For giggles, this is what the future ball trips could look like...
2012 (14): Minnesota - Target Field
2013 (15): Toronto - Rogers Centre
2014 (16): Washington DC - Nationals Park
2015 (17): New York City - Yankees Stadium
2016 (18): Chicago - Wrigley Field
2017 (19): Detroit (Comerica), NYC (Citi Field), other??
2018 (20): Boston - Fenway Park
My feeling is the next two years are pretty much set. Minnesota has been pretty much accepted and if everyone can get their passport Toronto will be a go as well. Thankfully we have plenty of time for that.
2018 at Fenway will be mighty expensive, but we have seven years to save up money. Also, with it being the 20th trip, returning to one of the parks we saw on the inaugural ball trip would be sweet. In between are the places we either have yet to see (Yankees/Mets/Nationals) or have not been to in a long time (Wrigley/Comerica).
Save your money. Be nice to your wives (as usual). We have some miles to rack up. And we ain't stoppin'!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Baltimore 2011 Recap...
It took forever to get here and was gone in a flash. Sadly, DLBT 2011 Baltimore came and went as fast as you can say "Last stop, boys. Gotta get off the train".
Every year we start the countdown. 3 months! 2 months! 1 month! You get the picture. It seems like years in between trips (for some, that is more literal) and once we pack up the car(s) and head out we are on our way back home in what seems like minutes. It goes by too quickly, but I think we all can agree by Sunday morning we are ready to come home (that's how you suck up to your wife btw).
Unlike last year when we played golf before leaving town, this year with the nine hour drive ahead of us, we packed the clubs and decided to play in Baltimore. So Thursday was basically a drive day. Nothing too exciting. We arrived at our hotel around 5:00. If Shane had his way, we'd have pulled a Harry and Lloyd and headed the opposite direction back toward Cincy after getting off for gas one time. Apparently Mr. T caught this almost mistake at the last minute and corrected Shane before he got back on the west bound expressway.
Following our check in was the now traditional dinner at Chili's which was even nicer this year as the hotel obliged in building a brand new Chili's attached to the Holiday Inn. How nice are they??? I believe Fish got his first taste of the Chili's queso which we all scarfed down in record time. I could be wrong, but I also think Fish wanted to eat the queso for every meal following. After dinner, nothing too exciting, just some cornhole, cigars, and pops in the hotel parking lot...that's how we roll, Flipper.
Friday morning...9:02 and 9:10 tee times at Pine Ridge Golf Course which was conveniently 10 minutes from the hotel. It was a nice course, probably a few too many doglegs but passable especially since we had no clue what it was going to look like from the website. The team of Jason, Matt, Fish, and Jeff (*mostly* putting due to the broken arm) beat Paul, Shane, and Keith (and some random dude who got paired up with them at the last minute) -1 to +1 (so says Keith) and thus got free lunch at the course. It was a beautiful day out on the links and again the golf was an enormous success. Hard to believe it took so long to figure out the addition of golf.
*Mostly: when you try to hit some chip shots because you moronically think your arm that has only been broken and repaired for just 3 weeks is healthy enough to ground a golf club...bad idea!!!!
Some beautiful swings for you...
And one guy who had some explaining to do when his wife saw this pic...
Post pic...
After lunch at the course, it was quickly back to the hotel (sing along) for showers and then downtown to catch the ball game. We took the light rail which was right down the street from the hotel and dropped us off next to the stadium. Cool idea...well, until...oh, you'll just have to wait.
The Blue Jays beat the Orioles 5-4 but the game itself was pretty boring seeing as we were there to sample the fare and check out the stadium itself. We did have awesome seats though...
see? front row center field right by Boog's BBQ and all the wonderful aromas by the warehouse in right field. Shane and I decided it was time to feed our fat arses and Boog's is where we went as you can see here...
and here (what do you want from me??)
Some other pics of us strange people...
never mind that nosy lady in the background giving us the weird look.
Oh, the ball park itself? Almost forgot...
warehouse behind right field...
behind home (duh!)
Hey, thanks!!
All in all a great place and you can definitely see why the rest of baseball seemingly stole the Orioles' idea to create a retro ball park. It's still one of the best.
