2013 National, who's going?

Mona and I will be making the trip to Chicago this year. We will be there Fri-Sun. I'm assuming that Saturday night we be the best night for a get together. If anyone has a suggestion as to where to meet for dinner etc, I'm game for just about anything that doesn't involve fish.

what? no fish? wtf???? what night is net54 dinner? I may go...not sure yet?

I'll go if everyone else is going.

jbonie wrote:I'll go if everyone else is going.

if at least 5 other regs from here go i will go....jay/lee(for sure)/pete/jamie/chris/ty/seablaster/jerry. i'm not counting guys like elliot, jim cfc, terjung because i think they're always going. if i'm going i wanna make it worth it (since cards is secondary). might even get ben down since his buddy chris the illini is in the area?

also if you confirm...you're going. no takeback, no death/accident/kidnapping/natural disasters will keep you away! otherwise you should get a mean custom title at least and i will mock you in every post.

Yeah, cards are secondary. Pete, you've got to go, you live right next door. Ty, Seablaster, would love it if you guys showed up, as well as mr. CCCC and the rest of the gang. I agree, this is THE YEAR. And a Ben sighting would be amazing... soon as he gets done swimming with the piranhas down in the Caribbean.

Ok...if y'all go im there!

cccc wrote:

I'm not counting guys like elliot, jim cfc, terjung because i think they're always going.

You are correct at least for my part.

July 31-Aug 4.

My faves; Mariners are out of town. NASCAR is at Pocono. Reverend Horton Heat has just left Seattle, but the Mono-Men are reuniting at the 3B Tavern.

Locally; Jazz in the Valley, or Dachsunds on Parade. Both events could barely rock a senior citizens ice cream social. Time to leave town.

Chicago may be in the cards. No pun intended.

yea i like ty's response. it's way too early to say anything now but for the "maybes" in a few months things should be more definite one way or another.

my last away national was in chicago so it'd be nice to go back. going to last week's show actually made me miss the live scene a little. i've totally forgotten the ability to haggle in-person as i'm so used to the auction system.

My one caveat is that I may have a family affair then - there is a wedding that is supposed to take place over the summer. I am just hoping it doesn't conflict with the convention.

I've been seriously considering it, Jay. My first one was Chicago 2011 - had a blast and picked up some cool stuff. Took a pass on Baltimore, but definitely thinking about Chicago again.

Leaning towards it...

It sounds like there are potential barriers to a full county party at the national in chi-town in august...maybe we should re-visit this topic...say...tax time...3 1/2 months prior?!?! I'm going to plan on it.

I just booked my room at the aloft hotel...$471 thurs-sun...can cxl prior to 8/2...not bad!!!! DO IT!!!!!

ullmandds wrote:I just booked my room at the aloft hotel...$471 thurs-sun...can cxl prior to 8/2...not bad!!!! DO IT!!!!!

Hey Pete,

Did you stay there before? That is the one I was at for 2011 and I thought it was really good - especially for the $. (Jay and his lady were also there at that time.) As a solo traveller, I thought the room was just what I wanted. Free wi-fi. Small in-room safe. Cool smallish room w/ nice bed. Very close to the National/convention center with a free shuttle running regularly through the AM anyways. I think it was even a bit cheaper then...about $100 per night (though $118 is still good I think!)

Was your rate through thte National website? That is how I booked that hotel in 2011, and I believe I may have gotten some sort of group rate discount by going that way.

Cheers,
Blair

Blair...jay mentioned it...and it looks cool! I got a better rate on their website.

Blair, glad you're going.

Was this the Aloft at O'Hare or Chicago City Center? I am getting $300/night at the City Center one... so are you staying at the one near O'Hare? Is that the one close the convention center?

Thanks

Jamie

jbonie wrote:Blair, glad you're going.

Was this the Aloft at O'Hare or Chicago City Center? I am getting $300/night at the City Center one... so are you staying at the one near O'Hare? Is that the one close the convention center?

Thanks

Jamie

It is O'Hare. The National is in Rosemount, which is a Chicago suburb very close to the O'Hare airport.

Ah, I see, thank you.

I can't make any promises, but I will say that I really really want to make it to the national this year, especially since it's in Chi town. I'll be in Canada for part of the summer so it could happen, will let you guys know closer to the date. If I go, I'll definitely be looking to see some good live music and game at Wrigley.

Can they make a decent mojito in the windy city?

Yeah, Ben, hope you can make it. Cubs game is a great idea, Saturday they play at 3pm. Cubs-Dodgers is a classic, kind of makes up for last year when the O's were out of town. Not that I was there for that.

Cheers

Well, now that this hobby is my job I will definately be there pedaling my auction site. It sounds like there will be great representation from here and would be fun to meet many personally that I have not.

This would be my 3rd Chicago show and have enjoyed the past two.

Lee

hope to see you there Q. I have met many hobby friends at these shows and that would be a highlight for me

Jim, even if Quan goes he will be too shy to meet you.

yea i usually find myself having more in common with younger collectors like elliot and unmarried guys.

Where do you guys typically park your S.O. while you're there? Mine will feign interest in prewar collecting for a period of 5 minutes before the look of total disinterest creeps in. I would think letting them loose with cash/CC on the Magnificent Mile would do some serious damage.