Chicagopex - Itasca, IL USA Nov. 20-22, 2015

CHICAGOPEX is my big regional show to attend each year, affectionately known as "The Budgetkiller". It's a huge show, and the facility is GREAT.

Tip to anyone looking to get a good deal on a room at the show facility, do *NOT* use the "show rate" of $123 per night. Use the Birth Year promotion listed on the Westin website (code 'PAYAGE'). That makes it $89 for the first night, and the rate for the second night is the last 2 digits in your birth year (must provide ID). So in my case, since I was born in 1966, it's $89 for the first night and $66 for the second night.

CHICAGOPEX website: http://www.chicagopex.org

Westin Hotel website: https://www.starwoodhotels.com/west...pertyID=1760


November 20-22, 2015

Westin Chicago Northwest
400 Park Blvd
Itasca, IL 60143

Free admission
Free parking

Show hours:

Friday, Nov. 20: 10AM-6PM
Saturday, Nov. 21: 10AM-6PM
Sunday, Nov. 22: 10AM-4PM

Societies with meetings:

The Society of Australasian Specialists/Oceania
The India Study Circle
The Eire Philatelic Association
The Institute for Analytical Philately.

There's usually a HUGE roster of philatelic exhibits.

DEALERS:

A to Z Stamps of Arizona. Phoenix, AZ
AAA Stamp & Coin. Lansing, MI
Paul Aschenbrenner. Wauwautosa, WI
Bardo Stamps. Buffalo Grove, IL
Bare Cove Associates. Hingham, MA
Brian Moorhouse. United Kingdom
Fred Boatwright. Hawk Point, MO
Britannia Enterprises. Orleans, MA
Christoph Gaertner Auctions. Germany
Coast Philatelics. Costa Mesa, CA
Colonial Stamp Co. Los Angeles, CA
Compustamp. Scottsdale, AZ
Connoisseur Stamps & Collectibles, Inc. Chicago, IL
Crown Colony Stamps. Bellaire, TX
D & P Stamps. Chula Vista, CA
DMS Collectibles.Bloomington, IL
David Alex. Glenview, IL
Dennis Hillen Stamps. Prospect, KY
Denny Peoples. Indianapolis, IN
Devid Grossblat. Phoenix, AZ
Don Tocher/U.S. Classics. Sunapee, NH
Double "J" Stamps. Arlington Heights, IL
Douglas Weisz, U.S. Covers. McMurray, PA
Earl T. Reeder. Kissimmee, FL
Eric Jackson. Leesport, PA
Gary Posner, Inc. Brooklyn, NY
Global Philatelic Associates. Vandalia, OH
HB Philatelics. Florissant, MO
Hunt & Co. Austin, TX
India & Indian States. Palo Alto, CA
Iowa Stamps and Coins. Ankeny, IA
James E. Lee. Cary, IL
James Taff. Sacramento, CA
Jfreedom Stamps. La Grange, IL
Labron Harris. Glen Echo, MD
Len Farrell Stamps. Brookfield, IL
Liberty Stamps. Prospect Heights, IL
Long Island Philatelics. Smithtown, NY
MCXI Philatelics. Libertyville, IL
Mark C. Reasoner. Columbus, OH
Markest Stamp Co., Inc. Lynbrook, NY
Mike White. Thailand
Mountainside Stamps. Mountainside, NJ
Newport Harbor Stamp Co. Newport Beach, CA
Oceanview Stamp Co. Huntington Beach, CA
PSAG. Melbourne, FL
Pack-Rat Covers. Oshtemo, MI
Paul Aschenbrenner. Wauwautosa, WI
Philangles, Ltd. United Kingdom
Regency-Superior Auctions. St. Louis, MO
Richard A. Champagne. Newton, MA
Richard Friedberg. Meadville, PA
Riverbank Treasures. New Lisbon, WI
Robert C. Swed. Wilmington, DE
Robertson Tracy Enterprises, LLC. Glendale, CA
Roy's Stamps. Canada
Rosemoor Stamp Co. Park Forest, IL
Scott Mitchell Stamp & Coin. La Grange, IL
Smyth's Stamp Shop. Onalaska, WI
Stamp Center of Texas. Boerne, TX
Stamp King. Chicago, IL
Stamps 'N Stuff. Des Moines, IA
Stanley Gibbons Product Center. St. Louis, IL
Stanley Piller. Alamo, CA
Stephen T. Taylor. United Kingdom
Sterling Stamps. Brighton, MI
T&T Stamps. Union Pier, MI
Terry Kurzinski. Cherry Valley, IL
The Classic Collector. Syracuse, NY
Toga Associates. Fairfield, CT
Triple S Postal History, Inc. Urbana, OH
USPS. Itasca, IL
United Nations Postal Administration. Chicago, IL
Village Stamp & Coin. Zionsville, IN
Wayne Gehret. Ephrata, PA
Webster F. Stickney. Parker, CO
William H. Hatton. Piqua, OH

Just a reminder that CHICAGOPEX is this coming weekend.

It should be a lot of fun, but I sure wish it wasn't in the middle of nowhere.

Yeah, there's virtually nothing within walking distance. What makes this tough is that there is nothing even remotely inexpensive as far as meals onsite. The hotel bar has good food, but you're looking at $20-30 for a meal. Shula's Steakhouse inside the Westin is VERY expensive. Even the weekend breakfast buffet "special" is $20 after tip.

I've found the best bet is to get pizza delivered to my hotel room. I make a habit of getting Lou Malnatti's pizza every year. Including tax, delivery and tip, it's usually no more than $25-30 and I get 2 meals out of that.