First Cubs Game. Anything I Should Know? [ANSWERED BY CECIL]

[RetroVertigo]

My wife and I will be traveling to Chicago to attend our first game at Wrigley. We will be going to the Saturday, April 18 game against the Cardinals. We're just going for the day, but are looking to get the full Chicago baseball experience. Any tips for enjoying ourselves before, during, and after the game?

ETA:I don't know if it matters, but we're Cardinal Fans.

[Ed Zotti]

I'd figure to arrive early and leave late - home Cubs games are always an occasion for a neighborhood-wide party, and the joints up and down Clark St. are usually packed. April weather is chancy but if it's anywhere near decent the bars will have the windows open, the drummers and peanut/souvenir guys will be out in force, and you can just stroll around and check out the scene. If you're wearing red you may get razzed some but the crowd is usually pretty good natured and it's not like you'll be the only Cards fans on hand. There are some B&Bs and such within walking distance; worth checking out so you won't have to fight crowds on the Red Line (although this can have some entertainment value). Just don't try to drive to the game unless you feel like paying an exorbitant amount to park in someone's (you hope it's his) garage or driveway.

[ScatteredFrog]

Speaking of Red Line -- yes, I agree with Ed that you SHOULD NOT DRIVE TO THE GAME. If you MUST drive, park in Andersonville -- it's easy to park up that way for free -- and take the Red Line from Bryn Mawr or Berwyn south to Addison.

And...Cubs fans -- especially drunk ones -- can get....well, pretty violent (I'm one of the non-violent ones who actually doesn't get drunk :) )....when it comes to the Cardinals, so you might want to keep your Cardinals fandom on the DL for your own safety -- just as we Cubs fans have to keep our Cubs fandom on the DL when we go to St. Louis. :)

One more thing...I went to my first Cubs game last year, and...well, I'm not in the greatest shape in the world, and I found that, well....let's just say that I found that the seats at Wrigley aren't designed for fat guys. :) If you're big, you might find that you have to do a little bit of contortion to sit comfortably.

[Ed Zotti]

And...Cubs fans -- especially drunk ones -- can get....well, pretty violent (I'm one of the non-violent ones who actually doesn't get drunk :) )....when it comes to the Cardinals, so you might want to keep your Cardinals fandom on the DL for your own safety -- just as we Cubs fans have to keep our Cubs fandom on the DL when we go to St. Louis. :)Oh, come now, you'll scare the poor fellow. Violence against Cards fans is greatly exaggerated. Most Cubs fans reserve their deepest animosity for followers of the White Sox. Speaking as a White Sox fan, I understand this. In 2007 the White Sox plastered the North Side with billboards saying, "We haven't won the Series since 2005. Time to end the drought." This was uncalled for. Was it funny? Yes. Frankly, it was fricking hilarious. But it wasn't nice. And now, with the White Sox controlling in the White House ... I'm telling you, it's not going to be pretty up there in Wrigleyville. But I think you Cards fans will dodge the worst of it. Enjoy the game.

[Sarahfeena]

My advice for an early-season game is DRESS WARM! Even if it seems balmy on the street, you can be pretty miserable sitting in there with the wind cutting through...especially if your seat is in the shade. I always say to dress for 10 or 20 degrees colder than the actual temperature.

[Cluricaun]

My advice for an early-season game is DRESS WARM! Even if it seems balmy on the street, you can be pretty miserable sitting in there with the wind cutting through...especially if your seat is in the shade. I always say to dress for 10 or 20 degrees colder than the actual temperature.

This. Upon occaison it can still be snowing a bit in April depending on how badly god is angry at Chicago that particular day. I always turn down opening day tickets because I've been snowed out of three of them. Bring a jacket or sweatshirt even if you don't think you need it.

And just in case you're not aware, there's not really a parking lot at Wrigley, so any and all tailgating type things are going to run you at least $6 a beer at one of the eighty gazillion bars in Wrigleyville, all of which will be packed to the rafters before and after the game.

