Hey Addie,

I was wondering what the best mode of action to get around Chicago was- I’m too young to rent a car, but I REAALLY want to go to the meet up. I figure that I can get to Midland Airport from Nashville at about $140 round trip- but I have no idea where to get a hotel, or how to get to said hotel from the airport… I was looking into the train/bus system- but I was also wondering what the taxi rate is in the area.

P.S.
Have you done the date thing with youngballz, yet?
P.P.S
Also, what happened the the smoking hot chick in your avatar?

Midway (as in Battle of the) airport is directly connected to the orange line, which will take you into the loop (city central). From there, you would take the red line going north to the foster stop.. walk/bus/taxi the half mile west to Clark Street, then walk north like two blocks to Lady Greg’s.

No need or desire to rent car in this city. You will tear your hair out. Hotels: actually, the HoJo downtown is a cheap-ass option that isn’t really that creepers. My friend from NOLA always stays here. BUT, if you go on priceline or something, you should be able to get a very nice(several stars) cheap price on a hotel right in the downtown area (fun for visitors!).

taxis are decently cheap.. it would be about a $20 cab ride from the loop to lady gregory’s which is on the far northern side of the city

Have fun on your date Addie!!

I’m so sorry I can come to the meet up… With airfare and hotel (and copious amounts of booze) it would probably be like $500, which is just not in my budget right now.
Also I’m not sure how my husband would react… “Hey- I’m going to Chicago for the night to hang out with my internet friends…??” Although I did go to Cali once to see my online friend, but that’s a whole other story…

Ok, to preface my story, this happened like 11-12 years ago…

It was my sophomore year in college- I’d gone through a NASTY breakup at the end of freshman year (could have really used DW back then, that’s for sure!) and was super depressed/needing a distraction from real life. Right around then I “met” this guy who lived in CA in some aol chatroom or something. We became really good friends- IMed all day long, talked on the phone all the time. So for his 30th BDay (keep in mind I’m only 19), he sends me a check and tells me to come to San Francisco and come visit him. Soo… I did. However, I neglected to tell my parents what I was doing, and a month or so later when they got the cell phone bill they saw I made a call from California (damn those roaming charges!!) and I was busted. I came clean on the whole thing and now it’s a big family joke. My husband thinks it’s really funny and likes to make fun of me. Thus, if I went to Chicago to meet all you guys, I’d get even more made fun of!!

That was the one and only time I’ve been to California… I had a great time though

call-me-hobo: you get the award for most dedicated dearwendier! I’m reserving the heads of the table for Wendy and YOU. See you on March 3rd! Btw, where’s your hotel? If it’s downtown / river north / gold coast area, I can meet you before lunch and we can ride the el together if you’d like.

Fun! You can catch the Clark bus (just one block from your hotel; I’m sure a concierge can direct you if you’re unsure where to go) and it will take you directly to Lady Gregory’s. It’s probably a 15-20 minute ride (faster in a car, but a bust takes longer on account of the stops, of course). You’ll see Wrigley Field on the way. A cab would be around ten bucks … maybe less (I’m not sure what a bus ride is these days — maybe $2.50?).

T minus 6 days!!!!! That’s all.

Oh, and the EL is $2.25. So I think the bus is as well.

call-me-hobo, once you get to the airport, I would get a public transit card and put $10 on it. It can be used for both buses and the el and you can add more if you need to. It’s so much easier than paying with cash. In fact, if you take the orange line into the City, you’ll need a fare card anyway.