Ok so I wil be staying at the Palmer House for a conference this coming Wed through Friday. Any suggestions on what to do- within walking distance and metro? Books shops ? Record shops? Bordellos?

Oh yeah and Id imagine scotch and pool will be going on - if anyone interested.

Rock N Roll McDonalds

supposedly their bar invented the mai tai, so i guess if you like mai tais...

i got nothing. everything's within a train's reach, though. you'll be pretty close to the grand red line stop, i think.

Trader Vic's is the bar, you'll get raped buying a drink there.

well Im not sure Ive ever had a mai tai, but I might as well have another drink and check it out at some point

I always duck out of this conference as I can only take too much of it.. and Id like to have something to do.. but Im fine with sitting in my room and drinking as well

I believe the Palmer House also used the first automatic dishwasher.

You're near the red line but not near Grand. Palmer House is on Monroe, which is 100 South. Grand is about 550 North.

ok any decent shows or jazz clubs in the area?

I need some ideas here

I'll probably have a couple of hours before rehearsal on Thursday night if you wanna meet up for dinner or something.

I actually have my EEG at 2PM that afternoon up on the North Side if you wanna take a quick El ride up there. Or we can work it out where I pick you up downtown like last time.

Hope you brought pix of the new Mini Freak!

Im such a bad father, I lost my wallet photos already.. poor poor me

Todd, do you still have my cell number? Ill be meeting up with my buddy who I havent seen in a year (since last MPA) so Im not sure what the plan is.. but Im sure it involves a lot of food and a lot of drinking

Check out Green Dolphin St., I'll look for the website. Metromix.com might give you some ideas.

If you want to grab dinner some time, we can meet you somewhere, or I can swing by and pick you up. Or I can cook up a spread if you'd rather not go out. I'm always up for duke's (2616 N. Clark)

Thurs. good for me. Probably Fri. too...

jazz showcase is near clark and grand.
my friend elisa works at a blues club on halsted called blues chicago.
millenium park is across michigan ave
the viagra triangle is just up state street (you could take a cab or bus)

I will check out those links thanks.. Thursday is ideal actually- and you can meet my friend Mike is who is the badest bass player I know (and I only know him). So you guys can talk shop.

Ok, well I will PM you my cell number. I get in tomorrow around noon and leave Friday at 1 pm... so there.

dig it.

Trader Vic's closed down.

You'll be staying right near Millenium park so you can walk over and check that out.

There's not all the much cool stuff in terms of bars or nightlife right around where you'll be except shopping and what not.

If you're talking pool, as in billiards, my favorite place is The Corner Pocket. It's on the north side but you can easily get there on the red or brown line trains.

We played pool in the bar of the Palmer house- which has this nice little room with a pool table behind the bar. We pretty much closed it off and had it to ourselves. Anyhow, the prices arent that bad at the hotel- usual hotel prices. not cheap.. but eh its still not NYC prices

Rufus Reid Quintet has a stint at Jazz Showcase while you're in town. He's a great bassist.

Stephen Stills is at The Park West on Thurs.

Alfonso Ponticelli and Swing Gitan
The Green Mill
9 p.m.

(awesome gypsy jazz trio)

paul, i'm coming down to chicago to visit a friend on friday and sat. i've got fri. night open to myself, and i'm planning on going to see elf power at the subterranean. i take it that you won't still be in town, correct? if so, then we should get together.

p.s. trader vic's at the palmer house has been closed for a while now.

p.s.s. miller's pub & restaurant (134 s. wabash) is a great place and close to your hotel.

Mo- yeah unfortunately Im leaving town mid-day Friday (mainly because Im room crashing and thats when the free ride is up). Damn shame, if I would have known, I would have made arrangements to keep me there another day or so.

I don't think I have been to the Palmer House since the fall of 1998. I see that Trader Vic's closed on NYE of 2005. The last time I went to Chicago, I stayed somewhere dirt cheap, and the previous times I was at the Hyatt for Model UN.