June 1, 2024 Chicago Mini Meatup Final Planning

[J-Melt]

We are two months out from the Chicago Mini-Meatup, so it is time to start planning the final details!

We are currently planning to do it June 1st at my place near the Sox Stadium south of downtown. I will send my address via PM to anyone who is confirmed.

If you are coming, please let me know what you would like to bring. I will be smoking some sort of meat, but have not yet decided what I will cook. I think each person/family could bring either a main dish or a side, all bbq themed. We can reheat at my place, either in the Backwoods Party or in my oven if needed.

If y'all wanted, we could make a pre-lunch run to Park Packing at 11am, where you can find all sorts of really good deals on meat. Just going is an experience in itself as they have meat just sitting out on the tables that you grab with gloved hands. I typically get pork butt and ribs for under $2 per pound. The website is here: https://www.parkpacking.com. I have plenty of freezer room and we can hold your meat there while we eat and hang out.

Maybe we plan on eating lunch at about 12:30pm, then we can adlib from there if any of you want to hang out in the city after.

Let us know if you can come, how much you want to participate in, and what you plan on bringing!

[LA Pork Butt]

The Texas Meat Up is cheering y’all on!

[Panhead John]

For sure!

[J-Melt]

Thanks! Looking forward to seeing y’all in Texas!

[mrteddyprincess]

My yes is tentative, but also likely. I'm checking with family in Chicago to see if I can stay with them the night before. I know they will say yes, but I don't know their precise location and I want to check that out.

Brian White
Fishers, IN

I will PM you my cell phone number.

[mrteddyprincess]

And put me down for brisket flat and point cubes for KC style burnt ends.

[J-Melt]

Okay, thank you! Just you coming, or are you bringing anyone else?

[mrteddyprincess]

I know for sure I will be there. Even if my wife comes with me, she'll probably hang out with her cousins while she's in Chicago. So there's a way outside chance it could be two of us, but most likely it will just be me. But I'll give you a month's heads up if that changes.

[DaveD]

Man, it'd be worth a trip to Chicago just to go to Park Packing, I reckon... seems like a real institution in one of the centers of the meat-packing universe!

[J-Melt]

Okay! should I go ahead and put you down to come?

[DaveD]

I wish! Never been to Chicago and I am sure I would really enjoy it.

[Jfrosty27]

Heck yes I’m in. I will drive down from Milwaukee to participate. I’ll think about how to best contribute but I will come up with something. COUNT ME IN. 👍

[J-Melt]

Sounds good! Just you, or anyone else coming?

[Jfrosty27]

J-Melt Just me.

[STEbbq]

I will come! Amanda may come but it depends on kids’ activities that day. Also TBD on what I will bring. I’d also like to go to Park Packing!

[rmeugene]

Count me in(just me). I will start thinking of something to bring. Thinking of a side dish of a 7 bean thing everyone seems to really enjoy. Has meat and bacon in it. Almost a meal by itself.

[Huskee]

I added the date to the topic title. Very cool guys (& gals), have fun!

[Sweaty Paul]

Enjoy it all! Looking forward to pics!

[Sid P]

I’d been looking forward to it, but I’m having shoulder surgery on 5/10 and don’t know what kind of shape I’ll be in. Enjoy!

[rmeugene]

I am not at all sure I would do it a second time, that surgery sucks. I would have my knees and hips done again five times over before doing that again.

[Sid P]

rmeugene Trust me, I thought long and hard and asked lots of questions about skipping it. The problem is that it will keep getting worse, and what is now a "simple" detached tendon will turn into a mess that requires much more serious surgery down the line.

The good news is that I don’t have any arthritis in my shoulders. I wish I could say that about my knees!

[rmeugene]

Yah, had one knee done and both hips. Hips are easy, knee isn’t bad, just getting the range of motion back. I can do all my activities(hiking, biking, hunting) on the replacement, even kneeling.

[J-Melt]

Wanted to ping a few people who showed interest in November:
radiodome21
troymeister
Murdy
Draznnl
Let me know!

[troymeister]

J-Melt Hey....I'm in

[Draznnl]

I wish I could J-Melt but I’ll be in Chicago this coming week for my granddaughter’s birthday. Can’t swing a return trip that soon barring a family crisis.

[radiodome21]

Everything is up in the air through August. My son joined a travel volleyball 🏐 team which runs through July. Once we get the tournament schedule I’ll know more and keep you posted. Thanks for putting this together.

[J-Melt]

Sounds good! Just let me know!

[J-Melt]

tmaan235 here is the thread for the Chicago Meatup! Hope you can join!

[tmaan235]

J-Melt, I so want to be there and as of right now nothing is stopping me. Might be just me but possibly 3 knowing my friends
I know how to miss traffic to get to McCormick and it looks like I'll be close to you from there. Thinking a hotel friday night to be close then be able to get on the BBQ train in the am so would appreciate a 2 or a 3 star recommendation where my car would still be there in the morning
Having hosting knowlege, if there is a nice BBQ joint around there, would it be easier to host from a BBQ joint than your backyard?
As far as food, you are the host, tell me what to bring. I am fluent in beer, spirits and BBQ. Just need a list to fill. I know cooler tech so everything is transportable. Especially from Milwaukee.
So looking forward to meeting some of the characters I've met in the last 4 years!

[J-Melt]

Glad to hear you can make it! I love hosting at our house. So much so that in the year we’ve lived here, we have hosted 5 different parties. From Birthday parties to baby shower to a church bbq!

I would say that any hotel near McCormick place would be good. Especially if they have a garage. There are also some downtown that have. I’ll PM my address asap too so you can plan accordingly.

Maybe bring some beer/spirits? We drink moderately, but not a lot, so our house is not heavily stocked.