After the game we met this guy...
We asked him how to get back to the train and the only thing he said was "Prediction? Pain!" So we just bought a few of his pencils and moved on.
The rest of the night was played out at the hotel as we were all quite tired from golf and the ball game. But it didn't stop four of us from a rousing game of euchre and that "new" movie Aliens (still scary to this day). Keith, who didn't get in on the game, sat and watched Aliens, but admitted he was only still awake because "I don't want to miss anything". Well, the only thing he saw was euchre and Aliens...and nothing else. He gave in at 2:00 am...the rest of us 3:00 am.
Saturday morning...breakfast at Bob Evans because the hotel free (for a reason) breakfast stopped at 9:30 and we had no chance of making that. So we headed to Bob's where we got abused by our waitress. She had a special place in her heart for Keith who ordered a "diet water" but ultimately got a chocolate milk...then she brought him a refill and proceeded to smack him by saying "here's another diet chocolate milk for you" that got a nice reaction from the table.
After breakfast we headed back to downtown Baltimore to do some sightseeing and try to take a tour of Camden Yards. Upon walking up to the ticket window we got the "sorry, folks...park's closed" treatment and were sent away with our tails between our legs. So what to do? Saturday afternoon. Vacation. 7 dudes.
Pickles Pub!!
(First) Arrival approximately 2:00pm. (First) departure around 4:30. In between - 3 beers and a nice time talking with the lovely Alissa who was our bartender but more importantly put up with our crap (bad jokes and obnoxious arguments).
Obnoxious boys...
Off to Inner Harbor to see the sights. Not much really unless you like upscale stores and restaurants. But still nice to see the water and they did have some cool things to see.
And then...
If you've never been to a Dick's Last Resort before, you're in for a rude awakening.
Matt: "I'm a little uncomfortable. The bartender and the customer just got into an argument."
Keith: "The host was a little rude. What's the deal with that?"
The whole theme of this place is that they are mean to you, and you have to take it. Trust me, at first you're taken a little back by it. By the end of the night, you're pretty much having a great time. Unless you can't take a joke or aren't a hat type of person.
(Note: due to the graphic nature of said "hats" I will not be able to show you what I'm talking about. Just assume these hats they make you wear are vulgar, offensive, rude, and hilarious...again if you can take a joke. Sorry, the next portion of this post is being censored by the FCC)
But a quick summation: tiny, speedy, pokey, sheep, golden girl, brokeback, and restraining order are NOT the new Seven Dwarfs.
What next? How about a storm, getting soaked, and a quick (and almost deadly) cab ride back to...Pickles Pub. Assuredly Alissa was pleased as punch to see our band of misfits return.
Another quick (and censored) rundown: someone fell off a stool, security, emergency credit card, dilf, accountant, pickle juice, and 11 shots (EACH!!!) later we headed/stumbled back to the light rail to return home.
Enter disarray....
Light rail schedule said the last train runs at 1:06 am. At 12:45, about half way back to the hotel, we stop at a depot, wait a minute or two longer than we should, then the driver/conductor/whatever he's called walks back through the train and says "that's it, guys...time to go". What?!?! "Train's done running for the night. Gotta go" Who? what? huh??? "We're not at our stop yet. Will another train come by later?" Chuckling "I don't think so".
So there we are...7 dudes in the middle of nowhere/ghetto/murderville in the rain and completely LOST. Are we dead? Most assuredly we're dead. So we just start walking. To where? At 1:00 am I'm not sure exactly where we were headed. Thankfully we saw a cab who called in another close by cab and they got us back to our original light rail station - a nice 25 minute ride. I cannot, nor do I want to, imagine how long that walk would have taken. Suffice to say it was the best $45 cab ride ever.
Oh but that wasn't it for Saturday night. Oh no. Keith decided it would be fun to plop down on the bed and fall down in between the wall and the bed. He got stuck and, well, it was damn funny. Then, in what may become a new tradition, we ordered pizza at 2:00am. This time it came a LOT faster and apparently the driver made the pizza in his car because that was the HOTTEST pizza ever! But boy did it taste great! And eating pizza is better than dying in the ghetto I think.
