Category Archives: Sports

B1G Championship: Ohio State – Wisconsin

UntitledDSC_0190DSC_0269DSC_0357
The first week in December Julie and I headed down to Indianapolis for the BIG TEN Championship game between Ohio State and Wisconsin. This is third time we’ve gone to the game and much like last year, a chance for a National Championship was on the line. The crowd was probably 75% Ohio State fans, this being Ohio State’s second consecutive title game; Wisconsin has played in all but one championship game. Ohio State jumped to an early lead and never let up winning 59-0.
DSC_0140DSC_0167DSC_0238DSC_0323DSC_0339DSC_0342DSC_0348

Chilly Waters Brewing Company
UntitledUntitledOur first stop in Indianapolis was Chilly Waters Brewing Company just southeast of downtown. This was probably our favorite brewery in Indy so far. The bartenders were great, the food was decent and the beer was better than most. My favorite being the White Room Cream Stout.

Two Deep Brewing Co.
UntitledUntitledUntitledAfter Checking into our hotel we made the walk over to Two Deep Brewing Co. primarily because it was near our hotel. If there really is a Craft Beer Bubble this is the kind of place that will go under. There clearly was a lot of money put into the place: massive space, over the top equipment setup, bartenders who couldn’t have cared less and a really odd/limited beer selection. There wasn’t anything that stood out to me and they didn’t have any Pale Ales, or IPAs which isn’t really a deal breaker but then have something else that’s approachable.

Indiana City Brewing
UntitledUntitledUntitledWe didn’t have a ton of time to spend at Indiana City Brewing but I would definitely like to go back. Probably the largest and most diverse beer selection of the breweries I’ve been to in Indy. I really enjoyed the Black Lantern which is a Black IPA.

Side Notes:
Untitled
* The view from my seat.
** Previous B1G Championship games:  2011 and 2013
*** On the way out of town we tried to stop at Plump’s Last Shot but they weren’t open yet and we wanted to hit the road. We decided on checking out a breakfast place in the same neighborhood, Broad Ripple. We rolled the dice on the Northside Kitchenette. I can’t recommend it enough. The place was packed but we managed a seat at the counter with no wait.

Minneapolis: Ohio State vs. Minnesota

UntitledUntitled
I’ve been trying to make it to Minnesota for a football game since they built their on campus stadium in 2009: TCF Bank Stadium.  TCF Bank Stadium is the first new stadium built by a Big Ten school since 1960 (Penn State’s Beaver Stadium). Minnesota went into the game with a 7-2 record and ranked #25 by the College Football Playoff Committee against #8 Ohio State. I thought it was an all-around great game, granted I’m not one to mind snow when it comes to football.  It was 15 degrees which is the lowest temperature ever at TCF Bank Stadium and the lowest temperature the Buckeyes have played in going back more than a half-century.  Ohio State had some turnover troubles throughout the game but was never really in trouble and went on to win 31-24.

TFC Bank Stadium
UntitledUntitledUntitledUntitledUntitled
I always enjoy visiting different stadiums and seeing a new large scale college stadium is rather unique.  The large concourses were able to hold most of the fans during halftime.  When we arrived, the greeters were handing out towels and hand warmers.  TCF Bank Stadium is also unique among Big Ten stadiums as they sell beer at the stadium.

Grumpy’s & Dinner
UntitledUntitled
After getting situated on Friday, we headed a couple of blocks from our hotel to Grumpy’s downtown bar and on the way we stumbled upon Day Block Brewing Company so we gave it a go.  The food at Day Block was excellent (garlic knots and a flight of bacon) but the beer was a little too out there for me.  Nearly all of it was a spice of some sort, chili peppers in beer is not my thing.  After a couple of beers we headed over to Grumpy’s.  I wasn’t able to make it to Grumpy’s the last time I was in Minneapolis so I’m glad our hotel was near one of their bars.  The burger looked amazing.

Butcher & The Boar
Untitled
For dinner we had reservations at Butcher & The Boar where we managed to get seated at the bar before hand.  The food was great, my ‘double pork chop’ was a little over the top (it had three bones, not the two that a double would imply).  The wild boar sausage was great as well.  Really just a great place, the service was top notch.

Transportation
UntitledUntitled
Transportation into and around Minneapolis couldn’t have been easier.  We took the METRO Blue Line from the airport to within a couple of blocks of our hotel and then were able to take the Green Line to the University of Minnesota campus and back.

Campus & Dinkytown
UntitledUntitledUntitledUntitled
After taking the train, we walked through a decent portion of campus on the way over to Dinkytown for breakfast.  Minnesota’s campus is similar to all Big Ten campuses: massive.  Very quiet for a Saturday morning game day.  We headed over to Tony’s Diner for breakfast which was a happening place and then made our way to the game.

Neye’s Polonaise Room
UntitledUntitledUntitled
After the game we headed to Nye’s Polonaise Room for dinner and culture.  Nye’s is basically a steakhouse/dive bar with a house Polka band.  A combination that is hard to beat.  In 2006 Esquire magazine named Nye’s the Best Bar in America.  As we entered the band was playing Johnny Cash, it was everything I imagined and I had the ribeye.

Side Notes:
Untitled
* The Minnesota Vikings new stadium (tentatively named Viking Stadium until the naming rights are sold) currently under construction in downtown Minneapolis.


** BIG TEN & Notre Dame Stadium Map with added University of Minnesota now that it’s been checked of my list and University of Chicago a founding and former member of the BIG TEN.

Chicago Vs. Carnegie Mellon

Untitled
The University of Chicago‘s previous football glory has always interested me so this year seeing that the Maroons were having a solid year we decided to head down to Hyde Park for their final home game against Carnegie Mellon University. Julie and I have several friends who are alumni so we put out the word and were able to round up a total of eight people (two children) to attend.

UntitledUntitledUntitledUntitled
We made a morning out of it meeting at Salonica for breakfast before taking a walk across campus checking out a couple of the buildings and seeing the site of the original Stagg Field where the current Regenstein Library now stands. As part of the Manhattan Project, the first man-made self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction was initiated in CP-1 on 2 December 1942, under the supervision of Enrico Fermi below the stadium grand stands.

IMG_3087UntitledUntitledUntitledUntitledUntitledUntitled
There was a decent crowd at the game with an attendance of 1,058. Chicago started off strong and pulled away with a 28-7 win. Carnegie Mellon was shutout until the final minutes of the game. It was the final home game of the season and senior night so there were a good amount of player parents sitting in our section. Carnegie Mellon actually traveled with a large group of parents as well.  Chicago finished the season 8-1 with their only loss coming against Bethel University.

Untitled
After the game we walked over to Jimmy’s (i.e. the Woodlawn Tap).  It was a great overall day in Hyde Park.

Side Notes:
UntitledUntitledUntitled
* The original Stagg Field, which held 50,000 people was demolished in 1957. The entry gate to the current Stagg Field is the only part of the structure that remains.