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Question of the day
Wednesday, Jul 13, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller * As many of you know, I have not attended a game at, nor otherwise set foot in the home stadium of Chicago’s National League baseball club in more than 20 years. But I’ll be there tomorrow for the Mets game. I just figured it was time to go check out all the changes to the park. I grew up a Cub fan (and absolutely despised the Mets), but left them behind for the White Sox after years of chafing at the whole “lovable losers” schtick. Maybe I’m mellowing with age. Anyway, I’m in town and a buddy had tickets, so what the heck. * The Question: Advice?
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- 10th Ward - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 11:56 am:
Don’t wear a Cardinals hat
- RNUG - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 11:56 am:
Just have fun … and wear some sunscreen so you don’t get sunburned.
- lake county democrat - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 11:56 am:
Eat/drink somewhere in Wrigleyville before the game, so you’ll limit your contribution to the authoritarian political party that has declared a civil cold war on the rest of the nation.
- Blue Dog - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 11:57 am:
Enjoy Wrigley. the greatest baseball venue in the business. and I’m a cards fan.
- Back to the Future - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 12:00 pm:
Cheer for the Mets.
- Stu - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 12:02 pm:
They’re back to the “lovable losers” schtick…but at least they don’t have La Russa trying to keep them out of the playoffs.
Show up early to enjoy Gallagher Way
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 12:03 pm:
“Bernie’s” before, “Nisei Lounge” after…
Hope you get to see some GOOD baseball.
Great day for a ball game.
(I’ll check, thanks, but…) “Who’s throwing?”
- Responsa - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 12:05 pm:
It’s baseball so of course have fun. But avoid the restrooms if at all possible. (they have not changed)
- vern - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 12:05 pm:
If you’re driving to the stadium, SpotHero is a big improvement over the cash in/out lots. Definitely worth the extra few bucks for the convenience.
I’d also say make a little time for a full lap around the outside. There’s lots of new stuff to see on every side of the block, but especially the Clark St. side. Even if your gate isn’t there, it’s worth wandering through.
- NIU Grad - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 12:07 pm:
For parking: SpotHero or park in a neighborhood that has more parking (like North Center or Ravenswood or Roscoe Village) and take the train in.
For Wrigleyville: Good luck.
- Homebody - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 12:08 pm:
I’m with OW on this one. Nisei Lounge is excellent at any time. Its immediate neighbors, Greystone and Dark Horse, ain’t too shabby either, but they have a slightly different feel.
- Surly Dan - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 12:08 pm:
Try the O’Doul’s
- B Team - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 12:13 pm:
Murphys before or after the game…check out the new cubs plaza as well.
- Twice shy - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 12:14 pm:
Willing to donate to Lutheran social services if you post a video trying whatever deadly malort concoction Nisei Lounge has dreamed up for July.
- Just Sayin - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 12:15 pm:
Always sit near the fans of the opposing team.
- phocion - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 12:15 pm:
Drink heavily. Wear a ball cap and sunglasses so you won’t be recognized by your fans. Also, avoid the Red Line unless you want to catch Covid.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 12:15 pm:
Welcome to Rickettsville. Bring lots of money.
- wowie - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 12:21 pm:
enjoy the troughs
- Just Sayin - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 12:26 pm:
Buy your tickets immediately (if possible) for next year’s Wrigley series of the Crosstown.
- Just Sayin - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 12:28 pm:
Come to the game dressed up in your best Harry Caray costume and impression, beer, glasses and all.
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 12:29 pm:
I haven’t been back since COVID but Pre COVID, they had kosher hot dogs from Romanian On Clark St. Best hot dog in Chicago and all beef. It was around Section 227.
- Henry Francis - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 12:29 pm:
Prepare yourself for the sublime genius of David Ross.
- thisjustinagain - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 12:35 pm:
Do not ask ” if “they’re the real Chicago [Cubs] fans”.
I’ll forgive you, Rich. I was a Sox fan when “Kaminsky” was still standing, but I was at Wrigley twice on school field trips as a student. Even then I knew the park was a classic of its day, but it was long in the tooth in the 1970’s.
- Keyrock - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 12:42 pm:
Prepare to be in Fenway West. It’s no longer just a cherished old-time ballpark. It’s now a neighborhood designed to make $ for the owners. (And the GOP.)
