Category Archives: Sports

University of Chicago vs. Hendrix

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For the second year in a row we headed down to Hyde Park for a University of Chicago football game. This year we went to the Homecoming Game against Hendrix and setup a tailgate outside the field. We were under the assumption that there wouldn’t be more than a couple other tailgating groups but we completely underestimated the appeal of Homecoming. The entire street outside the field was blocked off and there were some serious setups for smalltime football. The Maroons fell behind early but managed to make a game of it losing to Hendrix 27-21.

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The day started off with wind, cold and rain but most of it passed about an hour or so before kickoff. Outside of the heavy winds, and the vain attempts at keeping everything from blowing away, it was a good day. Everyone brought food and we had a decent turnout. I also managed to track down this awesome track from 1929 by Guy Lombardo featuring a medley of all the BIG TEN fight songs which I played on a constant loop for about three hours. The songs are from the following schools who comprised the BIG TEN Conference in 1929:

Wave The Flag – University of Chicago
Go U Northwestern – Northwester
We’re Loyal to You Illinois – Illinois
On Wisconsin -Wisconsin
Indiana Our Indiana – Indiana
The U of M Rouser – Minnesota
Carmen Ohio – Ohio State
The Victors March – Michigan
Hail Purdue – Purdue
Iowa Corn Song – Iowa

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I stayed outside the game to manage the grill and this was the view I had from the fence.

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After the tailgate we headed over to The Pub which is the on campus bar operated as a private club. I believe alumni, students and staff can get a membership with a valid ID and are allowed two guests for a fee. The Pub is housed in the basement of Ida Noyes Hall. The Pub has probably one of the best beer selections in Hyde Park.

NLCS: Mets vs. Cubs at Wrigley Field

National League Champions #NLCS -Julie and I were on hand for Games Three and Four of the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field between the Mets and Cubs. The Mets swept the Cubs in four games and never trailed the entire series. Considering all of the losing we’ve see the Mets do at Wrigley Field in the past eight years it was an amazing feat. Game Three View From My Seat at Wrigley Field: Mets Vs. Cubs #NLCS -UntitledGame Three was back and forth affair until 7th inning when the Mets pulled away for a 5-2 victory and a commanding lead in the series.  Julie has more pictures and a better recap here. Game Four UntitledUntitledThe Mets started off the 1st inning with 4 runs and never looked back. Completing the sweep of the Cubs and heading to the World Series for the first time since 1986.  Julie has a much better recap here.

Side Notes:
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* Horse Cops in Wrigleyville.

CAF: Scavenger Hunt

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This past Saturday I participated in the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s 2nd Annual Scavenger Hunt which took place in the Loop and South Loop neighborhoods. There was a group of six of us with Julie and I participating on separate teams. The scavenger hunt consisted of a map with 23 buildings listed A through W, a set of 23 pictures listed 1 through 23 and then a set of 23 clues (one for each building). Finally there was an answer card to enter all of your answers, one letter from each answer then made up a final question. So the idea was to find the picture of the building, which led you to the clue, then to the building to locate the answer and write it on the answer card. Once the answer card was complete it would spell out a final puzzle. Once you had the final question you returned to the starting point and then had to answer another question that was similarly complicated. My team got a late start but as seasoned competitors we were able to make up lost ground and more or less ran away from the field. I believe our total time was about an hour and thirty minutes, though this was not a timed event. Out of our three teams we placed 1st, 2nd and 4th.

Motor Row Brewing
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After the event we headed to a new brewery in the Motor Row District which is just south of the South Loop near McCormick Place. I believe Motor Row Brewing opened in January of this year. It’s a small place but they will be expanding their tap room to a second floor that will hold 60 people later this summer.

Breakroom Brewery
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After Motor Row we headed to Breakroom Brewery for dinner which is just Southwest of Ravenswood on the Northside. Breakroom is connected to a Heineman Bar Company which is a craftsmanship that specializes in the construction of bars. Quite a bit of a wait for a table but the food was worth it. Plus the Montrose Saloon is across the street.