Every problem is solved with a sandwich: 2011

Monday, July 18, 2011

Chicago & Wrigley Field - July 2011

The annual fantasy baseball trip took us to the Windy City and Wrigley Field this year. G, Tao and I got on the road around 9 am this past Friday morning and after a couple of beers while the hotel prepped our room, we checked in around 4.

We decided to head towards Wrigley as the Cubs were finishing of the Marlins and we got caught up in what is known as Wrigleyville. A constant party before, during and after games. We hit the Cubbi Bear, a rather expensive warehouse of a bar that is very over-rated, in my opinion. Then we headed out and found a place called Slugger's, which was just a better atmosphere with tons of eye candy, including Tasha, our Jello Shot girl

I think we were the only people drinking the OLD STYLE ($5 for a 12 oz can!?) but we made up for it with several jello shots . We hung out for a while then decided to walk around the ballpark but just got to say, Sluggers was a rockin party.

I finally got to see what I always saw on WGN as a kid, watching Cubs games after school, the view from behind the left field wall on Waveland Avenue

Saw the scoreboard and looked through the right field wall

We hit another bar called the Sports Corner (I think) , had a beer and I checked out for the night. G & Justin went and did their thing at a pub near the hotel .

An early arrival of cousin Joe and wife Annie got us moving as the game was a noon CST start. With a nice continental breakfast coating the stomach, we went in search of a Bloody Mary and found a "meal in a glass" per our bartender/waitress. And it was. Old Bay on the rim, olives, pepperjack cheese, pepperoni, peppercinis, pickle. $6 for a pint...not bad. Stopped at Club 162 near Wrigley for a pregame beer and talked with bartender amy, who seemed a little "done with the whole drunken Wrigley thing". In fact, she affectionately called it the "shit show"

Off to the game, where we found out it was hat day which was a cool little bonus. FREE HATS! Crazy near sellout crowd except, the Marlins didn't give us Cubs fans for the day much to cheer about as Zambrano got lit up and they lost 13-3.

And how about the Wrigley Rooftop view seats?

I tried a hot dog and a bratwurst and Chicago's Vienna Beef dog was really good. Tao would surprise me with an 8 pack of my own to take home later. Can't wait to grill them up. Thanks again.

After the game, the place was just partying, even though they got beat that bad. I think the biggest problem is that Cub fan has no passion for the game. As I heard someone say once, Wrigley Field is simply a party and they decided to play a ballgame in the middle of it. How true.

After a brief respite at the hotel, it was off to the Navy Pier. An eventful cab ride that included several close calls and viewing Cub fan puking out of another taxi's window, found our destination. The place was jam packed, apparently fireworks attract all kinds. Lots of shops and eateries. Margarita's sounded good as we sipped and walked the pier. Checked out some live entertainment, one a Beatles tribute band called Stockwood and while I'm not a big (if at all) Beatles fan, they were good.

We headed back up the Pier from the Landshark BeerGarden and while Tao crashed an Indian wedding, we decided to grab some dinner at Harry Carey's Tavern.

Cab ride (a little less strenuous this time) got us back to the hotel, where the boys went for a nightcap back at Rocks, the bloody mary bar and the small pub on the corner near the hotel.

Chilled on the patio courtyard before rolling to the room.

Up kind of early and hit a nice breakfast place in downtown Chicago call Yolk. Pretty good eats and reasonable. I had your basic eggs, hash browns, and sausage but the others had things from California omelet to huevos rancheros. Full bellies make for happy people.

Checked out around 11am and started back to the homestead.

Now that I have a better understanding of the place, I would definitely stay more downtown near Division or Rush Streets (Westin comes to mind) and skip the Lakeshore area. Just more my cup of tea, if you will. All in all, good trip. Thanks to G for driving and to everyone for their generosity.

Hopefully Baltimore or Toronto may be in our plans in the future