Wrigleyville

"Wrigleyville is a neighborhood of young Americans trying to make their way while living in the shadow of a team that proves dreams don't always come true."
 -Wright Thompson, The Kansas City Star quoted in Wrigleyworld: A Season in Baseball's Best Neighborhood

As promised a few posts ago,

the first in my exploration of Chicago by L

is

WRIGLEYVILLE!

Whether you are a baseball fan or not chances are you are familiar with the iconic image of baseball- ivory covered brick walls behind blue clad baseball players swinging bats at the historic Wrigley Field on Chicago's North side.  For those of you who, like me, know little of baseball here is a quick lesson.

  Chicago Cubs- Fans primarily live on Chicago's North side

-Being a Cubs fan is like wearing a badge of honor 

that says "Losing just makes you cooler"

- they are often known as "the lovable losers"

Chicago White Sox- Fans primarily live on Chicago's South side

- a little bit grittier in some people's minds

-they win more

A quick L ride from our neighborhood is Wrigleyville,

 home of Wrigley Field and the Chicago Cubs.

There is a mystique about the Cubs, a nostalgia associated with them that I find sort of fun. They represent a time in America's history, or maybe just a nostalgic longing for an imaginary time, when life was simple and baseball represented all that was truly 'American.'

Maybe that's why people keep coming back

to cheer on this team that hasn't won

a World Series

since

1908.

Or maybe they really believe 

that today, with their faithful support,

the Cubs will knock the Houston Astros down.

As I write the game is on...maybe today is the day!

 Peanuts, Popcorn, Cold Beer!!

I wish there was some sort of App for Blogger where I could capture the smell for you...maybe a 4D blog.  Can you smell the hotdogs?  The popcorn?  The stale beer?

 But whatever happens today with the Cubs, one thing is for sure. 

There will be a party in Wrigleyville tonight

After all, who doesn't love a party?

Go Cubs.

*All pictures taken today...an hour before the game! 

People were more than willing to smile for the camera... so much fun.