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I promised to bring halvah, and I remembered to buy a bunch today. However, to ensure that it is still around in August, I hid it in the back of a high cupboard.
Someone please remind me to pack it next month!
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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We STILL have yet to reserve our room, because ken wnats to see if his AAA discount is more than the discount AJ got. Unfortunately, I need KEN to do this, and he's at camp.
We WILL be coming, though, even if we don't get in AJ's block.
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We had 3 loaves of halvah the other day! We mixed chocolate chips in it, which David, our resident Jewish guy, said was okay, but his Indian(from the subcontinent) friend was horrified by this fact and thought we had been joking when we told her what the brown stuff was that was swirled in it.
Posts: 1423 | Registered: Sep 2003
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I got half plain (vanilla) halvah and half marble. Chocolate and halvah are GOOD together.
One of the nummiest things I ever ate was fresh whole wheat bread covered in halvah spread and then chocolate spread. Sadly, while Israeli chocolate spread is carried by every kosher market I know, halvah spread doesn't seem to be.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
I almost asked what halvah was made out of, and then I clicked rivka's link. Jeez - that wasn't retained. That's sort of disturbing. I wonder if I'm getting halfzeimers.
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It's ok, kat, I have had the same conversation with some people several times. It's like deja vu -- only different.
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When I asked about the AAA discount (since we'll be there for four nights), Wendy said the KamaCon rate was better.
Posts: 6213 | Registered: May 2001
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Papa, that's typical. Usually, the AAA rate is a discount off of the rack rate. The rack rate is the rate given to anyone who walks into the hotel looking for a room (instead of calling ahead for a reservation.) So, since the rack rate is probably climbing as the summer wears on and the hotel fills up, the discount really isn't all that great. Also, typically, hotels do not give any more of a discount to negotiated rates.
I'm guessing this hotel has a pool, fitness center, and maybe a sauna or whirlpool and probably a continental breakfast. While most hotels claim these to be "complimentary"- they are not. A room in a hotel with these type of amenities will be more expensive than a hotel that just offers rooms and nothing else. During the summer (especially July and August) hotel rates are at their highest year-round. I would bet the rack rate at this hotel to be well over a hundred dollars for late August.
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Oh, and the AAA rate is usually between 10-20% off of the rack rate. While nice to have when you don't have a choice, it's really not that much in the scheme of things.
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Well the opposite happened at Endercon -- AAA rate was better, so it's definitely worth the ask.
Posts: 6213 | Registered: May 2001
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Oh, and Farmgirl, my dog (female, actually) has her special friends who come over and take care of her. It will either be my bosses son or our Admin director's hubby and son. They all love Smokey and she's happy because she gets about 3x the treats and double the walks as when I'm home.
She'd move in with them in a minute...
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ElJay! I'd email you my number but I don't have your address! It's a pickle wrapped in a conundrum wrapped in bacon and ham!! And that's delicious so I may have to eat it!!!
Posts: 4816 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Ok I just realized Rivka won't read this post for 24 hours, but if she would set up the kosher food I would greatly appreciated. If anyone else has dietary issues where they feel kosher would be better for them, please contact her.
I'll work on getting a bunch of party platters from Costco or Sams which shouldn't cost exorbitant amounts.
Also would anyone be interested in seeing the Chicago botanic garden? It is part of the Skokie Lagoons, and might be interesting for the outdoorsy types that don't want to be suffocated in the City.
AJ
P.S. Farmgirl the room you, Ivy Girl and fizako will be sharing has been reserved in your real name.
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Mayday and I will be making our way, though we have yet to reserve our room either, I'm waiting for her schedule before I finally book. Satyagraha
Posts: 359 | Registered: Jun 2001
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In case there's interest, I'm beginning to check out options for da blues - there's a blues club with a good rep in nearby Evanston. A little over 6 miles and an allegedly 15 minute trip by car.
I need to research the transit options from the hotel, as there might be easy rail option to clubs or other entertainment into the city.
That being said, I'm just doing the research to give some options. I live here and don't care what we do. If it's something I want to do badly enough, I'll do it some other time. As far as I'm concerned, it's you out-of-towners that should be figuring out what your priorities are. Posts: 4344 | Registered: Mar 2003
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Let me reiterate: if you leave the hotel, take the opportunity to get the heck out of Skokie. It would be like telling everyone you're visiting New York, and then finding things to see and do in New Jersey. Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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I have also heard things about the Fields Museum and some place called "Jazz Alley" as well as the renowned House of Blues.
Of course, if we do everything there is to do in Chicago, we'll only have like 5 minutes for each place...
Posts: 1423 | Registered: Sep 2003
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quote: Ok I just realized Rivka won't read this post for 24 hours, but if she would set up the kosher food I would greatly appreciated. If anyone else has dietary issues where they feel kosher would be better for them, please contact her.
Happy to. Ok, folks, if you want to be included, give a yell in the next few days. That includes any vegetarians as well.
rivka AT uclalumni DOT net
quote: If I'm there (which I'd say is an 80% probability), I am definitely leading an expedition out of Skokie and into the Art Institute.
Ooh... maybe I can sell tickets for Annie Art Tours to finance the trip!
Cool, how much? Any chance that this expedition might be Sunday?
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And I'd rather do the museum on Saturday. The price of admission is the pleasure of being in your presence.
Posts: 8504 | Registered: Aug 1999
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Aw, rats. I don't want to do Sunday because it's the sabbath, and I suppose you're declining Saturday for the same reason. They really should have coordinated those better Posts: 8504 | Registered: Aug 1999
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Oh man- I hope the Mormon God doesn't enjoy the NFL. I'm not up for eternites of superbowl parties.
Posts: 8504 | Registered: Aug 1999
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I don't understand; why would going to the Art Museum count as doing "work" of any kind? Does "work" include spending money you've earned by working on other days? If so, why doesn't paying for a hotel room on that day violate the Sabbath? Is it a travel restriction -- and, if so, can you ride in someone else's car?
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It's not that I'm working, it's that I'm causing others to work. And more that I'm spending the day recreationally instead of devoting it to God.
And I typically don't mind travelling on Sunday if it's neccessary. Buying gas and other unavoidable expenses are typically not a problem if they're truly unavoidable.
The thing about sabbath observance is that it's a pretty personal doctrine and people will interpret it very differently.
Posts: 8504 | Registered: Aug 1999
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See, I can't personally think of a better way to be mindful of God than to be surrounded by some of the best art produced by mankind. But maybe that's me. Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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rivka can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that, according to Judaism, both handling money and riding in a car are not permitted on Shabbat.
Posts: 4534 | Registered: Jan 2003
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Yeah, I think it's the getting there and paying for admission, not the act itself. But rivka and ela would know for sure.
Posts: 14745 | Registered: Dec 1999
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I suppose I could see the paying money thing -- although I don't understand how paying for the hotel wouldn't also be proscribed -- but why is riding in a car ungodly?
For that matter, the Art Institute's admission fee is one of those optional "donations," so you don't actually have to pay money -- and it used to be waived altogether on Saturdays, back in the day. So if you lived in the area and could walk to the Art Institute, and didn't pay the admission fee, would that be okay?
I know I'm nitpicking. I'm just trying to understand blanket proscriptions like this....
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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Hey umm...Tom? How are you and Christy getting down there? Any chance of passing Beloit on 90? Satyagraha
Posts: 359 | Registered: Jun 2001
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I almost asked what halvah was made out of, and then I clicked rivka's link. Jeez - that wasn't retained. That's sort of disturbing. I wonder if I'm getting halfzeimers.
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