Read it and weep, fellas.
I spent an hour just kicking around the shop after getting out of a conference session early. I could have stayed for days! Picked up some simple gear (I'm on a budget, unfortunately) - Speick stick and aftershave, Proraso ASB. But I got to check out so many of the products that we usually only talk about but never see in person in tiny Tuscaloosa...
Mugso Real
Caswell-Massey
Jack Black
Irisch Moos
Tabac EdT
The entire Pinaud line
Every Claus Porto bathsoap ever made
Diptyque lineup
Demeter lineup
Sharps
The list goes on and on... They had to kick me out at 6PM closing! So awesome, and a reminder that I live in a Tier 3 retail market. Sad.
I bet the Chicago meet-up is going to be awesome! I checked out the bar that you're planning on going to, also, and it looks great. Have a good time, fellas!