Sadly, the Baltimore portion of the trip did not end there. Sunday morning. Everyone congregating in the lobby. Waiting on Jason to come down and with him bring the cooler. Elevator doors open, out walks Jason with his bag and cooler in tow. He approaches the group, slows down, and while stopping the cooler (or so he thought), it hit the corner of the mat in front of the automatic doors and tipped over. Unfortunately it was not empty. Well it was after the contents were unceremoniously dumped onto the Holiday Inn lobby floor (ice, melted ice, beer, etc.) in a pool. It was a nice cap to the trip...and a clear indicator that we needed to GO!!!
What followed was the quietest 9 hour car ride ever back home. Gee the car rides to the cities always are lively and loud. Funny how the return ride is very much the opposite.
That's it for DLBT 2011. Next year has not yet been determined, but Minnesota is the clubhouse leader. That 12 hour drive might put a crimp in those plans. But we have a while to decide. Either way, no matter where we go it will be a blast...even if we go to Arby's.
Every year we start the countdown. 3 months! 2 months! 1 month! You get the picture. It seems like years in between trips (for some, that is more literal) and once we pack up the car(s) and head out we are on our way back home in what seems like minutes. It goes by too quickly, but I think we all can agree by Sunday morning we are ready to come home (that's how you suck up to your wife btw).
Unlike last year when we played golf before leaving town, this year with the nine hour drive ahead of us, we packed the clubs and decided to play in Baltimore. So Thursday was basically a drive day. Nothing too exciting. We arrived at our hotel around 5:00. If Shane had his way, we'd have pulled a Harry and Lloyd and headed the opposite direction back toward Cincy after getting off for gas one time. Apparently Mr. T caught this almost mistake at the last minute and corrected Shane before he got back on the west bound expressway.
Following our check in was the now traditional dinner at Chili's which was even nicer this year as the hotel obliged in building a brand new Chili's attached to the Holiday Inn. How nice are they??? I believe Fish got his first taste of the Chili's queso which we all scarfed down in record time. I could be wrong, but I also think Fish wanted to eat the queso for every meal following. After dinner, nothing too exciting, just some cornhole, cigars, and pops in the hotel parking lot...that's how we roll, Flipper.
Friday morning...9:02 and 9:10 tee times at Pine Ridge Golf Course which was conveniently 10 minutes from the hotel. It was a nice course, probably a few too many doglegs but passable especially since we had no clue what it was going to look like from the website. The team of Jason, Matt, Fish, and Jeff (*mostly* putting due to the broken arm) beat Paul, Shane, and Keith (and some random dude who got paired up with them at the last minute) -1 to +1 (so says Keith) and thus got free lunch at the course. It was a beautiful day out on the links and again the golf was an enormous success. Hard to believe it took so long to figure out the addition of golf.
*Mostly: when you try to hit some chip shots because you moronically think your arm that has only been broken and repaired for just 3 weeks is healthy enough to ground a golf club...bad idea!!!!
Some beautiful swings for you...
And one guy who had some explaining to do when his wife saw this pic...
Post pic...
After lunch at the course, it was quickly back to the hotel (sing along) for showers and then downtown to catch the ball game. We took the light rail which was right down the street from the hotel and dropped us off next to the stadium. Cool idea...well, until...oh, you'll just have to wait.
The Blue Jays beat the Orioles 5-4 but the game itself was pretty boring seeing as we were there to sample the fare and check out the stadium itself. We did have awesome seats though...
see? front row center field right by Boog's BBQ and all the wonderful aromas by the warehouse in right field. Shane and I decided it was time to feed our fat arses and Boog's is where we went as you can see here...
and here (what do you want from me??)
Some other pics of us strange people...
never mind that nosy lady in the background giving us the weird look.
Oh, the ball park itself? Almost forgot...
warehouse behind right field...
behind home (duh!)
Hey, thanks!!
All in all a great place and you can definitely see why the rest of baseball seemingly stole the Orioles' idea to create a retro ball park. It's still one of the best.
After the game we met this guy...
We asked him how to get back to the train and the only thing he said was "Prediction? Pain!" So we just bought a few of his pencils and moved on.
