Dagny dressed and ready for game one of two
TG, Dagny, and I arrived in Chicago in the mid afternoon and had just enough time after settling into our room and changing into our Cubs swag, to get to Wrigley Field.
Before leaving, we did go up one floor to the Regency Club, which is a lounge for guests with special access.
(Our Mike had secured this perk for us because he has a friend who was nice enough to share his Hyatt Globalist status for our two-night stay.)
Dagny beneath the iconic marquee
That got us the privilege of going up to the lounge and getting coffee and snacks whenever we wanted.
After a quick nosh, we set out for the ball park.
This involved walking several blocks to pick up the Red Line train, which takes you to a station across the street from Wrigley.
On Michigan Avenue, Trump Tower in the background
It was that time of day when there are so many people wanting to ride the trains, that you are squished just inside the doors and have to stand and hang on to a strap or bar for the entire trip.
Which, with all the stops, takes about a half hour. Maybe a smidge less.
With Papaw at the Chicago River
They open the doors to the Friendly Confines ninety minutes before game time. We like to be among the first through the gate.
TG goes immediately to a gift/fan store inside the ballpark, to buy his Official Scorecard. It costs two dollars and comes with a pencil bearing the iconic Cubs logo.
Two beautiful sights: Dagny and the Wrigley Building
Throughout the game he will make a note of every play made by both teams.
Next up, Dagny and I had to cruise through concessions and pick up our dinner.
She chose a hot dog, fries, and a bottle of blue Gatorade. I chose a cheeseburger, fries, and a large fountain soft drink in a souvenir cup.
The ring Dagny chose as a souvenir of her trip
Total? Sixty-five dollars. TG decided to go hungry.
Next we morphed into mountain goats and trudged up the many long ramps to the upper deck where our seats were located.
(Not only are these seats cheaper, but we love the vantage point of being up high and looking down on the field of play.)
Dagny at the iconic century-old Tribune Tower
It is, however, strenuous exercise getting all the way up there. And then there are the super-steep steps you have to climb once you reach your section, to get to your seat.
It's a workout.
We would be attending games two nights in a row, so on this first night we got situated in our seats and ate our expensive fast-food meals.
Dagny at Millennium Park fountain
In due time the game began. That night, our Cubs lost.
Somewhat disappointing but like I said, we'd be there the next night too.
Going down the ramps to ground level was much easier. But you move at a glacial pace to get back to the train platform, because everyone is trying to do the same thing at the same time.
She has been to the bean
Eventually we reached our stop and walked several blocks back to the hotel.
The next morning we enjoyed our Globalist perk again by having a sumptuous buffet breakfast in the huge lobby restaurant with lots of glass and fountains for that expansive open-air feel.
We sat drinking coffee and sampling various breakfast items, taking our time and discussing what we wanted to do that day.
Tourists taking selfies
The weather was beautiful. It was decided that we would walk south on Michigan Avenue and take Dagny as far down as Buckingham Fountain.
Along the way we would see the Art Institute of Chicago with its lions guarding the outside, and Millennium Park with its Cloud Gate sculpture (colloquially known as The Bean), and the Crown Fountain, and other urban glories (and oddities).
The north end lion: on the prowl
But once out on the street, we realized that we had to walk one block north in order for Dagny to have the best view of Trump Tower, the Tribune Tower (which once housed the newspaper but is now luxury apartments), the Wrigley Building, and the Chicago River.
There was a market consisting of maybe fifteen tents set up in the plaza outside the Tribune Tower. Turns out it's only there on Wednesdays from May through October.
The south end lion: in an attitude of defiance
Dagny and I were riveted by a display of sterling silver rings. We had to call her mother to get Audrey's permission for Dagny to buy one, and she made a stunning selection.
After taking our fill of pictures in those locations, we began walking south.
At the fancy fountain that anchors one end of Millennium Park, Dagny posed at the edge of the the pool and leaned in to feel the coolness of the water.
Little young girl, big old fountain
Farther inside the park, she marveled at the massive silver reflective surface of the bean, and we took a number of photos there.
We moseyed on down the avenue until we reached the Art Institute and Dagny posed by each of the two lions whose massive presences have, since 1894, flanked the stunning façade of the museum.
Then we continued south and eventually turned east towards the lake, to Buckingham Fountain.
The Red Line: hang on or fall down
There was a stiff breeze off of Lake Michigan, and the highest towering jet of water was spraying everyone standing to west and south of the fountain.
So we kept our distance from that, but Dagny did pose at the verdigris Art Deco railing that surrounds the fountain and its gargoyle-filled pool.
Then it was time to march back north on Michigan Avenue until we turned and went west to State Street, where Dagny and I wanted to do a spot of shopping at the Burlington Coat Factory and TJ Maxx.
My favorite view of the stadium's exterior
I needed some leggings for the game since it was going to turn cooler than it had been the night before. Dagny wanted to replace a large tote she'd brought along on the trip, the strap of which had broken when we arrived at the hotel the day before.
TG patiently followed us around as we found the things we needed, and then we continued on to the hotel.
Once there we agreed that we all required a break and some sustenance, so we grabbed our devices and went up one floor to the Regency Club, where we sampled many snacks and soft drinks and coffees, and relaxed in comfy chairs in the windows looking out at the city, for about an hour and a half.
Wrigley Rooftops: bleacher seats across the street
Rested and having eaten enough that there would be no need to spend another sixty-five dollars on food at the ball park, we returned to the room and got ready for the game.
This time we left early enough that the train cars were not as crowded as the last time.
TG and Dagny still chose to stand, but I had a seat.
Meeting Ben Zobrist was a major league treat
Once at the ball park we gained access to Gallagher Way since we had game tickets.
This is a park-like area just outside the Wrigley Field gates where fans can gather and sit and relax at tables, or play corn hole if they want, and watch various baseball-related things on the huge screen.
At one point a young man approached our table and asked if we knew that Ben Zobrist was about twenty-five yards away, under a tent that had been set up for him to promote his Champion Forward foundation.
Ben even signed Dagny's hat
A former Chicago Cub, Ben was named Most Valuable Player for the 2016 season -- the year that the Cubs won the World Series.
We loved watching him play back in the day, so it was thrilling to walk over there and after waiting in line for only a few minutes, meet Ben and have our picture taken with him.
Then it was time to wait a few more minutes to enter the ball park. While TG went to the fan store to fetch his scorecard and pencil, Dagny and I went to the ladies' room and put on a few extra layers against the coming dark and cool of the night game.
Later on it would read: CUBS WIN!
Then once again we made the trudge up the long ramps to our seats, which were closer and better ones on this night.
TG and Dagny walked back down then, and stood for at least forty-five minutes near the Cubs dugout, hoping to meet a few of the players. Towards game time, Dagny did get a few smiles and waves from some friendly Cubs.
We were warm and cozy despite the cool breeze
Then the game started and it turned out to be a fantastic one, exciting and action packed, and resulting in a Cubs win over the New York Mets, 10-3.
We got to fly our big W flag (for Win, not Weber, haha) that I take with me to every game, and sing the song.
It is such a blast to sing the song. Dagny was thrilled to have witnessed a win, and we were so happy for her.
Final Score: Cubs 10, New York Mets 3
Once all that we could do there had been done, we made our way back down the ramps and onto the street thronged with happy fans, and to the train, and back to our hotel.
The next morning we again enjoyed a scrumptious breakfast buffet in the lobby restaurant, before finishing up our packing and setting out for another mini-adventure before heading back to Lexington, Kentucky, for the night.
Next time I'll tell about what we did on the way there.
And that is all for now.
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Happy Wednesday
