Attention Chicago POAer's

t0r0nad0

t0r0nad0

Pattern Altitude
Joined
Apr 11, 2007
Messages
2,078
Location
Houston, TX
Display Name
Display name:
PJ Gustafson
Well, it's been a while since I've been online here... lots of stuff going on in life and it's tough to find time. Sorry about that. I miss coming on here and catching up with you guys... you really are my flying family.

Anyway, to the point of my post:

My boss decided today that I didn't quite look cold enough, so he's sending me to Chicago next week. It's a quick trip - I fly up on the morning of Thursday, 12/18 and come back to warmer climes on Friday, 12/19. So, is anyone around and want to get together for dinner/drinks/hangar flying next Thursday evening, December 18? I'll be in the Crystal Lake area, near Lake of the Hills Airport. Who's game?
 
My calendar looks free! I'll let others chime in about what's good around there to eat, or we could all gather at Pilot Pete's at the Schaumburg airport (06C).
 
Pretty sure that's right in Scott's neck of the woods, and not far from Mike (and right nearby my childhood/teenage digs). I'd swing on by, but I've got a birthday party downtown here that night... But if you wind up downtown that evening for some reason, def. let me know!
 
PJ that is my backyard! But I am leaving for Florida on Sunday or Monday and will be gone for a week. Sorry I will miss you. What business brings you to Crystal Lake?

For places to go in the area I would suggest downtown Crystal Lake for dinners, lots of fun cheap restaurants there, Algonquin (Rt 31 just north of Algonquin road) for Texas BBq, or towards where Grant works and Mike sorta lives, Kelsey Road House on Rt 14 and Kelsey Rd.
 
Scott... bummer man! I was really hoping to meet you!

I'm going to be working with the HealthBridge Wellness Center. I implemented my company's older software product there about 3 years ago, and they recently upgraded to our newer product (someone else did that training) and they're having some issues. So, I'm heading there to help show them the light.

I remember going to a bar/grill one night in downtown Crystal Lake... it was right across the street from the Metra station, but I don't remember the name of it. It might not have been a grill, just a bar. It's been quite a while and I've gone so many places since then, so it's a little foggy right now.
 
t0r0nad0 said:
Scott... bummer man! I was really hoping to meet you!

I'm going to be working with the HealthBridge Wellness Center. I implemented my company's older software product there about 3 years ago, and they recently upgraded to our newer product (someone else did that training) and they're having some issues. So, I'm heading there to help show them the light.

I remember going to a bar/grill one night in downtown Crystal Lake... it was right across the street from the Metra station, but I don't remember the name of it. It might not have been a grill, just a bar. It's been quite a while and I've gone so many places since then, so it's a little foggy right now.
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That would be Finn McCool's, there is a new place across the street form it called the Williams St. Public House that just opened and looks really cool. I know Healthbridge very well as that is the gym I use.
 
That would probably be it.

Cool that you're a member there. You should see service improve at the concierge desk in a little over a week ;).
 
t0r0nad0 said:
That would probably be it.

Cool that you're a member there. You should see service improve at the concierge desk in a little over a week ;).
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I doubt that the service at the desk has anything to do with your software. IT is more of a function of the boys that work there to the number of hot girls at the counter. Service decreases exponentially when there are more hot girls as the boys behind the counter are too busy bird dogging! :D
 
I'll hook up with you, PJ.

With Scott's help we can think of a place to go to.
 
smigaldi said:
That would be Finn McCool's, there is a new place across the street form it called the Williams St. Public House that just opened and looks really cool. I know Healthbridge very well as that is the gym I use.
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Actually, Finn McCools is only a year old. He's thinking of Duke O'Briens. A better place IMHO, though don't buy the overpriced Framboise.
 
Well, I'm 48 hrs. away from freezing my @ss off in Chicago, and I'm still up for some good hangar-flying and eating while there... how far would that Pilot Pete's place be from Crystal Lake? It sounds like a cool place...
 
t0r0nad0 said:
Well, I'm 48 hrs. away from freezing my @ss off in Chicago, and I'm still up for some good hangar-flying and eating while there... how far would that Pilot Pete's place be from Crystal Lake? It sounds like a cool place...
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Mapquest shows about 41 minutes (24 miles) from Crystal Lake (depending on location, of course).
Pilot Petes: http://pilotpetes.com/
 
t0r0nad0 said:
Well, I'm 48 hrs. away from freezing my @ss off in Chicago, and I'm still up for some good hangar-flying and eating while there... how far would that Pilot Pete's place be from Crystal Lake? It sounds like a cool place...
Click to expand...

