The Age Old Question: Cubs or Sox?

 Chicago is only one of two cities, the other being New York, that has two Major League Baseball teams located in the central city area. This can make for some pretty heated discussions amongst fans! The Chicago Cubs represent the north side of the city, while the Chicago White Sox represent the south side of the city. Last Wednesday was the final game in their latest “Crosstown Classic” series, so it couldn’t be a better time to talk Chicago baseball in the summer!

Going to baseball games (well Sox games) is one of my favorite things to do in the summertime! I love the atmosphere, the food, and the hope that I just might get one of those free t-shirts that they shoot at the crowd.

U.S. Cellular Field

At U.S. Cellular Field (formerly Comisky Park), where the White Sox play, tickets can be bought for as little as $10. Even tickets that don’t sit you up in the nose bleed sections can be found for under $20. After buying a delicious Chicago style hot dog and a Lemon ice, it’s still a fun, relatively cheap activity! If you have the flexibility, choosing a game night with a theme, like “Mullet Night”, or ones that end with a fireworks display can make the experience even more enjoyable! 

Wrigley Field

Wrigley Field is the iconic field of Chicago. It has been featured in popular movies such as “The Blues Brothers” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”. Although I’m not a Cubs fan myself, I have to admit that you can feel the history of the field when you step inside. Again, depending on the game, tickets can run as cheap as $10, but tend to average around $20. Attending a Cubs game can also be a unique experience if you sit on a neighboring rooftop to enjoy the game. Many of the buildings that surround the field make their rooftops available for viewing (at a price) and Wrigley Field also extended their own rooftop seating areas once the popularity of them increased. 

Wrigleyville

If you’re looking to go out after the game and experience some of the nightlife that Chicago has to offer, then Wrigleyville is the place to be. Clark Street, which borders the stadium, plays host to many, many bars. The atmosphere is loud, exciting, and can on some nights feature a young crowd. U.S. Cellular field is not without its own nightlife, but there is not as much to choose from. However, if a pre-game meal is more your style, then Chinatown is a just a short cab ride away. 

In the end, no matter which team you root for, catching a Chicago baseball game is guaranteed to be a good time!

In the mood to see a baseball game? Check out: Chicago Cubs 

                                                                          Chicago White Sox

Itinerary Ideas: Under 21 Fun

Under 21? Here are some options for a night out in Chicago:

Hookah Bar:
Samah (18+)
3330 North Clark Street, CTA Brown/Red/Purple Line to Belmont
Enjoy the magical decor and a cozy lounge environment at this Lakeview Hookah Bar. Call for reservations (773-248-4606) if you plan to go with a group.
Hours: Mon-Thu 5pm-1am, Fri-Sat 5pm-3am, Sun 5pm-12am

An All-American Baseball Game:Chicago has two Major League Baseball teams; the Cubs, representing the North Side, and the White Sox, representing the South Side.
· Cubs at Wrigley Field (all ages), 1060 West Addison Street, CTA Red Line (towards Howard) à Addison
· White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field, 333 W 35th Street, CTA Red Line (towards 95th/Dan Ryan) à Sox/35th
Visit the teams’ websites to see game dates/prices. Cheaper tickets can sometimes be found on StubHub or Craigslist.
www.cubs.com and www. whitesox.mlb.com
www.stubhub.com/chicago-cubs-tickets/
www.stubhub.com/chicago-white-sox-tickets/

Live Music:
Uncommon Ground (18+)
3800 N. Clark, CTA Red Line (towards Howard) à Addison
A relaxing coffeehouse with great live acoustic acts almost every night of the week. Most music starts around 8pm. Call for reservations if you would like to enjoy a meal during the performance. Call (773-929-3680‎) or check out their website for performance details.
www.uncommonground.com
Hours: Mon-Thurs, Sun 9am-12am, Fri-Sat 9am-2am

Concert Venue:
Metro (all ages, 18+)
3730 N. Clark, CTA Red Line à Addison
All early shows (6pm) are all ages, later shows (9pm) are usually 18+ to enter. Concerts range from Indie bands to punk rock to hip hop and more! Visit their website for concert listings.
www.metrochicago.com

