Chicago Apple Store: Who's in line?

[patrick0brien]

-All

Who am I <and the two potential switchers I'm bringing> going to see in line Friday for the 6:00pm opening?

I'm easy to find, just use my 'tar for reference.

[chicagdan]

Yeah, I'll be there (I plan on getting in line at about 4:30.) Jeez, Apple is taking up my Monday and Friday this week ... not to mention all my disposable income. Heroin addicts ain't got nothin' on me.

[pEZ]

I only wish I could - I have to work from 1 PM to 9 PM - otherwise I'd be there. Unfortunately, though I COULD just not go to work the second half of the time, I really do need the money...

[Groovsonic]

Wish I could, But I can't. I will probably go the next day.
After all, I have an apple giftcard burning a hole in my pants as we speak.
I have the one in oakbrook, which is right by my house, but I have to check out the big one downtown. Maybe they'll have SimCity4 by then???

[Zion Grail]

I would, but I'll be on vacation in California. Oh well. :) I'll check it out eventually.

[zimv20]

that thing's FINALLY opening, eh? hmm... i might check it out friday.

to recognize me, look at my 'tar. i _am_ a duchamp readymade.

okay, i'm not.

[patrick0brien]

Originally posted by zimv20
that thing's FINALLY opening, eh? hmm... i might check it out friday.

to recognize me, look at my 'tar. i _am_ a duchamp readymade.

okay, i'm not.

-zimv20

That's ok - just wear one on your head, that should work.

:D

[iShater]

So how was the grand opening? I dread the thought of driving down to Chicago on Friday night, traffic is icky.

any pics?

[patrick0brien]

-iShater

Actually, it's next Friday. You still have time to fight the traffic.

:D

[pivo6]

I'm interested in seeing pics from anyone who's going. I'll be in the Chicago area the weekend after July 4th for my high school reunion. My dad is in the market for a new computer, so maybe I can talk him into going with me.

By the way, can anyone set up some lawn chairs so I have a place to park?

[Ambrose Chapel]

I'm flying to Chicago tomorrow and leaving Thursday night. So not only will I miss the grand opening but I won't even be able to follow the Stevenote at WWDC! At least not til hours after it happens...

[iShater]

Originally posted by Ambrose Chapel
I'm flying to Chicago tomorrow and leaving Thursday night. So not only will I miss the grand opening but I won't even be able to follow the Stevenote at WWDC! At least not til hours after it happens...

If you are flying to O'Hare, Schaumburg is around 20 mins from the airport, so just hop in a cab if you fly in before noon and head over to Woodfield Mall :D

[pyrotoaster]

I'll be there.

You can actually use my 'tar for reference. I'll be the high school student wearing a t-shirt with that Blueish Happy Mac on it.

I got an email about the opening from Apple, looks like it's going to be great.

[000111one111000]

I'll be there too.

What's the parking situation like over near there? I've never actually driven down there, just taken cabs and stuff, but on Friday I'll be forced to actually drive there. I assume there's a parking garage/lot close by? Or at least relatively close by. And if you know, what's the price on parking there?

We should meet up or something. Hang out in the new Internet Cafe or something. :)

Me, Me, Me..... (http://homepage.mac.com/enoch111)

There are some pics of me there, so you can tell what I look like and all that.

What time are you planning on getting there?

enoch

[zimv20]

Originally posted by 000111one111000

What's the parking situation like over near there? I've never actually driven down there, just taken cabs and stuff, but on Friday I'll be forced to actually drive there. I assume there's a parking garage/lot close by? Or at least relatively close by. And if you know, what's the price on parking there?

street parking is well nigh impossible, but you can get lucky (probably 25 cents/15 minutes, max 2 hours). lots of garages and lots, check 2 blocks on either side of Michigan Ave. on almost any side street.

figure $22 for 3 hours.

[000111one111000]

is the Apple Store in walking distance of the Ogilivie station?

If so, I might just ride the train in and walk there. I don't feel like messing with traffice and parking.

enoch

[patrick0brien]

Originally posted by 000111one111000
If so, I might just ride the train in and walk there. I don't feel like messing with traffice and parking.

-000111one111000

Ironically, I work in the Citibank building (top of the Ogilvie)

I'm taking a Cab. It's walkable, but a little over a mile.

[Phatpat]

I'm going with my possee of lackies. I don't know if that's spelled right...meh. I'll be there way early. I want a t-shirt. I need a t-shirt! I was one of the first at the Apple store in Woodfield today; got there around 10:00, as it was opening. Michigan Avenue is gonna rock!

[fuzzy7slippers]

It is going to kick ass.

[chicagdan]

I live less than a mile away, so I see no reason to brave the crowd -- a 1-1000 shot at an iSight isn't good enough for me. Besides, the keynote at Woodfield Mall was enough personal contact with Macheads for me for awhile.

