LTHforum picnic: Sunday September 11, 2011 * Reserve Now!

LTHforum's 6th Annual Potluck Picnic

The gathering of the LTHforum clan for the best community picnic in Chicago. We are following in the footsteps of many a small town's picnic, which almost nobody experiences without driving deep into the country. Fortunately just about everyone knows each other or if we don't, we surely will now.

Date: Sunday, September 11th – Rain or Shine!

Where: Labagh Woods, Grove 1

Shelter in grove 1 (image by Steve Z)



Driving: Take 94 to the Foster Avenue Exit, then turn right (west) until the stoplight at Cicero Avenue. Turn right (north) onto Cicero Avenue for a few hundred yards. Turn right (east) at the LaBagh Woods Forest Preserve sign. Follow the road over US 94 and keep to the left to reach the lot.

Follow the red arrow (image by Ramon)


Time:
- 9 AM (or earlier by arrangement): I will arrive to reconfirm our picnic permit. Smokers and grillers may arrive to begin their cooks.
- 10:30 AM: Help with tidying up, arranging tables and supplies.
- 11:30 AM: Appetizers/Lunch/Desserts (Food will be coming out in waves as they are cooked or as people arrive. It is truly a miraculous vision: Food shows up and people eat it!)
- 5:30ish - Begin tidying up - please note this is everyone's effort.
- 7:00 PM: Sunset - party over followed by the Park District chaining the driveway.

Fee: Free!

This is a true do-it-ourselves event where we bring food to share, help set up and clean up. Please advise if you can come early or help later with tidying up. This picnic will leave pleasant memories for all of us when we share the load.

Reserve: By replying on this thread. Cathy2, MHays and The GP are teaming up to maintain the reservations list, which can always be seen here (well, not quite yet). Please alert us to any errors. From time to time, we will post a recap on this thread.

Everyone joining in this event is expected to contribute in food and keeping the event orderly.

New! BBQ smokers and Grills: Please arrange your equipment in the front area, just off the main walk into the shelter. Sure a blast of wind from the wrong direction might send smoke into the shelter. Consider it a shared experience.

Laikom and friends with an improvised smoker, 2010 (Image by G Wiv)


BYOT & BYOC: Seating is at a premium with only ten picnic tables provided with the shelter. These will be filled with all kinds of food. If you want to guarantee a seat, bring your own. Ditto for tables. There are lovely grounds for sitting on a blanket. You might consider setting up your seating behind the walls of the shelter.

Shelter interior with all the tables covered with food (Image by Attrill)


Whatever food you choose to bring, please make sure to keep hot food hot and cold food cold

If you are better at ordering take-out, then consider bringing the following:

- Tables and chairs (we might get as many as ten benches from the park district)
- Offer to bring bread from local bakers
- Beverages
- Cheese or salamis
- Water and Ice is always nice!

According to David Hammond, who graciously stored last year's unused supplies, we only need paper towels, napkins, paper plates and plastic tableclothes to cover tables. We do not need:
- Plastic table settings or cups
- Baby wipes for cleaning hands
- Plastic garbage bags
- Take away boxes, we have a large collection of clamshell boxes.

If you can bring a bag to collect recyclables to bring home and dispose, that would be terrific.

Picnic Permit Rules and Regulations wrote:…
3. The Forest Preserve District is closed to all visitors after SUNSET. Night picnics are not permitted. Glass beverage containers are not permitted on the Forest Preserve District property.
…
5. The sale of alcoholic beverages in any form is prohibited.
6. Before leaving, you must extinguish all fires; collect all your paper debris, bottles and trash and deposit them in the appropriate containers.
…
10. All ordinances and regulations in effect of the Forest Preserve District must be observed and the instructions of its representatives obeyed. Please note that the consumption of alcohol upon or within 50 feet of any roadway, parking area or entranceway is prohibit. No admission fees or charges may be levied.
…

Alcohol consumption is allowed in this grove. As stated above, you cannot bring any glass bottles. BYOB -- if you share with someone then it is gift you're sharing.

From talking to the Cook County Forest Preserve Police, the consequences of a violation are: At a minimum two tickets with fines and mandatory court appearances will be issued: to the violator and the person named on the permit. Let's end the day feeling happy.

Please reserve by posting below with what you plan to bring to the picnic, where it fits into the meal and how many are attending:

Appetizer
Bread
Cheese/Sausage (to be sliced)
Side Dishes
Salads
Main course
Snacks
Desserts
Alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages

Please advise if your food needs heating, grilling or smoking. Plan to bring your own equipment unless you have arranged to share grill space on someone elses. If you have a tabletop grill, then be prepared to have it sit on the ground.

We have a special spot in our hearts for unique and weird food. Things you never thought you'd have an opportunity to eat.

Let's do this again, because it worked well last year: If you have small bites to easily pick up, consider walking through the crowd offering tastes to people.

Crazy C’s smuggled on the hoof Jamon (image by G Wiv)


***

Adjacent to our picnic area is a large field for games, advise if you can organize a game or two. MHays is organizing a pinata filled with candy whimsies.