The rest of the night was played out at the hotel as we were all quite tired from golf and the ball game. But it didn't stop four of us from a rousing game of euchre and that "new" movie Aliens (still scary to this day). Keith, who didn't get in on the game, sat and watched Aliens, but admitted he was only still awake because "I don't want to miss anything". Well, the only thing he saw was euchre and Aliens...and nothing else. He gave in at 2:00 am...the rest of us 3:00 am.
Saturday morning...breakfast at Bob Evans because the hotel free (for a reason) breakfast stopped at 9:30 and we had no chance of making that. So we headed to Bob's where we got abused by our waitress. She had a special place in her heart for Keith who ordered a "diet water" but ultimately got a chocolate milk...then she brought him a refill and proceeded to smack him by saying "here's another diet chocolate milk for you" that got a nice reaction from the table.
After breakfast we headed back to downtown Baltimore to do some sightseeing and try to take a tour of Camden Yards. Upon walking up to the ticket window we got the "sorry, folks...park's closed" treatment and were sent away with our tails between our legs. So what to do? Saturday afternoon. Vacation. 7 dudes.
Pickles Pub!!
(First) Arrival approximately 2:00pm. (First) departure around 4:30. In between - 3 beers and a nice time talking with the lovely Alissa who was our bartender but more importantly put up with our crap (bad jokes and obnoxious arguments).
Obnoxious boys...
Off to Inner Harbor to see the sights. Not much really unless you like upscale stores and restaurants. But still nice to see the water and they did have some cool things to see.
And then...
If you've never been to a Dick's Last Resort before, you're in for a rude awakening.
Matt: "I'm a little uncomfortable. The bartender and the customer just got into an argument."
Keith: "The host was a little rude. What's the deal with that?"
The whole theme of this place is that they are mean to you, and you have to take it. Trust me, at first you're taken a little back by it. By the end of the night, you're pretty much having a great time. Unless you can't take a joke or aren't a hat type of person.
(Note: due to the graphic nature of said "hats" I will not be able to show you what I'm talking about. Just assume these hats they make you wear are vulgar, offensive, rude, and hilarious...again if you can take a joke. Sorry, the next portion of this post is being censored by the FCC)
But a quick summation: tiny, speedy, pokey, sheep, golden girl, brokeback, and restraining order are NOT the new Seven Dwarfs.
What next? How about a storm, getting soaked, and a quick (and almost deadly) cab ride back to...Pickles Pub. Assuredly Alissa was pleased as punch to see our band of misfits return.
Another quick (and censored) rundown: someone fell off a stool, security, emergency credit card, dilf, accountant, pickle juice, and 11 shots (EACH!!!) later we headed/stumbled back to the light rail to return home.
Enter disarray....
Light rail schedule said the last train runs at 1:06 am. At 12:45, about half way back to the hotel, we stop at a depot, wait a minute or two longer than we should, then the driver/conductor/whatever he's called walks back through the train and says "that's it, guys...time to go". What?!?! "Train's done running for the night. Gotta go" Who? what? huh??? "We're not at our stop yet. Will another train come by later?" Chuckling "I don't think so".
So there we are...7 dudes in the middle of nowhere/ghetto/murderville in the rain and completely LOST. Are we dead? Most assuredly we're dead. So we just start walking. To where? At 1:00 am I'm not sure exactly where we were headed. Thankfully we saw a cab who called in another close by cab and they got us back to our original light rail station - a nice 25 minute ride. I cannot, nor do I want to, imagine how long that walk would have taken. Suffice to say it was the best $45 cab ride ever.
Oh but that wasn't it for Saturday night. Oh no. Keith decided it would be fun to plop down on the bed and fall down in between the wall and the bed. He got stuck and, well, it was damn funny. Then, in what may become a new tradition, we ordered pizza at 2:00am. This time it came a LOT faster and apparently the driver made the pizza in his car because that was the HOTTEST pizza ever! But boy did it taste great! And eating pizza is better than dying in the ghetto I think.
