[Soy Sauce]

42ec Since there are meetups being created and becoming out of control, I've decided to create a list of all the gatherings happening throughout the state of Illinois and a few other ones elsewhere. Please post in this topic if you have an official gathering, but please discuss it with everyone on the topic before posting here. I won't update with maybes and not sures. I will need the times and locations for the meetups.

Note: All italicized links means that the meetup is finished.

***LIST UPDATED 12/21/2008 @ 11:32am***

Janurary
Ohayocon
- Jan. 4-6
- Hyatt Regency Hotel
- Columbus, OH

Pokettokon
- Jan. 12-13
- Illinois Central College
- Peoria, IL

Cloverfield Movie Meetup
- Meetup Leader: Soy Sauce
- Jan. 18th
- 5pm
- AMC Crestwood 18
- 13221 Rivercrest Drive,
Crestwood, IL 60445

Museum of Science and Industry Meetup
- Meetup Leader: Xenida
- Jan. 26th
- Meet There Around 10am
- FREE ADMISSION
- The Museum of Science and Industry
- 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive,
Chicago, IL


February
Schaumburg Meetup Gameworks, Movie and a Restrauant
- Meetup Leader: Xenida
- Feb. 2nd
- TGI Fridays, Gameworks, & Movie
- Meet @ Restaurant First @ 3:30pm on Golf Rd. (Close to Woodfield Mall)
- Movie Choice: Meet The Spartans
- Gameworks & Movie @ Streets of Woodfield in Schaumburg, IL

Chinese New Year Meetup
- Feb. 10th
- Chinatown Chicago
- 11am
- Chinatown Zodiac Statues

March
Lazer Tag Meetup
- Meetup Leader: Kitsu-chan
- March 15th
- LaserQuest
- 4167 North Harlem Avenue Unit A
Norridge, Illinois 60706
- 11am
- Cosplay recommended

SoulCrash & Renton's Birthday Meetup
- Meetup Leaders: Xenida and SloutyStrawberry
- 2:00 PM - Schamburg Mall (Meet in front of the Rain Forest Cafe)
- 4:30 PM - Bahama Breeze
- 7:00 PM - Gameworks
- 9:00 PM - Movie (Either 10,000 BC or Doomsday)
- 11:00 PM - Bennigans (so we can sing Happy Birthday to everyone)

April
Elmhurst Toyota Gaming Tournament Night
- Meetup Leader: SoulCrash
- Saturday, April 19th (5pm for now)
- Elmhurst Toyota
- 440 W. Lake st Elmhurst, IL 60126
- Halo 3 & Rock Band Tourney
- $10 in "toiletries" (go ask SoulCrash if you don't know what that is) to enter

May
ACen Meet & Greet
- May 15
- Hyatt Regency Hotel
- Rosemont, IL

Anime Central
- May 16-18
- Hyatt Regency Hotel
- Rosemont, IL

June
C^3 Cosplay Summer Picnic
- Meetup Leader: Y0sh1m1tsu
- June 14th
- 9am till Sunset
- Brookfield Picnic Grove
- Cosplay Highly Recommended

Museum of Science and Industry Meet
- Meetup Leader: Xenida
- Saturday June 21
- 9:30am to 6:30pm
- Museum of Science and Industry
- Chicago, IL
- Dinner at Giodanos

Wizard World Chicago
- June 26-29
- Rosemont, IL
- Donald E. Stephens Convention Center

Anderson Gardens
- June 28
- Rockford, IL
- No Cosplaying

Taste of Chicago Meetup
- Meetup Leader: Xenida
- Sunday June 29
- Tickets are 12 for $8

July
SoyCon
- Meetup Leader: Soy Sauce
- July 12-13
- On 12th: 9th St. and Wabash Parking Lot @ 8am in Chicago, IL
- On 13th: Picnic Begins @ 11am in Palantine, IL at Deer Grove East
- Cosplay Highly Recommended

Chinatown Meetup
- July 20th
- Chinatown in Chicago, IL

August
Mitsuwa Bon Odori Festival
- August 2nd
- Mitsuwa Marketplace
- Arlington Heights, IL
- Festival Stalls 12:00PM - 8:00PM
- Japanese Taiko, Okinawa Minyo(folk music) Performance 3:00PM - 7:00PM
- Bon Odori(Dance) 7:00PM - 8:00PM

Sarah's Birthday Meetup - Part 1
- Meetup Leader: Sarah F.
- Saturday August 9th
- 1:00pm
- Navy Pier
- Find Sarah @ the front of the gates before you enter the pier
- Most likely we will go around the pier and do fun stuffs, maybe the ferris wheel
- Cosplay is welcome to those that want to cosplay. I myself wont be but I'll have my cat ears...or maybe I will, I havent decided yet.

