Welcome to the Friendly Confines! This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful ball parks in the country, and probably also the smallest. And yeah, it has a tendency to fill up with a bunch of yuppies and suburbanites, but if you’re a longtime local like me, you know how to wing this place pretty well. After all, baseball is for everyone, and whether they win or lose (which is often), you can ensure you can have a great time here. While I prefer the Sox as a team, Wrigley Field is hands down a much better park!
The first rule of thumb is to leave the car at home! Seriously! There is hardly anywhere to park, and even if you *do* find parking, you’ll be sitting in traffic for an hour or two before you make your way out! The L train right behind the place is leads to just about anywhere you want to go, so do that instead.
Second – if you’re having trouble getting tickets before you go, there is always somebody selling theirs outside. While it’s true scalping is illegal, the cops tend to look the other way. Just walk around with your fingers in the air of how many you want and someone will approach you. Just keep it on the down low! That is of course, if you don’t want to hit the ticket brokers nearby so you can use a credit card.
Third – be a Bleacher Bum! Scoring pricey home plate seats are for corporate types trying to impress clients. And suburbanites. And basically all the people who go to be seen than to actually see the game, as well as transplants and other non locals. Besides, the real party is up by the score board anyway. Think the scene in “Titanic” and you’ll know where I’m going with this. Just remember anytime before mid June to dress for 40F weather, because that shade and lake breeze can be pretty brutal! However, in late August, you’ll be more than happy with the temperature difference!
The fourth rule is to never EVER keep a home run ball from the opposing team! Throw it back! I don’t care how much you can get off eBay with it – it just ain’t worth it! Also, never reach out for a ball! Have we not learned the Bartman lesson yet, people?
And finally – it’s Old Style or nuttin! There is just no replacing that taste of cheap domestic beer with those waxed paper cups. Is it a chemical thing? I don’t know, just if you want to party with the Big Boys, this is what you order – and plenty of it!
Whether you're looking for a place to take the kids that is a little bit different from everywhere else, or you just want to be a kid yourself, take a ride down south Harlem to Haunted Trails, where the classic haunted house theme meets miniature golf, and a whole lot more!
This Chicagoland mainstay has become an institution for folks since the '70s, and even though things around the Trails may seem a bit dated these days in comparison to all of the high tech gizmos out there, there are some things that just seem to get better with age. Miniature golf, go karts, genuine arcade games and batting cages are about as Americana fun that you can get!
What makes this mini golf location truly unique and outstanding is the overall theme. There's a giant Frankenstein towering over everyone, donning a purple suit and yellow tie wielding an axe, which looks strikingly similar to one of those giant Muffler Men you sometimes come across. The trash cans dotting the landscape are cartoony ghosts, and there's an acid bath pool with a skeleton floating in it. Cool, right? Dracula makes an appearance as well, as does the Creature from the Black Lagoon, ready to strike an unsuspecting fisherman.
For those wanting to avoid the little kid crowds, be sure to head out there after 7pm. That still leaves you with enough hours to get in at least one round of golf, a few good swings in the cages, enough Skee-Ball to cash in for a novelty comb, as well as a few rides on the go karts. There's even karaoke for those of you who really love getting in your fix. And yes, there's even a haunted house there to compliment all that classic Fangoria!
In short, anyone who ever wants to be able to call themselves a true Chicagoan needs to visit Haunted Trails at least once in their lifetime. It's a great place to hang out, with or without the kids. And hey: With places like this still around, why any mom would arrange a birthday party at a completely generic, overly corporate, “giant rat” infested pizza parlor is beyond me.
Looking for someplace different than "just another bar" but is just as happening? Then head over to the Diversey Rock N' Bowl! While families and leagues tend to dominate the daylight and evening hours, party seeking couples will want to lace up their numbered shoes and hit the lanes at night, thumping along to some of rock's most legendary artists. Requests are taken by the DJ, so be sure to put them in right away! The place revvs up with a cool light show, setting the scene for a fun night out.
There's plenty to do while waiting for a lane to open up, so hit the arcade and bar! Brew connoisseurs will rejoice in finding both Guinness and Hacker Pschorr on tap, highlighting a dozen of the most cherished imports and domestics around, on top of two dozen other bottled varieties. The wine choices are meager at best, but top shelf liquors more than make up for it, ensuring that Cosmo can indeed be mixed with Grey Goose, and the Jaeger is well chilled! Big screens dominate the walls, for those wanting to go down while catching the big game.
One big thing that differentiates the Rock N' Bowl from other alleys is the surprisingly good food available through their adjoining Kegler's Pizzeria and Grille. Sure, bar food like wings and burgers are on the menu, but with entrees like succulent Shrimp Scampi and tender Beef Medallions listed, there is no mistaking these folks have really thought of everything. A large portion of the choices are vegetarian and even vegan, so those wanting to watch what they eat can easily place an order, with knowledgeable staff at the ready for requesting adjustments.
So take a pass on the standard scene and cruise on over to the Rock N' Bowl! If anything can be said, it's that this ain't your daddy's bowling alley!
Welcome to the Friendly Confines! This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful ball parks in the country, and probably also the smallest. And yeah, it has a tendency to fill up with a bunch of yuppies and suburbanites, but if you’re a longtime local like me, you know how to wing this place pretty well. After all, baseball is for everyone, and whether they win or lose (which is often), you can ensure you can have a great time here. While I prefer the Sox as a team, Wrigley Field is hands down a much better park!