But I'll be here - and yes - let's get that party going!

I need some idea of numbers - who's gonna be here? email me at dorma4clark at wildeyejames dot com. Arrival and departure days helpful - we don't want to step on any ykos activities or events...so maybe before or after the serious stuff would be best.

:-)

Ideas welcome!

per registration fee plus a couple hundred bucks per night hotel fee, maybe I'm not there. It looks like Dorma will be having house guests of unprecedented numbers. Tents? But we've still got to figure out some CCN shindig.

Wes 08

Now...if only I coulda been there early enuff on Wednesday for the ballgame....RATS!! "Looouuuuu!"

n/t

I left this comment at the conference site: 

What a thrill! This is a much improved line up, so happy to see it!

It was so wonderful to hear Howard Dean last year, I really walked away with a strong conviction that together we can make this a stronger union, that we can work for the higher good of the most people instead of devoting our resources to destructive policies that ultimately seem to serve the elite.

And General Clark is a bona fide American hero like no other. Generosity of spirit, a can do attitude, brilliant visionary & has a love of country that truly transcends our denuded state of partisan politics.

Together with Dick Durbin, you've just landed the three hardest working, smartest men in Democratic circles. Kudos.

I'm already packing!! :)

"Freedom and dignity spring from within the human heart...And inside the human heart is where the impetus for political change must be generated." --General Wesley Clark

Lollapalooza is the same weekend and almost all the hotels in the Loop are booked, and the prices are being jacked through the roof for hotels on Michigan Ave for this weekend. Seriously, if you want to go, don't wait.

If you are not big on frills, Best Western River North is a very clean, very nice, remodeled hotel with FREE parking (RARE in Chitown), and is 2.5 blocks from the El. Lowest rate in the area for a decent place. Plus, indoor swimming pool, close to food, etc.

Thanks! We got into the original hotel because last year, we failed to do so & had to walk literally 40 minutes between our hotel & the lobby area of the actual conference itself- and we were in the next building over, across the street - it was REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY unpleasant because the round trip was so very long, so we tried not to make the same mistake this time! 

But I do appreciate the advice. 

I was at that summer of Lolapalooza too, but in New Hope, New Jersey- it's funny to think about now. Perry Farrel was berating the audience, telling us how we looked like little wriggling worms.

I thought Dorma was coming for sure :( but :) maybe we can all still hook up somehow? We are definitely wanting to visit Second City if possible

We have tickets for a Phillies game on the Wednesday... .? anyone? Richsez? Susan & pooch?

:)  

And stay in the burbs where I used to live for $55/night.

I don't know if the ykos bunch is arranging shuttles - but they should. There is but ONE hotel connected to the convention center.

Chicago is infamous for price gouging when big conventions are in town. YKos is no Radiology show, or International Machine Tool Show, those usually attract around 20,000 folks - and the hotels go mad with power. However, it will be the height of the tourist season.

If you are planning on going, I recommend that you have a good look at google maps - and check the mileage from where you are planning on staying to McCormick - which by the way, is in and of itself - H U G E. Good walking shoes will be a MUST.

(I have absolutely NO idea why the heck ykos booked there - I just can't suss it out. Absolute maddness in my humble opinion as a veteran of many years of trade show and event work...I'm not trying to diss them or their organizers, but jeebus - not the best choice at all for a show with less than 5000 attendees...anyhoo)

The bright side is that you probably won't have any trouble getting a nice air conditioned cab. And the cab stand at McCormick is second to none - runs (or used to) like a well oiled machine.

I'll be checking my email for party ideas.

The current Second City show is an Obama love fest - despite the title indicating otherwise. Geesh. And they're sold out weeks in advance. But there's always something fun at the second tier stage, Second City ETC. And you could meet Kramer aka Britethorn.

I also work at this great little tavern - it's in Bucktown which is about 20 minutes north of the loop (McCormick is the the exact opposite direction - wah) where we could have a fun get-together maybe on a Sunday afternoon - or maybe we could arrange a Saturday brunch or dinner in the loop - or my backyard (it's tiny, but loaded with character...)- I'm about 12 miles from McCormick though - Chicago is a big city...or maybe a lakeside picnic, complete with custom printed kites that say Clark 08 (a girl can dream.)

Let me know who's gonna be here when! And if I can kick some inlaws out of the house for the weekend, perhaps I'll have sleeping room as well.

...for Lollapalooza is 150,000 people--possibly more--all decending on the Grant Park area the same weekend as KOS convention.  That is the biggest reason why the hotels are so high this particular weekend.  Lolla executed a huge contract with the City of Chicago for five years and there will continue to be tremendous price gouging of hotels the Lolla weekend.

If you want to avoid the huge crowds and lines for taxis, stay far, far away from Grant Park.

Well, that's gonna really be insane.