You also might consider 94th Aero Squadron next to the tower at PWK.

You can see some of the airport traffic from there.

http://www.the94thaerosquadron.com/Wheeling/restaurant.html

The 94th is more like a white table cloth deal, although it's chain, while Pilot Pete's is a bar with food deal like a Bennigans.

I think Pilot Pete's food is better.
 
mikea said:
You also might consider 94th Aero Squadron next to the tower at PWK.

You can see some of the airport traffic from there.

http://www.the94thaerosquadron.com/Wheeling/restaurant.html

The 94th is more like a white table cloth deal, although it's chain, while Pilot Pete's is a bar with food deal like a Bennigans.

I think Pilot Pete's food is better.
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Last time I was at 94th Aerosquadron, we were like the only ones in the restaurant, and we weren't terribly impressed. To be honest, I thought they'd closed. OTOH, if you want good seafood just down the block from there, Bob Chinn's has good stuff!:yes:
 
Bob Chinn's is great. I am working on getting the neighborhood kids organized to sing Christmas carols at the retirement home on Thursday night. But if that falls through, I would enjoy meeting you. Both Crystal Lake and Schaumburg are about an hour away from me.:drink:
ApacheBob
 
Unfortunately, the weather isn't looking great for Thursday, even for driving:
.ANOTHER ROUND OF WINTER WEATHER IS EXPECTED TO IMPACT THE MIDWEST THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING. THIS STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET TO NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND NORTHWESTERN INDIANA. SIGNIFICANT ICE ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM SYSTEM. THE FAR NORTHERN LOCATIONS NEAR THE WISCONSIN BORDER WILL INITIALLY SEE A MIX OF SNOW AND SLEET BEFORE CHANGING OVER TO SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN.
[...]
TOTAL ICE ACCUMULATION MAY EXCEED ONE HALF INCH IN SOME LOCATIONS. ICE ACCUMULATION OF THIS MAGNITUDE WILL CAUSE DAMAGE TO POWER LINES AND TREE LIMBS. TRAVEL WILL BE TREACHEROUS ON MANY AREA ROADS.
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I'm a little gun-shy after a 6 hour drive home and a spinout into a ditch last night.
 
gprellwitz said:
Unfortunately, the weather isn't looking great for Thursday, even for driving:

I'm a little gun-shy after a 6 hour drive home and a spinout into a ditch last night.
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That was amazing.

I was out working in the blizzard of '67 and spent like 14 hours in a Chevy Vega, but we got 20+ inches that night. Last night it was only like 6 inches.

In my day....

PJ, I'm closer, about 25 miles east. I'd brave it, after all, I drove all the way to western MN in worse stuff, but I think driving 50 miles is out. Let's pick a place closer to Crystal Lake.
 
Actually, my trip just got postponed due to the weather. I'm now coming on December 29-30, 2008. Anyone want to get together on Monday, December 29?
 
t0r0nad0 said:
Actually, my trip just got postponed due to the weather. I'm now coming on December 29-30, 2008. Anyone want to get together on Monday, December 29?
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Good! 'Cuz I forgot about this until just now when I pulled up the thread again. ;)

I should be able to make the 29th. :yes:
 
I know... I'm so... um... bummed.

KHOU 191553Z 20007KT 9SM BKN010 BKN025 BKN250 22/20 A3014
 
t0r0nad0 said:
I know... I'm so... um... bummed.

KHOU 191553Z 20007KT 9SM BKN010 BKN025 BKN250 22/20 A3014
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Bah!

KMSN 191553Z 03016KT 3/4SM -SN BLSN BKN007 OVC014 M04/M06 A2992 RMK AO2 SLP145 P0004 T10441061 $

That sounds SOOO much more fun. :yes:
 
Okay, the 29th is coming up fast! PJ, are you still planning to be here? (Please bring good weather with you!) I can make it that day. Maybe I'll actually head into work. (We're officially off that week, but are doing some load testing that day.) Suggestions on where to go anyone? Bueler?
 
