We got our marriage license yesterday.

What a thrill!

A small, but useful, thing to know if you're coming to our apartment

Many people have trouble figuring out the intercom system at our building. Our doorbell is number 5, NOT number 2. Counter-intuitive, but true.

Gerry T asks, with some trepidation, "What, exactly is the "armpit" tour?"

Sandy says: The parts of Chicago that are both rarely seen and functionally indispensible; in other words, the industrial history of the South Side of Chicago. Plus a side trip into the University of Chicago and the Columbian Exposition.

Hyde Park Housing

For those of you who 1)don't live in Chicagoland 2)aren't already on the Quad Club list 3) haven't already arranged your own housing, or 4) want to find something closer to the party, we've arranged a housing venue in Hyde Park.

The Beadle Residences is an apartment building that has been converted into an extended stay facility. It is located at 5140 S. Kenwood, about four blocks from our apartment. (By Pam's standards, it's also within walking distance of the party venue. Many feel Pam is not reliable on this question.)

It has parking, but no food service. The one-bedroom apartments, which rent for $160/night (including tax), have both a queen bed and a futon bed so they can easily sleep four. The Quad Club uses them for their overflow and, as a result, the above rate represents a 18% discount from their "normal" rate.

We inspected the apartments and were impressed. (In fact, Pam, who looked at them 30 years ago when searching for an alternative to graduate student housing, was down-right astonished.)

Please visit thebeadleresidences.com for more information.

Karin W. points out that it's hard to make a donation to these causes if we don't tell you how to find them.

*blush*

South Bend Civic Theater
P.O. Box 1146
South Bend, IN 46624

Public Education Foundation
P.O. Box 119
South Bend, IN 46624

Ostara asks: Will there be any time for seeing you surrounding the event? I know you'll be swamped with visitors, arrangements, etc.

We're looking forward to spending as much time as we can with our families and friends. Here's the schedule as it now stands:

Friday afternoon and evening
From roughly 4:00 to 7:00 and 8:00 to10:00 our apartment will be command central for meeting, greeting, hanging out, getting acquainted with people you don't know, etc. We won't be serving dinner. We plan to slip out for dinner between 7-8. Please excuse us if we don't invite you to come along. We'll have been married less than twelve hours at that point and we'd like a moment alone to go "Oh, wow!" Maybe even "Yee-haw!"

Saturday morning
Sandy is going to lead a caravan on his infamous, er, famous "armpit tour" of Chicago's South Side. He invites anyone who's interested to meet him at the Original Pancake House (1517 E. Hyde Park Blvd) for breakfast at 8:00. (Let Sandy know if you think you'll come to the Pancake House. He doesn't want to leave anyone behind. Please note that only complete parties are seated together.) He'll circle back to the apartment to gather up stragglers at 9:00.

Anyone who is not interested in or able to join the tour is welcome to join Pamela at the apartment for coffee, tea, conversation, etc.

At noon, Wilsons, Hollisters, and Holyokes are invited to meet for lunch at Maravilla's Mexican Restaurant (5506 S. Lake Park Ave) to celebrate Russ's 97th birthday. (It would be a kindness if you would let Fred know whether you are attending. RSVP to fredhollister@gmail.com)

Saturday afternoon
You're on your own. We have last minute stuff to do.

Sunday morning
If you're still around, we'd be pleased to see you for a late bagel breakfast at our apartment at 10:00.