Spring Fling for the Milwaukee/Chicago Contingent (and anyone else who want to join in)

April 18th or 19th looks good to me.  We'll pick the day based on where we choose to eat.  Both days will have their pluses and minuses.  Hot Doug's is not open on Sundays.  It will be next to impossible to get a group our size into Burt's on a Saturday.  As we do our research on the potential stops, I'm sure we'll find other issues that will determine whether we do this on a Saturday or a Sunday.

Also, April 17th is abe froeman's birthday.  I'm sure she and Mr. Maki will be joining us on this trip.  Maybe we can work a little birthday celebration into the mix as wander the city.

All in favor of one of the days on the weekend of April 18/19 say "Aye!"

Buddy

That weekend works. Aye!

Here's a vote for Sunday the 19th with a grand finale at Burt's.  Someone else very important has their birthday on the 24th, so we may even get a special cake (if we can sneak it by the management at Burt's).

I think we are also stopping somewhere for potstickers. Are there any other must stops?

If I can get an early flight in on Saturday April 18th can I bum couch space????  Let me know privately.
 It will have to be a quick trip for me.  In Sat AM out Sun night or early Monday. 

Thanks,
Alice

I'd be more towards the saturday-hot dougs side , but I'll be happy to go either way...
it's a good weekend for me.

Works for me. :)

I have had a very gracious invitation so now I'm just waiting to find the best air fare.  Overtime here I come!  I can hardly wait to see all my Chicago and Milwaukee area friends again.  Over 2 years is just too darn long!!!!

Hey Buddy,
you the papa and the ringleader, pick a day!
I need to RSVP or reschedule for something for that weekend depending,
let's get firmed up ... uh wait... did I say that?

lol, iris I like the way you think! :)

irisarbor


......let's get firmed up ...

Hey, what are you trying to say?
 

 

She's obviously wanting to start up an intense work out regimen so we'll all be "firm" and in fighting shape for The Spring Fling.

Decisions coming soon.  Sorry for the delay.

Buddy

Sunday the 19th is Greek Easter, but I think I'd still be able to make it anyway. Sat the 18th works, too.

This sounds like fun and good eatin'. If I'm able to make it to Chicago on the 18th I hope you don't mind if I trail along. I've been to Hot Doug's and adore it, and wouldn't mind a repeat performance of duck fat fries. The only other restaurant on the list I've been to is Zaiqa, and I'm always up for samosas and vindaloo. The rest of the places on the list are new to me, so I'll be happy to try 'em out.

Well, has a final decision been made so I can buy my plane ticket????

Alice, I think the group has agreed on the weekend of April 18-19.  The specific day is still up in the air due to the various pluses and minuses each day carries with it.  For instance, if we went on Saturday, we could visit Hot Doug's for their gourmet "encased meats" (sausages) and duck fat fries (served Friday and Saturday only).  On the other hand, a Saturday would almost surely eliminate a visit to Burt's for deep dish pizza (they are so busy on Saturdays that they probably could not accommodate a group our size).

Conversely, Sunday would give us a better shot at Burt's, but Hot Doug's is closed completely.  There are other similar considerations involving other places on the list.  It has been my intention to create a post on this thread with links to reviews, menus, and other information for each of the restaurants in my initial post.  These links could then be studied and considered by the folks who will be making the trip.  Unfortunately, time has not been my friend lately, and I have not been able to focus on that lengthy undertaking.  I guess with just over two weeks to go, I ought to put that together and make some final decisions.

I guess let's start with the big question to all, what's more important to you-a Saturday with Doug's and without Burt's or a Sunday with a vice versa itinerary?

Buddy

Dude so many Southside eats I love it......as for starting out at Hot Doug's 10 am Friday or Saturday to get those ducky fries I will be in heaven!!!! I love your selections as I am a Northsider and don't want anyone knowing about our secret places.....like.Patty's diner in Skokie.......how about Wolskis in Milwaukee when we make a trip up to cheese country.....
I am new to your gang and would love to join you...will be able to go after Jazzfest...will have to practice eating when I am New Orleans. May is a good time as the weather will more or less cooperate and we will have light till 8. Anytime buddy...I am there.....

just found out that there are three pages to these replies....the dates are fine as long as I am not at 1060 West Addison.......bring on those fries!!!!!

