Meet for a smoke in Chicago, May 1-3, 2022

[canadianbeaver]

This time will be in my favorite American city, Chicago. Arriving April 30 but we have plans that day. Iwan Ries lounge rocks for us but outside somewhere might be better? Available during the day while Mr Beaver is in work meetings. Our hotel is downtown.

My name on Facebook is Lisa Rotenberg (in real life too) if you want to message there.

Cheers!

CB

 

 

 

 

 

[jakebarnes]

I could be open on May 1 in the afternoon. Keep me posted. As for places other than Iwan Ries:

The Clayton has windows that can slide open which might be nice if you are looking for a good spot with outdoors feel, but is closed on sundays.

Biggs mansion (of Ferris Bueller fame) has a patio, but I've never been and imagine it might be harder for non-members to get those spots. 

If I recall correctly, Prime and provision will allow you to have cigars on their "outdoor cigar lounge." That could be a good spot for outdoors.

 

[El Hoze]

3 hours ago, jakebarnes said:

 

If I recall correctly, Prime and provision will allow you to have cigars on their "outdoor cigar lounge." That could be a good spot for outdoors.

 

Great option, but call ahead as they randomly close it for various reasons. 

[canadianbeaver]

Both sound great. Let’s keep in touch. Will give my friend a call at IR and see if he is still there.

CB

[mtd057]

I would be up to join on the 1st in the afternoon.  Regarding Prime and Provisions, I was there last week, and they had the outdoor area converted back to regular seating - they told me it was going to stay that way. I actually just joined Biggs and would be happy to see what they could do to accommodate us. I would just need to know how many people plan on turning up.    

[inter4alia]

Chances are good I could meet up May 1st but 2nd and 3rd are no good for me. 

[canadianbeaver]

Wow I see an FOH herf on May 1st in the future, lads! 🍺😃

CB

@jakebarnes @inter4alia @mtd057 @canadianbeaver

[madandana]

Would love to join you Lisa but we’ll be in Key Largo. Thanks for the invite, hopefully we’ll catch you next time. We love Chicago and it’s not to far from home.

[inter4alia]

Throwing up the bat signal to some Chicago members that have attended past events 

@SigSauer516 @Plato @Diabolicalpherpher @unclepauly25 @lovethehaze @kevpro @Ry27 @NewFatMike @Buck14

[jakebarnes]

Adding @Chibearsv 

[Chibearsv]

1 hour ago, jakebarnes said:

Adding @Chibearsv 

Yeah, I'm going to try to make it.  I get dragged in a lot of directions week to week so I hope to make it.  thanks

[canadianbeaver]

On 4/21/2022 at 4:21 AM, inter4alia said:

Throwing up the bat signal to some Chicago members that have attended past events 

@SigSauer516 @Plato @Diabolicalpherpher @unclepauly25 @lovethehaze @kevpro @Ry27 @NewFatMike @Buck14

Wow! This is so exciting. And Chicago is my favorite city in the USA. Been trying to reach Richard at IW to see what is going on there re ventilation etc but no reply. Do you have a particular spot to suggest for a lunch plus afternoon herf? We have reservations for dinner every night.

CB

 

Wow @Chibearsv I see under your name you like horse racing. Now THAT would be a col activity for us if they allow smoking, brother!

[inter4alia]

24 minutes ago, canadianbeaver said:

Wow! This is so exciting. And Chicago is my favorite city in the USA. Been trying to reach Richard at IW to see what is going on there re ventilation etc but no reply. Do you have a particular spot to suggest for a lunch plus afternoon herf? We have reservations for dinner every night.

CB

Let's see how many others chime in and are likely to attend because the number of people attending could push us in one direction or another. IW would probably be the most convenient location for a decent sized group. Clayton and Biggs might be options if there are any members in our group. I'm not exactly sure what their rules are for non members and bringing in outside smokes. If anyone has experience please chime in. If the weather is decent and the group not too large, Up Down Cigar's covered outdoor patio would also be a great option. 

[canadianbeaver]

Sounds great and thanks so much! There will be two of us I just learned. Lisa & Matthew, Mr & Mrs Beaver!

CB

[Plato]

I should be able to join as well. Josh (inter4alia) shot me a text to tell me about this. Let me know where this lands!

[inter4alia]

@canadianbeaver Thinking through this some more based on your comments and the approximate number of attendees, etc what do you think about this option:

Lunch at noon (for those interested and able) at https://www.oldtownpourhouse.com/locations/chicago/. They have all types of appetizers, salads, sandwiches and burgers, fish and chips, etc so a wide enough selection to fit anyones lunch taste. 

Herf at Up Down's covered outdoor patio starting at 2pm. This is just a few minutes walk up the street from the Pour House lunch spot. 

If this sounds like a good plan to you and Mr Beaver, I'd be happy to reach out to Up Down's owner to see if he can accommodate our group and also what type of spend he would want per person in his shop in order for us to bring and smoke our own CC's. 

This is just an idea, feel free to suggest different times, etc. 

[Chibearsv]

4 hours ago, canadianbeaver said:

Wow @Chibearsv I see under your name you like horse racing. Now THAT would be a col activity for us if they allow smoking, brother!

