Something interesting at the Auto Show

Something interesting at the Auto Show-- well, it certainly isn't food per se. That remains as dire and functional as ever; like O'Hare, McCormick Place is a No-Chow Zone.

However, since the point of going to the show is, if you're 4, to climb inside as many cars as possible, and, if you're 7, to collect as many free things as possible, I am in an excellent position to report on the caliber of swag this year.

Best Tchotchke: a Jeep-branded version of one of those magnetic put-the-beard-on-the-face toys, in which the object is to put "mud" on and take it off the Jeep. Hours of fun.

Best Brochure and Only Food-Related Justification For This Post: Scion, Toyota's line of funky little cars supposedly aimed at Gen Y or Gen Z or whatever Gen we're up to now, publishes one of those oh-so-hip sponsored magazine things that are occasionally the rage in corporate America. And in this case the subject is food, and there are some decent food recs and articles for various cities. (Chicago's recs, for instance, are Avec, Gino's East and Wiener's Circle-- hey, 2 out of 3 ain't bad.) Anyway, for the price (free), not bad reading.

Mike G wrote:Something interesting at the Auto Show-- well, it certainly isn't food per se. That remains as dire and functional as ever; like O'Hare, McCormick Place is a No-Chow Zone.

That may be so for hoi polloi like you, Mike, but last Thursday night at the charity preview it was a different story altogether for me, Mrs. JiLS, Jesse White and a couple of thousand other fortunate folks (n.b.: we got free tix, going rate $200 each, from the kind and generous compliance officer at Mrs. JiLS' firm; Ann, thanks if you are reading this). The whole event was catered - an almost unimaginable feat, considering the size of the show. Most of the major manufacturers had their own food "theme" set up which varied in quality, but there was nothing I tried that was below a solid "B" and there were a couple of really fine selections. On the upper end were the desserts (several locations) and Nissan's food line, which included sushi supplied by Heat on one side and little white chop suey boxes filled with something that looked very tasty but we didn't get around to on the other. Overall, this was like a free (O.K., "free to me") Taste of Chicago, with cars and free booze and climate control, and no barfing kids or portable toilets. I love spending other people's money like that.

Jim - when you are the recipient of the free tickets like that what is the policy regarding the drawings for the cars? Would you and Mrs. JiLS be the lucky owners of a new car or would you be expected to pass it on to the donor of the tix? Always wondered about that but never knew anyone lucky enough to get free tix to the gala opening.

Kman wrote:Jim - when you are the recipient of the free tickets like that what is the policy regarding the drawings for the cars? Would you and Mrs. JiLS be the lucky owners of a new car or would you be expected to pass it on to the donor of the tix? Always wondered about that but never knew anyone lucky enough to get free tix to the gala opening.

Is that a moral question or legal? Regarding legality, I guess I could've kept the car with no reservations. The ticket is similar to a lottery ticket, in that it was payable to the bearer (e.g., there was no name appearing on the ticket). Also arguing by analogy, if you give someone a lottery ticket with no strings attached and it comes in, they are under no legal obligation to pay you part of it. Anyway, it was never discussed, although I suppose I would've kept the car just long enough to sell it (and perhaps split the proceeds with my benefactor, although that's just talk, isn't it?). And of course the donor was there herself and had her own chance to win -- neither of us did, so I suppose the world may never know the real answer to that question.

JimInLoganSquare wrote:

Kman wrote:Jim - when you are the recipient of the free tickets like that what is the policy regarding the drawings for the cars? Would you and Mrs. JiLS be the lucky owners of a new car or would you be expected to pass it on to the donor of the tix? Always wondered about that but never knew anyone lucky enough to get free tix to the gala opening.

Is that a moral question or legal? Regarding legality, I guess I could've kept the car with no reservations. The ticket is similar to a lottery ticket, in that it was payable to the bearer (e.g., there was no name appearing on the ticket). Also arguing by analogy, if you give someone a lottery ticket with no strings attached and it comes in, they are under no legal obligation to pay you part of it. Anyway, it was never discussed, although I suppose I would've kept the car just long enough to sell it (and perhaps split the proceeds with my benefactor, although that's just talk, isn't it?). And of course the donor was there herself and had her own chance to win -- neither of us did, so I suppose the world may never know the real answer to that question.

UPDATE: Mrs. JiLS says that when she received the tickets, our benefactor made it clear that if we won, we were to keep the car, and wished us luck.

JimInLoganSquare wrote:
Is that a moral question or legal?

Really it wasn't intended to be either - just an honest question based upon what I presumed to be perhaps a discussion with the ticket donor about the protocol re: potential large $$ winnings. Sorry if I didn't properly surround the question with enough disclaimers to avoid offense.

Kman wrote:

JimInLoganSquare wrote:
Is that a moral question or legal?

Really it wasn't intended to be either - just an honest question based upon what I presumed to be perhaps a discussion with the ticket donor about the protocol re: potential large $$ winnings. Sorry if I didn't properly surround the question with enough disclaimers to avoid offense.

Yes, because I was highly offended!

JimInLoganSquare wrote:
Yes, because I was highly offended!

Ahhhh, excellent (with fingers tented a la C. Montgomery Burns)! My work here is done!

Mike G wrote:However, since the point of going to the show is, if you're 4, to climb inside as many cars as possible, and, if you're 7, to collect as many free things as possible

must commend Chicago Auto Show for being the most rewarding car show "if you're 4". Having been to a few other domestic auto shows, I noticed in Chicago, even Jaguar, Porsche and MBZ unlocked their cars for all to sample ... big thumbs up!

zilch food content... cept last month, at the Detroit Auto Show, i chose to starve and visit the show halls, instead of eating dim sum in Windsor...