Sarah's Birthday Meetup - Part 2
- Meetup Leader: Sarah F.
- Saturday August 16th @ 12:30pm
- Meeting Location: Rainforest Cafe

Anime Iowa
- August 15-17
- Marriott Hotel & Conference Center
- Corallville, IA

The Last Fling 2008
- Meetup Leader: Mary Kukla
- Saturday August 30 @ 9am
- Meeting Place: Barnes & Noble Book Store in Naperville
- Address: 47 East Chicago Ave., Naperville, IL 60540
- Cosplay: Approved
- Will be eating at a restaraunt so set $10-15 on the side.
- There are carnival rides and games. You will need to buy tickets for those.

September
Indiana Dunes Trip
- Meetup Leaders: Xendia and SloutyStrawberry
- Saturday September 6th
- From 11am-5pm
- Location: West Beach
- Address: N County Line Rd, Portage, IN 46368
- Bring Swimsuits, Sun Block, Water, Food and Beach Toys
- $6/car for parking.
- Bring extra money for restaurant food.
- Cosplay: Not Likely

The Karaoke Meetup
- Meetup Leader: Soy Sauce
- Friday September 12th @ 6pm
- Location: Ding Dong Dang Karaoke Bar
- Address: 224 E Golf Rd. (between Arlington Heights Rd & Goebbert Rd), Arlington Heights, IL 60005
- Cost: About $45-$60/an hour (dependnig on how big the group is)
- Room Size: Biggest one holds up to 25 people
- Music Selection: English and Japanese (It has Anime songs too).
- Ages: All Ages, no restriction.
- Hours: 2am it closes?
- May stay there about 3-4 hours.
- This is not a cosplay meetup.
- A good chip-in price for those singing would be $10-$20.

The Wedding of Lelouch and C.C.
- Meetup Leaders: Lelouch and C.C.
- Date: Saturday, September 13th
- Time: Meet @ 12:30pm
- Cosplay: Very Recommended, Preferably Code Geass
- Location: Welles Park - W Montrose Ave & N Western Ave, Chicago, IL

Anime Day
- Meetup Leader: Lizzy-kun
- Date: Sunday, September 14th
- Time: Begins around 10-11am
- Cosplay: Recommended - There's a cosplay contest.
- Location: Westfield Chicago Ridge Mall - 95th and Ridgeland Ave., Chicago Ridge, IL

Geek.kon
- September 27-28
- Madison, WI
- University of Wisconsin
- Humanities Building

October
SloutyStrawberry And VoicesOfChaos Birthday Cookout
- Meetup Leader: SloutyStrawberry
- Saturday October 4, 2008
- Party begins at 12:00 pm
- McCormick Woods
- Bring Grill-able food (hotdogs, burgers, chicken, etc.)
- Cosplay welcomed
- No alcohol allowed
- Want to contribute? You can use PayPal. Email money to jxfiler@aol.com
- Location Overview - http://www.fpdcc.com...ck_woods_pg.pdf
- Location Map - The Map

Code Geass Wedding Part 2
- Date: Saturday October 18, 2008
- Time: 12:30pm
- Location: Millienium Park @ the Bean
- Cosplay: Recommended, Code Geass Preferred
- Information: Private Invitation Only

Six Flags: Great America - Fright Fest
- Date: October 18, 2008 and October 25, 2008
- Time: 11:00am
- Location: 542 N. Route 21, Gurnee, IL 60031
- Cosplay: No cosplay allowed. (Six Flags Rules)
- Age Limit: 17 & Up (Due to curfew laws)
- Admission Prices: Admission to Fright Fest is $54.99 at the gate, but it can be purchased online for $34.99 (It is highly advisable to capitalize on this!!).
- Parking: $15-25 (if purchased in advance online--the higher-priced parking gets you closer to the gate). Carpooling is wise, and riders can chip in on the cost.

