Chicago 2018: It's Cold and Hell is Hot

First item on the agenda is to finally get a bunch of us together for a drink. I've known many of you for years yet don't know most of you at all ... even the people I know. Thanks, internet!

Second. Yeah, it's cold. But I guess I'd rather be cold here than most places.

i'd be up for that sometime, josh!

Let's!

Although it would compromise my devotion to a life of hermitage, I could maybe get my shit together for a meet-up. I mean, I haven't been able to previously, but it could happen.

if someone else takes the party planning reins, i am usually up for a hang

Cool, I can start thinking as more people pop in here and peep up. Food? Just drinks? Favored neighborhood or any restrictions?

Hopleaf dinner or in their back barroom could be fun.

I’m not drinking till February, so less of a chance I’ll go out anytime soon. Unless you want to do like some indoor skydiving.

They have food!

also, honestly, we can always just wait till February. It's not that far off.

OK, it's almost March: I say let's do this. Even though Hopleaf is a PIA for me, I think it's a good suggestion. That said, I'm happy to accommodate anyone that might not be drinking by picking a food-with-beer place over a beer-with-food place, perhaps something like Spacca Napoli or Coalfire. Open for suggestions and/or people throwing out dates.

i am super busy in march -- got work stuff, a trip, a gong bath to attend
if we aimed for april i think we might get better turnout too

April. Weekday or weekend?

Pretty much any time in April sounds good, bar whatever night the Afghan Whigs are playing.

Maybe the weekend of April 14/15. Afternoon to early evening works the best for me. Will think about venue.

Primaries today. Consider voting. Or not if you don't like any of the candidates.

vooooted

this was the first year that i took the time to do some basic research on the options for circuit judges.

I learned (from one of the judges running) that apparently the circuit (or sub circuit) you are running for ultimately does not have a direct bearing on where the chief judge assigns you.

I did a lot of research. It seemed like this year there were a lot more voting guides, compilations of resources, etc than I’ve seen in previous years. Like 2 years ago, it would have been hard to find any information on metropolitan water reclamation district candidates, but relatively easy this year.

It rained today.

who i should choose for mayor? i don't even know. bill daley, right!?!?

Leaning toward Lightfoot.

(Don't @ me.)

i admit i haven't been following as closely as i should, but i'm at least going to watch the mayoral forum from january and identify a top 3

Ask Jeff.

i'm sure she has no chance, but i guess i'll vote for emara enyia or lightfoot. i'm embarrassed at how terrible most of the candidates were at introducing themselves at the forum. enyia sounds like someone who can actually hold a coherent conversation without an index card to glance at. it's amazing how many candidates think that high taxes are such a problem

sorry so drunk, i wrote "she" when i thought i just meant enyia, but then i added lightfoot.

it's a sad state of affairs when these are the finest fifteen or so candidates for the mayor of the 3rd largest city in the country. this fucking blows. there are only a few of them that even pass the laugh test

it's ok

i'm a fan of this progressive voters' guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NN9clyiiHKQBGoRS0QybgOfwitRe7loIkm8kBFtt5lA/edit. although you may not agree with all their priorities, the guide is readable and so it's clear why they like or don't like candidates and you can adjust accordingly based on your own opinions. they support enyia as their closest-to-ideal candidate (though with some reservations) and preckwinkle as their pragmatic choice.

Forget the mayor's race, my brother in law wanted me to buy him Cubs tix for a game this summer, and man, that shit is expensive!

that is awesome, thanks NA!

i've always had better luck cruising stubhub for cheap cubs tickets, plus that way your money isn't going directly into the ricketts' pockets. however you might have to wait until the season is underway to start seeing good prices.

Yeah, they're coming into town a specific weekend so I didn't want to gamble. Esp. if the team turns out to be good, which would make getting seats even tougher.

Odd question, but does anyone know anyone who either works for the Chicago Museum of History or has done research there?

I don’t, but will think if I know anyone who does.

I do not.

I know people at The Field, The Adler, and The Shedd but not the Chicago Museum of History.

As Eazy may recall, I did a bit of self-directed research there 20 years ago. But that's the extent of my connection.

I've definitely taken a picture there of my mom dressed as a giant Chicago style hot dog.

Man, what has happened to the Chicago thread. Anyway, I just saw today that the mayor apparently has a 6.6% approval rating. That's pretty impressive.