Well the Cubs suck. They lost yesterday and today they were well and truly stuffed by the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-0.
The fans appreciate that their team is not much good. In fact all the talk is about getting rid of overpaid players whose contracts are finishing in the next year and unleashing the 'young prospects'. Apparently the Cub's 'farm system' is chock full of 'young prospects'!
Anyway I enjoyed today's game. The big difference from yesterday was the temperature -- I didn't spend the game shivering. Instead I could sit back and absorb the sights and sounds and enjoy a few beers (Old Style).
Sunday, 29 May 2011
Saturday, 28 May 2011
C-c-c-c-cold
I spent my afternoon being nicely frozen at Wrigley Field watching a baseball game.
The sun made it's first appearance since I've been here, but in the shade it was not particularly warm. In fact in combination with a persistent breeze blowing off Lake Michigan it was pretty damn cold.
Those with local knowledge arrived at the game with blankets, gloves and other cold weather gear. The rest of us just shivered.
The game itself was not particularly notable. There were no home runs (as a consequence of the breeze) or any impressive 'double' or 'triple' plays by the fielding team. The Pittsburgh Pirates ended up winning 4-2. I didn't stay until the end as the cold got the better of me (I don't think I missed anything).
The sun made it's first appearance since I've been here, but in the shade it was not particularly warm. In fact in combination with a persistent breeze blowing off Lake Michigan it was pretty damn cold.
Those with local knowledge arrived at the game with blankets, gloves and other cold weather gear. The rest of us just shivered.
The game itself was not particularly notable. There were no home runs (as a consequence of the breeze) or any impressive 'double' or 'triple' plays by the fielding team. The Pittsburgh Pirates ended up winning 4-2. I didn't stay until the end as the cold got the better of me (I don't think I missed anything).
Gourmet Hot Dogs
For lunch yesterday I had a 'hand crafted gourmet' hot dog -- or more precisely I went to Frank N Dawgs and had a 'Tur-Doggin' (turkey & date sausage topped with duck confit, herb garlic aioli, house pickled onion relish & pickled carrots). It was a damn good sausage in a bun!
Today I ventured to Hot Doug's for my middle of the day sausage satisfaction! I arrived at just before it opened at 10.30am and already there was a significant queue at the front door (which I joined). As I waited yet more people joined the ever lengthening line.
Eventually I made it in to the restaurant at about 11.15am. I ordered a 'Three-Chili Wild Boar Sausage with Chili-Garlic Mayonnaise, Raw Milk-Cheddar Cheese Spread and Crispy Fried Onions' hot dog (from the today's specials board) and a side of duck fat fried fries. I found a place to sit and it wasn't long before my food was brought out. I liked the hot dog, but I thought the fries weren't anything special.
Out of the two places I liked Frank N Dawgs the best. Their hot dogs were more expensive but seemed more genuinely 'hand crafted' (and the bun was really good). Also there was no queuing involved!
Today I ventured to Hot Doug's for my middle of the day sausage satisfaction! I arrived at just before it opened at 10.30am and already there was a significant queue at the front door (which I joined). As I waited yet more people joined the ever lengthening line.
Eventually I made it in to the restaurant at about 11.15am. I ordered a 'Three-Chili Wild Boar Sausage with Chili-Garlic Mayonnaise, Raw Milk-Cheddar Cheese Spread and Crispy Fried Onions' hot dog (from the today's specials board) and a side of duck fat fried fries. I found a place to sit and it wasn't long before my food was brought out. I liked the hot dog, but I thought the fries weren't anything special.
Out of the two places I liked Frank N Dawgs the best. Their hot dogs were more expensive but seemed more genuinely 'hand crafted' (and the bun was really good). Also there was no queuing involved!
Friday, 27 May 2011
Windy City
The last time I was in Chicago at the end of May the weather was making its transition from Winter/Spring to Summer. Well the same phenomenon greeted me this time. My first days weather saw me experience drizzle and a frigid wind. I wished I packed my gloves.
I think it's supposed to dry out and warm up tomorrow. It better as I have tickets for the baseball!
I think it's supposed to dry out and warm up tomorrow. It better as I have tickets for the baseball!
Immigration
Well unfortunately the Korean Airlines and EVA Air flights that I'd heard on Channel 9 beat us to immigration. That meant there was a monster queue to negotiate.
In fact it took a whole 60 minutes. Very frustrating.
In fact it took a whole 60 minutes. Very frustrating.
Channel 9
Well I might not have had my own seat back TV screen, but United is pretty cool when it comes to its Channel 9 feature. That's cool as in extremely geeky.
Channel 9 lets you listen to all the air traffic control communications. I started listening once we'd finished our Atlantic crossing. It was fascinating as we were handed off from one control centre to another. Our pilot was very disappointed when Cleveland centre told us to slow down to 'maintain separation'.
A lot of the other 'chatter' was about turbulence -- what other aircraft had experienced and planes requesting different altitudes different altitudes to avoid any 'chop'.
As we approached Chicago I was listening out to any other international airlines that might be landing at the same time as us and therefore potentially slowing down the passage trough immigration -- I heard a Korean Airlines flight and an EVA Air plane.
It was a bit worrying when we were on the final approach and O'Hare tower warned us about the wind gusts and cross winds. Their last comment was for us to keep our speed up!
Anyway the landing was one of the smoothest I've had in a long time!
Channel 9 lets you listen to all the air traffic control communications. I started listening once we'd finished our Atlantic crossing. It was fascinating as we were handed off from one control centre to another. Our pilot was very disappointed when Cleveland centre told us to slow down to 'maintain separation'.
A lot of the other 'chatter' was about turbulence -- what other aircraft had experienced and planes requesting different altitudes different altitudes to avoid any 'chop'.
As we approached Chicago I was listening out to any other international airlines that might be landing at the same time as us and therefore potentially slowing down the passage trough immigration -- I heard a Korean Airlines flight and an EVA Air plane.
It was a bit worrying when we were on the final approach and O'Hare tower warned us about the wind gusts and cross winds. Their last comment was for us to keep our speed up!
Anyway the landing was one of the smoothest I've had in a long time!
Old School
Well it was a bit of a blast from the past on my flight over to Chicago.
I arrived eye-wincingly early at Heathrow (which obviously meant I'd got up even earlier)! I did a bit of 'lounge hopping' -- well all that meant was that I popped in to the BMI 'Great British Lounge' and the Star Alliance Lounge. I think the BMI Lounge is nicer, but the Star Alliance Lounge had a better selection of breakfast food.
When I was in the Star Alliance Lounge I thought I'd check out what kind of inflight entertainment I could expect. Well I was surprised to found out that the 747-400 that would be carrying me across the Atlantic wouldn't have 'Personal' seat-back TVs. So it was going to be 'old school' communal film watching!
I arrived eye-wincingly early at Heathrow (which obviously meant I'd got up even earlier)! I did a bit of 'lounge hopping' -- well all that meant was that I popped in to the BMI 'Great British Lounge' and the Star Alliance Lounge. I think the BMI Lounge is nicer, but the Star Alliance Lounge had a better selection of breakfast food.
When I was in the Star Alliance Lounge I thought I'd check out what kind of inflight entertainment I could expect. Well I was surprised to found out that the 747-400 that would be carrying me across the Atlantic wouldn't have 'Personal' seat-back TVs. So it was going to be 'old school' communal film watching!
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