- Downstater-in-Chicago - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 12:42 pm:
Seconding Nisei Lounge. Hopefully you have bleacher seats so you can get some Hot Doug’s.
And wear whatever hat you want. I’m a Cardinals fan and had bleacher season tickets for three years. Wore a redbird hat almost every game.
- Just Sayin - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 12:43 pm:
Ask the gift shop if they sell CDs or MP3s of the complete, unedited Lee Elia tirade.
- Red Ketcher - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 12:45 pm:
Bow your head at the Ernie Banks Statue
( and always keep your back elbow up )
Hey Hey
- Cornerfield - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 12:46 pm:
Pray that your seats aren’t behind a support column partially blocking your view.
- Lurker - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 12:49 pm:
I like being around Cub fans is about the only good thing I can say because:
- it is still the worse ballpark in major leagues
- food and beer are not too good; I’d have a good meal before
- bathrooms are disgusting
Oddly it is the exact opposite of saint louis where the bullet points are positives but the fans are horrendous to be around.
- DEE - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 12:49 pm:
Don’t be disappointed when the fans don’t go ‘Woooooooooooup’ on foul balls behind home plate.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 12:51 pm:
1. Evaluate your definition of “friend” to better understand why someone would drag you there on a nice summer day.
2. Eat & Drink in advance to avoid getting the Ricketts clip job.
3. Park downtown, take the EL, get full video to share with Darren on conditions in “hellhole”
4. Have fun
- Barton Lorimor - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 12:54 pm:
Left field bleachers and do whatever you can to stop the wave from even starting.
- DeeLay - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 12:58 pm:
Wear a mask - it feels like everyone in Chicago was recently exposed to someone or knows someone who has COVID.
- Been There - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 1:00 pm:
Talk about 1969 the whole game.
You are probably already there but I second parking elsewhere and taking the L. If I go to Wrigley I come from the south side and usually take the Rock Island to 35th St or park near Comiskey and jump on the L there.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 1:01 pm:
===Talk about 1969 the whole game===
I was there with my Cub Scout troop the day the swoon began.
- Been There - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 1:02 pm:
And I love the way both the Sox and Cubs snuck in a nice price bump into their prices. I believe neither take cash anymore so you have to use your credit card. Except now instead of paying an even $11.50 for a beer they throw the tax on top of it.
- Just Sayin - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 1:04 pm:
===Talk about 1969 the whole game===
Or 1984 NLCS Game 5. While wearing an “I Love Steve Garvey” T shirt.
- walker - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 1:06 pm:
Enjoy the ballpark, hope for baseball
- Just Sayin - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 1:08 pm:
Amaze all the casual “fans” at the game with your encyclopedic baseball knowledge, history, stats, sabermetrics and all.
- Vote Quimby - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 1:09 pm:
Enjoy daytime baseball… but don’t donate too much to the Racketts.
Every foul ball, stand up and yell “I got it (banned punctuation)”
- Just Sayin - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 1:14 pm:
==Don’t wear a Cardinals hat==
But instead wear a retro Browns hat. Since their successors are the ones playing the Cubs tonight. And causing some fans to confuse the Browns with the Cardinals and all the fun that ensues.
- Dysfunction Junction - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 1:16 pm:
Advice? Get your peanuts here - cheaper on the outside. Inside, they got the small peanuts. Outside, we’ve got your big peanuts. Just ask the guy at the corner of Waveland and Sheffield.
- Dysfunction Junction - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 1:18 pm:
Also, do not in any way participate in or encourage beer cup snakes. They’re an abomination. And throw visiting teams’ home runs back on the field if you know what’s good for you.
- The Magnificent Purple Walnut - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 1:21 pm:
“Root, root, root for the home team. If they don’t win it’s not 2016. Enjoy the joy of baseball.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 1:26 pm:
drink right before you go in and try not to buy much there. remember, the money goes to the TRicketts, the Trump loving (yeah yeah I know about Laura) Ricketts family. cheer for the Mets.
- Huh? - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 1:33 pm:
Sing as loud as you can during the 7th inning stretch.
No matter which team is winning, enjoy the baseball game.
- Paddyrollingstone - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 1:43 pm:
I think there is one stand behind first base where they still sell Old Style. Hit that.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 1:54 pm:
When you get to Wrigley, get back in your car and go somewhere else. You will appreciate the advice, Wrigley is the worst ballpark in the business.
