LTHforum's 12th Annual Picnic, September 24, 2017 - Sign up!

Usually wait for the least pleasant winter day to post on the picnic. Just when we thought we missed winter's snow, we now have appropriately cold and snowy weather. This save-the-date for our annual picnic offers dreams of a better day

We have our permit, thus date and location are now etched in stone:

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Where: Labagh Woods, Grove 1

As always, there will be plenty of delightful edible surprises ...

This is informational only to get this date on your calendars. Invitation will be issued a month before, only afterwards will food and people attending be required to reserve your spot.

See you in September!

Regards,
Cathy2

It has shown in the past by my birthday, 2-24 so I missed running here and not seeing the date posted. Thanks.

LTHforum's 12th Annual Potluck Picnic

Our tradition of the best potluck picnic carries on and on and on! We're all friends and yet there is a bit of a competitive spirit in wishing to offer your best. We're all looking forward to whatever you wish to share from a favorite dish to something you always wanted to try, we know we'll love it all!

If you need a few ideas, why not consider preparing a dish you learned about on LTH. A dish you never thought to make until someone posting their experience made it come alive and jump high on your must do list. Of course, everyone will be thrilled to eat what you know best.

Some offerings are collaborative such as the Little Tiki Hut, 2015 (Image by Ronnie Suburban)


Though individual efforts like Josephine's Maryland stuffed ham are welcome, too!

(Steve Z)


Date: Sunday, September 24th – Rain or Shine!

Where: Labagh Woods, Grove 1

Shelter in grove 1 (image by Steve Z)



Driving:
From the north:
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 left (east) at the LaBagh Woods Forest Preserve sign. Follow the road over US 94 and keep to the left to reach the lot.
Or
From the north, take the Edens (I-94) to the Cicero exit. Go 3 1/2 blocks south on Cicero to the Labagh Woods entrance on the left, then follow the road over the expressway and keep to the left to enter our grove 1.

From the south:
Exit from the Edens Expressway/I-94 at Foster Avenue. Turn west toward Cicero Avenue, then turn north (right) onto Cicero Avenue staying in the right lane. There is an entrance to Labagh Woods on the right. Follow the road over the expressway and kept to the left to enter our grove 1.

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.
- 11:00 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!
(If you want to try everything, come early and stay late ... don't begin to kvetch if it is gone when you show up fashionably late! )
- 2:00 pm - Pinata breaking (children must bring their parents)
- 5:00ish - Begin tidying up - please note this is everyone's effort.
- 6:30 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. Your information will be maintained on this reservations list, which can always be checked. 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/or supplies, keeping the event orderly and tidy up as you go.

Shelter interior with food laden tables (image by Steve Z)
(Steve Z)

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.

Crazy C’s smuggled on the hoof Jamon, 2010 (image by G Wiv)


BYOT & BYOC: Seating is at a premium with only 10 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.

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 10 benches from the park district)
- Bring take out!
- Beverages*
- Cheese or salamis
- Water and Ice is always nice!*

*If you commit and later find you cannot attend, please give advance warning. People may want to keep a stash of water in case there are shortages (like a few years ago).

Supplies from last year were used at irisarbor's Mardi Gras party last February and via Laikom's series of lakefront picnics and grill parties. We found life was made easier for everyone by simply using supplies for ongoing community events.

We will need paper plates, paper napkins, plastic cups and some baby wipes. Check the list to find out what is still needed or send a PM to Cathy2 with any questions.

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 (in original plastic) is otherwise a-ok.

Tents sized no more than 10x10 are allowed. Anything larger will require a permit.

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. 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 works so well: If you have small bites to easily pick up, consider walking through the crowd offering tastes to people.

***

Adjacent to our picnic area is a large field for games, advise if you can organize a game or two.

There will be a pinata filled with candy whimsies organized by glennpan and paid by LTHforum's owners.



(Images by Steve Z)

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 portapottys plus brick-and-mortar 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. When you are ready to leave and getting a container to go, please be considerate of those who may still be eating. Take a modest portion of any dish, especially if it just arrived.

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.

Now come out to eat and play!

Regards,
Cathy2

Thanks, Cathy! Julie and I will be there. Contributions tbd.

=R=

Moetchandon & I will be there. I'll bring some sort of beers (no glass), and a meaty appetizer.

I look forward to it.

Will update later with my contribution.

Sue and I wouldn't miss it for the world. Not a clue what we'd bring yet.

Lord Barnyard (Peter Cooper) and I look forward to this great LTH tradition. We are conferring and will let you know our contribution as we get closer. See you in September! Celia Rodee

I'm planning on being there. Life is completely out of control right now, and between now and the picnic I'm moving and going out of town, so no idea and no time to come up with idea as to what I'll bring. Maybe, if no one else volunteers, I'll bring ice. Or paper cups. Or something that doesn't involve cooking, since it's unlikely I will have unpacked all my kitchen gear by then.

I'm looking forward to attending my first LTH Picnic and will bring my husband. I will think of a worthy contribution and post soon.

