The Illinois Classical Conference

                                                               in association with the

                                                       Archaeological Institute of America (Chicago Society),

                                                                     Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center,

                                                                            and the Chicago Classical Club

                                                                        presents

                                         Illinois Classical Conference 2007

                                               at Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois

24 August 2007

Dear Fellow Classicist:

We invite you to join us for this year’s Annual Meeting of the Illinois Classical Conference.  The enclosed program has, we hope, something for every taste–from paedagogy to poetics, archaeology to art, from the Danube to the Nile.  We invite you especially to encourage your students to attend.  What better way to make common cause and support their potential aspirations? 

The meeting will take place at the Lake Shore Campus of Loyola University.  The campus is in a building/remodeling frenzy at the moment and is not as easy to navigate as it used to be, but if you drive,  parking is available in our parking structure.  You will have to come in from the south, at Kenmore and Sheridan, and drive in a quarter circle till you see the building.  With the closing of the north end of the campus drive, this is now the only available route.  If you come by public transportation, from downtown, take the Red Line el north to the Loyola stop, and walk two blocks to the end of Loyola Ave.  The Crown Center is the last building before the lake.  Entrance is from the campus side, not from the street.  If you are coming from Evanston, take the Purple Line to Howard, walk across the platform to the Red Line train, and go south to the Loyola stop.  A taxi from the Loop costs about $25, from downtown Evanston less than $15,

I mention Evanston because that is where we found the best accommodations and where the annual banquet will take place.  A block of rooms is set aside at the Margarita Inn (www.margaritainn.com) at prices ranging from $79.00 to $165.00 for a two-room suite, but reservations have to be made immediately and no later than 7 September.  It is a European-style family hotel and quite friendly.  (My daughter’s in-laws will vouch for it.)  The telephone number there is (847) 869-2273.  The banquet will be at The Celtic Knot Public House (www.celticknotpub.com, for the curious).  If you have not been to Evanston lately, you will be surprised at how upscale the downtown area has become. 

The usual suspects will be there: the AIA lecture on Friday evening, the joint luncheon with the Chicago Classical Club on Saturday, the Latin Mass on Sunday, the book exhibits.  I point out especially the Book Exchange, a table where you can leave books you no longer need and, for a donation, pick up books that you might use.

So please join us.  The registration form is included in this mailing.  If there are questions about the meeting, feel free to contact me at emenes@luc.edu.  We look forward to seeing you.

For the local committee,

Ed Menes

Department of Classical Studies

Loyola University of Chicago