[FriarTuck]

I did the Woodfield Mall Jaguar opening last year. That'll do it for me as far as Apple events. It was absurd, joyous, and amazing. But I can't justify a Friday evening away from the family for the MichAve opening.

BTW, I was at Woodfield again today. They are still running G3 iMacs in the kids section. I simply do not understand why they are giving up the tremendous opportunity to allow kids to try out eMacs, which their parents can ACTUALLY BUY.

And when will they start selling those little ball chairs?

[tazo]

honestly going to any apple store opening is awesome. When I went to the bellevue sq. opening, a relatively small store, the feeling of seeing a ferw thousand people all dedicated to the same platform never got old. I have seen pix of the Michigan Ave. store and I have to say, that if it is anyhthing like the attendance at Bell Sq. you all are in for a real treat :)

[ExoticFish]

i live about 5 hours away and as long as i can get my butt into work tomorrow morning early enough, i'm taking off at lunch to go. if i go this will be my first apple store opening... i'm so excited!!

[000111one111000]

the t-shirts and stuff aren't being handed out till 6 pm, right? Because that's when the "Grand Opening" starts. So the store is closed all day till then?

I'm a t-shirt freak. I must have one.

enoch

[patrick0brien]

-000111one111000

Yes. 6p. The first 1000 in the door.

It's going to be wild! (the little voice in my head keeps saying "rock concert")

[000111one111000]

yeah, I know, I love it.

At the Woodfield Opening, everyone kept stopping to ask me what was going on. "Is someone famous here or something?"

"Nope, just the Apple Store grand opening."

"Are they giving away anything?"

"A t-shirt that says "Woodfield."

"oh. nerd."

hehe

They better have at least one G5 on display.


enoch

[chicagdan]

Originally posted by patrick0brien
-000111one111000

Yes. 6p. The first 1000 in the door.

It's going to be wild! (the little voice in my head keeps saying "rock concert")

Yeah, except there are women at rock concerts. I admire the 20 women who will get tee-shirts tomorrow.

[pourhadi]

I'll be there bright and early.

Hoping to get 1st in line.... (think of how early that has to be)

Call me crazy if you want....

[patrick0brien]

Originally posted by chicagdan
Yeah, except there are women at rock concerts. I admire the 20 women who will get tee-shirts tomorrow.

-chicagdan

Me too. But hands off the Latina I'm bringing, she's taken.

(Not by me tho)

[chicagdan]

Originally posted by patrick0brien
-chicagdan

Me too. But hands off the Latina I'm bringing, she's taken.

(Not by me tho)

I went out to Woodfield on Monday for the keynote ... there were so many undateable geekboys on hand, I expected Shattner to appear at any moment and yell "get a life!"

[pourhadi]

Ok, I'm here...


It's 4:50 AM and I'm 4th in line.

Boy... I need a life....

[pourhadi]

Ok, I'm here...


It's 4:50 AM and I'm 4th in line.

Boy... I need a life....

[hacurio1]

Originally posted by patrick0brien
-All

Who am I <and the two potential switchers I'm bringing> going to see in line Friday for the 6:00pm opening?

I'm easy to find, just use my 'tar for reference.

I'll be there too. Too bad there won't be any new PB for me to spend my money on... LOL. I'll be the short guy (5'6"), no glases, black hair, very young looking, Drooling while playing with the PBs G4. Does anybody know if they'll have a G5 demo?

[ExoticFish]

i'll be wearing a Mac OS 8.5 t-shirt, glasses, and a ball cap with a 4-leaf clover on it. but i won't be getting there till around 4pm or so... i better get there early enough to get a shirt!!!

[Giaguara]

i'll be there plenty in advance. wearing either a jaguar spotted top, or a wwdc developer party 2000 - t shirt and some stevewear. :D

[pourhadi]

I just talked to the VP of Sales of Apple, and he confirmed that Steve Jobs IS comming to the Michigan Avenue Apple Store but said that there IS NOT a G5 computer in there for display.

[patrick0brien]

-All

Question: What is the camera policy tonight? Would I be allowed to bring a video camera into the store?

[e-coli]

I'll be there (with a potential switcher).

I'm curious to see it. I've only seen it through the cracks in the walls.

[Giaguara]

I am there now. Was in the queue since 11 am, the store opened 51 minutes ago. Some guys were queuing since yesterday afternoon.

Everybody has their cameras and videocameras and use them, thus YES you can use your camera here patrick.

Anyone else here?\\

I will post some pix asap i'll be home. ;) :D :) :p

[pourhadi]

Ok, I was the 6th one in, video cam in hand and all.

I won one of those iSights.

Definetly one the best Apple Store openings I've seen.

The lines were so long they had to loop it around the entire block, so at the front of the line where we were standing ten feet away on the other side of the sidewalk was the end of the line.