In for 2, Leek (Lee) and Leekman (David)

Thank you

I will be there with Sage Hagy and possibly one of her daughters. I will be coming from Milwaukee and will bring a dessert of some kind that can tolerate spending time in my car. Sage will bring some kind of food, if she tells me what it is in advance I will share it with you.

Sage can't come so it will be just me with a dessert or something from the farmer's market at Harvest Fest.

Jenny

My Bride and I always look forward to this every year. Always a fall highlight!

Our contribution will be my favorite of the year, Ooey Gooey Potatoes. I will be making them onsite in my dutch oven on Smoker Row.

Thanks, as always, for your work on this event!

After missing last year due to our GOT-Outlander vaca, we wouldn't dream of missing this year's event.
Items TBD but am contemplating (adult) jello shots
plus an app of some sort.
E+ Frank
Laura + crew also a possibility, will firm them up soon

Please put us down for 3, Glennpan, Andrea, and Gabe. We will bring the pinata!

I will be attending, with either 1-2 extra people. More information on what I'll be bringing in a short while. Thanks for organizing!

glennpan wrote:Please put us down for 3, Glennpan, Andrea, and Gabe. We will bring the pinata!

Yay! Thank you for taking this on.

Thanks to Octarine for lording over the pinata the last few years. MHays did a fine job on the pinata a few times!

Thanks to Ramon who kicked off the pinata idea long ago!

Regards,
Cathy2

Chouxfly and I will be there with bells on!

mamagotcha wrote:Chouxfly and I will be there with bells on!

Will Lincoln be very far behind?

Mrs. JiLS and I will be attending. We will bring a dessert.

Please count Foodie1 + my better half + friend to the picnic!

Still thinking about what to bring... so TBD

The Chow Poodle and I will be there. Haven't missed one yet!

We'll be driving back from Michigan that morning, so we'll probably bring something Michigan-related.

Cabbagehead and I will be there. Contribution TBD, but I'm thinking it may include something made from the 20+ lbs. of Damson plums I bought Saturday at the Evanston Farmer's Market.

Looking forward to continuing my unbroken string of attendance, as well as my tradition of bringing sliced Will Special sandwiches from Riviera Italian Grocery (--perhaps a minor tradition in the Grand Scheme of Things, but one a number of us feel deserves longevity.)

labmom53 will attend, too, although she's still deciding upon what to bring.

--Matt

Cathy2 wrote:

mamagotcha wrote:Chouxfly and I will be there with bells on!

Will Lincoln be very far behind?

He'll be running ahead, with visions of piñatas in his noggin!

mhl wrote:Looking forward to continuing my unbroken string of attendance, as well as my tradition of bringing sliced Will Special sandwiches from Riviera Italian Grocery (--perhaps a minor tradition in the Grand Scheme of Things, but one a number of us feel deserves longevity.)

--Matt

It is a solid tradition in my book and one I look forward to every year.

Thank you!

Regards,
Cathy

Master reservation list is here.

Screen name Dish type Dish Name # of Guests
Cathy2 3
Laura 1
fifille 1
Octarine 1
Glennpann Supplies Pinata 3
Ronnie Suburban 1
Julie Suburban 1
Helen Appetizers Egg Rolls 1
Felix 1
Stephen 1
Ellen F 1
Nr706 Beverages Beer 1
Nr706 Appetizers Meaty 0
Moetchandon 1
Pairs4Life 1
JoelF 1
SueF 1
kalamazoogal 1
Lord Barnyard 1
Cynthia Supplies 1
Simmie22 2
Leek 1
LeekMan 1
JennyIL Dessert 1
Sage 2
Panther in the Den Ooey Gooey Potatoes 2
IrisArbor Other Jello Shots 2
Laura & friends Appetizers 3
Swingbossa 3
JimInLoganSquare Dessert 2
foodie1 3
SteveZ 2
EvA 2
mhl Main Will Special sandwiches, Riviera Italian Grocery 1
labmom53 1

After missing last year I'm very happy that I can make it for this year! Put me down for myself and 2 guests (Donna and Harper).

I'm working with a group of others to plan a theme (like we've done in the past). If anyone needs grill space please let me know, we should have some open slots for grilling. I also have a bunch of other grills that I can't fit in my car, so if anyone wants to drive a grill up there I'm just off Milwaukee Ave. by the Congress and I can loan out some large grills. Just PM me for grill/grill space requests.

I'm really looking forward to making it this year! There will be more details to come as we work out our menu.

Attrill wrote: I also have a bunch of other grills that I can't fit in my car, so if anyone wants to drive a grill up there I'm just off Milwaukee Ave. by the Congress and I can loan out some large grills. Just PM me for grill/grill space requests.
.

This type of generosity moves me just as much, if not more, than the breaking of bread. I just love this spirit of sharing and building community.

Thanks Chris!

Alas {sort of}, I will be off in Japan this day attending the Blue Note Jazz Festival in Yokohama; headlined by Steely Dan's Donald Fagen and the Nightflyers.
I will take lots of photographs of ramen bowls while there.