CSNS show report.

golden

Wednesday. I got up at dark+ to start on the long all day drive to Schaumburg. I went to the Hardee's drive thru for breakfast. Only stopping for gas, lunch at the McDonald's drive thru and a couple of rest stops I arrived in the Chicago area just in time for........rush hour. I decided to take a different route to try to avoid the gridlock. The route was longer and had more tolls, but was a smoother road and had no traffic jams. I arrived at my hotel around 6PM.

Thursday. I could not get moving this AM and missed the hotel breakfast. I remember how it was last year so I did not miss much. I got to the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center a little before 9:30 AM. The hotel is beautiful with a little lake and a fountain out front with geese around the area. There is plenty of free parking. The only negative is the always cold ( 47 ) and windy weather at this time of year. I could not get inside the hotel fast enough!

I first went to the second floor to look at one National Bank note in the Heritage auction. I finished quickly and went back down to get my name tag. The blonde crew ( all 3 of the gals at the registration desk were blonde ) soon got me registered. At the 10:00 AM opening about 100+ were waiting to enter.

When the show opened I went to see John at Variety Slabbing Service to drop off a box of 20 to be imaged. When that was done I turned around and saw the table of David Kahn across the aisle. I quickly sold him 2 minor coins. I then headed to the PCGS table to drop off a submission. The ever efficient gals at PCGS soon had me on my way. I next called a dealer, who had agreed to meet me at the show, to let me look at a coin that he had on Ebay. It was just like the image on the site. He knocked 20+ % off of the Ebay price and it was mine. With all of that accomplished I started on a tour of the bourse floor.

After about half an hour I saw a coin in a case that called out for me. With a short negotiation it was mine. At the Stack's table I saw the 1794 Dollar in PCGS MS 64 ex Lord St. Oswald- Norweb. Wow! Along the way I said Hi to Julian Leidman ,Dave Wnuck , Kenneth Goldman and Don Kagin. I passed by the concession stand and saw beverages at $6 , hot dogs at $5.75 and pizza at $7.50. As they say in Texas... El Paso.

Late in the afternoon I took a look at the exhibits. There was one exhibit about emergency coins of the U.S. ,during WW2 ,that was very interesting. I entered a bid on the computer for the note in the auction and headed to dinner.

I had dinner at the Rose Garden Cafe. It is a 30+ year old Greek restaurant. I have been to 49 states and this is my favorite place to eat. I had the Pork Chops ( 3 3/4" ), homemade chicken noodle soup, mashed potatoes and gravy and an assorted bread basket for $12.95! I took two of the chops and two pieces of bread back to the hotel.

Friday. This morning I heated up one of the pork chops and a piece of bread for breakfast. I checked on my bid in the auction from last night. I was the under-bidder.It had warmed up to 60 today and the wind had died down. I got back to the show a little bit after opening. I picked up my box of 20 that I had imaged. I met up with Pete Smith who is co-author of " 1792: Birth of a Nation's Coinage ". We sat down and had a nice conservation about the 1792 coins. After that I went on another pass of the floor. I did not see anything else that I had to purchase.

For dinner I went back to the Rose Garden Cafe. Tonight I had the fish fry, chicken noodle soup,French fries and assorted bread basket for $10.95. I was stuffed.

Saturday. I warmed up my last pork chop and a piece of bread for breakfast. I checked out of my hotel at 8:45. I thought of going back to the show for a short time today. The temperature was back down to 47 and the wind was howling again. I decided that I really did not want to walk across the parking lot in these conditions again. I got on the road for home. After 2 hours of driving it rained for an hour. I stopped at Cracker Barrel for an early dinner. I got home about an hour before dark.

This was my fifth consecutive CSNS show in Schaumburg. I had a great time. In fact I had the best time that I have had at a show in a long time!

hchcoin

I will have to check out the Rose Garden Cafe the next time I am down there. Thanks.

EXOJUNKIE

Sounds like you know how to "get 'er done" at a show. Great report -- thanks!

alohagary

very informative report

ricko

Nice report...those pork chops sounded good.... made three meals. Cheers, RickO

oih82w8

...I next called a dealer, who had agreed to meet me at the show, to let me look at a coin that he had on Ebay. It was just like the image on the site. He knocked 20+ % off of the Ebay price and it was mine...

What was this coin? How about the images?

Mmmmm...pork chops!

metalmeister

Thanks for sharing. Yes, pictures.

