the great tours and the tips on taking pictures. Be sure to let me know when you guys are comming to LA, I'll give you the grand tour.

Chris, let us know of your opinion about the changes in Chicago since you left.

Man, I can't wait to see Chris's pics of Chicago. Chrisla is among the best on SSP and SSC of great photo threads. His LA/LB threads are top notch.

Sorry Chris. I really wanted to go and even meet some people in the forum, as I have never met anyone from here, but I've been in school all week and I didn't know where you were.

I'm leaving Thursday in the am, its been nice meeting Goonsta, Damprey, and
qwerty1324. It seems no one else really was all that interested in a meet. I guess I have be Jada or someone more popular. Anyway Goonsta thank you for the great tours and the tips on taking pictures. Be sure to let me know when you guys are comming to LA, I'll give you the grand tour.

Most definately, and thank you.

Yeah I'm still in Chicago, but we will be leaving in a few hours. I'm just waiting for my brother to finished up his business. I had a great time and to those who want to know my thoughts. Well Chicago has come a very long ways, and I'm impressed. It still needs work in a few areas, but so does many american cities. I will be posting my pictures probably sometime next week so look out for them.

Edit: Btw Goonsta I did find Whole Foods, it was on North Avenue. They also had my favorite coffeehouse in the shopping center. Peets is more of a west coast establishment, and more so in the bay area. We do have three location in the LA area, thank god there is one in Long Beach.

^ Great that you came to Chicago. I look forward to your pics.

I don't have much to compare, since I never spent much time (or paid much attention) to Chicago in 1990, which is when you lived there (correct me if I'm wrong). But based on what everybody has said, there has been tons of improvement. I hope you were able to get a good look at some of my favorite aspects of Chicago--it's great boulevards. And not just the ever famous commercial thoroughfares of Lincoln, Halsted, Clark, 26th, etc. but also its gorgeous residential streets. This includes the neighborhoods around Washington Park, Hyde Park, South Shore, and the EVER SO AWESOME Bridgeport (30th through 40th st west of the expressway), along with the ever more famous north side 'hoods.

....and, of course, there's the shitty stuff since 1990. Yes, sadly, many strip malls were also built

I'm leaving Thursday in the am, its been nice meeting Goonsta, Dampyre, and
qwerty1324. It seems no one else really was all that interested in a meet. I guess I have to be Jada or someone more popular. Anyway Goonsta thank you for the great tours and the tips on taking pictures. Be sure to let me know when you guys are comming to LA, I'll give you the grand tour.

It was nice meeting you too. Next time I'm in the LA area I will look you up.

Hope to catch you next time you're in town. . .