Take me out to the Ball Game

August 31, 2008

Waiting for the Red Line to take us to Wrigley Field.

So Saturday, August 30th Dad and I headed out of my place in Alexandria for day one of our trip back to Alberta. Of course we left about 2 hours later than we had planned but that was no big deal. Traffic was pretty good, we knew our timeline so it was just a matter of getting there. For us it definitely was not about the journey but the destination. That destination was of course Chicago and we had the Cubs tickets to prove it.

Dad and I out front before the game.

Now Chicago Cubs tickets are a pretty difficult (and expensive) ticket. Games are almost always sold out. If there are tickets available they are usually scattered singles (and you can only buy one at a time so who knows where the 2 might be). Season tickets get handed down from father to son (or whoever). You can always buy from scalpers but you know I like to be more prepared than that so I hit up Stub Hub and found a couple tickets....kind of in my price range. I won’t tell you how much they cost but they actually were cheaper than the Rolling Stones tickets that I bought mom and dad when mom made the trip down to the US with me 2 years ago.

Dad with the Ernie Banks statue out front of Wrigley Field. Ernie Banks was a long time Cub (they actually call him Mr. Cub (see statue)). He hit is 500th career home run at Wrigley Field May 12th, 1970.

Now I was not sure where the seats were going to be, I just knew they were behind home plate somewhere but I thought they were on the upper level. It turned out they were not which was a pleasant surprise.

This was the view from our seats. Pretty good wouldn't you say. We enjoyed them.

Don't ask me who this is because I don't know but had to include at least one actualy ball game picture.

It really didn’t matter where the seats were the important thing was I was getting to go watch a ball game at Wrigley Field with my dad. The game did not disappoint except that the Cubs lost so most people went home unhappy. I must say, I am a Blue Jays fan first and foremost but I will always cheer for the Cubs when given the chance (unless they are playing the Jays).

Dad and I in our seats and down behind home plate.

Of course one of the highlights of the game was getting to sing “Take me out to the Ballgame” with everyone else in the stadium. It is always neat to see in on TV but much more fun to be there in person. For those who don’t know, Take me out to the ball game is still sung during the 7th inning stretch at pretty much every ball park but at Wrigley Field is has been almost as big as the game itself. Harry Carey use to sing it with the crowd and after his death they decided the tradition needed to continue. Now they bring in different celebrities including professional athletes, actors, comedians, singers and local celebrities every game to sing. I cannot tell you who sang it the day we were there but that isn’t that important. Wrigley is probably the only place where you get this much fan participation.

Sing along if you want.

Umpire Chuck Meriwether (in the centre).

Wrigley Field is one of the oldest ballparks in the majors (I do believe only Fenway Park is older) and has been the site of many historical baseball moments. The biggest moment is still yet to come though. It has been 100 years since the Cubs have won the World Series. This could be the year so keep watching. Knowing my luck it will happen this year because I won't be around to see it.

After the game Dad and I headed down to Navy Pier to find some food. There were far too many people there but that should have been expected considering it was the long weekend and pretty much everything shuts down once the weekend is over. We found this really neat New Orleans style jazz restaurant and we learned what yardbird is. Not what you think but dad said it tasted good.

Looking down the Pier.

Dad walking down the stairs. His legs were a little sore after all the walking in DC so he liked going down better than going up.

From there it was on to Grand Forks, North Dakota (only because that is as far was we could get in one day) and then on to Tisdale Saskatchewan to visit Steve and Heather. There were a couple long days in the car but really not a bad trip.

Julie

Some Video

Click on the picutre and it will take you to my album and then you can view some video from Kingston Mines. Just a little taste of what Deb, Paul and I got to enjoy.

Julie

Photobucket Album

Back to Chicago

Showing some support

Well as you all know I absolutely loved my first trip through Chicago last September however I was not expecting to be back there so quickly. So here is how it happened…..Debi

Debi.......At the airport

(my older sister for anyone who was not quite sure) was making a trip down to Brazil and was flying through Chicago. She thought "hey, my buddy Paul lives there I should visit him…...oh and maybe Julie can drive up to see me” Of course when she thought of me driving she thought the trip was maybe a few hours but it actually turned out to be 10. Although that did not deter me and I was going to make the drive anyways. That was a real lapse in judgement because there was really know way I was going to be able top make that drive after a 12 hour shift. So I changed my mind and booked a flight. That worked out very well. I got into the airport about 2 hours after Debi did and then we made our way to Paul’s place via train and taxi.

Debi’s first impression of Chicago (well it was my impression as well but not to the same degree)….COLD!!!! (Well that isn’t what she said but I need to keep this PG). In fact Debi completely lost her ability to think (it was quite funny) but no worries we managed to flag down a cab after negotiating our way from the train and made it to Paul’s with no problems.