If Arlington Park was still open, you could bet I’d have been there. They shut it down last year 😢

[canadianbeaver]

1 hour ago, inter4alia said:

@canadianbeaver Thinking through this some more based on your comments and the approximate number of attendees, etc what do you think about this option:

Lunch at noon (for those interested and able) at https://www.oldtownpourhouse.com/locations/chicago/. They have all types of appetizers, salads, sandwiches and burgers, fish and chips, etc so a wide enough selection to fit anyones lunch taste. 

Herf at Up Down's covered outdoor patio starting at 2pm. This is just a few minutes walk up the street from the Pour House lunch spot. 

If this sounds like a good plan to you and Mr Beaver, I'd be happy to reach out to Up Down's owner to see if he can accommodate our group and also what type of spend he would want per person in his shop in order for us to bring and smoke our own CC's. 

This is just an idea, feel free to suggest different times, etc. 

Honoured and appreciated brother! Matthew and I are so happy to meet everyone!

[SigSauer516]

4 hours ago, inter4alia said:

@canadianbeaver Thinking through this some more based on your comments and the approximate number of attendees, etc what do you think about this option:

Lunch at noon (for those interested and able) at https://www.oldtownpourhouse.com/locations/chicago/. They have all types of appetizers, salads, sandwiches and burgers, fish and chips, etc so a wide enough selection to fit anyones lunch taste. 

Herf at Up Down's covered outdoor patio starting at 2pm. This is just a few minutes walk up the street from the Pour House lunch spot. 

If this sounds like a good plan to you and Mr Beaver, I'd be happy to reach out to Up Down's owner to see if he can accommodate our group and also what type of spend he would want per person in his shop in order for us to bring and smoke our own CC's. 

This is just an idea, feel free to suggest different times, etc. 

Josh, I am assuming that this would be on Sunday, May 1st.  If so, I am 80% sure I could make it to Up Down.  Let me know what Phil says.  I hate driving into the city but it's been so long since we've met up.  I'd love to do some cigar swapping there too.  Keep us informed. -John

[inter4alia]

5 minutes ago, SigSauer516 said:

Josh, I am assuming that this would be on Sunday, May 1st.  If so, I am 80% sure I could make it to Up Down.  Let me know what Phil says.  I hate driving into the city but it's been so long since we've met up.  I'd love to do some cigar swapping there too.  Keep us informed. -John

Good to hear from you, John. I hope this works out. Correct, we are talking about May 1st. I'll report back here when I hear from Phil about Up Down. 

[mtd057]

Please count me in, I would love to meet up and introduce myself to the Chicago crew.  I moved to the city a few months ago and I live in Old Town.  Up Down is right up the block from me.

[canadianbeaver]

This sounds just fantastic. And cigar trading is my favorite activity!

I have been a member here since 2011 and this is my cave:

Cigar on the right is what we smoked yesterday. 
Only been to IR a ton of times lolol.

CB

[inter4alia]

Gorgeous cave! 

[Ford2112]

5 hours ago, canadianbeaver said:

This sounds just fantastic. And cigar trading is my favorite activity!

I have been a member here since 2011 and this is my cave:

Cigar on the right is what we smoked yesterday. 
Only been to IR a ton of times lolol.

CB

Shnikeys! I have serious cigar storage envy!

[inter4alia]

Everyone,

Great news, Phil at Up Down has agreed to set aside some room for us on their outdoor patio on May 1st at 2pm. 

I know some of these items should go without saying in this group but I will go ahead and hit on some general terms for the event to ensure we are all on the same page:

·       We can bring and smoke our own Cuban cigars. 

·       Keeping in line with good practices, everyone attending this event agrees to “support the shop.”  From past events, Phil knows we are a generous group so he did not feel the need to set a “minimum” buy.  Let’s all support the shop in such a way that they would welcome us back with open arms again in the future for these types of events.  

·       This point cannot be stressed enough, please make your “support the shop” purchase when you enter the shop and before you go out back to the patio.  I know it might be more comfortable to get settled in on the patio before making your purchases but this puts the shop staff in a very uncomfortable position of feeling like they need to monitor who has purchased and who has not.  Let’s not put them in that position.

·       Up Down is a bring your own beverage shop.  So if you want to have bottled water, soda, beer, etc. please bring it with you to the shop.     

·       This is a rain or shine event – Up Down’s patio has excellent coverage when required because of weather conditions. 

Here is a running list of everyone that has confirmed (so far) that they are likely to attend.  Hopefully some others will join too – chime in on this thread if you plan to join and have not spoken up yet.  Please let us all know if your plans change because we do not want to ask Up Down to hold more space for us than necessary.

1.       Canadianbeaver (co-guest of honor)

2.       Mr. Beaver (co-guest of honor)

3.       Inter4alia

4.       Jakebarnes

5.       Mtd057

6.       Sigsauer516

7.       Plato

8.       Ry27

9.       Chibearsv

I will get to the shop before our 2pm start time to make sure everything is good to go, so I will not be able to join the pre-herf lunch.  Because of this, I kindly ask someone else in our group here to take the lead on making any arrangements/coordinating the lunch.

I’m looking forward to seeing some of you again because it has been a while.  Also looking forward to meeting some of you for the first time.

Cheers!