Finally, take heart in the beating we're going to throw you. ;)

[RetroVertigo]

Bolding mine
when it comes to the Cardinals, so you might want to keep your Cardinals fandom on the DL for your own safety -- just as we Cubs fans have to keep our Cubs fandom on the DL when we go to St. Louis. :)

Your kidding me right. :)


Finally, take heart in the beating we're going to throw you. ;)
There is nothing better in baseball then a weekend cards-cubs series. With that said, I'll take all the April beatings in the world, because its the one's in October that count.:p

[Qwisp]

Definitely dress much warmer than you think you need to be. I went to 5 or 6 games last May and even with blankets we froze our butts off.

[irishkate]

Dress warm and drink some Old Style, considering you are going to be in Wrigley. I mean at the game of course.

[SB Miller]

In my experience as a former resident of Chicago (nominal Cubs fan) and a present resident of St. Louis, Cubs fans are, in general, far more obnoxious than are Cardinals fans.

Last year at Busch Stadium, a couple of Cubs fans started harassing a friend and me for no apparent reason other than that we were wearing red shirts. We were applauding our team, but not dissing the Cubs. (Maybe it's just that we're both small, nonthreatening women, and they figured that they could get away with it.)

My advice to Cardinals fans in team regalia is to travel in packs near Wrigleyville.

I finally shut up the jeering Cubs fans by telling them that I knew from reading Blessed Mike Royko for years that no matter what happened in the spring, we could be sure that the Cubs would fold when it really mattered.

I sincerely regret that I was right, and that they did.

[PaulC22]

The dress warm advice is the best so far - the winds make it feel 10-20 degrees colder. Take time to walk around the entire outside of the ballpark to get a feel for the neighborhood - Clark, Addison, Sheffield and Waveland. Make sure to visit the mens room to make use of the troughs.

[PaulC22]

Another thing - if you must drive to Wrigley, the best parking lot is located on W. Eddy Street, just east of Racine. It's run by the Cubs and is just half a block from Wrigley (right behind the Taco Bell.) Costs about $25 but get there early because most of the spots are reserved for season ticket holders.

[buttonjockey308]

OK. I'll 3rd or 4th or whatever the dress warm and don't drive sentiment. Depending on where you're staying, I'd take a cab.

If you still have ticket choices, get bleacher seats.
If you get bleacher seats, make sure someone stays at the seats while someone leaves. Don't leave your seats unattended, you'll lose em.
If you have a choice of beer, make it Old Style from the vendors.
If you have a choice of hot dog, get it from the vendor too, skip the footlong, and if you don't already know; never. use. ketchup. you'll catch as much crap for that as you will for that bird on your shirt.
Get a bag of peanuts before you go into the park if they're your thing.

If the cubbies win, go to Harry Caray's tavern (formerly hitops) then hit the Cubby Bear. If the Cubbies lose, stop by Goose Island instead. Trust me.

If you see the bucket kids, drop a dollar in their bucket and watch what happens.
Don't buy a damn thing in the way of kitsch from Wrigley, you'll get better stuff for cheaper prices across Addison.
Take your pictures by the Harry Caray statue.
You can kill time before or after the game at your very own pub crawl down Clark, the entertainment value itself is worth it, even if you don't drink.

[Wheelz]

I am of two minds about Wrigleyville after a game.

It's a fun spectacle, yes, but the crowds are atrocious and the beer is ridiculously overpriced.
If you feel like bar-hopping, I'd recommend walking a mile to Lincoln Park if the weather's nice, or cabbing to Rush Street or River North. If that's not your scene, get out of Wrigleyville and find a good restaurant elsewhere in the city. There are hundreds of every conceiveable cuisine.

When you say you're "just going for the day," are you driving up from St. Lou and then back the same night? I advise against this. Find a room, enjoy the Chicago night life, and drive home Sunday morning.

[Spectre of Pithecanthropus]

I understand the White Sox cheering section is outside the park.

