Legion World Forums LEGION OUTPOST Mission Monitor Board Destination Chi-Town: Two Vast and Trunkless Legs of Stone

I will be happy to buy Exnihil a drink in Chicago. The drink I choose to buy for him is a 12 ounce Diet Coke.

OK, guys... an update:


So, I spoke again with the Management of the North Side Suites (see Here for the previously discussed details).

I inquired about deposit and refund policy, and it looks like things are going to work out really well, both for myself and anyone interested in attending.

Basically, normally they look for a 50% deposit, but since I told him I would be looking to reserve this November for August 2013, he said that since I'm getting in so early, they'd only ask for a one night per suite deposit.

Additionally, their cancellation policy is as follows: Upon cancellation, deposit is forfeit unless the suite is subsequently rebooked prior to the date of reservation, in which case the deposit is either refunded or applied against the balance.

Given that this past year, every single weekend in August was booked - provided we can begin finalizing our headcount sometime around early spring - that's a gamble I'm more than willing to take.


So, long story short, here's what I think we should do:


1. Come November, I can go ahead and book all four suites (I was thinking Wednesday Aug 21st - Sunday Aug 25th - although if there are any other strong opinions on the range, please voice them).

2. From that point through like April-ish, we can begin getting firmer commitments from folks. Once we pass 10 people confirmed, done deal, we've built up the safe-guard against full out cancellation.

3. As that number increases we'll then have a better idea of how many suites we actually need and, if necessary, can begin cancelling by like May, and then hedge the bets that the cancelled suites will be rebooked (I am very confident they would be).


This plan, I think, allows us to have the maximum flexibility for the longest amount of time, protects me personally from any major financial loss, and gives everyone the longest amount of time to actually decide whether they are coming.


Sound good?

Sounds good to me. And we'll be in the somewhat unusual position of being there anyway, and actually knowing whether the other suites were re-booked or not.

Not that anyone in the hospitality industry would lie, of course.

Ex, how much would my share of the deposit be? If I go ahead and send it to you, I am that much less likely to talk myself out of going

Heck, if you want to send me money, Lash, I won't complain, but there's no need this early.

I hadn't gotten as far as figuring out the best way to divvy costs yet. For the initial deposit, I was just going to pay it myself, then figure out all the "settle up" bits later.

Since the suites themselves are different prices, one idea that I did have which I thought was probably the most fair, and wouldn't penalize any person for winding up in a more expensive one as opposed to less, was to propose that instead of basing the per individual cost on room, we should probably do it as an overall pro-rated cost per night.


So like, say for an easy example... 16 people wind up coming, of which 10 want to stay four nights, and 6 want to stay 2 . First off, we could cancel the other two 6 man suites and just have one 6 and one 10. The 10 we would rent for 4 nights, the 6 for 2 nights.

In that scenario, for two nights we would divide the total cost of both suites across 16 people, and for the other two nights, the cost of one suite would be divided across 10 people.


That's just one idea, but we can suss all that out over the next six months or so.


Bah! Oh, yes... I said, "Bah".

If you don't come who am I supposed to smoke with as I lounge around in my towel?

(He said... carefully laying out his Lash-bait )

GASP! You bring the ashtray, I'll bring the towels! *plans to "forget" towels*

Wow Ex, that is an AMAZING plan you have there. As someone who usually ends up making plans for the groups of friends I drag along to wherever, I am very impressed.

(Blaze would be too, since he has the same problems - that's why we prefer to travel together and alone )

Fortunately for Lash, Chicago guest houses don't provide towels.

Sounds excellent, Exxy! I know I told you i would getback to you on some info, and despite some delayes, i still will... Soon. If you. Hve not heard back from me by Sunday, feel free to pester me.

Cool, no rush, brother. Looking at what I've got coming up in the next few weeks, it looks like I'll probably be looking to place the intial reservations on November 9th.

Ohmygod! Mr Ex-Nyquil if you need help pestering Mr Shakeyrear, text me. I'm like aces at pestering people!

It is my sad duty to officially announce that, due to recurring financial issues, I won't be able to go the the 2013 LW Gathering.

But I'll raise a non-alcoholic beverage to everybody who does make it.

Have fun, Legion Worlders.

Aww... sorry to hear that, Fanfie. I understand completely but, you know, it's still a ways off yet, so who knows what might change over the next ten months?

And Everyday Girl, you can put those guns back in your holsters, as Kent just let me know his potential conflict cleared up so our targeted dates totally work for him.


So... to recap the plan here:

1. Next Friday, November 9th, I'm going to be placing the reservations for the four suites at Northside (one of which sleeps 10, the other three which sleep 6 each) for the date range of Wednesday Aug 21st - Sunday Aug 25th, 2013.

2. From then through the end of April, people can start to committing as to whether they are definitely coming.

3. By that point I'd like to have a pretty firm idea of our final count, so we can figure out how much of the space we actually need (and for how long) and what days/rooms can be cancelled.

4. I'm proposing that the lodging cost per person be determined as a pro-rated per night cost. Each day would be that night's total divided by how many people are staying that night. We can figure out the best way for folks to pay when the time comes, it'll all work out.


