Take the El - don't try to park down there....or Uber down and take the El back.....Uber after games is a mess and unconsciously expensive.

Go down early and enjoy Wrigleyville - the Cubbie Bear, Murphy's, etc. The new Gallagher Way Plaza dressed up the area and they've moved all the statues there (except maybe the Harry Caray one, which I think is still out behind CF). There are a bunch of awards and trophies in the team store in Gallagher Way and the World Series trophy is available to be photo'ed with inside the stadium (between home and 3B at the back of the concourse).

If your seats are underneath the grandstand, bring a sweatshirt because you're in the shade and the wind tunnels through making it significantly colder, even in mid-summer.

If you have bleacher seats, those are a different entrance and are not connected to the main concourse....no sweatshirt needed out there!

Enjoy and have fun - it is one of the sports world's true gems!

Go Cubs Go!!!

TexasAGGIEinAR said:

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Boo the Cubs incessantly. Go Cards!

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We are going to the game on Sunday and taking our six month old son for his first game. It will be interesting to see if his natural adorability factor overrides our whole family being in Cards gear.

Definitely take the El. If you are coming from downtown, it's going to be really crowded trying to go back post game, especially at the Addison stop. We walked a few blocks north to the Sheridan stop, got on an empty train, then had seats when the masses piled on at the Addison stop.

Hot dog and an Old Style beer!

If you are staying in downtown Chicago, such as in the Loop, then taking the Red Line on the Chicago Transit Authority's "L" (elevated) train system is the best way to travel to and from Wrigleyville. You will be looking for the Addison station stop that is near the intersection of Sheffield Avenue and Clark Street. Even though the trains will be crowded, the CTA runs extra trains before and after Cubs games to accommodate the thousands of fans getting to and from Wrigley Field for games.

Here is a map of the Red Line:



If you are staying downtown and want to take the bus, then I recommend the 22 Clark Street Bus. Information about this bus is at 22 Clark (Bus Route Info) -- CTA.
Here is a map of the 22 Clark Street Bus:

Note that the 22 Clark Street Bus routes around Wrigley Field a few hours before Cubs games going on Belmont and Racine. You can get off at Belmont and walk north on Clark to get there and then walk down Clark south to Belmont to leave after the game.


Most local Chicago residents use the Ventra App to purchase individual tickets or day/multiple-day passes for public transportation. You can find out about the Ventra App here: https://www.ventrachicago.com/app/ This app also provides details about when and where trains and buses are running and there whereabouts of the next train or bus at the stop where you are waiting. You can still purchase tickets and passes at the electronic kiosks in the CTA train stations or pay with cash or credit card when you enter a bus.


I recommend you get to Wrigleyville about 2-3 hours before the game so you can avoid heavy train crowds and soak up the sights, sounds, stores, and fun of Wrigleyville, including getting a picture of you and your group in front of the iconic "Wrigley Field; Home of the Chicago Cubs" sign at the northeast corner of Clark Street and Addison Street.

For souvenirs in Wrigleyville, I recommend Sports World at Clark and Addison and both Chicago Rally House and Wrigleyville Sports at Addison and Sheffield. These are on the immediate south side of Wrigley Field.



For food and drinks there are numerous venues along Clark Street.

I like going to the famous Murphy's Bleachers at Sheffield and Waveland next to the northeast corner of Wrigley Field.


I also found at 3456 Sheffield, not far from Clark Street, a fun local Asian restaurant: Cozy Noodles n' Rice. The owner, Chef Tee, is a die-hard Cubs fan, runs marathons, helps promote Asian Pacific culture in the Windy City, and has decorated his restaurant with old and new toys as well as Cubs bobbleheads. The restaurant only accepts cash and has an ATM machine available.