[jnglmassiv]

If you still have ticket choices, get bleacher seats.
If you get bleacher seats, make sure someone stays at the seats while someone leaves. Don't leave your seats unattended, you'll lose em.
If you have a choice of beer, make it Old Style from the vendors.
If you have a choice of hot dog, get it from the vendor too, skip the footlong, and if you don't already know; never. use. ketchup. you'll catch as much crap for that as you will for that bird on your shirt.
I know what you mean for all of this but it simply isn't true.

I don't think the bleachers are for everyone. I'd send a first timer from out-of-towne to regular box seats.
I'm with you on the Old Style but the vendors are $1 more than the stands.
I can't agree with you on the vendor dogs either. Mustard only and soggy bun? No thanks. I find one of the stands with grilled onions (follow your nose) and then take my dog to their condiment bar for raw onion, sport peppers, mustard & relish (no relish on mine, please). Catsup is available and no one cares what you put on your hotdog.

[Ed Zotti]

Catsup is available and no one cares what you put on your hotdog.But please, don't let the children see.

[Cluricaun]

I understand the White Sox cheering section is outside the park.

Indeed it is, about 10 miles (http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1c=CHICAGO&1s=IL&1pn=WRIGLEY+FIELD&2c=CHICAGO&2s=IL&2pn=US+CELLULAR+FIELD#a/maps/l:Wrigley+Field:1060+W+Addison+St:Chicago:IL:60613:US:41.947189:-87.656498:address::1/l:US+Cellular+Field:333+W+35th+St:Chicago:IL:60616:US:41.830898:-87.635201:address::1/m::9:41.889039:-87.65113:0:::::/io:1:::::f:EN:M:/e) south of the park to be exact. ;)

[RetroVertigo]

When you say you're "just going for the day," are you driving up from St. Lou and then back the same night? I advise against this. Find a room, enjoy the Chicago night life, and drive home Sunday morning.

That was the original plan. Now we will probably stay over night, and might try to get some tickets on Sunday also.

[Ed Zotti]

Retro, Cecil will be tackling your question in next week's SDC column, although as a practical matter it probably won't add much to the info you've already gotten here.

[RetroVertigo]

Glad to contribute. :)

[schrute09]

if you do make the trip down to the Lincoln Park area a couple recommendations...

Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder at 2121 Clark - you'd want to hop on the "22" Clark bus - a true original and worth the wait- maybe not really a baseball-ish thing to do but many folks trek over there before or after the game

Wieners Circle at 2622 N Clark - if it was you and a couple guy friends I'd definitely point you here, and tell you to ask for a chocolate milkshake, even though its not on the menu. But who knows maybe your wife has a taste for an adventure...

Agree with most of the above posts a few extras:
- hot cocoa is sometimes (always?) offered at April home games (like everything else, not cheap, but also holds a shot or two of Baileys if you can sneak it in)

- I have gotten by parking on Sheridan Rd just north of Irving Park Rd (just north of Nick's Uptown and the Holiday Club) at it's close enough to walk to the park, though I would highly recommend parking in Andersonville as well (you could also take the Clark bus south from there as an alternative to the Red Line), and check out a restaurant or bar (Hopleaf if you are into steamed mussels and expensive Belgian or eurocraft beers)

-iO (formerly called ImprovOlympic and home to many TV/film comedy geniuses) is right around the corner from Wrigley and offers several improv shows per night on the weekends

And I will be in section 204 on Sunday the 19th if you need any more guidance!

PS- I may be yelling at people wearing St Louis garb to go home, but don't take it personally :)

[Cluricaun]

Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder at 2121 Clark

For the love of all things holy and delicious, listen to this man. CPOG is unlike anything you've ever had before, and it's glorious.

[ScatteredFrog]

Hmm....sorry to bring up the hot dog again, but...correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the "no ketchup" thing NOT exclusive to Chicago??? case in point: the question as it appeared in TSD about an "all-dressed" hot dog not containing ketchup came from a NEW YORKER, and there was no specific mention of Chicago in the reader's question!