Halloween Meetup @ Konows Corn Maze
- Sunday October 26
- 12:00pm @ The Patio
- Address (To Patio): 7830 W. 159th Street, Orland Park, IL 60462
- Address (To Corn Maze): 16849 S. Cedar Rd., Homer Glen, IL
- Cosplay: Recommended
- Information: The farm has two corn mazes, one that is 0.9 miles and another that is 3.5 miles. There are also several smaller games and a hay ride, the website has more detail. Admission is $7, but the website has a $1 coupon. So admission is really $6. They are open from 11am to 7pm.

Youmacon
- Oct. 30-Nov. 2
- Hyatt Regency Hotel
- Dearborn, MI

November
Anime Spectacular at FYE
- Event Leader: Lizzykun
- Date: November 9th
- Times:
> 1pm - Sketch Contest
> 2pm - Trivia Contest
> 3pm - Cosplay Contest
- Location: Westfield Chicago Ridge Mall
- Information: This is an all day event with special sales pricing on all anime and anime related items such as t shirts pocky, swords, etc. There will also be 3 in store contests to win prizes. Events are a Sketch, Trivia, and Cosplay contest. These events take place every hour. Winners of each contest will recieve FYE giftcards and maybe a few other goodies I can get my hands on.

Party at Edo
- Meetup Leader: firegrl26
- Date: November 22nd
- Time: 6:00pm
- Location: Edo Japanese Restaurant
- Address: 1701 N. Larkin Ave., Crest Hill, IL
- Location Phone #: (815) 729-4155
- Information: Celebrating firegrl26's 22nd Birthday

Winter Meetup In Chinatown
- Meetup Leader: Spazchan
- Date: November 22nd
- Time: 11:00am
- Location: Chinatown Chicago, IL
- Information: Be warm!!!

December
Xenida's Birthday Meetup
- Meetup Leader: Xenida
- Date: Saturday December 13
- Time: 12:00pm at A&W in Woodfield Mall, 5:00pm in Big Bowl
- Location: Schaumburg, IL
- Cosplay: Welcomed, warm attire preferred
- Information: Possibly going to Gameworks after Big Bowl.

Meeting In A Winter Wonderland
- Meetup Leader: CrimsonAnime
- Date: December 20th
- Time: Ice Rink @ 1:30pm
- Location: Millenium Park Chicago, IL
- Cosplay: Okay
- Pricing: $6-7 Skate Rental?
- Bowling Location: Lucky Strikes Bowling
- Information: Go bowling after skating. If not to bowl, watch a movie. Then eat dinner and go home happy!

Sweetpoison's Birthday Meetup
- Meetup Leader: Sweet Poison
- Date: December 20th
- Time: Movie Begins @ 11:55pm
- Place: Hollywood Blvd Theatre - Cinema, Bar, & Eatary
- Age: Open?
- Address: 1001 W. 75th St., Woodridge, IL 60517
- Location Phone #: 630 427 1880
- Price: $8/person
- Information: The movie is Rocky Horror Picture show. This isn't any ordinary movie because there will be people who are dressed up as the characters from the movie and perform it live also. It will get pretty crazy in there. If you have a character you can cosplay from the movie, you are very welcome to wear it. Bring extra money because they server food and drinks while watching the movie.
- Rules: Follow their rules in the theatre. Bring a friend who has never gone to a Rocky Horror Picture Show. It's recommended!!! You are required to buy a beverage.

Elmhurst Toyota Winter Charity Gaming Tourney
- Advertised By: SoulCrash
- Hosted By: Elmhurst Toyota/Scion and Scion Evolution
- Date: December 20th
- Time: 6:00pm-10:00pm
- Location: Elmhurst Toyota Scion
- Address: 440 W. Lake st Elmhurst, Illinois 60126
- Cosplay: Not A Cosplay Event
- Information: Charity Event to benefit Toys for Tots Gaming Night: Mario Kart 1st prize $200 Gift Card & Mortal Kombat 1st prize $200 Gift Card
- Details: $10 worth of Toy Donations required to compete & Raffle for Playstation 3. Kontact John Williams (630)279-2160 for more information.