Billiards:
Chris’s Billiards (18+)
4637 Milwaukee Avenue, CTA Blue Line (towards O’Hare) à Jefferson Park Transit Center
Play some pool, grab a bite to eat and spend some time at this local hangout. Chris’s have a vintage pool hall feel and over 40 tables. Parts of the movie “The Color of Money” was filmed here too! Call (773-286-4714‎) to ask if there is a waiting list for tables.
Hours: Mon-Sun 9am-2am

Comedy Clubs:
Experiencing this historic comedy club should definitely be on your list of things to do in Chicago. Check out these great venues:
· Second City, 1616 North Wells Street, CTA Brown Line à Sedgwick, (312) 337-3992‎, www.secondcity.com. All ages (minors must be accompanied by an adult).
· Improv Olympic, 3541 North Clark Street, CTA Red Line à Addison, (773) 880-0199. You must be at least 21 years old to attend mainstage shows. Shows in the Del Close Theater and The Loft are all ages.
· ComedySportz, 929 W. Belmont, CTA Red/Purple/Brown Line à Belmont, (773) 549-8080, www.comedysportz.com/ All ages.

Be sure to bring your ID and passport! Even 18+ venues require official identification for entry.

A Win for Chicago

If you managed to come even remotely close to downtown Chicago today (which may indeed have been difficult considering the massive inflow of people currently swarming our streets) I’m sure you noticed an oddly high ratio of people sporting red and black clothing, face paint, flags, tattoos, you name it. Now, as a newcomer to the city myself, I wouldn’t have had the slightest inkling of an idea as to why so much red and black, had it not been for the constant energy vibrating through the city for the past two weeks that I’ve been here. Having never been a sports fan before, I found myself actually watching every game of the series, for the enthusiasm radiating from the city’s residents drew me right into the excitement of it all! And so, what’s going on exactly? The Stanley Cup Final of course! The Chicago Blackhawks, our NHL team, succeeded in earning the giant silver award on Wednesday night, resulting in the sprawling, enthusiastic mayhem today.

The Blackhawks played a total of six games against the Philadelphia Flyers, and managed to win the seven game series with a 4-3 game that finally ended after an exhilarating overtime period. The triumphant Chicago team had much to celebrate, this being their first cup win since 1961. And certainly, Chicagoans were going to allow their beloved team to bask in glory by themselves. And, being a new arrival to this great city, I didn’t want to be left out of the celebration myself!

So I joined the wildly excited fans in cheering on the team as they paraded down Michigan Ave and made their way proudly to the stage in front of thousands upon thousands of people. Foghorns blast, airplanes flew, bands played, and confetti poured from the skies as I stood amidst excited fans. And the fans themselves presented quite the spectacle, with some in full costumes and others all too revealed. (Which I must tell you is not a pleasant experience for fellow fans when the temperature rises to 90 degrees!) But hot, sweaty weather aside, the rally was a truly Chicago experience, something I’m glad to have witnessed and partaken in, for I aim at becoming a Chicagoan- proud, passionate, and happy to be here.

Neighborhood Spotlight: Wrigleyville

Historic Wrigley Field is home of the famous Chicago Cubs. One of the oldest fields in baseball, Wrigley is known throughout the United States for its ivy-covered red brick back wall and historic red, white and blue uniforms. The fact that the Cubs haven’t won the World Series since 1908 doesn’t stop fans from all over the world from flooding its historic gates. The area is also known for its wild pre-game and post-game nightlife. Filled with restaurants, sports bars, and pubs, it’s a fun place for a rowdy night out (even if it’s not baseball season!)

 KNOWN FOR: Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, good sports bars, and a young party crowd.

 DON’T MISS: A Cubs game! Season runs from April-October; Improv Olympic (3541 N Clark St), a world-famous comedy club showcasing Chicago’s signature improvisational comedy; Goose Island Brew Pub (3535 N Clark St) for Chicago-brewed beer and sports games on big TVs; Smart Bar (3730 N Clark Street) for late-night house music DJs; The Wild Hare (3530 N Clark St) for a diverse crowd and reggae, dancehall, R&B, and more; The Gingerman Tavern (3740 N Clark St) for a more laid-back neighborhood feel.

 GET THERE: Take the Red Line train (towards Howard) and get off at Addison.