Hi guys,

I know I have just joined and have only managed to attend one outing, but i would be willing to help organize in June!

Just let me know,

Robbo & Piper

...work for us. On Thursday I have a sitter, so I've never actually attended a playgroup with you guys. If anyone is available on these other days please let me know, I'd love to organize something. Any bike riders? We've been hitting the bike paths over the last few weeks. Directly behind our house in Legion Park, (along the northshore channel), there's a path that leads us past many a playground, (including the River Park water fountain playground, open June, July and August), that extends a few blocks south to Lawrence Ave, and up north alongside McCormick Ave, (through the Sculpture Parkway), to Green Bay Ave in Evanston, (a little further tracking through neighborhoods and a golf course will get you to lake Michigan at the Bahai Temple). I also have vehicular bike carrying capabilities, and can deliver ourselves to the lake shore, or any other place in the city. Anyone interested? Let's ride...

Alby1 - Chicago, IL

Thanks Robbo
I would be happy to have you do the Thursday playgroup in June.
If you have any questions just ask here or of course you can ask someone at playgroup.
Mark's map is a good resource too.
http://www.communitywalk.com/nice_parks_in_chicago/map/6682

Alby, it looks like there are a lot of people who are potentially interested in a playgroup or outing but for whom a Thursday won't work.
I wonder how many people would be interested in a Monday or Tuesday meetup starting in May?

Hi Robbo!

Nice to have you on board - welcome to the group!

Peter, Charlotte & Dorothy.

Chris is going to organize in May and Robbo will take June
Thanks Guys

Robbo - good of you to take care of June. Four key ingredients to a successful playdate with lots of dads (Nothing's sadder than an event no one goes to):

1. Post all the transport options (parking, L stops, bus routes) and where relevant any parking restrictions.
2. Be clear with location, maps, directions and where exactly dads are to meet. During the summer months, having a restroom nearby is important for those amongst us who are potty-trained. Include your cell on the posting if people have questions.
3. If the weather forecast looks questionable, throw in a wet-weather venue as an alternative.
4. Post the event at least 48 hours in advance. I tend to also email everyone as well (I'll happily send you the distribution list if you tell me your email address).

Good luck and hopefully we see you at the DNO? Feel free to ask me any questions.

Peter, Charlotte & Dorothy.

While not 'technically' a SAHD, I DID create a new business JUST so I could spend more time with my son, who just turned 5. I created a new indoor play place called Day Frog and it's downtown. My website www.dayfrog.com, should be live in time for this Thursday's Time Out Chicago when a picture of Day Frog will be in there [you guys beat me to it by a week!] What better way for me to get to know a bunch of other cool dads than to offer up my space for an upcoming dad's playgroup! Yup. Free playtime for an event of your choosing.

Incidentally, I know most of you have seen the Malcolm in the Middle episode where the dads race the babies.... well, start training the little ones now because on, or about, Sunday July 13th, I am hosting a Baby Race at Day Frog! {Hint: years ago I trained my son Jett to crawl REALLY fast with the use of a laser pointer]

Happy Memorial Day!

Rick
(Jett's Dad!)

Hi Rick,

Thanks for the offer and the place looks great! I am scheduling the the June playgroups and although I think the general consensus is that during nice weather which seems to be about 1/3 of the year in Chicago the group likes to stay outside, the probablility is good that we will need to have an indoor playgroup within the month due cold or rain. How much of a lead time do you need for me to contact you and let you know?

Also, do you have any parking?

Thanks again for the offer!

Robbo

I don't need a whole lot of lead time to schedule something - two weeks should do it. We are doing a lot of school and day care filed trips so I would just have to make sure the date is clear of other groups.

There IS parking in the building albeit relatively expensive. I do a $3 discount from their rates with a validation but it IS downtown Chicago and parking is expensive down here.

Rick

I'll organize for July, unless someone else has it already.
Kevin

Thanks Kevin.
Jim has volunteered to do August so that's the Summer taken care of.

John,

Thanks for the follow up. I will take the August play dates.

Jim