Sadly, the Baltimore portion of the trip did not end there. Sunday morning. Everyone congregating in the lobby. Waiting on Jason to come down and with him bring the cooler. Elevator doors open, out walks Jason with his bag and cooler in tow. He approaches the group, slows down, and while stopping the cooler (or so he thought), it hit the corner of the mat in front of the automatic doors and tipped over. Unfortunately it was not empty. Well it was after the contents were unceremoniously dumped onto the Holiday Inn lobby floor (ice, melted ice, beer, etc.) in a pool. It was a nice cap to the trip...and a clear indicator that we needed to GO!!!
What followed was the quietest 9 hour car ride ever back home. Gee the car rides to the cities always are lively and loud. Funny how the return ride is very much the opposite.
That's it for DLBT 2011. Next year has not yet been determined, but Minnesota is the clubhouse leader. That 12 hour drive might put a crimp in those plans. But we have a while to decide. Either way, no matter where we go it will be a blast...even if we go to Arby's.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Uber Quick Recap...
We're back. Most of us are alive. All of us are dead tired. Don't ask us what we did yet. That takes a few days to come back to us. When it does, I'll post a longer recap. For now, just know...
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
It is here...FINALLY!!
Dan Lipscomb Ball Trip version 13 is finally upon us. Seems like we haven't been on one in a few years, but I think that's just how much we all look forward to this weekend. Thankfully the waiting is over. Baltimore, here we come!!
For those who care...all 7 of us...
8:00 am departure Thursday morning
4:00 arrival at the hotel in Bmore (give or take)
4:01 step out of gas-filled cars for fresh air
5:00 Chili's for the annual "first pitch" dinner
7:00 or so...crack beers, start cornhole, cut cigars, light the mothers...
Sometime later...roll into bed smelling like smoke, Coronas, Blue Moon, and who knows what else
Friday...
9:02 and 9:10 tee times at Pine Ridge Golf Course
Afterward...nap
5:00 or so...head to Camden Yards for Orioles v. Blue Jays
7:05 first pitch
7:06 "let's go to Inner Harbor"
Saturday...
Who the hell knows?? we're open and probably going to get into some kind of trouble that involves a beer bottle being held by a beer glass (Keith).
Sunday...
Return home
Discuss where 2012 trip is going to be...Toronto? Minnesota? Houston? NYC? DC?
Monday...
Depression (ok fine maybe not)
Despite kids (13 now...more to come?), family vacations, work shifts, flooded basements, marriage trouble, and everything else, we've managed to do this in some form for 13 years now. And we have no intention of stopping!
One more thing...
For those who care...all 7 of us...
8:00 am departure Thursday morning
4:00 arrival at the hotel in Bmore (give or take)
4:01 step out of gas-filled cars for fresh air
5:00 Chili's for the annual "first pitch" dinner
7:00 or so...crack beers, start cornhole, cut cigars, light the mothers...
Sometime later...roll into bed smelling like smoke, Coronas, Blue Moon, and who knows what else
Friday...
9:02 and 9:10 tee times at Pine Ridge Golf Course
Afterward...nap
5:00 or so...head to Camden Yards for Orioles v. Blue Jays
7:05 first pitch
7:06 "let's go to Inner Harbor"
Saturday...
Who the hell knows?? we're open and probably going to get into some kind of trouble that involves a beer bottle being held by a beer glass (Keith).
Sunday...
Return home
Discuss where 2012 trip is going to be...Toronto? Minnesota? Houston? NYC? DC?
Monday...
Depression (ok fine maybe not)
Despite kids (13 now...more to come?), family vacations, work shifts, flooded basements, marriage trouble, and everything else, we've managed to do this in some form for 13 years now. And we have no intention of stopping!
One more thing...
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Washington DC
I am going to skip a year, because due to circumstances, I was unable to attend the Miller Park trip in 2005. This is the year that we discovered the benefits of mass transit. Before going to far, I have to tell this story. When we arrived at our hotel, they had a parking garage for the guests to park. Not thinking about 1.) We were driving a minivan and 2.) We had luggage and cornhole boards on top of the van, we attempted to drive into said parking garage. Well, we hit the first low clearance and you would have thought the we were being crushed. Needless to say we had to back up and remove the items from the top of the vehicle. I still remember the sound of the roof being crushed.