[ExoticFish]

well, it took a while to get to Chicago (i live an hour south of Cleveland, OH). only took 5 hours to get to Chicago. Took another hour and a half to get into downtown!!!! insane traffic!!!!! At least i got a shirt! :D I'm sitting upstairs right now! swweeeeeeeetttt.... too bad i couldn't get one of those free iSights.

[e-coli]

That line was REDICULOUS! It wrapped around the entire city block TWICE!!!

I had to bail. I jst couldn't stand in line that long. It was good to see that Apple has such a great following, though.

[Giaguara]

Okay here starts to come some of the pixxx... :D :p

11 am

[Giaguara]

queueing ... around 3 pm

[Giaguara]

queue around 4 pm

[Giaguara]

still queue

[Giaguara]

reflections in windows, around 5 pm

[Giaguara]

"digital kids"

[Giaguara]

apple staff looking at the queue

[Giaguara]

(reflections) 5,30 inside

[Giaguara]

about to open

[Giaguara]

doors just open, inside

[Giaguara]

1sr floor view

[Giaguara]

2nd floor down (6,02 pm)

[Giaguara]

still 2nd floor

[Giaguara]

pile of t-shirts

[Giaguara]

upstairs auditorium...

[Kwyjibo]

I was downtown the day they opened the old navy and were giving the first 500 ppl free jeans...now that line was massive. People brought liek their whoel extended family to stand in line all for one cheap free pair of jeans

[Giaguara]

looking down

[Giaguara]

reflections from structures

[tazo]

what i wouldnt have given to go to a *real* apple store opening. bell sq. was cool, but its inside. in a mall. and its a small store. :(

[Giaguara]

glass stairs like in soho

[Giaguara]

and last pic, loooking up when walking out of the store... :D

[Dreamail]

Did they have any G5s on display?
Probably not, as someone mentioned earlier in the thread before the store opened.

If not will they get a demo G5 before September?

[pourhadi]

Lol....

the pic "apple staff looking at the queue" had my father in it.


Anyway, no, there was no G5, as for future display, I have no idea.

[arn]

great pix Giaguara

arn

[Giaguara]

thx arn ... :p

i have a feeling some of us in the queue will be in the tokyo store opening.

btw all pics ( i have more ) are 2000-something x 1500-something pix and all made with the same camera (olympus camedia c-740 ultra zoom), just in case someone likes the digi-photography or will like to have some of the pictures bigger. (pm me if so) :D

(oh yea, i am the 'turkish' in the queue)

[Dreamail]

Superb photos Giaguara! Thanks!

Also thanks pourhadi for the G5 info!
Would have been fitting for a new 'flagship store' though... :(

[ExoticFish]

well, i just got home from Chicago. it's 7:15 am Eastern Standard time. sheesh. in my post from the store I complained about not getting one of the free iSights... well get this. I had been hanging around the iSight test place for about an hour and a half getting handfuls of those cards to see if i won without getting a winner. after i posted that last post i was leaving and one of the apple store guys handed me another card and i won the 20th iSight!!!!! it was awesome!!! i've got a few pics to post after i wake up... i'm going to go crash for a few hours.

[e-coli]

Thanks for the pics.

You guys are hard core. ;)

[MacFan25]

Thanks for the pics Giaguara. I wish I could have been there! :D

[ExoticFish]

here's my favorite view of the store

[ExoticFish]

that glass bridge is insane!

[tazo]

The entire building is absolutely beautiful. I hope one day I wil be able to see it and SoHo.

[pourhadi]

Hey!

I made it into the Saturday edition of the Chicago Tribune!

First page of the Business section! Close up shot of me and a caption as follows:

"Danny Pourhadi (left) sits in a long line awaiting Friday's opening of the new Apple Store on Michigan Avenue. He and three campanions camped out at the store for more than 14 hours."

I guess that confirms my position as a Mac fanatic!

[Foxer]

I was in Ohio for the weekend, but stopped by the Michigan Ave. store on the way home yesterday afternoon. Very cool. I'd never seen a flagship store before, and I was wondering - beyond the theatre, what they would do to pad the displays to fill the store. Well done - a very nice store. The catch, of course, is that no matter how big the store, there really isn't any product that you can't get at one of the closet-sized boutique store.

And, as usual, the only question I asked an employeewas beyond his ability to answer. And it was a simple one about the G5 promo the store was running. Oh well.

[patrick0brien]

Originally posted by Foxer
...no matter how big the store, there really isn't any product that you can't get at one of the closet-sized boutique store.

-Foxer

Quite true, but remember the point is to let people play, test drive the machines with persons who are knowledgeable about the stuff, with machines that are cared for and not in some awful Best Buy or CompUSA state.

NikeTown and the Sony store border to the South of the Apple store and they were put in to do this as well for their respective brands.