Keep in mind that Wrigley Field does not use cash so you need a credit card or scanned copy of your card on your phone for any purchases. You can find more details about Wrigley Field at this MLB website: https://www.mlb.com/cubs/ballpark/information/guide Here are key things to know about what you can and cannot take into Wrigley Field:

Bags and purses: Smaller than 16 x 16 x 8 inches (soft-sided coolers, totes, and fanny packs are okay).

Food: Personal amounts packed in small, disposable bags.

Drinks: Factory-sealed plastic water bottles (up to 1 liter) or empty reusable plastic/neoprene bottles.

Medical and diaper bags: Allowed for guests with medical needs or young children.

Sunscreen: Only in lotion, gel, or stick form.

Umbrellas: Small, collapsible umbrellas are permitted if they do not block others' views.

Keep in mind that everyone's experience at Wrigley Field and in Wrigleyville is going to be unique and different. Those of us who live here in Chicago and regularly attend Cubs games are going to have our own personal preferences and you are reading those in my and other TexAgs posts in response to your questions. I recommend you go to Wrigleyville with an open mind about seeing and experiencing all it has to offer regardless of what we have suggested here on TexAgs for you.

Have fun at the game and Go Cubs!

That's an act of love!

You're welcome. I hope you have fun during your visit to the Windy City. You chose a great time to visit with the mildly warm weather during the day, cool evenings, and less tourist traffic now that school is starting back for the fall semester.

In the Grant Park area you will be near lots of good places to eat. Here is my feedback on a few of those, including Lou Malnati's Pizzeria that you mentioned your wife heard about.

Lou Malnati's Pizzeria has good pizza and Italian food. It is a staple in Chicago and the restaurant likes to brag about its deep-dish pies. I have found since retiring to Chicago from Texas that I prefer, and most of my Chicago friends also prefer, tavern style pizza. Malnati's has both deep-dish and tavern style pizza. The Lou Malnati's South Loop is the restaurant closest to Grant Park and is at 805 S. State Street. Here is the link to that pizzeria: https://www.loumalnatis.com/chicago-south-loop/


Similar to Malnati's is Giordano's which also has deep-dish pizza and a variety of Italian dishes. Here is the website for the South Loop location that is closest to Grant Park: https://giordanos.com/locations/south-loop/


I also like eating at The Berghoff Restaurant at 17 W. Adams Street. It has a long history in Chicago, serves tasty German and European dishes, has great beer that is brewed onsite, and has pictures and decor on the walls from the 1893 Columbian Exposition where Herman Berghoff, a German immigrant, opened a beer stand on the Midway Plaisance to start his brewing and restaurant business. Here is the website for the Berghoff Restaurant: https://www.theberghoff.com/


For breakfast I recommend two locations: Wildberry Pancakes & Cafe at 130 E. Randolph Street at the base of the Prudential Building and directly across from Millennium Park as well as Honey Berry Pancakes and Cafe on 901 S. State Street two blocks from Grant Park.

Here is the link to the Wildberry Pancakes & Cafe: https://share.google/NjpFy6zoTiHgqwURZ


Here is the link to the Honey Berry Pancakes and Cafe: https://www.honeyberrycafe.com/



There is a wide variety of food and drink to enjoy here in Chicago so do not be afraid to take a chance and just go find something that is not on the proverbial beaten path and that nobody has suggested. I have not found any bad restaurants here in the Windy City and I love eating at a variety of locations here to enjoy the various fare offered across this amazing city.

Have safe travels to and from Chicago. Let me know if you need anything further regarding your visit here.
God Bless, Godspeed, and Gig 'em!

And I agree with Giordano's. Some of the best pizza I've ever had.

Yesterday was a special one. I've been to a lot of fun ball games in a lot of cool park in my 39 years, but yesterday tops them all.

Everyone - staff and fans - was great to us and was overly gracious and accommodating. Our son had a bit of a meltdown in the second inning or so, and everyone around us basically stopped and asked what they could do to help out.

I'm a Cardinals fan through and through, but there is a special place in my baseball heart for Wrigley.