Anyways, on to the story. Luckily for us there was a train station across the street from the hotel which made things a lot easier and cheaper. For a few bucks, you can buy a weekend pass and ride as often as you like. We had tickets to both Friday and Saturday games at RFK. The place is too huge to have baseball games played in it, but they made it work. We also "Got our Red on" while attending one of the games. We also had our expert DC tour guide Shane, show us most of the monuments and buildings around the DC area. Arlington Cemetery was very humbling. Saw several burials while walking through, almost seemed wrong to be a "tourist."
It was an uneventful trip from what I can remember, but DC is a great sightseeing city. But I am sure someone will have a good story to add. There are always good stories from our balltrips.
Anyways, on to the story. Luckily for us there was a train station across the street from the hotel which made things a lot easier and cheaper. For a few bucks, you can buy a weekend pass and ride as often as you like. We had tickets to both Friday and Saturday games at RFK. The place is too huge to have baseball games played in it, but they made it work. We also "Got our Red on" while attending one of the games. We also had our expert DC tour guide Shane, show us most of the monuments and buildings around the DC area. Arlington Cemetery was very humbling. Saw several burials while walking through, almost seemed wrong to be a "tourist."
It was an uneventful trip from what I can remember, but DC is a great sightseeing city. But I am sure someone will have a good story to add. There are always good stories from our balltrips.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
2011 Trip Confirmed
Well, it is official, the 2011 Ball Trip will be to Baltimore. We will be seeing the Toronto Blue Jays take on the Orioles at Camden Yards during the weekend of August 4-7. Four of us have been there before. But none of us has done so in about 15 years and it has never been an official "Ball Trip" park. Now it will be.
On the early agenda: golf, baseball, Inner Harbor, good times.
And remember...
On the early agenda: golf, baseball, Inner Harbor, good times.
And remember...
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Chicago 2010
As we get older these trips get more and more about hanging with the fellas than actual baseball. This year was no different. Mind you the baseball is still the reason we go. If the trip ever evolved into just a guys weekend, I think we'd be encouraged to find divorce lawyers. But since we mix in one game in the four days we're gone, we can still call it the "Ball Trip".
This year, we returned to Comiskey/US Cellular Field on the South Side of Chicago. If you've read any of these posts before you'd know Jason, Matt, Keith, and I (Jeff) have already been to Comiskey in its former state (before the renovations in 2001). We even got a mini tour and pics taken in the White Sox dugout. We had never actually seen a game there until this year. As for the park, well, I'll get to that in a few...
Chicago...if not for the awful traffic, I think I would love to live there. I've been there four times in my life and had an absolute blast every single time. There's just so much to do and see and the experiences there were second to none. This time was no different.
Our trip began with a new kickoff...a scramble golf outing at Hickory Woods. We had six guys so we split into two three-man teams (picked out of a hat for fairness). The grounds were a little soggy due to the prior night's thunderstorm but for the most part, the course was in good shape. Unfortunately, I can't say the same thing about my team (Jason-Paul-Jeff). We just never got it going and were soundly beaten by Keith-Matt-Shane. As part of the deal, the losing team had to buy the winning team lunch (Chipotle...yum!). In addition, we had four closest-to-the-pin contests...Shane and Jason took one each, I got the other two, including a near hole-in-one on #11.
Golf was such a rousing success that we're going to try to incorporate it into every trip from now on...provided we have enough space in the car(s). Bravo to Shane for the suggestion.
Here are a few golf pics taken by our photographer Keith...
After golf, back to my house, pack the car and jet for Chicago around 1:00. Not bad except for one thing...rush hour traffic. Took us about 90 minutes to get through Chicago traffic and to our hotel near O'Hare. Still not a bad trip...and made much more enjoyable by some interesting music and Gay Robot (Adam Sandler) which would pretty much be on everyone's mind the entire trip.
Thursday night...Chili's for dinner (a ball trip staple) and back to the hotel to unwind after a long day with some Corona's, Bud Lights, and cigars. Not a bad day...and we're only getting started.
Friday, quickie breakfast, then off to see downtown Chicago as you can see in these pics...
Then, I think I'm speaking for the entire group, we had the best meal ever on a ball trip (Tilted Kilt).
