"L" is that you?????? Finally joined???? Am I right???

Looking forward to painting the town!! I'll buy you a drink!!!


TIS

Its me!!

Call ya later (after "The Sopranos")

Hey, The Famous Lori! Heard a lot about you (don't worry; all good)! Welcome aboard.

Mick

Hey, it is SC's handler.

What took you so long to join?

Now the big Question, Where on Long Island?

Welcome Lori, it is nice to have you join us! SC, watch out! You were once "my most valued and trusted friend," but now Lori may just have to become "my most valued and trusted friend!"
Ok, Ok you both are!

Don Cardi

TIS - Where do you see other tours? I thought they were all combined into one... that was my impression.

I'm all for the tour, why not. After the Cubs game. Douche: I don't care if we have bleacher seats or whatever, anywhere would be fun. But do you think someone will have to preorder a block of seats? I would think so...

Hi, Lori!

Geoff,

I just did a general search on Chicago tours and got that page. It isn't associated with the Mob Wear Convention that I know of. Just wanted to see what else was available and decided to do some research.

As far as the a purchase of tickets, yea, go ahead and buy a block.....check's in the mail!! (will have to figure something out I guess, but who's gonna want to spring for the whole thing? that's the question). Yet, if we each buy our own, we take a chance that one or some of us won't get on the tour don't we??

TIS

So are we going to the convention-sponsored tour or what? If so, we should get tix right away. Or should we see what other tours there are in the area?

And DS, see my previous post please

Hi Geoff,

I'd like to go on at least one of these gangster tours, and am sort of waiting to see what everyone wants to do. If we don't get this tour, we still have others to choose from when we get there right???(unless they get booked up). Is it better to wait????

Just count me in whatever is decided. I will buy a ticket as soon as we know for sure. I think SC & L were interested. Don't know about Don Cardi (I pm'd him a while back but haven't heard) and don't know anyone else who is going to Chicago for sure. Do you?

TIS

TIS & JG -

"L" and I would like to see that "Ghost Tour" (Saturday night). The other tour ("The Gangster Tour") would also be "do-able"....its about 2½ hours long, and we can catch the Friday morning tour (when there isn't anything else organized going on).

I'll PM you a chart of the organized activities I made up. It shows whats being offered at a given time. We don't want to get into the trap of having this trip rigidly planned, but its certainly worth considering specific events now.

Okay, let's figure this out and get a show of hands.

Tour possibilities:

1) " Gangsters, Ghosts and Chicago Mysteries Tour " - A special-edition of Ghost Tours that departs from the hotel. Saturday, 7pm-midnight. $40.

PROS: Leaves from the hotel; mix of gangster stuff & supernatural stuff (some would consider that a con maybe )
CONS: 5 hours is a long time (and cuts into alcohol consumption time )

I have a big interest in the supernatural, so this could be interesting.

2) " Untouchable Tours " - 2 hours - Fri-Sun, (10am, 1pm); Fri 7:30pm; Sat 5pm. Leaves from downtown. $24

I'm wondering if this would be redundant in addition to the first one, altho it looks like they have some fun w/ costumes and such - check out the site

Let's get a hand count and then contact the convention to see if there are enough seats available for all interested. Tour 2 also requires reservations, but I'm sure there won't be a sell-out.

Ok, someone has to start the ball rolling. I will go with the "Ghost Tour", but would even consider doing both, if time permits.

I too would like to have some time for us all just to hang out for a bit, but the convention is for three days, and I'm guessing will be able to make our own "down" time, having maybe nice leisurely dinner/drinks??? What do ya think?

We will be able to go to the Loop won't we??
We need to find out the name of a good Italian restaurant in the area. Don Sicilia?????

TIS

Can't you just take a lifesize cardboard cut of myself and pretend I went. Take a few pictures - no one will know the difference.

...Or cover someone in newspaper - again, no one will know the difference.

Being that the Tour takes up most of the Saturady evening, and some want to go and some may not, how about this idea. Saturday Morning we have a " Goodfellas / Goodladies " breakfast? Maybe we could get the Host Hotel to possibly set us up for a breakfast that Saturday Morning, say around 9:00AM or so. Just a suggestion.

