Festa T-Shirts: Pictures from TBOX6, The Twelve Bars Of Xmas, 2001

i deeply appreciate everyone who attended tbox6 -- the 6th annual 12 bars of Christmas Neighborhood Tour -- this past december 8, 2001. tbox, which began in 1996 with a total of 65 people, had an estimated attendance of 1,000-1,100 total folks this year -- awesome -- wow!!

a few lessons learned and reflections -- to be quite honest, i started having neighborhood tours way back when so that i could have a few beers with my friends -- without having them in my house! -- and meet a few new people. things really snowballed from the days of 20, 30, and even 100 person events to now go over the 4-digit mark, be announced on the radio and metromix.com.

left: #4 IvarFalk, #1 Lionel, and #2 Paul at the VIP Brunch / right: the Old School (Gam, Tommy Boy, Ty, Tony "Prodigal Son")

Left: Veterans "sweet potato", lionel, and billford / Right: veteran crazy collins (wearing hat) & company

Left: 3-time tboxers the buehler family / Right: Chris P, Lionel, Goze (the King), Tony C, Meredith

Left: Mr. "186" / Right: Fred L and friends

Left: veteran crawler Susan C and friend / Right: mvp Kathy K and friends

Left: Cary C, who flew in from Cali just for T6 / Right: How do I get in these situations???

Left: this group manhandled these shots, usually a tbox no-no / Right: best-dressed Mr. Jeff M

Left and Right: More of the Glitterati at T6

Left: crawl veteran j-cain / Right: crawl veteran meesh (far right) and friend

Left: 3-Timer Kathy O with the #600 label, pictured with #1 Lionel / Right: Kevin M receiving VIP status

Left: JenRig, my Stanford classmate I had not seen since the Reagan Administration (I was her freshman RA) was in town for TBOX6

Right: JohnIvar "Respect the 4" Falk

Left: the lovely and talented Sara, super-crawler since '98, makes her 4th tbox

Right: my lovely former softball teammate and veteran of the WAY old-school 13-person west wrightwood crawl of '94, Laura B

Left: Kathy K with recently engaged friends (congratulations) / Right: VIP Matt R

Left and Right: Taste-of-Lincoln-Avenue 98/99 hero Fred L and friends

Left: 3-Time Tboxer Jim F, Right: VIP Kevin M

Left: Donna O, host of finale party for TBOX4 and 5, with friends / Right: GAM, way old-schooler since '89

Looks like we made it...to Bar 12 -- and my reward is a kiss from billford -- lovely!

can't wait to see ya next year... below is the archived posting for TBOX6

TBOX6 schedule & information

Saturday, December 8, 2001 -- 1PM

welcome to the home page for sixth annual twelve bars of Christmas "neighborhood tour"!!

Background

I am not an organization, not a celebrity, just a normal guy with a lot of friends. I had begun having "neighborhood tours" in October, 1993, and throughout the Clinton years, they flourished as a quarterly event, with the troops merrily traversing friendly establishments in chicago's far-flung precincts (see here). The first TBOX was held in December, 1996, with about 65 people attending. Having a "12 Bars" was not a new idea, but a concept I latched on to and decided I could run with. At the same time, the famous "festapalooza" party series, beginning its signature run in 1994, was coming to a peak. festapalooza 4, held in september, 1997, was a wonderful time, but made me realize the downside of having 400 people in my apartment. thus, the tours became the flagship events. and then, on december 12, 1998, for TBOX3, the weather was 71F -- which brought people "out of the woodwork" -- quadrupling the previous years' attendance. We were not ready for this... leading some pundits to call it "the twelve smallest bars of Christmas" -- as 300 people tried to cram into some of the smaller bars in lincoln park. for TBOX4 the venue was shifted to wrigleyville, where 450 or so attended, then over 850 for TBOX5 in the year 2000.