Beer overpriced? Yep -- but that doesn't stop it from selling.

And as a north-sider and Cubs fan, I just want to say that as of now I have nothing against the White Sox or their fans. I USED TO, until last year when there was that news story about a Sox fan getting beat up by Cubs fans because he was a Sox fan. THAT...ain't cool. And I do admit that in 2005 I was grudgingly happy for the Sox -- yeah, I wanted the Cubs to win the Series, but I was happy that 1) a Chicago team won, and 2) that someone who hadn't won in forever finally did it -- just as I was thrilled for Boston the year before.

My wife and I might be going to the 4/15 game; she'll be getting some free tix, most likely...

[Mycroft H.]

I attended my first (and so far, only) game at Wrigley Field a few years ago. It was a bar trip from Minneapolis/St. Paul for a White Sox vs. Twins game with a Cubs game the next day.

My advice:
If you spend a two full days drinking (charter bus trip there, night of the Sox game, next day with friends while exploring Chicago), don’t go to Cubby Bears (a bar adjacent to Wrigley field) and do tequila shots right before the game. You will sleep through innings 3 to 9. :sigh:

[mr_snodgrass]

...and most importantly, don't forget todo yourselves the greatest of honors and have your photo taken with the 26th man on the Cubs roster - none other than Mr Ronnie Woo Woo himself.

[carlb]

For the love of all things holy and delicious, listen to this man. CPOG is unlike anything you've ever had before, and it's glorious.But, if you go there, be aware that they do not accept credit cards - cash only.

[RetroVertigo]

Thanks to everyone for the advice.

We had a great time.

[Wheelz]

Glad you enjoyed yourself, RV!
Please tell us more... What did you think of our ballpark? How did the Cub fans treat you? Where'd you go pre- and post-game?

Inquiring minds want to know!

[RetroVertigo]

Sorry I've been busy.

We had a great time. Dressed warmer then we thought we needed, but it turned out just right. Tried Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder which the wife loved enough to grab take out for later.

As for the actual game experience, we didn't get any abuse from the home crowd (this is what my wife most feared). The actual ballpark is a hole (sorry but it is :D), but for watching a game its first rate.

We were going to stay and go to Sunday's, but the rain took care of that.

Thanks to everyone.

GO CARDS!!!

[C K Dexter Haven]

OK, it was way long ago, but I'm just now starting some administrative stuff on the Straight Dope Chicago boards.

So, I've edited the thread title to reflect the fact that Cecil addressed the question here: http://chicago.straightdope.com/sdc20090305.php ... and I've moved the thread to the forum relating to Cecil's SD-Chi columns, since that's what it now is.

[Shepy]

Mr. Zotti, I'm a lifelong Cubs fan as are most of my friends, and every Cubs fan I know has MUCH stronger animosity toward the Cards than the Sox. I think this whole Sox/Cubs rivalry, while real, is overhyped. Sure, we razz each other, but Cubs fans HATE the Cards, and Cards fans.

I'd say White Sox fans hate the Cubs and Cubs fans much more than Cubs fans hate the Sox and Sox fans.

[Ed Zotti]

I'd say White Sox fans hate the Cubs and Cubs fans much more than Cubs fans hate the Sox and Sox fans.Some do, won't argue there. My brother was at the Cubs-Sox game Saturday (great game, eh?) and on the ramp on the way out a Sox fan cold-cocked a Cubs fan and took off. Cecil and I are Sox fans from way back but some of these guys take the game way too seriously.

[Shepy]

I think the main issue is Sox fans believe that Cubs fans don't know the game and just want to go to "the biggest bar in Chicago." That's a fair argument. But out of the 42k or so fans at each Cubs game, at least half are there for the game and not the Wrigley Experience. I know that's not a great percentage, but 21k fans that care and know the team and game is not bad in comparison to the average mlb game.

At risk of sounding like the stereotypical Cubs "fan," a lot of the other 50% are beautiful young women, which does hold some appeal.