It was phenomenal! Afterward we head to Comiskey/US Cellular Field for the White Sox-A's. OK game...nothing too exciting. Some baseball was played to a less than packed house which is odd considering the Sox are in first in the A.L. Central and there are over 3 million people in Chicago.
Anyway...batting practice was cool. Always nice to see the big boys rocket baseballs off unsuspecting people's domes. Point of note: if you do get to a game early, remember batting practice is ongoing and you should LOOK OUT!!! To the lady in right field, I'm sorry for making an example out of you, but seriously, it's not NERF baseball.
The Sox won 6-1 and there was a 10 minute fireworks display afterward. Pretty much as exciting as me typing it.
Proof that we went...
Saturday...breakfast was good. Service not so much, but hey it's Chicago. Not gonna get the small town service everywhere you go. From there we went back downtown to walk around a bit. Saw Michigan Ave...exciting if you like crowds. Then we made the best decision of the weekend (well, aside from the Tilted Kilt of course)...Wrigleyville to try to watch the Reds-Braves game.
There are a plethora of bars to choose from in Wrigleyville if you've ever been there before. We chose the Cubby Bear...or as we were saying the "Chubby Cub". Not a bad place. Nothing to it really. Some tables, TV's, and bars. Unfortunately no Reds game. For some reason, Chicago was carrying the Red Sox-Tigers game. UGH!!!
After lunch at the Chubby Cub, a few of us (Paul, Shane, me) decided to take a tour of Wrigley Field. Best $25 spent on the trip...aside from the Tilted Kilt of course. Some great stories (the basket is a "people catcher" not for catching home runs), and very cool scenery that you can see here...
About this time is when the moonshine kicked in...
And spectacular pictures of some of the lesser celebrated things at Wrigley...
Just outside the Cubs' dugout...
Some beautiful crushed brick...
Needs no explanation...
A camera covered by a bag...
Jeff's shoe...
Following the tour, we caught up with the rest of the boys at the beautiful Sports Corner Bar on the corner of Sheffield and Addison.
(If I'm correct, this is when Keith said he started to lose his vision. Good thing Matt was there to guide him around.) Not only is it a cool bar across the street from Wrigley, but it has an open roof bar and we may have picked the perfect day to be up there. Low 80's, no humidity, bright blue skies and you can see here...
Isn't it lovely?
So not only is it just a cool area to be in, but Cub fan was NOT out and about, which makes life much easier to stand. After that, we strolled around looking for fun places to go. Went to Harry Caray's which was really cool. Then it got interesting...
Suffice to say...bachelorette parties, guys with gashes in their heads, fake ID's, Keith lost his sight, and Shane, Paul, Keith, and Jason are still waiting for the pizza guy.
Sunday morning, as predicted, we drove back in a fog. Not much talking on the way back. Just a nice drive back while listening to our beloved Redlegs on the radio.
Chicago was great as usual! Can't wait to go back. But for now, the clubhouse leader for the 2011 Ball Trip is.......
Baltimore and Camden Yards! When Fish returns, we'll have: seven guys, two cars, golf clubs, baseball, and "Good Times! Good Times!"
This year, we returned to Comiskey/US Cellular Field on the South Side of Chicago. If you've read any of these posts before you'd know Jason, Matt, Keith, and I (Jeff) have already been to Comiskey in its former state (before the renovations in 2001). We even got a mini tour and pics taken in the White Sox dugout. We had never actually seen a game there until this year. As for the park, well, I'll get to that in a few...
Chicago...if not for the awful traffic, I think I would love to live there. I've been there four times in my life and had an absolute blast every single time. There's just so much to do and see and the experiences there were second to none. This time was no different.
Our trip began with a new kickoff...a scramble golf outing at Hickory Woods. We had six guys so we split into two three-man teams (picked out of a hat for fairness). The grounds were a little soggy due to the prior night's thunderstorm but for the most part, the course was in good shape. Unfortunately, I can't say the same thing about my team (Jason-Paul-Jeff). We just never got it going and were soundly beaten by Keith-Matt-Shane. As part of the deal, the losing team had to buy the winning team lunch (Chipotle...yum!). In addition, we had four closest-to-the-pin contests...Shane and Jason took one each, I got the other two, including a near hole-in-one on #11.
