Neighborhood: Wrigleyville

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!

Want to go out with some friends in Wrigleyville without paying too much for drinks and having to yell at each other to talk over the game on TV? Pass Wrigley Field and continue west on Addison until you see the Guthrie's Tavern sign.

The red sign and corner door remind you of an English pub. Although you will find Newcastle, Sam Smith and Guinness on tap here, the interior of the bar feels more like an American den. Art posters stick to the walls and funky paintings cover the ceiling. The back room still feels like a screened-in porch, even with its heater and fan and red picnic cloths cover the tables.

Bartenders here are experienced and friendly. House cocktails include a creamsicle orange drink with whipped cream or juicy rum punch for $6, each a good deal. Your non-drinking friend can drink cider or hot chocolate here (depending on the weather) for $1.75. Beer drinkers will find plenty of domestics and imports, even my favorite Lindeman’s Framboise, the Belgian raspberry ale. The hard cider here is Woodchuck , which tastes like green apples.

Guthrie’s claim to fame is the huge wall of board games across from the bar. They not only have the everyday games like Trivial Pursuit and Monopoly, but also Balderdash, Scattergories, Operation and dozens of new and old games I had never heard of. Round up all your friends and go to Guthrie’s for a game night. There’s no loud crowd, jukebox or noisy TVs to interrupt your concentration at Scrabble or Apples to Apples. Plus, you can make the loser buy you a Sam Smith’s Nut Brown Ale.

Guthrie’s has a sparse and modest menu, just mozzarella sticks, buffalo wings and a few basic pizzas. However, they more than compensate for this by stockpiling takeover menus at the bar. No one here will object if you call for Mongolian beef, California rolls or a piping hot calzone from a neighborhood restaurant. When I played Taboo with my friends at Guthrie’s, a nice man came in selling six tamales for five dollars; I hope he is a regular because I am definitely going back.

Guthrie’s has served drinks here since 1986 but this location has been a bar since 1933 when the Moretti family opened it after Prohibition. The name Guthrie comes from a developer from the 1800s who contributed many buildings to the Lakeview neighborhood. With so many fun games and good drinks, all your friends can feel like winners at Guthrie’s.

For a good date in Wrigleyville, pass up the noisy sports bars and meet at Uncommon Ground on Clark Street. The restaurant has two bars, a big one in the front and a smaller one in the back. It offers coffee drinks as well as beer, wine and cocktails and a menu from breakfast to desserts from Bittersweet Bakery. Your date may be impressed with the organic, seasonal menu and both meat-eaters and vegetarians can find tasty dishes here.

In summer, grab an outdoor table on the sidewalk. In winter, settle into some cozy leather chairs near one of the two fireplaces. Enjoy the local art on the walls, all of which is for sale. Even the restrooms are decorated with paintings; I liked the big tree on the ladies’ room wall. The front room tends to be brighter and louder, while the lights and sounds are lower in the side room. Enjoy local bands here or the sounds of the Monday night open mic.

Share a plate of Spanish tapas with Manchego cheese, Serrano ham, Marcona almonds, quince paste and olives. The menu ranges from pizza, pasta, and burgers (including a veggie burger), to duck, salmon and even buffalo. The distinctive, healthy Sunshine Salad combines seasonal farmers’ market vegetables with sprouts, sunflower seeds and avocado in organic cider vinaigrette. For a breakfast date, try the Uncommon Huevos with eggs over easy on a black bean corn cake topped with ancho chili sauce and Chihuahua cheese.

Uncommon Ground prides itself on one-of-a-kind cocktails. Two of the most promising are the Frida Kahlo with dark chocolate liquor, vanilla vodka, cinnamon and cayenne pepper, and the Cold and Flu Buster, a whole pot of chamomile tea spiked with ginger vodka, honey liqueur and a lemon slice. Local beer, a good selection of wine and Uncommon Gound’s famous coffee offer enough variety for any date to drink what he or she enjoys.

As a coffee shop, bar, restaurant, and music venue, Uncommon Ground stands out in a crowd and makes you feel welcome. The Clark Street restaurant opened in 1991 and a new Uncommon Ground coffee shop opened recently at 1401 W. Devon. Check them out for a great and uncommon date.

Ah yes, the Cubby Bear, where the party is sure to continue whether the Cubs win or lose, the Miller runs $5 a can (though no one complains out loud), and it seems that everybody in there needs to have their ID's double checked, due to the overwhelmingly young crowd. Even with its frat boy and trixie flaws, this bar is a must do after the game and has been a local institution for decades, even way back in the day when Wrigleyville was far from a hip place to see and be seen. Nice big tvs dot the overhead landscape, so no matter where you are, you can be sure you can see the game, just in case you left the bleachers a couple innings early. The bar staff knows a thing or two about mixing a decent drink, but don't expect the service to be exceedingly swift. Even so, it still is a pretty cool sports bar overall.

The Cubby Bear is also legendary as hosting some great underground bands of all genres and calipers. The intimate stage allows folks to get up close and personal with their favorites. Now while I personally find it to be a badge of honor, it can get pretty loud in there, so be prepared to have that after show ringing going on in your ears after a show.

If you want to actually feel your legs and hold a decent conversation with your buds, stop by on an off season weekday. The food is nothing special, but the people in there will be a little more mature (on all levels!) and it really is a great sports bar. This is also one of the places in town that hosts live band karaoke on Wednesday nights, which really knocks up the rock star status a few notches for the daring few, and it tends to make mediocre singers sound a whole lot better.