Things to begin thinking about if you are planning on coming (assuming you are staying at the suites - I know a couple people, like Dev, mentioned they'd probably just drive in for a day):

- How many days, and which ones, within that window would you be looking to stay?

- What is your degree of comfort with sharing a room, and is there a particular other Legion Worlder that you want as a roomie?

- Will you be coming solo, or are you bringing a spouse/friend? (I know for instance that Viridis had mentioned that he and Disdemona might be coming, so obviously they would share a single room).

- Are there any special considerations to take into account (examples - not wanting to be in a suite with smokers, or a suite where there might be drinking going on)?

- Or anything else - I'm sure there are a thousand considerations, I'll do my best to make sure any concerns are addressed well in advance.


So there we have it... let the fun begin!

Hey guys! A couple of quick questions re: the gathering. These may have been answered already, but I hope you'll forgive me for not reading all 15 pages of the thread!

I see that you are booking a suite hotel. Would you happen to know if there is a regular hotel nearby where I could stay for just a night or two, but still be close enough to make socializing easy? (I would likely be bringing a friend and I snore like a bandsaw, so sharing a room is not really an option.)

No worries if this not an easy question. I can certainly do some research online, I just thought I'd check to see if anyone else was in the same boat and had checked out the situation.

Thanks!

I am definitely going, as well as Disdemona and Superbaby!!

Hiya, mechana...

OK, I did a quick Google maps search, so this is by no means comprehensive, but it looks like there are quite a few options in the same general neighborhood as the North Side suites:

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&a...mp;um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

If you see where the "A" is on that map, the suites we are targeting are on the opposite side of that same block, at Eugenie and Sedgewick streets.


I feel you on the snoring front. I've been told I sound like peak time at the lumber yard (although strangely, the time I roomed with Shark Lad in SD he didn't hear a thing... hmmm... if he's going, I call Sharky as my Chicago roomie!)

*think think*

I could easily take a train up to Chicago for a day or two. Someone would have to explain how I'd get to the hotel from the station though since i'd be coming on my own!

Granted, I know i'm kind of new and people might be a bit uncomfortable rooming with me. I'd understand completely if that were the case.

I've been here over a year and I doubt anyone thinks of me as terribly new anymore, but nobody's met me in person yet, let alone shared a room with me. I'm sure that's the case for many coming so it's a risk all around.

I suppose that if the snorers are aware that they snore, that'll help with picking roommates who aren't bothered by it.

Similarly, I'm a late-night reader, late riser, so I'm best with someone who doesn't need absolute darkness to sleep, and who doesn't feel everyone in the room needs to be awake at dawn just because they are.

If bedrooms have vcr's or dvd players, I guess roommates should be assigned according to what one wants to watch after going to bed. (I was thinking someone might have the LSH animated series, but it occurs to me there might be enough call for a late-night gay porn room with this crowd...)

The more the merrier I say!

I can't speak for everyone, but I would think the "newness" factor isn't that much of a concern at all. (every gathering is someone's first and, shoot, by the time next August rolls around, you'll be a vet, anyway. )

The one thing you should probably be aware of though - given that folks' screen names don't always correspond to their actual gender - is who else is also female in this thread, if that is a factor in your lodging plans.

Other females who have expressed interest in possibly coming so far are:

Disdemona (confirmed - Viridis Lament's wife)
Gigglebot Girl (Faraway Lad's wife)
Fat Cramer
mechana
and Fanfic Lady (who, given her post above, is probably out.)

HAHA. I've roomed with guys before at anime conventions and things, so no worries. As long as they're not uncomfortable with it, I'm cool. We're all grown ups.

Truthfully, I'm cool with just about everything. Late risers, smokers, early risers, drinkers, none of that matters to me. All i care about is that whomever I room with doesn't wreck the place and/or behave in a manner that would get us thrown out.

XD So, I think you can count me in. It would be a nice, relatively inexpensive little vacation for me next year!

Some folks' bodies don't always correspond with their actual gender!

I've roomed with people of both genders so you can put me down on the list of those for whom that's not a factor. Unless we do the gay porn room.

I also don't mind sharing a room with just about anyone. (Though I'm not all that interested in the gay porn room )

I'm unsure at this point if it'll be just be riding solo or if I'm bringing Lady Cobalt. I probably won't know until the Spring. I'm not big on planning things out in advance.

OK... tomorrow is a big day for planning.

I'll be placing the reservation for the four suites at Northside (one of which sleeps 10, the other three which sleep 6 each) for the date range of Wednesday Aug 21st - Sunday Aug 25th, 2013.


As I mentioned before, my plan is to hold on to this full reservation until about the end of April, at which point I'll cancel any extra space and/or time we don't need.

From now until then, you guys can make up your minds about whether you'll be coming or not. Based upon the discussions - in this thread and elsewhere - below is my preliminary list based upon expressed degree of interest and perceived likelihood of attendance at this point.

Some of this may have changed once the location was nailed down as Chicago, so apologies in advance if I've misrepresented anyone's current status or misread your intent (or if I've missed anyone entirely). Please feel free to provide corrections and updates as your status changes:




Look about right as a first pass?

Looks right to me! You can put (solo) by me as well! I'll be coming alone.

I am indeed a possible. I would love to come but I just don't have any clue of my commitments at that time.