Tag Archives: Chicago

Two days of Chicago Baseball.

The Mets and Yankees were in town this week for series’ against the Cubs and the White Sox which provided us the chance to see both parks, Wrigley Field and U.S. Cellular Field, this week. Julie managed to do both stadiums in the same day but some of us work like normal people and had to spread out this adventure over two days.

Of course the Mets lost and the Yankees won but sometimes that’s how things work. I will have to say U.S. Cellular Field is much more accommodating than Wrigley Field. Plus the fan base is a little more sane. Granted I sat in the Bleachers at Wrigley and you really can’t see much from there.

I nearly spark a riot by responding to a crazed fan who was carry the “It’s gonna happen” sign. The “It’s gonna happen” phenomena started last year meaning the Cubs are going to finally win the World Series. To me it’s not really a slogan you can use more than one year. Especially if it doesn’t happen. In not so many words I informed the guy that he said the same thing last year. From there it was pretty much a downward spiral.

It’s been a long couple of days.

Tapes 'N Tapes at the Metro.

Tapes 'N Tapes

After hockey on Friday night we headed to the Metro to see Tapes ‘N Tapes. There were several opening bands that we took the liberty to skip and Tapes didn’t come on until after 10pm so the timing was perfect. The show was fast and short but really good. Their drummer was awesome to watch but I could have done without the keyboardist/horn blower who really served no purpose. The two previous times I’ve seen Tapes were outdoors at Lollapalooza and the Siren Festival. I think the seeing them at the Metro was the best yet.

And of course we got to watch the show with the Rocker.

The Rocker

St. Patrick’s Day (or What Myles Tersnak Missed).

This year St. Patrick’s Day was spent at Ginger’s Ale House in Wrigleyville with nearly everyone I know in Chicago along with Josh, Jim and James from various corners of this vast country. Below you will find photographs of the day but there are a lot more located on Flickr.

I soldiered on by getting up at 10:00am, showering and heading to Ginger’s by 11:30am where I was met by Kelly and her friends. My strategy (which I’ve been plotting for a month) was to get to the bar before the soccer games end and then score a table. When I arrived I grabbed a seat at the bar across from one of the best ‘bar tables’ this side of the Ohio River. I was planning on staring at the occupants until they left, kind of creepy bit it usually works. Emily on the other hand decided to start a conversation with the occupants and thereby establishing a relationship built on trust to ensure the table. It worked. We didn’t leave the table until at least 11pm.

Throughout the course of the day people came and went and I manned the corner seat. We ended with what some people would consider the best waitress in the Western Hemisphere. She literally was at our table nearly every 15 minutes to serve our needs. And there were a lot of needs.

A list of things we learned from the weekend:

Former Cuban President Fidel Castro loves the Irish.
The bathrooms at Ginger’s are set at a steady 27 degrees.
When girls dressed entirely in Bushmills apparel ask you what kind of Whiskey is in the 15 shots you just purchased you should not answer Jameson.
If you’re dad forces you to learn to ‘play’ the bag pipes you’re going to be busy on St. Pat’s for the rest of your life.
Backyard hero Brett Farve decided to celebrate his recent retirement in style at Ginger’s.
Finding a hat on the street is a perfectly legit way to add to your wardrobe.
In many ways a Polish sport coat is better than an Irish one.
Don’t ever eat meat with peanut butter or it will cause you’re ear to explode.
Josh Furman & Jim Wallis have a way with words.
Myles Tersnak studies too much.