If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I'm a Cubs fan. It's hard to hide the frustrated look on my face these days. But like many other fans, I still find myself glued to the television hoping they can pull out a victory. When I get out to watch a game I like to hit places with fans who enjoy watching baseball. I'm not looking for a dance party on game day - just a place with a seat, some good eats, and a few cold ones (and I'm not talking about $6 cans of Bud Light, shame on those guys). Here are a few places Cubs fans might run into me at during a ballgame.The Yard
3441 N. Sheffield
Chicago
(773) 477-9273
Yes, The Yard is in Wrigleyville, but it's far enough off the path to remain civilized. The times I've checked out this place, I've found a seat and people who actually like to watch the game. They usually have more than 10 beers on tap and about 50 by the bottle, so if you like to experiment, The Yard is a great time. Get there early to stake out your spot.
Cubby Bear North
21661 N. Milwaukee
Lincolnshire
www.cubbybear.com
No, not the Cubby Bear Wrigleyville. Don't get me wrong, the Cubby Bear on Addison is a fine establishment, but it's an absolute madhouse on gameday. If you live out in the north suburbs, their location in Lincolnshire is massive - we're talking 33 TV's and seating for more than 600 people. The food's pretty good as well, and they have post game parties with live music and djs. So if you want to celebrate, you can, without masses of drunken bafoons asking if Aramis Rodriguez is playing today.
Harry Caray's
Various Locations throughout Chicagoland
www.harrycarays.com
Harry Caray's has my favorite steak in Chicago. Besides the good eats, they are the city's definitive Cubs bar. The newest location on Sheffield is large but gets VERY crowded on game days. You'll have to get there early. If you're just looking to enjoy watching some ball while eating some fine Italian food (try the Chicken Vesuvio), I recommend their downtown location or even their new spot in Lombard.
The Stretch Bar & Grill
3485 N. Clark St.
773-755-3980
This is one of the latest spots to open on Clark St. The walls at the Stretch are lined with photographs from some of the most famous 7th Inning Stretch performances in history. They have some outrageously gluttonous creations here as well, try the cheddar cheese stuffed hot dog, which is wrapped in bacon and slapped between a pretzel bun. Forget napkins, you'll need a fire hose to clean up after this one.
