10th Annual Potluck Picnic, Sept 20, 2015 LaBagh Grove 1

LTHforum's 10th Annual Potluck Picnic



Planning a picnic for LTH is never easy, there are football schedules, Jewish holidays and something called RiotFest to maneuver around. This year our greatest obsticle was the Forest Preserve District when LaBagh Woods fell off their picnic permit radar. Permit #5 was acquired by SteveZ on a cold January day. Instead of warm and snug tapping away on a computer, Steve went to the Forest Preserve offices when our favorite LaBagh Grove #1 was not seen on their website. Due to planned construction, he reluctantly agreed to Grove #2. A little persistence and luck, we are back in our warm and fuzzy Grove #1, let the party begin!

Our tradition of the best potluck picnic carries on. If you need a few ideas, why not consider preparing a dish you learned about on LTH. A dish you never thought to make until someone posting their experience made it come alive and jump high on your must do list. Of course, everyone will be thrilled to eat what you know best.

Laikom and friends with an improvised smoker, 2010 (Image by G Wiv)



Date: Sunday, September 20th – 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.
- 11:00 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!
(If you want to try everything, come early and stay late ... don't begin to kvetch if it is gone when you show up fashionably late! )
- TBA - Pinata breaking (children must bring their parents)
- 5:00ish - Begin tidying up - please note this is everyone's effort.
- 6:52 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 Steve Z)


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.

Crazy C’s smuggled on the hoof Jamon, 2010 (image by G Wiv)


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 cold


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 a few years ago).

According to David Hammond, who graciously stored last year's unused supplies, we have on hand: TBA

We need paper plates, paper napkins, plastic cups and some baby wipes. This will be updated once we know what is in storage.

If you can bring a bag to collect recyclables to bring home and dispose, that would be terrific.

Picnic Permit Rules and Regulations wrote:…
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.

Lessons learned from last year: Tents need separate permit. Please don't bring tents or tent-sized umbrellas.

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 works so well: 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.

There will be a pinata filled with candy whimsies organized by Octarine and paid by LTHforum's owners.



(Images by Steve Z)

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,

I am in.

Leaning towards NA beverage but thinking on what vessel to place it in since glass is problematic and I don't have some non-glass large beverage dispensing vessel.

I will update later!

I'm hoping to do a black and blueberry crisp but am unwilling to commit until I can find a participant to bruise me. Just kidding, but the fruit will have to co-operate.

Count SueF and I in, not sure what we're making yet... possibly another dutch oven session.

thanks, SteveZ, for the extra effort you put into getting back our favorite, and wonderful, picnic spot. much appreciated!

justjoan wrote:thanks, SteveZ, for the extra effort you put into getting back our favorite, and wonderful, picnic spot. much appreciated!

ditto

Sign me up. Bringin' a thing.

i forgot to say i'm coming. i've got 2 friends coming as well. i'll post their offerings, and mine, closer to the date. but count on my 2 large buckets of fruit punch; it's always popular. if someone wants to bring 2 bags of ice as their contribution, you can committ them to going in my punch, if you like....

I'm in +2. Not sure what I'm making yet, but if there's corn I can bring something to cook it in and make some things with that as well.

Thanks to everyone for putting this together!

Chouxfly and I will be there, with at least one and possible two offspring in tow.

Not yet sure what we will be making, but will update as we get closer.

Thank you, Cathy2 and SteveZ, for all your work on this!

Moetchandon & I are looking forward to it.

I'm in, plus 1. The taco stand team are mulling over a new plan.

Swingbossa and I will be there. I will make ice cream. Swing Bossa will make something. We will likely bring friends and will write with a final count and what they are bringing in a few weeks.

Of course. Will be part of team Laikom.

In +2, food/drink TBD

1 for me, I will bring either a dessert or something made out of tomatoes.

Jenny

I'm in +3. Dishes TBD soon.

bean wrote:

justjoan wrote:thanks, SteveZ, for the extra effort you put into getting back our favorite, and wonderful, picnic spot. much appreciated!

ditto

ditto me too

At least ? 3 of us will be there with something delicious TBA I'm putting on my thinking cap now.

In for 2 please - thinking about making a baked fruit dessert of some kind.

In with +1 as part of Team Laikom.

Thanks again, Cathy2.

I'm in, for sure! Food items TBD

LOL @ "team laikom".

Anyhow, I'm very much looking forward to the picnic again. I was really sad last year that I couldn't stay for the whole thing, this is my favorite day of the year!

The plan so far is still in the development phase, but we're thinking Tiki Bar theme! Pupu or tropical food items, and of course plenty of tiki drinks to go around!

The plan is much as it was 2 years ago for the taco stand, to erect a makeshift tiki-town, and everyone and anyone is welcome to contribute however you'd like, be it food, drink, creativity, or labor. I'm guessing some sort of separation for drinks station and food station, but those are just the minor details. If anyone has scrap lumber, tools, leftover house paints, bar stools, tiki decorations, or fire retardant thatching, let us know!

laikom wrote:I'm in, for sure! Food items TBD

LOL @ "team laikom".

Anyhow, I'm very much looking forward to the picnic again. I was really sad last year that I couldn't stay for the whole thing, this is my favorite day of the year!

The plan so far is still in the development phase, but we're thinking Tiki Bar theme! Pupu or tropical food items, and of course plenty of tiki drinks to go around!

The plan is much as it was 2 years ago for the taco stand, to erect a makeshift tiki-town, and everyone and anyone is welcome to contribute however you'd like, be it food, drink, creativity, or labor. I'm guessing some sort of separation for drinks station and food station, but those are just the minor details. If anyone has scrap lumber, tools, leftover house paints, bar stools, tiki decorations, or fire retardant thatching, let us know!

Yay! I will get to see it!

Please add Glennpan +2. Leaning towards the traditional pan of UJs, but that may change. It is the best day of the year...can't wait! And Cathy2, I will probably say this another dozen times by the time the party is over, but thank you so much for all that you do in organizing this!

Ehhh, nuts.
I could make this event. But, I have a colonscopy (the first one I have ever had) scheduled for Monday morning, the 21st.
That means I can't eat anything solid on the 20th. So, any appearance by me here would be a cameo (or a courtesy call). I think I'll skip that. I thank the organizers nonetheless. But you'll just have to include me out.

glennpan wrote:And Cathy2, I will probably say this another dozen times by the time the party is over, but thank you so much for all that you do in organizing this!

I will offer my standard reply, "If nobody showed up there would be no event, so thank you for coming!"

in+1 I believe.

I'm in and joining in with Matt on the tiki adventure. I'll be contributing pork and shrimp egg rolls, fried on site, plus one or two other pupu/tropical-themed foods to be decided later.

Laikom,

I have been making the last few months the carrot-pineapple salad from Milwaukee's Ono Kine Grindz. Would this fit your theme?

I also have the black rice (?), which is cooked with white to make the purple color rice. I can bring it raw or make it in advance and try to keep it hot.

Regards,

Cathy--we'd love to have those--in fact, we were trying to think of some sides since our ideas so far are pretty meaty! Thanks!!

I will also be part of team tiki-
contributions so far will be Pink Flamingos (rum-drink)
and hot dog rumaki