I trust everyone had a good Christmas/Hanukkah or is having a good Kwanza. For us Chicago folks who have had to suffer the most abominable weather this month, where do we want to meet for dinner on Monday? Unless I hear other suggestions, I'll presume it's Pilot Pete's at 06C (Schaumburg, IL). I'd just as soon make it early, around 6:00 PM, but am flexible. I officially don't have to work that week, but you (may) know how that goes...
 
I had a great Christmas. I'm still planning on coming to Chicago on Monday 12/29, and would love to get together. Pilot Pete's at Schaumberg sounds good to me, however I don't think I'll be able to get there until about 7:00p or so (sorry Grant). Will that work for anyone else?

Early indications are that weather should be nice on Monday, so I should be able to get in. However, I'm concerned about the snow in the forecast for me to get back to Houston on Tuesday, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Anyway, I look forward to meeting you all!
 
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Getting ready to leave for Pilot Pete's now. Leslie and I'll see you there! Kent, you making it down?
 
gprellwitz said:
Getting ready to leave for Pilot Pete's now. Leslie and I'll see you there! Kent, you making it down?
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i am getting ready to leave the office in a few myself. Lets see, I have about 10 miles to go, all of it in Schaumburg.....hmmmm. what you think 45 minutes or an hour trip?? :yikes:
 
I'll be leaving shortly. I might be a bit late. Coming from Huntley.
 
Hey, a big thanks to Scott M., Mike A., Grant & Leslie P., and especially Kent S. who flew down from Madison to hang out tonight. I had a great time with all of you, and it was a pleasure to meet some more POAers in person!

Kent, I hope you were able to get that cowl flap fixed!
 
Here's a picture of the fix, and another of the gang of us together at Pilot Pete's! Unfortunately, I didn't think to take a picture of the fix until he'd already started the engine. :(
By the time he landed at Madison, there were only four strips of tape left!
 

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gprellwitz said:
Here's a picture of the fix, and another of the gang of us together at Pilot Pete's! Unfortunately, I didn't think to take a picture of the fix until he'd already started the engine. :(
Click to expand...

Heh - Yeah, you snapped that picture right after I flipped the light switches to "On" and for a brief second I was like "When the hell did we get strobes put on this airplane?" :rofl:

By the time he landed at Madison, there were only four strips of tape left!
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Note that we did NOT do the briefly-contemplated "fix" of duct-taping the cowl flap on - We removed it, and put some tape over the big honkin' hole to try and keep the engine from getting too cold. Temps were OK for the entire flight, so it worked out OK - I'm just glad that we did remove the cowl flap - It's sitting in the back seat now, rather than in some farmer's field.

It was a good flight. I had a crazy tailwind, I was getting 172 knots groundspeed in cruise on the way down and I got 204 knots in the descent. Whee! I was still getting over 160 when I leveled out at pattern altitude a few miles out, and WOW 160 knots at 800 AGL looks FAST! :yes:

The best part is that by the time I flew back home the winds had died down somewhat and I stayed lower to help that even more so I only had between 15-20 knots headwind on the way home after the 40-50 knot tailwind on the way down. Good deal!

I did get a few pics of the GPS showing the speeds, and one of the panel that shows me climbing through 4100 feet at 800 fpm and getting 152 knots over the ground. Did I say, Whee!??? :goofy:
 
Kent, I'm glad you made it back.

For those that haven't met everyone, pictured in Grant's post above from Left to Right are: PJ Gustafson, Grant Prellwitz, Scott Migaldi, Mike Andrews, Leslie Prellwitz, and Kent Shook. Not pictured is my old college roommate, Jon Adlof, who also lives in the Chicago area and came to join us (he's actually the one taking the picture).

Pilot Pete's is a great place! It's much nicer and more fancy than your typical airport restaurant - a real (long) menu, good food, and pretty reasonable prices! I would highly recommend this to anyone flying through the area... heck, I'd even recommend it to ground-pounders who are in the area!

Thanks again guys!
 
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