LTHforum's 7th Annual Potluck Picnic The gathering of the LTHforum clan for the best community picnic in Chicago. We are following in the footsteps of many a small town's picnic, which almost nobody experiences without driving deep into the country. Fortunately just about everyone knows each other or if we don't, we surely will now.
Date: Sunday, September 9th – Rain or Shine!
Where: Labagh Woods, Grove 1
Shelter in grove 1 (image by Steve Z)
Driving: Take 94 to the Foster Avenue Exit, then turn right (west) until the stoplight at Cicero Avenue. Turn right (north) onto Cicero Avenue for a few hundred yards. Turn right (east) at the LaBagh Woods Forest Preserve sign. Follow the road over US 94 and keep to the left to reach the lot.
Follow the red arrow (image by Ramon)
Time: - 9 AM (or earlier by arrangement): I will arrive to reconfirm our picnic permit. Smokers and grillers may arrive to begin their cooks.
- 10:30 AM: Help with tidying up, arranging tables and supplies.
- 11:30 AM: Appetizers/Lunch/Desserts (Food will be coming out in waves as they are cooked or as people arrive. It is truly a miraculous vision: Food shows up and people eat it!)
- 5:30ish - Begin tidying up - please note this is everyone's effort.
- 7:00 PM: Sunset - party over followed by the Park District chaining the driveway.
Fee: Free!
This is a true do-it-ourselves event where we bring food to share, help set up and clean up. Please advise if you can come early or help later with tidying up. This picnic will leave pleasant memories for all of us when we share the load.
Reserve: By replying on this thread. Your information will be maintained on
this reservations list, which can always be checked. Please alert us to any errors. From time to time, we will post a recap on this thread.
Everyone joining in this event is expected to contribute in food, keeping the event orderly and tidy up as you go.Shelter interior with food laden tables (image by incite)
BBQ smokers and Grills: Please arrange your equipment in the front area, just off the main walk into the shelter. Sure a blast of wind from the wrong direction might send smoke into the shelter. Consider it a shared experience.
BYOT & BYOC: Seating is at a premium with only ten picnic tables provided with the shelter. These will be filled with all kinds of food. If you want to guarantee a seat, bring your own. Ditto for tables. There are lovely grounds for sitting on a blanket. You might consider setting up your seating behind the walls of the shelter.
Whatever food you choose to bring, please make sure to keep
hot food hot and
cold food coldPulled Pork (image by incite)
If you are better at ordering take-out, then consider bringing the following:
- Tables and chairs (we might get as many as ten benches from the park district)
- Offer to bring bread from local bakers
- Beverages*
- Cheese or salamis
- Water and Ice is always nice!*
*If you commit and later find you cannot attend, please give advance warning. People may want to keep a stash of water in case there are shortages (like last year).
According to David Hammond, who graciously stored last year's unused supplies, we have on hand:
200 napkins
300 10oz cups
125 molded poly take-away containers
75 Dixie cups
Two Jugs of hand sanitizer
50 30-gallon Hefty bags
Box of plastic cutlery (120 knife/fork/spoon combos)
8 cans of Sterno
Box of moistened towelettes
At my home:
Individually wrapped:
- 44 knives
- 43 forks
- 43 soup spoons
- 3 sporks
- 10 packaged fork-knife-spoon sets
Unwrapped: (I think I have more cutlery)
- 13 forks
- 21 spoons
- 7 knives
Plastic tablecloths (very likely have enough for all picnic tables)
We need paper towels, cups, napkins, paper plates.
If you can bring a bag to collect recyclables to bring home and dispose, that would be terrific.
…
3. The Forest Preserve District is closed to all visitors after SUNSET. Night picnics are not permitted. Glass beverage containers are not permitted on the Forest Preserve District property.
…
5. The sale of alcoholic beverages in any form is prohibited.
6. Before leaving, you must extinguish all fires; collect all your paper debris, bottles and trash and deposit them in the appropriate containers.
…
10. All ordinances and regulations in effect of the Forest Preserve District must be observed and the instructions of its representatives obeyed. Please note that the consumption of alcohol upon or within 50 feet of any roadway, parking area or entranceway is prohibit. No admission fees or charges may be levied.
…
Alcohol consumption is allowed in this grove. As stated above, you cannot bring any glass bottles. BYOB (in original plastic) is otherwise a-ok.
From talking to the Cook County Forest Preserve Police, the consequences of a violation are: At a minimum two tickets with fines and mandatory court appearances will be issued: to the violator and the person named on the permit. Let's end the day feeling happy.
Please reserve by posting below with what you plan to bring to the picnic, where it fits into the meal and how many are attending:
Appetizer
Bread
Cheese/Sausage (to be sliced)
Side Dishes
Salads
Main course
Snacks
Desserts
Alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages
Please advise if your food needs heating, grilling or smoking. Plan to bring your own equipment unless you have arranged to share grill space on someone elses. If you have a tabletop grill, then be prepared to have it sit on the ground.
We have a special spot in our hearts for unique and weird food. Things you never thought you'd have an opportunity to eat.
Let's do this again, because it worked well last year: If you have small bites to easily pick up, consider walking through the crowd offering tastes to people.
***
Adjacent to our picnic area is a large field for games, advise if you can organize a game or two. We are seeking a volunteer to arrange a pinata filled with candy whimsies. The LTHforum picnic fund will reimburse your expenses.
Mom and Dad: Keep an eye on the kids. If someone else keeps an eye on them, you can be assured they are not enjoying themselves as fully as they'd like.
On the grove’s premises are portapottys plus brick-and-mortar flush toilets and water to clean your hands.
Waste not, want not: We encourage everyone to bring food storage containers, tupperware, ziplocs or plastic bags. We know there will be food to feed more than will be present, so please take home leftovers to enjoy the party just a wee bit longer the next day.
When you are ready to leave and getting a container to go, please be considerate of those who may still be eating. Take a modest portion of any dish, especially if it just arrived.We
are not encouraging people to bring pets. There will be lots of noise, people, fire, food, liquor and kids. Even the best behaved beast may not respond well in these conditions. Promise them a good walk and lots of love when you return home, please.
I am leaving my cat at home, who does not like to be without me. We all understand these sacrifices.Come with the classic LTHforum open spirit to break bread with friends who share your culinary interests.
Now come out to eat and play!
Regards,
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