On Saturday, August 7, at 3:00 P.M., Chicago Force ventured out to Lombard to play fun-filled games of Whirlyball. Whirlyball is a combination of lacrosse, bumper cars, and basketball played with whiffleballs. Afterward, we had dinner at a nearby Old Country Buffet.
Whirlyball is located at 800 E. Roosevelt Road in Lombard. Old Country Buffet is at 551 E. Roosevelt Road.
On Friday, July 23, at 7:00 P.M., Chicago Force’s Backyard Drive-In Theater presented The Phantom Menace. We enjoyed some good fun as we harkened back to the movie whose line-up formed our initial group. Showtime was approximately 9:00 P.M. Thanks to Dave Gray who opened his McKinley Park home.
April 17, 2004 saw Chicago Force return once more to Blast Camp for a day of paintball fun. The paintball gods smiled down from on high and we had excellent weather for the third year in a row. Blast Camp is an excellent field, and Chicago Force thanks them for their courteous treatment, professional attitude, and for building a damn fine paintball field.
We didn’t have quite as many turn out this time, only 16, but everyone there had a blast, from the grizzled veterans down to newest of the newbies who had never touched a paintgun before that morning.
We were graced by representatives from the Quad City Jedi Order and the Indy Knights. Thanks for making the trip out, guys!
It was such a good time that plans are being made to turn paintball into a bi-annual event, with the next session possibly in September. Stay tuned to Chicago Forc Web for details.
Pre-Game
The Octagon
Intermission
The next game we played was “Downed Rebel Pilot”. The Rebels had to escort the downed pilot to a safe area, while the Empire tried to kill him. Getting the pilot out or keeping him safe for a set period of time won for the Rebels, eliminating the pilot won for the Empire.
As I played the role of the pilot, there are no pictures of this game. One team successfully kept me hidden in a corner, while the other team made a bold move to get me out. And it would have worked, too, if I wasn’t so fat and lazy.
Anyway, in all the rolling around on the ground, I thought I lost my car keys. So there are no pictures of the next games, as I spent an hour combing the grass for my ride home. Turns out Dave had them in his pocket the whole time.
The Berm
Balls to the Wall
Speedball
The Embassy
The Wound Gallery
On Saturday, December 27, at 1:00 P.M., Chicago Force’s Errant Venture book club will discuss Rogue Planet by Greg Bear at the Borders on State Street. In this novel, taking place 3 years after the Battle of Naboo, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker are sent to the mysterious planet of Zonama Sekot, a planet of living technology that will later play a role in The New Jedi Order.
Borders is located at 150 N. State Street. Book club participants will receive a 20% discount on the book when purchased at that store. Afterwards, at approximately 3 p.m., we’ll have lunch at Bennigan’s at 225 N. Michigan Avenue. If you have any questions, send an e-mail to city moderator Phil Salomon (Mos Eisleian Radio). For the latest information on Chicago Force events, visit www.chicagoforce.org or our FanForce forums.
On Friday, December 12, at 7:00 P.M., come on out to Edgewater and join Chicago Force’s Roleplaying Game Club. We’ll meet at the home of Hans Aeschbacher (The Executor) who will prepare delectable treats for your enjoyment. Our current storyline takes place about 2 years before the Battle of Yavin and involves a plot against the leaders of the Rebellion. For more information, please send an e-mail to either Hans or Michael Hammer (Master Daylan). For more information on Chicago Force events, visit www.chicagoforce.org or our FanForce forum.
On Tuesday, December 16, Chicago Force will do what comes natural to us and line up for the midnight premiere of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King at River East 21. Chicago Line Party will have various events planned that evening, including a charity raffle, costume contest, performances by Frodo-A-Go-Go, and giveways from Decipher and other companies. For more information on what they have planned, check out Chicago Line Party’s website.
River East 21 is located at 322 E. Illinois St. You can purchase your movie tickets at www.movietickets.com. Do a search for ZIP Code 60611 on Tuesday, December 16. The earliest event schedule seems to be a 4 p.m. Decipher giveaway, but come whenever you can. For the latest in Chicago Force events, visit www.chicagoforce.org or our FanForce message boards.
Lando’s not a Trilogy, he’s a man!
On Saturday, November 22, at 1 p.m., Chicago Force’s Errant Venture book club will discuss The Lando Calrissian Adventures by L. Neil Smith. We’ll talk about this collection of stories featuring everyone’s favorite cape-wearing con artist, back in the days when he owned the Millennium Falcon.
We’ll meet at the Barnes & Noble at 590 E. Golf Road in Schaumburg. At approximately 3 p.m., we’ll have lunch at Fuddruckers at 436 E. Golf Road. If you have any questions, send an e-mail to suburban moderator Thom Olsen (ThomSolo). For the latest information on Chicago Force events, visit www.chicagoforce.org or our FanForce forum.
On Saturday, September 27, at 1:00 p.m., join Chicago Force’s Errant Venture book club in discussing Shatterpoint by Matthew Stover. We’ll be discussing this first Clone Wars novel, starring Mace Windu, at Barnes & Noble at 590 E. Golf Road in Schaumburg. After book club, at approximately 3:00 p.m., we’ll have lunch at Fuddruckers at 436 E. Golf Road. If you have any questions, send an e-mail to suburban moderator Thom Olsen. For the latest information on Chicago Force events, visit www.chicagoforce.org or our FanForce forum.
On Sunday, September 28, Chicago Force will be hosting a costume workshop at the Mokena home of Phyllis Schulte (Schph_Gochi). We’ll be working on Jedi tunics, tabbards, and sashes. For more information, including what materials you’ll have to bring, check out the posts by Schph_Gochi and Nostradamus on this thread. For directions and any other questions, send Schph an e-mail. For the latest information on Chicago Force events, visit www.chicagoforce.org or our FanForce forum.
On Saturday, July 26 at 1:00 P.M., Chicago Force’s Errant Venture book club will discuss The Last Command by Timothy Zahn at the Barnes & Noble in Schaumburg. Join us for the last book in The Thrawn Trilogy, the series that revived interest in Star Wars in the early ’90s. At approximately 3:00 P.M., we’ll enjoy lunch at Fuddruckers.
Barnes & Noble is at 590 E. Golf Road in Schaumburg. Fuddruckers is at 436 E. Golf Road, also in Schaumburg. If you have any questions, send an e-mail to suburb moderator Thom Olsen. For the latest on Chicago Force events, visit www.chicagoforce.org or our FanForce forum.