Shrub68

I agree on the Rose Garden! We ate there on Thursday night and always at least once when in town.

golden

@Shrub68 said:
I agree on the Rose Garden! We ate there on Thursday night and always at least once when in town.

We were both there on Thursday night.

ScarsdaleCoin

Couple of images as requested above!
btw, this was end of day Friday so floor traffic was light at the time I took these

ah

Very good report, love those pork chops, sounds like you had a decent trip.

Cameonut

Very good report......thanks for posting it.

I pretty much avoid Chicago having been a die hard Cheesehead for my whole life and watching the Chicongoans invade southern Wisconsin to take advantage of the lower drinking age and throw money around. I've rarely gone to a show there over the last 3 decades, mostly because of their punitive concealed carry laws for out of state permit holders. Perhaps Schaumburg is far enough away from the "trouble" (being extra kind here) to consider going there in the future. I will consider it over other venues.

In the meantime, there are far better venues for those that feel that personal protection is important. For example, Dalton GA was great last week - I will be returning there in the future. Guess what? GA honors my carry permit and so does the venue.

DIMEMAN

Golden said - I had dinner at the Rose Garden Cafe. It is a 30+ year old Greek restaurant. I have been to 49 states and this is my favorite place to eat. I had the Pork Chops ( 3 3/4" ), homemade chicken noodle soup, mashed potatoes and gravy and an assorted bread basket for $12.95! I took two of the chops and two pieces of bread back to the hotel.

That's what I paid on the show floor for a Hot Dog, Chips & Soda!

MorganMan94

@Cameonut said:
Very good report......thanks for posting it.

I pretty much avoid Chicago having been a die hard Cheesehead for my whole life and watching the Chicongoans invade southern Wisconsin to take advantage of the lower drinking age and throw money around. I've rarely gone to a show there over the last 3 decades, mostly because of their punitive concealed carry laws for out of state permit holders. Perhaps Schaumburg is far enough away from the "trouble" (being extra kind here) to consider going there in the future. I will consider it over other venues.

In the meantime, there are far better venues for those that feel that personal protection is important. For example, Dalton GA was great last week - I will be returning there in the future. Guess what? GA honors my carry permit and so does the venue.

I completely agree about the concealed carry. The place I am most likely to need a handgun and I can't even carry it there.

Walkerfan

Great report. Sounds like you had a good time. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

291fifth

Convention center food and beverage prices seem to be getting more and more out of line with reality. I wonder how much this is affecting attendance? While the serious collectors will still attend others may just be staying away.

golden

@Cameonut said:
Very good report......thanks for posting it.

I pretty much avoid Chicago having been a die hard Cheesehead for my whole life and watching the Chicongoans invade southern Wisconsin to take advantage of the lower drinking age and throw money around. I've rarely gone to a show there over the last 3 decades, mostly because of their punitive concealed carry laws for out of state permit holders. Perhaps Schaumburg is far enough away from the "trouble" (being extra kind here) to consider going there in the future. I will consider it over other venues.

In the meantime, there are far better venues for those that feel that personal protection is important. For example, Dalton GA was great last week - I will be returning there in the future. Guess what? GA honors my carry permit and so does the venue.

I have been to Schaumburg the last 5 years. It is clean and looks and feels no different than any other suburban location that I have seen. Chicago is an entirely different world. Even Rosemont ( where the ANA has been ) in my opinion is different than Schaumburg.

I was also at Dalton last week and it was a good show. The Dalton show is far smaller than CSNS.

messydesk

@Cameonut said:
Very good report......thanks for posting it.

... Perhaps Schaumburg is far enough away from the "trouble" (being extra kind here) to consider going there in the future. I will consider it over other venues.

Schaumburg, IL = Brookfield, WI more or less.

CascadeChris

Nice bullet point report @golden but how long was your drive, 9hrs +-?

Cameonut

@messydesk said:

@Cameonut said:
Very good report......thanks for posting it.

... Perhaps Schaumburg is far enough away from the "trouble" (being extra kind here) to consider going there in the future. I will consider it over other venues.

Schaumburg, IL = Brookfield, WI more or less.

Actually less - I can legally carry my pistol when visiting my uncle in Brookfield.

ricko

I agree, concealed carry restrictions will put me off a venue.... or an establishment....Cheers, RickO

Jackthecat1

Thank you for the informative show report.

golden

@CascadeChris said:
Nice bullet point report @golden but how long was your drive, 9hrs +-?

More than 10.