*** also, a note of great importance not to be overlooked -- this is a party and celebration coinciding with and capturing the festiveness, friendship, and mirth of the holiday spirit. i do not intend for it to dilute or secularize the meaning of Christmas -- which to me, as a Christian, celebrates the birth of Christ, my savior. i strive but like other Christians stumble in dedicating every day, including december 25 and december 8, to Him. i hope everyone has a great time, but want to also wish everyone in the Christian and other faiths my best wishes for the more serious aspects of the season. praise the Lord! ***

Value Proposition

TBOX provides the opportunity to celebrate the holiday season, hang out with old friends, meet new friends, and get out and experience chicago. more than just a party, TBOX provides a full day of entertainment and adventure, with a beginning, middle, and end. at the end, is the finale party, this year at goose island in wrigleyville.

Traditions

If you go all the way, from beginning to end, you are said to have accomplished the feat of going wire-to-wire. You are encouraged to bring cereal -- a tradition dating back to the mid-80s. If possible, please bring a box for snacking and sharing along the way. Recommended are sweet cereals such as the Cap'n Crunch family, Lucky Charms, Trix, or any novelty cereals with sugar listed as the first ingredient. Bran flakes, granola, et. al are not encouraged. You are encouraged also to follow the schedule, listen when the leader blows the whistle, and participate in the hand count.

Processes & Procedures

** it's pretty easy, just show up, but see below -- if you do not RSVP, you risk not getting into the finale party

** the entire route is on foot, covering less than a mile or so total. you are encouraged to go Wire-to-Wire -- you're a daisy if you do -- but coming in for part of it is fine. i understand that some of you have grown-up parties and stuff like that to attend!! :)

** there are drink specials arranged at each of the first 11 bars -- i am working to finalize these when i get into town the week before. you must have a wristband to get the specials

** once you arrive, please see me or one of my assistants to get a wristband. We will be charging $3 for wristband, and will give you a number also.

** also, i encourage you, make new friends, don't drink too much -- have a glass of water or a coke every other bar or so -- be careful crossing the street, and be of good cheer! if you find one or more of the bars too crowded, it's ok to skip ahead to the next one.

1	Lakeview Links	3206 North Wilton	1:00-2:00	all domestic pints, bottles, $2
2	Sheffield's	3258 N. Sheffield	2:00-3:00	$ 2 Rolling Rocks
3	Redmond's	3358 N. Sheffield	3:00-3:45	please ask when you get there, thanks
4	The Nisei Lounge	3439 N. Sheffield	3:45-4:45	$2 pints
5	Chicago's Blarney Stone	3424 N. Sheffield	4:45-5:15	$1 Bud Lite & Miller Lite Drafts, $1 Watermelons & KKs (chicago's best kept secret)
6	Irish Oak	3511 N. Clark St.	5:15-5:45	$2.50 domestics
7	Hi-Tops	3551 N. Sheffield	5:45-7:00	$6 Pitchers
8	The Sports Corner	953 W. Addison	6:45-7:45	$2 bottles
9	Bar Louie	3545 N. Clark	7:45-8:15	$3 pints
10	Cubby Bear	3558 N. Clark	8:00-9:15	$2 Miller/Miller Lite Pints, $1 Red & Green Hello Shots
11	Sluggers	3540 N. Clark	9:15-10:30	$2 domestic beers
12	Goose Island	3540 N. Clark	10:30-1:30	all-you-care-to-drink beer and soft drinks, $18 -- this includes all taxes and tips/gratuities as well !!

disclaimer: tbox6 is a do-it-yourself affair open to the public at your own risk. i do not encourage excessive drinking or risk-taking of any kind, and accept no responsibility for discomfort or other bad things that may occur! please practice safety, moderation, and care on december 8 and at all times!

"how to go WIRE TO WIRE in style"

by Kathy K

kathy k was this year's tbox MVP. among her many contributions to the tour, i'd like to thank her and her friends for all the help in administering the tour, handing out wristbands, assigning numbers, and collecting money. she also brought her giant candy cane seen below, and brought professionally lettered signs numbered "TBOX6 Bar 1, Bar 2...etc" -- talk about organized: unbelievable. Unfortunately, neither she with her disposable camera, nor i were able to clearly capture the lettering of every sign, but below is a step-by-step primer on how to go wire to wire in style! cheers!

Bar 1