Octopus Overlords

Back by popular demand!

Details:

What: OctoCon XXVIII

When: Friday, May 10th, Noon to Midnight and Saturday, May 11th, 9 AM to Midnight

Where: United In Faith Church, 6525 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago, IL

Who: OOers, spouses, friends, whoever!

Why?: Let's play some games!

The Facilities:

I have acquired the use of the fellowship hall and lounge of my church for us to use for a gaming day. Cost of using said room is whatever donation you care to make. (Note that this is NOT mandatory, just if you feel like donating, donate!)

The church is a converted printing plant, so the main fellowship hall is inside of the main plant space. It is large and roomy and doesn't look very church like (except for the statue of Jesus that will be staring out at the room the whole time. Hoping this might deter cheating.) We will have access to over a dozen 4X8 tables, and more could be grabbed if needed. It is totally handicap accessable. There is also a kitchen that is part of the hall, we should be able to use the refrigerator there for soda and snacks.

The lounge is right off of the fellowship hall, with couches and places to relax if you are not playing a game at the time. There is a 35" TV in there, so if someone so desired we could have video games running in there during the down times as well.

Food:

There are a number of restaurants in the area. Across the street is a Burger King, a Subway, a Dunkin Donuts, and a chinese fast food restaurant. Down the street is a gyros/hot dog place, a typical Chicago corner greek restaurant, a bar, and another Chinese place (non-fast food). The new official favorite restaurant of OctoCon is now The Jolly Inn, right next door. It's a polish all you can eat buffet, and comes highly recommended by those that have eaten there.

There are two grocery stores right by the church; a large chain store, and a smaller Polish market, for your junk food needs. You can bring your own munchies and soda in with you.

We will do our usual Friday night pizza buy in...probably going up to about $12 a person (bring singles!!!). We'll get a bunch of Chicago style pizzas from Giordanos. Con Favorite (well, my favorite because it was so close) Al's Pizza didn't survive the pandemic.

I will provide a couple dozen donuts and coffee for breakfast in the morning, on a first come first serve basis. Everyone would be responsible for their own lunch, but we have a wide selection. It seems like nobody stops playing for dinner, so we play that by ear too.

We always have a snack table, where everyone brings community munchies, as well as a few coolers of soda.

Alcohol:

No alcohol in the church for insurance reasons. Sorry. Regardless, there are a number of neighborhood-style bars and pubs around the church.

Lodging:

(Note: I have no clue if any of this is still valid...)

The closest motel is the LP Motel, 4605 N Harlem Ave, Harwood Heights. This motel is about 5 minutes from the church. Number for the motel is (708) 457-0600. No guarantees about quality, it looks pretty beat up and run down from the outside.

Another option is the Motel 6 at 9408 Lawrence Ave in Schiller Park. Disadvantage is that it is more like 15-20 minutes from the church. If I were coming here and didn't want to stay in a fancier hotel, that would be my first choice. Phone number is (847) 671-4282.

Otherwise, lots of hotel choices all very close because we are near O'Hare. Just look at Google Maps or your other favorite hotel site.

Questions, let me know.

I'll be able to go to one of these again some day . . . but not this day. Wife will be out of the country so I'll be in charge of the brood that weekend.

And I'm so close to the venue now, too!

I have a surgery scheduled right after and they get testy about leaving the state before medical stuff, but I plan to return one day so long as I can budget for it. I either need to do it before my car becomes too unreliable or wait until I get a new one, which will put a dent in my feeling like I can budget for anything. I watch for the next one. I was also thinking Origins, which would be considerably more expensive and less personal.

Marked my calendar, which didn't have anything on it for those days. So I think I can go!

ImLawBoy wrote: ↑Tue Mar 26, 2024 4:25 pm I'll be able to go to one of these again some day . . . but not this day. Wife will be out of the country so I'll be in charge of the brood that weekend.

And I'm so close to the venue now, too!

It would be nice to see the kids again. I'm just sayin'.

I’d be glad to see anyone who can make it. It’s in my calendar and only a summons to Tax Court would stop me (still not sure when they’re passing through Cincinnati this year).

I'd love to go to one of these but it's just too far for me especially since I'm not allowed to drive uet.

Going to talk to the wife, and see if a trip to Chicago is in the tea leaves.

Tempting.

I need to get to one of these at some point but I'll be out of the country at that point so this will not be the time.

I’d love to see you if you can make it!

I will be there. Looking forward to it.

As it turns out my wife is going to be out of the country on those dates in April (i.e., now) not May.

May is still iffy as it's the oldest's birthday and my daughter has two violin recitals (one solo, one with orchestra) on that Saturday. I might be able to swing by briefly in the morning, but we'll have to see.

Seppe wrote: ↑Thu Apr 11, 2024 2:42 pm I will be there. Looking forward to it.

One post in 27 years and it's this? Come on, man!

Well, having my driveway cracked to replace water lines is going to ensure I don't make this one, unfortunately.

Ah, the joys of home ownership.

Isgrimnur wrote: ↑Thu Apr 11, 2024 7:30 pm Well, having my driveway cracked to replace water lines is going to ensure I don't make this one, unfortunately.

Ah, the joys of home ownership.

Yeah, I just had to have a tree cut down in my back yard before it falls over in some heavy wind.

But my transportation costs are a bit lower than yours are.

Just a reminder/bump that this is happening in 4 days….

