The people you usually play online with don't really attend the US meetings.

it would still be an interesting thing to meet these ppl

most of the people who will be there are annoying losers

Whether or not you know the people well or not is irrelevant at JJ2 meetings. For example, prior to WC2006 and WC2007, I didn't know Bob too well, but have gotten to know him quite a bit better since then. Same with Kaz, who (as it turns out) rocks.

I agree, outside of Tachyon, Elliot, and Violet, i didn't know anybody really except those who would often nag at me in the chatroom. Now, i'm pretty comfortable with the people who went and I can't wait to see them again. That includes you BN, despite the fact you left us.

Any updates Kaz? Im still interested ;D Id be willing to go regardless of rooming. Its only like 7-8 hours away from me and would like to meet people from the chats ;D

Regarding whether or not we will actually be able to stay in the free condos. When will we know that detail for sure?

I will know for sure late December. If I'm still uncertain at that time (for family reasons), I'm scrubbing my Chicago idea (or scrambling like (-) to find another place to stay). Feel free to PM me, as campus blocks IRC and I forgot about this thread ;o.

well, i personally would like to still go to Chicago, whether or not we have free condos. Chicago sounds pretty cool and it'll probably be cheaper travel wise for me.

Indeed but we should lean a little big more east since that's where quite a few jj2 players live it would be more convient. :D

There might be more JJ2 players as a whole in eastern North America but the conventions are dominated almost exclusively by people who live in the west.

Exactly.

Well somebody from the East should host one (not me)

hey i don't really care who dominates what territory just as long as we are able to have assurance of where we're going. Though i personally would like to be able to actually look around chicago since the last time i was there i only drove through to get somewhere else

Delaware? So we don't have to pay taxes when we go to buy supplies? :D

Honestly/Seriously I don't know.

So it seems that Chicago is approved of at this point and time considering no one has really had any complaints or different ideas. At least that is what i am perceiving at this point.

I am now in Chicago and within charming range within all relatives.

This is how things are shaping up:

Free rooms:
1st option) We have access to two living-office condos and a third living condo for free. These are close to the city, and the two offices have great views that'll make you forget about how cramped it is. Plus, there's a pool.
But:
-We're short on beds and quite a few people may end up sharing air matresses, or sheeted couches (they're really comfy).
-Food in the city is expensive.
-There are (on average) two toilets, one shower, one bath tub per condo. There's bathrooms downstairs, but shower tickets may need to be used.
-On weekdays, the residents of the upper office must evacuate before 9AM (preferably 8AM ;|), and leave no evidence!

2nd option) My mother has a two story house that's too big for the family. And none of the family lives in it either. We could probably lay out air-matresses all around, utilize the basement + 1st floor + 2nd floor, and buy non-perishable food for meals at sub-urb prices. It's her house, so there aren't as many rules. The walk to the train station is about 15 minutes, and week passes aren't horribly expensive. The pedestrians get the best out of Chicago's travel system.

3rd option) All of the above. If everybody brought their own sleeping tools, there's enough shelter for all interested. This comes with segmented groups though, and I'll hate each and every one of you as I switch between shelters to maintain order.

Date: I'm up for anything in the months June, July, August inclusive. The living condo is not available during July-4th week.
There are two main highlighted weeks that I can name off the top of my head.
July-4th
Fireworks.
Taste of Chicago (expensive, but exotic).
Taking the third living option without the first one so much.

August 1-3
Tradition.
If there's less than 18 people, we can all fit downtown.
Lollapalooza (You're paying for your own tickets >(.)

Other than that, any week is fine since CHICAGO is a great place; we'll have plenty to do. There are interesting museums, great restaurants, sightseeing, parks, Navy Pier, shopping malls, etc.

Things yet to be:
Definitive schedule of events (submit your ideals).
Headcount.
Maps to aid traveling to the living places.
Things yet to be list.

I am only in Chicago until the New Year, and then I'm back in school.
POST YOUR QUESTIONS NOW.

Current quesitons:
"If we had to estimate on how much it would cost there for groceries, possible other hotel room, games, attraction, and possible eating out... about how much do you estimate will be the cost?"

Great question! Give me a week to scour the city and it's attactions ;X.

"Are there hotel options nearby that we could mix in as well?"

Not without more segmentation. There's few (cheap) hotels around the condo-section of town. I will ask around though (and greet any attempts to find hotels).

What airport would we be flying into?
Chicago O'Hare (ORD) or
Chicago Midway (MDW) work equally well.
I know O'Hare better than Midway, but both of them have a train-station that links them to Chicago down-town. At $2, it's money well spent to lug baggage to downtown.

Are there hotel options nearby that we could mix in as well?

What airport would we be flying into? (Airport code?)

More questions later, probably...

I kind of like the second option. All of us crazy kids occupying a house sounds fun. :P

I'm graduating in June, after which I plan to take a Grand World Tour. I'm hoping that this will include a North American JJ2 meeting. In order for this to get off the ground, though, I need to get it all sorted out well in advance.

So, my question is this: When are the dates of this meeting likely to be finalised?

Also, would more people come if it were held on the west cost? Although the free accomodation makes Chicago sound very appealing, I get the impression that west coast meetings are favoured more.

you know, chicago is not that far a drive from minneapolis..... anywhere i could stash my car for the week at a not to expensive price?

(btw, i have been known to drive to milwaukee or chicago for concerts taht don't come here, so this wouldn't be a problem for me, but usually i only go there for a day, so i have no idea on where to store my car.)

For the housing, I personally like the second idea. If we could get a rough estimate on costs before school starts again that will be great.

Question: How likely is it that we will have a refrigerator that will be open to usage?

We could stash it at the garage (and abuse it for food ;X).

The fridge is smaller than I thought. I may rent one, on my own monies, for a week to stock food.

On the topic of cost:

Tickets to and from:
If you book now with Southwestern Airlines, they're about $120 each way. So a little under $240 for those who are flying.

My share fair of holiday meals come out to a range of $13 - $35, ranging from a large appetizer and beverage, to a full fledged meal with dessert. The fancy places in mind, serve delicious bread with delicious butter, and generous portions. I usually end up taking half of my meal home and skipping desert.
Otherwise, a meal that is prepared at home base will cost anywhere from $2 (soda and noodles) to $8 (steak with salad).
And of course there's always Subway and Taco Bell ($6).

Assuming that we spend four nights eating out (I've got a few places in particular where we should go), three dinners at home base, all breakfasts at home base, and about six lunches at Subway:
Estimates are probably generous and overestimates. I'd like to state that I have no idea how much breakfast costs me on average. Travel fees do not apply to those who need to travel to multiple cities, and you can probably do better with Travelocity/Orbit deals. Many things to see in Chicago are free on certain days, and frugality will probably save a few twenties. "Costly Events" is just a rough estimate for that Navy Pier day and if we decide to see a theater production or two. I encourage you to do your own maths.

Thanks, these statistics are actually helpful.