- Bruce( no not him) - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 2:02 pm:
I’m afraid the loveable part of loveable losers has come and gone.
But, hey they are profitable. That’s what counts, right?
- Lucky Pierre - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 2:07 pm:
Enjoy the weather and hopefully a good ballgame in the #2 ranked MLB park in America.
Thank your lucky stars your beloved White Sox never moved to Tampa to play in the actual worst ball park in the business
https://thelistwire.usatoday.com/lists/ranking-all-30-mlb-ballparks/
- JoanP - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 2:11 pm:
Agree with SpotHero, or, alternatively, ParkWhiz.
Don’t drink too much.
Don’t bring your goat.
- bogey golfer - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 2:14 pm:
Bring smelling salts, for when you see the face value price of tickets, beer, food,……..
- AlfondoGonz - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 2:35 pm:
Lower your expectations for the new surroundings.
- jackmac - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 2:37 pm:
20 years since your last visit? There have been a few changes, some you might even like.
- Just Sayin - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 2:58 pm:
Place a new curse onto the Cubs. Even for things like the “crime” of exorbitant concession prices. “$20 for a beer? As long as me and any and all of my bloggers (and their kids) are alive the Cubs will never have a winning season again.”
- Just Sayin - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 3:00 pm:
==Oddly it is the exact opposite of saint louis where the bullet points are positives but the fans are horrendous to be around.==
Why is that? Are you intimidated by Cardinals fans generally being the most knowledgable in baseball?
- Changing times - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 3:11 pm:
Rich - I never thought I’d see the day. My advice is to eat and drink almost exclusively outside the park - better food, better drink, lower prices. Wrigley concessions are comically, pathetically, bad. That is not true at the stadium of the Chicago American League squad.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 3:16 pm:
===Are you intimidated by Cardinals fans generally being the most knowledgable in baseball? ===
Just ask them
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 3:20 pm:
===Just ask them===
Cardinals Fans’ smugness and self importance is built around the town can’t keep a football team, even Chicago’s hand me down, “Cardinals”?
Dunno how that’s intimidating at all.
Have fun, Rich, great day for baseball, as is any day.
- DuPage - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 3:27 pm:
Relax and forget about the troubles of the world for a while. Have a great time.
- Robert Montgomery - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 3:58 pm:
Brace yourself for the Rosemont Entertainment District-ization of what was once a great ballpark and neighborhood.
- Proud Sucker - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 4:07 pm:
Play some Steve Goodman in the car on the way up.
- Dysfunction Junction - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 4:27 pm:
=Brace yourself for the Rosemont Entertainment District-ization of what was once a great ballpark and neighborhood.=
All true, but the real neighborhood is still there if you know where to look. If you want to ditch the Rackett$ and the overall yuppie vibe around the park, walk four blocks south on Clark just north of Belmont to the L & L Tavern. Nationally famous dive bar and former hangout of many local celebrities. Beer’s cheap too.
- ChicagoBars - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 5:31 pm:
Contractually obligated tweet…
Whatever people think of the Cubs current owners and new hotel complex the same families own…big breath…Bernie’s, Metro/GMan, Cubby Bear, Sluggers, Sports Corner, and Murphy’s Bleachers as owned them 25-40 years ago. The huge new legal weed dispensary on Clark Street however is new.
- Kent Gray - Wednesday, Jul 13, 22 @ 10:48 pm:
No matter how much Old Style you’ve had, do NOT swan dive through the troughs in the men’s bathrooms!
- Jimbo2 - Thursday, Jul 14, 22 @ 12:10 am:
Eat lunch at Rice and Bread, 2 blocks north on Sheffield. A great Korean American Diner. I love the Bulgogi and my wife swears by the Bibimbop. If you have time visit the Bearded Lady Lounge, about 3 blocks north, also on Sheffield but just after it becomes Sheridan. I’m a bit partial about that one as my son is the Manager.
I will however also vouch for L&L, my son talks about it.
Finally, if you get to town early visit the Graceland Cemetery, 4 blocks north of Wrigley.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graceland_Cemetery
- Really - Thursday, Jul 14, 22 @ 5:34 am:
Prepare yourself to see some pretty average minor league baseball played by the home team.