Next, next stop.....Chicago.

MJ5150 · #1 02-20-2009, 07:50 PM

Off I go again. I get home from Louisiana tomorrow, and then fly off to Chicago on Tuesday. I will be working in DeKalb. I may have to drive down to Kankakee to follow up on a site I installed a few months ago. If I do, I will stay an extra day in Kankakee.

I'm trying to decide where to stay right now. I usually stay at a Marriott or Hilton, and anything in those family of hotels. Most everything from them looks to be closer to Chicago. Oh well, the close to Chicago I am, the better chance I have to do something before I leave Friday afternoon.

If any area TB'ers want to meet up, let me know. I land in Chicago around noon on Tuesday, and fly home Friday afternoon, around 3PM.

-Mike

hbarcat · #2 02-21-2009, 01:37 AM

Awesome. My band practices in DeKalb every Wednesday. I'd like to hang with you for a bit over a beer and I can probably point you in the right direction for places to stay, things to see, restaurants and local bands.

-Dan

GregC · #3 02-21-2009, 01:51 AM

Yo Mike! I live on the North Side, very close to the lake. Are you going to be in the city proper at any time?

MJ5150 · #4 02-21-2009, 08:26 AM

I'll have Tuesday afternoon and Friday morning open. I'll also have a couple hours on Wednesday and Thursday night. Perhaps we could meet up Tuesday after I land around 1PM? If not, I fly home around 3PM on Friday.

-Mike

MJ5150 · #5 02-21-2009, 10:18 AM

I haven't booked my hotel yet. There doesn't look to be any Hilton or Marriott family hotels in DeKalb. I was thinking of staying in Saint Charles. That looks to be about in the middle between DeKalb and O'Hare.

Is Saint Charles a nice area? How is the drive to O'Hare and DeKalb from Saint Charles?

-Mike

hbarcat · #6 02-21-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

I haven't booked my hotel yet. There doesn't look to be any Hilton or Marriott family hotels in DeKalb. I was thinking of staying in Saint Charles. That looks to be about in the middle between DeKalb and O'Hare.

Is Saint Charles a nice area? How is the drive to O'Hare and DeKalb from Saint Charles?

-Mike

St Charles is one of the richer areas with a dense commercial district. Some good places to eat and take in some entertainment. Access to O'Hare from St. Charles is pretty decent depending on time of day. Usually the best route is to take 25 N to Interstate 90 E. To get to DeKalb from St Charles it's a straight shot west on 38. Keep in mind DeKalb is a university town with about 30,000 students.

The Chicago burbs are just one solid wall that extends north, west and sounth with St. Charles being on the western edge of it.

**HeavyDuty** · #7 02-21-2009, 12:22 PM

The Hampton Inn Suites in Aurora would be faster to and from Dekalb - it's right on I-88 and is west of the traffic. There are nicer hotels further east on I-88 in Naperville, but the drive would be quite a bit longer.

St. Charles is a little off the easy, fast roads to and from both O'Hare and DeKalb, but it is a nicer area than most. However, the majority of St. Charles is just the typical suburban sprawl.

Let me know if you want to hook up - I'm local!

MJ5150 · #8 02-21-2009, 01:03 PM

Thanks for the info fella's. It sounds like Aurora or Saint Charles is where I will stay. I'm looking for the easiest commute back and forth to DeKalb, and then to the airport. It's supposed to be snowy and cold next week, so I don't want to spend an hour or more on the freeway every morning. I was going to stay in DeKalb, but there are no Marriotts or Hiltons there.

Wasn't Waynes World based out of Aurora? Where would you guys stay if you had to choose......the Hampton Inn Suites in Aurora, or the Hilton Garden Inn in Saint Charles? I didn't see any Marriott offerings in those areas.

HD....I would definitely like to hook up. What is your Tuesday afternoon, evening looking like? How about Wednesday or Thursday evening? I'll be working until about 4:30PM on Wednesday and Thursday.

-Mike

GregC · #9 02-21-2009, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

I'll have Tuesday afternoon and Friday morning open. I'll also have a couple hours on Wednesday and Thursday night. Perhaps we could meet up Tuesday after I land around 1PM? If not, I fly home around 3PM on Friday.

-Mike

I'm checking my work schedule...Friday morning is out for sure, I have a publishing deadline. Tuesday afternoon, I have a conference call from 2-3, but I could hang with you after that. If you could take I-90 East (which goes east and south, actually) for a bit, we could meet up somewhere in the middle of the North Side. I could probably work from home that day, then get in my car and meet you halfway.

**HeavyDuty** · #10 02-21-2009, 01:42 PM

Mike - if it were me I'd stay in Aurora if you're not finding anything in DeKalb. The Hilton you mentioned is on the far east side of St. Charles, and is about 30 minutes further from DeKalb than the place in Aurora.

I'm free any of the three evenings, but Tuesday or Wednesday is better. I live about five minutes from the Aurora hotel and drive past it on the way home from work.

hbarcat · #11 02-21-2009, 03:40 PM

I agree with staying in Aurora - It's a fast drive between there and DeKalb on the tollway (88) and it's also easy to take 88 east to 294 north which takes you right to O'Hare airport. Much, much easier access to both DeKalb and O'Hare.

hbarcat · #12 02-21-2009, 03:50 PM

Here's the map to the Holiday Inn in Aurora that's right off of 88. I think this is the one HeavyDuty is referring to.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?name=Ho...SS&id=27164000

**HeavyDuty** · #13 02-21-2009, 05:16 PM

The Holiday Inn is newer and close to the one I mentioned, which is a Hampton Inn. Six of one, half dozen of the other... they're both McHotels.

MJ5150 · #14 02-22-2009, 09:30 AM

You guys rock....I booked my hotel at the Hampton Inn in Aurora just now. I can't wait to get to town to meet you guys.

Greg.....let's go for Tuesday after your call. I will PM you my cell number. Gator Nation will unite in Chicago!!!!

HD....let's do Wednesday unless you want to hook up with me and Greg on Tuesday.

hbarcat.....feel free to jump in with us on Tuesday, or one of the other days.

-Mike

**HeavyDuty** · #15 02-22-2009, 09:52 AM

Wednesday works - I'll PM you my contact number!

MJ5150 · #16 02-22-2009, 10:45 AM

So hey guys, what's the scoop on Walter Payton's Roundhouse Complex? Good place to go, avoid?

I loved Walter Payton back in the day, and I cried when I found out he passed away.

-Mike

**HeavyDuty** · #17 02-22-2009, 11:34 AM

I haven't eaten there in years, but it was good then and has a good rep now.

hbarcat · #18 02-22-2009, 12:53 PM

Sounds great. I'll meet up with you guys one of those days but I'm not sure which, yet.

MJ5150 · #19 02-22-2009, 04:45 PM

Any of you guys know the best skate shop in town, as in skateboard? I had a few results come up when I did a search for "skateboard Aurora Illinois". I'd like to pick up a t-shirt from one of the local shops for my son.

-Mike

**HeavyDuty** · #20 02-22-2009, 07:40 PM

Yeesh, I didn't know we had one!