Chartered Excursions -- Chicago

Thanks to a tip from the lovely LL, we've chosen the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Schaumburg, IL as the "official" Midwest Blogmeet hotel for the weekend of July 14, 15 and 16, 2006.

• It's spitting distance from Woodfield Mall, Illinois' largest shopping mall;
• It's a stone's throw from lots of great eateries and drinkeries;
• It's easy access to the major arteries into Chicago and out to the hinterlands;
  

Because of the short notice, there are no rooms blocked, but there is a dandy web rate of $63/night (non-refundable). Folks, there's never going to be a better rate than this in the vicinity of Chicago, at least in a respectable venue.

Need more enticement to attend? Mullet Boy, that maven of all things blog-met, is blowing into town for the event!

For now the schedule appears to be:

Friday -- Check in and get settled in. Find somewhere in the hotel to share cocktails and conversation. (In fact, see the list of Saturday choices, if you're coming in early in the day.)

Saturday -- Many choices:

• Og and the NRA-minded will be heading out to the sticks for target destruction. (If you're interested, please email him ASAP to reserve your spot.)
  
• Shopping at Woodfield is certainly a convenient option.
  
• Zonker and I have talked about a trip into the city -- Millennium Park, a lakeshore or river cruise, the Field Museum of Natural History (King Tut), Museum of Science & Industry (da Vinci), Art Institute of Chicago, Shedd Aquarium (komodo dragons), Adler Planetarium, Lincoln Park Zoo, shopping on North Michigan Avenue (the Magnificent Mile) or State Street, North Pier, Navy Pier, Trolley or Double Decker Bus tours and, well, it's Chicago -- you name it, we can arrange it!*
• For the truly ambitious, there is always the option of examining the insides of one's eyelids alongside the indoor pool at the Wyndham.
  

Saturday Evening -- Group dinner. Og's favorite German joint, we think. Later, back to Schaumburg for more cocktails and conversation.

Sunday -- Completely unscheduled. (Again, see Saturday choices if you're not checking out early.) Choose your own companions for breakfast/brunch. Many hugs good-bye, and promises to do it again soon. I guarantee!

If you're planning on attending some or all of the blogmeet, please drop a note in the comments.

Are you a lurker or commenter without a blog of your own, but frequent reader of bloggers who'll be attending? You're invited, as well. (Warning! We'll have you setting up your own blog so fast it'll make your head spin.) No, really. We're opinionated. We're loud. We're fun. What's not to love?

Sign up already, will you?
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*For those first-timer visitors without vertigo, there are also the observatories on top of the Sears Tower and the John Hancock buildings.
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P.S. -- Spread the word!
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