And yes we will have more...Pinata Creatures!(Image by Ronnie Suburban)


Mom and Dad: Keep an eye on the kids. If someone else keeps an eye on them, you can be assured they are not enjoying themselves as fully as they'd like.

On the grove’s premises are flush toilets and water to clean your hands.

Waste not, want not: We encourage everyone to bring food storage containers, tupperware, ziplocs or plastic bags. We know there will be food to feed more than will be present, so please take home leftovers to enjoy the party just a wee bit longer the next day. Just remember there are serving plates and other people's plates! Pick your leftover goodies from serving plates!

We are not encouraging people to bring pets. There will be lots of noise, people, fire, food, liquor and kids. Even the best behaved beast may not respond well in these conditions. Promise them a good walk and lots of love when you return home, please. I am leaving my cat at home, who does not like to be without me. We all understand these sacrifices.

Come with the classic LTHforum open spirit to break bread with friends who share your culinary interests.

Jazzfood's cavolo nero (image by Khaopaat)


Now come out to eat and play!

Regards,

Hi,

I will reserve for Mom1, Mom2, my only Dad, sister Laura and niece Brittany (2).

Not yet sure what food I will bring.

Regards,

Reserving for 1; contribution TBD. Looking forward to it!

I'll bring some sort of a meat-based appetizer.

I'll be there. So will the Chow Poodle. I'm not yet sure what dish I will be bringing.

Jonathan & I look forward to attending. I'll bring a dessert TBD...

I will attend and be bringing...food (genus and species to be determined). We close on our new house the next day and I can't think of anything I'd rather do the day before!

Wouldn't miss it--probably bringing a +1 as well. Contribution TBD.

Reserve 2 for DRC1379 and FlavorFool. Contributions TBD.

Can't wait!

Please put down glennpan +2. We can't wait to be there!!

Leaning towards bringing Uncle John's hot links.

I'll be there with Mike! We will be bringing moo ping (Thai grilled pork on skewers), so we will need grill space! And possibly Singapore pork candy/jerky if it doesn't "disappear" before then!

Count on JoelF and SueF -- Sue will bring some kind of dessert, Joel's not sure yet (Ghetto Banana Blossom Salad? Almond Soup?)

Hi- put down irisarbor +5 for now,
Thinking Gourmet Guacamole, and of course sweet Tea!

There will be three of us coming the picnic. Sounds like a lot of fun. I will bring an appetizer and a slaw salad. Looking forward to it.

I would like to reserve 4 spots.

I will bring a fudgy, carmelish desert of some sort...details soon to follow!

I'm in +2. I can bring paper plates and napkins, as for food it's still TBD. When I figure out who I have to drive I'll let you know if I can either come early to set up or stay later to break down, it will probably be the latter. I'm looking forward to one of my favorites events of the year.

I'm in +2.

Currently, I'm planning to bring Maybe-Not-the-World's-Greatest-Cookie, Certainly-Nothing-"Great"-by -justjoan's-Standards, But-Decent-Enough-And-Definitely-Crisp-and-Not-In-Any-Sense-a-Bar

I'll be there, +2 (perhaps +3, we'll see). Dish TBD.

In for two, please! Will make a savory tart of some kind.

I'm in +3...meat-centric dish tbd. I'll probably bring some sort of adult beverage, too.

Please note: As Cathy posted above, glass containers of any type are strictly forbidden on Forest Preserve Property. Please, help us comply fully with this rule.

=R=

Ooooh, I'm in +3. TBD on what to bring.

RAB + REB. Appetizer TBD.

Thanks,
Ronna

Rsvping for Foodie1, husband & kiddie

Will be bringing a few things:
BLT pasta salad (bacon, leek & tomato)
Orzo pasta salad
Raspberry lemon scones

French Baguette + 1 can hardly wait to finally attend an annual LTHforum picnic! We'll bring homemade sausage banh mi style and ice. Grill space needed if available - otherwise sausage will come pre-grilled.

I'll be there. I'm thinking of going retro with a Coca-Cola Cake with Broiled Peanut Butter Icing and also Mai Tai's.

I'll be there. I'll more than likely bring Scottish shortbread, because I think Irisarbor has come to depend on it, but if I have time, I'll try to come up with something else, as well.

There will be four of us:
Razbry - Chris
Razbry's Mom - Clara
Razbry's Nephew - Bryce
Razbry's Niece to be - Kirsten

I will be bringing a chocolate and fresh raspberry tart and a raspberry/lemon fluff (desert)

Can't wait!!!!!

I'm in +2. I'll be making some sort of grilled meat - most likely will be a main course scaled down to appetizer sized portions. Someone can use use my grill after I'm done with it as well (most likely be available to use after 11:30 or noon). If someone needs grill space just PM me and let me know about how long you'll need it. It will be a large drum smoker with lump charcoal.

Looking forward to it!

I will be there w/crew of 3. Jazzfood Fiancée, Jazzfood Sister, Deluxe. TBD.

I will be there with Fifille. dish TBD