What would you like me to get beforehand? Just let me know and I'll make a stop on the way there Friday.

hepcat wrote: ↑Mon May 06, 2024 12:50 pm What would you like me to get beforehand? Just let me know and I'll make a stop on the way there Friday.

Nothing that I can think of unless you have a specific kind of snack or soft drink you want. I’ll have a cooler and ice and some soda myself.

You know how low key these things are.

I'll grab bottled water on Friday on the way in Friday, and some chips. Then Saturday I'll forego the donuts in favor of fruit salad or something else. I know we tend to have WAY too many donuts Saturday.

Officially out. Now is year-end for all of the kids activities. Last weekend was my son's Taekwondo tournament (4 gold, 2 silver and a bronze). This weekend my daughter is performing in Legally Blonde - The Musical. Dress rehearsal Friday night, 2 shows on Saturday. We then have 2 weekends off before year end music and dance shows the first 2 weeks of June.

My kids are old enough where they don't eat the dice anymore. A few months ago (maybe 6) I was evaluating my train games to see which one I thought might be easiest to teach the kids and my daughter replied, "daddy, we have brains you know." They are probably smart enough to learn the mechanics of any game now, not sure how well they would learn strategy though. MiL goes back to the Philippines June 15, wife works day shift now so I'll plenty of time with the kids to work on their gaming abilities...

hepcat wrote: ↑Mon May 06, 2024 5:27 pm I'll grab bottled water on Friday on the way in Friday, and some chips. Then Saturday I'll forego the donuts in favor of fruit salad or something else. I know we tend to have WAY too many donuts Saturday.

I know I can't gave them for now but is there really such a thing as too many donuts?

Not at all. Octocon is a long day.

Punisher wrote: ↑Tue May 07, 2024 12:59 am

hepcat wrote: ↑Mon May 06, 2024 5:27 pm I'll grab bottled water on Friday on the way in Friday, and some chips. Then Saturday I'll forego the donuts in favor of fruit salad or something else. I know we tend to have WAY too many donuts Saturday.

I know I can't gave them for now but is there really such a thing as too many donuts?

picture taken at last octocon.



strangely enough, zarathud fought off every attempt to pull him out of that.

hepcat wrote: ↑Mon May 06, 2024 5:27 pm I'll grab bottled water on Friday on the way in Friday, and some chips. Then Saturday I'll forego the donuts in favor of fruit salad or something else. I know we tend to have WAY too many donuts Saturday.

I was hoping to be able to drop off wife and MiL at Seafood City and bring the kids to Octocon. Then it occurred to me I could get some treats for Archinerd at Seafood City (a Filipino supermarket, for those who don't know), but alas, my daughter's schedule screwed up everything.

I feel like this should be an unspoken rule, but if you stop by, wear appropriate pants.

hepcat wrote: ↑Wed May 08, 2024 3:48 pm I feel like this should be an unspoken rule, but if you stop by, wear appropriate pants.

I haven't worn my spandex in years. I bet they are almost translucent by now.

Jeff V wrote: ↑Wed May 08, 2024 3:50 pm

hepcat wrote: ↑Wed May 08, 2024 3:48 pm I feel like this should be an unspoken rule, but if you stop by, wear appropriate pants.

I haven't worn my spandex in years. I bet they are almost translucent by now.

So.. kind of like a spring roll then?
I just threw up in my mouth.

hepcat wrote: ↑Tue May 07, 2024 9:47 am

Punisher wrote: ↑Tue May 07, 2024 12:59 am

hepcat wrote: ↑Mon May 06, 2024 5:27 pm I'll grab bottled water on Friday on the way in Friday, and some chips. Then Saturday I'll forego the donuts in favor of fruit salad or something else. I know we tend to have WAY too many donuts Saturday.

I know I can't gave them for now but is there really such a thing as too many donuts?

picture taken at last octocon.



strangely enough, zarathud fought off every attempt to pull him out of that.

I still don't see the problem...except now I REALLY want a donut.

hepcat wrote: ↑Wed May 08, 2024 3:48 pm I feel like this should be an unspoken rule, but if you stop by, wear appropriate pants.

"Appropriate" leaves plenty of wiggle room.

...spandex however, does not.

Spandex doesn't need it. Spandex wiggles right along, like a ziplock full of jello.

Just for future reference what is your con etiquette regarding lime green speedos?

*begins to question why he does this*

hentzau wrote: ↑Thu May 09, 2024 11:27 am *begins to question why he does this*

"begins"?

To be fair, the MC Hammer pants I wear every octocon make up for JeffV's choices.

hepcat wrote: ↑Thu May 09, 2024 12:15 pm To be fair, the MC Hammer pants I wear every octocon make up for JeffV's choices.

I mean... that's just good fashion sense, right?

hepcat wrote: ↑Thu May 09, 2024 12:15 pm To be fair, the MC Hammer pants I wear every octocon make up for JeffV's choices.

It's not the pants we have issues with, it's your insistence that somebody get in there with you.

I miss Octocon. I won't be to this one either though as I will be coaching in Indiana. Somebody backstab somebody else (*cough*Hepcat*cough*) in my memory though if you would.

Remus West wrote: ↑Thu May 09, 2024 3:47 pm Somebody backstab somebody else (*cough*Hepcat*cough*) in my memory though if you would.

SOMEONE isn't getting a pants ride next time I see them. Right OR left leg.

I'll be there on Saturday, looking forward to seeing you all again and playing some great games.