After seeing the New York Monte Carlo Club in action at their August gathering (Spiedie Fest, Binghamton NY) during my Nor'Easter Trek road trip, I'm not willing to "give up" on Chicagoland events. It seems, sometimes, that when we get together, people say, "We should do this more often" ... but that rarely happens. Perhaps it is time we make "more often" happen. After all, getting together with people IS the POINT....


While the MidSummer Chitown Gathering is done after 3 years due to fast-dwindling attendance (65 in 2008, 20 in 2009, 16 in 2010), let's try something different. I have ideas for "Meet'n'Greets":

Saturday, October 16, 2010
..."Fall Colors Drive"
...Galena IL/Franklin Grove IL
...go west from Chicagoland to Galena via US Route 20; return through Franklin Grove via the Lincoln Highway

Saturday, April 16, 2011
..."Taxes Done"
...Dwight IL (where IL RT 47 and US RT 66 "cross paths")
...(possibly) find a business that will give us ~10% off food to "eliminate" the tax

Saturday, July 30, 2011
..."Cold Treat"
...Elgin IL (near US RT 20)
...(possibly) find a restaurant that will give ~10% off ice cream, floats, malts, shakes, etc., to "beat the heat"

Saturday, October 15, 2011
..."October Fest"
...Volo IL
...visit the Volo Auto Museum


If people are interested in meeting regularly, perhaps we could name some "home" cruise nights....



So ... what do you think?

Are YOU interested in Chicagoland Meet'n'Greets in 2011?



The First MidSummer Chitown Gathering ... 07/26/2008:
http://pics.projectmonte.com/album/12498

The Final MidSummer Chitown Gathering ... 07/24/2010:
http://picasaweb.google.com/knightfa...85409301953362




Cort | 36.m.IL | 5 Monte Carlos.1 Caprice Classic | pig valve.pacemaker * Rt 66+northwestUS, 2011?
MCs.CC | models.HO.legos.CHD.RadioShows | RoadTrips.us66 = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"Ya just might miss the point" ... George Strait ... 'The Breath You Take'

 

Ssssooo....


Anyone interested in a "Fall Colors Drive" Meet'n'Greet THIS year, OCTOBER 16, 2010?

Starks IL
~8a to ~8:25a
..gather at the gas station at the intersection of IL RT 72, IL RT 47 and US RT 20

Chicagoland to Galena IL
~8:30a to ~11:30a
...via:
US Route 20 W

Lunch in Galena IL
~11:30a to ~1p

Galena IL to Franklin Grove IL
~1p to ~3:30p
...via:
US Route 20 E
IL RT 84 SE
US Route 52 E
IL RT 38 E, Lincoln Highway (at Dixon IL)

Franklin Grove IL to Chicagoland
~4p to ~6p
...via:
IL RT 38 E, Lincoln Highway

Dinner in Chicagoland @ a Cruise Night
~6p to ?



How about the suggested 2011 Meet'n'Greets?




Cort | 37.m.IL.pigValve.pacemaker | 5 Monte Carlos + 1 Caprice Classic |* Rt 66+northwestUS, 2011?
MCs.CC + CHD.models.HO.legos.RadioShows + RoadTrips.us66 = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"I'm not afraid things won't get better, but it feels like this has gone on forever" ... Toad The Wet Sprocket ... 'Good Intentions'

 

I don't think they do. I was out at the 2 S Elgin meets a couple weekends ago when we had that gorgeous weather ... and only a handful of us were there. I couldn't believe it...lol.

I'm posting a list below ... let me know which of those you may frequent. It'd be cool to meet you!


That's OK. My health insurance has gone up, too, and due to some other issues, I'm going to have more medical bills to contend with in the near future.



Haven't tried Sundays before ... only because most people generally don't want to stay out too late on a Sunday, given the work week is going to start the next day.

As for a central location ... we've tried that ... 3 years in a row. Attendance dropped from 65 in 2008, to 20 in 2009, to 16 in 2010. So, trying something different this year....