...the convention center and is essentially on the same street (as you know). Traffic in the area is going to be absolutely insane that weekend! So, so glad I have a CTA pass!

it's gonna be a pretty frenetic weekend!

Whoo-hah..oh my oh my...

CTA passes - EXCELLENT idea and all of you who are planning to be here should indulge. You can pick up a 7 day pass for $20, and that gets you unlimited rides anywhere you need to go.

Enough can't be said about the CTA system in Chicago. Bus, El, everywhere. Easy to get around, easy to remember what line you took and where you need to jump ship. And much, much cheaper than taking a taxi everywhere (though the Chicago cabbies are very, very friendly).

From O'Hare, the blue line leaves from right inside the airport. It couldn't be any easier.

I checked Best Western River North at the Best Western site (didn't look into discount travel sites though) and three nights with an AARP discount after taxes costs well over $900, and they only had rooms with one King Size Bed, no doubles.

But by following leads at a Chicago Visitors site I found rooms at a downtown Holiday Inn; cost about $625 with taxes for Thrusday Friday and Saturday (about $25 cheaper if you get one King Bed rather than 2 Doubles). The Best Western was about 5.4 miles away from the Convention though you could take the train from there. The Holiday Inn is 4.5 miles away, and though mass transit really doesn't work from it, I was told a cab ride would be about $8 to $10.

The bitch is that the charge is non refundable under any circumstances once you make it. However the Holiday Inn will let you add names to the room and those people can then use the room even if it turns out you can't go yourself, so chances are good you can get someone else to pay for the room for you if you end up not going. Actually I paid an extra $20 a night so that I could register the room for 4 people, to keep all options open. The numbers I gave above are for two occupants.

AND I'M NOT EVEN CERTAIN I CAN GO YET (but I think I can!).

So here is the link:

http://tinyurl.com/2gco4o

...to check out that Holiday Inn before you book. It might not be in such a great area and it may not be what you are expecting. I am not familiar with the one you are talking about but some locals might be.

Usually, Best Western River North is about $149 a night. Obviously, they too are taking advantage of the demand brought on by Lollapalooza and conventions that weekend. I checked a lot of hotels and there are very, very, very few rooms that have double beds available that weekend.

I hope all those that get to hear the General have a superb time! Wave to me when you drive past...I will be the one in the crowd of 150,000 with the really, really bad sunburn. :-/

There's three that I checked out and used google maps to get an idea of the areas. The first two I know the areas pretty well...

350 N Orleans St is approximately 4.1 miles from McCormick - it's right by Merchandise Mart, River North Area, just north of the river. Nice enough, lots of galleries and lofty type buildings. A walk across south across the bridge brings you to Wacker Drive and into the loop. Also very close to L trains, which can get you into the loop. Sadly, there are no trains that go to McCormick - we're actually having a bit of a transportation crisis right now, they're talking about bumping up fares during rush hour to $3.25 a pop. If you're just going back and forth to McCormick, cabs are best!

Then there's a Holiday Inn at 640 N Wabash Ave which google maps tell me is 4.2 miles from the convention center. This is also on the northside of the loop and north of the river, and just two or three blocks off the Mag Mile. Nice area, good pizza (Pizzaria Uno nearby, just plan on w-a-i-t-i-n-g but worth the wait if ya have the time!)

I don't really know the area around 506 W Harrison St; it's just west of the loop, I think this is around Greektown? Great restaurants, more lofty buildings. Closest to McCormick at only 3 miles, but not really a great "walk about" area. But if you're here for ykos, then it's a good bet I would guess.

If you can get into the BestWestern at River North, you're in the same area (more or less) as the other two Holiday Inns, and no matter how you look at it, unless you're in the Hilton at McCormick, you're just gonna have to bite the bullet and do the cab thing.

If ykos manages to book a block of rooms elsewhere, you might have a look at that too. (As I write this, I'm trying to refrain from going nuts again about 'why-the-hell-McCormick-Place-whos-idea-was-that???' I'm trying, but it's not working. :-P )

Maybe a Clarkie get together at one of those Greek Restaurants would be swell!! Ooooopah! We could have flaming cheese!!

I just celebrated by birthday there in April with one of my Chitown girlfriends. Great, authentic Greek food and parking is not very much of an issue.

I highly recommend calling Santorini's for reservations, though. They are very busy all the time.

KENNEL THAT POOCH!! :) 

He'll hear you!

there in spirit

and all atwitter

C'mon General Clark...let's give them something to talk about!

Dorma reserved a space at Grace O'Malley's for 6-9 and we're collecting RSVPs. Anyone who has expressed interest already, either in this thread or at Dorma's blog http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/12323#comment-215793
is on the list. We'll keep watching for more here at CCN or you can email Dorma or me directly.

and I reserved my room as well.