Buddy, either one of those days is fine with me. I'm a go-along-with-the-crowd type, so I'll be happy with whichever you choose. Just feed me good, that's all I ask.

I just came across this review on Ed's Potsticker House. I have never been but reading posts from other sites had led me to beleive that potstickers may not be the way to go.

http://www.seriouseats.com/2009/03/eds-potsticker-house-chinese-recommendations-chicago-illinois.html

I'm just going to go ahead and suggest Saturday - not because of the fries, but because it's a non-work day the next day (for a lot of us).

I'd love to go to Burt's, but that'll be another, separate trip sometime this summer, I think. I'm hoping Buddy can get off work for Saturday, or at least join us for most of the trip before leaving early.

The only place I'd really like to go is Calumet, and only if the weather is good - I'm not keen on freezing or being rained on outside while trying to eat off the trunk of Buddy's car.

ChuckL will not be able to join us that weekend at all - ironically, he'll be in Chicago all weekend, but working furiously to have a project completed by Monday. There is a possibility he might sneak away and join at one place for lunch or dinner, depending on schedule and accessibility.

I have to agree. The other places look great, but Calumet is really the one I wanted to go to.

okay, caught up!  The 18th should work for Mr. Maki and me.  I'll try to be coherent.  It will be my last birthday before the big downhill. :P

And we're cool with wherever everyone wants to go.

So, are we trending toward Saturday the 18th of April?  Let's hear from other interested parties...MFL, irisarbor, JRPfeff, anyone else who is interested in playing along and has not yet responded...

Buddy

Saturday is fine for me- duck fat fries- YUM- I'm 'shamed to say I've never been....don't know about the Hubby, but I've been keeping the day free- so the twins (I think) and and for sure I am in!

I just skimmed the details of where people are thinking of going, so maybe this point has already been made- if we do Hot Doug's, it will have to be our first stop.  They open at 10:30am and I've heard of the duck fat fries selling out by 12:30.  We should probably be in line by 11am, especially if the weather's nice.

I agree it should be our first stop, but I think we would do well to get there even earlier, perhaps before they actually open.  I hear tell of lines around the block by the time they open the doors at 10:30...

Buddy

P.S. After Hot Doug's we can make a quick run to a secure parking lot I know in the neighborhood.  If you'd like, we can consolidate cars there and feel safe that the remaining vehicles can sit there all day for free with out any danger of vandalism or theft.  Because the lot is on the north side of town and most of the rest of our stops will be south, the Wisconsin folks can easily pick up their cars at the end of the day as they head home.

B.

My ideal Chicago visit would be Hot Dougs, Ba Le and Freddy's in Cicero. I'll be satisfied with Hot Doug's and will leave the other choices to our tour director. Saturday gets my vote.

Well, I was really hoping to get more feedback from the group as to which places we should visit.  But as it seems I'm quickly being identified as "The Ring Leader", I guess I 'll need to at least start steering the direction we go with our choices.

Sounds like Hot Doug's is a given as our first pick.  After that, in no particular order, my choices would be Lem's for Barbecue, Calumet Fisheries for smoked fish (especially the smoked shrimp!), one of the Soul Food places (we can pick the specific one as we get closer to the date), Borinquen for Jibarito sandwiches, and finally, either Ed's Posticker House (although, according to the article linked by mousec, the potstickers are not the thing to get at Ed's Posticker House, go figure), or Szala's for Polish.

Burt's would be a long shot on a Saturday night.  There's no way they could accomodate us inside and we would only be able to use the beer garden if the weather was ideal.

Anyway, that's my preliminary list.  Let's hear your thoughts on the picks.  I'll start organizing a route, and we can all pray for good weather on April 18th.

Buddy

Hi Buddy It sounds like a plan to me.  I'll book an EARLY flight for Saturday.  Since I've eaten great meals with you and your dad, and know nothing about where any of the restaurants are located I will let you be the judge of where we can feasibly go in one day.  That said, maybe I can book a late flight out on Sunday and meet up with you and some of the others for more adventures in Roadfooding before I have to head south again.

Alice

So, if we're settled on a day, and more or less settled on an itinerary, it's time for some commitments, people.  Who's in and who's out?  Let's hear from you folks.

Buddy