Amen ... and THAT is the key. In most cases, I'm about the only one posting to the Chicago-area gathering threads and, even though most of the 65 people that attended the MidSummer Chitown Gathering in 2008 told me privately how much they enjoyed it and wanted it to keep going, hardly anyone "talked it up" on the various boards ... so that might've contributed to the attendance drop. I don't know.

*shrugs*



********************
SETTING UP
TwentyEleven
***********

MidSummer Chitown Gatherings

First ... 07/26/2008 ... record-high 65 people:
http://pics.projectmonte.com/album/12498

Final ... 07/24/2010 ... 16 people:
http://picasaweb.google.com/knightfa...85409301953362



I saw the NYMCC in action in person last August (Spiedie Fest; Binghamton NY). They also have awesome gatherings in NJ, MD & eastern PA.

I've noticed other regional groups (FGMCC western PA/Ohio; various regions of ChevyTalk and MCSS boards; etc.) have successful meets during the year.

In ALL cases, some people traveled HOURS for the event.


So ... next year, let's make "more often" happen in THIS area ... MARK YOUR CALENDARS and JOIN US!

Since NONE of these MEET'n'GREETS have ANY FEES, you can attend FOR LESS $ than REGISTRATION COSTS of some car shows/events.




___SATURDAY MEET'n'GREETS___


"TAXES DONE"
...04/16/2011
...~11:30a to ~3p
@ Old Route 66 Family Restaurant
105 S Old Rt 66 (near IL RT 47)
Dwight IL


"MAY MADNESS"
...05/21/2011
...~11:30a to ~3p
@ Lincoln Way Cafe
137 N Elm St (IL RT 38 / Lincoln Highway)
Franklin Grove IL



"COLD TREAT"
...07/30/2011
...~11a to ~9p

@ Culver's
280 Randall Rd (between Hopps & McDonald Rds)
S Elgin IL 60177
[...OR...]
@ Colonial Cafe
600 S Mclean Blvd (2 blocks S of US RT 20, near Elgin Community College)
Elgin IL 60123

...THEN, 2 cruise nights:
Beef Villa
1225 W Spring St (S Elgin; E of Randall Rd)
[AND]
Nanner's
1900 McDonald Rd (S Elgin; off Randall Rd)



"OCTOBER FEST"
...10/15/2011
...10a-~4p
@ Volo IL Auto Museum
27582 Volo Village Rd





___WEEKLY IL CRUISE NIGHTS___


SUN

= Elgin @ Rookies
2486 Bushwood Dr
...N of I-90, off Randall Rd

= Schaumburg @ Culver's
1800 Wise Rd
...N of US RT 20



MON

= St Charles @ Rookies
1545 W Main St (IL RT 64)
...E of Randall Rd

= Hoffman Estates @ Barrington Square Mall
2300 W Higgins Rd (IL RT 72)
...E of Barrington Rd



WED

= W Dundee @ Maxwell's
551 S 8th St (IL RT 31)
...N of I-90, S of IL RT 72

= St Charles @ Goody's
2057 Lincoln Way (IL RT 38/Lincoln Highway)
...E of Randall Rd



THU

= Elgin @ Mr C's
1350 E Chicago St (IL RT 19, at Shales Parkway)
...E of IL RT 25, W of IL RT 59, N of US RT 20

= Geneva @ Courthouse
210 S 6th St
...W of IL RT 31, S of IL RT 38/Lincoln Highway

= Carpentersville @ Luke's
2 Lw Besinger Dr (off IL RT 25)
...N of IL RTs 68 & 72



FRI

= S Elgin @ McDonald's
453 Redington Dr (off Randall Rd)
...between Silver Glen & McDonald Rds, S of US RT 20



SAT

= S Elgin @ Beef Villa
1225 W Spring St
...E of Randall Rd

= S Elgin @ Nanner's
1900 McDonald Rd (off Randall Rd)
...S of US RT 20




Cort | 37.m.IL.pigValve.pacemaker | 5 Monte Carlos + 1 Caprice Classic |
MCs.CC + CHD.models.HO.legos.RadioShows + RoadTrips.us66 = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"T-tops down in my Cutlass Supreme" ... Uncle Kracker/Kid Rock ... 'It's Good To Be Me'