LTHforum's 5th Annual Worst Kept Secret Picnic - Sept 12th

LTHforum's 5th Annual Most Anticipated Potluck Picnic This Summer!! A Blockbuster Event!!

Guaranteed to be the best worst kept secret picnic this year! As Seen on TV!!!

People have been planning and declaring their intentions to come long in advance of today's opening!

"Ah'm a' hankerin' to meet all the other LTH kinfolk at this picnic!" sez Fresser on March 14th.

"It's on my calendar already," said nr706 on January 19th.

"I'm coming!!!" datchineseguyon July 24th.

Date: Sunday, September 12th – 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. 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! 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.

Pickle & Salad Section (Partial), 2009 (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
- Water and Ice is always nice!

According to David Hammond, who graciously stored last year's unused supplies, we only need plastic cups and plastic tableclothes to cover tables. We do not need:
- Plastic table settings, paper plates or cups
- Baby wipes for cleaning hands
- Plastic garbage bags

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. 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
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.

If you have small bites to easily pick up, you might consider walking through the crowd offering tastes to people.

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

Chicken of the woods (image by SteveZ)


***

Adjacent to our picnic area is a large field for games. The Ramon family is promising another 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.

heirloom tomato salad @ 2009 LTH Picnic by gleam


Now come out to eat and play!

Regards,

In for 3!

I'm in for 1.

In for two, but that may grow to 3 or 4. I'll post again if the count changes.

I already have the basis for two different meat-based appetizers. (One's a CLT.) I'll get there early to help with setup.

In for 2!

Dish is still TBD (figuring out what to bring is keeping me up at night).

We is there! We is SOOOO there!

We just doesn't know what we's bringin' yet.


P.S. "We" would be Gypsy Boy and Lovely Dining Companion

In +3

bringing the WSM and need to set up at 9:00 a.m.

debating between smoking some chicken wings or tofu & seitan.

One of my favorite events of the year!

Count me in + 2 (wife Diann and our 3 year old Drew)

My brother also wanted me to RSVP for him:

Soft-Boiled + 1

None of us knows exactly what we are bringing yet, but we will let you know ASAP. Thanks!

I will be there with wife and baby. Probably some kind of appetizer, tbd.

I'm in +3 and will figure out what I'm bringing a bit later on.

Thanks!

=R=

In + REB.
We'll be bringing a Sorrel Rum Punch and another dish TBD.
--Rich

I haven't discussed this with Saint Pizza yet but I can't imagine that we wouldn't be coming along with our 3 kids. Especially if we can get our youngest together with jimswside's little one again, they had such a good time together at the pig roast

I'll let y'all know what I'm bringing later (but I imagine you can guess).

Mr. X and I are in. Contribution TBD.

jimswside wrote:debating between smoking some chicken wings or tofu & seitan

Jim- I'm sure you'll make the right choice.

I'm in +1 (likely bring some type of bao variation--but I'll reserve the right to change my mind).

I'm in.... Contribution TBD.

I will be there, + 4 guests.

I'll be making grilled venison meatloaf (main course).

Not sure what the others will be bringing yet, but I'll get my list together asap and post another reply.

Count me in +1. Not sure what we're making yet, but possibly Grandma's white pizza (pending recipe).

Mamagotcha plus three!

Not sure what we'll do... perhaps garlic focaccia? I shall consult with Mr. Mamagotcha and report back.

Thanks for all your work on making this event happen! We're looking forward to it.

In for 2....raspberry creations (of course).

Two, two, I've got two!

Four of us, pastrami as per last year except this year it will arrive sliced so I can actually enjoy the first hour and a half of the picnic.

Oh, and I believe we'll be bringing either a 1/4 or 1/2 keg of Sprecher Root Beer. We may also bring some ice cream for floats, but no promises.

Spreadsheet has been updated - please check and make sure I've got your info in OK (and that you can access the spreadsheet.)

Please also let me know if you have any particular nametag requests other than your screename and +1 if you haven't already (Nametags are on the spreadsheet, so if online anonymity is an issue, you might want to stick with screen names)

Glennpan +2 enthusiastically in!!!!

If I can ask for some time on a smoker please, I will bring UJ's hot links, and a case of bottled water.

Counting down the days!

Glenn

I'm in + 1. I don't know yet what I'm bringing. I've been thinking about it but nothing has moved me yet.

Count me in. Contribution TBD.

Put me down for me +1. I will bring couple of coolers with ice and refreshing beverages.

in for 3. justjoan


dishes TBA

In for 2.

Thinking . . . . some version of low/slow smoked pork & fresh cherry crisp.

Can't wait!