We need to know by Midnight this Saturday May 1.

If you are uncertain but plan on coming let us know. Better to have too much seating rather than not enough.

I wish i can be there too (sigh)|goodnight

BTW whats should the cab fare be from the airport its good to know since some try to hose ya :)

Mr MM, in September it was about $30

Depends on what airport you fly in to and what time of day. Midway is a shorter ride and thusly less expensive.
Traffic will play a big roll in it as well. Rush hour traffic sucks and sitting in a cab watching your money tick away really sucks.

From either Airport, you can take the "EL" (Elevated trains. Although a few go underground as well.) into the city for $1.50. From O'Hare it takes about 45 minutes. From Midway it's about 25. Just follow the "Trains to City" signs is either airport.

The train thing sounds kind of cool. But being a big ole city ya'll got there will I get robbed travelling on the El. |jester|

I think I will stick with a cab LOL

The "El" isn't bad. It's not like this is NewYork City. This is Chicago, baby!

Since O'Hare is the last stop on the "El", most of the people on the train will either be people who work at the airport, or people just coming from somewhere.

It looks a bit scary, but it's pretty simple when you know what color line you need to be on. Here is a Map of the whole system: http://www.chicago-l.org/maps/track/index.html#current
O'Hare is the blue line.

For more information you can visit: http://www.chicago-l.org/

I've never taken the EL. I have taken the SouthShore many times when I was younger. :)

I'll be taking advantage of the Dr Bizzaro Limo Service |bananna|

hey GG, I dont feel like driving 180 miles there and back, mind sending me your limo?|jester|

Only if you speak Canadian

I saw ther El on ER - it went over Hathoway's house :D

That's a limited offer.

As long as you don't leave me waiting at the airport for 3 hours like these Extreme Team did last year.

To avoid driving and stuff I was wondering if I could hop this train to get there.

Can anyone tell me if this will get me close enough?

That's the old SouthShore Line that they moved from downtown to the airport. It terminates at Randolf St. Which is a pretty good hike to the Omni.

I don't know if the EL (underground in the heart of Chicago) even goes near the Omni. Dr B would probably know.

The Omni is 1.9 miles from the Randolph stop: (See Map )

I assume you are staying over night.
If not, make sure you know how late you can catch the train home. Getting stuck here without a reservation would not be good that weekend.

Thanks DrB and Surfn.

Thats a bit of a haul. Is it a safe walk if I do decide to hoof it from there?

Since I don't drink or party anymore I was just planing on making an appearance for a couple hours and then going home.

It looks like the last one from Randolf is at 12:45 and the one before it is at 10:00. So I should be able to catch one of those out.

If you take the Blue Line, you can get off at Division and you'd be very close. The Omni is 2 blocks Noth of Division, on State.

But Unless your coming from O'hare and getting off there, I wouldn't try to get around the city on the El if you are not good at following instructions, or are easily confused. There are 7 colored trains and if you get on the wrong one, or get on going the wrong way, it's not a fun experience.

Yeah, if you don't mine the distance, it's actually a nice walk.
If you can, just take Michigan Ave North to Delaware. (John Handcock Building)
Take a left to State. Take a right. It'll be 2 blocks Noth of Division.

Thanks again DrB.

If the weather is nice I will just take a walk then.

I can definitely use a little exercise. :)

hey i will be driving from ohio and how's the traffic once i get there..

what time will you get there?

Rush Hour sucks....

If you enjoy walking then it's plenty safe and enjoyable. :)

Yeah... I have always loved to walk.

Just don't do it much anymore :(

Maybe I will have my gf tag along for company.

If your coming in on Friday anytime between 2:30-7:00, it will not be fun. Traffic in Chicago is terrible Mon-Fri.

If you are coming in Saturday and/or leaving on Saturday or Sunday, you should be fine.

torn hopefully before noon to rest after a long drive..

Midnight (CST) tomorrow is the cut off. If you want to attend let us know before then. :)

post the pics of your PARTY...|bananna|

Oh, we will.

|pokefun||drunk|

If you are for walking around a campus the University of Chicago is a much prettier campus and alot easier to walk around than Northwestern|angry|

Hey Dr. B you are wrong on this one;-))) Don't take the Blue Line, walk two blocks west on Randolph to State Street and take the Red Line North which is underground to Clark and Division...When you come up from underground you walk 2 blocks east and you are at Division and State...Then walk two blocks north and you are at the Omni.

It is easier that way and you don't have to go though any bad neighborhoods like if you take the Blue line and get off at Division|peace|

Univ of Chicago has better architecture...if you don't believe me take the virtual tour at

Here

Thanks for the info Hank, but the reason for NW is we are wanting to go see all Big Ten Schools, usually we wait for a football game, but since we are so close we may do it Sunday and we may say hell with it and go home.

But I am thinking the Sears Tower! |bananna|

University of Chicago used to be a Big Ten School in fact it was one of the original Big Ten Schools|greenguy|

HA! I knew that!

Can you name the original schools in what is now known as the Big Ten?

Here's the history:

University of Chicago, University of Illinois, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, Northwestern University, Purdue University and the University of Wisconsin (original seven).

Indiana University and the State University of Iowa were admitted in 1899. Ohio State joined in 1912. Chicago withdrew in 1946 and Michigan State College (now Michigan State University) was added three years later in 1949.

That's all folks
|bananna| |bananna| |bananna|

not quite.....

Penn St Joined in 1993|shake|

Torn. I'm not biased or anything...but my daughter is a finishing her freshman year at the Univ. of Chicago and I think it was the biggest lost to the big 10 ever|angry|

That's a |newbie| |jester| |jester|