So yes, make no mistake, they're definitely open year round, because the Cubby Bear does not believe in waiting 'til next year to have a good time.

Not that many comic book stores in Chicago offer as much as this place does or have outlasted as many. Chicago Comics is a store where Comic Book Guy would feel right at home, perched above his nerdy pedestal, overseeing the lowly kids and 50 something geeks from far down below, just the way it should be. And who really cares if the guys behind the counter are a bunch of burrito munching, elitist snobs? They know their stuff inside and out, planning their schedules around Star Trek / Star Wars conventions, Comicons and reading up on the status of the latest underground rags - all so us miniscule peon shoppers and collectors can blow our pay checks to get our hands on all that is Avant Garde!

Walking in, patrons are transported into another world, though not exactly Krypton. That first whiff of old newsprint tantalizes the senses, beckoning to enter even further into its mighty depths. Besides the Marvel and DC standards, Chicago Comics carries an ungodly array of independent rags, back issues and rare gems many other stores simply do not have.

Manga, graphic novels and plenty of erotica are also in stock for more seasoned veterans and neophytes alike. And oh my yes - the statuary! and the toys, toys, toys! Where else can one lay their hands on an autographed Lady Death lunch box or an original Luke Skywalker action figure - in mint condition with original packaging?

Esteemed and independent artists make periodic signing engagements, so fans should sign up for their news letter to get the inside scoop. Indie artists can even contact the store for setting up consignment deals, which many stores simply will not handle. How cool would that be to bring your friends along and show them your mini comic gracing the shelves right alongside Stan Lee’s latest release? It’s enough to even make Brodie a tad jealous (though he’d never admit it).

So make the trek out to Chicago Comics, spend an hour or two with your closest friends, blow your hard earned money and swap out reading on the train ride home. Just be sure to scoop up some extra mylar bags, because you never know if what you just bought is going to become extra valuable!

Across the street from Wrigley Field and next door to the Metro, the Raw Bar gets a lot of attention from outsiders, and its truly unique menu keeps them and the locals coming back! Whether you are a strict vegetarian, love seafood or have a desire for something completely exotic, stop by this place after a game or before a night on the town! In fact, the only thing Raw about this storefront establishment is the rawness in its unassuming and fun loving attitude.

Guests will be delighted to find so many good things to order, they usually end up finding themselves undecided! The Crab Cakes have very little "cake" to them and the fish and seafood are incredibly fresh. Steaks are perfectly grilled to perfection, and the Tapas couldn't be any more varied. Of course, those looking for the truly hard to find items will be delighted with seeing Alligator and Grilled Frogs Legs on the menu, along with their popular Blackened Ostrich steak. Other favorites include the Whole Dungeoness Crab and the Grilled Swordfish.

Since the location can sometimes be extremely hectic, it is recommended to call ahead for a reservation. Be forewarned the place can get really hopping for no apparent reason whatsoever, so those looking for seclusion and privacy on a whim may not find it. However, couples looking to obtain that can indeed do so if they request the Chef's Table. It is actually a large glass coffee table up a half flight of stairs, tucked between and a large exotic fish aquarium and the staff's pickup window and set apart; patrons are sat upon a super cozy loveseat and overstuffed pillows. Those wishing to enjoy a large variety of Tapas will especially find this spot to be the best seat in the house.

If the entertainment of the neighborhood itself just isn't enough, the Raw Bar hosts their own Jazzy performers and pianists early evenings. Side the live music with the best Appltinis in town or a nice glass of wine! Their full bar and knowledgeable bar staff know how to concoct just about any libation one could muster. A special note also needs to be made to the upbeat and cheerful wait staff who seem to have a knack for providing just the right amount of service, no matter how busy they get!

Mooo-ve over Gibson's and Morton's! If you are looking for a superb steak at a reasonable price, equaled with a sensual escape to Buenos Aires, then the sexy Tango Sur is the place to go!

Meat lovers will be in shock and awe over the rows of beef sizzling on table top grills, and those looking for a little romance can find it in several dimly candle lit nooks throughout this Argentinian-themed steakhouse. Vegetarians will even get a little shock at the creativity used with their empanadas and pasta dishes. Take a pass on "everything else" and go straight for the beef! The filet mignon always a winner and is actually two portions, topped with a delectable, garlicy sauce! Even so, most folks come for the grilled platters for two, which may appear to be cuts of questionable origin but are darn good eatin'!

While the theme truly is sexy and romantic, quiet time can only be found in its earliest hours, since this store front restaurant is a treasure to lots of other folks, too. While the seating can be rather cozy and reservations are not accepted for parties under six, patrons can leave their cell phone numbers with the hostess and have her call you back when a table opens up. Use that time to hit the neighborhood bars and shops, as well as to pick up a bottle of vino, since Tango's is BYOB. Of course, go for the seasonal outdoor dining when available; it adds a bit more privacy, which is good for couples who are still in the "getting to know you" phase.

While it is probably extremely difficult due to the enormous portions, be sure to leave room for their spectacular flan with dulce de leche! Enjoy the dessert slowly, to polish off that bottle as well as to adjust to just being able to walk again after all that deliciousness!

In short, Tango's is the place to go with that special someone for a fantastic meal with a great atmosphere and festive vibe.