After a quick nap (Paul was still at work so it gave us a chance to catch up on some sleep) we headed out for some pizza. On my first trip to Chicago mom and I must have walked past this place several times (it is right across the street from the Sears Tower) but never thought to check it out. I tell you we missed out because this pizza was goooood!!!! One piece each was all we needed. Anyone who knows me knows that I could go through my whole life and eat nothing but pizza (it really should be its own food group) but now I am totally spoiled and will never be able to find another piece of pizza quite as good.

Me with my Pizza...see how happy I am!!

Our next stop was at an amazing Blues club (well ok I took another quick nap and then we left). It was a place called Kingston Mines.

Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater

A lot of the greats have and will play there anytime they are in town.

Linsay Alexander, The L.A.B.B

It was very cool and had everything that a Blues club should have.

Debi, Paul and Me at the Club

Debi and I.....still at the Club

Of course we did a little dancing and a little drinking and had a great time. We then went home, finished off the pizza and climbed into bed by 5am (at least I was asleep by 5am not completely sure about Debi and Paul….they tried to watch a movie).

On Michigan Ave

The next day Paul treated us to breakfast (at 1pm by the way) and then we headed out to the Magnificent Mile (Michigan Avenue). We lasted about 3 blocks walking before we decided it was just too cold (-20 C) for that so we grabbed a cab instead and made our way to some shopping.

The IPOD vending machine in Macy's

Basically we would walk until we got too cold and then headed into a store.

Debi and Paul looking very cold on the street

Debi and Paul looking very warm in Starbucks

It was fun and Debi had to buy some Bears gear (of course the city was just covered with the stuff being that it was Super Bowl weekend and the beloved Chicago Bears were in the big game).

Da Bears

The best way to end a few hours out in the cold is of course with some food and drink so we headed to ESPN zone. We hung out in some recliners until we almost fell asleep. I am telling you it was the best place in the world to sit and watch 13 big screen TVs.

Some snacks and some big comfy chairs

There were so many screens and more sports than anyone person could watch at one time

Our trip home from ESPN zone was fun in itself. We caught a ride home with Jose and the Disco Cab of Chicago. If you are ever in Chicago and you see a PT cruiser with a disco ball in the back window flag it down and have some fun.

Paul’s biggest mission for the weekend was to show Deb and I the most American things that he could. We of course showed up in Chicago at the best time because what could be more American than the Super Bowl. Unfortunately Debi and I had to make our way to the airport before the end of the first quarter but we still got to hang out for a little while at Paul’s party. (We did get to see the end of the game at th airport as it was on every TV in the place but really by then the Bears were losing and we had lost interest). When we left the Bears were up so everyone was happy (that will be our lasting memory) but it is too bad that they were unable to hang on.

A big screen TV......

and a couch full of friends, all the makings of a good Super Bowl.....and we actually got to see the commercials

So that was trip #2 to Chicago…so much fun and a place that I will never get sick of visiting. Thanks again to Paul for putting Deb and I up for the weekend and showing us the sites.

What’s next? New York City of course!!!!

Julie

Wrigley Field

Just for good measure, here are a few pictures from Wrigley. No I did not go to the game but a very nice cub employee let mom and I up the back steps so I could get some pictures of the field.

More Pictures from Chicago

Ok here are some more. And yes that is a Picasso.

Pictures from Chicago

Here are a few pictures from my days in Chicago. Enjoy.

Chicago

Well two days and about 200 pictures later Chicago is now one of my favourite cities. I hit all the major tourist attractions (The Sears Tower, Navy Pier, a trolley tour, a boat tour, etc.). Of course Wrigley Field was the biggest and most important (that is where Major League Baseball’s Chicago Cubs play for those of you who aren’t quite sure). I must say the field is even more amazing to see in person than I ever imagined it could be. Next time the trip will of course include a game but there is no way that mom would have even remotely appreciated how awesome it would be to attend a game there so I skipped that this time around. Mom certainly enjoyed all the architecture though (as did I). One thing I learned in Chicago is that every thing they build is either the first or the tallest or the most beautiful or simply the best. Although the Sears Tower is not actually still the tallest building in the world many of the locals are just not quite ready to give up the title. The building across the street from the Sears Tower is the tallest concrete reinforced building in the world (or so they claim). The Tribune Tower was built to be the most beautiful sky scraper in the world. The only larger building (by square footage) in the US than The Merchandise Mart is the Pentagon (it is also the only building in the US to have its own zip code), and well you get point. Oh and it seems that every building or park or statue etc. has played some part in one movie or another. Did not have much of a chance to get to any jazz or blues clubs (although there are a billion of those and most of them world famous) or anything like that but did indulge in some wonderful deep dish pizza.

In short Chicago is a beautiful city and I will definitely be trying to get back there to see a few more things (and maybe a baseball game or two) however there are more cities and more sights to see (Baltimore, Washington DC, The Liberty Bell just to name a few) but we shall see what the coming months bring.