I have the tickets to the game vs. the Cardinals. I booked a hotel in Bridgeview and plan to take the trains to get to the game. Anything I should know about the Windy City before I arrive as a tourist?
SFC Schwartz
When you get on the train (Red Line, Addison stop, after Belmont), get in a car near the end, front or rear. For whatever reason, Cubs fans all cram into two cars in the middle when there is room in all the other cars.
If you’ve got time to stroll around a bit before the game, get off a stop early at Belmont and walk north on Clark Street to Addison - it’s an interesting 4 blocks and will make good recon for post-game activities you might be interested in (restaurants, bars, shops).
If the Cardinals hit a home-run ball into the bleachers, you have to throw it back onto the field. And I recommend you wear neither Blue or Red, as either way, half of the attendees will want to kill you.
If you are coming earlier than July, bring a warm coat.
And don’t ask for ketchup on your hot dog.
Have a great trip!
What should you know? Well, the Cubs are most likely going to lose! 
As Tim says, plan on it feeling colder than you might think given the temp. Especially if there is a breeze and as the shadows move across in an afternoon game.
Really? Despite living close to the park I’ve never gone to a game, but friends that have consistently report most attendees don’t even watch the games. Tough to imagine people would care that much what you’re wearing…
The Cubs really suck this year. And it seems to me attendance is down. I know this because the ballpark is between my home and my work, and yet I’m not having the commute from Hell this year. But it’s early and it’s been cold, maybe it’ll perk up once it’s warmer.
**Making a road trip to Chicago to see a Cubs game. What should I know? **
The Cubs will probably lose.
Not all of Chicago is as obnoxious as Wrigleyville. :o
If you need to get a cab, walk west or north out of the stadium. You’ll save yourself time by not having to compete with all the other people and traffic.
That’s true most of the time. But Cubs/Cardinal games are more intense. Especially as the Cardinals have such a crappy stadium and so many of them come up to Chicago to watch their boys pound the Cubs into sand.
The new Busch Stadium is lovely.
Thanks, this is one suggestion I will actually use. I am hoping I can walk around and get some scenery before the game.
BTW, where can I get take out beer for after the game? Do I have to go to a package store, or can I buy from a 7-11?
SFC Schwartz
Most 7-Elevens and grocery stores and even drug stores in Illinois sell beer, but not all of them. But there are also a few liquor stores near Wrigley.
Yep. There’s a liquor store just outside the train station he’ll be leaving. The ballpark is west/to the right on Addison as you exit, the liquor store is east/left at Wilton, and there’s a 7/11 at Sheffield and Addison (almost always has a Baur BMW out front). The next nearest one, which he’ll pass heading north on Clark from Belmont, is at that 6-corner intersection of Clark/Sheffield/Newport near the Einstein Bros. Bagles.
You can bring food and sealed soft drinks into the park. If you know you will want peanuts and water, bring them in, even if you buy them right across/on the street. Make your rowmates jealous with your awesome carryout from a local restaurant. Bring napkins!
If you go for a hot dog at the park, I recommend walking to the concessions level and finding one of the dog booths with grilling onions. They have DIY condiments, too.
Prepare to pay double or triple what anything is worth if you aren’t a Chicago resident.
If you like rabbit, there’s a restaurant down the street where you can pay $10 for a beer and eat all the rabbit you want.
Stay away from the South Side. Your odds of being killed there by a gun are about 20X the rest of the US combined.
When entering the platform of the trains, keep your hand on your wallet, especially if someone happens to bump into you. Lots of pickpockets in Chicago, especially on the North Side.
There are also gangs the cops don’t even challenge in some parks where they will mug you, rape you and laugh as they stroll away, knowing the cops are too scared of them to do anything about it.
The aquarium is far overpriced and the attractions are shoddy. Nice view of the downtown skyline, though.
Don’t listen to the suburbanite. Yes, there are parts of the city you shouldn’t go into alone or on foot. They’re not all on the South Side.
Put your wallet in a front pants pocket, pay attention to your surroundings and you should be fine.
Big caveat though–if someone is in front of you boarding a train and stops right before they enter, either turn and walk away or knock them down. There’s going to be someone right behind you putting their hand in your pocket as you stop to not run over this person.
Have you had a bad experience, crucible?
I beg to differ on many of your points.
We’d love to have you at the May Dopefest but I don’t think we’ll be able to get the National Guard escort arranged in time.