Don Cardi

Hi Don C! Yea, breakfast is good! As a matter of fact, so is lunch & dinner. I can eat most anytime!!

Btw, I got my air tickets last week, so I'm all booked. For those who are going, if it matters, the admission tickets to the convention are $30 thru June 30th (for the weekend), and after that they up to $40. I plan to send for them this week.

Already it's June!!! Time will fly now doubt. I am looking forward to meeting those I haven't met yet, and also seeing the new friends I have already met.

TIS

Hey guys! For those who are planning to go to this convention. I am sending my money for my ticket to the convention. I sent it to the address that Harry Lawrence gave me, thinking it's not a P.O.(like on the website) and since I've communicated with Harry a couple times, feel like I'm sending it to a "person".

Anyway, I mentioned to him that we didn't know about the tour, and didn't have an exact number of how many..if we go. This is part of his reply to me:

" As far as the tour goes, unfortunately, I will have to let him know in the next couple weeks if we have enough interest. If not, we are not going to be able to do it. I'm hoping we get enough interest. Where are you all coming in from? It's kind of evciting to see where people are coming from. The farthest so far has been liverpool, England! As soon as I get your check I will let you...Thanks again-Harry"

TIS

Oh, I told Mr. Lawrence how great this board was and I invited come browse sometime.

I'm not going to be able to attend the convention after all. I have to leave for California with my brother this Friday. To bring some stuff back, as a result of my grandmothers death.

Oh well better luck next time.

Sorry to hear about your grandmother, Iceman, but I don't get it -- the convention is a solid 3 months from now...

I was wondering the same thing Geoff!

Anyway, Iceman, although it's been a bit gloomy the last couple days, it's a great time to come to California. The weather should be beautiful. San Diego right?


TIS

I forgot to mention that I'll be using up all my vacation that I have left, so therefore that's why I won't be able to go.

Since I am not attending, you can take my opinions and toss them out, but having once lived in Chicago and having family there I thought I would share some thoughts.

Most of the buildings that were the attractions for Capone and gangster buffs have been torn down. The tours would be fun but I think you will be driving by a lot places where buildings used to be. For instance, the hotels where Capone lived (Metropole and Lexington) are gone - the Lexington torn down at the time of the famous Geraldo special. The Hawthorne Inn, in Cicero, is also gone.

The garage from the St. Valentine's Day massacre is gone - there is an apartment building there now. There is a great restaurant called the Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Company across the street from the site of the hit. It has a unique kind of pizza that is more like a pot pie than deep dish pizza. The crust is on top. Rumor has it that the building the restaurant is in was used as a lookout prior to the hit.

You can still (or you could 7 years ago when I was there last) drive by the Capone house on S. Prarie Avenue. It's a pretty plain brownstone type house.

The Biograph Theater, where Dillinger was gunned down, is still there on Lincoln Avenue. My uncle took me past the house where Giancana lived in Oak Park, but I don't think I could find the place now.

Like I said, a lot of the old places are gone, but the fun of it would be to gather with Godfather fans and see the show they put on.

Don Marco,

Thanks for your input. It's been years since I've been to Chicago, and even the times I was there, I wouldn't know anything about the famous gangster locations.

From what you described, maybe much of the "Ghost Tour" is just that. I would imagine they'd add a little something to it though. I'm still open to whatever everyone decides.

BTW, I'm asking around, can you recommend good Italian restaurants you know of in Chicago that would be fitting to our group?

Thanks

TIS

TIS - Sorry to say that the last Italian restaurant I went to in the Chicago area is part of a chain - it's called Mangiano's and has a few locations in the area. It's good, but it lacks the "homey" feel.

Whenever I'm in Chicago I go to either Greek restaurants or get steak/ribs. Carson's Ribs - I love 'em.

So can we get an early count now on who is definatley going so far?

I'm There.


Don Cardi

An Idea, but I must present it to OUR DON GEOFF.

Don Geoff, How about you start a new thread which will ONLY be for people WHO ARE DEFINATLEY going to the convention. NOT any maybes or I think so's, but a thread for DEFINATES. This we we can keep an accurate count in this new thread without having to scan through the many different posts in this one. Is this ok with you Don Geoff?

Don Cardi