Golf was such a rousing success that we're going to try to incorporate it into every trip from now on...provided we have enough space in the car(s). Bravo to Shane for the suggestion.
Here are a few golf pics taken by our photographer Keith...
After golf, back to my house, pack the car and jet for Chicago around 1:00. Not bad except for one thing...rush hour traffic. Took us about 90 minutes to get through Chicago traffic and to our hotel near O'Hare. Still not a bad trip...and made much more enjoyable by some interesting music and Gay Robot (Adam Sandler) which would pretty much be on everyone's mind the entire trip.
Thursday night...Chili's for dinner (a ball trip staple) and back to the hotel to unwind after a long day with some Corona's, Bud Lights, and cigars. Not a bad day...and we're only getting started.
Friday, quickie breakfast, then off to see downtown Chicago as you can see in these pics...
Then, I think I'm speaking for the entire group, we had the best meal ever on a ball trip (Tilted Kilt).
It was phenomenal! Afterward we head to Comiskey/US Cellular Field for the White Sox-A's. OK game...nothing too exciting. Some baseball was played to a less than packed house which is odd considering the Sox are in first in the A.L. Central and there are over 3 million people in Chicago.
Anyway...batting practice was cool. Always nice to see the big boys rocket baseballs off unsuspecting people's domes. Point of note: if you do get to a game early, remember batting practice is ongoing and you should LOOK OUT!!! To the lady in right field, I'm sorry for making an example out of you, but seriously, it's not NERF baseball.
The Sox won 6-1 and there was a 10 minute fireworks display afterward. Pretty much as exciting as me typing it.
Proof that we went...
Saturday...breakfast was good. Service not so much, but hey it's Chicago. Not gonna get the small town service everywhere you go. From there we went back downtown to walk around a bit. Saw Michigan Ave...exciting if you like crowds. Then we made the best decision of the weekend (well, aside from the Tilted Kilt of course)...Wrigleyville to try to watch the Reds-Braves game.
There are a plethora of bars to choose from in Wrigleyville if you've ever been there before. We chose the Cubby Bear...or as we were saying the "Chubby Cub". Not a bad place. Nothing to it really. Some tables, TV's, and bars. Unfortunately no Reds game. For some reason, Chicago was carrying the Red Sox-Tigers game. UGH!!!
After lunch at the Chubby Cub, a few of us (Paul, Shane, me) decided to take a tour of Wrigley Field. Best $25 spent on the trip...aside from the Tilted Kilt of course. Some great stories (the basket is a "people catcher" not for catching home runs), and very cool scenery that you can see here...
About this time is when the moonshine kicked in...
And spectacular pictures of some of the lesser celebrated things at Wrigley...
Just outside the Cubs' dugout...
Some beautiful crushed brick...
Needs no explanation...
A camera covered by a bag...
Jeff's shoe...Following the tour, we caught up with the rest of the boys at the beautiful Sports Corner Bar on the corner of Sheffield and Addison.
(If I'm correct, this is when Keith said he started to lose his vision. Good thing Matt was there to guide him around.) Not only is it a cool bar across the street from Wrigley, but it has an open roof bar and we may have picked the perfect day to be up there. Low 80's, no humidity, bright blue skies and you can see here...
Isn't it lovely?So not only is it just a cool area to be in, but Cub fan was NOT out and about, which makes life much easier to stand. After that, we strolled around looking for fun places to go. Went to Harry Caray's which was really cool. Then it got interesting...
Suffice to say...bachelorette parties, guys with gashes in their heads, fake ID's, Keith lost his sight, and Shane, Paul, Keith, and Jason are still waiting for the pizza guy.
Sunday morning, as predicted, we drove back in a fog. Not much talking on the way back. Just a nice drive back while listening to our beloved Redlegs on the radio.
Chicago was great as usual! Can't wait to go back. But for now, the clubhouse leader for the 2011 Ball Trip is.......
Baltimore and Camden Yards! When Fish returns, we'll have: seven guys, two cars, golf clubs, baseball, and "Good Times! Good Times!"
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