Thanks, Louisa, for posting the information.

Happy new year, to you, too!

=R=

Mhays wrote:(does he even have a TV, and if so, is it digital?)

bwwaaaahhhaaaaahhaaa! Thanks for the New Year's Eve chuckle!

Great. Thanks so much. A Viewing Party would be nice. Or alternately maybe clusters of viewing parties if any one would want to open their homes to small groups of people living in different areas. Come to my house but you have to pass through a metal detector. Just kidding.

I would love to participate in a viewing party-
happy to pitch in with food or $ as appropriate.
My TV or home do not accomodate large numbers, however.....

yay! looking forward to seeing this.

irisarbor wrote:I would love to participate in a viewing party-
happy to pitch in with food or $ as appropriate.
My TV or home do not accomodate large numbers, however.....

Years ago on chowhound, a rather private member came up with a great idea for interacting without meeting. We would all collect food from a caterer, then go home, get on-line, then discuss the food as we ate it. It amused me to no end the thought of virtual community virtually dining via the internet.

Instead, Mike G decided to host this meal at his home. However when his wife learned all these people he knew from the internet were coming. Well, it was a shock to her system, too.

I could definitely see a virtual viewing party, though meeting up is far more pleasant.

Regards,

I'd definitely be up for a viewing party, if one is planned. And I'm with Cathy2 -- more fun with actual humans.

We have space, but only a small TV. And, we'd have to get chairs. It might work here, and we love hosting LTH gatherings.

I know the park district by me will rent out a room for $30/hr... the trick would be getting the cable/satelline working, and probably a projector. None of that's insurmountable, but I don't have the right equipment. I could enquire if they have cable service.

Hi,

While Burt's is the guy we know best in this episode. Calumet Fisheries, LTH regular Rene G and other Chicago establishments will be part of this episode.

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:While Burt's is the guy we know best in this episode. Calumet Fisheries, LTH regular Rene G and other Chicago establishments will be part of this episode.

Don't we know Rene G best?

Louisa Chu wrote:

Cathy2 wrote:While Burt's is the guy we know best in this episode. Calumet Fisheries, LTH regular Rene G and other Chicago establishments will be part of this episode.

Don't we know Rene G best?

Yeah, you're right. It just seemed the Burt angle was getting played prominently when there were other people and eating establishements involved, too.

Regards,

Louisa Chu wrote:
Don't we know Rene G best?

Do any of us really know Rene G? He is so mysterious!

JoelF wrote:I know the park district by me will rent out a room for $30/hr... the trick would be getting the cable/satelline working, and probably a projector. None of that's insurmountable, but I don't have the right equipment. I could enquire if they have cable service.

OK -- I got a response back from the park district: The "Weiss Center" on Euclid ave. between Wolf and 83 has a room for $30/hr with a 36" TV (I'm still checking about the Travel Channel). Does that sound like a good idea? It's about 15 minutes or so from Burt's, and it is waaay out in the burbs, but it could work.

Works for me. If we get a crowd, it would be just a few bucks each. And I suspect we could convince people to bring food.

That would work for me, and I would be glad to bring food

Can we bring beer? Some park districts don't allow it, but there's nothing better with Burt's pizza.

Isn't Burt's closed on Mondays?

abe_froeman wrote:Isn't Burt's closed on Mondays?

Burt's is closed Monday & Tuesday.

stevez wrote:

abe_froeman wrote:Isn't Burt's closed on Mondays?

Burt's is closed Monday & Tuesday.

Waaaaaaaaaaah!!!

Doesn't that leave us in a better position to kidnap Burt and lead him to the new Milleneum, and then deposit him back gently where he belongs?

Just a thought if you're seriously considering including Burt in this event; you would do well to solidify your plans ASAP and ask him well before the air date. I mentioned all of this to him and he knew nothing about it. No one from No Reservations had called him to even notify him of the episode being run.

It's not my place to pressure anyone, I'm just sayin'...

Buddy

nr706 wrote:Can we bring beer? Some park districts don't allow it, but there's nothing better with Burt's pizza.

Wish we could. The website says we can't for their community room, but they are associated with the Rob Roy clubhouse that does allow it (and is probably more expensive). (website: http://www.rtpd.org/Rentals_Banquets/index.html)

nr706 wrote:Can we bring beer? Some park districts don't allow it, but there's nothing better with Burt's pizza.

Let's not count our chickens -- the beer is probably right out, but I'm not sure they'll let us stay past their normal closing time of 9-ish.
I have an email into the coordinator at the RTPD, if all is good I'll reserve the room.

OK -- it's time to make some decisions. I've got a spot in the burbs possible, Aschie30 has a restaurant west of the loop. Which criteria matter?

Central Chicago location vs Suburban location
Beer available vs ability to bring a variety of food

Please let us know ASAP, and we'll set up the Event.

well, speaking selfishly as a far north surburbanite, I vote suburbs LOL,
but would go with the flow

Are there enough people interested to have two sites - city and suburban?

I'm a little late posting . . . I got sidetracked with some other things. I've been in touch with JoelF and the real downside to the park district (at least it's a real downside to me ) is no liquor. Tony B. wouldn't approve.

I wanted to float this out there to gauge interest, but I'm more than willing to open up my house for a gathering. I can fit about 25-30 people, with about 15 seated, if interest gets that high. I've got two TVs available in an open kitchen/living room -- a 42" plasma and a smaller LCD, and another 36" in a den with a few more seats. I'm more than willing to host booze, and we can work out the details later for food, but I was thinking that maybe everyone can bring something, and I'll provide some chili, as well as plates/forks and soft drinks. This might be a snag for some, but I'm located in West Town (approximately W. Chicago/N. Ashland), but there is generally plenty of street parking.

I thought I'd offer this up as it seemed like it wasn't the easiest task to find a place big enough, and that had TVs, and that was open late, and that allowed booze.

If you're interested, please post here or PM me.

Vive Tony Bourdain!

aschie30 -- sorry, I was confused, I thought you ran a restaurant, which we could use for the event

JoelF wrote:aschie30 -- sorry, I was confused, I thought you ran a restaurant, which we could use for the event

No, Chez Aschie30 is not (yet) a restaurant, but nevertheless, I can easily accommodate a group, I have TVs, I have the Travel Channel, I allow beer/liquor, and LTHers are more than welcome to come by.