LTHforum Picnic, Sunday, September 13th - everyone come!

LTHforum's 4th Annual Picnic - the Best Potluck on Earth!

Date: Sunday, September 13th – Rain or Shine!

New Location!

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
- 1:00 PM: Lunch (Note food will be coming out in waves as they are cooked or as people arrive)
- 3:30 PM: Desserts
- 5:30ish - Begin tidying up - please note this is everyone's effort.
- 7:15 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.

Food Table(s) Early On, 2008 (Image by SteveZ)


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
- Plastic table settings*, paper plates* or cups* (from Costco, Sams Club)
- Baby wipes for cleaning hands
- Plastic garbage bags
- Ice is always nice!

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 last year, I learned the consequences of a violation. At a minimum two tickets with fines and mandatory court appearances will be issued: to the violator and the person named on the permit. It's my name on the permit. I want to end the day feeling happy, do you catch my drift?

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
Non-alcoholic beverages
Tablesettings*, paper products*, garbage bags

(*There are some leftover paper goods from the 5th anniversay. An inventory will be on the spreadsheet will be posted soon after this invitation.)

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.

***

Adjacent to our picnic area is a large field for games. Ramon is promising another pinata filled with candy whimsies. He's already visited the grove to check out the trees.

Some fun swinging...Pinata (Image by Irisarbor)


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.

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.

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

Bacon Explosion Money Shot (SteveZ)


Now come out to eat and play!

Regards,

People who signed up on the earlier Save-The-Date thread:

Guest

Cathy2 4
chapulin 2
Chow Poodle 1
jimswside 4 ABTs, wings, Armadillo
jimwdavis 1
JoelF 2
Josephine 1
laikom 1
Mhays 3
Panther In The Den 2
razbry 1 Raspberry dessert
Ronnie_Suburban 4
SteveZ 1 Bacon explosion
Stonecutter 1
tatterdemalion 1
Ursiform 1

Total 30

Supplies leftover from 5th anniversary party - Bolded items where we would need more:

7" dessert plates - 400
Aluminum pan
Coffee/wine cups - 64
Dinner plates - 75
Forks - 243
Knives - 39
Napkin wrapped knife, fork, spoon - 43 sets
Pie servers - 3
Plastic serving utensils - 4
Plastic tray
Salt/Pepper shakers
Spoons - 65
Sterno - 4
Styrofoam take-out box - 60

Please count moetchandon and me in. Not sure what we'll be bringing yet ...

Please add me to the guest list.

I haven't yet decided what to bring, but I could always further expand my expertise in soft drinks and picnic supplies, if that is what's needed most.

Ursiform + the Picky Eater will be attending, thanks!

Having grown up in Springfield, I'd like to bring Art's Tamales and Chilli (spelled in the Springfield fashion, of course), but I'm not sure how I'd keep them hot. Does that seem like a feasible picnic offering or shall I consider this further?

Please put me +1 on the list, will update with food and/or supplies bringing with.

Man, I woulda sworn we had replied earlier but no matter. We will be there, albeit a bit later (teaching duties supervene).

Lovely Dining Companion + Gypsy Boy

I will be there. Will post later on food selection.

Jyoti

I plan to bring Portuguese chourico and to grill it with fresh pineapple as seen at this year's Feast of the Blessed Sacrament in New Bedford, MA. Grill space, anyone? This could be considered an appetizer. (I doubt anyone wants to give up precious stomach space to an entire chourico.)

I am in, and it will be me + 3

I would be bringing my 22" Weber grill if I do ABT's, and would have space.

I am pulling an all-nighter on Saturday, and smoking a large butt for some pulled pork.

I might also be doing some ABT's.

Count me in + 2. I will update with food. I'm so excited.

We've been looking forward to this event. It looks like such a blast! I'll be there +1.

We'll be bringing two different types of ice creams, a lavender-honey ice cream and a chocolate sorbet. On that note, does anyone have any tips for storing and traveling with ice cream and keeping it intact? We've never done anything like this and we'd appreciate any help. Thanks!

We will be there -- count us in for three (my oldest will be out of the country by then). I will bring molasses cookies and something else, to be determined.

Suzy

Hi,

Gypsy Boy - you probably did and I missed it. I was just working ahead putting down those names from the other thread.

Ursiform - Great to have Springfield representative. If you go through the invitation, there are links on keeping hot food hot. Using your insulated cooler as a heat retainer works rather well.

tarte tatin - chuckled at your expertise

geno55 - People have brought ice cream. I'm sure someone will offer tips.

Josephine - so far several grills are pledged to attend, no issues getting your food cooked. It's great to have LTH - NEw England represented!

My rough count advises we are at 46 people.

Regards,

Please put down Glennpan +2. Not sure what I am bringing yet.

I'm pretty sure SaintPizza and myself and the Viking Horde will be attending (especially now that I've discovered it won't interfere with the Bears game), contributions TBD

JimTheBeerGuy wrote:I'm pretty sure SaintPizza and myself and the Viking Horde will be attending (especially now that I've discovered it won't interfere with the Bears game), contributions TBD

The horde is three kids, right?

Regards,

I'm in +1. I'll likely be bringing empanadas (pork and dried apricot filled) but that may change.

REB + RAB are in and looking forward to it.

Thanks,
Ronna

Cathy,

At the time you posted the original announcement of the picnic, we were caught up in "bacon explosion mania", but I think that has now passed. Instead of making bacon explosions, I'll be smoking a zen method brisket (or two, depending on the turnout).



I'll also be bringing my Gatorade sideline cooler filled with 5 gallons of Hinckley Springs Spring Water.

geno55 wrote:We've been looking forward to this event. It looks like such a blast! I'll be there +1.

We'll be bringing two different types of ice creams, a lavender-honey ice cream and a chocolate sorbet. On that note, does anyone have any tips for storing and traveling with ice cream and keeping it intact? We've never done anything like this and we'd appreciate any help. Thanks!

RAB used dry ice in a cooler to keep his gelato cold for the Marseilles in May event. It worked really well. The dry ice came from Jefferson Ice, which is off of Fullerton near the Brickyard Mall.

Jefferson Ice
2248 N Natchez Ave
Chicago, IL

Both flavors sound great,
Ronna

Three of us, the fourth is absurdly running a half marathon that day.

Cathy2 wrote:

JimTheBeerGuy wrote:I'm pretty sure SaintPizza and myself and the Viking Horde will be attending (especially now that I've discovered it won't interfere with the Bears game), contributions TBD

The horde is three kids, right?

Yep!

I'll be there! Dish is TBD.

This sounds kind of intimidating. What categories of foods are usually in short supply?

Also, the Chow Poodle wil be attending. Contribution TBD.

teatpuller wrote:This sounds kind of intimidating. What categories of foods are usually in short supply?

As I recall, the answer to that would be "none."

I will be there. Nothing short of death could keep me away.

In fact, if I had died recently, I'd request that the event double as my wake.

Don't know what my still-alive self will bring yet. Not even sure if I'm going to go sweet or savory . . . .

Giovanna

We're in for two! We're planning on bringing pav bhaji.

I'm bringing one of those Coleman two-burner camp stoves (and an aluminum camping table to set it on), which folks are welcome to use between pav bhaji batches...it'll be BYO cookware though, as ours will likely be gunked up with veggie goo

Count +2 for Sweet Baboo and me. Don't know what to bring yet.