Thanks for the kudos, everyone!  It was indeed a great trip.  I think all three of the spots we visited- the French Market, Chinatown, and Eataly- could easily be worthy of their own separate outings, so to hit all three in a day was pretty amazing.  I wish it would have been about 10 degrees cooler, but it could have been 10 degrees warmer, too, so I won’t complain about that.

We should definitely plan another Chinatown outing, maybe late September/October, when it is at least 10 degrees cooler, and we have time to hit more than two places.  (Depending on the weather, we could also take the water taxi again.  Otherwise there’s a CTA stop across from QXY, and I think if you get there early enough, there’s also public parking.  But let’s not get ahead of ourselves!)  That being said, what we did eat there, together or separately, was really good.  The QXY dumplings were the highlight; my favorite were the lamb with coriander ones, followed by the beef with onion ones.  If they did vegetable one that was just mushroom or mushroom-with-just-about-anything-besides-zucchini, I would have loved that.  That being said, they were the prettiest of the dumplings, so they had that going for them.

I’m going to estimate 3-4, possibly not including the bakery because it’s so popular- I almost think it should just be a default, but let’s see what the Doodle tells us.  Ultimately it will depend on time and energy and what time the Wisconsin group has to get back at the end of the night.

I am working on the itinerary and making some travel recommendations for people based on where you re coming from.  Some of you may have seen the photos I posted on Facebook about my trip to The French Market last-last weekend.  It was my first trip there and it makes me recommend taking Metra there even more strongly than before.  It could not be easier- the market is directly underneath the platform at Ogilvie Transportation Center.  You don t even go into the station.  You literally get off the train and walk down the stairs on the platform of the track you re on and it s right there.  And since the launching point for the Chicago Water Taxi is right at the end of the block, it s a no brainer to just take the train.

Based on the Doodle and comments in this thread, here s who I have on the definite/possibly list:

ScreamingChicken (I know you recently downgraded yourself from  definite to  possibly list)
ChiTownDiner
AnnPeeples
ChiBears
Quixote
IrisArbor
Gyp
JPfefferle
PieDiva
CNW

BuddyRoadhouse, I assume you re in, though you didn t respond to the Doodle, nor do you directly say yes/no in this thread.  You and I are on the same Metra line, so we can coordinate.

I haven t heard from ChicagoStyleDog, MilwFoodLovers, or X1, so I ll send them a note here and on Facebook.  If there s any regulars I m missing, please let me know!

Those of you coming from Milwaukee (Gyp, The Pfeffsters, Quixote, AnnPeeples), I m working on your travel information.

ScreamingChicken, if you make it, are you still going to get a hotel room near my house so I can be your Metra Sherpa?

ChiTownDiner, if you re not aware already, the BNSF line goes to Union Station, not OTC.  You can walk the couple blocks, or go to the UP-W line in Glen Ellyn, Villa Park, Elmhurst, whatever s most convenient.

IrisArbor, same as CTD- the MD-N line goes to Union Station, so you may want to look into going east to the UP-N line at Highland Park, Braeside, etc.  That ll be the same line as the Milwaukee people. 

CNW, do you think you re going to come into town?  If so, where do you think you ll be staying?

And I’m PMing everyone who’s on the list a new Doodle with all the Chinatown options.  Pick your top 3 out of the 8.  It won’t be set in stone, but maybe we can knock off the ones that are least compelling ahead of time. 

If you don’t get a PM with a Doodle, you’re not on the list, so let me know!

Oh, and a weather update:

Saturday Day- 0% chance of precipitation

Wind increasing. A few clouds from time to time. High 86F. Winds SSW at 20 to 30 mph.

Saturday Night- 0% chance of precipitation

Clear. Low 69F. Winds SSW at 15 to 25 mph.

I will definitely be getting a caprese cup!

From the Best Soup Dumplings list, I added http://seafoodharbor.net Seafood Harbor to the map of potential Chinatown spots.  That and Hing Kee are the only places from that list that are in Chinatown.