[Soy Sauce]

Shedd Aquarium meetup Updated.

[Soulcrash]

I don't see that Mitsuwa festival on the month of August...

[Soy Sauce]

Mitsuwa Bon Odori Festival added.

[Millions_Knives]

very nice
this thread was a good idea

[this_chick25]

Excellent, Soy!

Truly, he ees ze meetup organizer extraordinaire!

::much applause::

[Renton]

Guys if you wana do a meet up post it here PLeas

[Soy Sauce]

Cloverfield, Lazer Tag, and Science Museum meetups added.

Chinese New Year Meetup and SoyCon details added.

[Soy Sauce]

Chinese New Year Meetup

Time, Date, and Location Added.

[Soy Sauce]

February's Schaumburg Meetup information added.

[Desiree]

This is a good idea to look at updates of upcoming events for this year i'll try to make it to the chienes new year thing

[Soy Sauce]

The Narutimate Cosplay Day added.

[Soy Sauce]

Lazer Tag Meetup Updated

Narutimate Cosplay Day is taken off until further notice.

SoyCon Day 2 will start 11am, not 12pm.

[Soy Sauce]

SoulCrash & Renton's BDay Meetup added.

Elmhurst Toyota Gaming Tournament Added.

[SloutyStrawberry]

great idea soy.

[Soy Sauce]

Gathering list updated with the C^3 picnic, chicago cosplay picnic, SoyCon, and the museum of science and industry meetup.

[SpicyNinjaCat]

Wasn't there a parkour jam meet-up at the last weekend of this month? the thread disappeared 7 months ago..

[Xenida]

Soy you forgot the Taste of Chicago meetup on Sunday June 29.



NO TOMATOES!!!

[Soy Sauce]

Xenida, on Jun 9 2008, 02:09 PM, said:

Soy you forgot the Taste of Chicago meetup on Sunday June 29.



NO TOMATOES!!!

Got it.



NO TOMATOES!!!

[Aj-chan]

I believe the Formal Cruise has also set it's date in October.

[Soy Sauce]

Aj-chan, on Jun 9 2008, 04:32 PM, said:

I believe the Formal Cruise has also set it's date in October.

Link me?

[Aj-chan]

Soy Sauce, on Jun 9 2008, 05:23 PM, said:

Link me?

http://www.acen.org/forums/index.php?showt...mp;#entry545251
Post #62

Sorry, should've inluded that in my OP.

[Soy Sauce]

Aj-chan, on Jun 9 2008, 09:20 PM, said:

http://www.acen.org/forums/index.php?showt...mp;#entry545251
Post #62

Sorry, should've inluded that in my OP.

I added it on the list.

Do you guys have a set time? (I already got the date)

[Aku saber]

so...when exactly is the Mitsuwa Bon Odori Festival? And is anyone going to cosplay for that event? :3 Thanks

[Aj-chan]

Soy Sauce, on Jun 9 2008, 11:42 PM, said:

I added it on the list.

Do you guys have a set time? (I already got the date)

According to the latest post, it's 11:30am.

[princemercury1]

I don't see Wizard World >_>
Its still fun to go...

[Aj-chan]

princemercury1, on Jun 12 2008, 08:23 AM, said:

I don't see Wizard World >_>
Its still fun to go...

On that note, Gen Con isn't there either.

[vash204]

you should have a meet up in Madison, WI during geek kon this year its September 27 - 28. It just an idea.

for more info go to Geek Kon 2008

[Soy Sauce]

Added:
- Wizard World Chicago
- Geek.kon

Updated:
- ACen Formal Cruise

[this_chick25]

Aku saber, on Jun 10 2008, 10:33 PM, said:

so...when exactly is the Mitsuwa Bon Odori Festival? And is anyone going to cosplay for that event? :3 Thanks

It's usually in August, but at the moment the date is not set.

As for cosplay, we try to only do traditional Asian clothes--preferably yukata (the Japanese summer kimono), or just regular clothes out of respect for the occasion. If you do cosplay, try to lean more towards those that blend in with the general public, as we don't want to draw attention to ourselves and away from the festival.