Mike, Thanks for the tips and the laugh!

They really rent sled dogs at the airport??? LOL

I have been to Chicago in January before, I have been to Minniapolis/St Paul in Febuary too! I am no stranger to the cold, and fear it not! LOL I understand most modern hotels, shops, casinos have this new thing called central heating. It's really quite amazing really, you can actually move about the stores and casinos, with out worry of frost bite.

Tom Tom, says 90 min. from where sharon will be staying to the Shoe. Please remember your talking to someone that would drive 2 1/2 hrs to AC for a few hours of gambling then drive back home on occassion.
We have Harrah brownie points for a free room for a couple of nights. Although I suspect we will only use one night there. It's been a long time since my last walk down Michigan Ave on a brisk winter day. A few fond memories come to mind. The frozen chunks of ice floating on the water by the Sheraton. How good the pizza smelled as I walked into the shop. (I swear cold crisp air makes pizza even better tasteing!) The church buildings.
But in only a long weekend, I'm afraid my time will be very limited.
Besides, I feel I should stop in and see sweaty Tim in action. I don't see this as a gambling vacation, more as a look around the Shoe sort of thing. Last winter we hit AC pretty hard, and I got my but kicked, I'm still a little shell shocked from that and I don't see me gambling much anywhere else other then Las vegas.

Lee-PA:

I sure hope you're able to make it to the Shoe! From Crystal Lake, the nearest casino is probably the Grand Victoria in Elgin, which I've heard is very nice. Don't bother driving behind the cheddar curtain to play at the Ho-Chunk (Blow Chunks) Casino.

When it gets close to your trip dates, I'll tell you my schedule. Right now, I'm working an early swing shift of 1:40pm to 9:40pm. I work Wednesday through Sunday. Since the stock market crash, though, our business has taken a hit, and it looks like I'll be working only 4 days a week for the near future. The Shoe has been doing what they can to avoid laying any of us off.


Cheers,

Tim the Dealer

Tim,
This little weekend away in January is going to happen. I just got done looking at airfare out of Harrisburg to Chicago, and I expect to be out there! The hotel at Harrahs looks pretty bad (of the rooms) in the on-line pictures. Reminds me on the line of the Las Vegas club. SPARSE! LOL
Jan 16 to 19 is my planned visit, Probably stay over at Harrahs Saturday night.
Keep us posted on your schedule, and I hope your working when we're there.

Lee-PA:

Umm...I don't know what website you're looking at, but Horseshoe Hammond does not have a hotel.


Cheers,

Tim the Dealer

Lee - Were you looking at the Harrah's in Joliet? That's way south of the city and not close to where Tim works.

OUCH!
I think I was......I better go back and check, but I do beleive your both correct and I'm wrong!