blue line is fine...stay off the red if you don't want to be dead

car jackers starting to ambush people in the downtown parking lot's

Lou Malnati’s for deep dish, Chicago dog and beef sandwich, a shot of Malort, ride the L around, experience driving through lower wacker, second city, and a dinner in the west loop if you’re feeling ritzy. For that time of year I think that will give you a good taste of the city.

The new location is across the street from Kumas Corner. If you like extreme metal and gigantic, delicious burgers, it's a must. Also, it's not a chain.
Place is so rad.

You won't be able to finish it.

portrayalofguilt5social (resized).jpeg

Name of that burger checks out.

You need to use that burger just to wash down a shot of malort.

For those planning to walk to Kuma's: it's not across the street. But it is a short drive, and yes, you should go there. It's like if Gryszzz was a restaurant.

Unfortunately there are exactly zero restaurants within a half mile of Expo.

The one in Avondale is like Gryszzz was a restaurant. The one in Schaumburg is like Gryszzz getting some golfing shorts and New Balance shoes while at Kohl's on a Friday night.

Chicago handshake on me if we run into each other.

Is there any different between these two? It's the same guy behind both of them right? (Bert)

It's funny no one said Uno..... LOL!!!

LOLOL...
You and Yancy are cracking me up ha. I know the Belmont (my favorite part of Chicago) location was first, but not familiar with the other ones. Didn't make it there last year.
So does the Schaumburg Kumas play White Lion and Warrant exclusively or what's the deal there B-Rad?
Can't wait to see you fuckers!

It’s Schaumburg, so there’s also some Mumford and Sons and Nickelback mixed in as well

Can’t believe I left a gyro off my list of things to eat.

Villa Nova in Stickney has amazing thin crust pizza.. sausage mushroom or pepperoni mushroom, both incredible.

You already know.
We're partyin.

Burt died years ago he sold Pequod's in the 80's but they both still serve his caramelized crispy cheese crust pie. They both have a different sauce/crust and the atmosphere is way different at Burt's if you're dining in.

Lou Malnati originally managed Uno before he opened his pizzeria. Lou's is my favorite deep dish in Chicago.

Brandys Gyros does a good one in Schaumburg

Pizano's Pizza is very good and a few locations, Glenview probably being the closest to Expo.

https://www.pizanoschicago.com/locations/

And if your going to order a "deep dish" pizza, do what the locals do...order it uncut.

unless you like licking the box

Have the Stern tours for the Thursday now been cancelled? Thought the tour was included with the 3 day pass? Thanks.

The stern tour has been turned to a virtual tour on Friday. Now we get a tour of JJP instead of stern on Thursday.

Is the JJP tour included with the 3 day pass?

Well, actually, now that I go back to the expo site. It looks like both tours appear to be canceled/digital. What a huge bummer.

And they were included with the preregistration package not the 3 day pass.

Was my incentive to buy the 3 day pass in advance, now I will just buy the day pass (if I decide to go). Was kind of the deciding factor if I was going to attend from Canada. That sucks. Was looking forward to actually seeing the Stern factory.

Damn shame Expo has taken such a turn for the worse. A lot of the extra things that made Expo are gone.

Uggghhhhh.... how lame!!! The tour is what I was most looking forward to. The Stern factory is why I made plans in the 1st place.

I see the price of the pre-registration package is now $145 instead of the $175 I already paid. It says "refunds will be given to those who already purchased".
Is that a refund of the difference? Or a refund of the whole package and you buy the tickets over again?
I couldn't give a crap about bumper-blast on Wednesday night. Here's to hoping the seminars are good.

That is a bummer , no tour at either Facility. The current thing must be still too strong..

I was looking forward to it.

Here is a clarification email received from Expo folks (two days ago) - fyi: my wife bought a stand-alone ticket to the Stern tour and she has received her $60 refund already; I purchased a 3 day pass but haven't seen my $30 refund yet.

"Sorry for any confusion. The in person Stern tour Thursday got moved to virtual on Friday morning. Jersey Jack Pinball is now doing their own tour Thursday – running buses starting at 9:00 through 1:30 pm (every 45 minutes) – first come first served and no charge.

If you bought a package, the refund is $30 and if you bought tickets only – the refund is for the full $60.00. We apologize again and look forward to seeing you in a few weeks."

Presentation schedule has been posted on Expo's website.

If you know; you know.

Image 9-8-22 at 5.00 PM (resized).jpg

At least there is a dog to pet in Jay's dungeon.

Apparently there is a JJP tour now, first come basis.

They filled out the missing slots for Saturday and changed some things around.....

I see they changed the Q&A seminar with Jack to a seminar about JJP's animation. Listening to Jack (IMO) was going to be the most interesting session. Oh well. There also was a session with Bob Lawlor scheduled..... and now that is gone too. Makes me think they don't want any questions about TS4.

There's a few interesting bits sprinkled here and there over the three days, but overall it's looking fairly boring (on paper).
Hope it's better than I'm imagining.

Looking to share my hotel room in the venue hotel.

Update: I may not make Expo this year. Am developing some brewery-pinbally connections and may not have a spare minute to break away.

Will be at York for sure.

Dammit man. I mean, congratulations and good for you lol.
Was thinking about bringing my Prospector that keeps blowing fuses and I can't figure out for you to help with. I have a PBR 99 pack I was gonna share with ya.

Probably not gonna make this one. Just enlisted in the Space Force. Gotta prepare for this 3 day bootcamp.

Thats a great development, mixing freeplay and vendors. Last year it was too isolated.

I'll certainly help out on the floor keeping the games running.

Glad to see the vendor and free play stuff being mixed together this year.
The free play area was pretty depressing last year.

Agreed, the vendor area seemed to be pretty cramped into the one half while there was plenty o' room in the Free Play area in the other half.

No. The games will be available to play during the posted hours. Vendors may close earlier, however.

This will be our first year going to Expo. I know there are tons of games to play but will there be games for sale too? If so, is it typically the games that have been out on the floor? NIB games? Cash only? ACH? How does this all work?

There will be a lot of games for sale. Individuals who bring games will mark them if they are for sale.

There is a Chicago expo for sale thread also you might keep an eye on.

And if you are really looking to buy, bring cash. Cash is king with most people.

If your looking for basically new games, I will have over 40 games that are opened up for the show that are available and can be taken home when the tournament ends

Could just be the crabs, but I'm gettin itchy.
PRIMED AND READY.

I got my shot's to help prevent "expo flu".

The shots for syphilis?